I felt much more appreciative of Thanksgiving this year. To me, everything seemed to have gone very smoothly with minor gliches here and there but no real blow ups. I was hardly stressed- I was actually very happy to be with my family, especially my little cousins.
I felt as if I became an American all over again as this holiday seemed to be what I needed to find my American roots. Only we could understand what this holiday meant to us and why we ate all that kind of food. They're the same food that the Native Americans and the pilgrims ate (with the absence of corn at this dinner). Somehow I found myself thinking about the story behind this holiday- probably the first time I really thought about it since I was probably 10. I think Thanksgiving is the most meaningful and best American holiday- Christmas don't count because it's celebrated all over the world. This is an all-American tradition that's up and alive.
Some of the girls in my sorority house who were away last fall also felt the same way so it's interesting how going abroad can refresh your perspective of America's traditions.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Unsettled
http://www.unsettledmovie.com/
The director came to the campus with his film. CJU and Peace Studies co-sponsored the film so the Intro To Peace and Conflict came to watch with us.
It's a documentary about the Gaza pullout in 2005 and it features 6 Israelis of different backgrounds- two soldiers, two lifeguards, one religious settler, and one pro-disengagement activist. They presented their views and their stories on this. There were all in their early 20s so college students can somehow relate in a way. It also had footage of the actual pullout.
I must saw the movie's title certainly fit. I felt very unsettled watching this. It kept my mind quite active as I listened, watched, and analyzed the movie trying to make sense of this. At several points, I could feel my heart breaking, not because the settlers had to leave but I thought it was because you could see how everyone in there just loved their country but didn't know how to approach the problematic situation together. The most powerful dialogue was the conversation between the soldiers and the settlers who had served in the Army because there was that conflict of connection that they shared- the experience of being in the "robotic" Army. One settler grabbed his old uniform and boots and tried to dig them in the ground in front of the soldiers. These settlers certianly felt betrayed but also tried to reason with the young soldiers what the Army machine was doing to them. On the other hand, some of the soldiers had a difficult time concealing their sympathies and emotions that some of them ended up giving their arms and shoulders for the settlers to lean on and cry. It was the moment that makes a viewer realize that despite all the arguments and protests, everyone just wants Israel to have peace and they are willing to sacrifice out of love for the Land of Israel, not the Army or the government.
Oh yes, there is a difference in how you call Israel. Eretz Yisrael is the Land of Israel and has more religious belief to it- that it supports the land for the Jews. On the other hand, Medeeynah Yisrael is State of Israel. Many Israelis, I don't believe, don't use the latter probably because of the high corruption in the government. Besides, Eretz is much broader term that doesn't create conflict.
Anyway, do I suggest the movie? It's hard for me to say because in a very small way I thought it was anti-disengagement. Just watch at your own risk. I almost thought for a minute that it might've been a mistake to vote on bringing the movie on campus.
If you want to know what were my political views on this. Back in 2005 when I came back from birthright when the subject of disengagement did come up several times, I decided that I'd be against disengagement because this was our land and we won Gaza and West Bank from our enemies. But I didn't feel very strong so it didn't matter. All I remmeber was when someone asked the J-Post journalist who spoke to us about the color orange and he said that anyone who wore color orange was anti-disengagement. And then I freaked out a bit because I had packed an orange top to wear later in the trip! Needless to say, I didn't wear that and wore another top twice.
Now, I'm pro-disengagement, only to a limit. I don't favor in complete withdrawal back to 1967 because certainly something must be earned out of that war that changed the world. For Gaza, there isn't a really significant meaning for that piece of land- the settlers go there only because God told them to expand Israel's boundaries. But there's a very clear Palestinian majority there so why should Israelis live there? Unfortunately, it's ensued in little civil war. As for West Bank, its stability makes the disengagement argument more valid. But I will never allow the Israeli government to consider dividing or giving up Jerusalem and Golan Heights. Those areas have greater political and security significance to me.
The director came to the campus with his film. CJU and Peace Studies co-sponsored the film so the Intro To Peace and Conflict came to watch with us.
It's a documentary about the Gaza pullout in 2005 and it features 6 Israelis of different backgrounds- two soldiers, two lifeguards, one religious settler, and one pro-disengagement activist. They presented their views and their stories on this. There were all in their early 20s so college students can somehow relate in a way. It also had footage of the actual pullout.
