independence

Today is Israel's Independence Day, with celebrations nationwide to commemorate the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Last night in Beer Sheva was a sight to behold - a ginormous street party with fireworks, live music, dancers and performers, numerous food stands, and a carnival-like atmosphere. Since I've lived here I have not imagined such an event could take place in our seedy little armpit of the Negev Desert. Yet anything is possible in the name of independence, and any place can become beautiful with the right perspective. What a wonderful time of celebration, seeing so many people gathering together in a positive family atmosphere.

Independence is an amazing phenomenon which is not fully experienced by everyone in the world, and unfortunately may never be. In addition to self-government and self-rule as often associated with independence of a country, independence can also be defined as "self-determination, sovereignty, autonomy, freedom, liberty, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, financial independence, comfort, and ease." As a single American woman who owns two businesses, one of my greatest strengths is my independence. Many people base their lives on some form of dependence, on another person, an employment system, an organization or affiliation, a home or vehicle, etc. However in order to achieve the amazing freedoms of life, it is not required that a person live in a free country such as America, or have a lot of "friends", a spouse, or even a good job. Freedom is a state of mind, and your life decisions are your own. Nobody can make you become something which you don't let them.

I was thinking about going to the beach in Tel Aviv today, to celebrate Israel's Independence Day. But I realized that I can go any another time when there are less crowds, because the beach will still be there, and I have the freedom in my life to do so. Having the day off from university is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate my own personal independence. I have so much to be thankful for as an American, and the amazing opportunity to travel freely and study abroad. In addition to celebrating my own independence and that of the nation of Israel, I am looking forward to returning to my home country in 2 months, just in time for OUR Independence Day, July 4.

the race

The French Presidential race is reaching its climax, with the first round of elections just two days away. Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy has been the frontrunner ever since he entered the race, with socialist Segolene Royal moving in at a close second. Other candidates in the running include center-right hopeful Francois Bayrou and far-right nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen. Although Sarkozy has what it takes to win the race, many are skeptical that the results will be closer than polls project. The French use a two-round election system, with the first round on April 22, and the second round on May 6, only necessary if someone does not win the majority vote in the first round. The first-round campaigning has ended, giving the public an extra day to clear their heads (without listening to additional propaganda) before the actual voting takes place.

When running an important race like a marathon, most runners train extensively prior to the big event. For many of them, its not about winning or losing, but rather being properly conditioned to finish in a decent position. They train every day, stretching, running and working out, eating well and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle. In a presidential race, there can only be one winner. Each of the candidates prepares themselves for such a race in order to outrun the others by winning the most public support. In this kind of race, you are dependent upon other people to determine the outcome.

In the race of life, trying to outrun someone can wear you out if you're not properly conditioned. Think about your own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of your competition. Do you have the stamina, the health and vigor required to endure in the final stretch? Will you settle for second place, or perhaps even a very sweet tie? Life is full of competitions, but the way you chose to train and your overall outlook towards the finish line will help propel you in the right direction. Strengthen your mind, body, and spirit every day, because you never know when you will be required to compete in a very important race.

remember the holocaust

Last night and today in Israel, many stores and establishments were closed (including my gym) to remember the thousands of Jews who were brutally tortured and murdered in the holocaust during the 1940s. At 10am the country honored a moment of silence and observation, for some people this lasted an hour until 11am. I had classes and business as usual, but wore black in memory of those who died. My father's father was German Jew, and his family immigrated to America just before that timeframe. Being one-quarter Jewish is a reality that I cannot escape, although I am not Jewish by religion (I am a Christian), it is part of my heritage that I am learning more about every day. I am truly blessed with the opportunity to live in Israel, God's promised land for the Jews.

There are some extremists throughout the world such as Mahmoud Ahmedinijad who deny that the Holocaust ever happened (read more here). In the same way, there are also those who deny Israel's right to exist. I wonder sometimes if these people assume that by negating history (actual factual evidence of events that have occurred throughout time) that they will somehow change it. Pretty soon if you have enough people who subscribe to your lies, you can create an alternate reality in which people are basing their own existence on hearsay.

