I thought that once I came back from Israel and reflected on all my blogs that I was done with this holy land adventure, I was wrong.
Since returning we have heard from many new voices from Lehigh and beyond and I have read articles including an amazing issue by Time Magazine on the holy land.
Today via Twitter I read this article and learned of a startling political move made in Israel by Netanyahu and Mofaz...forming a unity government. It makes me think back to a previous post about "democracy" and what that means and if Israel is a democracy (through the eyes of someone who lives in the world's largest democracy, but I will admit it isn't ideal and has it's issues as well).
Upon sending this to Seth (the classes professor and Rabbi) he equated this move to Obama and Romney joining forces to create a new third party at this point in our election process. That seems crazy to think of in the US no? I mean I guess Obama could take Romney as his VP running mate (or vice versa) and run under which ever of the two parties they came to agreement on. And other parties do pop up from time to time and work to make an impact for their believes like our own Tea Party. I am not saying that we are right or wrong but I seem to find comfort in our checks and balances here. I am sure that it is money that is really talking behind many of our political decisions and alliances, and as an advocate for social justice that is hard to admit, though I do cognitively accept that reality, my heart hurts because of it. I am not sure I understand either parties nominating committee policies, or the electoral college (in fact the skeptic in me leans to believing that those bodies of power were created to keep the powerful in power) but what I do believe is that when there is so little structure and oversight that one candidate (or two in this situation) has enough power, authority and ability to make a decision like Netanyahu and Mofaz were able to make is scares me. It makes me think that while that power could be used for the good, it seems that more likely that level of power and persuasion is usually used to oppress others, for what a few think are the common good but likely in retrospect it will not be seen that way by many. Shocking...that statement coming from my brain based off a decision made by those in power in a country that largely believes that is stands today as the rightful home for those to return to that were the targets of oppression that started similar to this. This sentiment is one common view to the conflict in this area. I also admit that I learned first hand when I was there that when you live surrounded by constant fear and anxiety about what "might" happen that could cause tragedy, it is hard to view things objectively and without skepticism for the other.
So what is the take home message of this post...I believe when in Israel I called this what is the change? I am uncertain accept to reiterate that I am blessed to live where I do and to have the rights and freedoms that I do, we are not perfect but we are stable and that stability, system and order came from a place of common persecution that individuals shared with each other. It sound cliche but that is what founded our country and the more I think about it the more I look back on my history classes in my K-12 education and wish that I had this perspective then, I think I would have been inspired to learn more and understand the need for learning what I was being taught. History does repeat itself, that can be a good thing, or it can be a tragic thing....I just pray for those I met in Israel & Palestine that they can learn from history and move forward to create a future that will be worthy of repeating, not one or perpetual terror and oppression.
In surprise move, Netanyahu, Mofaz agree to form unity government, cancel early elections - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Reflecting...NOT a life changing experience???
I realize the title is going to get much attention, so I will explain, stay with me! First I want to remind you all what the "angle" for my blog. To change a few things was the "angle" I put it out in my second blog. I stated that I was using the blog as a tool to explore how this trip would change me as a professional, as a Christian and as a citizen of the larger world. I tried to end most every entry with the changing perspective the days touring Israel impressed upon me. At the very bottom of this final entry you can find the "reflection" excerpts from each day.
So after two full days back home someone finally asked me the million dollar question, "Was it a life changing experience?" Now many had asked me if it was amazing, if I had a good time, if it was worth it, what I liked the best (as if that is ever possible to answer) but no one up until 4pm on Monday 3/12 had asked me if it was "life changing." I was stumped, more so because I knew I couldn't say yes, but I wasn't sure why exactly, so my response was "I think it could be." After reflecting on that moment I have come to fully understand my hesitation to answer the question and the appropriate answer for me.
So let me explain now, "Was it a life changing experience?" My answer is definitively, "No, is was life affirming." You may be thinking that this is semantics, but it is actually a very different answer and one I am owing very deliberately as uniquely my answer.
This trip was not a mecca, it wasn't the haag, with wasn't a Christian rite of passage, it wasn't a homecoming to a land that I have some historical right to-though for many it is this very type of experience. For me the clarity began when I shed a few tears in the security line as Yael was leaving (and as they well in my eyes now typing this) and fully emerged when reflection on this question. I was ready to leave, though I was going to miss the people and parts of my life that those 10 days had amazingly occupied. I was ready to leave though-why? Because I was ready to come back to my life-my free, non-security walled/barriered life. My life where thought it is criticized (perhaps scrutinized or debated are a better words) separates the state and religion, in the name of democracy for the people. My life where a constitution and amendments dictate how I am ruled over-not the whims of changing parties and agendas. My life where I pay my taxes (as do all-now we can argue over who should pay more or less) as does everyone else and those that gain governmental social program benefits from those taxes are not guiding the governmental agenda (WOW-that sounds like a great case for keeping societal privilege in tact). It is MY LIFE and I am ultimately in control of it and never have to think about the security with which I can live my life or at what point my life might be rocked by an unstable faction or agenda.
So after that tangential rant you might still be thinking, "What is life affirming?" My life was not changed by this trip. I was able to do amazing and privileged things. I was able to see historically and religious monumental and contentious sites. I was a participant in an experience that showed me that ultimately, at the end of the day, my life is amazing and that many folks would love to be able to come back to or step into my life and it is mine (lucky me!). I feel steadfast for the first time in a long time. I am in a place that while I could find 100 things wrong with it at any given moment, at that same moment there are 100 million things that are positive, amazing and worth celebrating that I don't take the time to consider (but that others would love to have even one shot at having). I learned a ton, and am grateful beyond words that I individually reflected each day in my blog (thank you for the idea Kati Pease) because I will have that to look back on when I might be a bit too focused on one of those 100 things that are wrong.
