Jillax

Religious Pluralism in the Jewish State!

2006-02-11T23:41:00.000+02:00

One thing that is hard to grasp when you first land in Israel is not only the cultural diversity in the country (Jews are not only North American with origins in Eastern Europe, there are Jews from almost every country: Iran, South Africa, Ethiopia, Mexico, China, India), but the religious pluralism that exists.
Seth and I went downtown to Ben Yehuda St. Saturday night since it is always packed (because most stores are closed during the day for Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest). Towards the top, an Asian group of young adults were singing beautiful Christian songs. An audience had formed around them, and I was shocked to see that religious Jews were enjoying the music as well.
About 100 meters down the street (a pedestrian mall), there were 3 Haredi (ultra orthodox) men: one was playing the keyboard, the other singing, and the third dancing with a HUGE yellow flag that had the words "Mashiach" (Saviour) printed on it. Every once in a while a few religious, and even non-religious young men would jump in and dance.
It's nice to be reminded that in the holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam religion can be enjoyed together, and appreciated by all.

Tu Bishvat Higiya! (Tu Bishvat is Here!)

2006-02-09T22:57:00.000+02:00

I can't remember the last time I celebrated "Tu Bishvat": the New Years for the Trees. It is one of the 4 Jewish "New Years" mentioned in the "Mishna" (a major source of rabbinic religious texts and the basis for the "Talmud"). It is customary to eat fruits and plant trees in Israel (most people eat dry fruits on this holiday).
This year, however, I could not have forgotten about the holiday! There was dry fruit everywhere at the shuk! It became the latest trend: stands that don't even sell fruits normally had them! And it wasn't limited to the usual raisins, dates, apricots, but included: dried pineapple, kiwi, banana, mango, and many other fruit I didn't recognize!
Not only that, but the municipality put up signs all over the city with wishes for the holiday!
And, as an environmentally friendly reminder: don't forget to reuse, reduce, and recycle (seriously)!

Waffles!!!

2006-02-08T22:36:00.000+02:00

Seth and I went to a neat tiny (about the size of a walk in closet, not even) waffle place at the bottom of Shamai St. It's cute and smells wonderful! The waffles might look a bit small, but are very filling! If you're ever in the mood for a fun dessert, or walking around Ben Yehuda, go check it out!

Austrians and Germans in Israel

2006-02-08T22:17:00.000+02:00

When Seth went to volunteer on a Kibbutz 2 summers ago, one of his roommates was German, not Jewish. I was confused, at first, as to why he was there. What appeal does a Kibbutz have to someone like him? Leo, our German (Jewish) roommate, told us that Germans learn about the events of the Holocaust from childhood, and feel guilty. He says that it's common for Germans our age to come to Israel and work either on a Kibbutz, or somewhere else. It's their way of repenting for their grandparents' unforgivable acts: coming to help build a country for a nation their grandparents tried so vehemently to destroy.
Last night Seth and I went to go hear Leo and 2 of his friends perform for a group of Israeli Holocaust survivors. (Leo played the cello). Once seated in our chairs, we were surprised to hear German all around us. The audience was not only comprised of Holocaust survivors, but of the children and grandchildren of SS men from Germany and Austria who had come to Israel on a 2-week trip to learn about and travel the country.
At first, chills ran down my spines. Sitting next to families of Nazis felt weird. But as I looked around I realized that, as hard as it may be, it really is unfair to punish this generation for acts they had no control over. One teenage boy was wearing a popular "Tzahal" (IDF: Israel Defence Force) shirt. Others were discussing places they had visited.
Watching Holocaust survivors enjoying a recital, sitting next to, and talking to the offspring of their families' murderers made me appreciate this State in a new light.
Israel is not just about being a home for the Jewish people. It's about being the center of Jewish education, tolerance, and understanding, not only for Jews, but for non-Jews as well, even, and especially, for the children of Nazis.