This reminds me of a situation in my personal life where a person told lie upon lie, and spread the poison like wildfire among a social circle. To my knowledge it is still being spread, and those who choose to listen and subscribe to it are letting the negative energy control their thoughts. The important thing for me however, is that I am grounded in the truth and clothed in righteousness (a special fire-proof suit). The same kind of thing can happen in our world today. Those who know the truth, who have read the history books and even the Bible, will KNOW the truth as FACT and be able to negate the lies that are fed to them from the media and various political figures. Thank you God that I live in a world so full of diversity that those who seek truth and righteousness may be rewarded, and can even help others to attain a greater understanding.

middle east 101

• If you hear of anyone who does not recognize Israel's "right to exist", you might suggest that they take a history class, or read a book.
• If anyone offers you a free place to live or stay, WALK AWAY before you discover the strings attached.
• If anyone asks you to marry them (and promise you the world) after you have known them only one or two days, WALK AWAY.
• If you meet anyone who reminds you of your ex-husband in more ways than one, only reincarnated as an Arab, WALK AWAY.
• If you encounter anyone named Mohammed or Amir, WALK AWAY before revealing any details about your personal life - or avoid them entirely if possible.
• Note that the word "Hello" when yelled loudly usually means "watch out or I am going to run you over with my motorized cart in this narrow market alleyway", and not "hey how's it going, buddy".
• Note that the word "Habibi" (in Arabic "my love") has multiple meanings and should be used freely as an important part of the culture, especially if you don't mind taking risks of being misinterpreted.
• If a Bedoin asks you to give or receive a massage, WALK AWAY.
• And finally, never give anyone your phone number who offers to "help you" with ANYTHING including the language. You will acquire more stalkers than you know what to do with.

common israelis

Recently, I have had the opportunity to meet many wonderful new Israeli friends (to include "legal" Israeli Arabs), mostly outside of the university. Being that I'm quickly nearing completion of my program of study, the timing for meeting new friends couldn't be better (distractions are less of a problem at this point). In addition, I have been able to explore parts of the country with a new sense of freedom, without anything unnecessary weighing me down (eg "the tunnel"). This "out with the old, in with the new" energy has manifest itself in so many ways. As seen in recent posts, spending days at a time in Jerusalem has proven to be healthy for my body, mind, and spirit.

Today I spent the afternoon with a new friend. She is an Israeli graduate student, about my age, who works on campus. I wondered why I'd never met her before, though she had seen me once before under less positive circumstances. We went into town together today to take care of some things, and had a wonderful conversation. She had traveled around and lived in the US for a few years, among the cities she resided in was (America's Finest City) MY San Diego for 6 months! She knew many of the places in which I have lived and worked, and gave me a happy reminder of home.

The opportunity to live and study in Israel is such a wonderful experience. Culturally in many ways Israel is Western, but there is so much that is very different, that I "trip out" on! My friend and I walked into a store together (similar to a convenience store) so she could by cigarettes, but it contained only cigarettes, a variety of lottery tickets, and a wall full of liquor (as if they would serve you while making your ticket selection). After looking around the place, I commented to her "they have alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling"! She laughed, and understood my alarm at the common israeli "conveniences". Actual convenience stores (small corner stores) here are more like full grocery stores, but of course with fewer selections than the standard American supermarket. Spending even an hour in any Israeli city will provide an American with a broadened view of their culture... its not only about the conflicts between Jews and Arabs, but a very interesting place overall. I will continue to absorb all i can, and enjoy the wonderful unique opportunity that I have here.

