L'Chaim!

new blog!

2010-02-09T17:28:00.001-08:00

A new chapter in my life called for the creation of a new blog. Come check it out please!

stacirosie.blogspot.com

:)

Unfortunately, time for closure...

2010-01-11T17:16:00.000-08:00

I've been home two and a half weeks at this point, and I am finally just about ready to admit it. I guess it is time to stop pretending I live in Israel still. With that, comes a final post on the Israel blog.

Thanks to everyone who read, followed, and looked at the pictures on my blog. A special shout out to my good friend Nadine, who inspired me to keep one.
And, of course, another special shout out to everyone in Israel who made the last five months the best ones of my life. I look forward to seeing you all again, and wish you the best of luck in all you do both in your USA homes and in your Israeli homes--or, wherever life takes you. I am extremely sincere when I say I love you all.

I will be starting another blog within the next couple of days, and will post the link onto this blog. Please continue to follow!

Shalom, Cheers, and Peace,
Staci

הודות בנצי ואת רקפת!

2009-12-19T13:02:00.000-08:00

For those of you that don't read hebrew, the title of this article is "thanks to Benzi and Rakefet," and thanks indeed they do deserve. Lots of it!
At least once a month since we've been here, Benzi and Rakafet, two OSP students very happily engaged to be married in Febuary, have opened up their homes and hearts to us for various Shabbat occasions: services, prayer, meals and company. They have been gracious and kind to everyone and anyone that comes. From a personal point of view, their Shabbats have given me the sense of community and unification that I have been missing from not being home for Shabbat, and for that I cannot thank them enough.
One tradition from these Shabbats that I love is offering a ברכה (bracha--blessing) for someone else in the room. Benzi and Rakefet have given so much to this group that I don't think one bracha is enough, but I am offering one to them from the bottom of my heart and with all my soul.
As you continue on the path you're on, Benzi and Rakefet, may you always walk together in peace, health, and love. And, may you find always find success, happiness and safety in what you do.

Thanks guys, for everything! I'm gonna miss you!!
Shalom, Cheers and Peace,
Staci

A Great Miracle Happened HERE

2009-12-10T05:06:00.000-08:00

Normally at this time, Jews in America start singing "Nes Gadol Haya Sham," meaning "a great miracle happened there." Today in Hebrew class, I sang "Nes Gadol Haya PO," replacing the world for "there" with "here." And as I did it, I got chills down my spine. In America I can eat the jelly doughnuts, make the latkes, and spin the dredels the same way I can do it here. But it all has a different meaning when I can put my hand on the walls of the Temple that this miracle occurred in, the temple we American Jews all talk about at home.
So, on another Holiday (actually, on Chanukkah AND Shabbat), I am thankful for many things. One, for friends and family to celebrate the holiday with now and in years to come. For the Macabbees that fought against a Greek army three times their size, for the oil that lasted eight days when it was enough to only last one day, for God, for this 5-month journey, and for the future journeys I will find myself walking.

Peter, Paul, and Mary sang "Light One Candle," and I used to sing this when I was a wee little one in Hebrew School:

Light one candle for the Maccabee children
Give thanks that their light didn't die!
Light one candle for the pain they endured
When their right to exist was denied!
Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand!
And light one candle for the wisdom to know
When the peacemaker's time is at hand!

Don't let the light go out!
It's lasted for so many years!
Don't let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears.

Light one candle for the strength we all need
To never become our own foe!
And light one candle for those who are suff'ring
Pain we learned so long ago!
Light one candle for all we believe in,
Let anger not tear us apart!
And light one candle to bind us together
With peace as the song in our heart!

What is the memory that's valued so highly
That we keep it alive in that flame?
What's the commitment to those who have died
When we cry out they've not died in vain,
We have come this far, always believing
That justice will somehow prevail!
This is the burning. This is the promise,
This why we will not fail!

Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!

Haifa

2009-12-10T05:01:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, the time has come to post pictures from our last group outing. This one, last weekend, was spent in Carmel near Haifa. We did not go into the actual city, but spent our time on a Kibbutz which had a backyard letting out onto the "nicest beach in Israel." Therefore, Friday night through Saturday's end of Shabbat sunset was spent on the beach. It was amazing, as was the hike into the caves on Friday.

