Some good coming from all the unemployment--now if only the agencies could afford to do more with the surplus of volunteers:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/nyregion/16volunteers.html?em
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
discomfort
Today I went to Hebron with Breaking the Silence. While acknowledging the problems of Palestinian terrorism, their focus is on the Israeli official response to such problems, especially during the second intifada. From their website:
"We demand accountability regarding Israel's military actions in the Occupied territories perpetrated by us and in our name."
The trip to Hebron was very interesting, starting with how close it is (less than 45 minutes). I was impressed with our guide, who encouraged us to return to Hebron and hear its story from different perspectives (ie Encounter with Palestinians or with the settlers of the area). It was wonderful to speak with individual Palestinians to hear their stories and very troubling to hear the difficulties of their lives, many of which are due directly to the settlers and the protection they require/demand.
As an American Jew, I am used to being superficially annoyed at the American justice system, but overall feeling that it is doing its job, that with notable flaws, the system works. It was very frustrating to hear about a system that seems not to be working. One of the Palestinians noted poignantly that the settlers are the ambassadors of the Jewish people and the ones in Hebron are not ones for which I ever voted.
It was a very troubling day. Viscerally, I am uncomfortable with Jews not living up to their expectations--purity of arms, light unto the nations, etc., etc. How can we do better?
Eek, time for Shabbat, more another day.
"We demand accountability regarding Israel's military actions in the Occupied territories perpetrated by us and in our name."
The trip to Hebron was very interesting, starting with how close it is (less than 45 minutes). I was impressed with our guide, who encouraged us to return to Hebron and hear its story from different perspectives (ie Encounter with Palestinians or with the settlers of the area). It was wonderful to speak with individual Palestinians to hear their stories and very troubling to hear the difficulties of their lives, many of which are due directly to the settlers and the protection they require/demand.
As an American Jew, I am used to being superficially annoyed at the American justice system, but overall feeling that it is doing its job, that with notable flaws, the system works. It was very frustrating to hear about a system that seems not to be working. One of the Palestinians noted poignantly that the settlers are the ambassadors of the Jewish people and the ones in Hebron are not ones for which I ever voted.
It was a very troubling day. Viscerally, I am uncomfortable with Jews not living up to their expectations--purity of arms, light unto the nations, etc., etc. How can we do better?
Eek, time for Shabbat, more another day.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
also
YAY. It rained in Israel while I was in the US. I'm very grateful that the water crisis is slightly ameliorated. The Kineret is still ridiculously low, but it is slightly higher than it was. Hallelujah. Now, we just need more rain. Tal u'matar l'vracha. Mashiv ha-ruach umorid hagashem/hageshem.
I'm back
After a rather extended hiatus, I return.
Here are some of the things I've done in the last few weeks:
They were:
Susanart/Yuval Susan foundation (www.kys.org.il)
This is a really interesting project to help at-risk youth by providing gainful employment and artistic skills to help them move forward in their lives. By creating some of the demands of a job with extra psychological support, they help teens get off the streets and back into school/army/etc. For me it was fun, since I got to try my hand at cutting glass. I hope to go back and learn to make glass beads! It looks like so much fun. We met with the director who afer a little prodding spoke about Judaism, tikkun olam, about all of Israel taking care of one another and how they have amazing conversations over book-binding or setting up the kiln.
Ethiopian National Project (http://www.ujc.org/page.aspx?id=99007)
We went to a high school and met a bunch of entertaining teenage girls in this after-school program. By providing tutors/teachers, role models--Israel and Ethiopian-Israeli, this program helps increase the number of Ethiopian teenagers who pass high school and go on to college and better army jobs/real life.
Ulpan Etzion/Beit Canada Absorption Center
Here we met with a couple new olim and learned about a nice absorption center. Who knew you could get set up with an apartment, food, Hebrew classes? Why don't other countries help out their new immigrants this way? It would make for a much better transition for so many people!
Ok, now to look at an application for a little bit.
Here are some of the things I've done in the last few weeks:
- finished my first semester in Israel
- went home to Atlanta
- finished semester again by writing an exam
- went to New York to see fiancee and my grandparents
- finished semester again by finishing the last paper
- looked into internships for next year
- began preparation for this summer
- picked 2 invitation choices for my wedding
- returned to Israel
They were:
Susanart/Yuval Susan foundation (www.kys.org.il)
This is a really interesting project to help at-risk youth by providing gainful employment and artistic skills to help them move forward in their lives. By creating some of the demands of a job with extra psychological support, they help teens get off the streets and back into school/army/etc. For me it was fun, since I got to try my hand at cutting glass. I hope to go back and learn to make glass beads! It looks like so much fun. We met with the director who afer a little prodding spoke about Judaism, tikkun olam, about all of Israel taking care of one another and how they have amazing conversations over book-binding or setting up the kiln.
Ethiopian National Project (http://www.ujc.org/page.aspx?id=99007)
We went to a high school and met a bunch of entertaining teenage girls in this after-school program. By providing tutors/teachers, role models--Israel and Ethiopian-Israeli, this program helps increase the number of Ethiopian teenagers who pass high school and go on to college and better army jobs/real life.
Ulpan Etzion/Beit Canada Absorption Center
Here we met with a couple new olim and learned about a nice absorption center. Who knew you could get set up with an apartment, food, Hebrew classes? Why don't other countries help out their new immigrants this way? It would make for a much better transition for so many people!
Ok, now to look at an application for a little bit.
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