Every Day a Circus Day!

The End (Only of This Chapter)

2007-08-04T20:25:00.000-05:00

July 23
The bus is loaded. We are heading for the airport. I remember the first time when we got on the bus and I told the children that they had to sit with someone they didn’t know. There is no need for that now.

We pile into the airport. Everyone helps with the bags.

We form a 'focus circle'--- like we have been doing before each show. Holding hands. Together.

There is hugging and crying and many smiles through the tears.

Each child and adult on this journey has learned something and taught something. Our shared experience has touched each of us in a unique, life-affecting way. We connected, in this place, at this moment and are changed forever. We have touched not only each other’s lives but also the thousands of lives of those who witnessed our joint creation. Our gift of circus and harmony--- the Galilee Arches Circus.

We separate. The Israelis to get back on the bus. The Americans to get on the plane for home. But now, forever, there will also have been and be The Galilee Arches --- a group of people who flew physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually; a community that did their part for Tikkun Olam--- repairing the world. We took some pieces of the world and glued them together. The glue was circus and part of the world is better now.There is more on the internet about our remarkable journey. Links to some of the articles can be found on our website at www.circusday.org. And, this is only the beginning…

Our Last (Very) Full Day

2007-07-29T12:21:00.000-05:00

July 22
It is our last full day. It is hard for everyone to believe. Time always seems to fly, at the end.
We go in the morning to do a show at a school for handicapped children called the Oan school.

Once again, this show echoes my own youth circus beginnings with The Circus Kingdom. Rev. Dave (who ran The Kingdom), Warren (who was my first circus teacher), this, all this, is for you and from you. Passing it on.

The gym ceilings are high in the school space but the basketball hoops are set very low to accommodate all the children in wheelchairs. Even our smallest member, little Amit, can reach the rim. "You are the Iking of Israeli basketball." I tell her. "No," she replies, "I, I-Queen!." This witty, verbal response from a child whose parents were bemoaning her lack of interest and ability in English. Since our arrival, her interest in English has grown keen and this use of language points to an understanding her parents thought she did not have.

This is our last show together--- at least of this tour. Like all last shows, it is bittersweet. We have accomplished so much and in so little time. I am incredibly proud of all these amazing young people and so thankful for this whole opportunity. What an honor to be part of it.

The school presents us with a certificate that thanks us for sharing our talents and gifts with the children and says something about the feeling of the day lasting forever. It will indeed.

We go to the old city of Jaffa to shop and have lunch. The kids split up into groups that have nothing to do with nationality or religion. There are a couple of incidents with shopkeepers that seem to be against the Arab children but the children‘s solidarity makes these slights of no consequence.

Final gifts and souvenirs are bought. We laugh over lunch and enjoy each others purchases. Renaldo gets the kefia he has been wanting and looks good in. Rianna and Shaina get bellydancing outfits.

We get back on our bus. The name on the bus is "Future Lines". When we get back to the Green Village, we take a group photo in front of the bus. If only this could be the future (and, of course, it can be!). I that is possible that these very children will be instrumental in making such a future.

The young people go to pack and the adults meet to discuss a show we will do for the kids on this last night together. The plan is to set up some chairs to look like a bus and then have the adults act out the different kids and the kids will need to guess who is being portrayed.

It is interesting what is suggested as the defining characteristics of each of the students. Also, interesting is the fact that these traits can be ascribed to at least one person from either group. Will you be able to tell this one just by how he takes his circus bow? Is this person’s telling the others what to do helpful or bossy? Is the child who won’t eat anything Iking or Amit?

The skit is a great success and most are guessed and appreciated by all. including the person being spoofed. The grand finale is Rabbi Marc’s rapping portrayal of Iking.

The show is followed by the kids’ extemporaneous attempts at portraying some of the adults. Then there are speeches. Both Renaldo and Iking express their gratitude and appreciation, as do others. There are gifts. St. Louis Arch key rings for all the Israelis, Galilee wine and mint plants for me and Michael, the brand new Galilee Arches’ t-shirt for all. We know there are also some private gift-giving exchanges amongst the kids. They present us iwwth astanding ladder--- a prop Michael has been searching for. Each of the boys in the fire act gets a staff.

The Israeli kids need to have a meeting. They have been invited to perform on a live TV show and must decide which acts to do. The American kids finish packing. How can this be the end? There is talk already about the Galilee Circus kids coming to America next summer. Next year is the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel. Perfect.

The kids congregate in each others rooms and on the benches outside. I don’t think anyone gets a full night’s sleep. We all want to get our fill of each other and know this will be our last chance for a while.

From the Sea to the Circus to The Mall--- all in one City

2007-07-29T12:19:00.000-05:00

Today, we are going to go swimming in the Mediterranean! We load up the bus and head for the Tel Aviv beach. (I think every city should have a nice beach front area!) It is already quite hot at 10 AM. The American kids each grab a chair under an umbrella until we find out that you have to PAY for each chair, umbrella and chaise (6, 8 and 12 shekels, respectively). We buy a bunch of chairs and umbrellas and set up camp. The kids are instantly in the water. There are some 'medusa' a.k.a. jellyfish. Tamer gets stung on his cheek near his eye and some of the others get some slight body stings but nothing major.

The kids do what kids do at the beach--- bury each other in sand and chicken fights. The partners change whenever I look. We are such a cohesive group. I like what Matt said in one of his interviews about thinking there would be a problem since we didn't all speak the same language but he said he found out that you need a lot less words than you think! We order pizza and it is delivered by someone on a pizza delivery bike. They have found a place with pepperoni and the American kids are thrilled.

We head back to the Green Village, which is also the headquarters for a youth circus known as Circus Florentine. This one was started by an Arab man named Nir who studied and performed in France. The American kids are pleasantly startled as they turned a bend in the path and came upon a tent that looked almost identical to the one that houses Circus Flora. It is basically a smaller version of the same tent. Inside, however, there is no ring curb. Just lots of aerial rigging--- Nir is an aerial silk artists and is Bulgarian girlfriend's specialty is trapeze. They also have one of those inflatable floors for tumbling on.