I must saw the movie's title certainly fit. I felt very unsettled watching this. It kept my mind quite active as I listened, watched, and analyzed the movie trying to make sense of this. At several points, I could feel my heart breaking, not because the settlers had to leave but I thought it was because you could see how everyone in there just loved their country but didn't know how to approach the problematic situation together. The most powerful dialogue was the conversation between the soldiers and the settlers who had served in the Army because there was that conflict of connection that they shared- the experience of being in the "robotic" Army. One settler grabbed his old uniform and boots and tried to dig them in the ground in front of the soldiers. These settlers certianly felt betrayed but also tried to reason with the young soldiers what the Army machine was doing to them. On the other hand, some of the soldiers had a difficult time concealing their sympathies and emotions that some of them ended up giving their arms and shoulders for the settlers to lean on and cry. It was the moment that makes a viewer realize that despite all the arguments and protests, everyone just wants Israel to have peace and they are willing to sacrifice out of love for the Land of Israel, not the Army or the government.
Oh yes, there is a difference in how you call Israel. Eretz Yisrael is the Land of Israel and has more religious belief to it- that it supports the land for the Jews. On the other hand, Medeeynah Yisrael is State of Israel. Many Israelis, I don't believe, don't use the latter probably because of the high corruption in the government. Besides, Eretz is much broader term that doesn't create conflict.
Anyway, do I suggest the movie? It's hard for me to say because in a very small way I thought it was anti-disengagement. Just watch at your own risk. I almost thought for a minute that it might've been a mistake to vote on bringing the movie on campus.
If you want to know what were my political views on this. Back in 2005 when I came back from birthright when the subject of disengagement did come up several times, I decided that I'd be against disengagement because this was our land and we won Gaza and West Bank from our enemies. But I didn't feel very strong so it didn't matter. All I remmeber was when someone asked the J-Post journalist who spoke to us about the color orange and he said that anyone who wore color orange was anti-disengagement. And then I freaked out a bit because I had packed an orange top to wear later in the trip! Needless to say, I didn't wear that and wore another top twice.
Now, I'm pro-disengagement, only to a limit. I don't favor in complete withdrawal back to 1967 because certainly something must be earned out of that war that changed the world. For Gaza, there isn't a really significant meaning for that piece of land- the settlers go there only because God told them to expand Israel's boundaries. But there's a very clear Palestinian majority there so why should Israelis live there? Unfortunately, it's ensued in little civil war. As for West Bank, its stability makes the disengagement argument more valid. But I will never allow the Israeli government to consider dividing or giving up Jerusalem and Golan Heights. Those areas have greater political and security significance to me.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Poland
Tonight, the AJC group met with Rabbi Andrew Baker. He just recently worked in Cairo with the Egyptian Jewish community. But tonight he talked about the antisemitism situation in Europe, particularly in France. We had a lively discussion relating to Israel, France, and Poland. Three of the girls in the group had gone on the AJC trip to Poland last spring and another girl went on the March of the Living. We ended up talking quite a bit about Poland.
There was a point from a journalist who told the girls on the AJC trip that he felt that the March was suggesting that people were marching from the past into the future. And it's just not right for people to perceive Poland in that way, something to be forgotten and move on. I actually...agree with this statement. Then it hit me, when I had that "discourse" with Dane last spring, I was contradicting myself.
For some reason, since applying for Germany, I'm starting to see Eastern/Central Europe in a different way than when I was in Israel. Dane really did make a very good point that the Holocaust should not be a big part of its history but what it did for modern Jewish history, particularly Haskalah. When I was writing my essay for Germany, I couldn't figure out what to write because if Terezin didn't touch me as I expected, then what? I don't think I'll ever forget that little chilling moment I had when I stood in front of Prague's Jewish cemetery, seeing the history in right front of me.
Interestingly, I have this yearn to go to FSU to see the Jewish communities there. I've always wanted to go to Russia but now that I'm learning and growing more, I see a greater purpose in visiting FSU, to understand the modern Jewish diaspora. How has the combination of the Holocaust and rebuilding Europe's Jewry affected the Jews' perception of their Jewish identities? Look at Poland, a bunch of gentiles created this Jewish music festival in Krakow that took place every summer and still does. They wanted to bring back the Jewish culture that Poland was so famous for. Andrew Baker said it's a positive thing but is not sure of its impact on the long-run. It's what I'm saying. With so many Jews gone to God, Israel, and America, what can the Jews in those countries do to rebuild their communities that was completely wiped out sixty five years ago? What does being Jewish mean to them?
Especially Poland.
It's part of the reason why I'm so ambivalent about how to go about visiting Auschwitz. Should I go alone? Should I go with a program? What kind? When should I go? When the Israelis are there? Ceci, who's half-Israeli, told me that she had never experienced so many emotions at once at Auschwitz. She felt very sad.... very joyful with the Israelis but then very angry when she really saw the Israeli propaganda ("it was beyond disgusting"). I'm scared because now I know and understand more about the complexities of the Jewish diaspora and Israel in terms of identities and how to relate to the Holocaust. I want to travel around Poland so badly but I just don't know how I'm going to be able to deal with the feelings that I will experience.