I am back and I don't want to be a different me. I don't want to be a new me. I am not a changed me. I am a me that is blessed and grateful for the me that I am and all those around me that have had and continue to have a part in the making and support of me daily. I don't want to be someone else, I want to be me-wherever that me goes, whatever that me learns, whoever that me connects to, however that me happens upon those things is not a result of the actions of me. It is a result of the work and will of His plan for me. All I can do is stand fast to the belief that He knows who me really is and all will be taken care of for me.
So no, the trip was not life changing...it was BETTER, it was life affirming!
I think this about wraps up my entries for Israel: Jess' Holy Adventure. Thank you all for reading my thoughts-I hope some of them have spurred you on to think about the "changes" that can occur in your life and I hope the entries have left you questions upon questions, and few answers!
One last Hebrew word of the day for you all...I will sign off with "Shalom haver" just at Bill Clinton did in his eulogy for Yitzhak Rabin's funeral in 1995. Clinton said, "goodbye friend" and to you all I say "goodbye friends."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A chronicle of my daily "what has changed today" reflections:
Reflection 1...
I was confronted with a few personal thoughts today, many centering around cultural otherness and privilege. A few times I found myself looking for a more polite and customer service oriented perspective from cashiers or museum attendants. We were told that Israelis are a blunt people and I found myself judging that cultural bluntness in my head as rude or disrespectful. That is a very American perspective to take and one that I then found myself reflecting on as it would happen. I also thought a few times about the statistics or generalizations Yael, our guide, would make. I was crtically pondering in my head, how much of this is her individual interpretation as a secular Jew (as she disclosed) and an individual citizen of Israel versus the reality of all people. Yeal has been guiding tours for 15 years so I would imagine she is very knowledgeable though I do find myself using a critical lens to interpret the information she gives us.
Reflection 2...
How would you answer these questions (posed by Gershom), or better yet do you feel like you have enough background to be able to answer them? I know I didn't feel like I could last night, but now I feel like as a part of my change mantra it is a duty to help others begin to explore them, and because I think a part of my constant change is to feel more capable and confident with religion and my ability to critique it and accept what I believe as a result of the education and critique.
Reflection 3...
I want to live my life in a fashion that allows me to experience more totally bone chilling and awe inspiring moments.
Reflection 4...
DON'T WASTE THE TIME WITH DISCONTENTMENT! I want to be a more optomistic person, carpe diem, be in the moment and not be critical.
Reflection 5...
think we are all right and we are all wrong at the same time. I think that is is ludicrous for a church to ask you to declare your statement of faith after going through a few classes about their history and that any person can know what that is by the time the are in high school. Well, at least it was for me, maybe not for some, but I know when I was that age I was just saying what I thought I had been told, but didn't know what I believed or why or if it was even my belief or someone else's. Below is what I believe, and I would like to say that it is a Christian belief, though I am sure some could argue that (see Geopoltical Tour & Via Dolorosa Blog for more on my Christian faith).
Reflection 6...
I think more than anything it is that the power of the narrative and hearing the experience of others is so important. And to recognize that just when you think you have figured out a solution or where you stand there is a great chance that you will hear something that could sway you and to be open to that message. I think we all too often close our minds and believe we have all the information we need. So I would like to continue telling myself to ask questions and seek out opposite opinions and thought so I can be sure that I am making my decisions in a truly informed way and I am not letting the propaganda that is clever or heartfelt cloud by ability to think independently.
Reflection 7....
I think more than anything I remembered today how lucky I feel to be doing the professional work that I am. In my small way I am trying to help educate students how to be more critical thinkers and to listen first to understand others and then to be understood yourself. I also hope that students are learning that there is more to leadership than being a outspoken person with a title, I aim to really impress on them the ideas that true change comes from anyone with a passion and that you don't need a formal title to lead, you just need to authentically you and integrate your values into your everyday life (integrity). Seeing the passion the Encounter participants had made me remember that the more passion and feeling you put into your work the more others will be excited and engaged by it and want to participate in your mission with you.
Reflection 8...
Well I think more than anything I was reminded of the importance of actively seeking out opinions and individual stories that are missing or not represented in a group and then truly giving them a time to speak their perspective and story. I think this is always valued, or said to be valued, in my profession, though I think that at times it gets overlooked or given a nod to but that those people aren't engaged in a true way. This is very important as I look toward the future of my office and were we are going to make sure we engage all perspectives. I am also reminded that beauty is everywhere around us and that you should truly take the time to stop and enjoy it and not take for granted the experiences we have in front of us.
Reflection 9...
Well I think the best way I can describe it is that you have to know what is important to you in all aspects of your life, and be open to certain events really shaping who you become and the path that you take because often it is not what you would have expected but is the one that you are being called to do for reasons you do not understand (and the Christian in me in the holy land says that this is one way that God can work in your life).
Reflection 10...
There are some issues that are very difficult and that can not be easily figured out but they can not be avoided. The avoidance of a conflict, or the acceptance of living in conflict is a way to perpetuate the conflict and unpleasant circumstances as a result. Now if you know me at all you know that I HATE CONFLICT, but if nothing else this trip has taught me the value of directness and that avoiding conflict doesn't get you anywhere productive.