Some of their students are there and we do introductions all around. We do a group warm-up, led by Nir and then split up into stations. Most of the boys go to the inflatable tumbling track. Elliana is thrilled to be on a lyra with a swivel. Renaldo gets Nir to teach him some great new tricks on fabric. Elle and their trapeze teacher trade tricks.

We reluctantly leave to go to dinner. Before we go, the trapeze teacher pulls me aside and asks if I have trouble in America with the kids and their parents thinking I am too tough. She is form the very stringent Bulgarian circus school and many of the Israeli kids and parents complain she is too hard on her students although, by Bulgarian standards, nothing could be further form the truth. I had Russian circus teachers, so I know how harsh their training can be!

After dinner, we take everyone to the biggest mall in Israel. The kids buy things for themselves, each other and folks back home (in Israel and America).

On the Boardwalk and At the Movies

2007-07-29T12:16:00.000-05:00

July 20

Our shows today are going to be on the boardwalk of the Tel Aviv Seaport. It is a bit fuzzy when we are actually meant to perform. It is going to be a hot day and we are told the Boardwalk doesn’t really come alive until the night so we decide to do one day show and then come back to do a night show. There is a special key needed to access the electricity and the one man who has this key can only help us to do the night show at 10 PM. The first show is lightly attended and it is so hot that some of the kids sit under the sound table for shade. We go for burgers and wraps for lunch.

It is decided we will go to the movies for The afternoon. The hope is to see the newly released Harry Potter movie. By the time we get over there and organized, the movie is sold out and they break into groups to see other movies. Most of them go to see Transformers. I find an internet café and try to catch up on the blog. It has been a while since I have had internet access and electricity, at the same time

Most of the Americans are surprised to find that an intermission is taken at the movies in Israel. The kids clown around and take photos with some mannequins they have discovered.

There is an American woman named Lynda White who had seen us at City Museum where she had come to tell me about the Jerusalem Circus only to find I already knew about them. She herself was there when we went to visit and Lynda also attendee our show at the Jerusalem YMCA. She has offered to buy us all dinner on the Boardwalk.

To thank Lynda and the restaurant owner, the kids do some impromptu tumbling on the pier to collect a crowd. The kids eat everything except the calamari which all the kids--- American and Israeli-- find disgusting. They are chasing each other around the boardwalk with it.
We thank Lynda and go to set up for our show.

Things are a little more laid back in Israel than in he States. The one guy with the key does not show up until well after 10.

The Boardwalk is MUCH more crowded. There is not much lighting, so we don’t do some of the acts. But we get permission to do the fire act in the middle of a sand pit that is right behind our staging area. The show is VERY well received. It is late and some fo the kids fall asleep as we are loading out.

From the Desert to the Big City

2007-07-29T12:13:00.000-05:00

July 19

Renaldo wakes me before dawn because his camera is broken and he wants to catch a picture of the sunrise. He does. Then he asks if I will take his picture as he climbs up on a sand dune.

The others wake up slowly.

Without predetermination, there is one spot in the encampment that is first used by Rabbi Marc for his morning prayers and then, in turn, by Alex for mediation, Menar for prayers and Amit for yoga.

Our hosts start bringing in breakfast. It is sumptuous (by Middle Eastern standards). A long, low table is covered with plates of hummus, pita, labana, salad, omelets and more.

After eating, we load up the bus and drive to the edge of Mitzpah Ramon. This is the Grand Canyon of Israel! Created by unique combination of geological forces it is like an incredible moonscape--- very awe-inspiring. Marc leads us on a hike along its rim then up a hill to a place called Camel Mountain, which offers an incredible view.

I actually stay at the rim while the rest hike up the winding Camel trail. For one moment, I am entirely alone in vast and utter quiet. I can't remember when I last had such an experience.

We walk to the visitors' center. There are small big-horned somethings along the way. We watch the making-of-the-crater video--- you get your choice of watching it in Hebrew or English. Keaton, at least, goes in to watch it in Hebrew so that he can be with the Israeli kids.

We go into the town for lunch and for the kids to swim in the local pool. This town is drawing many artists and is becoming like America's Sante Fe. Some of the grown-ups go and visit the local artists' studios.

I have been corresponding via email with an African acrobat named Abraham who has been working at resorts in the south of Israel with his troupe, Kenya Mambambo. This is the furthest South that we will be and Abraham has taken a bus to come and visit us. He is an incredibly open and generous man. He and the Arches start tumbling for each other. This evolves into an African acrobatic and pyramids lesson right on the lawn by the pool.

Abraham has to take the two hour bus ride back to be in time for his shows and we have to set up for ours.

Ours will be on a small stage behind the local community center. It is part of a street fair put on by the Community Center and popcorn, candy, lemon drinks and baked goods are being sold. Children are everywhere. It looks like most of the town has come out for our show. The hillside fills with people and we present our show partially onstage and partially in front of it.

We've added a contortion number in lieu of the aerial acts since there is no place to hang the trapeze. The act is choreographed by our Renaldo and comprised of American and Israeli girls.
After the show, we drive to our next stop, the city of Tel Aviv.

We are staying in what is called a children's village. The translation of the entrance sign is 'The Green Village', I am told. There is a lovely sculpture park in the middle of the campground but the rooms are a bit like jail cells and some of the kids semi-joke that the spartan Bedouin tent was better.

From the City to a Bedouin Tent

2007-07-29T07:29:00.000-05:00

July 18

We drive back to Jerusalem to perform at the YMCA. It is a massive, temple-like building that stands across from the King David Hotel. The sign says YMCA 3 Arches. We find out that the 3 Arches is a restaurant. There is a Jewish/Arab day camp here that we will be performing for in the morning and then we have a show in the afternoon for the general public. The room is rather dark, so, Amit decides that the boys should do the fire act. They are very excited.

