End of Summer

Shalom all!

It is not the end of the summer yet but as visitors start leaving
Israel to go back to the States I am aware of how much time I've
enjoyed "being on vacation" with my friends in Israel. From going to
Eilat/Petra, beaches in Tel Aviv, pools at hotels, great restaurants,
wineries, Haifa, Golan and the Kinneret I've taken every opportunity
to spend quality time with friends in Israel.

However the homework is piling on and I can no longer miss Ulpan
(Hebrew lessons) because a friend is in town or I want to go on a
hike. I feel more confident everyday speaking Hebrew with Israelis
and doing daily errands but I have a long way to go before I am a
fluent in Hebrew. I found "my place" to hang out where the waiters
and waitresses know me and seat me right away and I have a great group
of friends in class and in the Merkaz (place I live).

This past Shabbat my friend Shoshana celebrated her one year
anniversary of making Aliyah. We were discussing how much she
accomplished in one year and what goals she will set for the next
year. We determined she was successful because she accomplished 3
goals - 1. speaking Hebrew fluently 2. working at a great job which
makes her happy and is on her way to her career 3. having a wonderful
Israeli boyfriend. I am on my way...I'm studying Hebrew, have a couple
of work opportunities but am waiting until I complete Ulpan, and am
going on dates but there is no one of substance yet.

Enjoy the end of your summer!
lots of love
Esther
Bethany and me when Bethany flew in on the NBN August 19th flight
My Ulpan class with Mora Linda

JCRC Non-Jewish Seminar

Hello Friends and family,

These past 10 days I staffed a JCRC mission to Israel with MA Reps, Senator, and AFL-CIO participants. It was the first time I saw Israel through a Christian-Political lens. We toured the Via Delarosa, Capernaum, Bethlehem (which I am not allowed to go to because I hold an Israeli citizenship) and some of them got baptized in the Jordon River.

They also toured Masada/ Dead Sea, Yad Vashem, Jewish Quarter, Sderot, Haifa, Golan Heights and spent a day lying in the sun on a Tel-Aviv beach.

As you can see it was a whirl-win of a trip! Three highlights for me were touring the Golan Heights because it depicted the importance of Israel’s security and beauty. The Golan is one of my top 3 places where I would want to live because of its serene nature and vastness.

The second highlight was our tour of the Gaza outlook and Sderot (go to http://www.sderotmedia.com/ for more info). I envisioned what Gaza looked like but when viewing the dark, grey, polluted, and chilling area I understood the true reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On one side you have beautiful trees, agriculture and flourishing communities and on the other side it is dreadfully oppressing.

After viewing the outlook we ate lunch in Sderot and visited a community center. As the participants were taking a bathroom break and milling around the foyer we heard a TZEVAH ADOM (red alert) which means a Kassam rocket is being launched from Gaza and is going to land in Sderot in 15 seconds. Everyone ran into the auditorium which is also a shelter. Finally after advocating for Sderot for the past 8 months I comprehend only a small part of life in Sderot. Even though it is not the best situation to experience a TZEVAH ADOM this did impact the participants understanding of the situation with Hamas, Iran and innocent Israeli civilians. I attached the picture of Representative Golden playing soccer with a couple of boys afterwards because this states that life goes on and the community’s moral is somehow being upheld.

The third highlight was going to an Israeli incubator in Haifa that is working on a technology which treats all types of cancer without any invasive surgery. After a week of political and religious discussions it was very important for the participants, who could impact this technology in the States, to see Israel’s creative innovations and one of our best resources.

After this amazing week I had a very restful Shabbat which included a 4 ½ hour game of Monopoly in which I came in second out of four. Now that my travels are slowing down for the summer I have time to focus on Ulpan so I can become fluent in Hebrew.

All my love,

Esther

Gaza Strip Outlook

Rep.Golden playing soccer with Sderot children

Dead Sea experience

Shivli Israel August 3rd

Allo! Sababa Aguzim!

It has been an interesting and adventurous week. My friend, Shmu (24,
modern orthodox, made aliyah with his family 13 years ago) planned to
do Shivli Israel (a trip from the Northern most point of Israel to the
Southern tip of Israel in 7 week). I told him I would do the first 3
days with him to start off his adventure. We bussed up to Kiriat
Shmona where we ate in the food court and then set up camp at Tel Dan
Kibbutz. At first everything seemed great! Some very friendly Israeli
girls brought us amazing chicken wings and then we gazed at the bright
stars. However, all throughout the night Shmu did not feel well and
ended up with food poisoning from the bad pizza he ate at the food
court. Even though he was not feeling well and did not get much sleep
we decided to start hiking at 7am. We hiked for 5 hours through a cow
pasture, nature reserve, and on the road. I attached some pictures of
our trip (tiul in Hebrew). As Shmu was feeling worse and worse we
went to a clinic on a kibbutz where he got medicine and paid a lot of
money for an ACed room. I, however, felt great so I went swimming
while he rested.

