Some Interesting Statistics

So for my Jewish History class, every week we have to read an article and write about our reaction to it on our blog.
The article I was assigned this week was the one below on what drives success.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/26/opinion/sunday/what-drives-success.html?emc=eta1&_r=1

Its really interesting to see how a persons ethnicity affects their success. The fact that some stereotypes are actually correct about some people is both disturbing and intriguing and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. Being able to succeed based on race isn't something that should be taken lightly. If Asians have a better chance of getting a job than a perfectly able and smart person of any other race JUST because they are Asian is definitely unfair.

Now, that is not the topic of the article, saying one ethnic group has an advantage over another, but that there are recent statistics that "debunk" these stereotypes. I'm just very glad that in today's society people realize that stereotypes are not the truth.

 You can relate that directly to Jews and their stereotypes. Like being good with money, big noses, super religious, greedy, etc. The majority of Jews do not possess these traits. For example, I do not have a big nose, I'm not religious and I'm most definitely NOT good with money.......


If you want an interesting read, I suggest reading this article, its one that I truly enjoyed reading and a topic I really liked learning about.

Gettin down and Dirty - February 7, 2014

Dirt and rocks. Rocks and dirt. Everywhere.


Friday morning we went to a farm in Jerusalem (outside of Jerusalem? I'm not entirely sure).
It wasn't just a plain old farm with nothing really special, it was a VERY special farm. This particular farm gives jobs to teenagers that have dropped out of school, haven't gone to college, or are on the street. It gives them an opportunity to not only get their lives together but it gives them a job in agriculture. There are teachers/therapists that also work to help to get those kids on the right track while working on the farm. 

When we went to the farm, none of them were there because it was Friday and they don't have to work on Fridays. 
Because Jerusalem was basically built on rock, it is hard to get fertile soil, so our job was to go through the huge field they already had plowed a bit and pick up rocks and bring them over to the side.

A few friends and I, to make the job more fun, started singing "Look Down" from my favorite musical "Les Miserables" and plenty of other songs. (We may have gone through the entire first half of the musical.) I truly enjoyed being able to get dirty with friends and sing the greatest songs on the planet.

This went on for two hours. Yes, it was VERY hard work, my back hurts still, my legs are sore, and I'm exhausted but I really don't mind because the faces of those kids when they see they don't have to clear that entire area of rocks is all that really matters. As long as they feel that there are people that are there to support them and want to help them and make sure they get to where they need to be in life is all that should ever be thought of when I think of this experience.

Oh my Goodness- February 5, 2014

Wow.

I have over 1100 views on my blog already. This is unbelievable. I'm very appreciative of how many people actually care about how my trip is going. 

So pretty much this is just a post thanking everyone for supporting me through my adventure in Israel. 

I hope to have more posts very soon considering we are going on more tiyuulim (trips) this weekend. 

Again, thank you so much for caring about what I'm saying and checking my blog.

One Week- February 3, 2014

It has really been one whole week already. This is kinda a crazy thing to think about. 

I have lived at Tzuba for an entire week yet it feels like I've know the people here for my whole life already. I really love them all. We are truly like a family. I've been getting so much more help on my homework here from not only teachers but friends! What a concept. Someone my age coming to help me with homework every night. I have never really appreciated being in the same class as someone until now. 

I'm still getting into the routine of actually doing homework, but I'm definitely not procrastinating as much as I used to which is very exciting for me and my grades. Having someone to come over every night to help with homework and to keep me on task is extremely helpful. (Thanks Sam!)

I can already feel myself learning more and more everyday. Whether it be about Jewish History, Hebrew, or even any of my general studies. Of course I really miss all of my teachers from Deerfield. Quite a lot actually, I'm still learning. And learning very fast. Instead of doing one unit over the course of a few weeks, we do one unit in either a day or a week. It moves fast but its still very easy and the work load doesn't overwhelm me. (Well, at least it hasn't yet.) I'm just so glad to be having this phenomenal opportunity and having the ability to still keep up with my friends back home.

I would also like to say CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK TO JASON BROWN AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS IN THREE DAYS! SK8 GR8! So sorry I couldn't meet up with you at the airport yesterday, but considering where I am I know you understand. I love you and Bhatzlacha b' Sochi! <3

The Kotel- February 1, 2014

I've never had a more emotional experience or connection to a single place than the Kotel. 