Elisheva and some of the Jerusalem Circus students come to see the show. We all take a picture together, afterwards. The room fills with day camp aged children. There are about 300 hundred of them. They love the show and are loudly appreciative. After the show, they all want to talk to our young performers.

A number of people come over to tell me how inspirational the show is and how wonderful it is to see Americans, Israelis, Jews, Arabs, kids of all colors working together.

The kids crows around the performers after the show. Royi's sistercomes to visit. She is studying at the Art Academy here in Jerusalem.

We get practically no media coverage. I'm told that the press isn't interested in covering "good" news. I have had the same trouble in the States. What a shame. This is such a great story and it is so heartening to se how fast we have formed a community where language, religion, color and other differences are not barriers to friendship and support. Our common language is circus and our common goal is to put on the show.

Between shows, we go to shop on Ben Yehuda street. Many of the guys buy jewelry for moms and girlfriends back home. Keaton finds a unique tallit (prayer shawl) for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah. Some of the girls buy shoes.

Everyone pitches in. Rabbi Marc helps with the rigging.

The second show is even more crowded. A number of people are sitting in the balcony. The woman who I stayed with when I came to Israel when I was 16 is at this show. We are so happy to see each other. She is 87 but has the same spirit and energy as ever.

We load up the truck to leave Jerusalem. This is the night we are experiencing a sleep out in a Bedouin tent in the desert near Mitzpah Ramon. By the time we get there it is quite dark. Really, really dark.

We walk (or scramble) up a rocky path to the campsite. I had a fantasy about having internet there to catch up on the blog. There isn't even any electricity!!! Inside the tent we are supposed to sleep in there are tatami mats and foam pallets. The camp is situated on gravel, not sand.
Once again, there are those among us who do not like roughing it this much. Israeli and Americans (mostly girls) complain loudly. There is one thing that everyone does agree on. The stars are absolutely beautiful out here. You can even see the Milky Way.
After a campfire cookout, people go to sleep. Several stay out to stargaze and some fall asleep outside the tent.

Everything Old is New to Us

2007-07-27T05:54:00.000-05:00

July 17

We went to the legendary site of Masada, today. It is our first taste of the desert. At 10 AM, it is already too hot to climb the trail to the top. Elliana (American) and Shay (Israeli) are most disappointed. The others seem happy to take the cable cars up the steep slope.

The non-Jewish children ---both American and Arab--- are not familiar with the story. This was another fabulous palace, built by Herod, on the top of a high mountain. It became a last stand for some Jewish rebels in Roman times. There was a long siege. Finally, the Romans breach the walls, then, assured of their victory, they go back down to sleep before ransacking the place. The story is that the Jews decide it is better to die free than live as slaves. Ten men are chosen to kill the rest. Men have to kill their own families, their friends and then each other. When the Romans make it to the top, all are dead except for a few women and children. The question is what would you do in the same situation?

One says he would die because that is brave. Another that they would go into slavery with the hope of escaping. Keaton says he could not kill his family. Lemond says he would not know what he would really choose unless he was in that situation. All seem moved. We tour the site: the pigeon rooms, the store rooms, the meeting room, the bath house and sauna, the place the Romans breached the walls… Is it all an ancient urban legend? It still provokes thoughts and feelings.

We go from there to the Dead Sea. The kids have a blast floating with no effort. The water feels oily and stings if you get it in your eyes or a cut. But the kids love this part of the journey!

Everyone rinses off and we drive back to Neve Shalom. Our next stop is the Old City Of Jerusalem.

When I first told the Arches we were going to Israel, the first thing Lemond asked was if he would get to ride a camel. Here he gets his chance. At the gates of the Old City, Lemond, Rianna and Kellin all ride a camel.

We meet a guide who takes us to a rooftop that gives us a magnificent view of the city. "There’s the Temple Mount!" Michel says. "I prayed there," Menar tell us, reverently, "It is very beautiful."

We go next to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is said that on this site, Jesus was crucified, entombed and rose from the dead. There are several incredible shrines and mosaics. The Catholics among us seem particularly affected by this spot. There are many pilgrims and tourists. In one place, the attendant assumes the African-American Arches are all Muslims and makes them take off their shoes.

We walk through the streets of the old city. Who else has walked here? What figures from history and how many pilgrims?
We find a sort of area that is like an Old City food court with a bagel shop, a falafel shop and at the Israeli equivalent of a gyro place. The kids choose what they want for dinner.
Some of the kids shop in the marketplace. Shay’s mother, Hannah, is in great demand as she is great a bargaining with the shopkeepers. It is not unusual for the price to end up to be half of the original asking price.
We get to the Western Wall, the Wailing Wall. There is a security checkpoint and many beggars. Some try to sell you a red thread based on a story about Rebecca. Originally it is meant to protect women but here, men are getting them, too.
At the Wall, you are supposed to write your prayer on a piece of paper and place it into one of the myriad cracks. Diane is prepared and hands out post-it notes to everyone. There is a side for men and another for women. Many Orthodox Jews can be seen praying here. Some people are literally wailing by the Wall. There are plastic chairs for people to sit and pray. Masses of people are pressed up against the Wall. You just sort of wait by the back and seep your way to the front.
The Wall is jammed with supplications. Some are placed so high up, you wonder how they got there. At my eye-level, the wall is so stuffed with pieces of paper it is hard to see a place to squeeze more. Another custom is to walk away from the wall backwards. This is not easy with all the people and plastic chairs.
Israelis talk about having a pluralistic society. I’m not sure the kids really understand the social and historical significance of the different people they have seen who make up the population of Israel----Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Christians, Druze. America is composed of different religions and nationalities, as well. What is it that makes our differences more important than our similarities when we grow up? Why do your labels matter so much? Why is peaceful co-existence difficult for so many on the planet? You can look at the whole of Israel as a microcosm of human society and you can look at our little Galilee Arches Circus that way. I like our model better.
I have not written about problems we have had with and between individuals on this trip. I found out that the Galilee troupe has had similar issues between their members. But in both troupes, these incidents involve personal problems that stem from people living together in a community. The issues actually have nothing to do with race, religion, class, sex or national origin. People have conflicts. It is part of life. It is easier--- generally--- to resolve them one on one than group to group.

