Day 143: Hadassah and Eggplant Parmesan

21/1/10

It's Thursday! This has been the fastest week ever. I realize I never explained how the weeks work here...

Our Sunday is the American Monday. We go to work Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and then our weekend is Friday and Saturday (because of Shabbas). Tuesdays we go on Siyur (field trip) to different places around the country. Thus, I am now celebrating TGIT!

Today is my second day of my everyday blog entries. Going strong! ;)

Big things actually did happen today, though, so I have much to talk about.

Silly, but happy accomplishment of the day: I successfully made eggplant parmesan without a recipe and having never made it before. I am so full, so happy, and so proud! Ah, cheesy wondrous dinner, how you soothe the soul....

On a more serious note though, today, we hosted members of the National Board of Hadassah. The sole sponsor of Young Judaea, the members came to talk to Year Course participants and see the new campus (because of Madoff, we moved from the original campus near Mt. Scopus to our new location in Baka). While I appreciate everything Hadassah has done and currently does for Young Judaea, I found it very unsettling that we were being forced to put on aires and pretend that Year Course is different than it is. I say different rather than better because the idea of what Hadassah receives is simply different from reality, not necessarily better. In preparation for their arrival, two apartments were completely redone - new paint, framed Hadassah photos on the walls, and Tanachs on the tables. This is not Year Course, and I find it sad that we have to hide behind the ideals that Hadassah wants to see in order to impress them. Year Course is not a bunch of perfect Jews living in hotel rooms. We are a strong, but acceptably flawed, group of teenagers living in college apartments on a year abroad. We do not hang pictures of our sponsors on the walls and we do not sit around reading the Torah all day long. Before meeting the Hadassah members, a group of us were also coached in what to say and do. "Big smiles, you love Year Course, you love Hadassah, you're full of energy, and you're honored to see them". Truth: most of us do love Year Course and are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be here. Lie: Year Course is perfect, we have no issues, and we're constantly thinking about how lucky we are to have Hadassah. I don't have issues with Hadassah itself, I simply have issues with how the two organizations deal with each other. I think it would be better for Year Course and Hadassah if representatives would come and really listen to us - the compliments and the complaints. They'd know who we are outside of our family legacies and we'd appreciate the fact that they truly care about us outside of a perfect image. That said, I really hope no one from Hadassah is reading my blog because I'll probably get my head chopped off tomorrow...

The rest of the day was fun, but standard. Volunteering, class, and fun times with friends. I went to the doctor as well, but Israeli doctors frustrate me beyond anything else in this world, so I'm not going to talk about that. =D

Ani ohevet atem b'America,

Rachel

See a World in a Grain of Sand

I'm going to try a new blogging strategy of actually treating this like a journal and writing an entry every day. Looking back, even when I think nothing interesting happened on a certain day, I somehow always end up with things to think about when I'm in bed. Hence, something interesting must have happened, or at least something thought provoking. So, day 1 of my new goal starts right now! For this entry, because I haven't written in a couple weeks and I have a lot to say, I'm going to try to break it down into sections so I don't stray too off topic.

Packages:

Yesterday after dinner, a few friends, a bunch of volunteers, and myself made care packages for "lone soldiers". These are recent Olim (immigrants) who've come to Israel, joined the army, and have no family to go home to on leave, or to receive presents from on Jewish holidays. This may seem like a superficial volunteer project considering all the issues in Israel, but in reality, "lone soldiers" make up a huge percentage of the Israeli army and after talking to several about how much a simple package can mean to them and how simple gestures are often what get them through hard times, I realized that these silly packages were actually life savers. Each box contained a fresh shirt, soap, snacks, neck/face warmers, an army knife, and other practical, but nifty items. Odd presents to many, but according to my friends in Marva, these were boxes that would have made them weep for joy! Making these packages was also a personal eye-opener considering my feelings regarding the IDF and the army in general. Despite my negative experiences, it was wonderful to know that I could know I could never support Israel from behind a gun, but that I could care deeply about the people who were willing to do so. Yay for changing opinions!