There was a point from a journalist who told the girls on the AJC trip that he felt that the March was suggesting that people were marching from the past into the future. And it's just not right for people to perceive Poland in that way, something to be forgotten and move on. I actually...agree with this statement. Then it hit me, when I had that "discourse" with Dane last spring, I was contradicting myself.
For some reason, since applying for Germany, I'm starting to see Eastern/Central Europe in a different way than when I was in Israel. Dane really did make a very good point that the Holocaust should not be a big part of its history but what it did for modern Jewish history, particularly Haskalah. When I was writing my essay for Germany, I couldn't figure out what to write because if Terezin didn't touch me as I expected, then what? I don't think I'll ever forget that little chilling moment I had when I stood in front of Prague's Jewish cemetery, seeing the history in right front of me.
Interestingly, I have this yearn to go to FSU to see the Jewish communities there. I've always wanted to go to Russia but now that I'm learning and growing more, I see a greater purpose in visiting FSU, to understand the modern Jewish diaspora. How has the combination of the Holocaust and rebuilding Europe's Jewry affected the Jews' perception of their Jewish identities? Look at Poland, a bunch of gentiles created this Jewish music festival in Krakow that took place every summer and still does. They wanted to bring back the Jewish culture that Poland was so famous for. Andrew Baker said it's a positive thing but is not sure of its impact on the long-run. It's what I'm saying. With so many Jews gone to God, Israel, and America, what can the Jews in those countries do to rebuild their communities that was completely wiped out sixty five years ago? What does being Jewish mean to them?
Especially Poland.
It's part of the reason why I'm so ambivalent about how to go about visiting Auschwitz. Should I go alone? Should I go with a program? What kind? When should I go? When the Israelis are there? Ceci, who's half-Israeli, told me that she had never experienced so many emotions at once at Auschwitz. She felt very sad.... very joyful with the Israelis but then very angry when she really saw the Israeli propaganda ("it was beyond disgusting"). I'm scared because now I know and understand more about the complexities of the Jewish diaspora and Israel in terms of identities and how to relate to the Holocaust. I want to travel around Poland so badly but I just don't know how I'm going to be able to deal with the feelings that I will experience.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Michale B. Oren, Germany
Wow I have so much to say and to tell since the last I wrote!
On October 11th, we had a speaker, Michael B. Oren, come in to discuss his new book, Faith, Fantasy, and Power. He has pretty amaing credientials including serving the IDF as a paratrooper, as a consultant for the White House, taught at Yale and Harvard, etc. Right now he's a fellow at the Shalom Center in Jerusalem. He researched America's foreign policy towards Middle East since 1776. It was incredible to hear how the 1000 Arabian Nights was the most popular book after the Bible during colonial times and how America was the first to bring education to the area with the American University at Beruit and Cairo. Afterwards, I had dinner with him with my student group, American Jewish Committee Student Society, and the department of Jewish Studies. He wound up sitting next to Anat so naturally, they spoke in Hebrew. Oh, I was in heaven for 20 minutes, just listening. I missed that soooo much- just listening to Hebrew. When it was time to finally discuss as a group, he talked about Israel- everything, mostly the complexities of the society including the haredim and FSU.
When I spoke with Zev two weeks later, well, let's put it this way. Next time, I have to ask him about an incoming speaker. He actually housed Michael Oren during his IDF years in Jerusalem! Gotta love that Jewish Geography game. I couldn't believe it so I had to send Michael Oren an e-mail to confirm this. He said he knew Zev personally.
Second piece of news: I applied to go on a leadership mission trip to Germany with AJC and I was accepted! I am so excited. Here's the essay that I wrote...practically at the last minute because a friend reminded me that the deadline was "today" after I brainstormed with Rabbi Dave trying to figure out what to write. Got right on the computer afer dinner to write this;
Modern Jewish history could not have existed without Germany’s greatest Jewish thinkers. And as a Jewish historian with a deep interest in modern Jewish history, particularly the Holocaust, I must go on this AJC trip. I also embrace the debates surrounding Haskalah because it was a watershed in Jewish history that further divided Jews in determining the question of “what is a Jew?” Going to Germany to see and learn about the origins of these events is a necessity for me to actually relate to my studies. For someone who has studied and memorized concentration camps’ names, facts, and dates, and followed the reconstruction of German Jewry in the last few years, this is an opportunity to view them up close. I am planning on pursuing my PhD in Jewish history though I plan to focus on American Jewish history in relation to identity. I am hoping that by being involved with the trip and meeting with the German Jews and leaders, I can better understand how the German Jewry defines their Jewish identity as a comparative group for my research. You have one group of highly assimilated Jews (Americans) and another group of Jews who view their identity as a nationality (Israelis). Now I want to see another group of Jews in the Diaspora, particularly in a country where they were highly assimilated in the German society, saw its rich legacy shatter overnight, and then found themselves having to start over again. How do they, particularly the older generations, reconcile with their Jewish identity? What about the young generations?
