What does it mean to be a part of Am Yisrael? That's a pretty tough question

For me to write about what it means to me to be a part of Am Yisrael is extremely difficult. Judaism is a very  important part of my life. From my Jewish home, my involvement at my Temple, fourteen summers at Jewish summer camp, NFTY, EIE, and all my other experiences, it's clear that my Jewish identity and participation is a pretty big part of my life. Community is especially important to me, and that's a large part of the reason I love camp and NFTY so much. The connections I've made with other people through those experiences have shaped my life and who I've become. And it's all because of my Judaism.

In terms of being part of the greater Jewish People, I feel an incredible amount of pride. I understand that there are times when being a Jew isn't easy (is it ever?), but overall, I am very proud to be a Jew and to associate myself with Am Yisrael. Jews have made so many positive and important impacts on society (technological inventions, singers and actors, etc.), and it's much better being a Jew today than almost any other time in history. Specifically in America, Jews have a mostly positive reputation, and are known to contribute a considerable amount to society, in several fields.

All in all, I am incredibly proud of my Judaism. Jews have created a good name for themselves in America, and with all of the experiences I've had that have shaped my life and my identity, I can say that being a part of Am Yisrael is something that I hold near and dear to my heart.

Hearing the Other Side: Meeting a Palestinian Man

Last night, we met with a Palestinian man (whose name I unfortunately do not know), and it was very interesting. I had never met a Palestinian before, and it was really cool to hear the other perspective. There were a few things in particular that he said that stood out to me.

The first thing that he said that made an impression on me was that he is against a two-state solution, and believes that the best solution for the conflict is to establish one, bi-national state. It seems to me that most Jews believe that a two-state solution would be in the best interests of both Israel and Palestine. I did not, however, have any idea what Palestinians want. Now I know that he does not represent all Palestinians, but even hearing just one perspective was really interesting. He believes that having one state would work because all both sides want is peace, and if we had one state, there wouldn't be violence. If only.

His other point was about Palestinians’ views of Israel and Jews. I asked him if he sees a difference between being anti-Israel and anti-Semitic in the Palestinian community, because I’ve noticed that especially in America, the two get blurred together quite often. He answered with a resounding no. He said that Palestinians do not understand that being against Israel and being anti-Semitic are not the same thing, and that the hatred for Israel and Jews is often one in the same.

Overall, hearing the man speak was very interesting to me. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the opportunity to meet a Palestinian again, so I’m grateful for this experience, and I definitely learned a lot!

Lessons we can learn from a former anti-Semite-turned Orthodox Jew

Csanad Szegedi was a far-right Hungarian nationalist politician who preached anti-Semitism. That is, until he found out that he is Jewish. In "What happened when an anti-Semite found he was Jewish?" on BBC, we learn the story of Szegedi, and his incredible reaction to his discovery of his Jewish roots. He has become an Orthodox Jew, he has visited Israel and Auschwitz (where his grandmother survived), performed surgery on himself, and burned copies of his biography. He could have pretended he didn't know about his Judaism, or made some excuse to continue his current lifestyle. But he didn't, and instead acted beautifully and admirably.

I can't even imagine what it would be like to learn such a huge piece of information about myself that I didn't previously know, especially as a grown man, or to learn something that so drastically goes against my lifestyle. The way Szegedi reacted, in my opinion, is amazing. He completely reshaped his life. He connected to his roots, started practicing Judaism, and did so completely out of desire and love. He's now able to openly criticize anti-Semitism and Hungarian nationalism, two things he used to so passionately support. 

This story has a truly beautiful message. Szegedi teaches us to embrace and be proud of who we are, connect to our roots, and be able to admit wrongdoing. Instead of trying to ignore the truth, Szegedi took it head-on, and changed his life voluntarily. He became a real Jew, because that's what he was meant to be. And it really reflects honor and virtue. He embraced his true identity, no matter how difficult or unforeseen it was. And he really shows us that being Jewish is a blessing. 

NFTY Bringing Me the Feels

This weekend is NFTY Northeast Senior Kallah. It's a weekend event for upperclassmen only, and it includes Senior Havdalah, pass-downs and board installations, and in general, the seniors' last event. Throughout EIE so far, for the most part, the only times I've truly been homesick or thought about wanting to be home was when there was a NFTY event going on. This weekend in particular will evoke such feelings.