Reflection 11...
Unexplainable things happen everywhere and every day (like ancient biblical writing being sold in the NY times, like a huge city being built atop a giant plateau with now modern equipment, people choose to die at their own hands rather than facing an fate that seems worse than death, and a place that is considered dead can produce valuable exports and products) who are we to make judgements on those things. They occurred for a reason and not everything needs to be explained by scientific fact or written history-sometimes things just occur as part of a grander plan for reasons unable to be understood or interpreted in the present time. I think I need to be more open to this idea and accepting that for me God is the larger force guiding this plan and that as long as I am moving in his path I am doing what I should be.
Reflection 12....
I am just realy happy to be heading back to my personal mode of transportation, shower, BED, non-smelly EVERYTHING space and my life
So after two full days back home someone finally asked me the million dollar question, "Was it a life changing experience?" Now many had asked me if it was amazing, if I had a good time, if it was worth it, what I liked the best (as if that is ever possible to answer) but no one up until 4pm on Monday 3/12 had asked me if it was "life changing." I was stumped, more so because I knew I couldn't say yes, but I wasn't sure why exactly, so my response was "I think it could be." After reflecting on that moment I have come to fully understand my hesitation to answer the question and the appropriate answer for me.
So let me explain now, "Was it a life changing experience?" My answer is definitively, "No, is was life affirming." You may be thinking that this is semantics, but it is actually a very different answer and one I am owing very deliberately as uniquely my answer.
This trip was not a mecca, it wasn't the haag, with wasn't a Christian rite of passage, it wasn't a homecoming to a land that I have some historical right to-though for many it is this very type of experience. For me the clarity began when I shed a few tears in the security line as Yael was leaving (and as they well in my eyes now typing this) and fully emerged when reflection on this question. I was ready to leave, though I was going to miss the people and parts of my life that those 10 days had amazingly occupied. I was ready to leave though-why? Because I was ready to come back to my life-my free, non-security walled/barriered life. My life where thought it is criticized (perhaps scrutinized or debated are a better words) separates the state and religion, in the name of democracy for the people. My life where a constitution and amendments dictate how I am ruled over-not the whims of changing parties and agendas. My life where I pay my taxes (as do all-now we can argue over who should pay more or less) as does everyone else and those that gain governmental social program benefits from those taxes are not guiding the governmental agenda (WOW-that sounds like a great case for keeping societal privilege in tact). It is MY LIFE and I am ultimately in control of it and never have to think about the security with which I can live my life or at what point my life might be rocked by an unstable faction or agenda.
So after that tangential rant you might still be thinking, "What is life affirming?" My life was not changed by this trip. I was able to do amazing and privileged things. I was able to see historically and religious monumental and contentious sites. I was a participant in an experience that showed me that ultimately, at the end of the day, my life is amazing and that many folks would love to be able to come back to or step into my life and it is mine (lucky me!). I feel steadfast for the first time in a long time. I am in a place that while I could find 100 things wrong with it at any given moment, at that same moment there are 100 million things that are positive, amazing and worth celebrating that I don't take the time to consider (but that others would love to have even one shot at having). I learned a ton, and am grateful beyond words that I individually reflected each day in my blog (thank you for the idea Kati Pease) because I will have that to look back on when I might be a bit too focused on one of those 100 things that are wrong.
I am back and I don't want to be a different me. I don't want to be a new me. I am not a changed me. I am a me that is blessed and grateful for the me that I am and all those around me that have had and continue to have a part in the making and support of me daily. I don't want to be someone else, I want to be me-wherever that me goes, whatever that me learns, whoever that me connects to, however that me happens upon those things is not a result of the actions of me. It is a result of the work and will of His plan for me. All I can do is stand fast to the belief that He knows who me really is and all will be taken care of for me.
So no, the trip was not life changing...it was BETTER, it was life affirming!
I think this about wraps up my entries for Israel: Jess' Holy Adventure. Thank you all for reading my thoughts-I hope some of them have spurred you on to think about the "changes" that can occur in your life and I hope the entries have left you questions upon questions, and few answers!
One last Hebrew word of the day for you all...I will sign off with "Shalom haver" just at Bill Clinton did in his eulogy for Yitzhak Rabin's funeral in 1995. Clinton said, "goodbye friend" and to you all I say "goodbye friends."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A chronicle of my daily "what has changed today" reflections:
Reflection 1...
I was confronted with a few personal thoughts today, many centering around cultural otherness and privilege. A few times I found myself looking for a more polite and customer service oriented perspective from cashiers or museum attendants. We were told that Israelis are a blunt people and I found myself judging that cultural bluntness in my head as rude or disrespectful. That is a very American perspective to take and one that I then found myself reflecting on as it would happen. I also thought a few times about the statistics or generalizations Yael, our guide, would make. I was crtically pondering in my head, how much of this is her individual interpretation as a secular Jew (as she disclosed) and an individual citizen of Israel versus the reality of all people. Yeal has been guiding tours for 15 years so I would imagine she is very knowledgeable though I do find myself using a critical lens to interpret the information she gives us.
Reflection 2...
How would you answer these questions (posed by Gershom), or better yet do you feel like you have enough background to be able to answer them? I know I didn't feel like I could last night, but now I feel like as a part of my change mantra it is a duty to help others begin to explore them, and because I think a part of my constant change is to feel more capable and confident with religion and my ability to critique it and accept what I believe as a result of the education and critique.
Reflection 3...
