My first REAL post in Israel. Considering that I hadn't written a PROPER one during my time spent in London, and I had writing about an experience that happened over two weeks ago, I shall put up some pictures for your entertainment and let you choose your own adventure!
Over the course of my time spent here in Israel, I have experienced a range of emotions - from the resentment of being simply a 'tourist' uncomfortable speaking Hebrew (which I have now overcome with success, thank god), to the fear the gripped me two weeks ago about to head out for a great time in Tel Aviv, only to recieve a number of phone calls warning me to stay inside for there were terrorists on the loose (they were caught, thank god), to a feeling of overwhelming happiness studying at Pardes and meeting new and fascinating people from all over the world (well, the majority are from USA and Canada - I can't seem to get away from them!). The learning that I am doing here in Pardes is feeding a hunger within me that I have neglected for quite some time now - a hunger for Jewish texts, Jewish intellectual discussion, it's filling a void within me and I've never been so excited.
Walking home on my first day my body was tingling - here I am, in Jerusalem, surrounded by students who are as eager as I am about learning, students from all different kinds of ideological, social and economic backgrounds, our hunger fuelled by enthusiastic teachers who accept us no matter where we come from, no matter what we believe, part of a small community for a short period of time, and here we are in Israel, no matter what obstacles lie before us.
I am so happy.
The classes are extremely intense, one must concentrate for each 2.5 hour class, not allowed to slack off in any instance for you are kept in check with your chevrutah partner when you study texts. (Chevrutah is a situation where you study the text closely with another person, keeping the other honest to the text and providing dialogue, rather than studying it alone)....
Being here in Israel, especially during this tense and difficult time, has made me so proud of the Israeli people, their strength and determination to rise above and unite no matter where one comes from. So many across the country are opening up their homes to refugees of the North, and still tourists are coming to visit Israel, and everyone tries to continue their lives as normal as they can. I'm sure the news at home portrays Israel as a menacing beast, intent on killing as many Lebanese civilians as possible, the country is a war zone, unsafe, but that is so far from the truth... Or perhaps the truth I believe in, I feel, is more unbiased and both sides are accounted for... I don't know, I'm going to stop writing now. Maybe I'll add more to this post later today.
If you want so see some humour, check out on youtube.com the daily show (jon stewart) regarding israel. This is one of his first ones...
Daily Show: Is Israels Response Disproportionate?
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