To see the route we took, click here!
Some highlights.
The
rides unofficial, official lay leader, Avi Miron, was unbelievably
supportive. Within the first twenty minutes, when I was struggling to
make my way up a hill that was at a greater angle than 40 degrees, Avi
came up behind me and told me to do it at an angle. Instead of fighting
of the hill, I needed to use the hill to my advantage. I could take the
incredibly sharp angle of the hill in a more reasonable fashion, one
that would allow me to both conserve energy AND make it up the hill. Lo
and behold, that hill and many others were conquered.
As
per usual with me and physical activity, I was often at the front of
the pack. One might think its because I always want to be first. In
actuality, I discovered its my fear of falling behind. Each time I was
not near the front, especially near the end of the day, I let my
exhaustion overcome me and slowed down considerably. Remaining near the
front did not allow me that luxury and therefore maintained my momentum
and excitement.
My
mom is incredibly awesome and a great role model. Although I've been
told this my whole life, I was given the opportunity to see first hand
how incredible she is. I watched her support every one of my classmates
in a different way, demonstrating that even someone who did not train
fully or was suffering from personal pain could conquer each of the
obstacles we faced. She handed out protein, walked the hill from hell
(כוכב הירדן-which translates to star of the Jordan, but should be
hell-hill of the Jordan)
כוכב
הירדן- holy moly! Never before in the history of physical activity have
I been unsure that I could do something. Even walking up part of the
mountain didn't help me catch my breath. Yet, I made it. Somewhere along
the way, I caught up with Chase. That guy is a beast and I could not
have made it up the mountain without his support every time we passed
each other. Plus, the fact that when he told Ziv, our medic, that he was
making it up that mountain or getting carried off dead, Ziv commented
off-handedly that he had a body bag in the back of his trackbulance.
Hilarious!
 |
| Noam and I, beat! |
Noam
Miron: never have I met a more stubborn or supportive individual at the
ripe age of 23. His perseverance and stamina was incredible, and
incredibly annoying (although truly inspiring). Every time I thought I
was going to fall off my bike and not get back up, he would ride up
behind me and give me gentle instruction on a way to make it easier (go
into the lowest gear and go slowly, don't waste your energy trying to
race up the hill). And then, going down hill, when I would be following
him, he'd warn me not to follow to close, in case I accidentally lose
sight of where I need to ride next (my not listening resulted in one of
my three falls). Truly, he had my back and watched out for me, even from
in front of me.
 |
| Noam, Nissim, and Avi: Truly an incredible leadership team |
Nissim: the coolest guide around, even
if he did constantly tell me to slow down and be careful. But I know he
had my best interests at heart and I'll forgive him. Besides, the
thought provoking questions he posed, inquiring as to what Reform
Judaism has to say in terms of Halacha, why we studied Talmud and Mishna
if we didn't think it was binding, and what reform rabbis say with
regard to individual questions if there isn't a universal correct
answer. We're just like Orthodox Jews, each rabbi with his or her own
interpretation, except we may not be interpreting the Torah and Tanach
in order to find it.
 |
| The crazy guys! |
Scott Gellman and Chase Foster: my riding
buddies, you are incredible. Each time I needed support, I had one if
you behind me making a crude joke. Lets just say I'm glad to be one of
the guys. Although I wanted to kill Scott for being so strong, I
appreciated his go to it attitude and the fact that he stayed in the
bike despite feeling sick. Oh yeah, and flipping over his handlebars
twice, once because of dogs in his way, another because of a rock
(although on the fourth day, so he spent most of the time NOT falling).
And Chase made it through almost the whole ride without falling, only to
fall into a small rock that he hit at a slightly wrong angle. These
guys truly kept me going (and somehow convinced me that I can stay in
Israel next year, that it is actually a good idea!
Ted Dreier
is a true mensch. Not only did he fall and scrape up his hands really
badly, but he also fell on his face. He knew he was going too fast and
didn't care, so kept going anyway (the down hill was particularly
spectacular, so I don't fault him for it! But he got right back up and
kept trucking.
 |
| One of many bruises. Looks even better today! |
Falling
isn't something I enjoy, nor is it something I would recommend.
However, I did get some great experiences out of it. Who can say they
have fallen in two dimensions, on flat ground, and in order to avoid
falling? The first fall was not awful, just me following Noam and not
seeing the drop in time to avoid swerving. I sat on the edge of a broken
piece of cement, teetered, and fell. Chase said only I would fall in
two dimensions... The second fall was the last painful and the least
real fall. I had just come out of a giant muddy hole and was peddling
out when I lost my footing. I reached my hand out to catch the fall and
ended up scraping my leg... The last fall was by far the worst. I've
learned not to flirt while on a bike. One, because you get too close to
someone and two because you are normally the one who suffers. I was the
one who fell over. That was a dooZey and hurt the most. I got a nasty
cut on my elbow, hit my head, and bruised my right hip righteously.
However, it was totally worth it for the hilarity and teasing that
ensued. I mean, come in, I at least get some wicked battle scars in
which I can take pride!
The
ride itself was beautiful. Being in nature for five days was a much
needed reprieve from the tedium of living in the city. As much as I love Jerusalem, I need to get away from the city every so often and breath
fresh air. The flowers were in rare form, popping up everywhere due to
the wetter than average rains this winter. The cows were everywhere,
even following us until Noam threatened them as his dinner (he didn't
want to carry it, but did eat meat every night for dinner).
Nor
have I eaten this well in all my time in Israel! Oh my goodness, I
could have gotten used to that, but instead, I will go back to Jerusalem
and begin to experiment in my OWN kitchen.
The
living situation was also pretty spectacular. All I'm saying is that I
want a loft in my house! They are awesome and incredibly cozy. However,
getting three beds up an incredibly narrow staircase seems rather
improbable. Obviously, they did it in Israel, which means it is totally
feasible....
The
last and most important thing is that I made a decision for next year. I
am not going back to Cincinnati next year. Instead, I am going to stay
and study at Pardes, doing the kind of learning I've discovered that I
truly love. I get to do indepth study of the holidays and have a more
permanent hevruta! Plus, I get to stay in Israel, using my Hebrew and
remaining in this place which I truly love. This ride cemented it,
helping me recognize that I have so much of my life ahead of me and need
to live. There is no rush to finish Rabbinical school, to be a rabbi by
the time I'm 27. I m ready to take my life into my own hands, make a
decision, completely selfishly, for me. And that decision is to stay in
this country which I have grown to love so much. I miss friends and
family, but I know without a doubt that I need to stay in this place, to
wrestle with the demons it draws forth from me and truly take hold of
my life.
More amazing people helped make this ride possible. Don't worry, they will be mentioned in a few days, once school is not going to bury me alive! Some highlights (whom I cannot forget, ever) include: Ayala Miron, Noa Meir and Shannah Z, Noa and Hadas, and many more!
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