The lesson of Munich

2006-02-08T11:09:00.000+02:00

We saw the much talked about "Munich" last night. I actually really enjoyed it (even though my heart was racing the whole movie)! Although I understand why Spielberg thought that bringing up the morality of targeted assassinations was important, I do not agree with his conclusions. But, considering that the movie was only remotely based on reality (and from what Seth tells me is based on a book that an Israeli airport security guard named "Avner" wrote, who claims that he was involved in the mission, even though all the Mossad agents that are known to have been involved said they never heard of him), I am not going to get into the specifics.
In fact, what I walked away with from the movie had more to do with my understanding of the importance of a Jewish home in a secure State. 11 Israeli athletes were not brutally murdered because they were Israeli, it was because they were Jews. And, the world tried to be sympathetic, but would they even have tried if there was no State that represented us? The murderers were dealt with leniently enough, but would they have been punished at all if there was no Jewish State that was pressuring them to do so?
I know that it is difficult for non-Jews, and sometimes even for Jews, to understand why it is so important to have a Jewish State. Zionism is deemed to be racism. And I know it has been said hundreds of times, but it boils down to this for me: Jews have been persecuted for thousands of years. Since the destruction of the Second Temple and their expulsion from Israel, they have never been truly safe. Almost every religion has a country where that religion is the overwhelming majority. The Jews have yearned for such a country for thousands of years. History has made it clear that we need protection, and Israel has offered that protection to Jews all over the world: by rescuing Jews from persecution in Russia, Ethiopia, Yemen, Iraq to name a few, by performing outrageously dangerous rescue missions of Jews that were held hostage such as in the Entebbe Raid in 1976.
Some people believe that the world has learned its lesson and is more compassionate, and Jews do not need the same protection they used to. Open the newspapers, look at events from the past year, anti semitism is still thriving. Genocide is still occurring, and governments have only recently began to take some action in Darfur.
Israel, as a Jewish State, needs to exist, and therefore has a right to exist. Once our enemies recognize that, the rest is all details.

Israel Under Attack

2006-02-04T23:36:00.000+02:00

Today Seth's parents (Larry and Carol) sat us down to talk to us about what we should do if Iran attacks Israel with nuclear weapons. At first, Seth and I both thought it was a ridiculous conversation to have. I mean, Iran wouldn't attack Israel? Come oooon.
But as we talked about it, I realized that we are in the Middle East, we are in Israel surrounded by countries that want nothing more than to wipe us off the map. And, if Iran had the ability to do it, there is a chance, no matter how small, that it would act.
The trouble is, I don't know what I would do: do I find the fastest way to leave the country? I have no army training and would be of no use. Israel doesn't need extra people to care for when it is in the middle of a war? Don't we want Israelis and Jews to remain who will be able to populate Israel once the fighting stops? People that are not hurt by the nuclear warfare?
But, as Seth's dad pointed out, what about moral support? How would those Israelis who stay behind to fight feel if all those people who claim they love Israel so much get up and leave? Israel is a home for all Jews, and it's the only home we have. Am I going to abandon my home when the going gets rough?

Home Sweet Home

2006-01-26T23:57:00.000+02:00

Arriving back in Israel was like a breath of fresh air. When I leave it, I always think I remember how much you love it. But, the truth is, there are always many things I forget about, that I love. And, I can never feel the way I do when I am in Israel. I, quite simply, feel at home. Home in every sense of the word: comfortable, secure, open. And, like in every home, frustration occurs, and arguments break out. But, home is also the place of forgiveness, where you continue to care and support each other, where you can always come back to.
Here are some pictures of the beautiful landscapre that is my home taken from the plane:

Friendly Neighbours

2005-11-14T23:46:00.000+02:00

When comparing Israel to Canada, Israelis often say that they cannot understand how Canadians do not speak to their neighbours, and sometimes don't even know who they are!
When searching for apartments in September, Seth and I were getting desperate, and were willing to live anywhere. But I'm glad that we found a place in a nice neighbourhood like Nayot, because friendly encounters with our neighbours are always nice!
In Israel you often have to pay "va'ad bayit", which is a monthly amount that you pay to the owner of the building for maintenance, and in our case, heat.
Where we live, every condo is owned separately, and there is a committee, elected every few years to manage the affairs of the 3 buildings. The meetings are not preset, but are called whenever the committee gets tired of their job.
Today Seth, Jon and I attended the meeting which everyone was required to attend, to decide when the hot water and heat should be turned on, and the amounts of the monthly payments to be made by each condo.
Us being Americans and Canadians, we figured that if the meeting is mandatory, we have to go. We arrived promptly at 7:00pm, and walked into an apartment, with chairs arranged around a living room. Being Israelis, most people showed up late. And, of course, only about half the people showed up.
The first item on the agenda was electing a new committee. We discovered soon enough that it should have been called appointments and guilt trips. Luckily, because we are students and only renting for a year, we were spared. One of the members of the past committee started picking people out of the crowd, asking them why they weren't volunteering. One elderly women argued that she had already been on the committee and that was enough volunteering from her. So then the man turned to the guy sitting next to him and said: "why have you never been on? You are young and understand these matters! You have to be on and I don't want to hear any argument."
At this point we wanted to laugh...talk about an Israeli way to manage affairs!
Then the man at whose house the event was held, got up and walked to his kitchen as he complained about the fact that the meeting was held at his house, and how unfair it was because his wife wasn't around to help...(which should have been obvious since snacks consisted of a bowl of M & Ms and a bowl of avocados (not cut or peeled or anything!))
I always find these Israeli confrontations highly entertaining. But what I love about it most is that everyone was so straight forward, and told their neighbours what they thought, to their face. And that, regardless of all that, no feelings were hurt, and there were still moments of laughter.
The meeting was a small-scale example of Israeli life: you have to be quick-witted and you can't be afraid to stand up for yourself. Everyone is like that, so you shouldn't be sensitive. It's the way Israelis are: true "sabras": thorny on the outside, sweet on the inside.

