Again, it's been almost a month, and I'm a bad person for not writing more often, but I can't tell you all how busy things have been. Since I last wrote Jerusalem has seen snow... a lot of snow, and it was great. We had a retreat at Ein Gedi (by the Dead Sea) with the Israeli Rabbinical students, and I volunteered for a weekend working with EIE, a group of high school students that are here for the semester. All of these were great, and pictures are now up, I promise. We're working hard on getting ready for our trip to Kiev, Moscow, and Minsk during Passover. I'll be going to Kiev, and from there I'll travel to smaller towns, help lead Passover seders, teach a little, but mainly just learn from them and see how a Jewish world is being rebuilt.
So, the big question is, what are Georgie's plans going to mean for you? How can you be in Israel? Do you feel safe? All I can tell you is today I was downtown buying supplies for my Purim costume, and it was one of the greatest scenes I've seen. Children in costume (they wear their costumes for a whole week here) people playing music and dancing. People here have more to worry about than Saddam, and I have to be honest with you, I feel safer here than I would anywhere. Is it naive? Probably. But I know that I'm in a country that is ready for anything that could come. I'm in a community that is there for eachother and supportive of one another, and most importantly, I'm home. Where else would you want to be in a time of trouble. So, for those of you who are worried, just know that I've never been happier, and while I can't wait to see you all when I return, for now, this is where I am and this is where I belong. And one more thing, don't watch cnn ;-)
Well, that's all I really have to say. Purim is Tuesday and Wednesday. My birthday is Wednesday, and all you can do is live, be happy, and take what comes to you. The challenge in life is realizing how miniscule the things that happen to us as individuals really are. Furthering that challenge is taking those things that happen and making them as positive we can in the overall scheme of things. I hope you all can take whatever may come, take it in perspective, and make the best of it,
Chag Sameach,
Joel
So, a lot has happened since I last wrote, but I think by now the only people checking are my parents anyway. Right before Passover we had a class trip to the Negev. It was a nice break and we all had a great time. The day after we got back I left for Ukraine. During the week and a half I was in Kiev, Vinnitsa, Chernovtsy, Poltava, and Uman. We worked with communities seeing what the Progressive Jewish communities were doing and how they were growing (and most of them really are). We lead seders and taught and sang and had a great time.
Now I'm back in Jerusalem for one more month. I leave May 28. I can't believe that the year here is over. It has been such an amazing experience and now I'm starting to worry about final projects and packing.
Unfortunately, as things are getting busy, I think this may be my last update to the website, but I promise that I will show pictures when I get back, and if people I won't see right away want, I'll put some more up when I get back.
All I can say is thank you to all of you for caring and know that your support has meant so much to me throughout the whole year. This has been an experience that I will never fully be able to explain, but thank you for giving me the chance to try.
Joel