Be Your Own Weatherman – StreetWise Hebrew

It's incredible how approachable a language as complex as hebrew can be when it is taught in a friendly, relatable, and cohesive way. Streetwise Hebrew is a set of podcasts conducted by Guy Sharett who teaches Hebrew based on graffiti and tours around Tel Aviv. In the podcast "Be your own weatherman" Guy talks about key words used to describe the weather by incorporating his own voice, sound clips from weather channels, and simple songs. I think that it is important to use this method of extracting from outside sources, because it makes the lesson applicable to everyday life. The whole podcast was fun to listen to and I was intrigued the entire time especially since Guy was so passionate about the topic, it definitely rubbed off on me as well. When learning a new language, it is especially important to portray fun, easy, and clear information regarding the topic being presented because it makes the student want to learn and it helps in retaining the details. I think it is important to endorse yourself in listening to these recordings because it not only teaches new vocabulary, but you also get a taste of Israeli life and culture coming from a citizen. Being a beginner in Hebrew, I can say for sure that I was able to pick up some new words and phrases just with a short, ten minute audio recording. I definitely recommend this website to everyone, in particular, those who are trying to learn the language of Hebrew, or who are simply interested in the life of an Israeli.

Here is the link:
http://tlv1.fm/streetwise-hebrew/2015/03/03/be-your-own-weatherman-streetwise-hebrew/

Can You Tel I'm In Love With Aviv (EIE 2015)

     One of the most exciting aspects about being in Israel is the diversity presented not only in the culture and the people, but in the places as well. I love the ability to get into a cab, drive a few miles and end up in Jerusalem; a place resounding in spiritual essence and a connection to an ancient history. Then, to be able to get back into the cab, drive a few more miles north and arrive in Tel Aviv; a place filled with buildings, lights and beaches. This past weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity to stay in Tel Aviv for the first time, and I absolutely loved it. From the moment I entered this bustling city I couldn't help but to notice the immense amount of buildings stretching high into the sky, the never ending roads leading far into the distance, and the young, fun filled and exciting atmosphere that engulfed every corner. The streets were filled with stores and restaurants fighting to be seen by their bright colored decorations and extravagant outdoor seating (one place had swinging hammocks as chairs). The beaches themselves were breathtaking. The water was so beautiful, it was almost like someone had painted and mixed different shades of blues and greens and blended them together perfectly into a tapestry of color. Looking out onto the beaches, they were packed with people of all ages. I was so intrigued and entertained by the young men and women who, quite competitively, partook in volleyball and head/food/hit the ball with any part of your body games along the nets that were set up on the sand. They would play for hours without stopping. It seems like there is definitely a natural talent for physical activity that is engrained in Israeli's, probably from working hard and training in the army for years.
     I found it so interesting how different of a feeling there was from being in Tel Aviv rather than Jerusalem. Tel Aviv is most definitely more modern from the architecture, the clubs, and the restaurants, it is aimed at young, adventure seeking adults. Everything felt very awake all of the time, almost like the city never slept, which was seen in the bright colors and busy streets filled with vehicles and constant movement. No longer were there Orthodox Jews walking around, or people selling red string bracelets, it honestly felt like a vacation within a vacation. I not only enjoyed the delicious food that was served to us right on the beach, but I also loved walking around at night when the city truly seemed to come alive and lit up every building in sight. To be able to experience both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv has been extremely important because not only have I seen two different places in Israel but I've also experienced two completely different ways of life, both equally important in forming Eretz Yisrael. I am so incredibly lucky to be a witness every day to the different aspects of Israeli life both spiritual and social. I truly get to experience the best of both worlds.

The Binding and Unbinding

       I honestly believe that everything happens for a reason and that each and every one of life's experiences is an opportunity to continuously learn and grow, and to finally find yourself spiritually, emotionally and mentally. For Mitisyahu, a song artist, the struggle of drugs, depression, and seclusion was prevalent throughout the majority of his life. He was constantly striving for something greater than himself, something that would provide the power to get up each day ready to experience rather than to numb out. He realized what many of us have a hard time acknowledging, which is that happiness can only be evoked from within yourself. For Mitisyahu, he was able to find a love for music and a devotion to God, an "invisible friend" who could guide, protect, and most importantly always be there to pick him back up when he fell. I connected a lot with his perspective on his experiences, especially with his last words about the significance of experience, of making mistakes, of living with the good and bad without the numbing of emotions. Mitisyahu, with his ability to persevere and his determination to go beyond the known, demonstrates an inspiring model for people of all ages to never give up on finding your path. Only when one is no longer afraid of making mistakes, of living outside of ones isolated box of comfort, one is able to engulf in the true foundation of love, happiness and a strong connection to faith.

