BOSTON ONWARD ISRAEL 2017
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CONNECTING WITH THE COUNTRY |
August 6, 2017
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As I reflect upon all the adventures I’ve had, I also think about all I was able to learn in the process. At my internship, I had the opportunity to learn about my field, chemical engineering, and the world of petrochemicals. Just last week I had the opportunity to tour around the monomer plant which is responsible for converting oil into monomers, which are in turn further processed into polyethylene and polypropylene plastics. Touring around the massive complex of pipes, furnaces and reactors I had the opportunity to visualize the processes I learned about in class in a very real and tangible sense.
Beyond my internship, I have learned more than I thought possible about Israeli culture and history. This past weekend I visited the Mizgaga Museum at the Tel Dor archaeological site. At the museum I was able to learn about and see artifacts from the different empires and dynasties that were in control of what is now Israel. Before this trip I was unaware of the part this land has played in many historical eras, ranging from Napoleon’s conquests to the great Roman Empire. Traveling to the city Akko, I was able to witness a parade through the old city following Islamic Friday noontime prayers. These experiences reminded me of the rich cultural heritage in Israel, both in the present and in the past. It has really been a summer of adventure, learning and (perhaps most importantly) connecting with my heritage. |
LIFE IN JERUSALEM |
August 2, 2017
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Just as it was challenging to adjust to Israeli culture two months ago, I know it won’t be easy to readjust to life in New Jersey. I’ve grown accustomed to the convenience of city life, to the peace and quiet of Jerusalem Shabbatot, to sunny days and so much more! While all transitions are challenging, the past two weeks of Onward programming have helped prepare us for our return home. Last Tuesday, at Kibbutz Maleh HaChamisha, we met with the Tel Aviv and Haifa groups for Back to Campus Day. We heard from professors, journalists and activists who presented various Israel narratives as we worked on forming our own. On Thursday, we continued conversations about our connection not only to Israel, but to each other. In addition to eating delicious food (including ice cream!) with friends from high school, camp and college—all of whom are Onward participants—we spent the day engaging with various issues in Israeli society. I attended Samah Heib Jaliuli’s talk about empowering Arab women as professionals in Israel. Not only was it impressive to hear about her personal journey and her work with The Rian Center –an organization that helps Arab women with professionalism, but it was even more remarkable because she gave the talk in English—her third language!
With Back to Campus Day, Connections Day, a tour of the Knesset and Tisha B’av, these last few weeks have definitely been the busiest yet. On Erev Tisha B’av, the Yerushalmit Movement, the organization with which I am interning, successfully executed the memorial event for Shira Banki that we have been busy planning for the past two months. We began the evening with a public reading of Megillat Eicha, followed by various speakers and dialogue circles. I am still amazed and overjoyed by the amount of people that were in attendance and I am thankful to have had several familiar faces from my Onward cohort supporting me in the crowd. I am thankful for the time I’ve had here and the connections I’ve made not only to Israel, but to my coworkers and to the other Onward participants. Until next time! |
PERSONAL GROWTH |
July 28, 2017
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These past two weeks were filled with activities and emotions. With two conferences – Back to Campus Day and Connections Day, we were able to talk through what we can do to keep this amazing experience this summer alive, and take what we have learned here with us for the rest of our lives. We also got to speak with Einat Wilf, former Knesset member, about the Arab-Israeli conflict and about any lingering questions that we might have after spending an entire summer in Israel. Aside from the serious conversations, we took a fun evening to tour Florentine in Tel Aviv to see the beautiful and meaningful graffiti that fills the neighborhood. We also got together for a Shabbat service and dinner, organized by David and Natalie, two lovely members on our program.
In a few short days, we will all pack our bags, say our farewells, and leave behind the incredible country that we just experienced for the past two months. I can easily say that I have gained more experience, both in life and professionally, than I ever have in such a short period of time. I cannot believe that I came in not knowing anyone, never having done and internship, and never having lived on my own in an apartment. I am leaving this program with the confidence and love of life that I will take with me for years to come, not to mention the relationships that I have made that I cannot wait to hold on to in the States. Thank you, Onward Israel, Israel Experience, and CJP for allowing me to have the best summer of my life in the most beautiful country in the world. This isn’t goodbye, it's see you later! |
BRANDEIS STUDENTS IN JERUSALEM |
July 26, 2017
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ROOTS IN THE WEST BANK |
July 24, 2017
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The past two weeks in Israel have been an unpredictable whirlwind, which I am slowly getting accustomed to. My internship at the Jerusalem Post is going well - I got to shadow the Knesset reporter one day, and we even got to hear the Prime Minister speak at the weekly Likud party meeting. I also covered the closing ceremony of the Maccabiah Games, which was a fun experience full of music, fireworks and general good spirit. Also, Bar Refaeli was the host! I am still a little bit in disbelief about all the cool events I have gotten to attend through this internship, and I can't wait to see what opportunity presents itself next.
