So I propose this question: What is distance? Is it more than just something physical, or perhaps something more spiritual? Because sometimes I can swear that I can feel my soul quite literally reaching out from my body eastward.
So I've been back from Israel for exactly two weeks. I've managed to snag a job at Starbucks and haven't done much else. What I have done, however, is realize this: the farther I physically get away from Israel, the harder it is to be Jewish. I have lived in Israel, Vancouver, and I now live in Toronto which is quite literally the middle point between the first two. It's no shocker that the east coast is more saturated with Jewish culture and religious luxury than us here on the west coast where intermarriage is at about 87%. No joke. Ridiculous right?! And we all think global warming is a problem.
So I propose this question: What is distance? Is it more than just something physical, or perhaps something more spiritual? Because sometimes I can swear that I can feel my soul quite literally reaching out from my body eastward.
For those of us who have no yet merited of making aliyah for whatever personal reason, then with your (somewhat) relaxed and free time this summer think about how you are going to keep your connection with Israel. The expression of "the time just flew away" isn't worded by mistake. Some days I'm sure you're so busy that you look down at your watch once, then again a what seems like a minute later, and really an hour has "flown" by. In our busy lives we've forgotten what it truly means to "spend" time on something. Because as they say "time is money" and if you're not really aware of what you're "spending" your time doing...then your not utilizing times purpose in a very constructive way. By physically taking a minute out of your day to think and feel about your yearning to return to Israel, just one minute consisting of sixty seconds, you are spiritually "spending" time to close the distance between yourself and your creator, and ultimately His land that He gave to you.
It's actually much more difficult than you think. One minute, when concentrated on a specific purpose, is actually a very long time. Start it easy, try and visualize walking down your favorite street in Israel. Try and hear the usual sounds and to feel the Mediterranean sun on your neck. Or imagine yourself alone in the vast Negev desert sandwiched between the sand and sky surrounded by G-d. Try this everyday for one week (that only 7 minutes!) and I can guarantee you that you will feel closer to G-d. Your connection will be stronger than ever before you are literally spending time, investing in your connection to Israel and G-d, and Israel won't seem that far away after all.
Seriously. Why wouldn't you do it?
Distance (n): the state or fact of being apart in space, as of one thing from another, i.e; she felt very far away from Him. |
Part of The Yom Haatzmaut Project
1) Makolet: I personally believe that Makolets are Israel's most incredible accomplishment. No joke. I can't even count on one hand the amount of times a shot-gun picnic has been called for outside of a Makolet, going inside and coming out with all of the necessary accoutrement's for a perfect picnic. How many times have you been incredibly thirsty/hungry, and how many times has there been a Makolet "Just around the corner" to save you? There is nothing in North America that rivals an Israeli Makolet. Arguably, there are levels of varying Makolets. There are "good" Makolets, "really bad" Makolets, and then there are the "wham bam thank you m'am" Makoelets that are just bursting with so many products that you could probably get your school, cooking, cleaning and beauty supplies all there. B'erech, Makolets rock.
2) Egged: Okay, fine, we all know that the inner city buses aren't necessarily the most reliable of all bus systems. BUT who has used that really funky text messaging system that Egged has for the inter city bus systems? You text your departure spot, and your desired arrival spot to 4100 and THEY TEXT YOU BACK WITH ALL OF THE DEPARTURE TIMES! They sure don't have that in Vancouver OR Toronto. Seriously, that's pretty amazing. And in what other country can you travel from top to bottom on like, less than $25?! That's what I thought. Egged takes you everywhere (except for Modiin and Chashmonaim...where both of my Rabbi's live. Go figure).
3) The Sounds: Hayehudim, Moshav Band, David Broza...and you have to appreciate the radio stations too "GalGalGalGalatz!". What about all of the crazy Temani music playing in the cabs and the crazy wailing sounds that just seem to be flowing out of every crevice and crack all over the country. Israel is never really silent. The beautiful sound of hebrew, ancient and modern just enveloping you like a security blanket. What about the sounds that unfortunately, have come to define Israel? Like the sirens of Yom Hazikaron, calling for a moment of silence. Or, "Tzevah Adom", when a rocket is being launched into Sderot. Or of the ambulance sirens after a pigua, terrorist attack. But there are also the sounds of kiddush, zmirot, laughter, and yiddishkeit overflowing and rippling out of homes on Shabbat. Israel's ability to produce and co-exist with both types of sounds is, in my opinion, Israel's greatest accomplishment.