Check out the pics (thank you Andrea)...I'm gonna miss this group!
Shalom, Cheers and Peace
Staci

December 1st -- World AIDS Day

2009-12-01T00:26:00.000-08:00

On this world AIDS day, I think of everything I've learned and supported over the past five years in Jericho's AIDS Awareness and AIDS Peer Educating clubs. Specifically, I think of our friend Steve, of Positive Police, who past away a couple of years ago after he spent so much of his time promoting the awareness of HIV and AIDS. Steve spoke at Jericho hs many times, and our clubs met with him many other times when we were at conferences. He had a way of speaking that got students to listen, and that was his gift.
Even on my campus in Israel today they are doing free AIDS testing. But not many people outside of awareness groups really know what HIV/AIDS can do to a body, nor do they really know what else is out there. Use today to KNOW THE FACTS!

Shalom, Cheers, and Peace
Staci

BBB and a Be'er Shevsgiving

2009-11-29T02:52:00.000-08:00

The first three pics are from a concert we had on campus--the student union's welcoming back to all students. It was very fun. Then the rest of the pics are from our Thanksgiving extravagenza, which, with our food, company, and conversation, became a very interesting American night in Israel. I was very fortunate to have great people to share the holiday with.

Shalom, Cheers and Peace,
Staci

Holy Sites in Jerusalem

2009-11-29T02:39:00.000-08:00

Last week, a couple of my friends had a day off from class and went to Jerusalem to visit some Holy sites. First, they went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which I have been to twice, once by just stumbling upon it, and can express how cool it is to explore. Then they went up the Mountain of Olives, and then to the Templen Mount. Since non-Muslims are allowed up on the Temple Mount only between certain hours twice a week, and given the history of that area in each of the three main religions, you can sense how spiritual that experience was for them as well. Thanks to my friend Rebecca (Rivka), I am able to share some of the pics with you guys.

Shalom, Cheers and Peace
Staci

Eilat!

2009-11-20T02:52:00.001-08:00

Pictures are worth a thousand words...and thanks to all my great friends (and sadly, thanks to facebook) I have a few pictures!
So let me just say that as my trip here is coming to a slow (PLEASE SLOW!!) end, I am enjoying every moment I am spending here. Eilat was a relaxing, fun, fantastic weekend and I am looking forward to the next couple of weekends we will be spending doing whatever we can!

Shalom, Cheers and Peace,
Staci

welcome to the world, Shoko!

2009-11-12T02:58:00.001-08:00

Matt got a puppy!
Yesterday, Hannah and I had the fortunate oppertunity to puppy-sit for Matt's new baby, Shoko. Only five weeks old, he had Hannah and I laughing, taking pictures, talking in high-pitched voices, and crawling on the floor. We love him, and love Matt for trusting us with his precious little one.
Check out Matt's blog for more information on the cutest little puppy Israel has ever seen!

Shabbat Shalom, Cheers, and Peace
Staci

Ashes and Snow

2009-11-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago I walked into my Director of Education's office and saw a beautiful picture on her wall (the last picture I posted). I asked her about it, and she told me it was apart of an exhibit titled "Ashes and Snow." I went home that night and was in awe after going through their online exhibit. All of the photographs are natural, meaning nothing was positioned this way. Just man and nature, and it's outstanding.
For some reason, I thought about it again today and even later on, I am still in awe after viewing something so beautiful. Their video exhibits are also something to check out, they are just as breathtaking.

For their website, click here. Then click "Enter Enhanced Experience," then "Explore." You will not be disappointed.

Shalom, Cheers and Peace
Staci

Yad Vashem

2009-11-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

In Jerusalem Friday, my "Sites and Rites of Collective Memory" class took a very interesting field trip. I am going to use this trip to give a spotlight on the class.

My Professor, Jackie Feldman, teaches us about the collective memory of groups of people, primarily of the Jews. We read articles about the past and incorporate how we learn about them today, to discuss ways in which people remember and why they remember; a very interesting two hours.

Last week in Israel, the nation commemorated the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, a day not taken lightly here. Likewise, November 9th is the memorial of Kristallnacht, when Jews literally remember the "night of broken glass," when Germany invaded Poland and broke Jewish windows, set fire to Jewish stores, and started the killing of the Jewish people.
It was very fitting that my field trip on Friday started at Mt. Herzl, Israeli's memorial cemetery, and ended at Yad Vashem, Israeli's Holocaust Museum.