From Yokneam to Neve Shalom via Jerusalem Circus

2007-07-20T09:11:00.000-05:00

July 16
Our show today is in St.Louis' sister city of Yokneam. We are performing at a day camp on their outside basketball court. We find a place to hang the trapeze. It is hot and sunny. Some of the kids here (and this happened also in the Arab village and in Acco) ask our Africa-American performers if they are from Africa.

The Galilee Arches do great despite the sun, heat, hot mats and some with no shoes (lots of hopping).

We go from there to a monastery called Muchroka on the top of Mount Carmel that has a stupendous view. Kellin says it is like being in an airplane without the plane. We have a picnic lunch here of cold cuts, bread, pita and hummus.

We head for Jerusalem and a visit with the Jerusalem Circus, the first Jewish Arab youth circus in Israel. Their director, Elisheva, and I have been e-mailing each other since 2001 when Circus Day Foundation did Circus Salaam Shalom with some of the Jewish and Muslim children in St. Louis. It is exciting for both of us to meet our counterparts in person.

The Jerusalem Circus kids are waiting for us in their gym. We do some mini-performances for each other. The Arches do minitramp, Menar does her trapeze, we do our big final pyramid and we see their juggler, rolla bolla, contortionist and trapeze performers.

Mostly the kids just want to interact and work together. So, we let them mingle circus-style. Trapeze, rolla, lyra, tumbling, juggling and partner acro are shared. It is over too soon since our bus driver is not allowed to be on the road over 12 hours.

We stop at a local mall to eat in their food court. As much as our kids have been anticipating McDonald's, they all agree it is not as good here. Some of the kids of both troupes prefer to get pizza and Chinese food instead.

We spend the night in a youth hostel in the village of Neve Shalom which is a village where Jews and Arabs live together. Neve means "oasis". So, we are in an Oasis of Peace.

Dir El Assad , Acco and Bet Kessler

2007-07-17T07:35:00.000-05:00

Sun. July 15, 2007
Seven of the Arches stayed in the Arab village of Dir El Assad, overnight. The boys got to tour the mosque and the girls attended the birthday party of the little sister of some of the Galilee performers. The really big news is that Channi, one of the Jewish girls, also spent the night with the other girls in the Arab village! But there is some other news.

First you should all know that the kids are safe. There was a murder in the Arab village, last night. The girls only knew that there was a death because the kids at the birthday party weren’t allowed to dance outside out of respect. The boys, however, were closer to the action and the family they were staying with was related to one of the parties involved. The boys got to see the wrapped body carried through the street with about 1,000 people following it. Then they saw the burning down of the house of the person who committed the murder as he and his family were banished from the village. The boys say the police did nothing throughout the incident.

I found out about this this morning and was assured the children were never in danger and, if they had been, they would have and could have been whisked out of the village. Still, it was disturbing, to say the least. Because of the situation, it is decided that we will not perform in Dir El Assad as planned. We move the show to Majd El Krum. The local watermelon seller has a truck with a loudspeaker and he drives through the villages announcing the change of venue.

We will perform at the school. They weren’t expecting us and the place is a mess. We manage to clean it up and set up right before the show is supposed to start. Achmed asks me if I would like some coffee. Of course I say yes and he pulls an actual coffee pot out of a plastic bag he is carrying!!! Apparently, that is very common here. I think it is a great custom.

At first, there is hardly anyone there and then they just start streaming in. We end up with an audience of several hundred people! The past few days of hanging out together in each others’ homes has really cemented the friendships that were forming. We are not two separate troupes, but one. The audience LOVES the show. All the grown ups who are involved with the youth circus performers have tears in their eyes.

There is some press there and the story makes it online before
the end of the day at: http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3425666,00.html and now it is on:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3426415,00.html
I love the opening line!
Our first show is a tremendous success and brings tears, smiles and joy to many people!

From there we go to eat lunch at a Bedouin tent. There is music, reclining and some dancing!

Then we go to explore the old city of Acco, where we take a ride on a boat and there is more dancing!

We go on to our next show, which is at a home for handicapped people called Bet Kessler. This is one of the shows sponsored by Circus Remedy (http://www.circusremedy.com)/. This show takes me back to my roots: The Circus Kingdom. The Circus Kingdom was a youth circus run by Rev. David Harris and his wife, Trudy. Rev. Dave was a Methodist reverend who gathered youth circus performers form around the country and we toured the Eastern half of the United States. Wherever we performed, we would also do a show for people who could not come to us--- an orphanage, a senior citizens home a home for the mentally ill or a prison.

I am honored to be carrying on his work in Israel with these amazing young people form America and Israel. The residents are thrilled with the performance and many of them come up to thank us and ask us back. It has been a very full and fulfilling day The residents are thrilled with the performance and many of them come up to thank us and ask us back. It has been a very full and fulfilling day

Day to Explore

2007-07-16T16:01:00.000-05:00

NOT the St. Louis Arch

Grown-ups' Day Out: Michael, Diane, Dan, Jessica, Bradley (old friend of Jessica's) and Richard

July 14, 2007
Rabbi Marc’s neighbors, Todd and Karen, have wifi. I walk down and sit in front of their house early in the morning to do the blog. Dogs and cats wander around the community.