4) Look at a picture of the Tel-Aviv desert area prior to the establishment of Israel. And now look at a picture of Tel-Aviv today. Apply it to the whole country, and I think you'll get an idea of
Survival: Israel's ability to survive is it's greatest accomplishment. According to the laws of nature, physics, economics, politics, and reasonable doubt there is no reason why Israel should still be in existence today. But, we're not depending or relying on any of those laws. We're relying on G-d. Hashem, the One in Heaven.
Personal (n): pertaining to or characteristic of a person or self-conscious being: That is my personal belief. |
Ya, I'm makin' it personal people.
This blog is dedicated to my friend who requested a short blog in order to inspire said friend to start reading this glorious blog of ours. I hope this is short enough:
What would you define as the most important Mitzvah? I'm not talking about in terms of Halachic obligation. I'm talking about from a human perspective. Which is the most important mitzvah to you. What Mitzvah, out of the entire six hundred and thirteen makes you either feel closest to your Judaism (like, say, Shabbat), or makes you feel like a better person and doubly amazing because you don't perform it out of halachic obligation, but you do it because you feel like its the right thing to do as a human being and triple amazing because Judaism is smart enough to give you brownie points for it (like, say, judging favorably or loving your fellow neighbor as yourself), or maybe the most important Mitzvah is something really hard. Something that you know you might struggle with your entire life but every time you rise above the occasion with the intention of performing this Mitzvah to the best of your ability you feel accomplished, refreshed, and a step ahead not only as a Jew, but as a person (for example, lets say respecting your parents, or prayer).
Think about it. Just take a minute, or an hour if you need it. Just think of a Mitzvah, one deed or act that makes your Judaism incredibly meaningful. Now go out and try your hardest to do it the best you can. Of course every Mitvzah should be done as best as you can, but what's the harm in starting with the one Mitzvah you feel the strongest about?! Go and feel great about your Judaism. Actively go out into the world and pursue your Judaism, don't wait until the opportunity for doing a Mitzvah comes to you, go to your Mitzvah and do it! Go live it, go and feel it. (Especially if you're like me and living outside of Israel. We all need the help we can get...). All I'm saying is, there's so much opportunity for us to not just be Jewish, but to live Jewish.
With that in mind, have a Shabbat Shalom!
Uplift (v): to improve socially, culturally, morally, or the like: to uplift the spirits of those downtrodden. |
Yesterday on my campus I experienced a form of pride in my Judaism and Zionism that I have never experienced before. Let me give a little background: There is a student group on campus called SAIA, "Students Against Israeli Apartheid". If you have about an hour I can sit here and type all of the atrocious propaganda that this group spreads on campus against Israel, but their main project right now is what is called "The Wall". Yes, as this name suggests, it is a mock version of the wall/fence in Israel that is protecting innocent civilians from terrorist targeted attacks. But of course, they don't describe the fence's function quite like I do. Their pamphlets are filled with with humanitarian aid stories, how the people are caged with minimal food, water, and electricity. And truthfully, it's very difficult to negate those facts. But what they have conveniently left out of the pamphlets is the nature of some, (not all....because I obviously do not believe that all Arabs are terrorists) of the people within the fence desire, yearn, and ache to kill innocent Israelis because they are, well, Israeli's.
"The Wall" on campus is up. Everyday. For hours. In a public student walkway. I have received countless of calls from friends who have walked by the wall and who have been harassed as they walk by. I can name a student who told me that he is scared to wear his kippah as he walks by, because he can't stand to hear the comments from those who are manning the booth. Listen, I'm all for equal representation on campus. If they want to spread their lies to vulnerable students who are uneducated about the situation then fine by me. But to harass a Jew because they are Jewish? Circle one of my girlfriends in the hall, inciting her into a political debate debasing and demoralizing her religion and country because she is wearing a skirt and a Magen David?! No way. So, when you're a student on a campus that is comprised of pretty much equal Jew to Muslim ratio we could not stand idly by.
So we didn't.
Basically, a bunch of Jewish kids went to Home Depot on the weekend and built a fence. An honest to goodness fence. It's probably about 15 feet long and five feet tall, and this fence is covered, I mean covered with facts. By facts I mean fifty seven pages detailing each terrorist attack in Israel, including the most recent one at Merkaz Harav, beginning in January of 2000. The Hamas Charter is bound and clipped to the wall. Posted is a list of other countries that uses a fence, just like the one in Israel, to protect their citizens from unlawful groups, just like in Israel. Slogans, stats, facts, statements, pictures...you name it. It's on the fence. When people ask how long the fence is going to stay up, we say "until rockets stop falling in Sderot". What is posted on the fence isn't anti-anyone, or pro-anything (besides for anti-terrorism. But thats a given). It displays facts. And that's why it works.