I want to live my life in a fashion that allows me to experience more totally bone chilling and awe inspiring moments.
Reflection 4...
DON'T WASTE THE TIME WITH DISCONTENTMENT! I want to be a more optomistic person, carpe diem, be in the moment and not be critical.
Reflection 5...
think we are all right and we are all wrong at the same time. I think that is is ludicrous for a church to ask you to declare your statement of faith after going through a few classes about their history and that any person can know what that is by the time the are in high school. Well, at least it was for me, maybe not for some, but I know when I was that age I was just saying what I thought I had been told, but didn't know what I believed or why or if it was even my belief or someone else's. Below is what I believe, and I would like to say that it is a Christian belief, though I am sure some could argue that (see Geopoltical Tour & Via Dolorosa Blog for more on my Christian faith).
Reflection 6...
I think more than anything it is that the power of the narrative and hearing the experience of others is so important. And to recognize that just when you think you have figured out a solution or where you stand there is a great chance that you will hear something that could sway you and to be open to that message. I think we all too often close our minds and believe we have all the information we need. So I would like to continue telling myself to ask questions and seek out opposite opinions and thought so I can be sure that I am making my decisions in a truly informed way and I am not letting the propaganda that is clever or heartfelt cloud by ability to think independently.
Reflection 7....
I think more than anything I remembered today how lucky I feel to be doing the professional work that I am. In my small way I am trying to help educate students how to be more critical thinkers and to listen first to understand others and then to be understood yourself. I also hope that students are learning that there is more to leadership than being a outspoken person with a title, I aim to really impress on them the ideas that true change comes from anyone with a passion and that you don't need a formal title to lead, you just need to authentically you and integrate your values into your everyday life (integrity). Seeing the passion the Encounter participants had made me remember that the more passion and feeling you put into your work the more others will be excited and engaged by it and want to participate in your mission with you.
Reflection 8...
Well I think more than anything I was reminded of the importance of actively seeking out opinions and individual stories that are missing or not represented in a group and then truly giving them a time to speak their perspective and story. I think this is always valued, or said to be valued, in my profession, though I think that at times it gets overlooked or given a nod to but that those people aren't engaged in a true way. This is very important as I look toward the future of my office and were we are going to make sure we engage all perspectives. I am also reminded that beauty is everywhere around us and that you should truly take the time to stop and enjoy it and not take for granted the experiences we have in front of us.
Reflection 9...
Well I think the best way I can describe it is that you have to know what is important to you in all aspects of your life, and be open to certain events really shaping who you become and the path that you take because often it is not what you would have expected but is the one that you are being called to do for reasons you do not understand (and the Christian in me in the holy land says that this is one way that God can work in your life).
Reflection 10...
There are some issues that are very difficult and that can not be easily figured out but they can not be avoided. The avoidance of a conflict, or the acceptance of living in conflict is a way to perpetuate the conflict and unpleasant circumstances as a result. Now if you know me at all you know that I HATE CONFLICT, but if nothing else this trip has taught me the value of directness and that avoiding conflict doesn't get you anywhere productive.
Reflection 11...
Unexplainable things happen everywhere and every day (like ancient biblical writing being sold in the NY times, like a huge city being built atop a giant plateau with now modern equipment, people choose to die at their own hands rather than facing an fate that seems worse than death, and a place that is considered dead can produce valuable exports and products) who are we to make judgements on those things. They occurred for a reason and not everything needs to be explained by scientific fact or written history-sometimes things just occur as part of a grander plan for reasons unable to be understood or interpreted in the present time. I think I need to be more open to this idea and accepting that for me God is the larger force guiding this plan and that as long as I am moving in his path I am doing what I should be.
Reflection 12....
I am just realy happy to be heading back to my personal mode of transportation, shower, BED, non-smelly EVERYTHING space and my life
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Back in the USA!
Well after a super successful flight of sleeping for all but about 2 hours of it I am back in the USA! Currently we are on our bus heading back to Lehigh from Newark and I am really happy to be back! The trip was an amazing opportunity and I will post a final blog of compiled reflections from each of the days but right now I am just realy happy to be heading back to my personal mode of transportation, shower, BED, non-smelly EVERYTHING space and my life.
I will be more reflective and summative later-I think I am just really looking forward to a McDonald's breakfast bagel which will accompany the Starbucks I had at Newark nicely in my tummy!
Boker Tov to my American readers and Shalom to those we left in Israel!
I will be more reflective and summative later-I think I am just really looking forward to a McDonald's breakfast bagel which will accompany the Starbucks I had at Newark nicely in my tummy!
Boker Tov to my American readers and Shalom to those we left in Israel!
Qumran, Masada and the Dead Sea!!!
We finished up our last day in Israel by heading down to Qumran (there they found the Dead Sea Scrolls), taking a cable car up to the top of Masada and dipping in the Dead Sea with two amazing meals in there (no shock since I am pretty sure we ate our way through Israel!).
I think I enjoyed touring Qumran the most from the day, as I went to NYC to see teh Discovery Musuem's exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls in January. It was amazing to see actual portions of the scroll in the Israel Museum on the first day and then see where the scrolls were found on the last day. In NYC the exhibit did not have actual scrolls on display but I think the rest of the exhibit did an amazing job of setting up the history and showing movies of people that actually worked on the dig. I felt very connected to this part of the day because of the other learning I had done around this topic. I would highly suggest anyone interested in knowing more, who can't hop an El Al flight to Israel check out the NYC Discovery Museum. The thing that we learned more about in Israel than the NYC museum was the life of the people that copied the scrolls and how they lived and why they were there.