Holocaust commemoration is very serious here; Israelis discuss the Holocaust in everyday life. What I loved about Mt. Herzl, however, was that the lowest soldiers were buried with the same regard as the highest of all soldiers, that the respect for them all was equal, and that people cared just as much for everyone. Israel has no tomb of the unknown soldier, for example, because this nation works hard to make sure that every soldier buried has an identity, for the family and for the people. Similarly, the memorial for "victims killed in terrorist attacks" at Mt. Herzl made it a mission to find as many names as possible--every life here has meaning from the very beginning until the very end.

There is so much I can and want to say about Yad Vashem. But if I had to mention one part about the museum, it would be the end in "the Hall of Names." "The Hall of Names at Yad Vashem is the Jewish People’s memorial to each and every Jew who perished in the Holocaust – a place where they may be commemorated for generations to come." Again, same theme: Every Jew in Israel, whether here physically or in spirit, has meaning from the very beginning until the very end.

This class too has taught me very much, and I am thrilled to be apart of it and apart of life in Israel.

Shalom, Cheers and Peace
Staci

Idan Raichel

2009-10-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

On Sunday night I went with a group of about 40 students, some in my Overseas Students Program, some in MAPMES (MAsters Program in Middle Eastern Studies) and some in the Columbia Medical Program, to Jerusalem. All of us shared one thing: we are apart of the MASA scholarship program which sponsors Jewish students to come study in Israel. After a welcoming of some of Israeli cabinet members, one being Natan Sharansky (!), we had a concert featuring Idan Raichel and the various artists in his project.

"The Idan Raichel Project burst onto Israel’s music scene in 2002, changing the face of Israeli popular music and offering a message of love and tolerance that resonated strongly in a region of the world where headlines are too often dominated by conflict. With an enchanting blend of African, Latin American, Caribbean and Middle Eastern sounds coupled with sophisticated production techniques and a spectacular live show, the Idan Raichel Project has become one of the most unexpected success stories in Israeli music history... "

It was an outstanding performance, and I am so beyond glad I decided to go in the end...

For more information on Idan Raichel, please click here.

nadine's post -- Keith Haring

2009-10-27T02:08:00.000-07:00

My friend, Nadine, wrote a great entry on her blog today. It's about Keith Haring, and reading her post made me remember my facination with Keith Haring--one that I keep hidden, for some reason, until something brings it out of it's box. Her post did that today. I love him, always have, and enjoy his story, messages, at art.
I am linking her blog to this post in hopes that you all will check it out.

Shalom, Cheers, and Peace
Staci

Spotlight: Mystical Lit

2009-10-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

Out of the four courses I am taking here at Ben-Gurion University (not including Hebrew), I cannot decide which one is my favorite because I like them all equally and differently. So, I decided to write a spotlight on each of them, starting with Mystical Literature.

I signed up for this class because the syllabus looked interesting to me: using text from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to experience mysticism. Thus far I have had four lectures and have been studying the Judaism aspect, and love every minute of this subject both inside and outside of the classroom.
We have read the Torah, the Zohar, articles, summaries. We have studied Freud and compared his theory of dreams to that of Jacob; we have discussed journeys and Abraham, and we have discussed God's warrior-like qualities in the Torah in comparison to "everyday beliefs."

With only an hour and a half of this class once a week, I don't ever want it to end! My professor, June Leavitt, is a brilliant woman who brings the material of ancient days alive, and I cannot express how much I appreciate this class.

Yam L'Yam (Sea to Sea)

2009-10-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

There was no way I could resist posting all of these pics...
Over our Sukkot break, my friends and I hiked across Northern Israel: four days and four nights from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Galilee. It seemed fitting, with the Sukkot being the festival of harvesting, being outside in observance of this week-long holiday. With lots of uphill and downhill trails, rough sleeping conditions, wild horses, scenic views that can blow your mind, and "bonding time," this was a trip I will never forget. It was intense both physically and mentally, but it was the most spiritually fulfilling thing I have done since I have been here. I would not trade part of it away for anything, and I thank everyone who made it so awesome!