Iking and Deon go back to the Arab village to Tamer’s house. Deon asks if I will see if his mother will let him stay the night. Iking wants to stay, too. The grown ups have commented on how daring the children are in the circus but how they are much less so with other things. It is about control, I think. In the circus, they are in control over what they do and what happens to them. They know what to expect.

We don’t know what the kids will be doing with their host families today. The adults have hired a guide. He takes us to a place called Caesaria. It is the site of a magnificent harbor built by King Herod and later occupied by Muslims, Crusaders and others over time.

The ruins are spectacular. Much of the mosaic work has survived. The amphitheater is still in use and has fantastic acoustics. There is an interactive museum. The ocean is a teal chartreuse there. There used to be a wood-fueled light house on the spot, in ancient times. You can see where the gardens were, the baths, the hippodrome track, the Temple-then-mosque-then-church. From there, we go to an ancient aqueduct that fed Caesaria. You can go underground and walk through the channels in the water. You can see the chisel marks on the wall from where the slaves hewed this plumbing system out of solid rock.

Dan and Jessica enjoy coffee in a Druze village

We eat lunch in Druze village. The table is piled with hummus, falafel, salads, lamb and warm pita. The Turkish coffee is served in tiny cups. I have three.

We get news from the kids. Shai’s family and Royi’s family both have the same idea and take their guests--- Lemond and Michel and Keaton and Kellin--- to some caves by the beach known as Rosh Hanikra. They found jellyfish on the beach and gave impromptu juggling lessons to some other kids, on the beach.

Shai, who has Lemond and Michel, lives in a gated community like Shorashim. His community has a petting zoo, so, Lemond gets to see a camel up close. Royi lives in Karmi’el. His family has built a wonderful house with a patio and a balcony and beautiful yard. Their bomb shelter (which they did have to use last year during the conflict with Lebanon) is the mother, Orli’s, art studio.

The girls have moved to the Arab village, Dir El Assad. They are at Manar and Manal’s house where it is their younger sister’s birthday. The boys are in the same village and have gathered a crowd as they tumble through the streets. They have made friends with some of the local kids. Tamer’s father is Achmed who is the local Arab liaison for the Galilee Circus and is also a school teacher. The village they are in was started by 5 brothers and now consists of 16 generations of the families.

From Campground to Homestays

2007-07-15T14:51:00.000-05:00

July 13
The roosters (yes, plural) start crowing at 4 in the morning. I had been worried about the peacocks, but it is the roosters that are the most annoying. Some of the kids get woken up by having a rooster, duck, peacock or goose staring them in the face. They get up in ones and twos. Groggy and sleep deprived, they just continue playing with each other and hanging out.There is a climbing tree near the big trapeze rigging. Really, a climbing tree--- it has climbing wall foot holds nailed into it. The kids climb it. What IS the trapeze rigging for? In the light, I see it is missing guy lines and a tree has grown right to the trapeze.

campground fowl

keaton and duck

Then, Ali starts it. First, he is on the fence by the river, then on other side of the fence and then on the other side of the river. Amit, the teacher, is actually the next to join him in the river. There is a little bit of rapids over some rocks and Amit says sitting there is like getting a massage. Suddenly, there is a group of young circus kids swimming in the Jordan river. THE Jordan River or the JORDAN River, as Elliana had kept saying the night before. But the kids aren’t thinking that they are in a famous waterway. They are just kids playing in the water with their friends. Having fun, skipping stones, carrying each other on their backs, sitting in the rapids, exploring upstream.

wading in Jordan river

matt tree climbing

Breakfast is bread, chocolate spread, jam, butter, a white spreadable cheese called something like "laban", corn flakes, some sort of sweet Rice Krispie and the ever-present in Israel tomatoes, cucumber and peppers.

A man comes to lead the kids on a treasure hunt. They are told to split into three groups, think of a name for themselves, design a logo and write a song. Each group has kids of different ages, nationalities and sexes. They are given a map, some clues and a pickaxe. The red team wins. Everyone gets popsicles.

red team

treasure chest

green team treasure map

We go for a picnic lunch in another part of the park. (It seems like we are always eating on this trip, doesn’t it?)Pita, hummus, olves, tomatoes, tuna and some kind of meat with watermelon for dessert.

It turns out that the trapeze rigging is an old bungee ride rig. The insurance company made them shut it down. My story was that we were camped out on the site of an ancient trapeze school…

We load everything on the bus to go to Maj Rasa. This is a water hike that ends in a pool. Some of the kids are reluctant at first, but they all end up going in and splashing around. It never rains in Israel, in the summer. The Israelis seem to enjoy anything to do with water.

From there, we go to the Karmi’el parking lot for the children to be picked up by their host families. The three girls are going with Channi for the first night and the twins, Menar and Menal, the second night. Lemond and Michel will go to Shai’s; Keaton and Kellin to Royi’s; and Matt, Deon, Iking and Renaldo with Tamer. So, we will have children in both Jewish and Arab villages. The American children are nervous--- what will they be fed, what if they don’t like it? Where will they sleep? Deon and Iking are going just for the evening and coming home to sleep with us. Deon’s Mom doesn’t want him to do a homestay and Iking asked to not have to before we left America. I give everyone my cell phone number. But no one ever calls to be picked back up. The Israeli children are nervous, too. Menar asks me if I think the gilrs will like her home. Tamer, who is 14, thought maybe he should take younger kids with him instead of the older boys. I have no idea what the parents think.

I am so caught up in saying goodbye and giving them all copies of the Circus Teaches the Art of Life book and the Mary Engelbreit Arches to Israel poster to give to their host families that I forget to take pictures.

The adults, suddenly childless, are taken to the community of Shorashim, where Rabbi Marc lives. We stay in two trailers which are the guest houses of the community (I TOLD Iking it wasn’t a hotel).

Shorashim is a planned community that used to be a commune. The landscaping is beautiful. The homes are terraced onto the hillside. Rosemary is the predominant ground cover. Dir El Asad and Karmi’el are next to each other. One is Arabic and one is Jewish. It seems that mostly in Israel, the two live side-by-side but not together.

