Oops, it's been a while (Israel Update)

It's been a looooooooooooooooooooooong time since my last blog post, but here's an update!

First of all, as I'm sure you've seen, I'll be going to the Former Soviet Union with other HUC students to help lead Passover! This is a wonderful opportunity for Sam and I, and my classmates, to help with the Jewish community there who are still recovering after years of repression under the Soviet regime. Sam and I (and our friend Matti) will be going to Russia, specifically to Moscow and Chelyabinsk, to help lead seders. We are really excited, but we need your help to get us there! It's a very expensive trip ($2500 per participant, for things like translators, airfare, and more). If you have not donated yet, please consider doing so--every little bit helps, whether it's $10 or $100 or $1000! You can donate on our website:

http://fsupesachproject2013.wordpress.com/donate-now/. Even if you cannot personally help, if you can spread the word to friends, family, parents, rabbis, teachers, etc., then Sam and I would be greatly appreciative.

And now onto the rest of my life:

The semester is going exceptionally well. Classes are much easier than last semester. I have two less classes, and most of them are easier. Bible is only one session a week this week, instead of two, and it's taught in Hebrew. This is bad for my general Biblical knowledge, because things are much slower--it takes a while to explain things, and we have to use simpler terms/concepts. However, my Hebrew will get much better, plus I type all of my notes, so my Hebrew typing will also improve. The other good news is that homework is easier, as it is in all my other classes. The other nice thing is that without any mandatory service leading to prepare for, I have more free time.

Now what I have I been doing with all this free time? Well, it's not quite "free time." I still put effort into homework (albeit I've been able to budget my time much better). I also have been hanging out with Sam a lot, of course (we see each other every weekend). I also have been working on a couple of side projects, mainly trying to organize my computer and backup my written notes, plus practicing guitar (when I remember, that is). Plus I've been socializing more (not that I haven't been doing that last semester), I have been going out to eat with friends more, and Sam and I have gone on a couple of double dates (and plan to do more).

And now the weather is getting warmer! Today (2/27) it was 69 degrees, but felt like 77, during the afternoon. If the weather stays like this, it's going to be shorts weather soon!

Outside the Mercy Gate

Elana in the cemetery that is
east of the Old City.

Also, I started exploring the Old City of Jerusalem again, which is one of my favorite things to do in Jerusalem. Elana, another rabbinic student, and I just sort of wandered around last week (Tuesday 2/19). One of the coolest parts was that I was able to walk through the cemetery behind the Old City (on the Eastern edge). This is the cemetery that is blocking the Mercy Gate, which is where Jewish tradition says Elijah will come through, preceding the Messiah. The gate is closed now (sealed shut). While I don't think I really believe in the Messiah, the thought of that gate has always fascinated me. I was able to get as close as I could on the outside, and I want to go back and get even closer (I have also been on the other side, the side on the Temple Mount, though that side is also blocked off).

Hiking outside Jerusalem.

Sam on our hike.

A view from our hike.

I have also started taking a stronger leadership role here--not much, but a bit more. I led a hike about a month ago through some of the Judean Hills right outside Jerusalem. Not many people showed up, only four, but it was quite nice. Now that the weather is getting warmer, I want to lead a few more trips. I also want to lead a simple/easy climbing trip in Jerusalem (but first I want to bring people to the local rock gym, to teach them how to belay). Speaking of the rock gym, I've decided to make Sunday nights my climbing night, which has been working out pretty well so far. I'm mostly sticking to bouldering, so that I can keep my strength, but also doing some auto-belay laps for endurance.

The other leadership role is that I started a group called BYOJ, Bring Your Own Judaism (this is based off another group someone else started, BYOT, which is Bring Your Own Torah). Basically, the idea is just to set aside a time with a group of people and talk about Judaism--theology, practicality, ritual, etc. The idea is that we discuss big issues: what is the role of Jewish Law in Reform Judaism today; should Reform Judaism allow rabbis to officiate mixed marriages; what is the modern role of the Diaspora; and more. The first group was small (mostly because many other people were busy, I hope), and yet we had a great discussion that lasted over an hour. Unlike other similar groups that HUC offers, this is relatively unstructured--we just talk, and see where the discussion goes.

That, and other discussions with classmates (either in school or outside of it), have helped me really figure out my own theology/ideology/outlook/whatever-you-want-to-call-it. I still have many questions, but I am also figuring out my big questions, leaving only little answers. I'm sure my views will change (even in the next three months, let alone the next four years or career), but it's a good start.

Learning on top
of the Temple Mount.