A trip to Mea She'Arim (may-ah-sheh-ah-reem):

Last Thursday, five friends and I went on an interesting journey. My friend Lizzy received a call inviting her and several friends over for dinner at the house of a Year Course supporter. Being interested and good little participants, we moseyed on down to his house for some nosh and the expected talk of how wonderful Young Judaea is and how grateful we are for this incredible opportunity. Completely unexpected! The house we were invited to turned out to be in Mea She'Arim and owned by an Ultra-Orthodox family. For those who don't know, Mea She'Arim is an extremely Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem. It was originally founded for the Ultra-Orthodox, and it's name means 100 gates, in honor of the desire for a walled city. Needless to say, the surroundings certainly dictated the evening to come. We spent a large part of the night talking to Rabbi Gershon and his family. Truly a Year Course supporter, he believes that students on Year Course should be exposed to all kinds of Judaism, including Chasidism (a view point I actually agree whole heartedly upon). In tandem with his words, Rabbi Gershon offered us numerous opportunities within the Orthodox community, including host families, wedding invitations, and sit-ins in seminaries and yishivas. However, along with these opportunities, we were also overwhelmed with the semi-anticipated talks of what the "correct" version of Judaism is. Let's be clear, while some on Year Course are more religious than others, we are a truly Pluralistic group, ranging from fully observant to never stepped into a shul, and as such, we are reluctant to deal with those who insist they know the "truth". Because of this, the night turned out to be a bit of an uncomfortable mess, and we left with incredibly mixed feelings. This is not the point of the story, though... The point is that the experience highlighted a couple of really important things: one, the war waging between different sects of Judaism in Israel, and two, the open-mindedness I've come to take for granted from attending a Reform Synagogue, having gay parents, and attending largely liberal schools.

The former is one of the reasons I'm having so many issues with Israel. It's hard to feel at home in the "Jewish State" when its citizens are screaming at each other over what "Jewish" means. What does "Jewish" mean? What is Judaism? Obviously, because it is a culture and a religion (and therefore made of opinions), I don't have a definitive answer. However, I will say that today, at least, Judaism is largely cultural. How does the average person define a Christian? Belief in God and Jesus. How does the average person define a Jew? Eats Challah, eats matzah, lights candles, funny hats, speaks hebrew, and is very bookish. Notice the plethora of cultural items and the extreme lack of religious ones in the latter definition. This is not to say that Jews aren't religious, but merely to point out that you can be a Jew without embracing its religious aspects. My mom grew up as a "cultural Jew", and until we joined a temple when I was eight, I was raised the same way. Now, I describe myself as Jewish not because of my belief in God, but because of my belief in Jewish values (tikun olam (repairing the world), living for now, basic commandments (no murder, etc), and others), celebrating the holidays, and embracing my temple community. I do happen to believe in God, but I don't think that's the main defining point of my Judaism, and unfortunately, that's what puts me on one side of the jew v jew argument.

The latter issue explains why I'm on the side that I'm on, and is one of those realizations that wouldn't be interesting if it hadn't been sitting in front of me my entire life. I've grown up without a trace of extreme conservatism in my life. From my parents to my friends to my school to my hometown, things have always been liberal and open. From that perspective, I suppose it was naive of me to be so shocked at being confronted with a highly religious view of life, but shock me it did, and now I feel incredibly small and slightly stupid. It's as Sondheim says, "someone is on your side, someone else is not, while we're seeing our side, maybe we forgot, they are not alone, for no one is alone". For the most part, when people listen to this song, they ignore what it's saying, and only hear the part about themselves - that they themselves are not alone. Since being in Israel, though, I'm slowly grasping the second part - that others are not alone either, even those with whom we strongly disagree or dislike. This applies personally (like when I'm frustrated with my peers) and globally (like when I realized it's foolish to be angry at an opinion when it's not isolated to a single person, or even a small group of people). At the end of the day, problems are best solved when both sides accept that the other exists and is valid. That's my new goal regarding Orthodoxy. I don't understand it or agree with it, but I'm going to try to accept it and embrace the fact that its believers are not all the same - just as not all Jews are the same.