The adults have a lovely, delicious many-coursed dinner, on the patio of the gorgeous home of Rabbi Marc and his wife, Tammy. We are joined by their son, Lev, and their neighbors, Todd and Karen, who are from St. Louis (they went to Ladue High School---for all you St. Louisans who were going to ask). Todd and Karen’s daughters are with us, too. It is mandatory that all Jewish children jon the Israeli army. Israeli Arabs can, if they want to. Druze (an Arab Muslim sect) do serve like the Jews.

Deon calls to ask to stay at Tamer’s but we can’t reach his mother to get permission. He and Iking come to Shorashim. They Arabs pride themselves on serving guests really well. The boys tell how Tamer’s mother kept making them eat, even after they were full. She made them schnitzel (a boneless fried chicken) and French fries. Deon liked that they were served tea and coffee. The boys had all been doing tricks with the staffs, on the roof.

There is a wedding go on in the Arab village. You can hear the music across the hills, all the way to Shorashim. Deon thought the noise had been some sort of alarm. But it is a wedding celebration that will go on into the night. I wonder how all the kids are sleeping. They should be exhausted after their night in the campground.

Rabbi Marc and his son, Lev

keaton, rianna, amit and shaina

iking and michel

Last day at Kibbutz Sasa

2007-07-14T00:17:00.000-05:00

July 12

Sorry for the delay in posting. The kibbutz turned off the internet connection because of a private party--- though no one could explain why that is necessary. Tonight, we leave the kibbutz. Some of us will miss the meals there. There is a lot of variety and always fresh vegetables. But the kids are looking forward to having pizza tonight. However, there are only two choices for the pizza--- cheese with olives and cheese without olives.

Kellin, Naom, Yahron, Misa and Shai

Shaina, Rianna, Dan, Menar and Menal

The Arches have found the kibbutz store. The favorite purchases are Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and chocolate bars. There is a kind of chocolate bar here that has Pop Rocks in it.
We spend the first part of the morning emptying our rooms. This is a resort, after all, and they have been rented for the weekend.

Shaina and Temar

Partner Acro act

Iking and Channi

Ellie and Ali

Menar on trapeze

Elliana and Shar-El

Misa, Iking, Michel, Menar, Lemond, Shar-El, Channi, Amit, Menal
After we have moved everything out of the rooms, we go down to the gym and get in some practice time. We work some more on the partner acrobatics, , trapeze and staff acts. Maybe we will put together a contortion act. Break for lunch, some minitramp basketball and a last dip in the kibbutz pool.

Irena, the Russian circus teacher, comes and works on adding Elliana to the wire act. We give the girls some conditioning work on the web and trapeze and practice the rolla and some other acts.

Then, we run the whole show, pack everything up and go for our first taste of Israeli pizza! The kids are missing their pepperoni but they eat the pizza. We load up the bus and go to the Jordan River campground. When we get there, it is dark. Lemond spots a peacock.

We get thin tatami mats and there are umbrellas. People pitch their sleeping bags. We will sleep under the stars--- or under the umbrellas. Some of the Arches have never camped out before. One of the Israeli girls, Channi, gets off the bus and tells the organizers that they are crazy: there is NO WAY she is sleeping here. Rianna calls her over and gets her involved in the set up of the girls' area. Kellin builds his own elaborate little encampment and invites Yahron to join him. The others swing on a swinging bench, fake fight with the staffs, play cards and eat the snack food that has been brought.

Kellin and Yahron

A campfire is built. The Israeli custom is to roast potatoes but there are marshmallows, too, although they are strawberry flavored. The Arches do somersaults over the fire.

Matt

Deon

I find a huge outdoor trapeze rigging with a trapeze attached. Why is it there?

They eventually settle down in groups but do not go to sleep until way after 2. `

Birthday in the Heights

2007-07-12T01:18:00.000-05:00

July 11

Last night, after the show, we all got Galilee Circus shirts and partied on ice cream, chocolate and an Israeli snack called Bamba which is a peanut flavored cheese puff. We are going to make some shirts that say Galilee Arches Circus because that is what we have been calling this show. Below is a day photo of the patio outside our rooms.

This morning, everyone is pretty tired. The Arches did a workshop with a piece of equipment called a staff and Michael and I worked with the Galilee kids on globe, trapeze and minitrampoline. Then the man who runs the kibbutz gym set up this huge inflatable mat --- like a moon bounce without walls--- and the kids flipped and played on that. (Note: There is a dearth of pictures of some acts and activities because I am both teacher and photographer. But Alex, Howard and Richard are filming everything!)

It is both Renaldo and Rianna's birthdays and we sang Happy Birthday to them in all three languages. Then Gilad left for a few days and his teaching partner, Amit, took over. The other teacher who comes in the afternoon is a Russian woman named Irina.

After the lunch break, we watch a juggling show by some local jugglers, Netta and Yon. We set up the Spanish web and demonstrate it and let people try it. There is more practicing with the staffs. Mostly though, everyone is rather tired and some people nap on the mats. Rianna is the official hairdresser. Michael works with Noam on plates.

After dinner, we take a bus to meet some jeeps for a night tour of the Golan Heights. We split up into several jeeps. Each jeep has a search light that they use to look for animals. There are supposed to be gazelle. Mostly we see chameleons (the guides pick them off the trees to show us close up).

Misa, Menar, Menal and Keaton in jeep.

My jeep saw some jackals and another driver found a wolf spider and a dead scorpion for his jeep. The terrain is VERY rough and we go though some water as well. At the top of a hill, there are the ruins of an old temple. The view is stunning--- the Jordan river, twinkling lights of different villages, the stars above. We stop here and hear the story of the Temple. Inside, the Arches are thrilled to see graffiti that says "Afroman".

