Reflective statement:

As I read thought my blog throughout the semester, a lot of different thoughts came to mind. Some of my friends used an app and took a 1 second video every day to document this semester, some people journaled, some just plan on looking back on their camera roll in their phones somewhat as a scrap book, but personally, as I re read my blog I realized that in a way this has served as my “scrap book” of the semester. Writing has never been my strong suit, I was the editor and chief of my high school newspaper who was much better at delegating and bossing people around, than she was writing herself. However, this semester made me realizes that when I’m reflecting and writing about my personal experiences that is not that bad after all. 

The pieces I am picking for my final evaluation are the three pieces I struggled with the most. These pieces are all responses to a piece of work that we read in class, as opposed to the assignments where I was writing about my own experiences. I had a hard time with the responses to the different pieces because creative writing is very new to me; my brain is having to work in an entirely different way than it ever has before. Analyzing works and responding from a personal and reflective standpoint, as opposed to an analytical standpoint was very new and something I struggled with, but it is clear in the three works that I selected that I gained confidence with this type of writing over the course of the semester. I was so proud of myself and I could not stop smiling as I read through my blog. I’ve grown as a writer this semester, and as a person. Having to reflect to these different assignments has made me think, and this different type of thought has allowed me to learn things about myself and I am grateful for this class and for this blog for helping me gain my voice, and learn more about who I am. 

Week 6 independent study assignment 

The passage in this essay that I find particularly interesting is actually on the first page of the piece. It is the paragraph that is explaining what a get is, how she already is divorced in the eyes of the District Family court, but to be able to remarry in Israel and to be divorced in the eyes of the Jewish religion how she needs to go through this additional divorce process/ ceremony. I find this paragraph interesting because I think it says a lot about differences in culture, and how within a religion that are so many traditions, rules, and regulations that could be considered as so outdated, but still are still upheld and enforced. I think the difference between being Jewish and living in Israel compared to the rest of the world stands out in this passage as well. A Jew in America does not need to go through this additional process and ceremony to truly be divorced. This passage also makes me think a lot about Judaism in general. Every religion has its traditions, but those of Jews seem to be more present in daily life in my opinion. There are so many things within a Jewish wedding that do not occur at other weddings, and those are common and known about. The process of getting a get, in my opinion, is not as commonly talked about. To me, this says a lot about how society and the world focus so much more on the good, and the bad is swept under the rug and not as often talked about. 

Week 5 General writing Exercise 

Labensohn’s essay “Leaving Babylon” is fascinating and thought-provoking. I am Jewish and knew that the divorce process for Jews was different than other religions, just because the marriage ceremony has so many religious aspects, so in my mind, it was inevitable that divorce would be different. But this essay is the first time I’ve read about the extent of the Jewish divorce process, and the details of it. I find it very fascinating that in particular for a woman to remarry, she has to get the approval of the religion and her husband, whereas the husband has all the freedom in the world to do whatever he wants after the civil divorce, get or not get. 

In terms of something I learned from the article regarding the aspects of writing themselves, I find her tone to add a lot to the essay. I find the piece to be more engaging given that it is written in the first person. It is more believable and sucks you in more. Personally, because it was this woman telling her own story, I felt very sympathetic for her, and I felt terrible for her to an extent as well. Had this story been written by a third party, it would not be nearly as relatable. 

Week Four General Writing Exercise 

After reading poems by both Mahmoud Darwish, “To a Young Poet” and Tuvia Ruebner, “A Postcard from Tel Aviv”, I really liked the work of Mahmoud Darwish, I felt like at this point in my life and given my personality, upbringing, and views on the world that his work was a little easier to understand and more relatable than that of Tuvia Ruebner. Thus, I decided to continue to research Mahmoud Darwish’s work and to write a response to one of his other pieces. After reading a couple, the one that stood out to me and resonated with me was “It is Night, and She is Lonely.” 