That night 2 things happened. Shmu got a call from his parents saying
his grandmother fell into a coma and will pass away any hour so he
decided to go back to Jerusalem Thursday morning. I also received news
that one of my best friend's father passed away suddenly. When I made
aliyah I did think how I was going to miss the simchas (joys) in my
family and friends lives, but I did into think about missing the bad
times when my friends needed me for support and a hug. At this moment
it felt like I abandoned my friend when she needed me the most but
there was nothing I could do or say to make the situation better for
her. This is something that will happen again and I will learn to
accept as part of my Aliyah decision.

Anyway, on a good note, I had a family friend connection near Kiriat
Shmona so I called them and they picked me up from Kfar Giladid
Thursday morning and I spend all Shabbat with the Ivgi family. They
live on Moshav Avivim which borders Lebanon and I could see the houses
in which Hizbollah lives. The mother, Devorah, who made Aliyah 30
years ago from Brookline, is an amazing women who brought up 4
strapping young men who are still in the army (21-28). It was a big
Moroccan family Shabbat dinner with her boys and their friends around
the table and delicious food. During the Second Lebanon War Devorah
cooked for all the soldiers in the area and refused to leave her
moshav so she could be of assistance to the soldiers. She is a very
brave and strong woman.

I am back in Jerusalem this week studying Hebrew at Ulpan although the
Hebrew I learned from the boys and traveling is better than the
conjugations I learn in class but both are necessary. Here is a quote
by Elie Weisel that I read in his book A Begger in Jerusalem. It
touched me.

Jerusalem: the face visible yet hidden, the sap and the blood of all
that makes us live or renounce life. The spark flashing in the
darkness, the murmur rustling through shouts of happiness and joy. A
name, a secret. For the exiled, a prayer. For all others, a promise.
Jerusalem: seventeen times destroyed yet never erased. The symbol of
survival. Jerusalem: the city which miraculously transforms man into
pilgrim; no one can enter it and go away unchanged.

All my love,
Esther

Shmu, the guy that is completing Shvili Israel
Amir, Cassie's cousin in Moshav Avivim

Weekend in Haifa/Gallilee

Shalom!

"I wish I was part of the club!" This is a comment I received today
from an American grad student who is studying International Relations
in Beirut and living in Jordon for the summer. I met him and his
friend while on the bus traveling back from Haifa to Jerusalem. It
makes me very proud when he said this to me and I know I am lucky to
be a part of an ancient religion and traditions that link me to such a
controversial but special place.

Everyday I realize something new that I love about Israel but also
something that makes me understand the reality of living here. This
past week I went for a run past the King David Hotel 20 minutes before
there was a terror incident. I was running down King George Street and
I see ambulances, police, firetrucks zooming by and I knew it was no
regular car accident. As I passed the scene I could not help feel
saddened, shocked, but also frustration. I am frustrated about the
cycle of mis-trust and terror. The Arabs are upset about their
economical and political situation and the Israelis are frustrated
with their lack of security even with all the measures that are
implemented. Each time an Arab, weather Palestinian or Arab Israeli,
creates an act of terror the Israelis put more restrictions and their
level of trust of Arabs is weakened. Back in Boston when I was
advocating for Israel I did not understand the complexity of the
situation through emotions, only through intellect, but now that I am
experiencing this first-hand I am beginning to understand the cycle
and intense emotions of the conflict from both sides.

On to a lighter note, I am in love with living in Israel. This weekend
I went on a trip to Haifa with my friend Alyssa and we toured Zichron
Yakov, hiked Mt. Carmel, tasted Druze food at Daliet-al Carmel, and
swam in the Kinneret late in the afternoon on Shabbat (pictures
below). I also love the group of people at Ulpan and we are learning
a lot of conjugations which I have a test on tomorrow.

As I've told a few people I feel like a complete person here and I am
extremely happy. I felt a void in Boston and now I am in a place where
I know is the right place for me.

Have a great week
Esther

One Month in Israel July 20th

Shalom!

Ma Matzav (What's up?) Last Thursday I started Ulpan (Hebrew lessons)
at Ulpan Etzion in Jerusalem. It is a 20 minute walk from where I
live and it is 8:15am to 12:45 Sunday through Thursday, so that is
what I am doing with my days for five months! I am in kita (class)
Aleph 3 which means I am 3 out of 7 levels. I thought I would be
higher since I can read and write but because I am not good at
conversational Hebrew they put me in this class to start but I should
move up within a month to kita Bet. There are about 15 people in my
class from all over the world (Chile, Holland, South Africa,
Australia, Ethiopia, France, Canada and of course the USA). It is very
interesting trying to converse with someone that knows little Hebrew
and English but fluent in Spanish when I know little Hebrew or Spanish
and am fluent in English...luckily he is very good looking so I put up
with the hardship of conversing with him (hahahaha).