Masada was one of those miracles that you can't understand, sort of like the pyramids. How was a whole city (a small one but same scale) build ontop of a mountain plateau some 2000 years ago? I have no idea but it was amaizng to take the cable car to the top and see the detail with which a city was built. One of the coolest parts was looking at the model of how they engineered to collect the runoff water in canals that came down the mountain into gigantic cisterns to get them through an entire year. It was also crazy to think about how they didn't have soap back then so they would go through a series of bath chambers cool, warm, hot (that they created a raised floor, with furnace underneath and terra cotta pipes with holes coming up into the room)so that their pores would slowly open up and then they would scrap the dirty off with metal blades. I think it is also interesting to think about the dispute between ideologies that the Jewish people did not surrender but that they committed mass suicide rather than going into Roman slavery (the Josephus Flavius version) rather than the disputed version that suiced and killing your wives and children is so against the Jewish faith and believe system that they must have allowed the Romans to take them. The "Ripley's Believe It or Not" twist comes in with the fact that no Jewish bones or remains were found in archelogical excavation and it is believe that the store houses were full when the Romans got to the top. What does this all say? The debate rages on with certain scholars, but is seems widely accepted by many Jewish people that Masada marked a great stance taken that indicated they were never going to go back into slavery at the hands of the Romans so they took it upon themselves to control their destiny.
The Dead Sea....I was there at -422km below sea level!!!! The water was a bit slimey and the boyancy that people experienced was amazing to witness. The beach was rocky and the salt deposits were amazing and I managed to get a few salt rocks from the Dead Sea back in my suitcase! So on this trip I have had my feet in both the Mediterrean Sea and the Dead Sea...two bodies most people don't get to in a lifetime and I got to do both in the span of 10 days...this is pretty unbelievable!
We finished up with a dinner in a Muslim neighborhood of Jerusalem, Abu Gnosh-which is the oldest Mulism neighborhood in the city. The food was amazing and it was there that we gave Rueben(our driver) Barki(our guard) and Yael their formal gifts. Yael accompied us all the way to security and it was sad to leave her, many of us had tears in our eyes. She was amazing and I wish we could remain friends...Carolina and I are going to put together a weddign well wishes and thank you package later this week and send it off to her....love to Yael (Ani Ohebet Otach-that means I love you in Hebrew just for Yael! and that will be my last Hebrew word of the day!)
From there we headed to the airport and after a quick 20 minute delay (to repair a toilet on the plane) we were off and heading back to Newark!
So what was the change-I forgot to add this in the original post so here it is now as I do my overall trip reflection! Unexplainable things happen everywhere and every day (like ancient biblical writing being sold in the NY times, like a huge city being built atop a giant plateau with now modern equipment, people choose to die at their own hands rather than facing an fate that seems worse than death, and a place that is considered dead can produce valuable exports and products) who are we to make judgements on those things. They occurred for a reason and not everything needs to be explained by scientific fact or written history-sometimes things just occur as part of a grander plan for reasons unable to be understood or interpreted in the present time. I think I need to be more open to this idea and accepting that for me God is the larger force guiding this plan and that as long as I am moving in his path I am doing what I should be.
I think I enjoyed touring Qumran the most from the day, as I went to NYC to see teh Discovery Musuem's exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls in January. It was amazing to see actual portions of the scroll in the Israel Museum on the first day and then see where the scrolls were found on the last day. In NYC the exhibit did not have actual scrolls on display but I think the rest of the exhibit did an amazing job of setting up the history and showing movies of people that actually worked on the dig. I felt very connected to this part of the day because of the other learning I had done around this topic. I would highly suggest anyone interested in knowing more, who can't hop an El Al flight to Israel check out the NYC Discovery Museum. The thing that we learned more about in Israel than the NYC museum was the life of the people that copied the scrolls and how they lived and why they were there.
Masada was one of those miracles that you can't understand, sort of like the pyramids. How was a whole city (a small one but same scale) build ontop of a mountain plateau some 2000 years ago? I have no idea but it was amaizng to take the cable car to the top and see the detail with which a city was built. One of the coolest parts was looking at the model of how they engineered to collect the runoff water in canals that came down the mountain into gigantic cisterns to get them through an entire year. It was also crazy to think about how they didn't have soap back then so they would go through a series of bath chambers cool, warm, hot (that they created a raised floor, with furnace underneath and terra cotta pipes with holes coming up into the room)so that their pores would slowly open up and then they would scrap the dirty off with metal blades. I think it is also interesting to think about the dispute between ideologies that the Jewish people did not surrender but that they committed mass suicide rather than going into Roman slavery (the Josephus Flavius version) rather than the disputed version that suiced and killing your wives and children is so against the Jewish faith and believe system that they must have allowed the Romans to take them. The "Ripley's Believe It or Not" twist comes in with the fact that no Jewish bones or remains were found in archelogical excavation and it is believe that the store houses were full when the Romans got to the top. What does this all say? The debate rages on with certain scholars, but is seems widely accepted by many Jewish people that Masada marked a great stance taken that indicated they were never going to go back into slavery at the hands of the Romans so they took it upon themselves to control their destiny.
The Dead Sea....I was there at -422km below sea level!!!! The water was a bit slimey and the boyancy that people experienced was amazing to witness. The beach was rocky and the salt deposits were amazing and I managed to get a few salt rocks from the Dead Sea back in my suitcase! So on this trip I have had my feet in both the Mediterrean Sea and the Dead Sea...two bodies most people don't get to in a lifetime and I got to do both in the span of 10 days...this is pretty unbelievable!