NFTY is my life. I've been fully active in both my temple youth group and NFTY Northeast since the beginning of my freshman year, I've been on my TYG board every year, I've missed only a few events in three years, and next year I will serve on Northeast's Executive Board. You could say I'm pretty involved. So this weekend, where many of my friends will say goodbye to NFTY for the final time, where I will be installed on Board, and where all of my best friends will be together at my favorite place, Eisner, I will be missing home. NFTY is incredibly important to me, and I wish with all my heart that I could be there this weekend. This does not mean even for a second that I want EIE to end or that I'm ready to go home. But it's times like these that make me feel the distance and the fact that I've been gone for three months. My heart is here, but I'll certainly be thinking of home this weekend.

The Excitement of Hosting A Regional Event

This November, my temple youth group, SHAFTY, will be hosting NFTY Northeast's Fall Conclavette, and I'm very excited. Conclavettes consist of three-days (Friday night to Sunday morning) of programming, fun activities, services and havdalah, a dance, and staying at people's homes. It's a lot of work to host a conclavette for both the youth group and the entire temple but it's also very exciting, and a big honor. In addition to the planning of the event, we will be working with our temple's executive board and staff, the clergy, congregants, and many other people in our community. It takes a village to host a conclavette. And I can't wait. 

My youth group is on the rise. Around five years ago, our run of awesomeness ended, and SHAFTY started to shrink, our regional presence declined, and we struggled with membership and leadership. Starting last year, we've turned things around. We have a full 8-person board of sophomores and juniors, we have great turn-out at events, we have one regional board member this year and two next year, and now the cherry on top: we're hosting a conclavette. It really shows our strength as a youth group, and it shows how far we've come. So in November when around 400 NFTYites stay at our temple and our homes, enjoy our programming and services, and hopefully leave with lasting memories, it'll truly show that SHAFTY is back and is here to stay. 

Bringing Camp Traditions to Israel

As I wrote about last week, I miss camp. After 14 summers at Eisner Camp, I was not at camp last summer, and I'm very excited to go back. Two things we did recently have added immensely to that excitement. 

Last Friday, we had song session. In addition to being very fun and rewarding (watching people have fun because of something you created is a wonderful feeling), it reminded me of Eisner. At camp, we have song session every Friday night, and it has always been one of my favorite parts of camp. Something about the atmosphere of 1,000 people all jumping, singing, and having fun together is magical. I love song session, and being able to have a camp-style song session here brought me back to Eisner, and made me even more excited for this upcoming summer. 

The second thing we did was our mini Maccabbiah on Yom HaAtzmaut. We have Maccabbiah every summer at Eisner, and those four days are some of the best at camp. Being able to get in teams by color, play sports, cheer for our team, and do different ridiculous relay races reminded me a lot of Eisner Maccabbiah, and again made me excited to go back. Being able to experience different Eisner-esque things while here has greatly enhanced EIE. It's allowed me to reminisce and participate in some of my favorite camp activities while in Israel and with different people. It's been truly awesome, and as I've mentioned once or twice, it's made me quite ready to return this summer!

Etgar Keret stories provide a fun way to learn about Israeli culture

Even though we are living in Israel, the EIE program does not include too much about Israeli culture. We've obviously learned a lot about music, food, and other cultural aspects from our counselors and just from being here, but we could be learning more. This is not a complaint or criticism, just a reality of the program. Because we're isolated from Israeli society, the little things our staff do for us to introduce us to different aspects of Israeli culture are great, and one of these things has been reading Etgar Keret books in Jewish History class. In addition to being fun and interesting to read, I have learned a lot about Israel from the stories.

For one thing, the sense of humor in this country is very interesting, and is definitely an acquired taste. The stories include death, sex, masturbation, drugs and alcohol-definitely not light topics. However, the stories are written in a certain tone that does lighten the dark humor. One of the things that has struck me the most is how such taboo subjects are so common and nonchalant. You wouldn't find too many humorous stories in America about murder and other twisted topics like the ones in the Etgar Keret stories. Not only has reading the stories been an enjoyable preview of Israeli culture, but it has shown us a lot about Israelis too. In a country with a hard history full of violence and sadness, it's very interesting that death is a "funny" topic. Humor is a way to cope, and it's been very cool to experience this part of Israeli society.

