Pride is an attribute drilled into the heart and soul of the Jewish people. As my days go on here in Israel, my sense of pride in both the Jewish people as well as the state of Israel continues to blossom. Three events from this past week in particular further sunk this feeling into my heart- The 1000 day of Gilad Shalit going missing, Shabbat in the old city and seeing the movie Defiance with my Holocaust class.
Last Wednesday three friends and I, looking for an adventure to embark on in the holy city of Jerusalem, found ourselves in front of the Presidents house on Gaza Street. Pitched outside of his residence, were upwards of 5 tents, hundreds of pictures, letters, petitions and people all in support of returning Gilad Shalit from the hands of terrorists to Eretz Yisrael. The mood was quiet but hopeful; people were smiling and seemingly optimistic about the return of Israel’s beloved soldier. Across the street sat another, not so popular tent dawning a poster in bold red and black letters in Hebrew, “Yes, Free Gilad. But don’t free Terrorists.” Surrounding this tent were hundreds of candles and posters of all of those Israelis murdered in terrorist attacks since the year 2000. This unbelievable display of Israeli reality silenced my friends and I, leaving us with a pit deep in our stomachs that every Israeli undoubtedly feels when faced with such an agonizing emotion.
On our way to visit the tents, we were stopped by an Israeli teenager who expressed to us the scene that lay ahead. He said the family was optimistic, in high spirits surprisingly. We questioned him about the tent across the street and he simply answered, we agree with them too. The sense of community, caring and understanding that thickened the air last Wednesday night, undoubtedly gave me the chills. Israelis are confronted with a lot of adversity in their lifetimes- everyone knows someone who did something important, who risked their life for the State of Israel and the Jewish people. This event sucked me into the sense of pride rooted deeply in the neshama of the Israeli.
For the weekend I spent Shabbat in the old city. Surrounded by interesting, different, loving people, most of whom I had never met, I felt unbelievably close to God. As I walked through the Cardo, under those ancient arches to the Kotel, I heard loud and fervent noise. We turned the corner after the infamous gold menorah to a sea of people singing, dancing and davening Kabbalat Shabbat. It was jammed packed with people from all walks of life joining together to bring in Shabbat. We had dinner and lunch the next day surround by people who are living their dream by being in Israel- for however long that may be. I was yet again, overcome with pride to be a part of this great nation of people.
Something super specific to Israel is its relationship to the Holocaust. One of the classes I am taking here is Jewish and Non Jewish Relations during the Holocaust, taught by an accomplished historian and scholar at Yad Vashem. I have yet to take a Holocaust class in college, and I figured this was a better place than any. The history of the Holocaust played a huge role in the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 as well a reminder as to the importance of the future of the state as a rock and safehaven for the global Jewish community.
My class took a field trip on Monday to the Malka Mall on the edge of Jerusalem to privately view the movie Defiance- based on the book Defiance that we are reading for class. The film was about the Belski Partisans that hid and fought in the forests of Belarusia during WWII. The partisans in the end saved about 1200 people—rescuing them from ghettos among other places. The film as you can imagine was kind of gory and a bit sad at times. It captured however, the strength and pride in which this band of Jews stood up for themselves and fought against one of the cruelest peoples to walk the face of the earth. As the movie ended, an overwhelming sense of pride filled my heart. It had hit me when we walked out of the theater into the mall that the plight of the Belski partisans did not only go unnoticed or been forgotten but continues today in the very land that I am blessed to walk on every day.
The existence of the state of Israel after the atrocities that befell the Jews of Eastern Europe is AMAZING! Everything we have here was built by Jews, for Jews as a safe haven against those who had and could potentially decree our demise. From the ashes of the Holocaust, a thriving oasis in a harsh, cruel, hostile environment, Israel continues to flourish and survive despite its enemies wills. As I sit here, hoping to inspire all of you to love Israel as deeply as I do, stunned by its sheer existence and success, and listening to the Idan Reichel Project in the background, I am left purely with a sense of pride for what my people have done and continue to do for this land and its inhabitants.
