Just a couple weeks ago I finally started classes here in Israel. During the summer I took the intensive Hebrew course called Ulpan, then we had a month long break to explore Israel until the semester started. During that break was when the violence between the Jews and Arabs started, as I’m sure most people have heard about in the news. Though the incidents have been in the international news less lately, the killing and protesting has not died down. Though it is definitely scary at times here, taking courses about these issues while living here during this stressful time is an experience one does not come across often. One course I’m taking is called “The Israeli Collective Memory of the Israeli/Arab-Palestinian Conflict”. While we are learning the history of the conflict and the events that led up to where it stands today, that history is changing. Studying how the media and other social factors affect the issue while being here is hard to describe. As an outside observer, living here has had its depressing and stressful moments. Having Arab and Jewish friends in Israel has made the conflict even more important to me than it was before, especially knowing the risks associated with it. The main reason I came to Israel was to study the politics and culture, being the important nation it is. Having these courses during this important time has taught me more than I could have hoped for. The insight I have already gained is incredible, and I still have 2 more months here to see even more.