A Busy Week of Holidays in Israel

This is a very important week for Israel and Jews all over the world. We observe Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZicharon, and Yom HaAtzmaut, three very important holidays. We remember the Holocaust and honor those who died, we remember all those who have died fighting for Israel and honor their memory, and finally we celebrate Independence Day. This trio of days that lead up to a big celebration of freedom are quite special, and being in Israel significantly adds to the importance. On Yom HaShoah, we were able to stand outside as the sirens went off, look out at the beautiful landscape of the Judean Hills, and observe the moment of silence. With our Poland trip and now being in the land of Israel, it was much more meaningful this time. Having been to the concentration camps and all the sites of the suffering and resistance of the Holocaust, I really connect to the events on a deeper level, and I can appreciate being in Israel much more. Obviously I cannot even fathom the atrocities or hardships of the Holocaust, but having had the experience of returning to Israel after a tough week in Poland, I truly understand the importance and magic of Israel. The first of the three holidays was very special, and I look forward to experiencing the remaining two with a true Israeli spin (a ceremony and a day at the beach). 

Living Ten Months for Two

Today I had the opportunity to go to the URJ's conference for all the Israelis that will be working at all the camps this summer, and talk about my own camp, Eisner. In addition to being a very fun experience, it reminded me of the magic of camp, and made me extremely excited to go back after too long of a break. The summer of 2013 was my last as a camper, and I didn't go on the camp Israel trip, so I haven't been to camp or with my camp friends for two years. However, after today, all of my memories flooded my head, and all I could think about was the amazing time I had growing up at Eisner.

Eisner Camp made me who I am today. Camp is where I grew up, matured, made lifelong friendships, and formed my Jewish identity. Sure, I grew up in a fairly Jewish home, but for me, camp was always my number one place for Judaism (or for anything, really). Eisner was where I fell in love with Judaism and the community and the prayer and just everything about being a Jew. The reason I'm involved with NFTY and my temple and that I'm on EIE is because of camp. Whether it was Limud, our Jewish education program, living with Israelis, or the magic of Shabbat at camp, there is something special about Eisner, and being Jewish at Eisner. It's truly impossible to articulate how important and impactful Eisner camp has been on my life (it's especially hard trying to explain it to people who aren't the strongest English speakers). My time there and the friends I made at camp will be with me for the rest of my life. And I'm incredibly excited that I get to reconnect with that part of my life this summer after two long years away. We've got plenty of time left on EIE, but today certainly made me feel that same childhood longing for camp, almost to the point where I may start counting down the days.... (it's 71...)

The Sad Truth About Denominational Judaism

Around two weeks ago, we learned about different streams of Judaism, meeting with members of the Reform, Conservative, Modern Orthodox, and Haredi communities. All four were very interesting, but I found myself getting angry and offended often during these meetings. The Reform Rabbi was great, and I agreed with what he had to say about Judaism and the Reform movement. The Conservative representative was also enjoyable, and I could appreciate everything he spoke about. The other two, however, were not as pleasant for me. 

The Modern Orthodox man was an American-born former Reform Jew who transitioned to Modern Orthodoxy after finding many issues with Reform Judaism. Much of what he said at first was interesting- all about his daily life, aspects of Modern Orthodoxy, and his experience living in the West Bank. Eventually, he began speaking about all the problems he has with Reform Judaism, and that's where I started having issues. Among other things, he talked about how Reform Jews reject the Torah. That point really offended me. I understand that Reform Jews don't necessarily follow Halacha, or attend Yeshiva, but that does not mean that we reject and disregard the Torah. Then with the Haredi man, the same happened. He was very interesting and nice, but once he began talking about Reform Judaism, he essentially said that we're not real Jews, making an analogy that we're spies infiltrating Judaism.

So the main point with all of this is that while learning about the other denominations was very intriguing and educational, it opened my eyes to the horrible way that Reform Jews are viewed by other Jews. And honestly, it was quite sad. We're all one people, one Am Yisrael, but based on the way they spoke about my type of Judaism, it doesn't seem that way.