Volunteering:

I LOVE YAD LAKASHISH SO MUCH!!!!!! It's the weirdest thing since I was so set on working with kids, but I'm finding that I really love cute little old people as well! Hehe. It's so amazing to work with people who are determined to get out and do something with their lives. Hearing their stories is inspiring, and seeing their pride in their work, no matter how seemingly simple, is truly touching. My friend Alberto's only job is to paint beads. That's what he does for four hours everyday, and yet, when he's done with his daily set, he always comes over and asks "tov? tov?" ("good? good?"). I'm always so happy to tell him "ken tov! yafe!" ("yes good! beautiful!"). His smile is always so contagious. =D For my Zionism and the Arts midterm, I had to take a photo that represented what Jerusalem meant to me. I ended up selecting a picture of one of the supervisors working in my workshop with several Yad Lakashish members. For me, despite its Americanization, Jerusalem is still powerful within places like my work. Jerusalem (and Yad Lakashish) is a place where people of all backgrounds and beliefs come because they feel they can belong. Similarly, people from all sorts of countries and backgrounds come to Yad Lakashish because they want a place where they can belong and feel important. Jerusalem does that for most, if not all, of the people who visit her. Even when I'm walking around the Old City appalled at how disrespectful tourists can be, if I look out at the view of the entire city, I'm instantly reminded of where I am, and how many people throughout history would have killed (and actually did kill) to be where I am at this very moment. The thought is humbling, and it makes me forget everything that can be frustrating about this program, and remember why I wanted to be here in the first place: to live in my homeland.

Today (20/12/10):

Just so you know, the dates are backwards here, and I've gotten used to it, so for you back home, today is actually 12/20/10. =D

Today was standard. I went to volunteering, skyped with Mische and kept her up until 4am, snuggled into my comforter, and am content to relax for a couple of hours. This morning, my friend Danielle and I decided to put together a benefit concert to raise money for Haiti. I'm very excited! I miss putting big events together and it'll be a great creative outlet as well since I've been dying for an opportunity to perform. On a similar note, tonight my friend Aaron and I are going to do a cold read for a local play. We probably won't be able to do the performances due to program scheduling, but we both missed our audition seasons back home and are pumped to make up for lost time! Days like this are exhausting, but wonderful, especially on the delirium of only three hours of sleep. I think too much at night, I really need to stop that...

Charts on a scale of 1-10 (ten being high):

Homesickness status: 4 (yay! going down!)

Israel love: 5 (it was three a few days ago, so this is pretty good...)

Excitement for Bat Yam/Kuma: 10!

Present purchasing: um....... SUGGESTIONS!

Holy crap, longest post EVER!

Endless love to all back home,

Rachel

Post Chofesh: Wolverine Jack Schwartz - A New Era

Today ushered in a new time - the time of hamster Sir Wolverine Jack Schwartz. Is it silly? Yes. Is it ridiculous? Yes. Is it absurd that the arrival of the hamster has caused so much thinking for me? Absolutely. Here's what's been happening. Yesterday, I calculated a bunch of count-downs:

-53 days until Bat Yam

-64 days until Kuma

-79 days until Spring Chofesh

-145 days until the end of Year Course

After calculating these numbers, I felt a bunch of different things. At first, I felt guilty for making countdowns in the first place and ungrateful for the YC experience. Granted, I'm very excited for all of the above, but I feel like I should be more engaged in the present (I know, not going to happen, but I can hope!). After thinking about it for a little, however, I realized that that time is going to fly by in an instant. Knowing that I've survived 128 days 10,000 miles away from home is surprisingly empowering and it lets me know that not only am I more than capable of completing this incredible year, but I'm really excited to do so! Not to be finished, but to enjoy the feelings of looking back and being speechless. How does a hamster fit into all of this...? Wolverine is an interesting apartment symbol. Similar to the feelings of a couple getting a pet together, Wolverine is a sign that we, as an apartment, are unified enough to love a pet. Yes, he technically belongs to my roommate, but we are all responsible for his happiness and welfare. I guess also, in a way, having a pet makes this whole experience feel a lot more like home. The presence of a lovable fuzzy critter is always enough to transform a strange place from a roof over my head to a heart-felt home. Wolverine's arrival also made me realize that while I miss home and the people I love back there beyond belief, I could be genuinely happy somewhere completely different. Maybe not 10,000 miles away, but not chained to the things and people used to feel helpless without. It may seem sad that a hamster inspired these feelings, but I think it's only fitting that such revelations can come from something so small and innocent.

