I have done so much, met so many people, and seen so many things in the past week and a half that it's, like, not even funny (in the words of my sister, Noa). Let me sum up:
On the ride to the airport, from Bellingham to Seatac, we were stopped in around a half hour of traffic. Let me tell you-- when you are on your way to catch a flight that will connect you with an international group flight to a middle eastern country that you've never been too before, getting stopped in traffic is NOT a good feeling. It ended up not being a problem and I made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare, but I later found out the reason for the traffic, which took my breath away. Washingtonians may have heard: some guy went crazy in Alger at at gas station and started shooting people, leading to a shoot-out and car chase on I-5. Six poeple died. They closed down the interstate for several hours. This happened three hours before I was on I-5 south with my parents. Processing this information hours before getting a plane that would take me to Israel really made me think about danger, and violence, and chance, and fear. Before I left, people asked me many questions about safety in Israel, about the "political situation." Yet, I just left a country were I could have been shot and died driving to the airport, had my flight left three hours earlier. I don't have any epiphanies, or conclusions about terrorism or fear-- just ideas to roll over in my mind regarding what it means to be safe.
The first week in Israel was an intensely scheduled tour of Israel's tourist destinations. I've been to bars in Jerusalem, had Shabbat at the kotel, crawled through ancient caves, gone on a hike so vertical we had to literally climb up laters to reach the top, floated in the Dead Sea, slept in a bedouin tent, and ridden a camel. Oy, vey. I slept around three hours a night. Some of the first week felt a little like a hallucination. My life changed so dramatically; one day I was frantically shoe shopping, and organizing the JCC recycling center, and eating cupcakes in Wallingford and sandwiches in Ballard; and the next day, I'm riding a camel in the Israeli desert.
I've settled for the next three months in Natzrath Ilit, situated in a hill in the north of Israel. I'm living in an immigrant absorbtion center-- or Mercaz Kletah in hebrew-- with Jews from Ethiopia, Russia, and Romania. There are 24 of us OTZMAnagim from the US living at the Mercaz. I'm sharing a 2 bedroom apartment with four other girls-- I'm sleeping in the living room. When we arrived, I felt like I had been shaken up in a snowglobe and finally alowed to settle. Last night we went to a dance party on the basketball courts of the Mercaz, hosted by the Ethiopians in honor of thier new year. It was easily in my top three dance parties of all time. No one spoke the same language, it was completely free, poeple of all different ages and nationalities were just dancing and laughing and singing. It was maybe the purist fun I've had in a long, long time.
I would write more but the internet cafe is closing in a few minutes. Sorry if I didn't get a chance to email you-- this is the first time I've had internet access since I arrived. I'll try and check more regularly.
Love, Zara.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Next Week, In Jerusalem
Time has definately accelerated as September third has approached. I am about to leave for the airport, for the flight that will take me from Seattle to JFK. Tomorrow night, I will leave from New York-- to Israel! Wow. It's a little amazing, to be sitting here on the verge of actually doing what I have been planning and talking about for months. There is no way I could have made this trip without the support of so many people-- friends, family, everyone at the Seattle JCC, and even people on scholarship committees and past OTZMA participants who never met me in person, have made invaluable contributions towards my journey to Israel. I feel like I don't have enough thanks to give back to all the people who have helped me in so many ways.
I already miss Seattle. Happy first day of school, SJCC! An extra-special shout-out to all of my Ahava-ers. I love you all! I'm bringing my face paints to Israel in your memory.
My first week will be spent in Jerusalem, doing an OTZMA orientation. I have no idea, no picture in my mind, of what to expect. I am very curious, however, to compare Jerusalem with Madrid and Barcelona, the only other cities I am familiar with that have anything close to the history of Jerusalem. I also anticipate eating very much falafel.
Love,
Zara
I already miss Seattle. Happy first day of school, SJCC! An extra-special shout-out to all of my Ahava-ers. I love you all! I'm bringing my face paints to Israel in your memory.
My first week will be spent in Jerusalem, doing an OTZMA orientation. I have no idea, no picture in my mind, of what to expect. I am very curious, however, to compare Jerusalem with Madrid and Barcelona, the only other cities I am familiar with that have anything close to the history of Jerusalem. I also anticipate eating very much falafel.
Love,
Zara
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Send Zara to Israel
To my friends and family:
I have spent the past two years teaching two and three year olds how to ask questions, solve problems, build relationships, and navigate the world around them. I love the students in my class at the JCC. I have given the children in the JCC two years of my life, which has allowed me to watch many of them grow from tiny babies into runners, jumpers, painters, story-tellers, train enthusiasts, and charming conversationalists.
I feel that the next step for me must include the sense of community, growth, education, and love that I have experienced during my time at the JCC. Therefore, I feel extremely lucky to have found a program that encompasses all of the values I have cherished here. I have been accepted into the OTZMA fellowship, a 10-month volunteer program in Israel beginning September 3rd. I will spend the first three months in Ulpan, learning Hebrew and contributing to the immigrant absorption center where I will be living; the next three months volunteering; and the final three months interning at a social service organization.
