final thoughts on israel: what i learned.

one. "your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy." that's what barack obama said in his inauguration address. in that moment when he said those words, the little people in my head shouted "YES! israel is such a great example of that!" and then i thought about it. in sixty years they have created beauty from ashes. though everyone might not agree with how they've done it, their hard work as a nation is inspiring.

two. i really was safer on a birthright trip in israel than on my scooter in san francisco. how 'bout that. i promise i won't scoot in the rain anymore. maybe.

three. the israeli/palestinian conflict is much more complex than the american/world media describes (obvi). it is not just "israel bombed the shit out of a un school and a lot of palestinians just died." it is also not "israel can do no wrong and it's hamas' fault for everything that just happened in gaza." this is thirtyfivehundred years of history. there are more than two sides to this story, too. i loved that reminder.

four (most importantly). i am jewish. previously, being jewish was just a religion to me; nothing i would ever represent or claim to be. now i see it as part of my heritage; i am half jewish, native american, and a bunch of other stuff. strange to make the transition from seeing judaism strictly as a religion to more of a culture and a heritage and a ....