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I’ve been learning how to swear from Israelis and it turns out Hebrew speakers tend to use Arabic swear words and Arabic speakers uses Hebrew swear words. This is fascinating because it implies that both sides seemed to see their own language as being more ‘graceful’ than the other. I was also told that in the market, many Israeli merchants greet their customers in Arabic, but if they try to carry a proper conversation with them in Arabic, they would get very offended that you would think they can speak Arabic.
-Yvonne
Last week, I had the opportunity to share a wonderful and delicious Shabbat dinner prepared by my professor. My coworker and I wandered through the dimly lit streets of Jerusalem towards the German Colony. The overly crowded Ben Yahouda was empty and silent. Only a few cars zoomed past us. It seemed like a whole new city without the bustling of public transportation and the packed sidewalks.
When we arrived, I forgot that I couldn’t ring the doorbell, and instinctively rang it. My coworker just shook her head and opened the gate and walked through it. Oops… When we entered we were warmly welcomed and introduced ourselves to very prominent Israelis. Unlike my first Shabbat dinner in the Old City, this one was more intimate with only 12 people. My coworker and I were seated near the younger people and had the grandest of time speaking of a variety of subjects. At one point, my professor asked my coworker and me about any stereotypes and preconceptions that we had about Jerusalem before we came and how it has changed. As I explained to all them, they laughed and chuckled at my naivety, but were intrigued at my perception of Jerusalem. As we continued to speak about the more controversial topics, I felt some tension among the guests, but everyone was very respectful. However, when the subject of Palestinians arose, many steered clear from commenting.
After an overall amazing dinner, we helped take the dishes back into the kitchen. Unexpectedly, one of the guests stopped me and asked me if I were interested in coming back to Israel next summer. I excitedly answered that coming back is definitely an option. He then generously offered me an internship at the Bank of Israel! So maybe I’ll see you in the near future Jerusalem!
Is Jerusalem a desert? I have sparked multiple arguments among many people, foreigners and Israelis alike whenever I raised this question. Everyone seemed to have their own opinion. It sits at the edge of the Judean desert, but is it considered as a desert itself? This article may help provide some answers.
http://www.icr.org/article/jerusalems-unique-climate/
-Yvonne
There is someone I know who considers herself as a rightest. One time I was washing pottery with her and another guy, both Americans who made Aliyah many years back, and they were telling me about the horrors that happen in the West Bank, Gaza included. It was very uncomfortable for me because they seemed to view Hamas and the PA as one entity (if only it were that simple) and that all Isreali tax money is largely spent on sending resources to Gaza. Moreover, they were telling me that the people in Gaza do not have any food problems but were treated really badly by Hamas. To them Hamas also has control in the West Bank and those in the West Bank are all suppressed by Hamas. Person A, the rightest lady, is also convinced that it is impossible for anyone who supports Zionism to be against settlements. i.e. Anyone who supports the state of Israel should also support settlements. To take it further, Person A, believes that those who argue for Palestinian human rights is simply a cover up for anti-semitism, which I find to be extremely uncomfortable topic to even begin discussing with her. While I do understand that someone do argue that anti-semitism often comes up in the argument of Israeli and Palestinian rights, I don’t believe that it should be even a topic of debate in the issue. Once you drag in prejudices into arguments like these, the whole discussion takes on a emotive tone. It is never a question of whether either side should have rights or not. The question should just be a ‘how’.
-Yvonne
The week when Yvonne’s dad and her brother came to Jerusalem, we decided to take a break from the city and go to the beach. We first stopped at Yaffo and Yvonne and I gave them a quick tour and a brief history lesson of the area. It was interesting to see how just two and a half months ago, I was trailing behind a tour guide and gawking at the architecture, view, and history.
The most refreshing and thought-provoking part of the trip was the bike ride along the shore of Tel-Aviv. As the light, warm breeze that carried the scent of the sea hit my face, I was able to reflect on how much I have learned about Jerusalem and myself.
