Why Do Some of Us Make Aliyah and Others Do Not?

WestBankMama is maming a collection of why people have made aliyah links. So here's my story.

I never intended to make aliyah. I was on par to finish college in America before I was 20. I was enjoying life in Providence, RI, in a joint yeshiva/college program, and I was planning on dropping the yeshiva and doing the college full time. When I suggested this to my parents they countered with a "why don't you go to Israel?" I talked to friends of mine that were in yeshiva here, and they were all having fun, so I figured why not. I would still be able to go to Israel for a year and graduate before I was 21, still a bit ahead of the game.
I came here after Sukkot 2001, a month after the Twin Towers went down and during a really bad intifida year. I was in a charaidi yeshiva in northern Jerusalem. I tried to get into the learning, but I really wasnt into it. I spent most of my time hanging out with my friends in Jerusalem and touring the country. That winter, on a Saturday night, I was on my way to meet some friends, and was about to pass through town when three suicide bombers went off and killed 10 people and injured hundreds. I saw it all firsthand. A month or so later I was in town and had to run away from a Palestinian who opened fire on Yaffo street. As I ran I thought "if I would have had a gun I could have stopped him". These incidents helped me to decide I wanted to go to the army, in addition, I felt that it was my responsibilty that just as I was able to tour freely and enjoy myself at the expense of the soldiers guarding us, it was my turn to guard so others could be free. I switched to a Hesder Yeshiva and went into the army with the guys from there. At that point, although I had never made a formal decision, I knew I could never live in America again. I officially tied the knot with this country when I married my Israeli wife, and although I am still in university and not planning on finishing for at least another year, making aliyah was a decision I have not regretted at all.

Chiloni Weddings

Here's the thing I dont like about Chilone weddings. the Chattan and Kalla are hanging out, then they say, see you in a second, and then they walk down the aisle and see each other. Not so exciting. Not like relig weddings, where the chatan and Kalla havent seen each other in a week, and when the kalla walks down the aisle it is truly exciting. What I do like is that you can dance with your wife. weddings celebrate the unity of man and woman. So why do we force men and women to be seperate? Another weird thing, which I've seen a few times, is when they break the glass. We break the glass in memory of Jerusalem of Old. Because no celebration is complete as long as Jerusalem is not rebuilt with the Temple. But in chiloni weddings they like to say that it's a shattered world out there, and the chattan and kalla stand on top of that world united, to make it a better place. Where does that come from??? Another thing I learned tonight is how good ice coffee and vodka go together. So if this isnt coherent there's yor reason why. Layla Tov to all.

Pictures from Student Day

BET HABUBOT-NOTICE OLD MAN ON LEFT. You can't tell from this picture, but he looks about 70. Man with hat. Also from Bet habubot.
Ultraviolet experience.
Us with Mosh ben Ari behind us. I am entirely burnt from a day on the beach in Tel Aviv with Cuz Bobby

Student Day

Last nigth was Bar Ilan's student day. Student day is a day when classes are cancelled from the afternoon, and the student council arranges a massive concert/fair. There's some rides and games, a lot of stands selling stuff, and very overpriced food. I went with Shan and Cuz Bobby, who just finished his birthright trip and is hanging out for a few weeks here. The night started with Mosh Ben Ari jamming away. We were standing right next to the stage, feeling the music (and the drinks). then Shan's favorite new band come on; Bet Habubot. They played another awesome set, which ended way too quickly. We were joined then by soem friends, including MenACHEM and British Adina. Then we wandered around while Miri Misika and Ivri Lider sang. Their music is more singy and less jamming, and not nearly as good as the first two sets. There was one show called the ultraviolet experience which everyone was running to go see. We got to the front and they gave us tickets to see the show in two hours, and a coupon for a free lighter. We picked up the lighters, which were very cool and butane, and then I burned someone. Those lighters get really hot fast! But we invited her for dinner on Shavout, so I felt a little better. The ultraviolet experiance turned out to be a total dud, it was a dark room with a few dancers playing with ultra violet lights. Sounds as dumb as it was. Turns out, they were promoting a new kind of cigarette. I found that rather odd. I think they were sending subliminal messages the whole time. I havent donestarted smoking yet, so maybe they havent affected me. The last concert of the night was Shalom Chanoch with Aviv Gefen. It was way too heavy metal, we werent impressed at all, so we went home. All in all, an excellent student day as always!

