BOSTON ONWARD ISRAEL 2012
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Video of Our Time in Israel |
September 1, 2012 |
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Overall, I came home understanding the skeleton of the issues in Israel. Except now I have a million more questions. I developed a strong connection with the State in 2009 when I went on Y2I (a birthright-esque 10 day trip) and became infatuated by it.
But now, it's safe to say that the lust has evaporated and love has taken its place. My relationship with Israel has deepened. I'm trying to figure out how to keep this experience alive and kicking for a long time and how to integrate it into my community at home and in college. |
Slowly, with the help of a new intern, and ulpan lessons twice a week, I formed my own kvoutzot and one-on-one activities with patients. One patient was very eager to brush up on his English skills, so we’d listen to American music, then read the lyrics, then discuss the meaning. Through this activity, I saw the effects of schizophrenia, primarily disordered thought. This was very eye-opening to me because although I’d read about schizophrenia many times in the past, I never witnessed the symptoms first-hand. |
During free time throughout the day, I’d play checkers with another patient. While it was an easy and fun activity, I learned on my last day that this man’s attendance to the Moadon improved since we started the daily games. This was significant to me because it was proof that I accomplished something, no matter how minute, during my time there. I also led an arts group and English-learning group which I thoroughly enjoyed as well. For all of my activities, I tried to structure them so it was not that I was the leader and the patients were of lower status than me; instead we did things together, working towards a goal together, and as they learned from me, I learned from them as well.
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I leave you with one word that I feel accurately describes my experience: assurance. Before I embarked upon this journey, I was nervous that my previous feelings towards Israel were some type of infatuation, rather than love. I was scared that since I had spent so little time here previously, maybe I liked the idea of Israel more than the actual place. I was afraid I had fallen in love with a fantasy world of falafel and camels.
Today, I can proudly announce that this experience has enabled me to confirm that what may have been infatuation at first, is indeed, now, love. I have seen both the good, and the bad, and am able to accept, with love, the country, by acknowledging both its flaws, and recognizing its strengths. I have confirmed that my passion for Israel is real. I am positive that Israel will always be a part of me, and that I will always be a part of Israel. The last part of that statement poses the biggest challenge for me. How will I be able to remain a part of Israel while living in the diaspora? |
This will be a challenge for me, as it is for many, but it is one I am prepared to face due to how much this experience has impacted me. I am committed to finding a way for Israel to be a part of my daily life, even while outside of the country itself.
Tomorrow, as I reluctantly return to my real home, I know that Israel will also, always be a home for me. I am confident that this journey will stay with me for the rest of my life. Because Israel is now such an enormous part of me, I feel like I belong to Israel. Part of me will be left here, and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I will return. |
In the past 6 weeks, Israel has showered us Yahel-ers the issues concerning immigration, water-supply, policies, religion, gaps in socioeconomic situations, and international relations. Living in Hadar, a once affluent but now depressed neighborhood in Haifa, has given us a taste of some of these problems. With all these new materials and opinions being thrown our way, it became difficult to separate the dilemmas of the State from the stories and lives of the individuals who live here. |
We met men and women from all over the world: Morocco, the Former Soviet Union, France, Argentina, Palestine, Iraq, Turkey, and Lebanon. Each person had a different story. Some fled from the Nazis and took evacuation boats to Kazakstan from Ukraine. Others were born in Haifa and had lived through the War of Independence and all the wars after it. Other survived the ghettos in Ukraine during World War II.
The history of each individual clutched our hearts as we eased deeper into the perspectives of the Shiloh members. At length, they told us about the hardships of immigrants. Learning a new language, finding a job, starting life from scratch. The rose-tinted lenses we had been wearing since our first trip to Israel quickly dissolved into a new species of lens: reality. The struggles of Israelis of all religions and nationalities have been brought to light. Despite their adversity, the unsung heroes of Shiloh still wear smiles on their faces. |
As my time in Jerusalem begins to wind down, I have begun to reflect on what I have learned and accomplished over the past several weeks. One of my major goals while in Israel was to truly experience what Shabbat was like in Jerusalem. During my first Shabbat, I prayed at the Kotel and was hosted by an Orthodox family for dinner in the Old City. This family hosts over 25 individuals (predominantly visitors in their 20s) every Shabbat.
