Today’s participant photo blog post comes from Molly Cram, a participant in the Yahel Social Change Program. This group is living, learning and volunteering in the Ramat Eliyahu neighborhood of Rishon LeZion for 9 months this year.
Humans of Yahel
Like Humans of New York, but not in New York.
Ben
What got you out of bed this morning?
That’s a good one. I feel like you should wait til you have a witticism and make up a question. My online persona has to be pristine.
Do you want a new question?
No. I honestly don’t know. These are the questions that preoccupy me.
Kayci
Who inspires you?
Hm. [Long pause] I don’t know. Is there a different question?
No, that’s your question.
I don’t know. It’s an obvious thing for me to say my parents or someone I know or an inspirational person. It’s not a person as a whole that inspires me but something they did.
Larry
What have you done today that makes you feel proud?
During recess today I went outside and as soon as the 6th grade girls saw me they ran over and asked me questions and it made me happy to be there.
But what made you feel proud?
I was proud because the kids were talking to me in English. They were excited to speak English.
Jens
What’s your greatest challenge?
My greatest challenge. [Pause] These are good questions man, wow. [Long pause] It’s hard! Ok I got this, greatest challenge. [Long pause] Um I think my greatest challenge honestly would be… I think really it’s actually just keeping up balancing discipline and passion. I get super into stuff that I never want to stop doing. I have so much I want to do but that balance for the discipline and flow through, that’s what’s hard. Day to day in general that’s my greatest challenge. You know, I love that bounce between different languages. I’m never going to be fluent in Portuguese. And if I really wanted to learn a language I would just study Hebrew all year. The passion of me wanting to learn Chinese and Czech. But I also need to focus on what makes sense.
Emily
What’s your passion?
Wait. I have to answer this? I have many passions. I’m a passionate person.
Eliza
What was your first thought this morning?
Can I eat cereal while I answer this?
Yes
It wasn’t about cereal. Hm… [Pause] I’m trying to think so I can be accurate. My first thought. Ok I was thinking like this, I’m re enacting… it smells like rain. That was my first thought. Second thought was I love the rain but I hope I can be in the sun today. Then probably that I have to pee.
Rachel
What’s the last lie that you told?
Ooo. I don’t know. I’m not much of a liar. I’ve probably told one but it won’t be juicy. Did I tell a lie today? Probably. I don’t know. I was in Ulpan so probably. I really don’t know.
Not even a white lie?
I just can’t think of what it was. I’m thinking of today, I’m thinking of yesterday. I don’t think I lied in the last two days. Tuesday, Monday. It’s been a long week. I can’t think of anything! I don’t lie about anything major. I always think about it and I never do. I always think about how I should lie and never do.
Zoe
What’s your greatest concern?
Oh no! Um the thing that first jumps to mind is that I want to be in so many different places that I won’t stay in one place long enough. I want to make relationships and I’m afraid they won’t last because I’m never in one place long enough.
Tamara
What’s something you wish you could change?
In the world? In Yahel?
Anything
There are so many things, I don’t know if I can answer that question. There are so many things I’d like to change.
Anything that jumps to mind?
[Long silence] [Laughs] I would like to change the fact that too often I walk in the morning and say good morning and no one answers. And that happens too often. It happened this morning. I don’t know if you want to put that in your blog. [Pause] I shouldn’t’ say no body, I think you did.
Dana
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
Ohhh. [Laughs] Mmm. What’s the best compliment. Oy. [Pause] I don’t know! I don’t know. Emmm. Like really? Like something someone said? I can’t remember any compliments. I’m sure I received many but I can’t remember. [Pause] I’m feeling stumped! I’m thinking as I sing [to my daughter] I don’t know if it’s the best one but it’s one I remember. When I was living in Durham and working for… [sings to daughter] I’m going to think out loud [Daughter screams] You’re not going to let me sing? [Sings some more] So I was… this kid is adamant about me only listening to her! [Sings] Ok, quickly, I was teaching a course on Judaism. My parents and brother came and it was the first time they saw me as an educator and a teacher and the reaction… [sings again]
The reaction of your family?
Yes it was the first time they had seen me in a professional setting. [Sings] That’s just one I remember very well but I’m not sure it was the best one.
Tadela
Who is your favorite person?
Whoa. I can say my mom but its… favorite person? What do you mean favorite? No don’t write what I say! I’m talking to myself! [Long pause] I don’t know
Why don’t you want to say your mom?
Because everyone says their mom, their mom, their mom
But is it true? For you?
Yeah. Yes, it is.
Nina
What do you want to be remembered for?
Of course helping people. Helping people achieve and accomplish the things they want to achieve. Facilitating growth. And in terms of Yahel, also assisting people in their personal journeys and self-expansion. Is that enough? Also helping to create really good groups, good Yahel communities, making sure we are getting people that will work well together who will help to assist the community here.