DETROIT
JEWISH NEWS

learning of the heart

Kol Ami teens do life-altering work in Domincan Republic.

by Emily Shottenfels, Emily Katz, Liz Nagle, Rob Pasick

S

even teens from Temple
Kol Ami's Family Reli-
gious School traveled to
the Dominican Republic on a
humanitarian mission in late
March. With Rabbi Norman
Roman, education director
Andee Liberman and congre-
gant Steven Kendler, they had
the experience of a lifetime.
The Institute for Latin
American Culture (ILAC)
based in Santiago, Dominican
Republic, placed us in a vil-
lage called Arroyo Blanco, in
the mountain range near the
municipal area of Tenares. It
has 60 families, with a popula-
tion of 313 people, who live by
producing cocoa and coffee.
Our work was to lay con-
crete floors in homes where
families are living in mud and
filth. We learned each floor is
equivalent to saving five lives
because we have decreased
the chance of spreading dis-
ease to other villagers. The

honor and mitzvah of saving
45 lives is overwhelming.
The bus journey from San-
tiago to the ILAC site where
we stayed the first and last
nights can be described as
mind blowing. Along the ride,
we witnessed real Dominican
life, not the glorified tour-
ist version. We passed small
shops, houses with wood walls
and tin roofs and many Do-
minicans roaming the street.
At the site, we met the 30
volunteer doctors who came to
examine Dominican patients.
These doctors brought at least
20 duffels of medical supplies
for the missionary pharmacy.
We sorted the supplies and set
up the pharmacy.
The next morning, we left
for the mountain. No, Ameri-
can car would last a day on
the streets of the Dominican
Republic. During the ride,
we experienced indescribable
scenery: beautiful mountains,

animals and landscaping.

Breaking The Ice
Arroyo Blanco is rural and
poor, yet individuals express
the exact opposite. Smiles
fill their faces and happiness
emanates from their souls.
This was an utter shock and
seemed ironic to us Ameri-
cans; we initially thought the
children would be miserable.
Yet they were happy, regard-
less of the dire circumstances.
In fact, all the villagers dis-

played their pride and grati- and see poverty; a Western
tude while purified joy eter- heart would weep for all these
natives don't have. But, after
nally graced their hearts.
Once we arrived at the vil- two days, it is clear whose so-
lage, we stood around awk- ciety has the upper hand.
The village welcomed us
wardly as they greeted us. It
was a lot to take in. Then we with friendliness unknown to
thought about what Left: Emily Schottenfels me until this ex-
kids can do together, and Emily Katz with kids perience. I (Emily
Katz) slept in the
despite the language from Arroyo Blanco, a
barriers and cultural village in th e Dominican mayor's house,
ate food prepared
differences. Sports!
Republic where seven
by the village
We noticed a teens from Temple Kol
women and held
small, dirt basketball Ami volunt eered to itn-
hands with the
court and wooden prove living conditions.
tiny bare-footed
hoop, so we opened
up duffels and brought out a youth. During the day, we
variety of balls. This was the sweated in the sun, mixing
icebreaker. Immediately, a and laying cement with the
basketball game between the men in their homes.
We not only experienced
Americans and the Domini-
their culture, we also shared
cans began.
Although their rules were ours. On Friday night, we lit
different and they played in Shabbat candles; and Satur-
rubber boots, we played like day evening, we did Havdalah
we had been friends for a long as villagers looked on.
Despite the poverty, this
time. We also brought a duf-
fel with basketballs, footballs, country is the richest I've
baseballs, soccer balls and known by way of community
Frisbees. The children lit up as and support. They live side
by side in houses the size of
each one was handed a ball.
the average West Bloomfield
laundry room. Yet this culture
Opening Emily's Eyes
Human connection. Myth or is the furthest from impover-
fact? I was willing to argue for ished as you can get! I envy
the former with vehemence their way of life and the hu-
as strong as the Dominican man connection innate in the
sun. Two days in this foreign hillside cities and villages.
It can be argued this is be-
land of smiles and bare feet.
A blind eye would look upon cause they know nothing else,
the village of Arroyo Blanco but can the same not be said
for our "Americano" lifestyle?
We know nothing of how they
live. Could any American, for
one week, give up our materi-
al goods and "peace-of-mind"
living for the heat and hospi-
tality of the Dominican hills?
Doubtful. I have officially fall-
en in love with this place.

How We Did it
We mixed 75 bags of concrete

Temple Kol Aml volunteers with their new Dominican friends.

continued on page 174

teen2teen May 13 .2010 TT1