Jews and Intermarriage

Monday February 17, 2014

For my Jewish history on Sunday we spent a majority of class debating and discussing the issue of intermarriage. The topic started after discussing the story of Ezra in the Tanakh, Ezra was told by the king of Persia to go back to Judah and take over control. When he arrived in Judah he became really upset at the Jewish people for marrying people from outside of Judaism.

For my article this week I looked closely at the issue of intermarriage in relation to Judaism. I read an article called Intermarriage: Can Anything Be Done? By Jack Wertheimer on www.mosaic.com. The article talked about intermarriage based on how civilization developed will Judaism continue. They went into detail such as culture becoming more Americanized, and this generation has a bigger amount of freedom for their decisions. Based on what I read in this article and what we talked about in class, I really am unsure what my answer is to the question is Judaism going to end because of Intermarriage. Personally I believe that times are definitely different right now. Back in the Tanakh people married for wealth and royalties and what ever could get their family more land or animals. In modern day society, people usually married for love. Therefor who knows who you will fall in love with so how can you say you can not married anyone but Jewish people.  In the article it talks about the influence of parents on who you marry. In my personal life I was always told from a young age to marry a Jewish guy. Based on my beliefs on life and religion I see myself marrying a Jewish guy. This is not to say that because personally I want to marry a Jewish guy that if my friend or family member were to marry a non Jew that I would not approve. It really depends on the choices the couple makes and how they go about it. Overall I don’t think that the Jewish population will die because of intermarriage because the Jewish people have had their struggles in the past so its just the issue on this generation and I believe it will pass with time.

Volunteering and the Shuck

Friday February 14, 2014

EIE volunteering

EIE volunteering

The Shuck

Fresh fruit

Spices and fruit

Aroma

Today EIE volunteered at a factory. This factory is unique because a majority of their employs have mental disabilities. Unfortunately because we went on a Friday non of the employees were working. EIE helped by finishing their quota for the week.  Basically we were like little elf’s, hopefully we will make them happy when they come to work on Sunday and a majority of their work is finished! At the factory we put together plastic boxes and screwed nails into them to hold them together, I have no idea what these boxes are for but we got a lot done!

After the factory we went to the shuck, which is a giant farmers market. Of all the things I have done so far in Israel nothing has felt like Israel until I visited the shuck. Having the freedom to walk around and experience the local culture was such an eye opening experience. The interactions between the people was so different then at home. Everyone was pushing and shoving, taking food from the stands as a “taste test” but really just not paying for it.  At home we have farmers markets but this one you could see through the variety of colours and smells just how fresh and home grown the product is.  At the shuck I don’t think I stopped eating, I stated off the day with a huge falafel and laffa and continued on to have quite a few fresh out of the oven rugelach and ended the day with an Ice Aroma(I know that one is not “home grown” but I can never say no to Aroma) It was just an amazing experience to visit the shuck and I am excited to try more foods and get advancers the next time we go!

Babylonian Bash and Ben Yehuda Street

Thursday February 13, 2014

left to right ( Carmel, Avi, Emma, Naomi, Me, Amit) 

Ben Yehuda street

Today for Jewish history class we did class a little differently then usually. We all participated in the sorrow of the distraction of the first temple by throwing a Babylonian bash. My class all dressed in stripes and sang songs to grieve. I really enjoyed class today because it was a creative way to teach the distraction of the first temple.  As a visual learner physically “mourning” the loss of the temple and the lesson we learned that day will forever be stuck in my head. When studying for the test it will be easier for me to remember what happened when the temple was destroyed because the Babylonian bash will spark my memory.

Today is Thursday that means its night out! Today we went to Ben Yehuda street! Ben Yehuda is a street with lots of small boutiques and food stores. I also got to have my fist falafel since being here (it took almost three weeks) and OMG was it worth the wait, just the freshness of the food was to die for! I officially feel like I am in Israel because I have experience the world known Israeli falafel. On Ben Yehuda street I also did my first shopping, I got a blue humsa necklace.  

Jew's and Parenting

In Jewish history class this week I read an article called, Parents need not apply (but they can certainly help). This article discussed the issue of how far parents should go to help their kids in school. The author talked a lot about parents editing their kid’s work and if the parents change the work if it’s still the kids work. Personally, I see no problem with parents editing their kid’s work. Having a parent edit their kids work allows the kids to see the mistakes they are making in their work and be able to avoid that mistake in the future. I believe parents are an excellent resource to use and kids should take full advantage of them. It is important that students learn to be an advocate for them selves and if by getting a parent to edit their work will allow them to do better in school they should take advantage of that. I often get my work edited by my parents but I see it as them picking up on mistakes that I did not catch. Also having a parent edit their child’s work could help broaden the student’s train of thought so that they can create better work. It is also a good sign when a kid asks their parent for help because it shows they know and acknowledge when they need help.  The article never did give an answer it just left the question open for readers to think about.

City Of David

Sunday February 9, 2014

We have officially been here fore two weeks! It’s crazy how just after two weeks I already feel such a strong connection to the friends I have made! At the beginning, it was hard getting into the routine and getting over the jet lag but it’s starting to feel like home and these crazy 70 kids I meet two weeks ago are my family and will be for the next four months! Today we went on a all day Tiyul to the city of David. It was so cool to walk though the streets and really feel the history in the neighborhood. We also got to walk though an under ground tunnel that was the length of five foot ball fields. I think the best part of EIE  is instead of learning about Israel though a text book we get to go to the physical cite and learn the history while physically being there. This definitely comes in handy when studying for my Jewish history test on Wednesday, normally fore me it is hard to study for a test when surrounded by friends but here it is really cool because all 70 of us came together and helped each other study which is an opportunity that you cant get at school at home.