America and Israel: Going through a rough patch? Hopefully it's only temporary...

In any country, the government and politics are hard topics. In Israel, forget about it. With the coalition system and the dozens of parties, everything is confusing. There are the big-idea things, like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Hamas, Iran, and to me, all that is somewhat easier to understand. One of the most important (and complicated) parts of Israeli politics is Israel's relationship with America and Barack Obama. In Aaron Klein's article, "Senate targets Obama meddling in Israel election," Klein analyzes the (probably false) report that Obama potentially bribed some parties or organizations in Israel to ensure that Netanyahu was not reelected. Pretty ridiculous.

First of all, it was Fox News that reported the situation. Secondly, Bibi won, and Obama strongly denied it immediately. So the details of the investigation and the article aren't all that important. What's important, is the message we can take away from this whole thing: Israel and America's relationship is not doing so well. And it's not good. Since before Israel's foundation, America has been absolutely crucial for Israel's success and survival, and I believe it will continue to be necessary for the two countries to have a good relationship going forward. This is not to say that Israel is helpless or can't survive on its own, but I think anyone would agree that it would be much safer and better for Israel to maintain the U.S. as its top ally. And with silly stuff like this in the media, and everyone talking about how Bibi and Obama hate each other, it seems like that relationship is deteriorating. And that's not good for either side. 

Being a Book-Smart Jew (Literally)

I've always liked to think that I have grown up as a fairly well-educated Jew. I attend Hebrew School to this day, I became a Bar Mitzvah, went to Jewish summer camp forever, and grew up in a very Jewish home with a Rabbi as a father. Despite all my knowledge and experience, one thing I've found is that there is actually a lot I didn't know, and I'm glad I have now have a better understanding of certain things. For example, the several different Jewish texts always confused me (they still do, but a little less). We have the Tanakh, Torah, Talmud, Mishnah, Gemara, Pirke Avot, and the list goes on. Fortunately, I feel like I have a clearer understanding of the different books and texts, what they are, who wrote them, where/when they come from, and why they're important. Learning about the texts has been very interesting and fun, and I feel like a more educated and informed Jew. This is by far not the only thing I've learned about in Jewish History that I enjoyed learning or that I felt was important for me to know, but it was one topic that I particularly wanted to learn more about. I know I still don't really understand it all, and I probably never will. But I now know enough to feel intelligent and have a basic understanding of the laws of my religion. That's a pretty cool feeling.

What We Can Learn From Saul's Big Mistake

In the story of Samuel, Saul, and the Amalekite King that Saul didn't kill, we learn a very important lesson about Judaism. In Atar Hadari's article, "What to do When the Lord Orders Vengeance," Hadari talks about the story of King Saul being ordered by God to kill Amalek, why Saul disobeyed God, and what we can take away from it. Essentially, Saul was a bad king who cared too much about his people, and that got in the way of his obedience to God. But more importantly, we learn something about Judaism and our duty as Jews from this story. In the article (and the Tanakh, obviously), it says:

"But Samuel said, Does the Lord want offerings and sacrifices
as much as obedience to the Lord?
Look, obedience is as superior to sacrifice
as obedience is to the fat of rams."

This excerpt is crucial. What we are being told here, is that obedience and respect are more important than physical discipline. It's more important to listen to God than it is to sacrifice. Saul did not understand that, and he lost God's respect because of it. Even today, when we no longer sacrifice, this is still a valuable lesson. Everybody observes Judaism differently. Whether it be keeping Kosher, praying three times every day, wrapping T'fillin, or any combination of the countless traditions out there, these are all just reminders. They're reminders of our obedience to God. And none of them are actually as important as obeying God. Now, I'm not saying that all of those traditions and observances are pointless. But it's important to remember that through the way we live and act, not just our physical habits, we must keep our covenant with God and be righteous people. All the traditions are just add-ons to being good people. I think God would prefer a righteous person who eats bacon over a jerk who keeps kosher. 

