From the Chanuka trip to the Israel Museum to climbing in the Judean desert, learning at Rothberg International School is always an exceptional experience that combines academic exploration with the discovery of this incredible country. The ‘Israel Challenge’ was designed for RIS students who are extreme sports fanatics – and saw us snappeling by the [...]

How interesting to get a glimpse into someone else’s life, especially when it’s so different from your own. Amnon (I’m not sure he actually has a last name – you know those people) gives tours all over the country and, according to him, he’s one of the only Jewish Israelis who know the Arabic dialect [...]

Last night, I attended a protest in the center of Jerusalem. I’m rather surprised by the lack of media coverage of it; it seemed like a big deal, with thousands of people marching down King George and Ben Yehuda, culminating in one very full Kikar Tzion. Yet, somehow, it wasn’t mentioned in either the Jerusalem [...]

Hebrew University is geographically located in East Jerusalem, though it’s considered West Jerusalem. The French Hill is ambiguous; not considered a Jewish settlement, but not considered West Jerusalem, either. All of this geography is a prelude to a very simple point: from campus and my apartment, I can hear the Muslim call to prayer five times a day (or [...]

You know how when things get busy, all you want to do when you have a spare moment is lie down and do nothing? That’s been me lately. Classes started three weeks ago already, and I haven’t written a thing. I’ve been so busy with schoolwork and dealing with idiot banks and phone companies… well, [...]

I think the weirdest part about Israel, and the thing that sets it apart from other study abroad locations, is the big emphasis on aliyah. Most people who speak fluent English in Israel, which is the vast majority of the people we meet on campus-sponsored outing or events, made aliyah at some point in their [...]

If you’ve spent any time around religious Jews, you know that there’s a whole ton of holidays around September/October and then nothing until December. It’s the longest stretch in the Jewish year, and it’s especially visible in Israel, where the entire country goes from Rosh-Hashanah-Yom-Kippur-Sukkot-Simchat-Torah insanity to two months without a single break. It’s so [...]

Geez, I didn’t know that Jews can keep a tune. : )
The music here is RICH!!! Because it’s not only about beautiful melodies, interesting rhythms and funky instruments. It’s actually about meaningful words as well.
Hadag Nachas – הדג נחש
Hadag Nachash is an example of an Israeli hip hop-funk group that sings about… believe it or [...]

I had this very idealistic idea of Shabbat is Israel before I came here–something that involved Shira Hadasha and lots of spiritual experiences. Now that I’m here, however, I’m realizing just how idealistic that was. Yes, there are a lot of Jews in Israel, which means a lot of synagogues and people celebrating Shabbat. However, [...]