High School Holiday

I went out today to celebrate Yom Yerushalayim the traditional way-dancing in the streets of Jerusalem to the Kotel and dancing more once I get there-but I felt out of place. I met a friend who was already there, and together we stood on the side and realized that everyone around us was either in high school or younger. This may by the first time I've ever felt old. My friend left after a bit and I looked towards the Old City debating if I wanted to go-and decided against. I no longer read the Mah Nishtana, no longer get candy at shul, and now I dont do the dance to the Kotel.
I went to a concert last night in honor of Yom Yerushalayim. Many of our top performers were there, including Sarit Haddad, Shlomi Shabbat, and Kochav Nolad (Israeli Idol) stars. At the end there was fireworks, and as Shan and I lay on the ground watching them right on top of us, I thought, what is Yom Yerushalyim. To me, it has always been Yom Ha'atzmauts more religious brother. Yom Haatzmaut we BBQ and party, Yom Yerushalayim we go to the Kotel and pray. The whole holiday (or so I think) is celebrating that "Har Habayit B'yadainu", the Temple Mount is in our hands. That is of purely religious significance. So why are we celebrating with a concert in the park? But I looked around and noticed the mixture of people that were there, a mixture of charaidi, dati leumi, and not religious people, all sitting together on the grass watching, and realized this may be what it's for. 39 years ago Jerusalem was united. But the people are still divided, each living in their own world or sect, with minimal if any connection to any other groups around. But here, there was unity. Everyone sitting together, and enjoying themselves. And the concert was great!
There is a lot of music coming right now from Mercaz HaRav next door. Maybe I can dance in the streets with people more in my age bracket :-)

Zionism Reconsidered

I went to my favorite book store the other say desperate for something new to read. I have gotten sick of novels, so it made finding a book a lot more difficult. Usually I just pick up a Grisham/Clancy/Kellerman book, but they have all turned into the same book for me and I needed something new. I ended up finding a book called Zionism Reconsidered. It has around ten essays on why Zionism is wrong, from Achad Ha'am to the late Lubavitcher Rebbe. Being a born-again Zionist (Neo-zionist maybe?), I think this will make for interesting reading. I don't think this book will turn me against my zionist beliefs, but it should be interesting. More about this later

Happy Yom Yerushalayim-more about that later as well!

Thoughts at the Grocery

Things I wish we had here: Oreo non-chocolate cookies, ziploc bags, Claussen pickles
Thing I miss the most: Light beer. Why can't we have light beer?!?! and when you ask for Ligh beer they think you want white beer, as opposed to goldstar, which is a dark beer. Do they not make carlsperg or heineken light? or do we just not import them??
Things I'm glad we have: Tivol brand frozen food, especially the mushroom and cheese one, milk in a bag (dont know why, but I'm a big fan),
Things I wonder: How much do oranges cost in America? I paid 3 shek for a kilo (about 30 cents a pound).
Things that make me laugh: Every time they ask if I want to do a payment plan on my grocery purchases.

Crappy Day

Most days have ups and downs, some good things happening, some bad, and it all balances out to make up a day. Yesterday was just crappy. To start off with, I had to go to class at 8, which means getting up around 6. then I had Hebrew class, which is definitely the biggest waste of 4 hours possible. We learn things like how to write a paper in Hebrew. (Hint: It's like writing a paper in English...only in hebrew!) Towards evening I went out jogging, and after about ten minutes, realized I didnt have my cell phone. I raced home to make sure it wasnt there, and of course, it wasnt. So I took Shan's phone to call mine and see if I could fnd it. Then I remembered that I had put it on silent when I went to Maariv so I wouldnt be able to hear it anyway. So I walked and called it hoping I would see the light from the phone. After about four calls, the phone turned off. Being as it was on full battery, it didn't die. So it was either hit by a car or taken. Another slow walk along the path I took, and I determined that someone had my phone. I sent a text message to the phone saying I would pay whoever found it, and we called the cellphone company at the same time. The minute we told them it was gone they blocked it, so whoever has it cant even read the message! So even if he would want to return it, he wouldnt know how.

Point of this all is, I dont have anyones phone number, so email me your phone number.
stillruleall@yahoo.com

WOW

A Qassam rocket, one of three fired at Israel Sunday morning, struck a school classrom in the Negev town of Sderot, but the pupils were away at morning prayers at the time and there were no injuries, witnesses said.

"It landed in one of the classrooms, but all of the students were still at prayers, and the classrooms were still locked," said witness Shay Yisrael. "It was a great miracle, there was tremendous emotion."

Europe Down The Tubes

Eurovision was tonight. Overall the performances were very poor. Israel managed to get 2nd to last place, which is actually pretty hard to do. Only France gave them points. I voted for Lithuania, whose lyrics were "We are going to win the Eurovision". The winner was what we thought was the worst group possible, yet they won by a huge margin. You know how punk rock was kinda cool for maybe a half a year in the 80's in America? Here's a picture and bit of info about the band that Europe thinks is the best. Finland. I think this explains a lot about Europe as a whole.

