Gideon Hausner JDS Testimony of a Student

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Gideon Hausner JDS
Testimony of a Student
Finding Connections to Israel, Old and New
By: Alexander Schlesinger
Throughout my nine years at Hausner, Israel has been one
of the main focuses of my studies. Last month, I finally got a chance
to go to Israel with all of my classmates. I had been looking forward to
the trip for years. Before the trip, though, I became slightly nervous. What if the trip
was not as fun and exciting as I had expected? What if I would not be able to form a connection with
Israel? What if the experience was simply forgettable, not one I'd remember? Fortunately, this was
not the case; rather, I was able to develop a deep, long-lasting connection with Israel's past, present,
and future, as shown by pictures that I took in the Holy Land.
Before the trip, I had only a minor connection to Israel. Most of the connection I had came
not through personal experience but through being Jewish. As Israel was the Jewish homeland, I was
concerned for its safety, but I didn't really feel that I was truly a part of it; I had never been there, so
I did not have the opportunity to develop a rich connection. Going into the trip, I hoped that I would
be able to forge a more meaningful, personal connection.
There is a well-known saying that states, "seeing is believing." This quote certainly embodies
my feelings in Israel. By being able to see artifacts and sites instead of just looking at pictures of
them, I felt closer to them and to the state of Israel. It is nearly impossible to feel truly connected
to a picture; however, if you can reach out and touch something (or at least see it), then the artifact
or site instantly becomes more important. In a sense, it becomes real, as opposed to some far-off
site that only exists at a distance. I now understand much more about the sites themselves, thanks
to experiencing them in person and listening to commentary from our guide, Ariel. Overall, I felt
part something much greater than myself, involved with the places of Israel.
Most of these meaningful moments occurred at well-known, ancient sites such as The
Western Wall or important buildings such as the Aaronson home or Independence Hall. These
connections I was expecting; I would have been disappointed if I had not felt them, as most of my
Israel studies pertained to these historical locales. Representing these connections are photos I took
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of the Western Wall and the surrounding area. Because these pictures are taken by me, of something
I was able to experience first-hand, they represent this personal connection I was able to form with
these important sites in Israel.
However, I also formed a connection with an aspect of Israel I did
not expect to -- Israeli culture. One important part of the connection
was getting to see what life in Israel is like today, not what it was
thousands of years ago. This part of Israel is not emphasized as much as
the historical aspect of Israel is in Hausner's curriculum, but I found it
absolutely fascinating to observe and be a part of. Experiencing this culture
included watching a show in Tel Aviv called Mayumana, or momentum, shopping in crowded
markets and streets, and even relaxing during Shabbat in Jerusalem. Representing this connection to
modern Israeli culture is a photo of me in Machneh Yehudah, one of the craziest outdoor malls in the
world. A storeowner had asked our group if anyone was interested in trying
on T'fillin, and I volunteered. This picture represents my participation in
Israeli culture that allowed me to make a connection to Israel I could
only make there, in person.
In summation, going on the class trip to Israel has helped me
forge a strong, meaningful relationship with Israel for both its history
and its modern culture. The old and new aspects of Israel blended for me
on this trip in a way I had never thought of before. I now feel that I am both a
part of Israel's history and a part of Israel's future. But most of all, I am a part of the state of
Israel as it is today, in all its beauty.
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