Wake up, skip breakfast, go to school, switch between sitting in one classroom to another classroom, take a 20 minute lunch break, sit in some more classrooms, wait eagerly for the bell, go to sports practice, go home, have dinner, go to bed (Repeat x5 per week for 10 months). This is my monotonous schedule back home. During the school year, it’s usually too cold to even step outside in Boston, but even if I wanted to embrace the cold, I wouldn’t have any time in my schedule. This schedule goes on throughout the entire year, and it’s quite draining. My tan fades, I have a lack of vitamin D, and my body becomes used to sitting in a chair all day. I came here because I wanted a change from that, and now I can’t imagine going back.

Right now in our studies, we are learning about the oppression of the Israelites in Judah by the Romans, and the Hellenistic culture that the Romans brought to Judah. We learned about how the Jews would trek hundreds of miles 3 times a year to visit the Beit Hamikdash (the temple in Jerusalem). The three times a year were called the shalosh regalim (the holy pilgrimage holidays). These are Sukkot, Shavuot, and Passover. Right now in Israel, we are in the midst of sukkot. During Israel studies class, we learned about how thousands of Jews would rush to Jerusalem, despite the oppression of the Romans every year. How the streets would go from quiet to wild every year, and the Beit Hamikdash would become much busier. After learning about the wildness that went on in Jerusalem, we went to the Old City and had a lesson there. Afterward, they let us shop and eat in the Old City. I got to see first hand how the streets were so crowded, I had to turn from a polite American into a pushy Israeli just to get to where I wanted to go. Seeing how people still come to Jerusalem, and how the atmosphere of Sukkot has still remained after thousands of years was amazing. We’ve done quite a few “learn then go see” type of lessons, but this one hit me the most.

Not just envisioning what a scene in history must have looked like, but actually using your senses in the classroom is incredible. In history class when I would take a test in Boston, I used to think about the flashcards and Quizlets I made in order to help me remember. Now during tests, I think about myself in the place that we are being tested on, which is an experience I’m so blessed to have.

Having something new and exciting to do every day is so much better than my schedule back home. It’s only a month in, but every time I think of going home it’s unbearable. I love it here.

Signing off from Hod,

Ari Weiner