On a related, but slightly varying note, today was also Yom Hadassah (Hadassah Day). In honor, we traveled to two Hadassah Hospitals in Jerusalem and to Mt. Scopus to honor the grave of the founder of Hadassah. On the whole, the day was very moving. It's truly inspiring to hear stories of those who created a mountain from a speck of dust. Almost 100 years ago, the Hadassah movement was started with a couple of nurses who traveled within the small communities of conservative Jerusalem, offering medical advice, midwifery, and other services. Today, Hadassah is the medical system of Israel, providing free medical care, medical schools, and special medical packages for children. It also happens to be one of the main partners of the Young Judaea Youth Movement - which is of course why we were there in the first place. The questionable part of the day came in the views of the speakers chosen to talk to us. In addition to their general speeches about the history of Hadassah and its importance, the majority the speakers chose to focus their efforts towards converting us all towards Aliyah (moving to Israel). While a definite possibility in many of our minds, the idea of Aliyah, when toted, is almost as unappetizing as Bible-toting religious maniacs. I support Israel, I believe in the idea of a Jewish state, I am proud to be Jewish, I believe in the activism shown by the founders of Israel. Do I want crazed Jewish Americans screaming at me to move here? What do you think... Needless to say, most were turned off by the efforts and a friend explained to me later that this was only the beginning: part of the Young Judaea Movement constitution says "thou shalt make Aliyah" and the movement has many adults connected to it who are willing to preach just that. I think what Young Judaea does for Jewish Youth is incredible, but that doesn't mean everyone is meant to make Aliyah and have tons of Jewish babies. Some will, and will be extremely happy doing so, but others may move back to the states, marry inter-religiously, never have kids, and never visit Israel again. I just wish more people accepted that both extremes and everywhere in between is no less worthy a life style...

I have much more to say on various things, but it is late, and I must shower and zzzzz.

All my love,

Rachel

Travels with Mom and New Thoughts on Israel

HAPPY NEW YEAR! For the first time ever, I beat Dick Clark and the shiny ball. =)

Today, January 1st, marks a lot of things: the end of winter chofesh (break), four months spent in Israel, the end of the first incredibly happy week I'd spent with my mom in a really long time, the end of one of the most eventful years of my life, and the beginning of one with the potential to be even more fun, chaotic, up, down, and inspirational.

Mom flew in on the 24th and we had a blast traveling around the country. It was strange on many levels, but a lot of fun. Julie hadn't been to Israel since she was my age, and seeing the change in the country from the 1970s to now through her eyes was shocking. My Israel has always been what this country is right now. I knew through reading how quickly Israelis had advanced, but until I saw her shock, it never really hit me how drastic the changes had been. In the 1970s, Israel was the blooming capital of the world in every aspect you could think of. The shekel was growing, scientific advancement was skyrocketing, new technologies were being exported everyday, and the general feel of the population was motivation, dedication, and an understanding of how different skills were needed to create a new, thriving country. The Israel of 2009 (now 2010) is a very different place. Where there were once holy historical places, there are now tourist traps and falafel houses. Where there were once glorious hillsides, there are now endless shack cities. Where there was once the most incredible education in the middle east, there are now hordes of students leaving high school with detrimental english and no goals to go to college. When looking at the country over the summer of 2008, I was mesmerized by its beauty and by its culture, but that was looking through the cloudy lens of a five-week teen program. Living here, I've sadly come to realize that the Israel I thought I loved - that my mom met 40 years ago - is sadly disappearing. There are many elements still to love; the people who go out of their way to create the country Jews still dream of, the incredible beauty of the Golan and the Negev, but the spirit is lacking, and the fire that fueled the Israeli pioneers in the 30s and 40s appears to be diminishing. What does that mean for Year Course...?

