From the Exodus from Egypt to the start of classes

Shalom Chaverim! (Hello friends)


After I got back from Egypt I did a lot of resting and recuperating from the trip and also a lot of breathing since the air in Jerusalem is much more healthy than the smog of Cairo. I debriefed Alma on the trip who herself was going with a friend of hers to Cairo that week.

Then Tuesday a lot of people arrived back to Jerusalem and I picked up some books for the semester.

Wednesday, I had rehearsal for Annie! (It's in English) We still didn't fully know what parts we were. However, after doing another read through of the script I got the role of Bundles, the laundry man. It should be a fun part. We then learned a few songs and learned a dance routine for the directors to see what they had to work with.

The next day I was supposed to be going to the UMass Israel dinner but that fell through after a lot of people couldn't make it. So instead I had some people over my apartment and we all talked about our respective trips while a few of us played Shesh-besh (backgammon) It was nice to see everyone after our long 3 week break.

That Shabbat I went over Ryan's who made pancakes and then him and his new roommate had a guitar jam session.

Then Sunday classes started. The night before I had logged online to find out that I couldn't see my classes because I had "outstanding fees." So, I went the next day to talk to someone in the Undergraduate office who told me to talk to financial aid where I found a long line of people with similar issues. I was there for about and hour talking with Kathryne and Adam. I walked in and told the lady my situation and she checked the computer and said there was no problems...I guessed it was just a computer glitch. Oy vey!

So then I went back to my room and went to a 4:30 internship class. We all talked about our internships and what we wanted to get out of the class. It's basically a class that studies Israeli organizations with an internship attached. The conclusion of the first class was that Israeli organizations are a balagan (crazy mess). A lot of people agreed with this and told stories of going one place and then being told to go to another... oh Israel!

That night we had another Annie rehearsal where more people joined us and we learned music.

Monday I had the first day of Hebrew class in Bet. It was with a lot of Rothberg people at first. Then, one by one Nativ (Freshman students from the US Conservative movement) came into the class until there were no seats. So, when the last person walked in the teacher said to him: אתה רוצה לשבת בחולן
Do you want to sit on the window?

That afternoon I had a meeting at the Ethiopian National Project where we discussed a fundraising drive back at UMass and working with teenagers at a Youth Outreach center, maybe teaching them drama.

So then I went back to my apartment and then at night I went to a Beit Midrash opening BBQ and concert. It was nice... saw a lot of people from Rothberg and such and the band was good as well.

Tuesday I had my long day... had class at 8:30 which was Political Communication in Israel. The professor has an interesting sense of humor. He was taking attendance and asking us where we were from etc. When I told him I was from Boston he said..."are you a Red Sox fan?" and I said yes and then he told me he was a Yankees fan. So, even in Israel the rivalry continues. His syllabus was one of the most humorous I've ever read:

"The reading Load averages 90-100 pages a week. However, the readings are not meant to replace scintillating lectures- replete with anecdotal jems -- which serve as an integral portion of the course. Indeed, the lectures and guest lecture--- which cover material not found in the course reader or text books-- are what distinguishes this class from others. Students who want to take long weekends in Eilat will lose out on material crucial for their own enrichment as well as examination scores"
-Prof. Michael Widlanski

That reflects his sense of humor as well...he likes poking fun at news media and such and cracking interesting jokes. Kind of reminds me of Prof. Ferraro from World Politics back at UMass. The class should be interesting we will look at the Israeli media and how politics plays into it since most Israelis are always watching/listening to the חדשות (chadashot, news).

After that I had Hebrew which was split into two since the class was so large and many Rothbergers went to the other class and I stayed with a few others along with Nativers.

Then I had Jews and Palestinians in Israel: Identities in conflict in dialogue, which I have dubbed many other names such as "Alma an Yitz in Israel: roommates in conflict and dialogue" or "Rand and Josh in Amherst: Interns in conflict and dialogue"

Anyway, in then class we study the conflict (Israeli-Palestinian) and approaches to resolving it. We all went around on the first class and talked about our relation to the conflict. I talked about the divestment issue that was brought to the Student Government Association at UMASS. I also talked about how SAFI (Umass Student Alliance for Israel) wanted to have a dialogue with CAN and others and it didn't work...and I wish people could have civil dialogues about it...maybe then things would look better.

So, the class is mainly discussion based and the prof is laid back, kind of reminds me of Noemi, my Hebrew teacher at UMass.

When someone asked the professor what the final paper was about she nonchalantly said "eh, you pick something you like in the class and you right about it. 10 maybe 20 pages, beseder?" (add Israeli accent). I've grown accustomed to that teachings style while in Israel.

Then after that we had a long break and then started the conflict class again and talked more about the conflict.

When I got back Jenny came over to visit and we all caught up. We then had a roommate meeting.

The next day I had Hebrew in the morning where I had a mini-quiz to see if I was in the right class.

At night I went to the Hillel opening event where I won a CD and a chocolate. After that we had Annie rehearsal, where we sang and then blocked my scene.

Thursday, I went to another Political Comm class where we looked at Israeli newspapers and learned that NBC stands for Nothing but crap and CNN= Certainly Not News.

Then after that I went to my internship where I tutored a staff member at the office on his English. He read something and I corrected him and explained meanings of words, which was difficult because they were not easy words...so It was hard for me to explain it, but it worked. After that I talked to someone else about working at a Youth Outreach Center teaching drama and they found out someone else was interested in doing the same. Maybe we can work together and overcome the language barrier, which I've been a bit worried about. I also e-mailed a few people about fundraising for ENP back at UMass... It seems like there is some interest and hopefully it will take off.

Then yesterday night I went over Ryan's with Eric and schmoozed with him and Marrisa, Sam, Max and the new roommate Dai.

So, here we are.

This week classes resume and Sunday I'm going to an Idan Raichel concert!!!

L'hitraot.