Pictures provided by my lovely friends, Rebecca (Rivka) and Dori...thanks guys

Shalom, Cheers, and Peace
Staci

Flash Mobs

2009-09-22T22:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k
http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090908-tows-flash-mob-dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM

I am editing this post after watching more of the Flashmob and Improv Group videos. This is my original post:
"I suppose these became famous after Oprah's opening show, but this group has been doing this way before the show. They also do ones where they freeze in supermarkets, grand central station--just stay in one spot. Both kinds are pretty cool in my opinion. I think there is something to be said for the smiles people give when they see this.
Check it out, it's cool."

I feel it is necessary to restate how much I appreciate them. I don't know why I am obbsessing over it (if you're here with me you know I love to watch them over and over again), but I really think that they way they go about making other people happy is totally cool. I know if I were to be stranded in a train station, having missed my train or soaked by the rain or running late for work, seeing a dance like this would totally cheer me up. In fact, I'd be one of the people trying to follow along in the middle of the dance floor.
I am encouraging everyong to DANCE. Wherever you want, however you want...

Shalom, Cheers and Peace
Staci

High Holidays, Take One

2009-09-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

Rosh Hashana in Jerusalem... woooooow.

Let's rewind.
First, I left on classes on Thursday with a "farewell, L'Shana Tova" toast. It was great... pomegranates, apples and honey, cards. All wonderful (see pics).

By Friday morning I was on a bus on the way to Jerusalem. When we got there, we explored the old city for a while, got lost, and found our way into what I thought was an exit--it was actually the entrance into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We made note of that, and went on our merry way to the Reformed Rabbinical school just a ten minute walk away from one of the most Holy Christian Sites in Jerusalem.

My friend, Rossanna, and I stayed with two first-year HUC students, one cantorial and the other rabbinical. They are just four years older than I am, leading services, and doing exactly what I want to be doing in four years. AND, they are two of the NICEST, FUNNIEST, and WELCOMING people we've met since we've been here.

Friday night we went to services at HUC where we watched Amanda be one of the three cantors, and had the service be lead by "the first female rabbi ever ordained in Israel, ordained in 1992." It was great, a reformed service was JUST what the doctor prescribed for me.
Saturday morning we woke up and went to Hallel, a reformed synagogue in Jerusalem with a female Israeli Rabbi and a Male Cantor who was born in America. Everything was in Hebrew but I was happy to be able to follow along...a combination of improved Hebrew and memorization of the Holy Day prayers. Then lunch with the rabbinical students at one of their apartments, then to Tashlich. This is the ritual where Jews throw breadcrumbs into a running body of water to "cast away their sins," and we looked back on our actions month by month to remember the good times and bad times that occurred in the year. Ending the ceremony with "Eli Eli," I left the park feeling refreshed and ready for my two-hour "Shabbat nap," yes they do exist, and then dinner with the rabbinical students again.
Sunday morning, second day of Rosh Hashana, Rossana and I woke up and went to "The Great Synagogue," a modern orthodox synagogue in the center of Jerusalem. What was cool about this was that their was one Chazzan, Cantor, who lead a 12-male choir and literally read from the Machzor (prayerbook) the entire time. That was the service, and the music sent chills up and down my spine.
After that we went to meet our friend Josh, after dancing in the RAIN ...IT RAINED... and explored the Old City again. First Rossana and I went to the Kotel, Western Wall, and then all of us went back to the Church, this time on purpose. It was a very good experience, and with it being the last day of Ramadan and us in the Arab quarter, we got a taste of all religions!

After a New Year/Shabbat/weekend like that, I can't even explain how weird it is to be back in the desert. But we are going back up to stay with our gracious hosts on Sunday night and I can barely contain my enthusiasm. I even have an excited face just for Yom Kippur!

This time is my all-time favorite part of any year. It is a time of ultimate renewal of body, spirit, and mind. The New Year, in Judaism, is not a time of partying or watching the ball drop, but it is a time of reflection on the past year and aspiring for the years to come. During the next ten days, I will be looking back on all of my actions before our day of judgement, and I encourage everyone to do the same.