Back to my trip with mom though... =) It was so great to have a break from the YC world and travel with Julie. We went to the Old City, down to Arad, through Ceaseria, Haifa, and Akko, up to Sfat and Tiberias. It was fantastic! It was also great to spend time with her and realize how much we've both changed since moving to Israel and New York (respectively). Considering how things were before hand, and how they were on the trip, I'd say without a doubt that the moves were good for both of us, even through times of hardship or regret. Love you, mom!

So now, Julie is headed back to NYC, and I'm facing the beginning of 2010. Oh, so many things I could write about! Looking back at 2009, I can't even believe that everything that happened, happened in one year. In 2009, I graduated high school, got into college, went to Ecuador, worked with James Conlon, lived in Israel, met literally over 300 new people, and learned so much about myself that I can't even imagine delving into five more months of self-discovery experiences. What do I want from 2010? Nothing more or less than life experiences. What more could one ask for anyway when one is living in a foreign country? I want to help people, I want to learn things that will blow my mind, I want to do stupid things that I'll regret, I want to appreciate the smart things that I'll treasure forever. Most of all, when I return to the states in June, I want to know more of who I am. So far, I think I'm on the right track.

I wish everyone here and back home a healthy and happy new year.

All my love,

Rachel

A very very late welcome to Jerusalem.

This post was due on December 6th, when we actually first moved to Jerusalem, but things have been so crazed, and I've been in and out of feeling sick, so I'm sending you the Jerusalem skinny two weeks in. =D

Right now, I am writing to you from my gorgeous apartment in Baka. We're about a 30 minute walk from the Old City (The Western Wall, Ricardo Street, etc), a 10 minute walk from Emek Refa'im (a great restaurant street), and it's just plain beautiful here. No one warned us about the cold, but we're making due.

My volunteering was switched around, so I'm not working with foster kids, but I'm still having an incredible experience! I volunteer sunday, monday, wednesday, and thursday at Yad Lakashish: A lifeline for the Elderly. There, I work with immigrants who are having a hard time getting settled into Israel, and I do arts and crafts with them. Some are incredibly skilled workers who have specialties from their home countries, and some are just interested in art, and come to have a place to go. It's very different from what I thought I would be doing, but I definitely feel like I'm contributing, which is half of what volunteering is all about, no? This past week, I worked with several immigrants from South America making clay beads. It was amazing to see how fast my Spanish came back while talking to them, and to see how alive they became when they had someone to talk to about their lives. It's a little strange to be working with the elderly, since my element is usually with kids, but I've really come to love new experiences over the past few months, and I think working in such a different environment will be great for me.

Alright, time for nerdy Rachel to come out and glow about how happy she is with her classes! This semester, I'm taking ulpan (hebrew - level 2!), Genesis Parables: Chaos and Creativity in the Genesis stories, Zionism and the Arts, Yoga, and Holocaust Film Study. Ulpan is a bit of a joke, since most of my classmates don't seem to care, but my other classes are AMAZING! Genesis Parables is the most thought-stimulating class I think I've ever had. I love that I leave there every time with thoughts buzzing through my head about the wonders of the universe. On our first day, we asked the question of where each of us stood regarding the origins of the universe and whether we though it had always existed, or whether God made it come into being. I have a very complex opinion on this due to my mix of religious and scientific feelings, but in a nutshell, I believe that the universe has always existed in chaos, but that a higher power (god or something) pulled pieces together and made certain levels of sense. As far as the earth itself, I'm undecided, but I think my feelings lie more towards the scientific end of the spectrum, and as far as life on earth, I'm an evolutionist, through and through. Not that that matters in this blog entry, but I thought I'd put it out there. Zionism and the Arts is a riot! My teacher Dr. Avi Rose is one of the funniest, most intelligent people I've had the pleasure of being a student of (no offense Lee and Mike!). I've only had this class once so far, but it's the highlight of my sunday. Basically, we look through the history of Zionism through art, music, and literature, including works by Jewish artists, and works throughout European history that influenced the image of Jews. More on this class to come with time! Yoga and film haven't started yet, but I will post about them soon as well.