Our Christian World

As upsetting as it is, many aspects of our culture and society today are based on Christianity. Whether it be using "Before Christ" as a time period, basing school vacation around Christian holidays, or the influence of Christianity on how we speak (saying "Jesus Christ" as an exclamation for example), it's everywhere. While learning about Jesus and Christianity in class the past few days, I came to a striking realization: as an American, I know more about Christianity than about Judaism. Don't get me wrong, I know a lot about my own religion. But comparatively, I knew more of the things we learned about Christianity than I do about all the things we've learned about Judaism. I know it's not exactly a fair comparison (over a month compared to three days), but it's still pretty telling. As an American, I know a lot about Christianity. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Let's face it, Christianity is a much, much bigger religion than Judaism in terms of population, especially in America.

What bothers me, is that because I'm American, I'm supposed to know everything about Christianity. Sure, I know the basics. But when my friends at home are talking about a holiday or tradition I'm not familiar with, they're surprised that I don't know it. But how many times have I had to explain kashrut? I don't expect anyone to know every detail about Judaism, even my Jewish friends. But it's a double standard. If I don't know what Good Friday is, that's crazy. But if a Christian doesn't know what a Bar Mitzvah is, that's okay. And I know this won't change. There are so many more Christians than Jews, and Christianity is so deeply routed in American culture, that there won't be some big dramatic change. And that's okay. But as an educated Jew, and more specifically a Jew who knows a lot about Christianity, it seems wrong to me that such a double standard exists.

The Flexible Jewish Community: Bend, But Don't Break

In Ben Greenberg's article, "Will There Be One Jewish People?", Greenberg discusses the difficult issue of the international Jewish community and its potentially shaky future. Greenberg splits Jews into two basic groups: the minimalists, who want a narrower definition of "Jewish," and maximalists, who want to expand the community and create open communication between all Jews. I found this distinction, and what Greenberg believes will happen because of it, to be very interesting. Even on a much smaller scale, these groups are evident. There are active Jews, those who go to Temple, keep kosher, and/or participate in some sort of Jewish community, whether it be camp, NFTY, Hillel, whatever. Obviously not all those characteristics are necessary, but they're common. Then there are the less-active Jews, those who maybe only go to Temple for the High Holidays, consider themselves "Secular Jews," and/or  live relatively religion-free lives. Again, this isn't a strict list, but those are just some examples of characteristics of "minimalists." And none of this is bad. There's no right or wrong way to be Jewish (assuming, of course, that the basic laws are kept intact).

So who cares about this split? Well, as Greenberg said, it's crucial that we do not let those differences completely separate us. Different languages, traditions, levels of observance, all that's fine. As long as we all keep some connection to Judaism and our community, then all will be well. But if the bonds we share continue to weaken, then we might have an issue. Growing up in America and going to Jewish summer camp and NFTY, this issue isn't something I've experienced. And I feel blessed for that. Community is very important to me, and I've been very lucky with the communities I've been able to be part of. Unfortunately, it's not that easy in most places in the world, including Israel. That's why I think it's vital for Jews worldwide to do anything and everything to keep even the smallest connection. You don't have to keep kosher or move to Israel, but doing nothing cannot be an option. The Jewish people will never be a completely united people all living in one place. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to keep our community strong. To be corny and quote a Jewish text, in Pirke Avot, it says, "You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it (2:21)." That's pretty relevant here. We may never be the same community we were, but that doesn't mean we can give up. We've been a resilient people for thousands of years, and I see no reason to stop now.

Connecting to Eretz Yisrael

Throughout our first month here in Israel, we have had countless experiences that have connected us to the land, culture, and history of Israel and her people. We've hiked, swam, crawled, and seen some beautiful sights, all of which have been meaningful and enjoyable experiences. One thing I've noticed, however, is that certain things we've done have struck deeper than others. Whether it be waking up at the crack of dawn to climb Masada, our week in Gadna, or swimming in the Dead Sea, our more physical adventures have been in some ways more significant and rewarding. While learning about Israel through our Tiyulim and with the Tanakh are fantastic, physically experiencing different aspects of Israeli history and culture are truly special. Struggling through a week in the IDF, facing a challenge such as climbing Masada, and floating in the Dead Sea are the experiences that have truly made me feel connected to Eretz Yisrael. I mean, what better way to have an authentic Israeli journey than riding camels in the desert?