HaOman 17

2005-11-11T11:42:00.000+02:00

Israelis know how to party! Although their style is different than North Americans.
Seth, Jon and I went to HaOman 17 in Jerusalem, one of Israel's most popular club. The universities and colleges in Jerusalem were throwing a party for all students, to open the new academic year (university starts at the end of October here, after the Jewish holidays).
The place is huge and was completely PACKED, people everywhere were dancing, and the energy was high.
In Israel, people don't "grind". In fact, if you try to, girls will give you disgusted looks and walk away. Israeli girls are also known to be "hard to get" (well, for Israeli guys anyways, they tend to be nicer to foreigners). Seth and Jon definitely got a taste of that. Jon brushed up against a girls' bare back by mistake, and she turned around and gave him this dirty look and said to me: "how much did he have to drink?". Later that night, as we were leaving, Seth rubbed shoulders with another girl as we were finding our way out. She turned around and said: "hey! watch where you're going!". Considering that when you walk down the streets in Israel, people bump into you all the time and never look back never mind apologize, that was pretty weird.
I've been to other big clubs in Israel such as the "Forum" in Be'er Sheva, and had a great time there too. If you've never been clubbing in Israel, I suggest you go. It's an experience you definitely do not want to miss.

Love Parade

2005-10-21T12:01:00.000+02:00

Seth's parents went to the Tel Aviv "Love Parade" which took place on the boardwalk in Tel Aviv. It's a pretty long street, and was apparently flooded with people. Each popular club in Israel or radio station had their own float with different themes, filled with guys and girls dancing in different costumes (one had a girl who took off her shirt and guys were pooring water and beer on her as she danced with them, drawing a huge crowd around that float).

The parade led to an area filled with food stands, and a concert where hundreds of red and white balloons flew into the sky. The message was: spread the love, bring peace.

Peanut Picking

2005-10-15T03:12:00.000+02:00

Today was Seth’s 21^st birthday!!! We had lots of fun going to the beach (yes, it is still beach weather, although slightly cold), and eating Indian food, but the highlight of the day was a typical Israeli experience we had. We were driving home from the beach and saw families walking around one of the fields by the highway we were on, and other cars pulling up off the highway to join them. If we were in Canada or the United States, we would have just continued on home, but feeling Israeli, we decided to go see what was going on! A father and son told us everyone was peanut picking! In Judaism, a farmer must leave 10% of his crops in the field for the poor. Today, in Israel, this is customary, and often (we learned) people go by once the season is over!

Seth and I grabbed a plastic bag from the car and started digging through the weeds, leaves, and dirt looking for peanuts along with everyone else, hurrying to find them before the sun set.

Spontaneous events are often the best and most memorable. Life in Israel has been a series of spontaneous events…it is part of the Israeli mentality. They don’t plan ahead, probably because Israel’s history, unfortunately, has always been one unexpected turn after another… But this mentality is one of the main reasons I love Israel. No one makes plans 2 weeks in advance; instead, you stop by your friends’ place whenever you feel like it, and go out. You learn to live for the moment…so, go be spontaneous!

Yom Kippur

2005-10-14T02:26:00.000+02:00

Wow! You’d think that Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the “Sabbath of Sabbaths”, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when Jews are supposed to ask forgiveness from God for their sins throughout the year, would be a solemn day in Israel. But, anyone in a plane flying over Israel today would think that there was a huge celebration going on!

On Yom Kippur, the entire country shuts down. Even the secular do not drive, all shops are closed, and everyone is out on the street with family or friends. I spent the holiday in Ra’anana, where Seth’s parents live, a city that has a large Anglophone community (from the United States, South Africa, Australia and Britain), a large and diverse religious community, and a large secular community. What is so nice about the city, though, is that people are tolerant towards each other, and there is a real sense of belonging.