Looking around the table there were individuals from all walks of life: seminary girls, yeshiva students, American tourists, reform Jews, Israeli soldiers, and more. During that moment, the uniqueness and specialness of Israel really hit me. I realized how incredible it is that so many different individuals travel all the way to Israel to experience this tiny country. Though we had never met before, we were all united under one roof to celebrate Shabbat and all of Israel’s accomplishment. Since my first Shabbat, I have attended a wide range of synagogues throughout Jerusalem and been hosted by different families coming from different backgrounds. |
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A second goal of mine was to better understand the role Israel plays in the global community. Last Thursday, our group had a trip to Tel Aviv where the theme for the day was Hi-Tech. Our first stop was at Better Place, a global provider of electric cars. We were able to test drive these remarkable silent vehicles and watched a movie about the entire history and process of Better Place and why electric cars are both practical and appealing. Next we went to Microsoft’s research and development (R&D) center, where we toured the facilities and were briefed on the Israel’s economic situation and the role that this country has played in creating some of Microsoft’s most important products.
Throughout the day I was constantly amazed and inspired by the success stories that have come out of Israel. For such a small country, surrounded by an array of threats and limited natural resources, Israel has been able to thrive in making a difference not only domestically but globally as well. Whether it be developing the original cell phone technology or announcing a remarkable medical breakthrough, Israel continues to shape and touch the lives of so many individuals in the global community on a daily basis. |
Finally, my third goal was to have an impact in the workplace. I feel that these past weeks with AnyClip were well spent. Interning in Israel has been much different than the stereotypical internship stories you hear about in the United States. Back at home, there is this image of a lowly intern who specializes in getting coffee, making copies, and sending emails. Because Israel does not really have an internship culture, interns are treated like every other employee.
I was assigned important tasks and held crucial responsibilities that maximized efficiency and productiveness for AnyClip. Additionally, working for a startup is unique because everyone’s voice matters and benefits the company. Therefore, there were numerous times throughout the summer where I contributed ideas or recommendations to the CFO and VPs of AnyClip. |
Having been involved this past year with the Tufts student organization Friends of Israel, despite having essentially no Israel experience save for a family vacation 10 years ago for a couple of weeks, I knew it couldn’t hurt to actually know what I’m talking about when I engage in dialogue on campus. I needed the first-hand experience of: living in the land of milk, honey, and falafel, to help people - myself included - understand what’s so awesome about Israel. So when the Tufts Birthright / Israel Programming Coordinator on campus told me about Onward Israel, the opportunity fell right into my lap. Before starting my internship, I did Birthright and then traveled with friends for a week.
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Traveling independent of any structured program helped me ease into Israeli culture which differs starkly from what I’ve grown up with on the East Coast. One situation in particular embodied the major aspects of the Israeli character. My friends and I were trying to meet other friends in Haifa and we had no clue where we need to get off of the bus. A man heard us sounding out the name of the stop and interjected himself into the conversation - explaining that after he got off, we needed to wait 2 more stops to leave. We thanked him profusely, but once he left we got confused again. The bus came to a stop a few minutes later and we debated whether it was the right place.
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Armed with this basic awareness of the Israeli character, I came to Jerusalem ready to start my internship. I did not know where I would be working until a week before the program started; as a typical time-conscious, plan-oriented American, this did not make me happy. I wanted to have every detail ironed out before my summer vacation started. Little did I know at the time that this was just another aspect of Israeli culture. Even though we’re living in the midst of this crazy cultural and political conflict that affects every citizen’s life, people move and communicate in a very relaxed manner.