We finished up with a dinner in a Muslim neighborhood of Jerusalem, Abu Gnosh-which is the oldest Mulism neighborhood in the city. The food was amazing and it was there that we gave Rueben(our driver) Barki(our guard) and Yael their formal gifts. Yael accompied us all the way to security and it was sad to leave her, many of us had tears in our eyes. She was amazing and I wish we could remain friends...Carolina and I are going to put together a weddign well wishes and thank you package later this week and send it off to her....love to Yael (Ani Ohebet Otach-that means I love you in Hebrew just for Yael! and that will be my last Hebrew word of the day!)
From there we headed to the airport and after a quick 20 minute delay (to repair a toilet on the plane) we were off and heading back to Newark!
So what was the change-I forgot to add this in the original post so here it is now as I do my overall trip reflection! Unexplainable things happen everywhere and every day (like ancient biblical writing being sold in the NY times, like a huge city being built atop a giant plateau with now modern equipment, people choose to die at their own hands rather than facing an fate that seems worse than death, and a place that is considered dead can produce valuable exports and products) who are we to make judgements on those things. They occurred for a reason and not everything needs to be explained by scientific fact or written history-sometimes things just occur as part of a grander plan for reasons unable to be understood or interpreted in the present time. I think I need to be more open to this idea and accepting that for me God is the larger force guiding this plan and that as long as I am moving in his path I am doing what I should be.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Our Final Day in Tel Aviv
Well today was our last day in Tel Aviv, and it was one of the first free days we have had. And by free I mean from 1pm until whenever (we had two tours in the morning).
We started with a walking tour of old Jaffa and had an Arab Muslim Israeli and Israeli Jew as our guides. The attempted to tell us their history overlaid on the history of Jaffa, as it is one of the few cities in Israel where Muslims and Jews coexist rather peacefully and in an integrated fashion. The views in Jaffa and the art shops were amazing, the content of the tour however was repetitive because after 9 days in Israel we have had a variety of tours and sessions where this same type of history has been told. Following that we took a tour of a park, also known as the African Refugee Development Center. We learned a great deal about how Israeli will offer asylum to many African refugees and on their visa's they mark them no work visa, but the supreme court ruled that is goes against the right to human dignity to not let them work. We also then toured the area where most of the refugees live, 12 to a one room studio apartment that sleep in shifts of 6 at a time to minimize the cost.
The best part of the day was shopping at the Carmel Market and then walking up the Mediterranean Sea along the beach and stopping at one of the many outdoor beach tables and having a drink and some chips and salsa. We took some amazing pictures and collected a few amazing shells. The sand here is the best fine sugar sand with no pebbles like the Jersey shore or North Carolina beaches. There were also a ton of wind surfers and regular old surfers out today and the place we had drinks offered breakfast and surfing lessons for 171 Shekels which is like $45 US dollars.
I think the change from today came from our talk while lounging on at the beach bar. I asked the group if the the trip shifted there perspectives on Israel, Palestine or the conflict at all compared to what they came in with. We had an amazing discussion and it ranged from not knowing at all what the solutions should be, to being more confused now than before we came. The one thing we all shared in common was that this is not an easy place to figure out and that it is probably not going to be solved anytime soon. We also talked a great deal about the irony or juxtaposition of a "Democratic Religious (Jewish)" state and how that doesn't' seem to be able to possible, as well as the fact that they don't have a constitution (because when they declared the state they Jewish population was so small they didn't want to create a full constitution until a majority of Jews had returned....who will decide when that should happen we then tossed around.
What was the change today? There are some issues that are very difficult and that can not be easily figured out but they can not be avoided. The avoidance of a conflict, or the acceptance of living in conflict is a way to perpetuate the conflict and unpleasant circumstances as a result. Now if you know me at all you know that I HATE CONFLICT, but if nothing else this trip has taught me the value of directness and that avoiding conflict doesn't get you anywhere productive.
Tomorrow we are off to the Masada and the Dead Sea and then back to Tel Aviv to good old Ben-Gurion airport to take the 12:32am red eye back to Newark. I can't believe the trip is practically over. It has been so short yet is seems like we left Bethlehem (PA that is) so long ago...oxymoron yes, but so true! Good night from one last evening in Israel...
Sabbath Shalom!
The Rabin Center
One word pretty much sums up our first day in Tel Aviv...Rabin. It is funny how you look back on history growing up and I would say most of my generation who grew up middle to upper middle class will remember a few key names from current events, but would be unsure why such as...Anwar Sadat, Menacham Begin, King Hussein of Jordan, Yhitzak Rabin, maybe even Shimon Perez and Golda Meir (thought those might be doubtful). They definitely remember names like John Wilkes Booth, JFK, Nixon, Margaret Thatcher, Michel Gorbachev and Yeltsin, Sadam Hussein and George HW Bush. Today I felt like I experienced the first set of names in the way the Israeli's experienced them, which is much like how most of you reading this blog would have experienced the second set of names.