On a completely different note- I started my internship FINALLY last week. I intern at the Dati Meled Alternative School at 30 Hillel Street in downtown Jerusalem. This school is for “religious” drop-outs. Considered high risk in Israel- “ Meled’s students represent a growing phenomenon: the inability of many adolescents from observant families to operate and succeed in traditional educational frameworks. Some are victims of terrorism and have been emotionally traumatized by their experiences; others come from single parent families or immigrant families that have not been able to adjust to life in Israel. They may have left or been kicked out of their homes and driven to street drugs and petty crimes; girls are in an even more precarious situation.”
I work with these students twice a week helping them with English! They all ask me two questions initially- Am I religious and when am I making aliyah? So far I LOVE it. I am going to begin working with one girl, Miriam, in particular. She said she is one of 7 children, speaks not so highly of her American born father, and has a beautiful smile.
More to come on this for sure!
I miss all of you and REALLY want to hear about your lives in the States.
With Love,
Sara
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Purim Good Purim Good Purim Purim Good Purim Purim
Living in Jerusalem is like nothing else. Some say it’s indescribable, magical, mystical, and crazy even. As January ran in to February and before I could breathe March appeared, I continue to scratch the surface of understanding those who describe Jerusalem. Under this umbrella of understanding lies the experience of chaggim in this wonderful country. A few posts back I wrote about the beauty of the holiday of Tu Beshavat in Jerusalem. Something permeates the air here on chaggim- and Shabbat for that matter- and I definitely caught a whiff the past three days when Purim engulfed the city of Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, Purim is celebrated the day after the rest of the world celebrates it- called Shushan Purim. For the same reason holidays are celebrated for two days in the states ( it took a while to hear the news), Jerusalem- a walled city- heard the “news” about the Jews of Shushan a day later. In Jerusalem, therefore, we celebrate “shushan purim.”
For days I wrestled with costume ideas for this joyous celebration of yet another victory for the Jewish people in a foreign land- landing on the idea to be mother earth. ( Pictures will be on facebook eventually) Mother earth was a hard one for Israelis to grasp- going green isn’t as big here yet. I wore all green - a long flowing skirt and chacos to tie it together- with flowers in my hair and paint on my face.
As for actual purim- I spent the night at the Karlebach moshav outside of Modin. What an experience. The karlebach moshav is unlike anything. The gist of this place is about 7 couples in the early 1980’s were huge fans of Rabbi Shlomo Karlebach- decided it would be great to move outside of the craziness of a city to a more rural communities- where a lot was communal, their kids could run free and they could enjoy living their religious, hippie, nature-loving, Karlebach-inspired lives. The moshav now holds about 45 families, seemingly stuck in time. My friend Carly and I arrived just as megillah reading was beginning- after about an hour long journey, including a relatively normal blowing up of a suspicious item in the street which stopped traffic for about 45 minutes- to find men, women and children completely decked out in purim-garb! Following the reading of the megillah was a costume contest, a concert and of course a rave in the forest. Everyone was enjoying in the mitzvah of drinking wine on purim. We stayed on the floor of one of the founding families of the moshav- the Silvers- and the next morning made mishloach manot, a seudah meal and the like with them. There were other guests at the silvers as well- from Toronto, Argentina and Sweden!- and we had intense conversations about everything from American politics, Judaism, family, history and more. I found myself, about twenty minutes into our conversation, taking a step back realizing the true beauty in what was occurring in front of my eyes- only in Israel. I concluded after my less thatn 24 hours at the Moshav that is was essentially Jewish overnight camp for families. As Purim was ending on the moshav and the rest of Israel, and in full swing in the states, we began out trek back to Jerusalem to start it all over again!
We tremped back to Jerusalem ( hitch hiked- don’t worry we weren’t alone and the man was wearing a kippah and listening to Chassidic music also, ITS ISRAEL!) just in time to hear the megillah for time number three in Nachloat- the place to be for Purim. Later the night we met up with tons of friends and began celebrating! At about 11 pm the streets of Nachloat turned into the most intense party I have ever been to in my life even trumping the greatest party week of all time, little 5 ( sorry hoosiers!). People dressed in the most unbelievably creative costume, dancing, jumping rather; to Purim songs in the streets of the hippie religious neighborhood that is Nachlaot. I lasted until about 3 in the morning until my dancing feet couldn’t hold me any longer. The next morning I heard Megillah yet again, and helped make a seudah at the house I was staying at- sushi!!!! As for the rest of the day, the streets of Nachlaot became alive again, we delivered mishloach manot, met up with more friends, and enjoyed.
