Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Zionism I: Eretz Yisrael in Jewish Consciousness
In class we discussed the different ways that the land of Israel is part of our collective "Jewish consciousness." 1) How do you, personally, incorporate Israel into your Jewish consciousness? 2) In what way (s) would you like to deepen your Israel consciousness? 3) Think of an Israel-related experience that you have had that made a deep impact/imprint on you. What was the experience? Why was it so meaningful? How does it continue to impact you today?
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1) As we said in class, Israel is a major part of the Jewish consciousness. I have been to Israel twice and I find myself constantly longing to go back. Also, when I daven, I think about Israel and how my Tefillot are affecting all of my friends in Israel.
ReplyDelete2) I would like to deepen my Jewish consciousness by appreciating what an amazing place Israel is and how much hard work went into the creation of this spectacular place.
3) When I was in Israel for Pesach, I was driving to the Kotel with my family on a Thursday afternoon. First, we were in the taxi and an Israeli soldier walked by the car. He was wearing his army uniform and he was wearing a large Kippa and his Peios were in full view. He had his child on his shoulder and his wife walking next to him. When I saw this, I thought: "This is the way it's supposed to be. Jews should be able to come live in Israel, learn Torah, and serve their people and their country." This still impacts me because I have a very clear view of what is right and what is wrong in MY head and this incident totally embodies the right side.
1) Davening, holidays, and just being in a jewish school make me think about Israel the most. Everyday I learn Ivrit with two Israelis. From third grade to eighth grade we had different Jewish girls in our class. Everytime I daven I say prayers for Israel and Israeli soldiers. The holidays remind me of Israel because we learn about the different custums and laws that differ between Israel and other countries.
ReplyDelete2) I think to deepen your Israel consciousness, you have to visit Israel. Learning about Israel gives you a background on Israel and can help you get into a good state-of-mind once your there but to truly be more connected, you have to go there. I wish I could be there more often. Seeing so many Jews and Jewish organizations really makes you feel connected to your Jewish harritage and to Israel.
3) The little things that relate to Israel that we experience in America really have an affect on me. When Israel is in the news, for good or bad reasons, I really enjoy seeing and hearing all the different responces. Wheather its the Jews defended our homeland or the President trying to explain the situation. When the flotilla incident occured (I think 2 years ago) it was amazing to see how so many Jews came to Israel's defense so quickly. In class we watched videos and read articles about how the facts about Israel doing wrong/illegal acts were false. Today, those incidents make me remember how close of a connection the Jewish people have to Israel. Wheather they live in America, Europe, or Israel they still come to defend Israel and their rights.
1)Everyday we daven for the soldiers in Israel and that makes us think that there are people out there trying to get our Holy-land to be ours permanently. Also I have an Israeli father so sometimes I over-hear him talking about something that happened or that is happening in Israel. I have been to Israel twice in my life: the first I don't remember and the second time it really made a connection and also hearing that my sister is having a great time in Israel in cemenary and her telling me that it is something I should do it makes me think more about going to Israel for a year even more.
ReplyDelete2)I don't really know that much about Israel and I would like to know more. I don't usually know what is going on-like the news-and I would like to know what is going on in Israel. I also don't know where the cities are located in Israel and I would like to know about that. I think it may be a little harder to feel the connection with Israel if you had never been there in your life-so for a person to deeper their Israel consciousness that actually have to go there to feel that special connection.
3) When I went to Israel in 2008 I came really close to getting hurt-I was going to go on a bus to somewhere in Israel and that day my mom wasn't feeling well and so we couldn't go to that place which meant we didn't go on the bus-later that day we turned on the news and saw that a tractor had ran over that bus that we were supposed to be on if my mom wasn't sick-I think either most or all the people on that bus were killed. Experiencing this makes me think maybe my connection with Hashem is closer in Israel-maybe he is watching over me a little harder while I am actually in Israel. Also a lot of my family lives in Israel and I would like to be able to see them more and know them better, so having family there makes me closer to Israel.
