Countdown to Takeoff!

Considering I'll be in Israel in just 22 (ooh oooh...T Swift reference anyone?) days, I figured a small update might be in order. A few things about my life right now (mostly pertaining to Israel):

1) I've been living in my childhood room for almost a month now. It is surreal how it takes some getting used to but can be such comfortable place all at once. I had to put my linens from my apartment in Portland on the bed to get a good nights sleep, but it definitely is not for lack of eating! It is pretty nice to have a guaranteed fridge full of food that you did not pay for. My parents are also both retired so I tag along with them to a lot of places. It's like we are all retired!

2) Some of my friends from high school are home/have been visiting for the holidays. It is pretty fun for us to do "adult" things together. Wine club anyone? (PSA: Please drink responsibly.) We run into people we graduated with everywhere and it is both nerve-wracking and awesome to see them after so long. I love hearing where they are now.

3) After an interesting, new, transatlantic interview experience, I've officially secured my internship placement! I'll be interning with an Israeli company in central Tel Aviv called Marom Philanthropy and Business Group. I'm extremely excited to get there and get started! From what I can tell they are wonderful people helping wonderful companies/organizations engage in wonderful social endeavors!

4) I'm visiting Portland one more time before I head across the ocean. I booked flights on a kind of impulsive, emotional moment. I've been finding out more and more how difficult it is to leave. I miss my PDXers way too much. I left during the stressful whirlwind of finals and me moving, so now we have a chance for some carefree fun. Look out City of Roses!

5) I'm still looking for as much funding to help subsidize my trips expenses. Sadly, I'm not supposed to work in Israel while I have my internship (darn those VISA laws!). Luckily my two language gurus, Christy and Claire, were here to help me perfectly craft my submission for a scholarship. Let's keep those fingers crossed!

Next time I update will probably be right before I leave! Hang in there folks. I am!

Mobilizing Hope

This last term of my Undergrad has been full of thought. I've been taking courses asking me to think about how I interact with people of different cultures, how to actively voice my opinions in society, and how to think about my role in the world as a Jewish-American and a human being. My Senior Capstone, Mobilizing Hope, was focused on social justice and what different faith traditions have to say about it. Through a number of readings, discussions, refelctions, and projects with community partners, we each explored these topics within our own faiths and the faiths of others. The final assignment of the class was to come up with a blog post. Here is mine! Check out everyone else's awesome reflections here.

Cowardice, like courage, is contagious.

By what we say and do,

We can spread darkness

Just as readily as we spread light.

History is not something that takes place elsewhere;

it takes place here;

we all contribute

to making it.

Don’t look for a moment of total triumph.

See engagement as an ongoing struggle,

With victories

and defeats.”

“Hope is believing

In spite of the evidence,

Then watching

The evidence change.”

“It is an orientation of

the spirit,

an orientation

of the heart.”

Either we have hope within us

or we don’t;

it is a dimension of

the soul

For to be free

is not merely to cast off one’s chains,

but to live in a way

that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

This past week I had been contemplating what I should do for the blog. I’m a graphic designer, so my initial thought was to express myself the way I know best – visually – but as I thumbed through the pages of the various texts we’ve been reading throughout this term I noticed that there were all of these amazing words I had highlighted. I felt inspired. The words spoke to me and that is how I came to the idea of writing a found poem.

Right now the Jewish people are celebrating Hanukkah (Jewish holiday also known as The Festival of Lights). Now, you might be wondering, “What does Hanukkah have to do with any of this class?” Well, let me tell you. The legend of Hanukkah is that the Greek King Antiochus destroyed the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. A group of Jewish rebels, led by Judah Macabbee, went to rededicate the temple but when they arrived they only found enough oil for one night. Miraculously the oil lasted for eight nights. This is called the miracle of Hanukkah. Like many Jewish myths and legends, our story includes the Jewish people facing the threat of destruction and a courageous soul stepping up to lead them to a miracle.

No, the Jewish people have not come under any new threats of destruction during my time in this course, but what I’ve been learning is that I do not need to wait for that threat. I am here and I am motivated, inspired, and young. I should not wait for something drastic to move me. I should choose to make the first move myself. Like the Jewish people, humans all over the world seem to be very reactive, rather than proactive. We need a terrible tsunami or war to prompt us to aid each other, when really we should be proactively striving to help one another. We like spectacles and grand gestures, but really the battle for humanity will be won through many small acts of kindness over a long period of time.

Here we go again!

Dear Family, Friends, Community Members, and Other Readers,

As many of you know, in the past few years Israel has become an extremely meaningful part of my life. Israel and Israel-related activities have become the source of many of my most meaningful friendships, learning experiences, and academic explorations. This past summer I was lucky enough to participate in my Birthright trip, extending my stay for an eye-opening, life-changing two months. My most recent trip, my studies, and my involvement with Israel advocacy on campus have culminated in my latest, and perhaps largest, life decision: I am proud to announce that I have decided to return to Israel in February of 2014 to participate in an internship program, after which I will go on to pursue my masters degree in Israel studies.

I’ve been accepted to the Oranim Israel Way Tel Aviv Internship Experience—a five-month internship program with Israeli companies in Tel Aviv. Through this program I will also be engaging in a community service component, Hebrew language studies, and professional seminars. Upon completion of the program I will continue my Hebrew language studies through the summer and begin my masters program in October. This timeline puts me in Israel for the next 2-3 years.

As I prepare to embark on this grand journey I can anticipate quite a few challenges, one of the largest being financial. For that reason I am seeking financial assistance through many outlets, including grants, personal savings, and fundraising.

I would like to ask you to please consider supporting my endeavors with a much-appreciated financial contribution. Anything you are able to contribute will be greatly appreciated—Every penny counts. If not, that is ok, moral support is also welcome.

Contributions can be made online at http://www.gofundme.com/4vrqyc, or by mail to:
Amy Albertson
372 Florin Road #148
Sacramento, CA 95831

Sincerely,

Amy Albertson