Given I am going through a rough patch in my relationship right now, I found this poem to be very relatable. In a way, I see myself in the shoes of the lonely woman that is being observed or admired in this poem. I find it exciting and so common to be sitting somewhere alone, next to people who are also alone. Regardless of whether or not a conversation is started up between the two individuals, when I am in this situation, I always catch myself watching the other person out of the corner of my eye. Trying to see if they are watching me too, but it is hard when you do not want to be so obvious. More often than not in these situations, I find myself creating a story for the other person in my head. Like they are single and looking for a partner, or they have been recently broken up with and are sulking. It is always an interesting and confusing thought, to go up to them, not to go up to them. 

The way the narrator is asking himself questions, to strike up a conversation, to taste her wine, while tasting a strangers wine to me seems relatively aggressive, I find it to be so healthy and common to have so many questions and wonder so much about other people in these situations. Are they kind, do they want you to start a conversation, do they want to be left alone? Do they want to start a conversation with you? You really can never tell. 

However, the narrator in my eyes takes it a little too far. Without disturbing her, without directly engaging with her at all, he claims that love has become an idea in his head. That seems to be a little aggressive and forward for me. While love at first sight I think is feasible, without even having a conversation I find it to be relatively unrealistic, and that seems to be the situation that the narrator has created in his head. 

Overall I think this poem says a lot to daily life. Of individuals going about their lives, and especially in today’s era, keeping their heads down, being somewhere alone but not even being alone because they’re on their phone and connect with the rest of the world. The ability to have the world at our fingertips with today’s technology lessens the chance of any spontaneity, like that in this poem. 

Feedback on: Week 8 in-class writing exercise 

Taylors feedback: 

The structure of this piece is fairly unorganized. The writer starts off talking about a poem, the title of the poem was not mentioned nor was the context of it so it is hard for a reader to understand what the writer is reflecting about. The voice is very curious, the writer seems to have their eyes open and as they are writing constantly just putting down different ideas yet there is no concrete flow to the piece. The tone of the writing is hard to identify as the writer does not seem to have their thoughts very organized and is not conveying one message there are many and it is a lot of jumping around, from nature to happiness surprise and acceptance it is hard to nail one on the head however overall the work is very good. 

Stefs feedback: 

This writer should take some more time to organize their thoughts before writing. The voice in my mind surrounds the idea of happiness, how the writer encounters and experiences happiness in their day to day life. The language is very straight forward. The structure needs some help, the writer does not make it clear what in particular they want to talk about and it makes it hard to follow their thoughts throughout the paper. As a reader it is hard to understand what they are saying, especially because they don’t give context of the poem. In terms of revisions, the writer should read the work through and think what they want the reader to take out of it. The most important part should be brought to the beginning and I think they should give some context to the poem they’re reflecting on as well. 

Spending a semester studying in Tel Aviv Israel has been incredibly eye opening for me. I’ve had the opportunity to learn about a new city, a new culture, new architecture, I’ve gotten to try new foods and just experience and live in a completely new place. I have loved every second of my time here. Every time I leave to travel there is nothing I look forward to more than coming back to Tel Aviv, Israel. Having studied abroad for this entire semester, I’ve had the opportunity to travel, and when I am catching up with my friends or relatives or encountering strangers many of them ask me what is my favorite place that I traveled to or visited. And every time I answer the exact same way, I’ve had the opportunity of a lifetime, I’ve learned a ton I’ve grown a ton I’ve gotten to visit and experience nearly 15 different cities, all in the span of 5 months but honestly, at the end of the day Tel Aviv is by far my favorite city that I have visited, nothing else even comes close in comparison which is why I’m always so excited when I get to come back here. 

Tel Aviv is a city that never sleeps, the night life is some of the best in the world, the food is incredible, the people are all so welcoming and intriguing and overall, Tel Aviv just seems to have so much to offer. In my mind Tel Aviv is like a combination of New York and Miami. It has the vibe of “the city that never sleeps” it is hip with tons of young people, it has great shopping, and is even one of the startup capitals of the world. The combination between city, while also incorporating the beach is where I see the similarities to Miami and New York; Tel Aviv as a city with such a city feel but also being on the beach and feeling like a beach town reminds me a lot of Barcelona as well. 

