Hebrew Lessons for Dummies

     After listening to "Be Your Own Weatherman", a podcast recorded by StreetWise Hebrew, I now can successfully talk about weather in hebrew. Listening to this podcast made me realize how problematic not being able to speak Hebrew in Israel can be. As an American, I cannot expect every israeli to speak english. Although I am learning slowly, I fear that it will not be fast enough. Hebrew is the only languages that is spoken around the world that connects the jewish people. Not only that, but it also has been in use for thousands of years, and today, as reform jews, we have a responsibility to continue the jewish language and culture. If Hebrew was not continued, there would be no translation of the torah, the mishnah, or the talmud, which are the major texts that distinguish judaism from other monotheistic religions. Without Hebrew, the jewish people today would be much more scattered and unconnected compared to the jewish people today.

Islam v. Islamic Countries

      On Sunday the group went to a mosque in Ein Karem after being introduced to Islam. The Imam said very interesting things about islam, such as that muslims believe in all the profits, including Moses and Jesus, and also that many countries do not practice islam according to the sharia, or islamic law. The reason, according to the Imam, that so many arab countries are run by terrorist organizations or considered radical in general is because they do not follow this practice that all muslims are held to. The country closest to maintaining sharia would be Saudi Arabia, yet they still do not allow women to drive.   This was very interesting because many outsiders view Islam itself as radical, but it is really the people, not the religion.
     Yasmin and the Imam also emphasized how women are treated equally to men in islam, contrary to common belief. The reason why women pray behind the men is so that the men are not distracted while praying and women do not feel uncomfortable. If this is apart of Sharia, then, why do countries such as Saudi Arabia not allow women to drive if they are equal? And why do some countries require women to cover everything but there eyes when in public? A man should not be distracted by a woman's face, and if he is he should not be the reason she is forced to cover it. This is similar to the belief in the United States where a woman "was asking for it", "it" being rape, when wearing revealing clothing. Unlike this situation, a woman cannot change her face. These are not the policies of Islam, but rather of people who decided them. Who decides them, and why should they be able to dictate what a women, or rather why anyone, should or should not be aloud to do what they please?

Revitalizing Prayer

     Although I have attended the same sinagogue for over 10 years, I still have often had trouble praying. In the article "Revitalizing Prayer", Rabbi Nanci Flam responds to my problems. Usually, I find myself standing up for the Amidah while thinking about homework or weekend plans. I don't focus during prayer. This is mainly because I usually can't rely on myself to pray certain times of day. Rather, usually during certain times throughout the day I get a relaxed feeling in which I notice how wonderful the world around me is. I feel "gratitude, humility, awe, love", and other emotions that are perfect praying conditions. I cannot call on myself to pray at designated times because it won't be real, at least not to me. 
      Flam has noticed that many reform jews seem to have this problem. She suggests several ways to fix it which I will now take in to account. For example, she suggests that one should understand what they are praying for, adopt strategies, and be apart of a prayer community in order to make prayer " compelling and relevant to our lives". Some strategies for prayer could be, for example, body movement or concentration. In order for a prayer to ascend to heaven, your heart has to be in it. Flam also suggests talking to God at random times in order to create a more personal relationship. Although this does seem strange at first read, it does make sense because I seem to only be able to really pray at inconvenient times. This article has definitely helped me to realize how to fix my praying problem and continue on my religious journey. 

That's What Jesus Said

      Over the past few days, we have been discussing christianity in Jewish History class. Over this time, I have been contemplating my christian family and their beliefs. Because my dad was protestant before he married my mother, the majority of his side family still attends church regularly. During reunions, I sit through mass and sit at the table while they say grace. Now that I know some of their beliefs, I can consider how our religions are different. Before my parents got married, my dad's mom was against their marriage because of my mom's religion. However, after they were married in the US, because Israel did not allow them to, she slowly accepted the idea and soon my mother was embraced by the whole family. Studying christianity has really made me interested in our family and how different beliefs can come together, despite years of war and violence in history.

Palestinians Hold the Key to a Better Future

     Basseim Eid is one of a group of palestinians who believes that both Israel and Palestine must create peace with each other. Eid believes that Palestinians "missed many opportunities" to create peace with Israel, and that for the betterment of the world the time has come when it seems that either peace or full out war will soon be inevitable. Eid stated that it is time to stop the  "pointless, destructive, and immoral war with Israel". The article described how pro peace palestinians think of the arab israeli conflict. I found this opinion not only interesting but also inspiring. Although hamas uses "human shields", and the palestinian government "uses international funds to consolidate its own administration", the fact that civilians are fighting back against the regime gives me hope. I was also suprised by the opinion that "most Palestinians would prefer to live under Israeli rule".  In my opinion, this article showed a side to the conflict that not many Israelis are exposed to. In spite of Bibi's recent speech, this article is proof that perhaps arabs and persians alike may be willing to create peace. 
Heres the article: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/we-palestinians-hold-the-key-to-a-better-future/

Gadnat a bad time

     Over the past ten days I have had one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Our vacation took us through Masada, the Arava Valley, Gadna, and Eilat. Although all of it was amazing, the trip to Masada and going through Gadna, a one week Israeli army simulation, changed many of my opinions on Israel and it's history. Before we arrived at Gadna, I was genuinely scared, mostly because I did not know what to expect. Some friends had told me it was bearable, while others stated that it was comparable to hell. However, no one told me that I would have the time of my life. Although there were terrible conditions, such as no hot water, one inch mattresses, and moist uniforms, the bonding that my team and I went through created deep connections that I have never had with anyone else. We all crawled, ran, and shouted as a team, and all got closer because of it.

    Also, Gadna taught me not only about the army, but also about Israel itself. During our time in the army, we discussed why so many Israelis are excited to go to the army, as opposed to the USA, where those who go to the army are considered the few bravest of the american people. In Israel, society is proud to fight for their country, which is something about Israel that I prefer over the united states. In Israel, everyone seems much more communal and generally closer together. Perhaps it's because they feel connected by judaism or Eretz Yisrael. I hope that this trait will soon be encorporated in united states culture. I wish that I could smile at strangers and not feel uncomfortable doing so in the United States.