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After the first four days of individual volunteer placements, our group was more than ready to kick off the weekend. We did this in the form of a fourth of July celebration on the beach. Our entire group mobilized by contributing some type of food. We spent hours on the beach cooking, eating, and relaxing. It was special to be able to celebrate our holiday in Israel as well as unwind from what was an overwhelming change of pace for most of us. |
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We also toured the Ben-Gurion Institute and visited Ben-Gurion’s home at Sde Boker, as well as his tomb. It was inspiring to be in such a symbolical place for the state of Israel. The weekend was very relaxing and a nice contrast from life in Haifa. It helped put things in perspective in terms of what I really like about Hadar, and what is appealing about the desert. We went on a night hike on Thursday night which was easily one of my favorite things we’ve done all summer. We spent time in silence for awhile just reflecting. It was an extremely special experience and came at just the right time. |
We also had one day of a seminar run by the Jewish Agency for Israel. Throughout the summer we will have several days dedicated to these seminars. Last week’s seminar addressed the topic of our connection to the land of Israel. We discussed what makes us feel connected to Israel, as well as what disconnects us. It was interesting to have this dialogue because I am often asked why I feel so at home in Israel despite the little amount of time I have spent here and despite how far away from my actual home it is.
In my opinion, no combination of words can justify my connection. It is simply not something I can put into words because of its depth. It’s the feelings I have when I’m here. The feelings associated with home: comfort, love, happiness, etc. Although I still feel I cannot properly articulate my connection to Israel, the six hours we spent discussing related topics may have helped me to better grasp an explanation. |
We also painted a bomb shelter which has been turned into a place for teens living in Hadar to go two nights a week. This provides an opportunity for teens that may get themselves into trouble on the street, to have a conversation with adults, and spend time with their peers in a healthy, safe environment. We helped by cleaning up the shelter and painting the walls. One of the directors told us that on a typical night, they could have anywhere from five to fifteen children there, but they also actively reach out to teens who may be at risk. I was glad we could contribute to cleaning and painting for such a vital project in the community.
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When I arrived in Israel over two weeks ago, I truly did not know what to expect. I have been fortunate enough to have traveled to Israel five different times throughout my life through a variety of family vacations, bar mitzvahs, youth movement programs, and educational tours. On these trips I had climbed Masada, floated in the Dead Sea, and of course eaten falafel and shawarma one too many times. Though I had spent many weeks in the past touring this magnificent country from the north to the south (and back up again), I was never presented with the opportunity to live on my own and fully immerse myself in Israeli society.
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Five days a week I am working at AnyClip, a seed company of Jerusalem Venture Partners. Ultimately, AnyClip is similar to YouTube but is specifically for movie clips. AnyClip makes it possible to search for any moment in any film by implementing its unique metadata tagging technology. One can search for traditional aspects of a film (actors, quotes, directors) or more detailed components including objects, locations, and subjects with ease.
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After work and on Shabbat I have the opportunity to explore and experience Jerusalem. On Friday, I visited the Jerusalem shuk (an outdoor market), a great place to people watch and purchase inexpensive groceries. The shuk is packed with people buying food for Shabbat as well as their weekly groceries. I’ve had the pleasure of eating at a range of kosher restaurants and cafes (something that I certainly miss out on by living in the U.S) where I’ve tried both Israeli and international dishes. A few nights a week I play pick-up basketball in a local park with Israelis, where I get to practice my Hebrew as well as show the locals how Americans really play basketball.
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After spending four unforgettable months at the University of Haifa, I have embarked upon my next big adventure: 6 weeks of service learning in Hadar, a neighborhood in Haifa, facing various challenges within the community. I feel this opportunity could not have come at a more perfect time. What better way to conclude my study abroad experience in Haifa than by giving back to one of its communities in need?
The program I am a part of is powered by various organizations, including CJP and Onward Israel, and is called Yahel Israel Serive Learning. What makes Yahel special is their emphasis on integrating program participants into Israeli culture. This is seen in all aspects of our program-living, learning, and volunteering. We are living in the heart of Hadar, among Israeli peers, while contributing to projects that already exist in order to meet the needs of the community. This is truly an original experience that will not only accomplish helping the community, but will enable me to connect with the community members on a very personal level. |