Seth, Jon and I walked home from synagogue an hour and a half away in Kfar Saba (the next city over). We walked in the street, since they were completely abandoned, except for the occasional ambulance, and they were filled with parents walking with their infants, hundreds of young kids riding their bikes (you’d think these kids just discovered how to ride, since they were everywhere…but it was because they had the whole street to ride on!), groups of people sitting out in lawn chairs telling jokes and playing Shesh Besh (Backgammon), religious people dressed all in white (a custom, representing purity)…It was beautiful to see, on the most important Jewish day, the coming to life of the Jewish ideal, and the principle Israel was based on: Jews, from diverse backgrounds, celebrating the Jewish people, accepting one another and building a community together.

Seth, Amira, Jon and I at Seth's parents' "Break the Fast" Party!

Shana Tova!

2005-10-05T00:17:00.000+03:00

It is finally Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year)! The holiday every Israeli waits for, because it means that a whole month of holidays is beginning (Rosh Hashana is followed by 3 other holidays each occurring about a week apart). In other words, the country will be filled with delicious smells of holiday foods cooking, happy people walking in the streets heading over to family and friends’ houses for a feast, lots of good spirit, lots of time off of work and school, and for many, also, a chance to go on vacation!

I love the holidays, but I am loving them even more in Israel because here you really feel the holiday! It feels like Christmas in Canada, when every person is cheerful, and a large portion of the country is celebrating together, making the holiday even more meaningful. It’s nice to understand what people celebrating Christmas feel like…I am always so jealous that they get to share their Christmas spirit with others. The Jewish holidays sometimes feel lonely, since people continue their daily lives around me. It’s nice that, this year, so many people understand my excitement.

Since it is a tradition to eat apples dipped in honey on the New Year (in hopes that we will have a sweet New Year), yummy honey cakes are sold everywhere. When I was at the Jerusalem shuk (the flea market) the day before Rosh Hashana eve hundreds of shoppers were there…it was worse than it is before Shabbat! (the Jewish Sabbath). I could not move, and the cart I put my groceries in kept on running over people’s feet! But all around people were smiling, wishing each other a “Shana Tova” (Happy New Year).

We Found an Apartment!!!

2005-10-01T21:38:00.000+03:00

Believe it or not, finding an apartment has been a real learning experience, and an important one too; teaching me how to think and act like an Israeli when it comes to something you want!
At first Seth and I, being naive North Americans, went to look at some apartments and we would call the owners when interested. It was hard finding a 2-3 bedroom apartment that was furnished, and in an area near downtown. But we finally found some, and when we called the landlords (usually the tenants were the ones that showed the apartment), they would say they were already taken which really puzzled us.
We finally got through to one landlord and told him that we were very interested and wanted to sign the lease. He told us he would meet us the following day, and to call him in the morning to set up a time. I called the next morning, and he told me that he had already given the apartment to someone else. Upset, I told him that we had agreed to meet today to sign the lease. He told me "the other people gave me money first!" He apologized, and I think he actually felt bad. But, Seth and I realized why all the previous landlords had sold their place so fast. It was what people had been telling us: we had to bring money with us when we went to look at apartments, because a landlord will only take us seriously if we hand them a deposit upfront, to prove that we are serious. Landlords get people that say they are interested all the time, and then they back down. They need reassurance.
So we started bringing money with us, but then one landlord started playing games with us and sending us on a wild goose chase after her daughter to whom we were supposed to bring the money.
So, in short, remember, that when you want something in Israel, you have to prove that you're serious, and you have to be adamant about it too, and, a little bit of "chutzpa" helps too (as long as it is tactful).
After a month of searching (for hours upon hours on some days) we finally found an apartment! Seth, Jon and I are moving out of the Hebrew University dorms on Mount Scopus and into a beautiful, clean, spacious apartment! We have been working hard to make it perfect! We had a nice Shabbat with our friend Neil, and went up on the roof to hang out and look at the view. Jerusalem is beautiful.

Simon Wiesenthal

2005-09-23T17:41:00.000+03:00

It's funny...I tend to think that people that are famous for the good deeds they have done, for bringing people to justice, for making the world a happier and safet place, are remarkable people for those reasons. I take it for granted that that was their life's mission, and never really think about their motivations for doing so, or the path that lead them towards their big successes.
Simon Wiesenthal survived the Nazi death camps, and then dedicated his life to seeking out Nazi war criminals and bringing them to justice. The evidence collected by him was used to track down, capture, and punish these war criminals.
Wiesenthal used to say: "When history looks back, I want people to know the Nazis weren´t able to kill millions of people and get away with it.¨
Simon Wiesenthal died peacefully in his sleep on September 20, 2005. His funeral took place in Herzliya, Israel. It was an honour to attend such a noble man's funeral. Many diplomats and politicians arrived from Germany, Australia, the United States, Israel, and more. While listening to eulogies, I learned that Simon Wiesenthal had to fight to accomplish his mission. People did not want to cooperate at first, people wanted to forget the Holocaust. He never let go of his goal. This is the side of a hero people always forget...it is what makes him even more respectable. He fought for truth and justice when no one else would.