Purim surpassed every expectation that I had of it. It is unlike any little 5 party, Halloween, city wide event or the like. People running through the streets screaming chag sameach and good purim, doesn’t exist anywhere but here. Kodem Kol,
That’s one more point for Jerusalem!
Until next time,
Sara
In Jerusalem, Purim is celebrated the day after the rest of the world celebrates it- called Shushan Purim. For the same reason holidays are celebrated for two days in the states ( it took a while to hear the news), Jerusalem- a walled city- heard the “news” about the Jews of Shushan a day later. In Jerusalem, therefore, we celebrate “shushan purim.”
For days I wrestled with costume ideas for this joyous celebration of yet another victory for the Jewish people in a foreign land- landing on the idea to be mother earth. ( Pictures will be on facebook eventually) Mother earth was a hard one for Israelis to grasp- going green isn’t as big here yet. I wore all green - a long flowing skirt and chacos to tie it together- with flowers in my hair and paint on my face.
As for actual purim- I spent the night at the Karlebach moshav outside of Modin. What an experience. The karlebach moshav is unlike anything. The gist of this place is about 7 couples in the early 1980’s were huge fans of Rabbi Shlomo Karlebach- decided it would be great to move outside of the craziness of a city to a more rural communities- where a lot was communal, their kids could run free and they could enjoy living their religious, hippie, nature-loving, Karlebach-inspired lives. The moshav now holds about 45 families, seemingly stuck in time. My friend Carly and I arrived just as megillah reading was beginning- after about an hour long journey, including a relatively normal blowing up of a suspicious item in the street which stopped traffic for about 45 minutes- to find men, women and children completely decked out in purim-garb! Following the reading of the megillah was a costume contest, a concert and of course a rave in the forest. Everyone was enjoying in the mitzvah of drinking wine on purim. We stayed on the floor of one of the founding families of the moshav- the Silvers- and the next morning made mishloach manot, a seudah meal and the like with them. There were other guests at the silvers as well- from Toronto, Argentina and Sweden!- and we had intense conversations about everything from American politics, Judaism, family, history and more. I found myself, about twenty minutes into our conversation, taking a step back realizing the true beauty in what was occurring in front of my eyes- only in Israel. I concluded after my less thatn 24 hours at the Moshav that is was essentially Jewish overnight camp for families. As Purim was ending on the moshav and the rest of Israel, and in full swing in the states, we began out trek back to Jerusalem to start it all over again!
We tremped back to Jerusalem ( hitch hiked- don’t worry we weren’t alone and the man was wearing a kippah and listening to Chassidic music also, ITS ISRAEL!) just in time to hear the megillah for time number three in Nachloat- the place to be for Purim. Later the night we met up with tons of friends and began celebrating! At about 11 pm the streets of Nachloat turned into the most intense party I have ever been to in my life even trumping the greatest party week of all time, little 5 ( sorry hoosiers!). People dressed in the most unbelievably creative costume, dancing, jumping rather; to Purim songs in the streets of the hippie religious neighborhood that is Nachlaot. I lasted until about 3 in the morning until my dancing feet couldn’t hold me any longer. The next morning I heard Megillah yet again, and helped make a seudah at the house I was staying at- sushi!!!! As for the rest of the day, the streets of Nachlaot became alive again, we delivered mishloach manot, met up with more friends, and enjoyed.
Purim surpassed every expectation that I had of it. It is unlike any little 5 party, Halloween, city wide event or the like. People running through the streets screaming chag sameach and good purim, doesn’t exist anywhere but here. Kodem Kol,
That’s one more point for Jerusalem!
Until next time,
Sara
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Shinuim
Wow
It has been way to long of a time since I last poured my heart into a blog. The past three weeks or so have definitely been a roller coaster per usual of Israel. There have been a lot of changes including wonderful new things, the beginning of many new friendships and realizations about old ones.
Shinui (Change) Rishon: I finally moved from the Resnick dorms to the Kfar Studentim. Great Decision. I now have my own room- an almost fully equipped kitchen, internet, great roommates and a much closer walk to the new friends I have made. It truly is amazing how significant the change has been. I have found myself more outgoing, meeting more people and the like.