Looking at my calendar, I can't believe we're already almost a month into the Jerusalem section. Arad seemed to last for ages, but now the weeks are flying by! I suppose that's also due to a packed schedule and having millions of things to do, but it's still mind blowing. My friends back home are posting their success of being done with one semester of college, and reading their posts really makes me think about how long I've been here. 10,000 miles is a long, long way from home, but at the same time, knowing that I'm having fun, and growing (apparently, according to those who know me well), and that I've been away from home completely for four months is oddly empowering. I have a feeling that going to college out of year course is going to be both strangely easy and strangely hard. I won't be dealing with the stress of leaving home, but at the same time, it's going to be weird going into classes with people fresh out of high school. I suppose I shouldn't worry so far in advance though!

I feel like I could be writing so much more, but my sinus infection is clouding my memory...

For now, Merry Christmas and Chappy Chaunnukah to you all!

Lots of Love,

Rachel

Gobble?

Thanksgiving is hard, and always has been since my parents split. Since then, something has always managed to come crashing down on Turkey Day, be it emotionally, physically, or mentally. When I was little, it certainly wasn't as dramatic. I'd make tacky construction paper projects at school and bring them home to show off like a new Rembrandt, draw hand turkeys, eat till I popped, and sleep the whole next day. The family tension was there, but I tried not to notice it. After 1998, it was impossible to ignore. I'm not going to go into details in such a public venue, but in a nutshell, I began to relate to Dr. Burke's quote on "Friends" that "it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a little emotional scarring". Last year, I opted not to deal with any of it, and spent Thanksgiving with one of my best friends and her family. It was wonderful, but something was missing. I didn't dwell on it then (remarkable for me, no?). This year, I expected to not even think about the American holiday since there were no pilgrims and indians fighting it out in the holy land. I was wrong, so very wrong.

This has been one of the hardest Thanksgivings yet, but not for the usual reasons. For the first time in my life, I found myself crying because I wasn't home with my family. I've thought about this for days, and I still don't completely understand it. I suppose though, that no matter how dysfunctional a family might be, they're still family. To really accept this fact is incredible for me. I thought I would be relieved, elated, anything but nostalgically depressed. After all, part of my reason for going on Year Course in the first place was to get away from my life. I realize now that that's not possible. I've realized a lot of things over the past three months. How much of a stupid, stubborn teenager I was during junior and senior year and how immature behavior like the silent treatment seems in hindsight, how sometimes it's easier to tell everyone, especially yourself, that you're going to feel one way about a situation in order to stay the fear of feeling the opposite, and how it's okay to feel like a child as long as you know you're capable of being an adult. Before I left, I was so excited to get away from everything I knew, and now, while I love being here with all my heart, I miss the people and places of home terribly, and I can't imagine how I could have been so ungrateful for everything back in Los Angeles.

Disregarding my homesickness though, Thanksgiving on Year Course was actually a lot of fun! Young Judaea was incredible and took us to a spa for the day followed by a huge turkey lunch. It was so relaxing and yummy and fun! That night for dinner, a bunch of us potlucked and sat around and ate and drank to our hearts desire. There was no awkwardness, no fights, just a group of jews doing what they do best on the holidays...stuffing their faces. Granted, we had to improvise since people kept showing up and our food is limited, but the spirit of Thanksgiving was there, and at the end of the night, that alone was enough to make me smile.

Right now, I'm content, if still a little down. I still envy my friends who are home from college watching the Macy's Day Parade and cooking with their families, but I'm accepting that in exchange for the occasional homesickness, I'm getting the opportunity of a lifetime, and that even during the sad times, I can still ponder and over think and gain new perspectives. What am I thankful for this year? That I'm in Israel, having an amazing time, and knowing that the people I love will always be there in every way. Happy Thanksgiving.

I hear a wind, whistling air, whispering in my ear...