Om Beach

2005-09-23T16:25:00.000+03:00

My favourite beach so far has been Om Beach in Herzliya. It's clean, has good waves and is always full of life.
Seth and I went there today, before Shabbat. The water was refreshing and it's always fun to try to catch waves. The restaurant they have on the beach has the best ice coffees (we've tried a bunch of them all over Isreal, and these are great, a bit expensive, but really big too!). There were Israeli families, and groups of friends that sat at the tables eating fruits and sandwiches they brought from home. Later in the afternoon the music came on, and teenagers swarmed in. There was dancing near the spray hoses (hoses that spray water to cool people off). It was a great way to start off the weekend and have fun before the quiet of Shabbat hit. (Seth says that Drum Beach ("Hof HaTupim") in Tel Aviv is also a great experience)

Family trip to the North

2005-08-21T00:22:00.000+03:00

I spent 3 weeks in Israel with my family...here are some wonderful memories...

Baron Edmond James de Rothschild was a French Jew who made many investments in Israel and helped young Jewish settlements develop at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. He contributed financially, culturally, politically and spiritually to Israel. His burial site is beautiful:

Next, we went to the Carmel Mizrahi winery, that makes delicious kosher wine! (in order to be kosher, the grapes have to be treated a certain way). Rothschild helped Jewish families set up vineyards in Zichron Ya'acov in order to provide jobs:

The view from the town of Zichron Ya'acov is breathtaking:

My mother took us to visit her friend at Kibbutz Mishmar Ha'Emek (a kibbutz is a communal settlement where the Zionistic idea of working the land came from. A kibbutz is a socialist community that believes in cooperation and equality). Therefore, everyone must pitch in operating the kibbutz, and all outside salaries are given to the kibbutz. Every family is given a house and an annual stipend depending on size. Meals are eaten jointly. Here are some pictures of the dining hall and the cow farm (where they raise hundreds of their own cows):

Israel is home to many faiths, amongst them, the Bahai Faith. It started in Iran about 150 years ago, and has spread all over the world. There are Bahais of every culture, race, religion and social background. It is a monotheistic and peaceful religion that believes in the unity of religion (that there is only one religion, the religion of God) and that life is a process of spiritual growth and development. The Bahai World Centre is in two cities in Israel, Acco and Haifa. We went to the Bahai Gardens in Haifa. It is absolutely beautiful and perfectly symmetric:

Disengagement

2005-08-18T20:15:00.000+03:00

The disengagement plan went into action 3 days ago, the morning of August 15th. 21 settlements in Gaza and 4 in the West Bank are included in the evacuation plan. After a summer of distress, disagreement, disappointment by some, and approval and satisfaction on the other, Israel is one big emotional mess.
As the saying goes "Two Jews, Three Opinions", in a State full of Jews, there are more than enough opinions. So for those of you that want to understand what people are thinking, it's hard to explain, but the basic breakdown is as follows:
Those on the political right, especially the extreme right, vehemently oppose the disengagement plan. The land being evacuated is part of biblical Israel and they feel a Jewish connection to it. Also, those settlers that live in the West Bank and Gaza are upset because they moved to these neighbourhoods under a government initiative (some neighbourhoods were initiated by Ariel Sharon himself), and they feel betrayed.
Understandably, the settlers do not want to leave their homes. They feel their lives are being stripped from them. Stickers and signs everywhere say "a Jew does not expel another Jew (from his home)".
Many people that oppose the plan say that the main reason they oppose it is that they feel the land is being given away for nothing: no negotiation, no agreement, no peace. So what for? They feel we are giving away a bargaining tool, and say that if there was a promising agreement at hand, they would be willing to disengage.
Some people have taken it to a whole other level (which I find disturbing): comparing the evacuation of Jews from their neighbourhoods in the Gaza Strip to the Holocaust.
Other Israelis support Prime Minister Sharon's decision. These are not only people on the left, but also in the center, and on the right. There are various reasons for agreeing. Some feel that enough soldiers have died protecting the Jewish neighbourhoods in the Gaza Strip, and feel that it is not worth more young Israeli deaths. Some understand that the location of the neighbourhoods in the Gaza Strip deem them indefensible, and that we will have to give them up sooner or later. Others feel that Israel needs secure borders, and by pulling out of the Gaza Strip, Israel can better protect against terrorist infiltration into Israel. Also, the soldiers that were in Gaza will be relocated inside Israel and Israel will be able to better defend itself. Many feel, as the Prime Minister said on December 18, 2003: "If the Palestinians do not make a similar effort toward a solution to the conflict, I do not intend to wait for them indefinitely." In other words, if there is no partner for peace, Israel will take measures to secure its own borders. Some people hope that this initiative will change the world's view of Israel as an aggressor and make the world realize that Israel is willing to make sacrifices for peace (although others doubt that this will happen), and is even taking the first step even when there is not a promising future in sight.
This poster is a play on words and says: "The People are with Gush Hashish" (one of the areas being evacuated is called "Gush Katif"). This poster is trying to promote the reduction of violence throughout the disengagement.
Throughout the summer, I have spoken to countless people: neighbours, friends, family, cab drivers, waiters... about disengagement. I am constantly shocked by the political awareness in this country. People know what is going on, and care.
Today I was walking down Ben Yehuda with Seth and Carmit, and there were hundreds of people there opposing the disengagement: religious men were praying, youngsters were holding signs, teenagers formed a circle on the ground and were singing Israeli songs of hope. Two people were arguing over whether the disengagement was right or not, and a huge crowd formed around them.
It was also heartwarming (and heartbreaking) to see how emotional soldiers have been getting: countless shots of soldiers that entered families' homes to evacuate them, who hugged the families, cried with them, and said: "I'm sorry". We are, after all, with all of our disagreements and different opinions, one people. We have to be able to lean on each other.