We have been learning much about Israel's history throughout our trip and today we got to learn even more about the declaration of the state of Israel in 1947 by David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel. More amazing than that story, for my generations memory anyway was visiting Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, seeing the last steps walked by Yhitzak Rabin, and seeing the markers in the pavement that indicated just how close his assassin stood to him to shoot him. It was nothing like Lincoln or JFK (our two assassinated leaders), the murderer of Rabin stood less than 2 feet from him and the guard who was suppose to protect him probably 3 feet from both Rabin and the assassin. There was no sniper on a hill and no mad man in the theater wings for this one, we was close enough to touch Rabin with the gun that shot him. To me as an American, living in the lifetime that I have that is inconceivable, even with the assassination attempt that I lived through of Regan, he wasn't that close and it wasn't on the heels of a peace movement rally.
From there we went to the Rabin Center where we were able to learn a great deal about the political history of Israel overlaid by the history of Rabin as a leader all within the context of other things going on in the world arena. Though not as touching or as sensitive for most of us as Yad Vashem, this museum was amazingly well done and laid out, thought the most amazing part was meeting and talking with Dalhia Rabin, Yhitzak's daughter, after lunch. She was a women who carried herself in such a confident, self-assured fashion and one that was noteworthy in her own right, regardless of who her father was. She was engaging and has truly experienced many different positions of political and military power within her career as a lawyer and member of the Knesset. She is an advocate for women's rights and empowerment, and stands firm to her beliefs and wasn't afraid to step away from high political positions (like Deputy Minister of Defense) when she didn't like the political agenda that was being pushed. She said that without the assassination of her father she never would have intended to go into the political arena, but after that happened she felt that this was the only right thing to do. She was also unsure how many leaders are following her father's peace mission. She now directs the Rabin Center and makes sure that her father's life is memorialized as he lived, with conviction and respect.
So what changed today? Well I think the best way I can describe it is that you have to know what is important to you in all aspects of your life, and be open to certain events really shaping who you become and the path that you take because often it is not what you would have expected but is the one that you are being called to do for reasons you do not understand (and the Christian in me in the holy land says that this is one way that God can work in your life).
Oh and another amazing site today...The Mediterranean Sea!!! We got our first up close glimpse of it and tomorrow my goal is to touch it during our lunch and "shopportunity" as Yael calls it. Which by the way is the best guide ever and if you are ever thinking of a trip to Israel I highly recommend IsraelExperts, but mainly Yael Manashe (soon to be Zelcer). She is amazing and I wish I could be her friend but the 12 hour flight could be a difficult one to manage!
Tomorrow a bit back to walking, to tour old Jaffa and then African Refugee Center and a new market, Carmel Market! Tomorrow is our last day in Tel Aviv and the last night we will sleep in Israel. We end our trip at the Masada and the Dead Sea on Saturday, before our red eye home just past midnight. The time as gone so quick, but a few days left to enjoy!
I'll try to do better and remember to take the iPad to the bus tomorrow to upload...our hotel is still crappy though the food is better our room still smells and the bed is unbelievable uncomfortable-I am sort of looking forward to sleeping on the plane...
Beatitudes....and off to Tel Aviv!
Today was the most driving we have done thus far, but it was well worth it to head up to the Kinneret (Sea of the Galilee). We had a rather less than interesting speaker this morning and then spent an amazing day touring the beyond beautiful sea in the north where Jesus performed many of his miracles.
I am not even going to recount the random ecological greenhouse on a Kibbutz. I would have rather toured the Kibbutz itself, but no we sat in a dirty greenhouse and heard from a guide that wasn't good and did a poor job of recapping things we have heard all week. The most amazing part of the morning was hearing the story of an Arab Muslim Israeli who has a Pro-Israel perspective (I wish we could have skipped the 45 minutes of greenhouse garbage and asked her more questions but that wasn't in the cards). She is a law student in university currently and was explaining how difficult it is to be in her position because she truly believes that Israel should be it's own state and that Palestine should not be a part of the picture that Israel is having to worry about. She said a very very interesting things, about how there are arabic and jewish schools in Israel and that you can go to either one, as they teach in both languages, but that typically you don't go to an opposite culture school. She says that she does have many Jewish friends and that while her ancestors came from Palestine (generations back) she is not attached to that country or the Muslims there. She is more of a humanist and thinks the relations between both countries hurts them both more than it helps any one of them. She says that the Israeli flag and anthem doesn't represent her heritage but rather than some that get very upset about that she is grateful for her rights as an Israeli citizen (she can vote, run for the Knesset, she is able to do anything that a Jewish Israeli can-accept she gets to choose to serve in the military or do civil service). She chose civil service and felt good about it because she wanted to have her chance to be an active citizen and participate in the country that she is very much in support of. She lives in a Jewish and Muslim community that co-exists peacefully (which means they are able to live in the same general village/town but on segregated sides of the town.
We were then able to see a few sites surrounding the beautiful Sea of the Galilee-which I have pictures of but that I can't explain in words. And for the first time in this trip we wore short sleeve shirts with OUT jackets-thank you weather for cooperating with us! First we were able to go to the church that commemorates the site of where Jesus turned the 2 fishes and 5 loaves into thousands for the people. The church is still in operation today and mosaics on the floor commemorate the fishes and loaves. It notes 2 fishes and only 4 loaves as the 5th loaf is offered during the communion mass by the Priest.
From there we went to Capernum where St. Peter built his house and where Jesus healed a women. We we also able to see some amazing ruins of St. Peter's original house with a beautifully architectural church built suspended above it.
The most beautiful site today (in addition to the sea and surrounding hills themselves) was the Church of the Beatitudes where Jesus was said to have delivered the sermon on the mound. The church was absolutely gorgeous and built in an octagonal fashion in order to represent the 8 virtues of man noted in the sermon. While Jesus did not deliver the sermon in the church (as he was much before this time) this is the perfect hill (mound) overlooking the Galilee where historians surmised the famous sermon could have taken place.