It was just what I needed.
Shinui hasheni: Classes started…finally! I am taking Hebrew, which for once in my life is easy. Environmental and Natural Resource policy of Israel and the Middle East, which is super interesting, is my second class. Today we talked about religion and Zionism and the environment. Its continues to amaze me how much the three major monotheistic religions have in common- including the idea that man has a responsibility to take care of the earth. We discussed numerous issues- spanning from the existence of God to the damning beavers do in Western Canada. I can already tell it will be an amazing class, melding environmental issues and Israel- what could be better, aside the fact that Israel has some MAJOR issues. Were going on a trip to the Dead Sea (ridiculous right!) to witness first hand some of the water issues facing Israel today. The professor happens to be the admissions dead at the Arava Institute- a world famous environmental studies school in the desert.
Another class I’m taking is on the rescuers and partisans of the Holocaust. The professor for this class works for Yad Vashem and is amazing. We’re going to Yad Vashem and to a private viewing of the movie Defiance! I have believe it or not, not yet taken a class on the Holocaust in college, so here it is! My last class yes there are only 4!) is the JESNA class. This class is all about Jewish education in North America- the issues, the promises, what we can do etc. Coupled with this class is an internship. My internship is at the Amit Alternative school. I’ll be tutoring “high risk” teenagers- something I feel like I have some background in thanks to my crazy summer with my favorite campers! This class also puts me on a list and invites me into a network of Jewish educators- keeping me informed about internships, jobs etc. until I tell them to stop. While I don’t know where my life will take me after I graduate- and being in Israel makes it extra tempting to come back here- having this network and option is both comforting and smart.
Shinui Shlishi- Relationships! I have found myself over the past few weeks extra social. Making new, wonderful friends, meeting amazing people who I have a lot in common with and the like. I spent the last shabbas hanging out with three wonderful ladies- lounging around all shabbas in PJ’s. It was wonderful to say the least. I began to realize that I needed to make the most of my time here and in light of some harder events, changes in a specific relationship- I found myself surrounded by people who were supportive and caring, loving and understanding. Even in my most personal relationship here, I have begun to make changes and seen great success. Being in the here and now is something i am trying very hard to work on. Sometimes it takes something shocking and painful to bring that to the forefront. Needless to say, that very personal relationship is being worked on- by purely starting from the beginning. The basis of any great relationship is a friendship and it is something lacking from this relationship in particular. Rewinding a bit has made us realize that what has been lying underneath the whole time—something very special and real.
Shinui Arba- I got my nose pierced!!! Its adorable and really classy looking, in my opinion. I feel more Israel, more earthy, and like it’s a really good fit for me. Im keeping in clean, don’t worry, and liking it more and more every day.
One other thing I want to mention, is a recent film I saw entitled, “ The Cemetery Club.” I’ve been trying to be super cultural while im here- movies, concerts and the like. Anyway, this movie was a part of a series on women film makers (just around Rosh Chodesh) in Israel. This film in particular was on two elderly women in Jerusalem who were apart of a group of about 20 other elderly Israelis who met in the cemetery every week. The film focused on their lives before coming to Israel as well as the early years when the state was being established. As the film progressed, more members of the club began to die. The members of this club were not only survivors of holocaust, but founders of the State of Israel. They have lived through both the most challenging and most thrilling parts of Jewish History. The women focused on in the movie represented a large group of people in Israel- who I now have much more respect for. What the old women who shoved me out of the way in the shuk this afternoon, has seen with her old sunken eyes, is more than I can imagine. A true appreciation and understanding flooded my heart at the end of this film, for the elderly in this state. Amazing.
I could go on forever about my time in Israel. Every day is another adventure; I see something that gives me the chills and especially things that make me reconsider how I have felt about something before, or how I experience it now.
Purim is coming up this week- school is out and im hoping to be mother nature!
I promise to take pictures and even more importantly- write about it.
I hope you are all doing wonderfully.
Id love to hear from you!!
B’ahava
Sara
It has been way to long of a time since I last poured my heart into a blog. The past three weeks or so have definitely been a roller coaster per usual of Israel. There have been a lot of changes including wonderful new things, the beginning of many new friendships and realizations about old ones.
