The Red, White and Blues

Shabbat Shalom everyone! I hope you all are having a better shabbat than I am. As exciting and great as my adventure in Israel is, this shabbat I am really missing America. On one hand it sucks. No one likes to feel lonely or far away from the people and things they love. On the other hand, I've never been far enough away for long enough to truly feel like this. I've been homesick and nostalgic for California when I'm trapped in Oregon, and I've even felt pangs of longing for Portland (believe it or not) when I've been elsewhere in America. But I've never missed America.

Here is a list of a few things I'm missing here (You've been warned that some of them are silly or seemingly superficial–but I miss them all the same):

1. Being in the same time zone as everyone else (or at least relatively so)
2. Having the entirety of my closet to choose from (and occasionally my roommate's also)
3. Target (Israel, you are so smart about some things, but you somehow haven't figured out Target)
4. Excessive amounts of ice in my drinks
5. Mexican and Chinese food (and In n Out Burger, but I miss that when I'm in Portland too)
6. Starbucks
7. Cheap soy/almond milk
8. Cheap drugstore cosmetics (cheaper things in general–this place is so expensive!!!)
9. Not having cats be everywhere all the time
10. Victoria's Secret....(because all my underwears were lost with my luggage...)

I'm sorry my dear, sweet, beautiful Israel, but you are still a foreign creature to me. I'm sure by the end of this we'll be one in the same, but for now we'll have to agree to disagree on some things (like what ice coffee means).

Jerusalem, if I forget you...

5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I remember thee not; if I set not Jerusalem above my chiefest joy. –Psalms 137

Quite awhile ago Kelsey and I spent a really wonderful day exploring the Old City in Jerusalem. Our hostel was just a brief walk away from the Jaffa Gate, so it was easy to get there. On Birthright you are always rushing around so much and both of us were eager to return and truly explore the wonders of the Old City.

We took a walk through the Christian Quarter. It is full of these winding, tunnel-like areas, all filled with shops. The Arabs there sell all kinds of colorful, wonderful goods. The aisles are lined with scarves, art, trinkets, jewelry, etc. I had quite the time doing my best to be funny and charming in order to bargain for some good prices. I think those shopkeepers underestimated this little American girl! 

After weaving our way through, we headed for the Jewish Quarter, and more specifically the Kotel. The Kotel, also called the Western or Wailing Wall, is one of the retaining walls from the 2nd Jewish Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD. It is the holiest place in the world for the Jewish people. I have to say, being at the Kotel is a truly divine experience. It is this thing that I've seen pictures of and spoken about so much, but being there is something unexplainable. You are there with all of these other people and you feel something very powerful, knowing that these people are also feeling something very powerful. Touching the stones, praying, and being in the center of the Jewish people literally brought me to tears. It is honestly like no other feeling. This is a special place I hope to have the opportunity to return to many more times in my life. 

Overall, the Old City of Jerusalem is a really unique and interesting place. Ancient and modern, and literally 3 religions, all converge in this one place on Earth. Where else can you see ultra-religious Jews, Muslims, and Christians walking the same cobblestoned streets as a girl like me, all while cars weave through the narrow buildings? The answer is nowhere. 

        

Bahá'í in Haifa!

About a week ago I spent a few days exploring Haifa by myself. Haifa is a coastal city located towards the northern region of Israel. It is probably most known for it's port and for being the world center to the Baha'i faith. Of course I went there to see the beautiful Baha'i Gardens. I honestly had no idea what the Baha'i faith was or why their faith center was in Israel, but I learned all of this on the great tour I took!

The Baha'i faith is a monotheistic religion of Persian origin. In 1844 a man they refer to as The Bab announced that the coming of a new messenger of God was coming. This messenger was Baha'u'llah, who is recognized as the official founder of the Baha'i faith. The Baha'is believe that he is the next prophet in the line of ancient prophets of the people of the book (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad) and they recognize the previous prophets. They have a lot of interesting views on humanity, it's progress in  modernity, and global togetherness. Just google it and see for yourself! 

The Baha'i Gardens themselves are built around the tomb of The Bab. According to my tour guide, he was executed for heretic activity in Iran and was not permitted any formal burial. His followers kept his remains for many years and he was buried in Haifa because Baha'u'llah was eventually exiled to Acre (עכו) in 1868, thus the amazingly beautiful gardens. The tour I took began at the top, taking us down over 700 steps to just outside the sanctuary of Bab's tomb. You are not allowed to enter the temple unless you are of the Baha'i faith.

We the people...

"...it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions..." — Israeli Declaration of Independence, 14 May 1948

Last Tuesday I had the privilege of visiting the Israeli Knesset. The Knesset is Israel's parliament. They are housed in an amazingly beautiful building in Jerusalem. A friend of mine, Avi Mayer (whom some of you might know from his twitter fame or from his talk at the #IsraeliAmazing kick-off event), was participating in a meeting with the Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Committee to discuss the need for more coordinated public diplomacy between NGO's and the Israeli Government. Although the entire meeting was in Hebrew, I was able to understand quite a bit of what they were speaking about. I really wish I were able to understand it entirely because many comments made were directly related to the advocacy I do on campus! Avi even gave me a little shout out! (For those of you who are interested, and speak Hebrew, here is a video of the entire meeting. Avi's comments begin at 35:56 and my shout out is at 40:49. For those of you who don't speak Hebrew, or don't want to watch the video, here is a Jpost article about it.) Of course, being the Israel nerd that I am, I got really excited seeing members of Knesset walking in the same halls as me. I really enjoyed getting to witness a piece of Israeli democracy first hand. It is interesting to think about the fact that not everyone in the world gets to experience democracy. Not everyone has the right to choose to participate civically in society, or to choose who will represent them in that arena. 