Back to My Roots

2005-08-11T22:40:00.000+03:00

Today my dad, brother (Ofir), aunt (Rachel), cousin (Yuval) and I went to go visit my dad's aunt "Miriyam" in "El Yachin", a predominantly Yemenite settlement where my great grandmother z"l used to live. My dad's side of the family is Yemenite, and I always love going over to my dad's aunts' houses, because not only are they the sweetest women in the world, they always have stories to tell and lots of yummy home cooked Yemenite food to eat.
Most older Yemenite women I know have a garden that they are proud of. They like to water their plants and sit outside. It's beautiful to see how carefully they tend to the vegetables and fruit they grow (and the men always make sure that the "Gat" is carefully tended to as well).
Then, we went in and my aunt (whether or not she is actually our aunt, we all call her that) started setting the table. None of us were hungry, but, of course that never matters: when you enter a Yemenite home you have to eat. My dad told me once that it's because they didn't have much food growing up, so they want to make sure that we eat when we can. As soon as the delicious, home made "melawach" (delicious layers of fried dough...go to an Israeli restaurant and try it out, or, even better, make a Yemenite friend) was put on the table, we all knew we were doomed; there was no way we could resist.
While eating, 6 little kids ran into the house. They all kissed Miriyam one by one saying "hi savta" ("grandmother" in Hebrew) as she urged them to sit down and eat. We then went outside and Miriyam told us stories about her aliyah (immigration) to Israel.
These trips always make me realize the importance of family and of tradition. Nothing makes me happier than meeting tons of cousins I never knew I had, eating home made traditional food with them, and hearing stories about my family's beginnings in Eretz Yisrael.

Visit to the West Bank

2005-08-11T22:16:00.000+03:00

Today my cousin Yuval and his wife Michael who live in the "Shomron" in the West Bank showed me and my parents, siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins around the West Bank (and to their house for a delicious lunch!).
We drove past the checkpoint (Israelis have to go through them too) and into the West Bank, and were surrounded by thousands of olive trees that were planted by Palestinian Arabs on the sides of the road, for miles.
I was shocked to learn that in order for my cousins to get to their home, they had to drive through Palestinian Arab towns. Israelis and Palestinian Arabs use the same road to get around. (Picture of an Israeli car and Palestinian Arab truck passing each other).
Yuval's father-in-law was telling me, nostalgically, about how he used to come to these towns and buy his groceries from Palestinian Arabs and how good the relationship between them used to be. He said he still has a close Palestinian Arab friend, and I asked how that was possible. "Won't he get in trouble for associating with Israelis?". He answered: "He's older, so he isn't as threatened as the younger generation which is easier to influence, and which is seen as the future."
Since disengagement is around the corner, we went to go see the 2 of the 4 neighbourhoods in the area that were being evacuated. Surprisingly, everything seemed pretty normal, with people going about their daily lives. We spoke to one woman and asked her if she thinks that the disengagement will happen. She said "absolutely not, this is our home, no one will take it away from us." What upsets them the most (as well as many other Israelis), is that so many people are being forced out of their homes, without any agreement or negotiations occurring between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs. They feel as if their home is being taken from them without anything in return. (Other Israelis feel that these people are spoiled because their lifestyle is highly subsidized by the government: they got houses for free, do not pay for utilities...and after the evacuation, they will be receiving free houses and many other benefits, all paid for with tax money). I could not believe her conviction that in a week, she would still be in her home in the West Bank. Then again, if I were in her position, I probably would not want to believe it either. (In the picture, construction on a local synagogue continued.)
After lunch, we went to go visit Yuval's sister (also my cousin), who lives in the middle of nowhere in the West Bank, a place called "Har Nof". On the way, we passed probably the most well-known and dangerous checkpoint, where many terrorists have been intercepted and even blown up.
Going to the West Bank was really important for me to see how Israelis and Palestinians live side-by-side, the living conditions of both (which are much better than expected), and to see the truth about what is going on, and not just what everyone sees in the newspaper.

