Blog Post 1

I have been in Israel for about three weeks now. Before coming to Israel I wasn’t really sure of what my personnel idea of being Jewish meant to me. I went on my Birthright trip first which was great because it gave it an opportunity to see Israel as a whole and travel all over the modern state. Since being at Hebrew University I’ve learned how Israeli’s portray themselves, and how being Jewish seems to be more of a culture then a religion to the “new Jew”. As professor Mendelson explained it, there is a mindset of Hebrew people and Jewish people. Which goes hand in hand with people who believe they are Zionist and people like the Haredi who don’t really support Israel. Being a Hebrew means connecting with Judaism as more of more of a way of life and culture then a religion. I find myself affiliating more with this mindset then the Jewish people who see being Jewish as a religion. Terms of old and new Jew can be used to explain this portrayal of Judaism as well.  

            Going back to the Haredi and how we walked through the Meah Shearim neighborhood where they live, I felt like I had an epiphany. It almost sort of disgusted me how they live their lives and the way they treat women as second-class citizens at times. Another point that annoyed me about the Haredi is how they are so anti Zionist and against the state of Israel and the IDF. While they sit and pray, people are in the army protecting the state so they are able to pray all day and live off the states welfare. I feel although they should at least respect the IDF and be grateful for what they do. All in all, Being a “new Jew” and viewing Judaism as more of a way of life then a religion and having a people to share this mindset with you excites me. Before coming to Israel I didn’t know this complex about the old and new Jew really existed and I am eager to learn more on the topic.