1. When attending the GMSG, it is hard not to incorporate Israel into your Jewish consciousness. Everyday we are forced to think about daily things happening in Israel and to all Jews in general. Whenever I think about Judaism, the first thing that pops up in my head is Israel. Israel is constantly in everyone's thoughts and prayers and for me, Israel is permantly incorporated in my Jewish consciousness.
ReplyDelete2. A way for me to deepen my Israel consciousness would be to visit Israel many more times. It is important to know why we should love Israel so much and the only way to do so is by getting to know and appreciate the true beauty of Israel.
3. An Israel related experience that has made a deep impact on me actually happened today. Today, Israel worked out a deal with Hamas to free Gilad Shalit who had been a prisoner for many years. Israel gave hundreds of prisoners back to Hamas just for this one man. I know that most countries would probably also try to get back any prisoner held captive by anyone, but Israel will give close to 1,000 prisoners to the most dangerous people in the world for just one man. That to me, is what Israel and specifically Jews are all about, and it is something that we should all learn from.
1) There are many ways that i keep Jewish consciousness. One is by going to a jewish day school. By going to a jewish school and learning something about Israel each day it helps you keep it in mind. Also by me visiting Israel numerous times, hearing many things about Israel in the news, and knowing things about it already helps me remember it constantly.
ReplyDelete2) To deepen your Israel consciousness i think you need to learn about it. You need to visit the land to get the feel of the land. You also need to know the history of it so you know where it came from and how we got it. I personally would like to know more about Israel to strengthen my consciousness. I would like to know about the government, how we got the land, and other important things about the land of Israel.
3) I went to Israel in 2009 for my Bat-Mitzvah and having it there impacted me a lot. It was a great experience and it felt very meaningful when i celebrated my Bat-Mitzvah there. It was meaningful for me to have it in Israel because i feel like i was more connected to the land and to all of my family and friends. It impacts me today because whenever i think about it i remember all of the things that made it special. I feel that from that experience i am closer to Israel and i am happy that i had my Bat-Mitzvah there.
1) Personally I incorporate the Jewish state the same way as most Jewish people do. Some Rabbis wrote prayers for the stat0.e And some Rabbis even set up fasts for the Jewish people to remember the holy Temple that was destroyed in Israel and to remind us how important Israel was to us during the time of the Beit Hamikdash and it should still be important to us even though the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed. As well as prayers and fasts, their are references to Israel in the Torah and even mitzvot that are special to the Holy Land.
ReplyDelete2) I would definitly like to deepen my consciousnessd on Israel. On fasts specified to Israel and even regular days, I would like to think about the hard times that Israel is going through on a regular basis.
3) My experience was going to Israel on a school trip. It was meaningful because I actually got to see what I had learned since I was a baby and experience the special "vibe" that comes off the land. Also I got to see all of the really old areas that were mentioned from the Bible. Everyday I long to be back in Israel. This impacts me because I really felt how special Israel was and today that impacted me to pray for the land and to want to the land to the Jewish people rather than for another nation.
1. Israel is a huge part in my jewish life. when i daven i think about israel and everyday we talk about it in are religious studies because hashem
ReplyDelete2. i would like o go to the land and learn about the history more and go great into detail.
3. my best friend moved to Israel. it was so meaningful because someone would leave there lives to go live in Israe to learn and have a new experience it has made me want to go and earn more before i never wanted to learn about it.
1. I incorporate it by praying for Israel. Also by going there I feel more connected to Hashem and my Judaism.
ReplyDelete2. To deepen my Jewish consciousness I would love to go to Israel more. I will also pray more deeply in my morning prayers.
3. I was in Israel this past Spring and we went to the Kotel for Shabbat. Just being there was amazing. When I actually went up and prayed next to the wall, I felt so close to Hashem and my Judaism. This was my favorite part of going to Israel and I want to do it more so I can have that feeling more.
i feel closer to hashem/israel when i daven because it makes me realize of how the special jews are and taht we come from israel. learning about israel also make me feel so much closer because im learning so much about the history and how speciaal this place is. i have never been to israel, but i really want to someday hopfefully soon.
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