This past week I went to the Jerusalem Wine Festival which was
amazing. I attached the picture of me and my friend Shmu who came with
Deb Donig and a few others. It was held at the Israeli Museum and
there were thousands of people, 150 different Israeli wines, music and
food. Jerusalem's scene is growing on me and there is something to do
every night. I am meeting a lot of people through where I am living,
networking and Ulpan so I have created a few groups of friends
already.

I've met a wonderful man here who gives me the best perks...free water
and popsicles and conversational Hebrew lessons. He is the local
convenient store man who is 60 years old and has taken a liking to my
smile (as he says). I sit with him for a half on hour a day and chat
which has improved my self-esteem to speak Hebrew to Israelis.

I wanted to fill you in on the daily happenings of my days in
Jerusalem...I am in love with living here. I feel as though the world
is at my fingertips here and I can accomplish anything I want...with
the understanding of the pushy Israeli culture.

Shavua Tov (have a good week)
Esther

Shabbat in the Old City - July 12

Shabbat Shalom!

Tonight I went to the Kotel for the first time as an Israeli citizen and it was amazing. The area was flowing with thousands of Jews from all over the world and the Shabbat energy was fantastic. For those of you who knows some of these people, I bumped into Rachel Jacobson, Sari Fallas and Debbie Coltin.

Some of you do not know how close I was to the Chabad in Brookline (Mayshe and Shifra) but their sister and brother-in-law live in Jerusalem and do a monthly Shabbat dinner in the Old City that is catered. Mayshe and Shifra gave me their contact information before I left so I called Hinda and Yossi a couple of days ago and they said it would be their pleasure for me and my friends to join them for Shabbat dinner in the Old City. We met 40 others from all over the United States and enjoyed a delicious shabbas meal together. I met some very cute boys, sang songs that reminded me of camp, and listened to the parsha of the week.

Mayshe and Shifra- thank you for connecting me to Hinda and Yossi and I met your parents! Your dad is quite a character and I now know where you get your personality.

As we were walking out of the Old City all the gates were closed because there was a shooting near the Lion Gate which is near the Muslim Quarter. Two policeman were injured. We stayed in a hostel for an hour until they opened up one of the gates to let everyone that needed to leave the Old City out and everyone that needed to come back in. I wanted to let everyone know that I am safe, had a great kabbalat shabbat dinner and tomorrow am relaxing since there is nothing open in Jerusalem anyways.

Shabbat Shalom and all my love
Esther

First Update July 5th

Shalom all,

Finally I get to sit down and right some of my thoughts of these past 10 days. This past week I walked/ran around Jerusalem getting a bank account, cell phone plan, health insurance, absorption center and settling into my room/apt. I now understand when people said it was not going to be easy maneuvering the Israeli beurocratic system! I considered a successful day one that I got one task completed. I forwent my go-getting mentality and "to do" lists because then I would just get disappointed that nothing got accomplished on the time table that I expect. Banks close in the middle of the day and some tellers would not assist me because they do not feel like at that moment, and in the health insurance place about 15 people overheard my conversation with the receptionist about any medical problems I have because there is no thing such as personal space. I am laughing off these situations and remaining positive.

I moved into my room which is in an absorption center with other recent English speaking immigrants that are going through similar experiences as mine. My room has a full bed, desk, dresser/closet, kitchenette and an outside porch. I share a bathroom and common space with 6 other people which is cool with me. I live off of Emek Refaim in the German Colony and LOVE the area!!! It is like the Beacon Hill of Jerusalem.

So a couple of observations since living here...when I say I made Aliyah to Israeli's in Jerusalem I get the response- "Mazol Tov! B'hazlacha" (congrats, good luck!) which feels pretty amazing to have the support and pride. However, when I say to Israelis in or near Tel Aviv I get the response, "why are you crazy?" which feels disheartening. I try to explain to them that it is a feeling of belonging in Israel rather than in the states. At this point they look at me like I have ten heads with one eye and a big green nose and they say "but it is so easy in the states and you get everything you want." To them I explain, "The materialistic part of life is not worth living in America when I can live in the Jewish state where even the bus driver says Shabbat Shalom." This usually shuts them up but I've had some great conversations from this response.

Another observation which is common to a Conservative Jew is the feeling of not belonging to a certain Jewish community especially living in Jerusalem. Many young people are Haradi, Modern Orthodox or secular but there is no middle ground. The modern orthodox speak to me and look at me like I do not know anything about Judaism because I am wearing a tank-top and skirt above my knees and the secular people do not understand why I keep kosher and observe at least some of Shabbat.

These observations are common and not a novelty but it is very different living here than visiting although I am loving every minute. I get lost walking around Jerusalem, party in Tel Aviv with thousands of Jewish people till 5am, go to the beach with my cousins, and meet new people everyday that are so interesting and welcoming.

I hope everyone had a great long weekend and Happy 4th of July!

Esther