So, I'm pretty much glued to this fence. If my lap top hadn't completely died yesterday (z''l Betsy...until the techi revives you. I hope) I would be there right now. So I decided if I couldn't be there, I'd tell you guys about it. Anyways, yesterday I was manning the fence with my friend Sammy when we are approached by a guy. Early 20's, average height, clearly Arab. We begin talking, speaking our views and expressing our worries, politically and as they pertain to our respective religions. He's originally from Iran, his family fled before Ahmadinajad came into power, they just got out...it was truly a remarkable story. He is vehemently opposed to the government is power right now in Iran. He spoke of his families plight in Iran, and of his cousins suffering in Israel because of the fence. Then and there I understood the "other side", and I told him how helpless I felt sometimes because the probability of peaceful action succeeding seems so distant, so far off. I told confided to him that I didn't know if we could actually make a difference.
Then all of a sudden he looks me straight in the face, leans forward and says, "Just off the record, can I tell you something?". I looked at him and said "sure, I guess so". And he looked at me, with such truth in his eyes, and said, "SAIA doesn't stand a chance on campus. Any group that is combated with a group of Jews is toast. No one can touch you guys. Not even close. You want to know why?" And I leaned in...waiting wanting to know this certain truth that I already possessed without even knowing it and nodded. He said "You guys are so united, so together, so cohesive in your cause that at the end of the day, when you come together no matter how small your group is...no one can touch you".
It was the most incredible thing I had ever heard. Such chizuk, such strength from an outside source. And I realized, looking around at everyone standing around the fence, that we are united. Kippahs of all kinds, no kippah at all, skirts, pants, Israelis, Russian Jews, Sephardim, Ashkenazim. I thought of www.merkazmemorial.com and thought of how Dan raised over $3000 dollars in just a week! I looked again at the fence, to my peers, and finally at the Arab student who managed to give me back my strength and courage . My neshamah soared and my spirit was renewed with a sense of hope.
So, we exchanged phone numbers and information and it looks like the Arab from Iran and the Zionist Jew really could understand each other after all.
It seems as though the fence that we built really tore down some walls.
So, part in procrastination from my "real" work (aka essay after essay after essay), and part out of duty to this precious blog, i sat down at my desk in my room, look at my chumash and thought "Okay brain. Whatever page I open up to is what I am going to write about, so get prepared. You might be in for an interesting night". Where did the chumash magically open to?
דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם, כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן לָכֶם--וְשָׁבְתָה הָאָרֶץ, שַׁבָּת לַיהוָה.
שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים תִּזְרַע שָׂדֶךָ, וְשֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים תִּזְמֹר כַּרְמֶךָ; וְאָסַפְתָּ, אֶת-תְּבוּאָתָהּ.
וּבַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת, שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן יִהְיֶה לָאָרֶץ--שַׁבָּת, לַיהוָה: שָׂדְךָ לֹא תִזְרָע, וְכַרְמְךָ לֹא תִזְמֹר.
אֵת סְפִיחַ קְצִירְךָ לֹא תִקְצוֹר, וְאֶת-עִנְּבֵי נְזִירֶךָ לֹא תִבְצֹר: שְׁנַת שַׁבָּתוֹן, יִהְיֶה לָאָרֶץ.
וְהָיְתָה שַׁבַּת הָאָרֶץ לָכֶם, לְאָכְלָה--לְךָ, וּלְעַבְדְּךָ וְלַאֲמָתֶךָ; וְלִשְׂכִירְךָ, וּלְתוֹשָׁבְךָ, הַגָּרִים, עִמָּךְ
So, is it a coincidence I turned to this page? I think not, for this year is a Shemittah year in Israel. It is exactly the kind of year that the Torah itself is describing in this passage from Parashat Behar.
The Torah outlines many laws, six hundred and thirteen, to be exact. These laws span many categories from the treatment of man to man, man to G-d, the treatment of food, special days, and daily actions. Shemmitah, however, is especially unique because it outlines Bnei Yisraels' treatment of our land, Eretz Yisrael. On the most basic of levels, Shemmitah is the reminder that the land that Hashem gave to us, while ideologically and theologically it belongs to us, physically belongs to G-d. To remember this we return the land to its rightful owner once every seven years for Him to take care of, and our faith will stand as assurance that He will take proper care of it for us until the next year. For it is not the laws of nature that govern agriculture, it is G-d.