L'Shana Tova Umetuka -- May this New Year bring EVERYONE Health, Happiness, and Joy!
Shalom, Cheers and Peace
Staci

Shay

2009-09-22T11:16:00.000-07:00

The first couple of weeks we were here, there was a student with us who is going for his Master's degree at Brandeis University. He is married and a father of two, so he was here for the short ulpan before going home to his family and school. But the first time I was in Jerusalem, I learned how knowledgeable of Israel he is because we toured the ramparts of the old city and he was a better tour guide than anyone we could have gotten. He will be TA-ing in my major back at Brandeis and so I am eager to maybe be able to take his classes...I can learn a lot from him.
The reason why I am sharing this on my blog is because in the JERUSALEM POST today, there was an article about the very same Shay I am talking about! How cool!

Please read it...he is an inspiring person and a role-model for all!

A week of "new"

2009-09-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

It is late here so i am going to keep this a short one, but this week I started my classes and I wanted to write about how amazing they all are. I have learned something about myself this week: I am confident that I know exactly what I want to do and what I am supposed to do. And it does feel really good to be in Israel doing what I know I need to do to get where I want to be.

Here is some warm greetings from my israeli friends at bgu. I don't really know anyone to point out, except if you go about 1:02 minutes in you'll see my professor on Jewish philosophy. A really nice, smart man...I know I will like his class as much as the others.

I will post again before the new year.
For now, Shalom, Cheers and Peace.
Staci

Cotler's "Listen"

2009-09-13T00:32:00.000-07:00

Out of many Reformed Judaic songs, Doug Cotler's "Listen" never fails to move me. The lyrics, I feel, reflect ideas of not only Shabbat but of Judaism in general. Obviously that's the point. But I love love love this song--the way the Shema is brought in at the end is absolutely beautiful.

As I ended my Shabbat last night, and prepare for the next one which falls out exactly on Rosh Hashana, I found myself in the mood reflected by this song.
Hope you enjoy!

Weekend was great, and now about to start semester. Then the holidays this weekend!
But I'll be back before then :)

Shalom, Cheers and Peace.

Andrea

2009-09-07T09:56:00.000-07:00

I have come to meet many, many cool people here. A couple of them share the blogging with me, and their blogs are all different and fun and interesting and cool and impressive...I can go on and on.
Andrea, who spent a year studying abroad in Turkey and now a couple of years later is spending a year studying abroad here, is one of those impressive, blogging folk I just mentioned. Her blog is fashioned by her extraordinary pics of where we are staying and what we are doing, followed by her own thoughts on various subjects.

http://alwiese.blogspot.com/

I am really happy that she is here with us and look forward to spending time with her.

The weekend!

2009-09-06T04:05:00.000-07:00

So. I have had a busy past couple of days and I am finally settling down to write about it. Inspired by Benzi's emails, this post is going to have sections, divided by a table of contents.

Table of Contents
i. Thursday's night hike
ii. Friday Shabbat
iii. Saturday Shabbat

i. Thursday night hike
Well, there is just so much I want to say about this and not enough ability to gather my thoughts. This hike was AMAZING...or, as Gali would prefer, AWESOME (she says Americans abuse that word).
Let me start at the beginning. Thursday night my program went on a nighthike in Sde Boker, a section of the desert about 40 mins away. Because the desert is so scary in the dark and pitch black to the point where you can walk off a cliff without even seeing in, we had a tour guide who would prevent that from happening. And with her explaining where we were and what we were doing, and the fun spirit of the group, the night was fantastic.

I wish I could emphasize how special the desert is, but I truly believe you can't understand unless you're living it. Yes, there are days when it's 99 degrees and you can feel the sun burning every part of your visible skin, and you think to yourself "why am I not in Jerusalem but in the DESERT." And then nights like Thursday reinforce the reasons why Ben Gurion wanted the desert to be established...and why we truly love it.

The best part of the hike, in my opinion, was the "three minutes" of quiet time. Sitting on top of desert rock with a breeze, stars wherever you look up, and silence, my thoughts wandered everywhere from thinking about my family and loved ones to "I wonder if this is what it was like when Abraham wandered here, or Moses and the tribes of our people." Constantly a conversation we have here, it seemed to be better in my head when I was physically living it and realizing it.
Once again, the desert proves to leave me breathless. It has a way of connecting a person to not only nature, but to faith and to God, and to my friends here and afar. So I am going to say it for the trillionth time-- Ben Gurion was onto something, and I can thank him everyday!

ii. Friday Shabbat Dinner

With all of my complaints about missing the reformed movement, I have grown attached to Shabbat in Israel. It is quite different than Shabbat in New York, but then again, quite similar as well.