Night of the Sirens

As we came home last night from dinner we passed two enormous bonfires in empty fields. The pyro inside of me started awakening, and then I heard the sirens. The closest thing that I can associate with Lag B'Omer is movies where Indians dance around the fire before or after fighting the white people. We walked from the bus stop to our apartment, less than a five minute walk, but still smelled like smoke when we got inside. And heard more sirens. I went on the computer and saw a blurb that a 20 year old was in the hospital in serious condition with burns all over his body from the bonfire. And I heard more sirens. Earlier in the day I watched kids setting up their bonfire. One of them had an old wooden cabinet that he was trying to stand up as a middle beam for his bonfire. He stood it up, and then it came crashing down the other side where another kid was standing. Very luckily, the little kid on the other side dove away in time and didn't get crushed. All this, for a Christian or pagan custom that is based on a typo? How sad. At least I finally got to shave...

Marginalizing Themselves

I looked at my newspaper this morning, and I was sickened by what I saw. Granted, I read Haaretz, the most left wing of all papers, but these are the facts all the same. The army needs to send jeeps and soliders to protect Palestinian children from settlers on their way home from school?? Due to earlier problems, the army had sent four soldiers to accompany the children. But even those four soldiers were not enough to stop the children from getting attacked, so now they are accompanied by five jeeps and ten soldiers.
The settlers often complain that they are being "marginalized" or "demonized" by the government in order to increase the public's approval of the disengagement plans. One case that comes to mind is the olive trees that were uprooted. The popular story is that settlers went in and destroyed Arab-owned olive trees. While no settlers were ever caught or arrested doing this, that is how the story stands. Arutz7 reported, and showed a video, of Arabs pruning their own trees. Yet another example of "settler demonization". I gave a quick glance at Arutz7 but could not find this story reported anywhere. Is it not news-worthy? Or is there no positive way to present it so it's not presented?
During such a time that settlers are being scrutinized so thoroughly, it is on them to act beyond reproach. As a protester to the Gaza disengagement, I believed the residents of Gush Katif had the moral high ground. The government sent the people there, they are the most highly patriotic citizens, etc. I was truly disgusted at how they were regarded in the papers overall, as being "obstacles to peace". etc. I don't feel the same about the residents of the West Bank. On a visit to a West bank settlement, I asked a resident why they dont have a fence. "Our fence is as far as an M16 can shoot", was his reply. That is not the answer of a person who wants to live peacefully.
Obviously I don't believe all West bank settlers have this same attitude. But the quiet ones arent the ones getting any press. With the support for the next disengagement at a very shaky point (only 60 members of the coalition support it; they need 61), it is imperative for the settlers to regain the moral high ground they have lost. They need to dismantle problmatic outposts, to publicly condemn acts of terror performed by settlers on Palestinians, and to show the country that they are not the "obstacle to peace" that they currently are portrayed as. If they continue as they are they will lose the support that they have left, at a time when they need all the support they can get.

Where Politics End

This morning I went to Har Herzl for the Yom Hazikaron tekes. The actual ceremony is at one corner of the cemetery, surrounded with tons of security, while the people that come stand in front of the graves of fallen soldiers and listen over the loudspeakers. This year I decided to go into the ceremony itself. I went through three security checks, one very tight as I had made the dumb decision of buying steel toe shoes when I was last in America. I missed the beginning of the tekes, but I was there for Ehud Olmerts speech, the laying of flowers by heads of different departments (mayor of the city, head of police, Idf, etc.) 21 gun salute, and then the singing of hatikva. While I didnt find it to be a very religious ceremony, I did find it to be very moving. Two things greatly bothered me during the ceremony. One, a girl turned to her friend as Olmert started to speak and said loudly, "let's get out of her, I dont want to waste my time listening to him." The second thing was a group of kids wearing Gush Katif T-shirts, "We wont forget, we wont forgive." There is a time and place for everything, and Har Herzl on Yom HaZikaron is not the place for any of that. As I walked into the cemetery, I thought how sad it is that the only time our nation stands together is to memorialize the dead. Why can't we stand together and help secure our future?

Where Politics End

This morning I went to Har Herzl for the Yom Hazikaron tekes. The actual ceremony is at one corner of the cemetery, surrounded with tons of security, while the people that come stand in front of the graves of fallen soldiers and listen over the loudspeakers. This year I decided to go into the ceremony itself. I went through three security checks, one very tight as I had made the dumb decision of buying steel toe shoes when I was last in America. I missed the beginning of the tekes, but I was there for Ehud Olmerts speech, the laying of flowers by heads of different departments (mayor of the city, head of police, Idf, etc.) 21 gun salute, and then the singing of hatikva. While I didnt find it to be a very religious ceremony, I did find it to be very moving. Two things greatly bothered me during the ceremony. One, a girl turned to her friend as Olmert started to speak and said loudly, "let's get out of her, I dont want to waste my time listening to him." The second thing was a group of kids wearing Gush Katif T-shirts, "We wont forget, we wont forgive." There is a time and place for everything, and Har Herzl on Yom HaZikaron is not the place for any of that. As I walked into the cemetery, I thought how sad it is that the only time our nation stands together is to memorialize the dead. Why can't we stand together and help secure our future?