Our group took a day trip to Gush Etzion last week, which was very interesting because I had never been to the West Bank before. We heard from several different speakers and toured a few different locations, but the highlight was at the end of the day when we visited Shorashim. Shorashim (“Roots" in English) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing Jewish settlers and Palestinians of the West Bank together in conversation. First, a rabbi spoke - I actually had already heard him present before, because he visited my school last semester - and then a young Palestinian tour guide spoke after. While it is impossible to even begin to understand the conflict in the West Bank from a one-day visit, I appreciated that we got to hear representatives of opposing narratives speak peacefully with open minds, especially in a time of rising turmoil in the area. |
ISRAELI PRIDE IN A LAND OF CONTRASTS |
July 22, 2017
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As I enter the Carmel Olefins warehouse where I'm working this summer I am confronted with a sea of white bags spread out as far as the eye can see in the background. Each bag contains 25 kilograms of polyethylene or polypropylene and are proudly labeled “Made in Israel.” In the foreground I see machines busy at work forming, filling and sealing a bag of plastic in just under 3 seconds with just 0.008% error. It is in this moment I am reminded about the might of Israeli industry. Outside the warehouse, trucks zoom past, setting off to deliver the plastic to companies all throughout Israel and the world. The plastic produced here at Carmel Olefins will be used in garden furniture, packaging, milk bottles and much more. This past Tuesday, we took a break from working at our internships and went down to Tel Aviv to explore several neighborhoods in the southern part of the city. First we explored Neve Tzedek and learned about Tel Aviv’s first neighborhood outside of the old city of Jaffa. During the tour it was highlighted how the success of Tel Aviv as a vibrant metropolitan center is a major hallmark of the Zionism movement. After lunch we explored the vibrant graffiti in the gentrified Florentin neighborhood and went on a “Rainbow Tour” of the LGBT community in the city. What struck me the most about these tours is how, despite Tel Aviv having such a vibrant secular culture, Judaism still permeates its way through culture. This was best summarized by an elaborate graffiti mural painted onto the side of a synagogue in Florentin. This summarized the odd marriage between religious and secular cultures, on display all throughout Israel and especially in Tel Aviv. |
THE VIEW FROM HERE |
July 20, 2017
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Despite my pretty impressive sandal tan, quickly disappearing stipend and journal full of new memories, it’s hard to believe that we’re already more than halfway through the program! While I’ve explored a lot with Onward, with friends and on my own, there is still so much of Jerusalem and the rest of the country that I have yet to see. Before leaving, I hope to visit the Israel Museum, try new restaurants, revisit the old city and so much more.
We’ve been busy learning about some of Israel’s more challenging issues. We heard from Efraim Zuroff, an Israeli historian and Nazi hunter working at the Simon Wisenthal Center. He told us stories of trials, justice and his personal experiences working in the field. The following week, we visited Gush Etzion — a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. Throughout the day, we listened to different perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a specific focus on the issue of the settlements. We began the day by visiting Pina Hachama (cozy corner), which is a locally run meeting and support center for Israeli soldiers. After a delicious lunch at a local winery, we went to Shorashim (roots), a grassroots organization that works to bring Palestinians and Israelis together through dialogue and face-to-face interactions. We heard from a religious Jewish settler and a Palestinian man who told their personal narratives, but also stressed the importance of recognizing that all knowledge is partial. The day opened our eyes to the tensions and complications of the settlements and left many of us with more questions than when we began the day. As a group, we decided to continue the conversation in the upcoming weeks to help us better process the information. It is great to be surrounded by people who not only love Israel and want to enjoy their time here, but who also engage in meaningful and often more challenging conversations. While I’ve learned a lot from my internship, madrichot (counselors) and tour guides, I’ve also learned so much from the other Onward participants. I look forward to making these last few weeks the best yet! |
CONFLICT, PEACE, AND POWER |
July 18, 2017
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Yet again, another amazing two weeks! I can’t believe we only have a few weeks left of living and working in this amazing country. I feel like I have just finished settling in to my new apartment with this amazing group of new friends that I am making. I knew that I wanted to live in Tel Aviv in order to get a feel for the Israeli city culture, but I never thought that I could fall in love with this place as quickly as I have. From laying on the beach, to exploring the streets of the city, to eating at one of the countless restaurants, there is always something to do! At this point, we have all settled in to some sort of routine. Whether it be going to work, grocery shopping, or going out at night, we are able to complete each day looking less and less like lost tourists. Not only that, but also, we have gotten to a point as a group where we no longer need to worry about not knowing the other members on the trip. We have all gone from strangers to friends, and we can rely on each other like family.