This Friday I spent Shabbat in Be'er Sheva (meaning I wasn't away or anything...) And I would really like to give a "shout out" and a special thanks to Gali, my dorm counselor and friend, who threw together a fabulous Shabbat dinner.

After food shopping with her Wednesday, I expected everything to be good. But the whole atmosphere of Shabbat, outside on the grass with friends, great food, and conversation, was brought out much more intensely than I thought it would be.

It's fun for me to be with a group of people who appreciate and embrace our past, and understand that the past is also the present. What we do on Shabbat is more for ourselves than people think it is, and I know Friday night gave me the relaxation, rejuvenation, and pride that I needed.

So thank you, Gali. You are more than just our counselor and we love you very much.

iii. Saturday Shabbat

In addition to Gali, there are two other people I really have to thank: Rakefet and Bezi, you guys are absolutely two of the most wonderful people I have ever met and you bring so much to our program.

For those of you reading this that don't know who they are or what I am talking about, I'll explain...

Benzi and Rakevet are two members of my overseas program who graciously invite us to their home in Be'er Sheva to bring in Shabbat. They were with us on Friday night and then on Saturday, about twelve of us walked to their place and spent the afternoon the way Shabbat should be spent: singing, dancing, eating, drinking, and talking.

The conversations I get to experience are so great. Benzi has a way of getting us to think about Judaism and the Torah portion, which is lovely for me because we all know I like to do that anyway. To be able to talk about it and challenge it with people that have either the same or different opinions is a nice way to spend my time, and it is great preparation for what I will be doing in my future.

The songs we sing are so fun because if we don't know the melody, we hum until we catch on. If we feel inspired (which we did) we get up and dance, and if we really get into it (which we did...again) we close our eyes and belt out the words we truly believe in.

Shabbat with the two of them is so fantastic, and it is something I do look forward to and appreciate.

So thanks to you guys too, we love you also!

In an older post I touched upon how much Shabbat means to me. It's been a fun new discovery. Now, with it being sunday and the beginning of the week here in the Holy Land, I look back on the weekend and can only simply smile!

Shalom, cheers and peace,

Staci

Challah

2009-08-31T05:05:00.000-07:00

Last night I was about to sit down to eat dinner when I get a call from my Israeli dorm room counselor (my friend, at this point) named Gali. Thinking it had to do with the police report we had spent 2 hours translating, I picked up my phone in a panic. When I heard what she had asked, I was totally confused.... "Do you want to come with me in an hour to make Challah?"

WHAT?

I have made matzah before for Pesach. And since this wasn't even for Shabbat, I was beyond confused. But because I love and trust her, and am always up for trying new things in the Holy Land, I responded "YES" without a minute to spare.

We met outside the dorms and walked to our destination. It is called "Yehuda Bayit," exact translation is Jewish House. But I'd explain it more as a woman's home that she opens up to whoever wants to come in... Jewish, Orthodox, Conservative, REFORMED. Anyone is welcome for any of her events, and I couldn't be more appreciative of that.

Last night went like this: We got in, sat around a student who beautifully sang three songs (one of which is called Lecha Dodi and I knew from Shabbat) and then got to work. We spent an hour making Challah bread and then three more hours singing more songs in a circle on the floor until all the Challah was finished baking. By 11:15 we were ready to head home, breakfast for the next week in our hands.

The meaning of this is symbolism. In ancient days Jewish women used to bake Challah and set aside some for the Priests who were busy at work and had no time to make it themselves. This is a ritual we brought into the event yesterday: setting aside a piece as what I would assume to be a symbol for all the hard work preformed by the Priest. When I asked Gali why we do it now, she responded with "because it's the month of Elul and because it's the month before the High Holidays, all the spiritual things to better a person is done now."

She's right.