A lecture next to the
Dome of the Rock.

The wall separating Israel
from the West Bank.

Ted in a cave with a sign saying,
"Danger! Do not Climb!
(I soon joined him...)
(Beit Sha'arim)

So what are some other things that have happened in these past almost two months? Well, we have taken a few trips with school. For one, we went to Tzippori and Beit Sha'arim. This was a fun trip. We learned about Jews in the Galilee after the Destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, and we got to "explore" some caves. We have also been learning about the Arab-Isareli Conflict in our Israel Seminar class, so a few weeks ago we visited some sites that had to do with the conflict. These sites included: going on top of the Temple Mount (which I have done before, and this time was super short; I want to go back); seeing a small, local memorial (about 3 minutes from my apartment) where a bus was blown up by terrorists in 2004, which was about 100 feet away from where my Israel Seminar teacher was standing at that moment; going to Gush Etziyon, a settlement in the West Bank which is a site of contention; and seeing the wall separating Israel from the West Bank.

Learning in a cave in Beit Sha'arim.

An entrance to a cave in Beit Sha'arim.

Learning in an ancient Roman amphitheater in Tzipori.

Outside a voting center in Ashdod.

Israel had elections last month, and there haven't been too many interesting things since the results were announced (since Bibi is still forming a coalition), but on the actual election day, we all did a fun activity: the entire class was divided into groups of four, and each group went to a different city. Once in that city, we needed to interview people and create a video about the elections. The good news was that because many people didn't want to be interviewed in English, I got to use my (broken) Hebrew. It was also a really nice day (weather in the 70's!).

Oh here's another thing: ten days ago was my birthday! I'm officially a quarter of a century old…but it doesn't really feel any different. I had a smallish party a few days later at Jeff, Nicole, and my apartment, with about 25 people. It wasn't anything too crazy, but it was nonetheless tons of fun.

Another thing that happened, quite recently (a few days ago), was PURIM!!! Purim, for those who don't know, is a holiday commemorating the survival and victory of the Jews of Persia against a singular, wicked enemy named Haman. It celebrates Esther, a Jew who became queen, yet hid her identity until the right moment, just in time to save her people; praises Mordechai, her wise uncle; and even commemorates Vashti, the former queen who many see as the first feminist (she refused to subjugate her body just for the king's pleasure). We celebrate this holiday in a few ways, but all of them are supposed to be fun, because this is the most festive month and holiday: you dress up (one of the themes of the holiday is hiding and switching roles); you eat Hamentashen ("Haman's ears"), which are fruit-filled triangle-shaped pastries; you hear the story from a scroll; and of course you party, where you are supposed to get so drunk that you confuse "Cursed be Haman" and "Blessed be Mordechai!" Sam and I celebrated at HUC, where we dressed up as a Haredi couple (double role reversal: we switched our "denomination" and our gender). I make a very beautiful woman, let me tell you. I also chanted from the Megilah (the Scroll of Esther), which I had never done before and which required learning new melodies.

Abusant, one of the children in
the family I work with, and myself.

Jeff playing with Ethiopian
immigrant children.

Also, the week before Purim, my truma (service) project put on a Purim party for our kids. We work with Ethiopian immigrant children once a week, basically playing with them, providing a positive role model, and taking them off their parents hands. The party was chaotic but very, very fun.

I am also starting to look toward my return to the states. I found out my official position for the summer at Eisner Camp--I will be one of the Adventure Assistant Directors, meaning I will once again be running a ropes course and climbing tower! I'm very excited for this summer. Not only will it be working at a camp again, but I will also be learning about the URJ camping system, I will see many of my former students from Temple Sinai, and I will be working directly with Stef. I'm also planning other stateside adventures. I don't have a flight home yet, but I am looking. I'm also considering who I will live with next year in NYC, and where I'll live. Plus I'm starting to think about what I'll do at HUC next year: where I'll work, what sort of internships I want to pursue, etc.

Yet I'm also looking ahead to the rest of the year, since I only have two and a half more months here. I have a few side projects I want to finish before Passover. I also want to travel around more with Sam (we're thinking of spending a weekend together somewhere), and I want to explore Jerusalem way more. Plus I need to see some friends whom I have yet to see.

So that's pretty much it for now. However, on one last note because I really need your help: PLEASE HELP SAM AND I GET TO THE FORMER SOVIET UNION! You can donate here:

http://fsupesachproject2013.wordpress.com/donate-now/. And thank you to everyone who has already donated!

Anyway, that's it for now…

-Eric