WHAT ARE LIVING BRIDGES
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Connecting people to people, cultures to cultures, countries to countries, religions to religions, tribes to tribes, people to animals, businesses to businesses, me to you, you to me. And more. There are endless ways we create Living Bridges on Planet Earth. We do it often without even realizing it. We take it for granted. Like breathing. My blog is here for us to share, discuss and celebrate them, to inspire each other and to build relationships in the universe that truly matter. I am curious about and humbled by the ability we have to step into openings, the voids, the vacuums and fill them with our humanity. Please join me on this journey. Let’s create volumes of Living Bridges together.
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Sharing ice cream with Tesehel in Arad.
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ABOUT MIRIAM SEIDEN
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Cultural Explorer
Wanderlust and curiosity have been my consistent mainstays since childhood. Growing up in N.J., my mom called me a Gypsy. Today I call myself a Nomad, wandering from place to place in the world searching for fuel to satisfy my insatiable appetite to experience life. My first real adventure was upon graduation from Hofstra University. Accompanied by my then boyfriend, Gabriel, plus our backpacks, tent, and Eurail passes, we flew to London and began our 3 month journey throughout Europe. I didn’t even attend my graduation ceremony! I couldn’t wait to get going. We explored Western Europe sleeping on trains, on park benches, in youth hostels and in our tent. Our last stop together was Athens where no rooms were to be found so we paid to sleep on a youth hostel roof with other travelers. Ah, youth! Gabriel and I bid adieu at the Athens Airport. I had a student flight to Tel Aviv. Gabriel went home to finish school. Yes, I was a Cougar! I arrived at Ben Gurion Airport at 1am with the name Kibbutz Gat in hand. I had prearranged to volunteer there for 6 months through the Jewish Agency in NYC. I knew to look for an immigration office at the airport and the kind gentleman working there told me to sit down, have a cup of tea and cookies and wait for the sunrise. He then put me in a cab, paid the driver, told him where to take me, and gave me the bus number and fare for the next leg of my mystery tour. I hitchhiked 5 km to the kibbutz after the bus ride. And so it began, my initiation into independent travel, and immersion into Israeli kibbutz life and culture. I was 20 years old. My life changed beyond any dreams or expectations. As is often said, the rest is history. But I will add geography, photography, demography, mythology, autobiography, archeology, psychology, topography and so much more. |
The Lakiya Negev Weaving Project was established in 1991 as an income and empowerment producing project for the Bedouin women living in the Negev Desert, Israel. Applying their traditional weaving skills passed from mother to daughter for generations, they produce and sell woven apparel, pillow covers, rugs and small accessories.
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NEXT ADVENTURE
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Relocation (Aliya) to Israel
I am honored to participate in a historical final mission of Ethiopian Jews, approved by the State of Israel for assistance to immigrate to Israel. Selah, an Israeli based organization that provides comprehensive support to immigrants in Israel whose lives have been torn apart by tragedy and who lack the resources to cope, will lead this mission from 12/31/17 to 1/4/18. Micha Feldmann, one of Israel’s most important leaders of the effort to assist Ethiopians to immigrate and flourish in Israel is heading the mission. A historic figure in Operation Solomon, author of “On Wings of Eagles”, Feldmann has led over 70 missions to Ethiopia. There have been 2 waves of Jewish Ethiopian immigration to Israel, Operation Moses in 1984 and Operation Solomon in 1991. There are currently 130,000 resettled Ethiopian Jews in Israel. I will be meeting this next wave, learning about their history, their current living conditions and what is involved to integrate them into Israeli life. I am beyond excited and will blog all along the way. Stay tuned!
I am honored to participate in a historical final mission of Ethiopian Jews, approved by the State of Israel for assistance to immigrate to Israel. Selah, an Israeli based organization that provides comprehensive support to immigrants in Israel whose lives have been torn apart by tragedy and who lack the resources to cope, will lead this mission from 12/31/17 to 1/4/18. Micha Feldmann, one of Israel’s most important leaders of the effort to assist Ethiopians to immigrate and flourish in Israel is heading the mission. A historic figure in Operation Solomon, author of “On Wings of Eagles”, Feldmann has led over 70 missions to Ethiopia. There have been 2 waves of Jewish Ethiopian immigration to Israel, Operation Moses in 1984 and Operation Solomon in 1991. There are currently 130,000 resettled Ethiopian Jews in Israel. I will be meeting this next wave, learning about their history, their current living conditions and what is involved to integrate them into Israeli life. I am beyond excited and will blog all along the way. Stay tuned!
JOURNEY WITH ME AROUND THE WORLD
Check out my Blog to learn about various cultures around the world and living bridges around the globe.
Join me on social media too.
Join me on social media too.
