Day Twelve of the War
Today was the first day of the second summer session at the Conservative Yeshiva so we had a short orientation in the Beit Midrash (literally, "house of study" but really a garden-level classroom) before classes began this morning. Along with directions to the bathrooms and a basic security overview, the new students were given extra kudos for choosing to travel to Israel despite the war.
It was wonderful to discover that only a few students who had signed up for the second summer session decided not to come. By talking to a few students that did come, we found that all struggled with their decision and they had many emotional conversations with friends and family before boarding their planes.
And yet, in Jerusalem, it is still safe. Our Hebrew teacher commented on that today, saying it is very unusual for Jerusalem to be the safest place in Israel. I was also surprised to learn in our Hebrew class today that two students who decided to stay for the entire summer promised their parents that they wouldn't leave Jerusalem.
Feeling safe and strangely unaffected by the war, many students have been wondering how they can help support Israel during the war. One student decided to single-handedly save the economy by going on a present-buying shopping spree. Go girl! Another student said she was going to head up north today to see if she could volunteer. That didn't sound like such a good idea to me.
A rabbi at the CY told us that about twelve families from the north have temporarily moved into his area of Jerusalem, so there's a tzedakah box in the Beit Midrash that we can donate money into to buy these families warm meals. I'm also planning on going next Thursday to pack some dry food boxes for poor families. On Friday, I think Jean and Matt are going to a nursing home to spend some time with the residents; I haven't decided if I'm going yet, I'm just not very good at small talk :(
It was wonderful to discover that only a few students who had signed up for the second summer session decided not to come. By talking to a few students that did come, we found that all struggled with their decision and they had many emotional conversations with friends and family before boarding their planes.
And yet, in Jerusalem, it is still safe. Our Hebrew teacher commented on that today, saying it is very unusual for Jerusalem to be the safest place in Israel. I was also surprised to learn in our Hebrew class today that two students who decided to stay for the entire summer promised their parents that they wouldn't leave Jerusalem.
Feeling safe and strangely unaffected by the war, many students have been wondering how they can help support Israel during the war. One student decided to single-handedly save the economy by going on a present-buying shopping spree. Go girl! Another student said she was going to head up north today to see if she could volunteer. That didn't sound like such a good idea to me.
A rabbi at the CY told us that about twelve families from the north have temporarily moved into his area of Jerusalem, so there's a tzedakah box in the Beit Midrash that we can donate money into to buy these families warm meals. I'm also planning on going next Thursday to pack some dry food boxes for poor families. On Friday, I think Jean and Matt are going to a nursing home to spend some time with the residents; I haven't decided if I'm going yet, I'm just not very good at small talk :(
posted by Jen | 10:23 AM
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