lyrical miracles

spending Easter weekend in Jerusalem, the city where Jesus lived, died, and rose again was a truly amazing experience. I attended two Easter services (one in English and one in Arabic) at the Garden Tomb, the place where Jesus was buried. Besides the World Cup in Germany last summer, the festivities of this week in Jerusalem was the most international event I have ever been a part of. There were people from all over the world who traveled to the Holy Land for this holy celebration. Though many of the people were of different denominations and the city was immersed in excessive fanfare, our reason for celebrating was the same - the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus performed many miracles while on the earth, throughout the land of Israel. Whether you recognize him as a prophet, a teacher, God in flesh, or just a random carpenter, you can't deny that these events were truly miraculous. For those who don't include the New Testament in their Bibles, or who follow a different set of scriptures altogether, such as the Koran or other religious theology, the message that Jesus shared was one of faith, hope, love, and truth. Following is an excerpt from my personal journal, often lyrical in nature, of a reflection on my thoughts during the Holy weekend in the Holy City.

The city is where you find yourself, God, the world, a culmination of all that is truth, a celebration of life. In my life these words reflect my true inner nature. individuality. independence. holiness. purity. beauty. righteousness. truth. fidelity. cleanliness. Godliness. Allah akhbar (God is the greatest). Be honest with yourself. Nurture yourself. Clothe yourself in humility. Bask in the truth. Your soul resonates the holiness within, a reflection of your inner voice. Embrace life. Meet people. Enjoy their company. Share stories to confirm your own beliefs. Never sacrifice your individuality, values, or goals for another person. Live your faith. Embody the Divine. Exceed your earthly limitations. Remember your family, cherish those you hold dear to you. Detatch from drama and frivolity. Be grounded in truth. Re-affirm your foundation. Be captivated by the present. Dismiss the past, but hold on to the memories. Dream for the future but do not make plans, for the future is fleeting. Be here now. Be yourself, the unique individual whom no one else can define.

holy spectacle

The Church of the Holy Sepelchure in Jerusalem was "the place to be" this Good Friday. I've always thought of this place as having a lot of unnecessary frills and fanfare, and with the Holy Days upon us, last night was no exception. The Holy spectacle to behold encompassed the remembrance of the death of Jesus Christ, with many different sects of Christianity and Catholicism represented in their own unique way. The entire facility was wall-to-wall people, celebrating their Holy Lord and the sacrifice he paid for all upon the earth.

Inside the church, there were numerous processional groups, one Coptic from Egypt, others various branches of Catholicism, singing their songs and wearing traditional clothing. The spectacle was complete with TV screens, cameras and special lighting, amidst the candles and lanterns already used to light the scene. Outside the church the courtyard was jammed full, with a rectangular walkway blocked off for the holy processional. This was certainly a sight to behold; a mock-funeral processional for Jesus, complete with coffin, flowers, incense, men wearing traditional robes and carrying banners and large ornate crosses. As formal as the procession was, it was still quite moving and meaningful for all in attendance.

Today, the streets of the Old City were jam-packed and most of the walkways were completely blocked off, compliments of the Israeli Police and IOF. It was not possible to go inside the Church of the Holy Sepelchure unless you had spent the night inside (which I had considered as an option), and people were not permitted to pass anywhere nearby. Fortunately, I met a local man who accompanied me around through all the back streets and walkways, and I enjoyed our adventure together. At one point however, we were just trying to get back to the place I was staying, when we got stuck for about 1/2 hour in a very tight crowd. By the end I almost fainted, as I am claustrophobic, and just as we emerged, we were met with a crowd on fire. The long-awaited moment of the "light coming out" of the Church, in which everyone carried lit bunches of Holy candles, to represent the Light going out into all the world. I thought my hair was going to catch on fire, but I was truly safe, with my private tour guide and surrounded by people celebrating this Holy event together.

dancing nancies

In the lyrics of the popular Dave Matthews Band song, Dancing Nancies, "could i have been a parking lot attendant? could i have been anyone other than me?" and "I am who I am, well who am I?" I doubt Nancy Pelosi was asking herself these questions when she assumed her mock-Presidential status and took it upon herself to engage in a diplomatic tour of the Middle East. Dancing around the mosques and markets of Syria in her lime-green skirt and blazer, dazzling Bashar al-Assad and company as the highest-ranking US official in the last few years to visit the banished Arab nation, who assists Iran in supplying weapons to the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah.