For about three months before I left for Israel, I was obsessed with "Roam" by The B-52s. I'd listen to it biking, walking, sleeping, whenever I could, because it filled me with an unbelievable excitement for traveling 10,000 miles away at the end of August. Last night, I found myself listening to it once again for the first time since I arrived here. Why? Because somewhere down the road during these past three months, there have been times when I've genuinely forgotten that I'm in Israel. I know that seems absurd. With hebrew, strange foods, and Jewish life everywhere, it would appear hard not to notice one's location. Nevertheless, I found myself walking home the other day saying "oh yah, I'm in Israel, aren't I...". It shocked me to the core. When I was in Israel two summers ago, the only thing I was constantly aware of was where I was. Everywhere we went, I felt like making aliyah, and there wasn't a moment I wasn't thrilled to be in Israel. Like I said in a previous post though, I suppose this trip is extremely different. It's not nine months of constant "roaming" and seeing all the sights, it's real life. In America, I never thought about the fact that I was in America, I just went day to day. I suppose that's what's happening here. It's not so much that I've forgotten I'm in Israel, it's more that I've forgotten that I'm really anywhere. It's an odd feeling, but I think I understand it, and hopefully, more and more of that coveted Israel spirit will come back when I move to Jerusalem next week!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone and their mother is excited about moving on December 6th! I'd say me especially, but I honestly think everyone's out competing each other right now in that department. Arad has given everyone a lot to think about, a good look at life outside the big cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, and a chance to really get to know each other since there's little to do here during free time except sit around and talk at the local pub. However, three months here has taken its toll, and we are all ready for a bustling city. That said, we'll probably miss Arad when we're overwhelmed with how much is going on and we just want to sit on a couch and watch stupid youtube videos with each other... Right now though, that is not the case, and even though we still have 11 days left, my things are slowly making their way back into my oversized suitcases.

Here's a run down of how things are going to be in J-ru:

We'll be living in more of a dormitory style where instead of having spread out apartments, we'll all be in three buildings, all within five minutes of our classes. I'll be living in a group of eight in the Beit-Ar-El complex, which is right on campus. These buildings are brand new, and we're basically testing how they work with the program this year, since in previous years, everyone stayed at the Young Judaea Youth Hostel during the Jerusalem section. We can thank our dear friend Madoff for the change...

Nothing has been confirmed yet in terms of volunteering, but if I get my first choice, I'll be working in a group home with foster kids. There, I'll be helping out with whatever they need; english tutor, babysitter, gardener, playmate, etc. I'm extremely excited. I know it's going to be incredibly challenging and often emotionally draining, but if I can help these kids in anyway, I'll be changing the course of their lives. From watching my moms work in this field, I've learned just how much people can change if given the right help and the right opportunities. I know my impact maybe small, but it will still be something, and for some kids, those of us who volunteer at the group home may be the push that sends them in a positive direction. I sound idealistic, but in my opinion, that's the best way to look at a situation.

This past weekend, some friends and I threw all responsibility to the wind and spent a couple days down in Eilat. It was GORGEOUS! While technically a tourist city, Eilat is also one of the most beautiful places in Israel. There are living coral reefs to snorkel over, dolphin coves, warm beaches, and a view of Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Syria all from the same place. Swimming in the Red Sea is also quite the experience if you take the time to be reflectively Jewish. I went jetskiing for the first time, and it was incredible! I went out to see dolphins, practically crashed into a freighter, and had so much fun! It was so nice to get out of Arad for the weekend and sleep on the beach, and go out, and be crazy. It gave me a new appreciation for sitting in the apartment. That said, I'm still ridiculously excited for the mania of city life in Jerusalem.

One last thing I need to address. Nothing to do with Israel, but I have a HUGE announcement to make. For those who haven't found out via facebook or the grapevine...after 18 years...I FOUND MY DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First, some back story:

I was conceived via sperm donation in 1990. I've known about my situation my whole life, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I really started becoming interested in my heritage. I asked a lot of questions, but eventually, I had to accept the fact that I couldn't proceed until I turned 18 and all legal ties to child support were severed. On the morning of July 31st, 2009, I called the California Cryobank and asked them to contact my father. Four months later, I got the call. HE WAS LOCATED! And willing to answer any questions I had. I was thrilled. I AM thrilled! After 18 years of questions, I can finally find out so many secrets, so many answers. There are certainly aspects of this ordeal that are scary and strange, but overall, I'm so excited! There will be much more to write on this subject soon.

I'm off to Be'er Sheva for a few hours!

Happy Turkey Day to everyone back in the states!

All my love,

Rachel