While Israel is a theologically integrated country with secular and religious Jews, there are many intricate laws pertaining to Shemmitah in modern times so as to safeguard and protect the innate holiness of this year and to not accidentally transgress this law. Many of these laws, however, are overlooked by the majority of the population that live in Israel. The minority, who do pay attention to the intricate laws, are in disagreement over the proper way to observe the law of Shemittah and have established four different categories of produce to buy during the year, each one with its own Rabbinical stamp of approval. As the saying goes, "when you have two Jews you have three opinions".
Shemmitah plays a unique role in modern day Israel. Israel is largely an agricultural country and has made stridesin inventions for farming under strenuous Middle Eastern conditions. This law is meant to strengthen our belief in the land and our faith and trust in Hashem. What it does, however, is wreak havoc on our economy every seven years. Those who are observant enough to care about the law resort to importing produce from neighboring countries, buying from non-Jewish farmers, and essentially "in sourcing" their produce. Those who chose to do so benefit from not having to worry about all of the intricate laws pertaining to "kedushat sh'viyit" produce . You can buy "kedushat sh'viyit" or "holy seventh year" produce, which is essentially organic produce grown in Israel under observant Shemmitah laws, untouched by the modern farmer. But this produce tends to run out partway through the year, and becomes very expensive. Or, if you are indifferent to the laws of Shemmitah, you can continue to produce your fruits and vegetables as a farmer, or to buy them as a consumer.
This can't possibly what Hashem had intended for Shemmitah. As far as I can see, it has splintered Bnei Yisrael into different categories. Again, it is our own disunity that is our downfall. This law is meant to strengthen our faith in Hashem and in the land, yet we defile the land and its holiness. Whether it is in attempt to surpass the laws of Shemittah by importing goods from another country, or by ignoring the laws of Shemmitah altogether and continuing to work the land, we are moving ourselves further and further away from the essence of the mitzvah-to strengthen our faith in G-d, that the primary force of G-d in this world is Himself, and not the laws of nature. That He Himself governs the laws of nature.
Now in no way am I suggesting an economical breakdown for how the Shemittah year should run. I'm a mythology major, I don't do number. I strictly do letters. Yet I think the lesson we can derive from this very important halacha is twofold. First, the incredible power that we have in even considering this mitzvah. Only a short sixty years ago it was impossible to even think of performing this mitzvah. Our country was not ours and sovereign and we had no religious jurisdiction to reinstate the laws pertaining to the land if we were not living within it. Realizing that comes with incredible responsibility, which leads into the second lesson. With this realization comes the power that with only sixty short years, as a nation, we have continue to splinter ourselves further with the discord over halacha, rather than letting it be our unifying factor.
To Act (v)-to do something; exert energy or force; be employed or operative: He acted promptly in the emergency. |
March 5, 2008.
The beating in my heart thuds in unison with every Jewish heart in the world, and this Shabbat eight families will be without their sons. This has become more personal than ever before, a terrorist attack at Merkav Harav, the yeshivah founded by Rav Kook,our states first religious Zionist who’s love for Israel still continues to pulse within Israel. In almost every attack on Israel there has been a charm attached to their bracelet of destruction: “[fill in major terrorist organization name here] claimed responsibility for the attack”. Their pride in destruction brings my blood to a boil, and tears at my soul.
In history there have been various stereotypes of Jews. Weak. Vulnerable. But our proud history shows that we have strong fighters and leaders. Yehuda. The Maccabim. Yoni Netenyahu, a man who was killed saving Jews because “if we don’t, no one else will”. It is time that we call upon Hashem and our great heroes in our history to help us fight this war.
At this particular time in history it is imperative that we be critical of ourselves, as a nation and as individuals. The simple fact is that we aren’t doing enough. Sure, we can be critical of the IDF, put the responsibility of our great states failure on the current or recent governmental decisions. But what it really comes down to is our disunity. It is our own failure that we have not yet realized that we have the power to repair the world, tikkun olam.
