One Year

Seven days before the end of my adventures on Alexander Muss High School in Israel, I wrote a post on this blog titled "One Week." In accordance, seven days after I returned to Atlanta, I published another post titled "One Week: Second Edition." Thus, nearly ten months later, I publish this post "One Year." Exactly one year ago from today, I pulled on my tight jeggings and blue vneck which my friends had helped me pick out for my first impression. Exactly one year ago from today, I zipped my bags and closed my bedroom door. Exactly one year ago from today, I turned off my cell phone and abandoned my zip code, beginning a whole new way of life.

The past year has been a roller coaster unlike any other. Rather than just the typical struggle with school and friends and family and growing up, I have fought through how to maintain such a deep connection with my roots while being trapped over six thousand miles away. Last night, one of my best friends asked me to name the ways my life has changed since/from my two months in Israel. Unsurprisingly, I took her question very seriously and replied with a way too long text message. Here's a slightly (for personal reasons) edited copy of my response:

 - my interest in pursuing Judaism as a career field was confirmed

 - my relationships with my parents improved

 - my interest in BBYO diminished

 - my appreciation for friendships strongly increased

 - my amount of friendships strongly increased (haha)

 - my tolerance for other people grew

 - my understanding of more intricate thoughts and ideas developed

 - my  understanding of what a true teacher is came about (go reuven!)

 - my relationships with certain people struggled

 - my trust for others and especially myself was tested

 - my self confidence grew

 - my journey to discover the purpose of life progressed

 - my undoubted and unstoppable passion towards the state of Israel continued to burn even stronger

 - I thought a lot more often and about more intellectual subjects

 - I grew, every day, and continue to grow into who I am today and who I will later become

To be completely honest, those 56 days I spent in our homeland could not possibly mean any more to me and the dates November 29, 2011 through January 24, 2012 will forever be inscribed in my mind. No matter when it is, or where I am, or what has happened, I not only stand with Israel, I am part of Israel. שלום.

One Week: Second Edition

The Kotel: December 6, 2011

Tel Gezer: December 7, 2011 

Tel Aviv: December 10, 2011

Masada: December 13, 2011

Jerusalem: December 16, 2011

The Negev: December 31, 2011

Yad Vashem: January 4, 2012

Sde Boker: January 10, 2012

Last Shabbat: January 20, 2012

    The first edition of my post titled "One Week" discussed having one week left in Israel. Now, exactly two weeks later, I post again but to discuss having been back in Atlanta for one week now. While my last week in Israel flew by before I could take a breathe, this past week drooped by much slower. With three days of school down, I have already engaged in countless videochats with friends across the country and reflected each day about my experience, which is not necessarily behind me. I am not quite sure whether or not this shall be my last post but for now, I will wrap up my blog of my journey with three short, yet never-ending, words:

עם ישראל חי

SNOWLYLAND!

Who knew it snowed in Israel?

One Week

    By December 6th, which was exactly one week into the program, we had already had our first overnight Tiyul, began Core Class and Sequentials, and established close friendships. Now, we have only that same amount of time left. Today is our last day of Finals for everything we have learned in our Sequentials since we have been here. Tomorrow, we are heading to the Golan Heights for our last overnight Tiyul. We return Thursday night, have our last Core Class Friday morning, and then stay on campus with everyone for a closed Shabbat. Sunday is our Core Class Final and Monday, "the Symbolic Day" as they call it, includes a last visit to the Kotel and Ben Yehudah Street. Then, around one am Tuesday morning, the devastating moment arrives. Our bodies load the buses while our hearts remain behind. One week to make it count. Let's go. 

All of last week we studied the Holocaust in Core Class. The daily discussions included so much more than just any typical Holocaust lesson. We focused on the Jewish situation around the world leading up to the war and the devastating struggle for Holocaust survivors after the war, in addition to diving more thoroughly into ghettos, rail cars, and concentration camps. Throughout the week, we read the two books Night and Dawn both by Elie Wiesel, watched the movie Defiance, and visited two Holocaust museums, Beit Lohamei Haghetaot and Yad Vashem. 

  

!שנה טובה

Can't believe it's already 2012! As sad as it is to admit, our awaiting airplane will unfortunately depart from this captivating country exactly three weeks from tomorrow. On a more positive outlook, we still have three Shabbats left so basically, I still have all of camp left (since we spend three Shabbats at camp per session).

    Over the past week, we've had a Chanukkah party, led Zionist seminar presentations, studied the First Aliya and the different denominations of Judaism, ate dinner on a Kibbutz, interviewed random Israelis on the streets of Tel Aviv, spent a night in Bedouin tents, rode camels, partied for New Years, and most importantly, enjoyed my new red hair! We have been busy busy busy while balancing Tiyulim, Sequentials, Core Class, the holidays, and just a tiny, little bit of fun here and there. While today is filled with Core Class and Sequentials on campus, the upcoming week focuses on studying the Holocaust, including a visit to Yad Vashem. To wrap it all up, my Core Class teacher, Reuven, invited us to spend the Free Weekend with his family!

    

 For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice.   

- Thomas Stearns Eliot