We also briefly visited the Jewish Agency offices where a lot of really great work is being done for Israel and Jews around the world. I got to see Natan Sharanksy's office (unfortunately he was out so I wasn't able to meet with him), where Ben Gurion's office was and where Knesset used to meet. The visit really made me think about what I want to be doing with my future. The more I see/do/learn the more sure I become that my future career will have to be Israel related. And more than that; I have to be doing something constructive for Israel. I'm not even nearly 100% sure what that will eventually be, but there are many choices available to me. 

Taste the Rainbow

16 And the [rain]bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.'17 And God said unto Noah: 'This is the token of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is upon the earth.' (Gen 9:16-17)

I'm having trouble blogging (and even journaling personally for myself). I don't get much time alone, which isn't so bad when you're surrounded by really amazing people, and my brain seems to be tired taking everything in all the time. But I am having many, many thoughts about this place and so I'll slowly try to organize them for you over the next week or so. Here it goes.

A common misconception about Israel is that it is just this giant desert with people riding camels and bombs going off. This could not be further from the truth! A large part of Israel is the Mediterranean coast, the wild drivers of Israel are oddly reminiscent of the ones in San Francisco, and the only bombs I've seen/heard were across the border in Syria. In school Israel is often visually represented with the classic black and white photos of Ben Gurion decalaring independence or the paratroopers recapturing East Jerusalem in the 1967 war. I of all people love these photos and all they stand for, but I have to say they are hugely inaccurate at representing the reality of Israel.


Israel is not a desert or a black and white photo. Israel is a rainbow!  It is a rainbow of street art and the knick knacks for sale around every corner. You'll find everything from kippot (Jewish skull caps) and mezzuzot (traditional Jewish door post hanging) to hats and sunglasses. Israel is the burnt oranges, reds, and siennas of the shuk's (outdoor market) spices and the rocks of the mountains, the pinks and purples and yellows of the flowers, the green of the IDF soldiers strolling the streets and the date palms lining the mountainsides, and the blue of the seas and the waving flags. And of course there are the people; the people come in all kinds of colors. When I ask Israelis how they are all so good looking they say "Because we are all mixed. Russians, Egyptians, Iraqis, Poles, Hungarians– mixed people are the most beautiful". As a fellow  racially mixed human being I'd like to agree with this sentiment. (Imagine how beautiful my children would be if they were Israeli!)
I'm not "rainbow-washing". This is the real deal!

YOBRO - You Only Birthright Once

Over the last few years I've heard story after story about how Birthright has changed people's lives. From June 20th–July 1st I finally got to have my Birthright experience, and I have to say it is not one that I'll ever forget. When you speak to me in person (or on the phone/skype/etc) I'll probably tell you about all kinds of struggles/complaints I have about the trip. I did have struggles. I do have complaints (as if I wouldn't). Nonetheless, the ten days I just spent zooming around Israel with a group of strangers, whom I now feel are more like family, have been extremely impactful and ridiculously fun.

FEELINGS
Entering into a new group of Jews always makes me very nervous. I feel self conscious because I wasn't raised with a lot of Jewish tradition. I wasn't bat mitzvahed, I don't know all the words to all the prayers and I don't have too many stories to share about a Jewish childhood. I'm always afraid of being "not Jewish enough". It is definitely an irrational fear because I'm almost never made to feel this way. Birthright was no exception. There were students with all kinds of Jewish backgrounds. One thing that really made me shed this fear of not being Jewish enough were the hayalim (חיילים), or soldiers, who came with us. Most of them hardly ever engage in "Jewish" activities the way American jews do. Simply existing as a Jew in the Jewish state includes plenty of jewishness. This is truly something beautiful.

Over the last year or so I've dedicated a huge portion of my time and energy to Israel. This has put a lot of ideas into my head about my Jewish faith, Israel as an idea, and Israelis as people. I have to admit that I was a bit scared that actually coming here would shatter them. Luckily, several of my experiences on Birthright have only strengthened them. Seeing the Kotel in person, touching the stones and praying  made me truly realize that my "Jewish anxiety" was nothing more than a self-constructed paranoia. I have been and always will be completely connected to the Jewish people. We are all connected by something much more powerful than any of us. Visiting Har Herzl and hearing personal stories of loved ones lost, traveling through deserts to reach waterfalls and then bustling cities, and seeing the mixture of black hats, knit kippas, and cut-off shorts all walking the same sidewalks is just something completely unique. Israel is a one-of-a-kind place with a one-of-a-kind people.

FUN
It is hard for me to describe the fun I've had (and I'm sure you're a bit tired of reading) so here are some photos.