My Jewish Life

            In my life today, it is not very hard for me to be Jewish. I’ve grown up in a very Jewish family in a city and school system with a large Jewish population, so I’ve never felt like a minority or like my Judaism was hurting me. That said, there have definitely been instances in which my religion has affected me somewhat negatively. Even though I have many Jewish friends, my observance and dedication to Judaism are always something for me to consider. I can’t (and don’t want to) do things on holidays or on Shabbat, I keep kosher, I am very involved in my temple and in NFTY, and I have a lot of Jewish friends I like to be with when I’m not in school. For all of those reasons, my social life at home is often determined by Judaism. However, because Judaism is so important to me, when I do find myself choosing between Judaism and something else, Judaism wins most of the time. If a friend wants to hang out, and it is Passover, I would (and do) say that I’m unavailable. To me, my family and tradition are just much more important than being with friends, so it’s rarely a hard decision for me. In that regard, I feel extremely blessed. I know that many people do not have the ability to be so open about their religion, and I really love and appreciate that I can.  

We could all use a little more Shabbat in our lives

                Of the many ways that my daily life has changed since I’ve been in Israel, without a doubt, my favorite part has been Shabbat. School days can (and do) get monotonous, and after a while, the days blend together. Wake up, school, homework, sleep. Repeat. Not any different than my life at home. But when Friday comes, it all changes. In addition to the T’fillot, which I love, the weekends here are just so relaxing and refreshing. Being able to really spend several hours doing absolutely nothing after a long week of school is magical. Last weekend, my friends and I found a nice sunny spot of grass to lay in, listened to music, and just relaxed and took in the beautiful day. I don’t know about other teenagers, but I definitely do not do that at home. Being able to just let all the stress go and take a break is a really healthy and important thing, and it's something I have thoroughly enjoyed since I've been here. The attitude on Shabbat in this country is so unique, and it's been really cool to see how the entire country just stops and collectively relaxes for two days. The three Shabbats we've been here for have been awesome (especially leading Havdalah and a Saturday morning service), and I cannot wait for many, many more relaxing, fun, and refreshing Shabbats in the months to come. If only it could be Shabbat every day...

Weird Tradition, Important Meaning

In Meir Soloveichik's article, "Why Jews Used to Ear Dried Carob on Tu b'Shvat," the strange tradition of eating carobs on Tu b'Shvat is discussed. While I've never eaten (or heard of) a carob before, the message of the article was still relatable. Essentially, regardless of the custom, it's important for Jews to find some way to connect to the land of Israel and to our past. Whether that be through eating dried carobs on Tu b'Shvat, going to Israel (for four months perhaps?), or any other form of connection, that is one of the most intrinsic parts of our religion. Everyone connects differently, and there is no right or wrong way, but finding our own way is crucial. For me, being in Israel and being able to connect with the land and history has been incredible, and it's only just beginning. But since there are Jews living everywhere in the world who speak different languages and practice Judaism differently, the only was for us to remain connected is our tradition. There's no one single tradition, but anything that brings us closer to Israel and each other is important. Even if it's a gross carob.

Check out the article here: http://mosaicmagazine.com/observation/2015/02/why-jews-used-to-eat-dried-carob-on-tu-bshvat/

Different Country, Different Language, Same Message

                For Shabbat this week, we went to different temples for services, and I went to one in Tel Aviv. It was a very cool experience, and I really enjoyed the service. I did, however, notice several differences in the way they prayed. The biggest difference was that instead of saying “Adonai” when the text said “yud-hay-vav-hay,” they said “Havayah,” which would be the literal reading of the word. The congregation also chanted the Chatzi Kaddish before the Amidah, said “malcheinu” in Hashkiveinu instead of “shomreinu,” stood for V’shamru, and did a different and much longer Aleinu. Even though it was a reform congregation, a lot of prayers and songs were sung differently, and it was absolutely fascinating.

                In addition to the learning experience, the service also helped me to realize something very important about Judaism. We may speak different languages, live in different countries, and do some things differently in our services, but we’re all Jews. We all pray to the same God with the same words and messages, and that bonds us together. Though some more conservative, Orthodox Jews may disagree, I think that our similarities and connections bring us together, no matter how we say certain words or when we stand during the service. I think that was why this service was so special. It was very different from a service at my home congregation, but at the same time, it was incredibly similar. Some melodies were different, we used a different prayer book, and we were in a hotel rather than an actual synagogue, but we were all just Jews praying together. And that’s very powerful.