Last week, we went on a trip to Gush Etzion in the West Bank to explore the topics of conflict, peace, and power between Israelis and Palestinians. We started the day with a hike through the “Way of the Fathers” tour to see the historical and archeological significant sights of Gush Etzion. We then continued to a local winery for a tour and lunch, and moved on to a conversation about the conflict with an organization called “Shorashim.” Finally, we went to the Neve Daniel lookout, which is the highest point in all of Israel, and participated in another conversation and activity, discussing the complexity of the conflict. Overall, it was a very frustrating topic to discuss, whether peace is possible with the West Bank, but we all learned so much about the current situation that affects the lives of all Israelis. |
HARVARD STUDENTS IN JERUSALEM |
July 16, 2017
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EXPLORING THE COUNTRY |
July 13, 2017
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This week, our trip took a break from our internships to travel for our first tiyul in the North. We did a river hike and rafted in the Jordan River, which was a spectacular failure for my raft-mates and me…it took us probably twice as long as it should have to reach the finish line! However, it was more hilarious than frustrating, and helped me bond with some participants who I hadn’t had a chance to talk to yet. That night, we stayed in an absolutely gorgeous hostel above Tiberias overlooking the Kineret - it was hard to believe that view was real. The next day, we got to visit the famous Kibbutz Gesher. While the kibbutz itself was impressive, my most vivid memory is an adorable black and white cat who followed us around during our tour.
When we got back to Jerusalem, some friends and I made a quick turnaround to Tel Aviv for Laila Lavan, an all-night annual celebration of Tel Aviv culture. It was quite the experience - Rothschild Boulevard was jam-packed, and there were events from live music to fire throwers. After such a crazy night, I decided to take it easy for the weekend and visit family. I love that I have free Shabbats most weekends on Onward, because I actually get to see my cousins and choose the parts of Israel I get to explore. While I loved my experiences on Birthright and my high school teen tour, I appreciate the independence Onward gives its participants. Since then, I have been working hard at the Jerusalem Post, often traveling to Tel Aviv for interviews and events. The Maccabiah Games are now in full swing, and I already got to visit the Maccabiah Village in Ramat Gan. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem possible to sneak into the athletes’ spa…oh well. This week I get to shadow reporters at the Knesset, which I am so excited for because it is something I have always been very intrigued by. Time in Israel is passing way, way too quickly! |
A TRULY HOLY LAND |
July 11, 2017
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After nearly a month of living in The Holy Land I’ve been able to learn more about what makes Israel so holy. Through my previous four trips to Israel I’ve always experienced the holiness of Israel from the Jewish perspective. I’ve visited Safed, the home of Jewish mysticism, the Western Wall and many other holy sites throughout the country. However, on this trip I’ve been able to learn about different ways in which Israel is holy to a variety of faiths and peoples. Just over a week ago, our group went on a trip to the West Bank to learn firsthand about the Arab-Israeli conflict. We heard the perspective of a rabbi who is a settler of one of the Jewish villages in the West Bank. He explained the historical ties between the Jewish people and the lands of Judea and Samaria (which comprise the West Bank). We then heard the perspective of a Palestinian describing his people as a stateless group living in the Levant. He went on to explain that throughout their history the Palestinians have been under the control of numerous political entities (Ottoman Empire, British Mandate, Jordan…) but never under an independent Palestinian government. Later in the trip we met a group of Ethiopian Jews and a Bedouin woman who was the first woman of the Bedouins to go to college abroad. This collection of people was just a small taste of the ethnic and religious diversity present in Israel.