From there we drove 2 hours down to Tel Aviv, where we ended early with dinner at 6:30pm in the most ridiculous hotel ever. We are trying not to be bitter, but we are in a safe house room/shelter with a shower that you have to fold out of the wall...it is beyond words and they are trying to move us but tonight we make the most of it and practice flexibility...GOD HELP US!
So what was today's change? Well I think more than anything I was reminded of the importance of actively seeking out opinions and individual stories that are missing or not represented in a group and then truly giving them a time to speak their perspective and story. I think this is always valued, or said to be valued, in my profession, though I think that at times it gets overlooked or given a nod to but that those people aren't engaged in a true way. This is very important as I look toward the future of my office and were we are going to make sure we engage all perspectives. I am also reminded that beauty is everywhere around us and that you should truly take the time to stop and enjoy it and not take for granted the experiences we have in front of us.
Well, we sort of stop officially "touring" cities tomorrow and begin our last push of meeting with different people and centers, until Masada and the Dead Sea on Saturday before flying back (I don't want to think of it yet though!). Tomorrow will be a big day visiting the Rabin center and getting to meet with Dalia Rabin. What a day...oh did I mention our amazingly bad (though it looks amazing from all parts that aren't the safe rooms in the stairwell that we have) hotel doesn't have free wi-fi so I will have to post my blogs from our BUS!!!
That is all I have to say about today, more to come later!
I am not even going to recount the random ecological greenhouse on a Kibbutz. I would have rather toured the Kibbutz itself, but no we sat in a dirty greenhouse and heard from a guide that wasn't good and did a poor job of recapping things we have heard all week. The most amazing part of the morning was hearing the story of an Arab Muslim Israeli who has a Pro-Israel perspective (I wish we could have skipped the 45 minutes of greenhouse garbage and asked her more questions but that wasn't in the cards). She is a law student in university currently and was explaining how difficult it is to be in her position because she truly believes that Israel should be it's own state and that Palestine should not be a part of the picture that Israel is having to worry about. She said a very very interesting things, about how there are arabic and jewish schools in Israel and that you can go to either one, as they teach in both languages, but that typically you don't go to an opposite culture school. She says that she does have many Jewish friends and that while her ancestors came from Palestine (generations back) she is not attached to that country or the Muslims there. She is more of a humanist and thinks the relations between both countries hurts them both more than it helps any one of them. She says that the Israeli flag and anthem doesn't represent her heritage but rather than some that get very upset about that she is grateful for her rights as an Israeli citizen (she can vote, run for the Knesset, she is able to do anything that a Jewish Israeli can-accept she gets to choose to serve in the military or do civil service). She chose civil service and felt good about it because she wanted to have her chance to be an active citizen and participate in the country that she is very much in support of. She lives in a Jewish and Muslim community that co-exists peacefully (which means they are able to live in the same general village/town but on segregated sides of the town.
We were then able to see a few sites surrounding the beautiful Sea of the Galilee-which I have pictures of but that I can't explain in words. And for the first time in this trip we wore short sleeve shirts with OUT jackets-thank you weather for cooperating with us! First we were able to go to the church that commemorates the site of where Jesus turned the 2 fishes and 5 loaves into thousands for the people. The church is still in operation today and mosaics on the floor commemorate the fishes and loaves. It notes 2 fishes and only 4 loaves as the 5th loaf is offered during the communion mass by the Priest.
From there we went to Capernum where St. Peter built his house and where Jesus healed a women. We we also able to see some amazing ruins of St. Peter's original house with a beautifully architectural church built suspended above it.
The most beautiful site today (in addition to the sea and surrounding hills themselves) was the Church of the Beatitudes where Jesus was said to have delivered the sermon on the mound. The church was absolutely gorgeous and built in an octagonal fashion in order to represent the 8 virtues of man noted in the sermon. While Jesus did not deliver the sermon in the church (as he was much before this time) this is the perfect hill (mound) overlooking the Galilee where historians surmised the famous sermon could have taken place.
From there we drove 2 hours down to Tel Aviv, where we ended early with dinner at 6:30pm in the most ridiculous hotel ever. We are trying not to be bitter, but we are in a safe house room/shelter with a shower that you have to fold out of the wall...it is beyond words and they are trying to move us but tonight we make the most of it and practice flexibility...GOD HELP US!
So what was today's change? Well I think more than anything I was reminded of the importance of actively seeking out opinions and individual stories that are missing or not represented in a group and then truly giving them a time to speak their perspective and story. I think this is always valued, or said to be valued, in my profession, though I think that at times it gets overlooked or given a nod to but that those people aren't engaged in a true way. This is very important as I look toward the future of my office and were we are going to make sure we engage all perspectives. I am also reminded that beauty is everywhere around us and that you should truly take the time to stop and enjoy it and not take for granted the experiences we have in front of us.
Well, we sort of stop officially "touring" cities tomorrow and begin our last push of meeting with different people and centers, until Masada and the Dead Sea on Saturday before flying back (I don't want to think of it yet though!). Tomorrow will be a big day visiting the Rabin center and getting to meet with Dalia Rabin. What a day...oh did I mention our amazingly bad (though it looks amazing from all parts that aren't the safe rooms in the stairwell that we have) hotel doesn't have free wi-fi so I will have to post my blogs from our BUS!!!
That is all I have to say about today, more to come later!
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