Eagles

2005-08-10T23:48:00.000+03:00

My family went on a 2 day trip with my aunt, uncle and cousin to the Golan Heights. It was SO beautiful! When I was younger, every summer, when we came to Israel, or uncle would take us on fantastic trips around Israel, and this was such a memorable one!
On our drive up to the Golan Heights, we stopped at a picnic stop in the forest where many of the picnic tables were filled with Israeli families, tourists, and youth groups taking a break for lunch as well. One teenager who was with his friends came over to our table and asked us if we wanted the watermelon he was holding in his hands. When we asked how much it was, he laughed, and said it was free, that they didn't want it. We sliced it in half, and ate half of it. And, not wanting the rest, we passed it on to a group of soldiers who were sitting nearby...I really felt like this is what Israel is all about: giving and sharing, because we are all in this together.
We then went white water rafting in the Jordan river, and then went to stay at a Kibbutz's guest house and barbecued some of the best meat I've ever had!

The next day we went to the "Gamla Nature Reserve" and spent a few hours walking around watching the eagles flying elegantly above us as we walked past historical sites, ruins, and nature.

A Day in Tel Aviv

2005-08-04T12:12:00.000+03:00

I love Tel Aviv! It is considered the New York City of Israel because you feel so alive in it! They say the same thing about both cities: they never go to sleep. And it's true...no matter what time of day, there are always tons of people filling up the streets.
Seth and I went to the "shuk" (flea market)...it's even better than the one in Jerusalem! Filled with the colours of fresh fruits and vegetables, the smell of fish and baked goods, and the sweetness of candies!

The shuk in Tel Aviv is right near the beach...we took plastic chairs from the beach and sat in the water (and ended up getting soaked!), watching kids jump the waves and collect seashells. The sunset was beautiful:Often, whether in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or any other place packed with people, a loud, happy music is heard, and a white van rounds the corner, and 5 or 10 religious men hop out, dancing and clapping, with smiles on their faces. They are the follows of Rabbi Nachman, born in 1772 in Ukraine. He was an exceptional Tzaddik (person who does good deeds), a Torah sage, teacher, and story teller. His great grandfather was the founder of the Jewish Chassidic (ultra-religious) movement. Rabbi Nachman's teachings are still learned today, by both Jews and non-Jews. His followers call him "the Rebbe", and are called the Breslover Chassidim. They are known for their energy and enthusiasm, and try to spread this to the Israeli public through their music and dancing. Most wear a big white ¨kippah¨(head covering), that have the Hebrew word "Nachman" on it in black. Here is a picture of them dancing on top of their vans on the Tel Aviv boardwalk (almost everyone stopped and watched them as they were passing by...they really do manage to improve people's moods!).

Unfortunately, almost every area bustling with people also has a plaque or a memorial, with the names of those murdered in terrorist bombings. One of the most devastating ones took place at the Dolphinarium, at a club on the Tel Aviv boardwalk. The bomber blew himself up outside the club, which was packed with teenagers waiting to get inside on a Friday night (June 1st, 2001). 20 Israelis were killed, and over 90 maimed. 19 of the 20 were recent immigrants from the Soviet Union. Here is the memorial:

Dinner at Philly Pizza

2005-07-24T23:50:00.000+03:00

Judea and Samaria, part of Biblical and modern Israel, is absolutely GORGEOUS!

We visited an ancient Mikve (a place where Jews go for the religious ritual of symbolic cleansing in collected rain water).
And...the best part was eating pizza! As you can see, it was so good that we were grabbing at the pieces before the boxes could even be placed on our tables.