Strolling into Saudi Arabia wearing a lavender pants suit, Nancy asked the officials "why don't you have any women in politics in your country?" Could it be because Saudi Arabia has an ISLAMIC constitution, based on Shariya law? Could it be one of the most traditional Arab nations which despises anything Western? Could we have a little cultural, societal, religious ARAB101 for our dear grandmother Pelosi? So beautiful with her latest Western fashion, plastered make-up, not a hair out of place, head uncovered as a sign of disrespect - or simple ignorance - towards this conservative Arab Muslim culture. Last I heard, Saudi Arabia and Syria DO NOT have diplomatic relations with the US, as they have taken part in harboring terroristic persons and similarly questionable activities.

As US President George Bush and Secretary of State Condolezza Rice have visited the Middle East numerous times as of late, and are Republicans who currently RUN the country, we have enough cooks in the kitchen. Could someone kindly ask Nancy to RESPECT not only the Arab culture, its boundaries, societally and politically, but also the AMERICAN political system, in which she is NOT the President of the US or one of his assistants? After all, who IS this dancing Nancy? I hope the Arab World has provided her with a shocking reality, as it has undoubtedly been enlightened to typical American ignorance of Arab society and culture by Nancy's Western example.

west bank wonders II

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie? The birthplace of Jesus, what was once a lowly manger (feeding trough) in a stable has become the Church of the Nativity, a holy site to commemorate this miraculous event. Growing up as a Christian, I've always heard the stories about Jesus being born of a virgin, in the city of Bethlehem. But I never knew where Bethlehem was, or understood the circumstances surrounding His birth. Luke 1-2 give an account of Mary and Joseph's situation (a couple from Nazareth/Galilee area), and how they had to travel south to Judea (Bethlehem, the City of David) when it was time for her to give birth.

I had the opportunity to visit the Holy site in Bethlehem, which is currently a city in the occupied West Bank of Palestine. I took the Arab bus from Damascus gate to the border checkpoint (for 3.5 shekels), passed through the checkpoint and in to "the other side" of the wall. There I was solicited by several taxi drivers just trying to make a living, in the home of this world-renowned tourist attraction. With the help of one (who kept trying to persuade me to incorporate other activities into my mission) I finally reached the Holy place of Jesus' birth for 10 shekels (about $2.50). Largely dominated by Catholicism, the Church of the Nativity was a wonder to behold. see my photo gallery of the Holy site.

After my sacred visit, I decided to walk around Bethlehem a bit. there is a suk (market) nearby, just like the ones in all of the other major arab towns. I took it all in, embracing the wonders of the West Bank, and all of its amazing people, sights, sounds, and smells. I did a bit of shopping, and got an amazing 4 shekel falafel (about a dollar), then made my way back to the bus station. This time I took a "collective taxi" for 2 shekels (about 25 cents) back to the border checkpoint. Despite getting "lost" in the concrete maze they call security, I made it safely back across to Jerusalem, basking in the impact of the amazing experience.

quarterly angst

the old city of Jerusalem is divided into "quarters" or neighborhoods, the Christian Quarter, the Muslim or Arab Quarter, the Jewish Quarter and the Armenian Quarter. in the center is the Temple Mount or Haram al-Sharif holy to Muslims, and the Western Wall or Wailing Wall holy to Jews and Christians. I spent about an hour praying at the wall, and decided to wander around the Jewish Quarter to see if there were any open Passover meals happening. I ran into a guy I knew from a while back, named Ellie. He asked me where I was staying and I told him the Hebron Hostel. He said, aghast, "that's no place for Jews!" I told him "Im not Jewish". He appeared even more aghast. I said, "well I have Jewish lineage, but Im a Christian." He invited me to a Jewish Rabbi's house for dinner, and I accepted.