I never said it would be easy, but it’s easier than you think. In today’s society what it synonymous with power? You could be so immersed in the Diaspora to immediately answer that question with the word money. But I will replace money with power that no dollar can buy: Education. The internet, television, newspapers. World media. It takes a pretty penny for them to produce news, but it’s virtually a free power in our society that hardly hands you anything without a price tag. Now with all that knowledge what do you do? Use it. You are all citizens of the world, and the great majority of you are students in Universities. Now if you are like me and you go to a university that is as culturally and religiously diverse as York then you know what you are up against. United we stand, divided we fall.
Advocate for Israel on your campus, educate others. Awareness is an active noun. It knows. It walks. It screams. You can be that person who actually knows all the facts when debating a biased argument against Israel. If we pair education and action with prayer then we can start gluing together the broken pieces of our generation. We cannot let our generation be remembered as the ones who stood back, cowered and watched while [fit terrorist organization name here] tears our country and our nation apart. They may physically try and destroy us, but it is our responsibility to reinforce Am Yisrael with action. Start a campaign for Sderot, hold rallies and fly in speakers to your universities. Seek out the organizations on campus and in your community that are willing to help you. Hasbara, Hillel, your synagogue. You will be surprised to find how easy it is to raise money and to actually start something. That is what it means to be Jewish, to be a part of a network, a team, a nation.
Feel responsible. Feel for your people. Cry, daven, stand up, and then go act. For you hold the hope of Am Yisrael in your hand.
Display Name : Kaley
Gender: Female
Birthday: July 22, 1988/ 8 Av.
HomeTown: Richmond British Columbia Canada.
Current City of Residence: Toronto Ontario Canada.
Favorite City outside of Jerusalem: Whistler British Columbia Canada.
Yeshiva/Seminary Attended: Machon Maayan Shanah Alef and Bet (September 2006-December 2007).
Occupation: Student at York University for a Bachelor of Arts. I am doing a Double Major in Communications and World Religions.
Freestyle Description: After eighteen years in Vancouver and a year and a half in Israel, I'm at York University in Toronto to get two sought after letters, one B, and one A. My B.A. After that I intend to make aliyah no matter the conditions. Then live happily ever after. Or something like that.
Favorite Music : I'm really just going to break it down into different groups; bests, if you will (established by yours truly) and place the top one or two groups/bands/people into each one: Classic Rock: Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix. Most Hardcore: Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin. Oldies: Frank Sinatra, Billy Holiday. R&B: Ray Charles. Every Second, Every Minute, Every Hour Music: Dave Mathews Band. Best Boy Band: Lev Tahor. Best Settlement Music: Moshav Band . Best Dance Music: Michael Jackson, George Michael. Best Cover Band: String Quartet. The Band That I Hate The Most (but secretly love with a passion): Fall Out Boy. Best Chops Nowadays: Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera. The Best Little Band That Does (Not could...because that implies that they aren't...and they so are): The White Stripes. The Best Airport Music: Iron and Wine. Best Foreign: Arctic Monkeys. Best Artists to Hum To (most probably because you don't know the words): Feist. The Most Overrated: Justin Timberlake. Best Poet: David Grey.
Other greats that don't necessarily fit into any category, they are just great enough to recieve an honourable mention are: AKA Pella, Aerosmith, Ben Harper, Cream, Dispatch, The Doors, Gwen Stefani, Lauryn Hill, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, The Velvet Underground.
*Don't get insulted by any of my picks people. These are not absolutes, they are just the absolute picks in my opinion. But how much of my opinion actually counts to you? I thought so.
Favorite Book: East of Eden, John Steinbeck. Genesis, G-d. Everything Is Illuminated, Jonathan Safran Foer. Harry Potter Series, J.K Rowling. Oh, The Places You'll Go, Dr. Seuss. The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism, Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin. Kavalier and Clay, Michael Chabon.
Random Questions:
1. When you hesitate before hitting snooze on your alarm clock, are you being lazy?
No, not really because I set my snooze for about four snooze worths (is that a legit measurement? I think so...) before I actually need to get up. So no, I'm not being lazy. I think I'm being pretty practical.
2. What's the earliest you've gotten up to watch cartoons and what did you see?
My siblings and I were never allowed to watch cartoons in the morning. But Recess on channel 48 at five after school was always super clutch. "Because being a kid isn't all about education...you need a little recess every 2 classes"-Mikey.
3. What is your dream vacation?
Clear visibility, negative seven, zero wind factor, four inches of fresh powder, fresh wax on my skis, my iPod fully charged and me, standing at the top of the Whistler peak looking down and never looking back.
Click here to view Kaley's posts