I hadn't realized that I was actually in Israel until I actually saw the wall. I turned the corner after going through security and it hit me. I'm in Israel, standing at the most holy place in our entire religion. It was an overwhelming feeling to be at a place that 2000 years ago, people had the exact same footing that I did, that people stood in the same exact spot that I did. As soon as I walked into the women's side of the wall, emotion took over and my eyes filled with tears. I have never appreciated a place so much in my life. I walked slowly towards the wall taking it all in, crying like I'd never felt such a sense of belonging. I never thought it would be such a big deal to go visit. I always thought it would just be one of those really cool things to see but I was genuinely happy to be there. I even hesitated to touch the stones that made up the Kotel. And as soon as I did, I almost collapsed. I kept my hand on the wall for much longer than I probably thought I did. I connected so deeply to, what is only a wall to some people. I felt as though I was one with the wall and all the women around me. The words to truly describe this experience cannot be found at the moment. The spiritual side of me really came out today when I touched the Kotel. It was by far the most wonderful experience I had.

Before we actually entered the Kotel area, our Madrichim (counselors) gave us a bit of a native plant to Jerusalem and a slip of paper for meditation which I didn't read until I stepped back from the wall and was about thirty feet away from it I finally pulled out the slip of paper. It said, "You stand before the Kotel, the holiest of places. If you could transport any person (living or deceased) to this spot right now to share in this experience with you who would you bring and why?" I immediately thought of Sammy Sommer. Low and behold, the tears started streaming again, because this beautiful young boy would never have the chance to see this absolutely unbelievable and holy place again. It truly broke my heart, and I know it breaks all of his family's hearts, especially Phyllis and Michael. They are the two strongest and loving parents that I know and I love them more than anything. They are like my second family and Sammy's loss was hard for not only their family, but mine as well. The Sommer family was on my mind all night and even after the experience at the Kotel.

We left the Kotel to go to a Debbie Friedman memorial service where they sang "Those who sow" which was sung at Sammy's funeral. I'm so lucky to have had been sitting by so many beautiful and caring human beings during that song because I started to cry again. Its been a little more than a month and its still very raw that this amazing, strong eight year old boy, full of life and wonder, had to leave us so soon. I'm still very appreciative that I have the opportunity to be in Israel with my googly eyes to put all over and all my friends that are here for me whether we are super close or not. I love them all and I love the Sommer family more than one could imagine.

The Kotel will always be the most special place, most definitely causing tears everytime I think about it and/or go there. I'm very glad that my first experience was with people I trust and people I will be living with for the next four months.

The First Shabbat- January 31, 2014

The first Shabbat. What a Shabbat it was. Getting to sleep for four hours after the dig, getting to take a nice long, hot shower, getting all dressed up and pretty, wearing make up for the first time since Sunday. I didn't even mind services at all. It was all so much fun. 

After services and dinner and oneg Shabbat, we had a party. Like a crazy dance party. In a bomb shelter. With Israelis. TURN DOWN FOR WHAT???? It was awesome. Dancing for hours with lights flashing and music blasting. I'm actually surprised I can hear. It was maybe the most fun I've had in months. Then again, I've never actually been to a party like that. I've been to b'nai mitzvot and homecoming but those are nothing in comparison to crazy that was the bomb shelter party. 

Shabbat was super fun and I really don't want to wait another week to have that kind of fun again.

The First Tiyuul - January 31, 2014

I don't think I've ever loved a history lesson more in my life. 

We went to on a field trip (tiyuul) for the first time. To an archaeological dig. Not only did we get a chance to dig to find 2000 year old pieces of pottery but we also go to visit grave sites from around the time of the first temple and then around the Byzantine era. The differences in the two were incredible. I have never felt more intrigued in history. Israel is one of those places where everything around you is history whether you know it or not and learning about Kvar Bish (the hill where the people lived that we were learning about) was an experience that will definitely stay with me forever. 

We did have the opportunity to crawl through a man made tunnel, but because of the condition of my ankle I decided it probably wasn't the best idea. So I sat above the tunnels just looking over 

Jerusalem. It was beautiful. I took so many pictures. I couldn't believe how amazing everything looked from all the way on top of that hill.