Judaism and OCD: Is There Such Thing as a "Bad Jew?"

        In our world today, there are approximately 18.2 million Jews. 18.2 million people living in every corner of the Earth with a common ancestry, culture, and background. Even though we all identify differently, we all have one important characteristic in common. We're all Jews. No matter what else one may identify as, or other qualities or characteristics that make up who we are, we all have that one significant thing in common.

        In Rebecca Klempner's article entitled "Obsessive. Compulsive. And Orthodox.", Klempner reflects on the difficulties she faces living with OCD as an Orthodox Jew. While the article as a whole was fascinating, there was one specific idea she touched on that really stood out to me. While struggling with strange images that came to her while praying because of her OCD, she worried that it made her a "bad Jew." What does it mean to be a "bad Jew"? That idea really interests me. There is no right way to be Jewish (ignoring, of course, denominational differences in interpretation and practice). There are plenty of people in this world who may not be as observant as others, or who don't act righteously 100% of the time like we are supposed to. But all 18.2 million of us are different people, bonded together by just one aspect of who we are. So how can we be expected to all be Jewish in the same way? Well, we can't. And just because somebody thinks about Jesus, or makes a mistake, that doesn't make them a "bad Jew," or even a bad person. It makes them human.

Check out the article here:
http://tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/188464/obsessive-compulsive-orthodox

The Ultimate Separation: Havdalah at the Kotel

Hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol. Sizzle. My favorite sound of the week. The sound made when the Havdalah candle is extinguished by the wine is like nothing else. It may just be the sound of a fire going out, but it represents something so much more. Havdallah is meant to end Shabbat, and begin the new week, distinguishing the sacred, “kodesh,” from the everyday, “l’chol.” We aren't just ending Shabbat, we are turning over a new leaf, beginning a new week full of new opportunities and new chances. For us here on EIE, that is especially fitting. Yes, we are separating Shabbat from the rest of the week, but we are also separating our lives back home and our new lives here in Israel. We all come from different places and backgrounds, and now we are one Kehilla Kedosha. We are here together now, and we all have the opportunity to start anew. We can be whoever we want here, regardless of our actions or reputations at home. We can be better people, we can be more ourselves, there is nothing holding us back. The transition has been made, and we’re finally here! And what better way to symbolize that, than with a Havdalah service on one of our first days together?

The service was particularly special for me. In terms of our traditions and actions as Jews, prayer is probably my favorite. Growing up at URJ Eisner Camp and now being in NFTY, I've truly grown to love services and prayer. Shabbat and weekly T’fillot are great, but Havdalah has always been my favorite. It’s more special to me, and of course the music and prayers and fantastic. So for me, my passion and enjoyment were immensely escalated this time around. Not only did we have Havdalah in Israel, but we did it at the Kotel. Something about singing those same songs and seeing the same sights I've always seen during Havdalah, but with the walls and Jerusalem skyline in the background, it was just amazing. Havdalah is a beautiful service, one of my favorites, and being able to sing together in Jerusalem and at the Kotel was an incredible experience, one that I won’t likely forget. 

In Israel At Last

Wow. I’m finally in Israel. Even though this is my fourth time, it’s so different, and infinitely more special. When my siblings went on EIE in 2007 and 2009, I was too young to comprehend what they were doing (or why they were doing it), and I didn't really know what Israel was or why it was so important. Six years later, I now know significantly more about Israel and its people, and I've come to appreciate the uniqueness and importance of this country. Through my experiences at URJ Eisner Camp and at NFTY, I've learned so much about Judaism, Israel, and myself, and this time being here just feels different. I’m not here on a temple trip or with my family, I’m here for me. I’m here to learn, to grow, and to explore the past, present, and future of Israel and the Jewish people. It’s an incredible feeling. EIE has been a big topic of discussion in my house for eight years, and now my turn has finally come. I could not be more excited and grateful for this opportunity. In these next four months, I hope to have some of the most meaningful, fun, and powerful experiences I will ever have. We’re only a few days in, but I have no doubts that I will accomplish just that.