Amit makes a birthday presentation of a diabolo to Renaldo and 4 juggling balls to Rianna. Dan gives them some presents from the kibbutz store--- Israeli postcards for Renaldo and a Hebrew date book for Rianna--- along with Hebrew birthday cards signed by everyone. Then comes the floor show!!! Deon, Matt and Renaldo present a fire staff routine. It is really nice--- especially considering that they had only learned staff that day and had never done it with fire before! Then, Amit, performs his fire poi. A very memorable birthday celebration!

Preparing for First Show!

2007-07-10T06:21:00.000-05:00

What time is it? No one really knows. Deon and Junior got up early enough to see the sunrise. The sign says that the place we are staying in is called "Vacation in the Clouds." The view from our patio is lovely. Keaton's cat waited near our place overnight. Kellin has found a dog. The kids wake up and look out their doors.

We go to breakfast. This is a more recognizable meal and everyone eats. We got to the gym. There are only three teachers---myself, Michael and Gilad. Michael leads warm-up.

Then, we start putting together acts for the show. Royi and Keaton will do rolla. Elliana and Shar-el trapeze. 8 boys for diabolo, 5 for juggling, 8 boys and girls for unicycle and 12 for partner acrobatics.

We put together a pyramid with all 23 youth circus performers!

We create diabolo, juggling, rolla bolla, unicycling, partner acrobatics and double trapeze acts with kids from both groups. For the show we added single trapeze, tumbling and minitrampoline from the Arches and they add their wire walking act. The music is a combination of what they have and what we brought (Circus Harmony CD and the Da Capo Circus Flora CD).

It really is amazing.---to put all this together so fast under normal circumstances. But then you add the language situation. Michael and I speak no Hebrew or Arabic. In the morning we have only one other coach from the Galilee Circus. He speaks both and some of the kids speak a bit of English. A couple also speak both Hebrew and Arabic. A parent stops to visit and we use him to help translate. Still, we have a lot of acts being put togther with sign languge.But, it WORKS!!!

The kids break for lunch and then go swimming. After the break, we run the show one time through, finishing the acts as we go. Many of the Galilee kids have never stood on shoulders. But they do so without trepidation. I think what I notice the most is the total trust between the groups to do what you say (or sign) you are going to do. Royi gets right up on Keaton's shoulders for Keaton to do 2 high on rolla.No question.You say you will hold me and I believe you. We have 6 pairs of kids (one from each group in each pair) for the partner acro.

One of the Arches notes that he doesn't know which kids are Arabic and which kids are Jewish. It doesn't matter. We are all circus performers and we are creating something together which is inspirational in a way the kids don't even think about! After only one day of practice, we perform the show for the people of the kibbutz. It is beautiful and it is only the beginning.

Welcome to Israel!

2007-07-09T23:38:00.000-05:00

Off the plane, no lost bags, change some money, get on a bus, drive three hours. Stop at a parking lot in Karmi'el to pick up the 12 Galilee Circus performers we will be working with. We got off the bus to meet them. There was some juggling done, including a 5 ball takeaway with our Lemond and their Noam.

Back on the bus and everyone sits with someone from the other group. We go to the Kibbutz Sasa where we will be staying for about a week. First, lunch. There are people of all ages there from the kibbutz. It is like a cafeteria and there is a lot to choose from but some of our children won't try the food. We think the vegetables are from the kibbutz farm. For me, there is a wide selection of coffee drinks but all the signs are in Hebrew. I end up with cappuccino. The kids say it is the Hebrew signs that make them feel they are in a different country. They cheered when they passed a McDonalds with the regular golden arches. After lunch, we go to our rooms. We have a three-story building with guestrooms that sleep three or four each. The kids split themselves up. Some stay with the ones they know and some mix up with the others.

The names are what is really strange. We can't pronounce theirs and they have trouble with ours. But the kids are getting along great. We go to the gym and present our new friends with the circus gifts we have brought them: the trapeze (from Which Way Is Up? RIgging Consultants), web (from Custom Built Equipment), globe (from Renegade Juggling Equipment) and juggling equipment (from the American Youth Circus Organization store). They have been wanting a globe very much. They are very happy with the trapeze but have never seen a web. Juggling equipment is always in need.

The kids start to play--- basketball and circus. Two international languages. Our kids try their strap-on stilts, their kids try the minitramp (they borrowed one for us to use but after we leave, I bet they find one for their own).

Several of them work hard on trapeze. Elle is taught a trick on the wire where you walk inside a bike wheel rim. The American kids haven't slept for 36 hours. They put the minitramp under the basketball hoop and make great, flying shots.

We stop and all go to dinner. Then, the kids hang out and the teachers talk about the presentation we will prepare for the kibbutz tomorrow. Some in words, some in pictures.
Keaton finds a cat and Rianna names it "Fierce". There are a number of dogs just running around the kibbutz. It's like Circus Flora, Renaldo says. The kids finally go to sleep. It has been a long day and a half!

Really Going

2007-07-09T13:13:00.000-05:00

Only one person was late getting to the airport.

Our intrepid documentarian, Alexandra, was there to chronicle. Everyone looked awesome in their new warm-ups from Embroidme in Brentwood. Everyone even had their passports. The Arches who weren't going came to see us off--- Alex, Claire and Anthony. Alex and Renaldo did some airport acro.

Channel 4 news called and said they were coming to cover our departure but then three kids climbed up a radio tower in Jefferson county and got stuck. The news guy apologized that he had to go over the kids who did a stupid thing instead of covering us but promised to cover our return. Channel 11 called and said they were coming but they got there too late.
Our gifts of a rolling globe along with the aerial and juggling equipment all checked though at no extra cost. Our thanks to Marilyn who showed up with journals for everyone, Patty who brought bags of snacks for each performer and Suzi who figured out where and when we would be at the airport from the blog and brought a beautiful homemade card and a generous donation.