I have only been to Eastern Europe once- Prague. While Terezin actually did not impress me as much as I expected, I was suddenly emotional when I visited the old Jewish cemetery in Prague’s Jewish Quarter. Jews had really lived here for centuries. I felt a kinship in there just as I felt a connection when I walked through the exhibits of the US Holocaust Museum when I was 16 year old atheist and when I lived in Israel for seven months last spring. With Germany, I hope to find another spot, somewhere, even if the Nazis destroyed much of the evidence that the Jews had lived there. It could be a piece of rumble from a synagogue or seeing a barbed wire fence at one of the death camps or even a conversation with a German Jew. I don’t know. I must go to Germany to discover where I can connect with my Jewish identity in a land that destroyed its own incredible Jewish population, see living history of the buildings dedicated to the Jews, and meet with the people that I will meet and ask questions on how they came to be where they are today after all these years.
So this winter break is shaping up to be very exciting as my first year with that trip to Kyoto, Japan. Before I'll know it, I'll be hearing back from graduate schools!
On October 11th, we had a speaker, Michael B. Oren, come in to discuss his new book, Faith, Fantasy, and Power. He has pretty amaing credientials including serving the IDF as a paratrooper, as a consultant for the White House, taught at Yale and Harvard, etc. Right now he's a fellow at the Shalom Center in Jerusalem. He researched America's foreign policy towards Middle East since 1776. It was incredible to hear how the 1000 Arabian Nights was the most popular book after the Bible during colonial times and how America was the first to bring education to the area with the American University at Beruit and Cairo. Afterwards, I had dinner with him with my student group, American Jewish Committee Student Society, and the department of Jewish Studies. He wound up sitting next to Anat so naturally, they spoke in Hebrew. Oh, I was in heaven for 20 minutes, just listening. I missed that soooo much- just listening to Hebrew. When it was time to finally discuss as a group, he talked about Israel- everything, mostly the complexities of the society including the haredim and FSU.
When I spoke with Zev two weeks later, well, let's put it this way. Next time, I have to ask him about an incoming speaker. He actually housed Michael Oren during his IDF years in Jerusalem! Gotta love that Jewish Geography game. I couldn't believe it so I had to send Michael Oren an e-mail to confirm this. He said he knew Zev personally.
Second piece of news: I applied to go on a leadership mission trip to Germany with AJC and I was accepted! I am so excited. Here's the essay that I wrote...practically at the last minute because a friend reminded me that the deadline was "today" after I brainstormed with Rabbi Dave trying to figure out what to write. Got right on the computer afer dinner to write this;
Modern Jewish history could not have existed without Germany’s greatest Jewish thinkers. And as a Jewish historian with a deep interest in modern Jewish history, particularly the Holocaust, I must go on this AJC trip. I also embrace the debates surrounding Haskalah because it was a watershed in Jewish history that further divided Jews in determining the question of “what is a Jew?” Going to Germany to see and learn about the origins of these events is a necessity for me to actually relate to my studies. For someone who has studied and memorized concentration camps’ names, facts, and dates, and followed the reconstruction of German Jewry in the last few years, this is an opportunity to view them up close. I am planning on pursuing my PhD in Jewish history though I plan to focus on American Jewish history in relation to identity. I am hoping that by being involved with the trip and meeting with the German Jews and leaders, I can better understand how the German Jewry defines their Jewish identity as a comparative group for my research. You have one group of highly assimilated Jews (Americans) and another group of Jews who view their identity as a nationality (Israelis). Now I want to see another group of Jews in the Diaspora, particularly in a country where they were highly assimilated in the German society, saw its rich legacy shatter overnight, and then found themselves having to start over again. How do they, particularly the older generations, reconcile with their Jewish identity? What about the young generations?
I have only been to Eastern Europe once- Prague. While Terezin actually did not impress me as much as I expected, I was suddenly emotional when I visited the old Jewish cemetery in Prague’s Jewish Quarter. Jews had really lived here for centuries. I felt a kinship in there just as I felt a connection when I walked through the exhibits of the US Holocaust Museum when I was 16 year old atheist and when I lived in Israel for seven months last spring. With Germany, I hope to find another spot, somewhere, even if the Nazis destroyed much of the evidence that the Jews had lived there. It could be a piece of rumble from a synagogue or seeing a barbed wire fence at one of the death camps or even a conversation with a German Jew. I don’t know. I must go to Germany to discover where I can connect with my Jewish identity in a land that destroyed its own incredible Jewish population, see living history of the buildings dedicated to the Jews, and meet with the people that I will meet and ask questions on how they came to be where they are today after all these years.
So this winter break is shaping up to be very exciting as my first year with that trip to Kyoto, Japan. Before I'll know it, I'll be hearing back from graduate schools!
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