Even though I'd rather not have to limit when we do these tasks, I find more and more of them coming out around this time. I can go off on a tangent about how I feel about this, but instead I want to leave you with one note: I finally found my comfort zone.
Back home I am apart of a world I never knew existed until I turned fourteen. The reformed religious world that I have grown to be apart of and love has shaped me into who I am, and, even in Israel, I haven't found what I was looking for until last night. Though I appreciate the conservative and orthodox movements here, and love to learn about them and be apart of them, I need to feel at home where I feel comfortable. And last night taught me that it is in fact possible to find what I am looking for, I just need to look hard enough.

I thank Gali and my new friends for helping me to center myself in a way that I can't describe, and in a way I know and miss.

Shabbat

2009-08-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

In the four weeks that I have been here, I am surprised to have not touched upon Shabbat in the Holy Land. In talking with friends and family back home, I'm reminded that although on Sundays certain stores and offices are closed down, it is not the average thing for trains and buses to stop working, for restaurants and stores to shutdown, for facilities to close, and for people to stay in their rooms. On Shabbat in Israel, however, it is.

At first it was an adjustment...having to make sure that I would have food and things to do and people to see. And having to make sure of all of this, obviously, before Friday afternoon. Even as a planner it is hard for me to make sure on Friday morning that Saturday will bring what I need. And yet, I quickly adjusted to this and couldn't ask for anything less than what Shabbat in Israel brings.

With all of that said, however, it's hard for me to understand a certain way of life here: during the week, and even during Shabbat. God set aside Saturday as the day of rest for the chosen people. I find myself contemplating if he really did this because HE needed the rest after the 6 days of hard work, or because WE need the rest after the 6 days of our own hard work. And because I am at a new phase in my life where I am going to be an optimist whether or not I truly am, I conclude that I am leading towards the latter. We need the day of rest and so God provides us with just that.

But then why do people care more about regulations than they do about the actual resting?

I understand that there is a guideline for how to observe. Of course there should be a certain way of doing this task, it is a holy one after all. But my reservations appear when people start to care about the way other people want to preform the ask for themselves. I am all about everyone having their own way of doing things, but I am not all about the criticizing, rolling of the eyes, and judgement when someone rests differently than another. In my opinion, it defeats the purpose of why we are resting at all.

It is 6pm here, and I am happy to say that I am a very well-rested human being. Shabbat allows me to hit the pause button in my life, rest, and then hit play again. It allows me to rejuvenate and gear up for the week to come. And it allows me to connect back with nature, with myself, and with God. And so what if I am not doing it the way other people command...I am living my Shabbat the way I am supposed to live it, realizing that my friends are living it the way they are supposed to live it. And maybe next week I will welcome Shabbat differently, or maybe I won't. As long as I feel fulfilled, and all four weeks have given me that feeling, I am happy.

So yes, I am happy to be living in a country right now that understands that Shabbat is a day of rest. And I am happy to connect to that country the way I have.

Shabbat Shalom to all, and good luck at finding your way of resting. I believe everyone should have one.

L'chaim, cheers and peace!

(thanks to Mario for providing the pictures....)

Tribute: David Ben Gurion

2009-08-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a very cool day. First a brief description:

We woke up and met at about 8 AM and drove 40 mins to Sede Boker. First we hiked to a spring where we were told a story, and then we hiked up the spring and cliff where we were met by our bus. We travelled again to a crater where we hiked a little more, and then off to Sede Boker to see Ben-Gurion's settlement.

David Ben Gurion was more than the first Prime Minister of Israel. He was the founder of a Jewish Youth Group in Poland, leader of that Youth Group in Palestine, and founder of the Jewish state of Israel. After years of serving as Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion made it his mission to establish the Negev (desert in which I currently live in), and so he moved down south to a Kibbutz to live and work. This kibbutz was at first not very open to this idea...as we discussed yesterday, what close-knit community would want a prime minister? But his persistence prevailed and he eventually was welcomed down south. And his efforts never fell short.
It was his mission to make the Negev a successful contributor to Israeli society. His goal was to have 5 million people living here, and although the goal is not yet met, there is currently around 500,000 people living in the desert. Not too shabby.

With Ben-Gurion University being one of the very successful schools in Israel, Be'er Sheva being one of Israel's main cities, and Israeli culture and spirit coming alive down South, I have no doubt that the Negev will prevail! Ben Gurions work will not go unnoticed, and his dreams will not fail.