We soon reached the sandy beach and frolicked in the cool water. After a dip in the sea, we laid on the beach with the sun glaring down on us. Then all of a sudden, a man took a sharp turn kicking sand in the air. When the dust cleared, we saw the man smiling from ear to ear holding a pigeon in his hands. He played around with it and nonchalantly chucked it into a backpack and zipped it up. At that point, I was in shock of what had happened. I couldn’t believe that he actually caught a pigeon then shoved it into a back pack. The backpack was definitely moving at this point. His friend came over shortly and tried to open the backpack and yelled. Everyone around that vicinity knew what was inside of it. Then the man who caught the bird came over, unzipped the backpack and grabbed the pigeon. He started shoving it into the neck of his friend and let out a loud and thundering laugh and threw the pigeon towards the sky. Poor pigeon, it flew from the beach clear towards the hotel and beyond. I have a feeling that that pigeon will never step on the sandy beaches of Tel-Aviv ever again.
At the Al-Quds University, I had a chance to meet a female student who was 23 years old. Throughout our time in Jerusalem, we’ve tried to take some time to walk around East Jerusalem and enjoy the hidden treasures of that area. However, due to her responsibilities at home, summer school, and work, we had to unfortunately cancel our plans every time. Most recently, we talked before Ramadan began and I was very surprised about what I she had said.
Out of nowhere, she told me that she had to tell me something very awkward. I told her that it was completely fine and encouraged her to tell me. A few silent seconds had passed and after a slow sigh, she stated, “I’m engaged.” I immediately responded with words of congratulations and she invited me to her engagement party immediately after Ramadan. I had to apologize and tell her that I would be leaving before Ramadan ended.
Until I ended the conversation, I did not realize how different our lives were. I knew that it wasn’t uncommon for people of that age to be married, but I was surprised about the fact that I wasn’t even considering marriage while she was preparing herself for her engagement. This conversation helped me really understand how different I was from others around me. Most of the time, I would discuss the differences between cultures, but also heavily emphasize the similarities. However, this showed me that no matter how many similarities I share with others around me and might think I can see from their perspectives, we are fundamentally different and that is what makes all of us unique. Our similarities bring us together, but our differences help us to learn from each other.
A couple weeks back when me and Gloria we walking around outside of Damascus, a man, who in my opinion looked like an American tourist judging by his accent and clothing, shouted “God damn Chinese” at us. Interestingly enough this is the first time I have experience such direct hatred in public and in Israel no less. If I were correct that the man really is an American tourist, I find it fascinating that I was called that by a foreigner in a different country. From my interactions with people here, it seemed to me locals do not have the same animosity towards the Chinese as some other people in general. Well, the next time if the same thing happens again, I’m going to say back to them “I belong to the Chinese Communist Party, be careful, I’m going to send assassins after you after talking to daddy tonight.”
-Yvonne
We recently found the statue of an animal idol in the M4 section. Since we have yet to fully reach first temple period, this idol may suggest that in the early second temple period monolatry/monotheism has yet to be completely established. However, because the head of the statue has been broken off, we have yet to identity what animal it is or even speculate which god it could have been.
-Yvonne
Recently, we have found the remains of an old dig in the British Mandate period by a previous archaeologist who dug at the same spot we’re digging in right now. It’s fascinating that not only do archaeologists uncover the history, but they also investigate and uncover the history of archaeology. This old archaeologist had a distinctly different style than us by the way she laid out her locuses. The type of soil is a very important factor in archaeology since it means that the findings are from a different period or at least a different layer. We now have to separate our findings in certain locuses where we see a clear difference in soil type because of this previous archaeologist’s old work.
-Yvonne
As we are preparing to leave Jerusalem, I have been reflecting upon some of my experiences. I couldn’t help but think of a few things about the Holy City that are displeasing.
1. Light Pollution
Look up at the sky on any night; it is very likely you will only see a few specks in the sky. Besides making a stroll on the Mount of Olives or around the Old City less pleasant, light pollution disconnects people from the natural world. As someone who cares about the environment and the way people interact with it, the invisibility of the night sky due to the city’s lights (from mosques, houses, hotels) is not good. If people have some connection to the natural world, it is more likely that they will care for it.
2. Pushy vendors
Is an explanation really needed?
3. Trash-strewn areas and neighborhoods
The amount of trash not contained in receptacles in many of the neighborhoods in Jerusalem is offensive to all of my senses. My wonderful colleague Kayla writes a little about this phenomenon here: http://blogs.smith.edu/blog/jerusalem2013/2013/05/26/the-symbolism-of-staying-put/
Feel free to disagree with any and all of these points. Or even the post itself.
 A view of Issawiya during Ramadan
Mary Ann
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