Shinui (Change) Rishon: I finally moved from the Resnick dorms to the Kfar Studentim. Great Decision. I now have my own room- an almost fully equipped kitchen, internet, great roommates and a much closer walk to the new friends I have made. It truly is amazing how significant the change has been. I have found myself more outgoing, meeting more people and the like.
It was just what I needed.
Shinui hasheni: Classes started…finally! I am taking Hebrew, which for once in my life is easy. Environmental and Natural Resource policy of Israel and the Middle East, which is super interesting, is my second class. Today we talked about religion and Zionism and the environment. Its continues to amaze me how much the three major monotheistic religions have in common- including the idea that man has a responsibility to take care of the earth. We discussed numerous issues- spanning from the existence of God to the damning beavers do in Western Canada. I can already tell it will be an amazing class, melding environmental issues and Israel- what could be better, aside the fact that Israel has some MAJOR issues. Were going on a trip to the Dead Sea (ridiculous right!) to witness first hand some of the water issues facing Israel today. The professor happens to be the admissions dead at the Arava Institute- a world famous environmental studies school in the desert.
Another class I’m taking is on the rescuers and partisans of the Holocaust. The professor for this class works for Yad Vashem and is amazing. We’re going to Yad Vashem and to a private viewing of the movie Defiance! I have believe it or not, not yet taken a class on the Holocaust in college, so here it is! My last class yes there are only 4!) is the JESNA class. This class is all about Jewish education in North America- the issues, the promises, what we can do etc. Coupled with this class is an internship. My internship is at the Amit Alternative school. I’ll be tutoring “high risk” teenagers- something I feel like I have some background in thanks to my crazy summer with my favorite campers! This class also puts me on a list and invites me into a network of Jewish educators- keeping me informed about internships, jobs etc. until I tell them to stop. While I don’t know where my life will take me after I graduate- and being in Israel makes it extra tempting to come back here- having this network and option is both comforting and smart.
Shinui Shlishi- Relationships! I have found myself over the past few weeks extra social. Making new, wonderful friends, meeting amazing people who I have a lot in common with and the like. I spent the last shabbas hanging out with three wonderful ladies- lounging around all shabbas in PJ’s. It was wonderful to say the least. I began to realize that I needed to make the most of my time here and in light of some harder events, changes in a specific relationship- I found myself surrounded by people who were supportive and caring, loving and understanding. Even in my most personal relationship here, I have begun to make changes and seen great success. Being in the here and now is something i am trying very hard to work on. Sometimes it takes something shocking and painful to bring that to the forefront. Needless to say, that very personal relationship is being worked on- by purely starting from the beginning. The basis of any great relationship is a friendship and it is something lacking from this relationship in particular. Rewinding a bit has made us realize that what has been lying underneath the whole time—something very special and real.
Shinui Arba- I got my nose pierced!!! Its adorable and really classy looking, in my opinion. I feel more Israel, more earthy, and like it’s a really good fit for me. Im keeping in clean, don’t worry, and liking it more and more every day.
One other thing I want to mention, is a recent film I saw entitled, “ The Cemetery Club.” I’ve been trying to be super cultural while im here- movies, concerts and the like. Anyway, this movie was a part of a series on women film makers (just around Rosh Chodesh) in Israel. This film in particular was on two elderly women in Jerusalem who were apart of a group of about 20 other elderly Israelis who met in the cemetery every week. The film focused on their lives before coming to Israel as well as the early years when the state was being established. As the film progressed, more members of the club began to die. The members of this club were not only survivors of holocaust, but founders of the State of Israel. They have lived through both the most challenging and most thrilling parts of Jewish History. The women focused on in the movie represented a large group of people in Israel- who I now have much more respect for. What the old women who shoved me out of the way in the shuk this afternoon, has seen with her old sunken eyes, is more than I can imagine. A true appreciation and understanding flooded my heart at the end of this film, for the elderly in this state. Amazing.
I could go on forever about my time in Israel. Every day is another adventure; I see something that gives me the chills and especially things that make me reconsider how I have felt about something before, or how I experience it now.
Purim is coming up this week- school is out and im hoping to be mother nature!
I promise to take pictures and even more importantly- write about it.
I hope you are all doing wonderfully.
Id love to hear from you!!
B’ahava
Sara
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