"I hear Jerusalem bells ringing...."

2009-08-19T05:36:00.001-07:00

My apologies that this is so late, but I am finally writing a post about our trip to Jerusalem.

Last Thursday my friends and I were talking about our trip to Tel Aviv that night. With nowhere to stay and no real knowledge of any hostiles there, a friend suggested that we change our plans and go stay at a cheap hostile in Jerusalem instead. Within an hour we all had our bags packed for the night and we were on our way to the bus stop.

Fast forward three hours, and we were in the Old City. After checking into our hostile we went up to the roof, where some of us were going to spend the night, and got situated. Picture it: directly in front of us was the top of the Dome of the Rock and many Muslim Mosques. To the right of us, and I mean literally the building next door, was the Tower of David.

Since it was still nice out we explored the Old City a bit and then walked out into the New City of Jerusalem. Equally magnificent, Ben Yehuda is made up of many restaurants, kiosks, and shops. Oh and don't forget music! It was wonderful to walk around, grab some excellent home-made fellafel, and explore the area.

At around 9ish we were back on the roof of our hostile. Now nighttime, the Dome of the Rock was lit up gold, the Mosques were lit up green, and the Tower of David had a light show on the side that was facing us. It was the most magnificent thing I have ever seen.

Trust me, I fell in love with Israel the day I got here...maybe even before. But that night solidified any feelings I thought I felt or actually felt. I will forever remember the night I truly found the place I feel most connected to.

In the morning we woke up at sunrise (yes, after only three hours of sleep at most) and we went to the Kotel at sunrise. Seeing the Western Wall just as the sun was coming up over it, watching prayers take place, and praying yourself, is something I recommend to anyone who will have this chance. It was once again a spectacular idea.

After that we grabbed our stuff, ate at a local bagel stand in the Old City, and then split up: some of us went to the market place, and the others, myself included, went over to the ramparts and walked up above the Old City. With the Old City to our left and the New City to our right, it was culturally overwhelming. And yet, another thing I would add to you "to-do" list because it is very historical, cultural, and spiritual.

On our way home, and ever since, I thought about how amazing it is to feel at home in a city I have never been to. And this feeling came over me so suddenly. In fact, it was practically as I got off the bus on Thursday.

Within the next five months I plan to go there as much as I can because I can assure you, Jerusalem is a magical city. And I LOVE it!

First Shabbat in the Holy Land

2009-08-10T03:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend, with it being our first Shabbat and all, we travelled to Ein Geti, which is about an hour and fifteen minutes northeast of where my campus is. About ten minutes from Massada and located on the shore of the Dead Sea, the hostile we stayed at overnight was perfect. The best part of it all for me though was bringing in Shabbat.
Since I was raised in a reformed synagogue I am not exactly familiar with the orthodox movement. I have dovenned a couple of times with my Bubby at a conservative synagogue, but even that is a new experience for me each time. I am used to the singing, the sermons, the room for change each service. And yet, as I sat next to Gali behind the screen that separated me from my male counterparts, I couldn't help but think about how interesting it is that the orthodox movement interprets tradition differently from the modern orthodox movement, the reformed movement, the conservative movement, the kabballah movement, the reconstructionist movement, and so on...
An epiphany: I recognized the prayers though they weren't sung. I knew to stand though no one told me to. I knew to pray silently or pray out loud even though I was not directed to do so.
Without a minyan (ten male Jews needed in order to pray together), it was up to us to welcome in Shabbat individually. And I knew how to do it without any instruction whatsoever.
Which is why I am in love with the new Reform Sidur (prayerbook). Without any "please rise" phrases or "read together" phrases, this particular Sidur leaves room for every service to be different than the one from the previous Shabbat.
Not that I am going to find the Mishkan T'Fillah in Israel. But it just prooves that maybe faith is truly what you interpret it to be and how you carry it out. No one intructed Gali to sit with me for an hour and a half Saturday morning and not only read from the Torah but translate it for me so I can understand either. I mean here she is, an orthodox woman trying to bring in Shabbat, and she is sitting with me to help me bring it in too. How cool!
I couldn't be happier to launch myself into my future filled with culture, tolerance, responsibility, and spirituality. After my first week in Israel I am going to keep my expectation high--apparently these Israelis can meet them.