One of my favorite parts about living in Haifa is that I am living in a melting pot of different communities and faiths. Over the past couple of weeks, I had the opportunity to explore some of these communities. Last weekend my roommates and I took a trip to the Arab city of Nazareth to visit sites of historical significance in Islam and Christianity. We visited the churches built on the sites where the Catholics and Eastern Orthodox believed that the annunciation occurred. Closer to Haifa, we visited the Baha’i gardens in Haifa as well as the Stella Maris Monastery. Both of these sites occupy a prominent spot in Haifa serving as a poignant reminder to all about how Israel is much more than just the Jewish Holy Land. |
ADVENTURES AND LOVE |
July 9, 2017
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After several more workdays, grocery runs in the shuk (market), and Shabbatot in Jerusalem, I finally made my way to the old city to see the light show. I pushed my way through mobs of people, took selfies in front of countless light exhibits and finally reached the Kotel. Exploring Jerusalem at night has been a highlight of my summer. On one nighttime adventure, my roommates and I ran into an eighty year-old religious man who shared with us his dislike for Trump, his love for Frank Sinatra and the story of his brother’s successful trip to Vegas. He insisted on buying us all the pastries we wanted and would not take no for an answer. This encounter inspired me to run a social media campaign at the Yerushalmit Movement, the organization with which I am interning, about senseless love. At work, we are busy planning a memorial event to take place on Tisha B’av to commemorate the murder of Shira Banki, a fifteen year-old girl stabbed by a haredi man at the Jerusalem Pride parade in 2015. We’ve been discussing senseless hatred and have been working to create an event that honors her memory.
While interning has given me an opportunity to work on my professional skills, I always look forward to trips with the other Onward participants. On our trip North, we went on a water hike on the Majrase River and rafted down the Jordan River. After spending the night in a hostel overlooking the Kinneret, we learned about HaShomer HaChadash (New Guard) and the importance of protecting farmland. We spent a few hours working in the field and discussing personal connections to the land of Israel. We also traveled to Tel Aviv where we celebrated the Fourth of July, learned about the history of the LGBTQ+ community in Israel and went to a pool party with other Boston Onward participants at a Kibbutz in Beit Shemesh. To end the day, we watched the rehearsal of the opening ceremony for the Maccabi games at Teddy Stadium. It was a lot of fun to sing along with the performers, dance to the music and watch fireworks. |
EXPLORING THE CULTURES |
July 7, 2017
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What an eventful two weeks! Coming into this program, I knew that I would learn a lot from my internship. However, I did not expect to learn so much from the program as well! Last week, we went on a trip to the south. We started at an Ethiopian community in Kiriat Gat, and learned about the Ethiopian culture and language, as well as the struggles that the elders of the community went through when they moved to Israel. From there, we continued south to a Bedouin city called Tel Sheva to hear from an inspiring woman named Mariam about how she rebelled from Bedouin tradition, as she started her own business in cosmetics, and how she persevered through all of the struggles that she faced. After the inspiring conversation, and after learning to make some pita, we parted from the Bedouin community, and continued on to our final stop for the day – a kibbutz called Mashabei Sade. There, we enjoyed our evening with activities about stereotypes in the world, trivia about Israel, and a special bonding activity where we wrote nice anonymous notes on each other’s backs. The next day, we started the day off with a nice desert hike through Nahal Havarim. We then visited the Ben Gurion memorial and gravesite. Finally, we finished our trip to the south with a hilarious theater workshop in Be’er Sheva. I did not think that I could have so much fun with the group in only two days!
The following week, we also had the chance to appreciate and celebrate both Israel and America by spending the 4th of July in Jerusalem. We started off the day in the City of David, where we were able to learn about some history of the Jewish people in the place that the events actually took place. We then went to the Western Wall in order to connect to the most sacred place that our people can reach today. It was extremely moving to have the privilege of being in the most important city to the Jewish people, and to celebrate 50 years since the reappropriation of the Old City, on the same day that we celebrated our privilege to live in America, a free country that has been independent for well over 200 years. After leaving Jerusalem, we all took some time to relax and spend time together at a pool party with the other two Boston Onward groups from Haifa and Jerusalem! |
BU STUDENTS IN JERUSALEM |
July 5, 2017
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JAM-PACKED ACTION |
July 3, 2017
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My first two weeks in Israel were absolutely jam-packed. Acclimating to the program was swift and easy. I was lucky enough to find roommates I became fast friends with, and soon after, I began my internship at the Jerusalem Post, which has definitely not been disappointing.