As we were walking from the Old City to the ultra orthodox Jewish neighborhood, I thought it appropriate to make small talk about my day. I told him that just before I saw him, I had already been at the wall for about an hour praying, and that God was doing some pretty amazing things in my life. He said "please don't talk about that, when we get to the Rabbi's house, and don't say anything about being a Christian". This time I was the one aghast. I told him that this was important to me, and if I were not permitted to speak about something most important in my life, then I would not speak at all. He said not to say anything at all about Jesus or Christianity because the Jews dont believe that. I said, "ok, before we get there, what do YOU believe? Do you believe Jesus was a prophet? Do you believe he healed people and performed miracles?" I also threw Mohammed in there. He became angry. He wanted nothing to do with the topic, and could not even answer the questions. I mentioned that it seemed appropriate to at least acknowledge Jesus and Mohammed as Prophets, especially here in this Holy City where there are so many different beliefs.

A short while later i mentioned I did not feel comfortable going somewhere where I knew I would not be able to talk, and would feel awkward, so I turned to leave. He (and the 3 others) strongly encouraged against it. Just then my friend Jack called and told me he was just leaving the Christian Quarter. I remembered that we had tentative plans and pried my way out of the Jewish angst. I headed over to the Arab Quarter where my hostel was located, met Jack and we went for Arab pizza (made with EGG as a topping)! then we walked over to the Christian Quarter where we met some of his friends. They were so friendly and happy to meet me. One guy said "welcome to our country, the Christian Quarter! It is the BEST Quarter in the Old City!" I enjoyed my time with them, and was free to talk about whatever I chose. After all, if you have a light to share with the world, why hide it? Even the rocks will cry out... I WILL NOT BE SILENT!

palm sunday

I had several options for Pesach (aka Spring Break). Egypt for the riots, America for opening day baseball, France for the Presidential Election race, Berlin for the EU 50th Anniversary party, Turkey just to check it out... but I chose ISRAEL, and JERUSALEM for PALM SUNDAY and Passover. I am living in the Holy Land for a reason, and its NOT to run away when something's not quite right. I finally know the REAL REASON I am in Israel (and no, its not for a SECOND Master's Degree, although that fills my time). The reason God brought me here is to live in HIS land, to experience the places written about in the Bible, to drink from Abraham's well (Beer Sheva), to walk where Jesus walked. Of course He had to shake me up a little to say "hello... welcome to MY land!"

Today was Palm Sunday, and what better place to celebrate it than the Holy City of Jerusalem. I rode in on the bus last night, insha allah, in the pouring rain. This morning I woke up bright and early and attended the Arabic-speaking Alliance church in the Old City. Though the service was in Arabic (with English translation in headphones) God was totally there. It was so exciting for me to see the words on the screen in Arabic, and to be around so many Arab Christians. It was at this service where someone informed me of the "big celebration" going on on the Mount of Olives. So I jumped on the Arab bus and headed up to Jabal a-Zeitoon, where thousands of Christians were gathered. Music played and all the saints waved palm branches singing "hosannah in the highest" as we walked across Mount of Olives, overlooking all of Jerusalem, and down Palm Sunday Road into the Lion's gate in the Old City. I had done this holy walk before (down Palm Sunday road) but not on Palm Sunday! This was especially unique because there were Christians, Roman Catholics, and Arab Christians, all together, many different denominations, cultures and languages (a lot of Italian and Greek) to celebrate JESUS.

Later tonight I went to the King of Kings Christian Church on Jaffa St with my friends from Aruba. They shared the story of Pesach and how the Jews celebrate it. Christians also adhere to most of the traditions. This was the time when the Jews were being called OUT of Egypt (coincidence I was supposed to go TO Egypt this week but myself got called out of that situation). Also they had to search their houses for the leaven... they cant eat leavened bread (must eat matza this week). the leaven represents SIN. so we have to search for ANY SIN in our lives, and GET IT OUT. We have to cut off all ties to anything which would cause us to sin. Thank you ALLAH that I am IN YOUR HOLY LAND for this most holy of celebrations. I am truly blessed, and God has revealed Himself to me in such a real way!