For me, a journey to Israel contains equal parts unknown adventure, and exploration of my homeland and identity. Spending an extended period of time in Israel, in a meaningful, contributive way, is an ideal situation for me at this point in my life. I feel ready to explore my culture and ancestry in greater detail, as well as grow and change through experiencing life in a new land surrounded by new people. I am going to Israel to learn about the past, and plan for the future.
What appeals to me about the OTZMA program in particular is its emphasis on community involvement, meaning that I would get to know Israel on many different levels. I am seeking a relationship with Israel beyond that of a tourist. Through this program, I will have to opportunity to work with Israeli people in setting up after-school programs, care for the elderly, teach disadvantaged youth, and plan community events and social programming. The OTZMA fellowship offers a connection not only to the country of Israel, but to the Jewish people and community.
I have spent the past two years connecting to the Jewish Community Center; now it is time for me to give back to the people and the land of Israel. The cost for me to participate in the OTZMA program is $12,000. I have been fortunate to have received $3,000, a subsidy from the National Jewish Federation, and another $4,500 from a MASA grant. There is a remaining $4,500 that I still need, to be paid in full by July 23.
The little I have saved, I will need to buy supplies (backpack, sleeping bag, other travel amenities and gear) and use as spending money during my time in Israel. Therefore, I am reaching out to my network of family and friends for help. Investing in this trip is not only an investment in me, but an investment in Israel, in the Jewish community here in the US, and in the social service community of Seattle. I fully intend on returning to Seattle and continuing to contribute to the Jewish community in a leadership capacity. I am making this trip to better prepare myself to help the people and the communities around me.
You can make donations either directly to me, or as a tax-deductible contribution through the Jewish National Fund’s “Plant Your Way” (www.jnf.org/pyw, click “find a participant“ and enter my name.) If you chose to donate through Plant Your Way, half of your contribution will go towards planting a tree in Israel, and half will go toward my program fee. More information on OTZMA is available here: www.otzma.org.
Thank you for your interest and your support,
Zara Leigh Friedman
116 Florentia Street Apt. #7
Seattle, WA 98019
206 355 7901
I have spent the past two years teaching two and three year olds how to ask questions, solve problems, build relationships, and navigate the world around them. I love the students in my class at the JCC. I have given the children in the JCC two years of my life, which has allowed me to watch many of them grow from tiny babies into runners, jumpers, painters, story-tellers, train enthusiasts, and charming conversationalists.
I feel that the next step for me must include the sense of community, growth, education, and love that I have experienced during my time at the JCC. Therefore, I feel extremely lucky to have found a program that encompasses all of the values I have cherished here. I have been accepted into the OTZMA fellowship, a 10-month volunteer program in Israel beginning September 3rd. I will spend the first three months in Ulpan, learning Hebrew and contributing to the immigrant absorption center where I will be living; the next three months volunteering; and the final three months interning at a social service organization.
For me, a journey to Israel contains equal parts unknown adventure, and exploration of my homeland and identity. Spending an extended period of time in Israel, in a meaningful, contributive way, is an ideal situation for me at this point in my life. I feel ready to explore my culture and ancestry in greater detail, as well as grow and change through experiencing life in a new land surrounded by new people. I am going to Israel to learn about the past, and plan for the future.
What appeals to me about the OTZMA program in particular is its emphasis on community involvement, meaning that I would get to know Israel on many different levels. I am seeking a relationship with Israel beyond that of a tourist. Through this program, I will have to opportunity to work with Israeli people in setting up after-school programs, care for the elderly, teach disadvantaged youth, and plan community events and social programming. The OTZMA fellowship offers a connection not only to the country of Israel, but to the Jewish people and community.
I have spent the past two years connecting to the Jewish Community Center; now it is time for me to give back to the people and the land of Israel. The cost for me to participate in the OTZMA program is $12,000. I have been fortunate to have received $3,000, a subsidy from the National Jewish Federation, and another $4,500 from a MASA grant. There is a remaining $4,500 that I still need, to be paid in full by July 23.
The little I have saved, I will need to buy supplies (backpack, sleeping bag, other travel amenities and gear) and use as spending money during my time in Israel. Therefore, I am reaching out to my network of family and friends for help. Investing in this trip is not only an investment in me, but an investment in Israel, in the Jewish community here in the US, and in the social service community of Seattle. I fully intend on returning to Seattle and continuing to contribute to the Jewish community in a leadership capacity. I am making this trip to better prepare myself to help the people and the communities around me.
You can make donations either directly to me, or as a tax-deductible contribution through the Jewish National Fund’s “Plant Your Way” (www.jnf.org/pyw, click “find a participant“ and enter my name.) If you chose to donate through Plant Your Way, half of your contribution will go towards planting a tree in Israel, and half will go toward my program fee. More information on OTZMA is available here: www.otzma.org.
Thank you for your interest and your support,
Zara Leigh Friedman
116 Florentia Street Apt. #7
Seattle, WA 98019
206 355 7901
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