Israel's Humanitarian Aid: Save a Child's Heart

2005-07-15T16:16:00.000+03:00

The State of Israel was founded on Jewish values. "Tikkun Olam" (Repairing the World) is done on various levels by numerous organizations in Israel. Today I had the honour of meeting remarkable people working for a truly noble cause!
"Save a Child's Heart" is an Israeli organization that performs humanitarian aid around the world. Their primary goal is to perform urgently needed heart surgery on young children from developing countries, regardless of nationality, religion, color, gender or financial considerations.

Over 1300 children have been treated to date from 20 developing countries including China, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Jordan, Romania, Vietnam, and the Palestinian Authority.
The operations are either conducted in Israel or abroad. When performed abroad, the Israeli doctors work together with the local staff. The organization also helps their partner countries develop their own infrastructure by bringing local doctors and nurses to Israel for training.

When in Israel, the children, accompanied by a parent, stays in the "Save a Child's Heart" home in Tel Aviv, where volunteers live with them and help them to recover and feel at ease.
It was heart-warming meeting some of the 18 Iraqi children at the home that had just undergone heart surgery at the hands of Israeli doctors. Playing with them and meeting their parents gave me hope that Israel will gradually be able to cooperate in additional fields with its Arab neighbours. Think how many more little miracles we would be able to perform together...

Meeting Ishmael Khaldi- Israeli Bedouin

2005-07-13T22:45:00.000+03:00

Today we met Ishmael Khaldi, an Israeli Bedouin (transient Arab). Bedouins have lived in Israel since before the State was founded in 1948, and have played a big part in Israeli history. Ishmael explained that Bedouins are Muslims who support Israel. He said that they fight in the Israel Defence Force because the future of Israel is their future as well. Although the Bedouins' situation is not ideal, Israeli organizations and the Israeli government strive to integrate them into society, because Israel is not only a Jewish state, but a democratic state.
Hearing Ishmael's words made me realize, that integration requires mutual effort. Real relationship-building and improvements have occurred because the Bedouin's have also made a true, concertive effort to be an equal part of Israeli society.
Before leaving, I thanked Ishmael's parents for their warm hospitality (even after 30 hungry mouths arrived, the table was still full of yummy food!). Ishmael's father said to me, in Hebrew, "it is important to show people that we are working together, cooperating, Muslims and Jews." I hope that sincere mutual efforts will allow these words to be true for all Muslim groups in Israel.

Paintings and Barriers

2005-07-12T21:15:00.000+03:00

Today, we went to see Israel’s security barrier. We got off the bus at Gilo, a suburb of Jerusalem, because the part of the security barrier that is made of a wall, rather than a fence, is visible from there.

I remember the last time I was in Gilo, 3 years ago. I walked along a concrete wall, about 2 meters high, built along the sidewalk. The tour guide explained that it was built to protect children who walk along the road, and the houses across the way, from the terrorist snipers who continuously shoot at residents of Gilo. The terrorists forcefully take over the homes of Arab-Israelis who live in nearby neighbourhoods, so that they can have good aim into Gilo. The walls were covered with unprofessional pictures of cartoons and children. I remember growing sad as I realized that pictures had been put up to paint cheerful pictures for the children of Gilo to mask a terrifying and gloomy reality.

3 years later, I was in Gilo once again, looking at a different wall, farther away, also built for security purposes. Although this wall is built in a Palestinian Arab neighbour, it is also to protect Israeli children. 97% of the barrier built by Israel is made up of a fence, but a wall was built here because of the numerous sniper shootings by terrorists onto residents using the nearby road. I feel bad for those Palestinian Arab children who have to live with a wall in their neighbourhood. I wonder when the happy images will be painted for them. But at least they do not have to fear for their lives; no snipers are trying to kill them. I guess that, until political and security situations improve, I would rather be the child waking up to this wall, than the child who is not sure whether they will make it home alive.

The Old City of Jerusalem

2005-07-11T22:12:00.000+03:00

Our first (of many) tour on Hasbara Fellowship! We went for a historic walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. All of us fellows, walking around the beautiful Old City, sharing our huge bottles of water to quench our thirst in the blistering sun. The streets are made of Jerusalem stone, yellowish in colour. It was weird to see kids running around in daycare, and people living normal day-to-day lives in the Old City, so close to the religious centers of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. My home for the next 2 weeks is in the Old City as well. Going out to cafes, using the internet, or eating pizza with my friends, while sitting in a 2000-year-old holy place, where thousands of people are praying only minutes away, is simply surreal.

2005-07-10T13:32:00.000+03:00

My way to

Israel

! Picture from the plane…look closely!

Madison

2005-07-03T10:09:00.000+03:00

A taste of life (and hot spicy cheese bread!) in Madison, before coming to Israel!