The Women of the Wall

       Judaism has always emphasized the importance of group prayer. Each individual is able to see themselves as part of a larger, collective people when praying together, they experience a collective spiritual connection to a divine energy. I had the wonderful opportunity this past weekend to go the the Kotel and pray together with the Women of the Wall. The Women of the Wall is a group of Jewish women from around the world and from all different denominations who strive to achieve the right, as women, to wear prayer shawls, pray and read from the Torah collectivey, out loud, and freely at the Western Wall. They not only seek personal fulfillment in group prayer and Torah reading at the most sacred site, but also want to achieve recognition by the legal, social and religious Israeli establishment at the wall for the sake of all Jewish women. The group, with a membership that is not only multi-denominational but spans the political spectrum, embodies a message of tolerance and pluralism and is stronger than ever.

       Each time I go to the Kotel, I am never disappointed with the effect that it has on me, I am constantly in awe of its glory and beauty which it holds as a symbol of Jewish unity. This time when I entered the Kotel, I was not there just to take in the wonder of the setting and to focus on myself, but I was there to join in with a group of incredible, dedicated, and extravagant costume wearing women who are determined to fight for undeniable rights. As we all stood together with the Migilah scroll open wide, the voices of women rising high, a feeling of empowerment stemmed from within. Even though the sun was almost unbearable and standing up for one more second seemed impossible, we stood together, people from all different backgrounds and denominations and beliefs. That was the incredible aspect, that even if I had walked right past one of the women on the street without realizing, in these moments of prayer, we all stood as one united group with an invincible connection. I felt like I had done so much more than standing and listening, I felt as though I was part of this significant movement, supporting women from all over in striving for acknowledgment and equality. Taking an active and vocal role in community prayer empowered me to use my voice in prayer and struggle, even in the face of attempts to silence women and the Jewish people as a whole.

Will There Be One Jewish People

       Growing up as a Jew, the importance of unity as a people was always stressed upon. Even though I was aware of the different sects of Judaism as in Conservative, Reform, and Orthodox, I've always believed that all of these different aspects of Jewish culture doesn't divide us, but rather makes us stronger and allows our traditions to expand and grow. It is important to acknowledge that not everyone is going to have the same beliefs regarding a religion, some people may believe that the Torah is the direct words of God, while others may be more inclined to interpret the ideas into different meanings. One is not necessarily better than the other, but it is important to acknowledge all of the sides in an effort to learn from each other and address different opinions. In the article, two specific categories of Judaism are presented: the maximalists and the minimalists. The maximalist focuses on the social aspect of the Jewish people by meeting with others and expanding the horizon of teachings and important lessons that are offered. On the other hand, the minimalists are quite the opposite being tied down to their studies, narrowing their scope of integration with others, and focusing on "communal conformity" as much as possible. The consensus at hand is a split that is not focused on a theosophical standpoint, but that is between the way people regard Judaism.

       The different denominations of Judaism are not better than one another in any sense, but I think that the maximalists point of view will provide a foundation for the unity that is needed now more than ever between the Jewish people. We must reach out to each other, expand into different ground, dip our feet in the unfamiliar waters, and be able to listen and connect to others and the important aspect of unity in the Jewish culture. Adapting and interpreting in different ways is natural to the human experience, but time over time, history has proved to the Jewish people especially that unity and the powerful force of connection and oneness can override the power of our enemies. Once we are able to recognize and accept that the different levels of Judaism are all equally important for our religion, then this apparent split can be diminished, than will Judaism become even more solidified and strong.

Gadna Strong

       It's rare to be blessed with an experience that is composed of a sliver of time, but that is so incredibly rewarding in the long run. Spending four days at Gadna last week had an impact on my time in Israel that will undoubtably resound throughout the rest of my life. The program, developed for teens, is meant to portray the life of a soldier in the IDF from the food, setting, schedule, and activities. However, in addition to learning commands and jewish words, or how to stand perfectly in a straight line with five other people without talking, was the interjection of an understanding of the lifestyle and unified feelings of Israeli citizens. These people have lived, and grown up constantly ingrained with the importance of the IDF, of defending their land and people, of protecting the innocent and protecting themselves. I saw this priciple play true throughout the whole time that I was at Gadna, especially established by my commander. Even though she had to act strict as an authority, in charge of our group, our commander shared stories about her life as a soldier, growing up in Israel, and the lessons she learned protecting her country which underlined the importance of connections. For the first time, I was able to truly comprehend the extreme level of friendship and family that is embedded in Israeli culture and society, especially developed through the army. It was clear that everyone in the army had formed a tightly knit group that they regarded as family, as brothers and sisters. I too experienced this deep connection with my group at Gadna. There were people who I became extremely close with, sleeping together, eating together, sweating and running together. The situations that we experienced as a team in just the few days that we were together connected a small group of girls beyond what we could have dreamed. I could only imagine the relationships that are formed with the soldiers who are together for two or even three years under similar conditions, I can now grasp a picture of why those friendships are so strong and impactful. Even though I may not have been the cleanest or the best looking for the four days at Gadna, the smells override the lessons that I learned and the understanding of Israeli life, the deep connections that are formed, and my ability to be a witness everyday to the incredible nature of unity within Israel.