We all cleared security except for the confiscation of some suntan lotion and shampoo. Then, it became clear that this was really happening. People read the shirts and jackets and ask us about who we are and where we are going. The kids are getting quite articulate in their responses. People are impressed wih the mission and the kids.

The first plane to Newark was very small. Most of the kids slept. As we went from our arrival gate in Newark to the new departure gate we bumped right into our other documentarians, Richard and Howard. Perfect timing.

Keaton talks to a number of people. They are fascinated with this young group. We grabbed a bite to eat and then went through a special additional security screening since we were going to Israel. A reminder that what we are doing has some risk. But also a reminder how much acts of peace are needed.

I write this on the plane to Tel Aviv--- over 5800 miles across the world. This plane is much bigger. We talk about the sun's path in relation to our flight. The kids are excited by the computerized entertainment screens on the back of each seat.

Leaving on a Jet Plane!

2007-07-08T02:40:00.000-05:00

Chris’ wedding was lovely. The Arches who performed at his reception did a great job. Then, Chris got up and actually did a round-off backhandspring, to the cheers of the crowd.

We meet at the airport tomorrow at 7:30 AM to start on this amazing journey. There are 11 youth circus performers---Keaton, Kellin, Elliana, Rianna, Shaina, Matt, Renaldo, Deon, Michel, Iking and Lemond; two chaperones--- Rianna’s father, Dan Glazier, and Iking’s mentor, Diane Rankin Miller; two teaching artists--- myself and Michael Hagerstrom; plus three documentarians--- Alexandra, who is making her own documentary about children in the circus, Richard, who is an old sailing counselor of mine who felt the story of this expedition needed to be told and Howard, Richard’s old college roommate who has documentary experience.

We have many people to thank for supporting this mission: Circus Remedy, St. Louis Regional Arts Commission, Staenberg Family Foundation, Partnership 2000, Cirque Du Soleil, Cate Ponder, Bob Knipfer, Mary Strauss, Mike Killian, Jessica Mullins, Karen Schellin, Central Reform Congregation and many more. We could not be going over there, if we did not have so much support from so many people over here. Thank you, everyone!

The hardest part for these kids will be sitting still for 10 and half hours. You can see them very much not sitting still on You Tube at:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bWzoF07bPqs arches on flora
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBfM1y4iGBw arches promo montage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdzN2IsxVDQ arches to Israel montage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgHoSu-M8X4 elliaire duet

Hopefully, our next blog will be from the road (or the skyways)!

Countdown

2007-07-07T01:13:00.000-05:00

Counting down to our departure. Today, Rabbi Michael Alpern came in and talked about Israeli hip hop, ghettoes and graffiti. Rabbi Michael and the father of one of our campers gave us Tzedakah (the commandment of charity) money for Israel. Apparently, it is a custom to give money to people who are going to Israel. To bless their trip, the travellers need to give the money to someone in need. Documentarian Alexandra Lipsitz returned to continue her work on “Children in the Circus.” She interviewed people and filmed as we packed the gifts--- a trapeze from Which Way Is Up? Rigging Consultants, a Spanish Web from Custom Built Equipment, juggling props from the AYCO store, the Mary Engelbreit poster, the Art of Life books and St. Louis Arch key rings from the Shoelace Factory--- along with our costumes. People went home to start packing. Tomorrow night, the Arches perform at the wedding of Chris Ross, former St. Louis Arch. He's the bottom person picutred in the pyramid below.

We meet at the airport on Sunday at 7:30 AM!

St. Louis' Bounciest Ambassadors

2007-07-06T00:43:00.000-05:00

In the world today, there is intolerance, hatred and war. Racial slurs and stereotypes abound. Racial profiling is commonplace. Many would say the world is in discord. We believe the path to peace is a path of cooperation and communication. Teaching children from different neighborhoods how to stand on each other’s shoulders may seem like a strange way to take this path. But it’s the technique used by the Circus Day Foundation!

For the first time ever, Circus Day will be taking its message and methods overseas. Final preparations are under way for our journey to Israel as Youth Circus Peace Ambassadors. The St. Louis Arches, our advanced youth circus troupe, has been invited to Israel by the Galilee Foundation for Value Education to do a residency with their Jewish /Arab youth troupe called the Galilee Circus.

The similar philosophies of the Circus Day Foundation (www.circusday.org) and the Galilee Foundation for Value Education (http://galilan.com/~hamakom/) make them natural partners. The residency for the two groups will take place July 8 – July 23. The youth circus performers will spend one week working together, sharing circus skills and creating a group show which will then tour Israel.

While the members of the Galilee Circus and the St. Louis Arches are having the most amazing time of their lives as they share circus skills with each other and across Israel, they will be showing the world that is really doesn’t matter where you are from or what your background is, it is who YOU are and what YOU do that makes a difference. This cross-cultural, country- connecting circus will demonstrate in a breath-taking way what can happen when people of different nationalities and backgrounds build something together. These are only children--- but they have a lot to teach the rest of the world. Join us via this blog as we promote peace though pyramids, joy though juggling and harmony through handsprings!

Every Day a Circus Day Independence Day!

2007-07-04T10:26:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Circus Day Foundation's new blog:

Every Day a Circus Day!

Circus Day Foundation's mission is to teach the art of life through circus education. We work to build character and expand community for youth of all ages, cultures, abilites and backgrounds. Through the teaching and performing of circus arts we help people defy gravity, soar with confidence and leap over social barriers, all at the same time.

This blog will chronicle the adventures of the youth circus performers of the Circus Day Foundation based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. To find out more about us, please visit our website at http://www.circusday.org/.

Today is 4th of July, 2007. We have youth circus performers in three different locations in St. Louis: Fair St. Louis in downtown St. Louis, Chesterfield 4th of July Celebration and the O'Fallon Heritage and Freedom Festival. Happy

Independence Day!

We are getting ready to leave for Israel on July8!