{"id":821,"date":"2015-05-09T12:51:08","date_gmt":"2015-05-09T09:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hbne.co.il?p=821"},"modified":"2019-11-05T13:57:28","modified_gmt":"2019-11-05T11:57:28","slug":"many-of-one-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hbne.co.il\/?p=821","title":{"rendered":"Many of One"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"shuyotSM\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

One of Many<\/h2>\n

One seemingly insignificant decision but in the overall \u200escheme of things it was life changing\u2026\u200e<\/strong><\/p>\n

The decision wasn\u2019t even mine. When I was nine years old \u200emy parents decided to send me to summer camp. Without a \u200eshadow of a doubt, this single decision shaped my identity to \u200eits core. The path I have chosen, my destiny, can be traced \u200edirectly back to the seeds which were planted at camp many \u200eyears ago.\u200e<\/p>\n

One of many of the buds these summers germinated was \u200elove: \u201cahavat haaretz\u201d (love of the land), nature and \u200e\u200e\u201cchevere\u201d (camaraderie). We would backpack for two, three \u200edays at a time. Hiking, singing, crafting, sweating and at times \u200emoaning and groaning, but we would always, always end our \u200edays back at the \u201cmedura\u201d (campfire) casting our spells, \u200espinning stories together into the wee hours of the morn. \u200e<\/p>\n

The spark for action was conceived there at the \u201cmedura\u201d \u200eand it continues to burn till this day: action to build a better \u200eworld from the inside out. Usually the action manifests \u200eitself via work within ideological movements, although, at \u200etimes, the action is contained in the movement itself.\u200e<\/p>\n

There is nothing quite like spending time in nature: hiking, \u200erunning, biking, exploring and even sweating is part and \u200eparcel of the high.<\/h2>\n

Nothing fills me with more frustration \u200ethan sitting in a closed room and performing a repetitive \u200emonotonous task. When given a choice, I will always choose \u200ethe outdoors. Time stands still every time I mount my two \u200ewheeled chariot. It is amazing how each outing leads me to \u200ediscover yet another priceless jewel here in my own \u200e\u200e\u201cbackyard\u201d.\u200e<\/p>\n

A solitary trek will deliver peace of mind and tranquility. \u200e<\/h2>\n

Many of one too brings its own special magical qualities.<\/h2>\n

\u200eFond memories of time spent with the \u201cchevre\u201d forever \u200eblanket me in their warmth. All of the hikes, explorations, \u200e\u200e\u201cbikings\u201d and journeys with all of my peeps intertwined \u200eweave the fabric of this blanket. Together, every emotion is \u200eenhanced, every physical effort becomes easier, more \u200egratifying. It is amazing, is it not, how we manage to demand \u200emore from ourselves when we are together with the \u200e\u200e\u201cchevre\u201d?\u200e<\/p>\n

Desert memories in motion radiate brightly. After some nine \u200esummers at camp I joined other \u201cchanichim\u201d (campers) from \u200eall over North America to spend one very long summer, one \u200eyear to be exact, on a kibbutz in Israel. Not long ago I \u200erediscovered some slides taken on a trip to the Sinai before it \u200ewas returned to Egypt shortly thereafter. The beauty of these \u200ephotos is stunning: once in a lifetime treasures. Together we \u200eclimbed exuberantly the desert peaks all the while ranting \u200eand raving, singing and shouting our praises for each pristine \u200egenesis moment.\u200e<\/p>\n

The annual Sodom Mountain race by the Dead Sea also \u200eprovided me with abundant memories. Every year we would \u200ehead down south with a car packed full of children and bikes \u200eto join many others to bike around the pristine desert caves \u200eand crevices. It was immensely gratifying to finish the race \u200ewith both bikes and babes intact. \u200e<\/p>\n

\"roshhanikra\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My guy works within the plastic industry. Sometime ago he \u200ewas fatally struck down with a severe case of the \u201cbikebug\u201d. \u200eHe and one of his partners, with a similar affliction, sought to \u200etreat ailing workers within the industry. They schemed to \u200egather them together for a \u201cbikefest\u201d in the Beit Keshet \u200eforest together with a barbeque in the woods. It was a \u200espectacular day: so spectacular indeed, that they chose to \u200emake this an annual event.\u200e<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first \u201cbikefest\u201d or \u201cPlast-O-Fun\u201d had a turnout of some \u200eforty or fifty people. Yesterday there was a total of \u200eapproximately 350 bikers! Within the sea of bicycles it was \u200eeasy to distinguish the workers from the various plants by \u200etheir unique custom jerseys: a deep ocean with islands of \u200ecolor heavily scattered about.\u200e<\/p>\n

The tradition continues and grows stronger from year to \u200eyear. Today the various plastic plants fight for the honor to \u200ehost the event. Inspiring it was to see the spectacular \u200eorganization in place: numbered routes by level; double \u200eguides per group; coffee, pastry and T shirts at the start and a \u200efeast fit for a king at the finish. \u200e<\/p>\n

With movement we find health.<\/h2>\n

As we perspire we inspire \u200ehappiness. Our body releases endorphins, \u201chappy rains\u201d. The \u200erelease of \u201cHapp-phins\u201d compounds when we move \u200etogether.<\/a> Movement outside of the walls of our compounds \u200ein nature adds shades of colors, joy and fun fun fun!
\n\u200e
\nNot long ago I heard about a local plant\u2019s initiative to \u200epromote physical activity via subsidies. A healthier and \u200ehappier worker will surely reward his employer with added \u200evalue.<\/p>\n

Last night yet another man, a man who I worked with for \u200emany years, was taken from us well before his time. \u200eOverworked, overstressed and overtaxed was he.\u200e<\/h3>\n

Do-overs? Not in this life\u2026\u200e
\nGet it right the first time around.
\nBuddy Up!<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\r\n