Has it really been 6 weeks since we've written? Today I was thinking about how unnatural writing on this blog feels for me...and how I wish it came naturally to me, the way writing with an old fashioned pen and paper do. I always wonder- who is out there reading this blog? Who is out there reading all blogs - there are so many of them, how does one even keep up?
Having the blessing of several first-time visitors to Israel (including Alyssa, Evan's younger sister; Jeremy, my older brother, and my parents and soon Linda), has been wonderful, exciting and also made us reflect a lot on Israel as we showcase her during our whirlwind tours and guiding of family. As Dave Mendelsson, Evan's favorite professor, always says- the mission and motives of any group are important - and just as an educator must think about the goals and intentions of any trip, so too, have we reflected on how we can showcase the many complex sides of Israel and how our visitors can view, understand and learn about this place in 10 to 12 day trips.
I've also been thinking about my first trip to Israel and how so much of it is a blur - but the one thing that remains sharply in focus is the feelings, the utter emotions I felt as a 17-year-old, standing before the Kotel for the first time, thinking about Grandpa New Mexico (as I lovingly refer to my maternal grandpa who lived in Albuquerque), and what he would have said if he could stand with me at the Kotel (which, of course today, could never happen, because the Orthodox have succeeded in transforming the Western Wall into an Orthodox synagogue where men and women are separated..but back to focusing on things I
like about Israel) or the communal group feeling of sleeping overnight and hiking up the Roman ramp at 4 am for a Masada sunrise..or the feeling of being part of 100 Jews from 12 countries on an international leadership BBYO group. How would my life be different today if I hadn't experience that pivotal month in Israel?
And so, we try to jam pack it all in. My mom complained that I was a drill sergeant with no patience - on the second point, she may be right and is one of the few traits I have in common with Israelis, who are infamous for their lack of savlanut (patience). But I was a drill sergeant for a good reason! There's this amazingly beautiful, complicated, difficult, wondrous country I want my family to see! And only 24 hours in a day to do so! And so much good food to eat, and cobblestone little streets to meander, and people to see, and places to hike, read, explore, see and to soak it all in. All in this tiny sliver of land, not much bigger than New Jersey.
My rabbi friend, Steven, who is visiting from Chicago who brought 100 people here from his synagogue asked me recently over nana tea (mint leaves) at the David Citadel hotel, what are some of my favorite things about living in Israel. Here's my attempt to name just a few:
* Shopping in the shuk (market) every week for the freshest produce around
* Walking everywhere in Jerusalem and not relying on public transportation
* Sitting on our amazing mirpesset (balcony)
* Listening to the joyful singing outside our windows every Shabbat evening and morning
* Meeting people who are seeking something in this very spiritual city
* Questioning the world and its crazy politics, especially because I believe Jerusalem really is the center of the world and hence, has been plagued with conquests, wars, religious wars for well over 2,000 years
* Meandering in the Old City and sitting on the roof of the Austrian hospice, looking at all the roofs and seeing how the Christian-Jewish-Muslim parts of this city blend together from the rooftop view...if only it were that easy...although Christians, Jews and Muslims have lived peacefully for many years all in the Old City together - coexistence in action!
* Seeing the lush green forests of the North, the rolling hills of the Kinneret (Galilee), the browns of the desert, the soaring mountains and the blue beaches of Tel Aviv
And to close, with some words from my journal from a recent tiyul (trip) to the Negev desert:
"Meditation outside in the desert. It's beautiful here, fresh air blowing gently, hearing singing off in the distance, sitting under acacia trees, walking through the dry and unforgiving desert, just as the Israelites must have done...feeling such a connection to this land, to this place, to Israel, to Zionism, despite all her problems, struggles and grievances and despite all the Israelis that I love to hate. Tiyul #3 - hiking in Har Shlomo, feeling such a proud sense of accomplishment - I'm a hiker! Sitting at the peak, overlooking Israel, Jordan, Egypt (Sinai) and Saudia Arabia off in the far away distance. What a crazy feeling seeing Israel's enemies so close, and yet such majestic beauty - the soaring red cliffs, and orange and brown and the dazzling blue waters of hte Sea of Eilat which lead into the Gulf of Aqaba.
I think the desert moves me in a way that other places don't. I'm sure it has something to do with Arizona, with beautiful, big open skies, with a a sense that this is such a big, open world and survival can be so hard, so prickly - and so beautiful and that mountains - like the mountains of Sandia Peak are the first part of nature I fell in love with...