Just in the first two weeks, I got to stand next to a reporter as he interviewed the US Ambassador to Israel, meet Mariah Carey at a press conference in Tel Aviv, and even write my own article and see it get published. I am encouraged by the acute interest the editors at JPost have taken in my fellow interns and myself: they really want us to get involved and pursue the journalistic paths in which we are personally interested. I also got to travel! I had my Breakout Seminar, which was a weekend retreat to the mystical Northern city of Tzfat. This was a nice change of pace from the somewhat hectic work week. We got a taste of how Kabbalists celebrate Shabbat, in what I believe to be one of the most beautiful places in the country. I’ll admit I took a few too many pictures of the sunset. If the rest of the trip brings this many special moments, I will feel even luckier than I do right now. |
DISCOVERING ONESELF |
July 1, 2017
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Just over one week ago I landed in Israel, a place that is simultaneously foreign yet familiar. This is my fifth trip to the country. When Israelis find out that I don’t have any family in the country yet chose to travel here so frequently they are confused as to why. “Australia is nice too, why don’t you travel there?” they ask. The answer is a complex one that I discover in layers each successive time I visit. On this latest foray into the Holy Land I discover even more reasons why my second home is over 5,000 miles from my native land. In the past week I’ve discovered a new aspect of my connection to Israel, a connection that can only be revealed by going beyond being a tourist and into the realm of an American living and experiencing daily life.
In my past four trips I have seen Israel almost as if an exhibit in a museum. This time I’ve been able to actually experience and absorb Israeli culture - such as the camaraderie of an Israeli workplace that is more of a close-knit family than a corporation. After just a few days I felt connected with my coworkers as we joke with each other during coffee breaks, talk about differences between American and Israeli families and learn together about everything from polyethylene to new Hebrew words. It is in these moments that I am reminded about the connection and communal bond all Jews share, even those who reside an ocean away. It really hits home how Israel is more than just the immense beauty as the sun is about to set over the Mediterranean. It is about being a home and a family that I can’t wait to live in for the rest of the summer. |
JERUSALEM BEGINNINGS |
June 28, 2017
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I’ve already learned so much on the Onward program including where to find the cheapest delicious falafel, how to travel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, and not to eat Marzipan rugelach while typing a blog post because chocolate will get on your computer keys. On the bus ride back from a celebratory welcome dinner at the Israel Museum, we decided to explore our new home and journey through the crowded shuk (market). This is when I truly realized where I was and I knew I made the right decision about my summer. It just felt right.
After a peaceful Shabbat in Jerusalem, we returned to the shuk for dinner to relieve some of the anxiety about our upcoming internships. While it was comforting to know that I wasn’t the only one feeling anxious, I was still nervous to start at the Yerushalmit Movement, a nonprofit working to foster a pluralistic society in Jerusalem. The next day, I woke up much earlier than necessary, used my ravkav (bus pass) for the first time, found my internship on time even after taking a few wrong turns, met my boss and the rest of the staff and finally started work. I’ve learned so much about the Israeli work environment and nonprofits and am eager to see what more I will learn throughout my time here. To break up the workweek, half of the Onward participants spent Tuesday visiting Yad L'Kashish, a nonprofit that works to empower the elderly by providing them with meaningful work, and the other half packaged food for those in need. Afterward, we spent our free afternoon traveling to Tel Aviv with a group of new friends and enjoyed a day on the beach getting to better know one another. We also traveled to Tzfat for our breakout seminar - our time was filled with delicious food, spirited singing and discussions of spirituality. I can confidently say I have at least twenty more friends than a week ago! |
JUST GETTING STARTED |
June 26, 2017
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It's finally here! My first week living here in Tel Aviv has been everything I could hope for. From shakshuka night, to eating falafel at the Carmel Market, to relaxing on the stunning beaches of Tel Aviv, to volunteering at a preschool of asylum-seekers’ kids, and especially to starting my very first internship, I went through my days with a giddy smile on my face. Having finished only my first year at UMass Amherst, I was nervous about finding my first internship without any prior experience in my field of finance.
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Applying for Onward was hands down the best decision I could have made for my first summer of building my resume. With the minimal experience that I have, I was given the opportunity to work as a Consulting Associate at a consulting firm for startups. I am not taking a second of this experience for granted because I have already learned so much in my first few days. I can only imagine how much I will learn this summer from my internship and from Onward in general, and I can’t wait to make memories and see what’s to come in the next month and a half!
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