I’m from Atlanta, GA, a very up and coming city in the United states, but I live in the suburbs, and regardless Atlanta does not give off much of a “city” vibe. Having the opportunity to live in New York last summer and in Tel Aviv over the course of this semester has given me a little more insight as to what it is like to live in a city. It made me realize that there are certain things that I would miss, and I also realized that not living in a city, I take so many things for granite. But I also realized that there are immense benefits to city life as well. Nevertheless, one thing that I’ve really come to appreciate while studying abroad in Tel Aviv is Hayarkon park. Hayarkon park is a park locating in Tel Aviv, it is huge with a river running through it and this park has so much to offer. I love to run or walk through the park; I also thoroughly enjoy sitting and doing some work there or having picnics with my friends. The park also has an outdoor gym that I utilize often. Additionally the park also has basketball courts, soccer nets, a climbing wall, children’s playgrounds, a river that you can row in or take out a little boat; the park has tons of different paths and fields and is incredibly central in Tel Aviv. Given the university is in Ramat Aviv and we spend majority of our time more downtown in Tel Aviv I frequently find myself walking through the park to get to where I need to go. It is so incredibly peaceful and nothing makes me happier than getting to walk through the park on my way to wherever else I am heading. Spending time in Hayarkon park has also taught me to appreciate Shabbat more. I love walking or running through on a Saturday morning and watching all the families spending Shabbat together. It really allows me to consider and compare the lifestyle of American children and those of Israeli children. In America kids are addicted to materialistic items, when you see them out in public they are often glued to a screen. That is so not the case in Israel and spending time in the park has helped me to realize how different things are between here and America, how in America kids need to be out and playing more, and it also has helped me to appreciate and respect the Israeli culture so much more. 

Workshop Review Questions 

Reader: Nadav Neuman

Author: Dori Greenberg

1. If you could replace one word in the piece, what would it be and why? Provide alternatives to this word. 

In the second to last paragraph I would change “got” in “got in another line”, to we “were placed in another line”. 

• What is the most significant sentence in the writing and why? 

I think the last one. It describes that there is always light at the end of the tunnel and you can take a glass half-full approach. 

• How would you describe the narrator’s tone? 

It does a good job of depicting the events of the day. I would say the tone is frustrated. 

• What more are you are hoping to discover about the narrator or their experiences? 

How that part of their trip put things in perspective with the rest of their trip which was seemingly amazing. 

• What is one aspect of the piece you, as a reader, identify with personally? 

The annoyance of airport procedures. I have been lucky enough to not have bad delays but being in the airport a ton this semester has been frustrating and a hassle all the time. 

• What is one aspect of the piece you do not identify with personally, but teaches you something? 

I have not been in a bad situation like the one explained but the thing I learned is sometimes you have to think outside the box like changing the flight to leave from a different airport, which was very smart and good thinking. 

• What is your favorite image (description) in the writing and why? 

“Loaded onto buses like cattle”- I think this perfectly describes those European bus experiences and It is all too familiar in our travels! 

• What specific part of the writing engages you most and why? 

“While it all worked out in the end and looking back on it we can laugh now; it was the most miserable experience while it was happening.” – the last line—pretty much because I love the fact that you can laugh about miserable experiences after the fact but during, it really sucks- this last line finished off the writing piece well

• What about this piece has caused you to reflect on your own writing? 

I think I need to use some more imagery in my writing. This piece was a good example of writing that puts images into your head as you are writing. I need to work on that in my writing.

1. Does the narrator go beyond external description, and reveal their subjective, interior reactions? 

I think she did, the narrator showed her frustrations in many different ways, and also her positive moments during this ordeal as she made friends on line, took a cab with strangers and completely made a miserable experience the best it could be. 

1. Does the plot or narrative of the piece come across as complete? Why or why not? 

Yes, I think it is complete. If I would change one thing to make it more complete I’d provide a bit more of an ending to it, almost as closure. I like the last line but think it should be switched to portray the negativity of the situation at hand first and then the positivity in the future and how they can laugh about it now. 

Revised writing:

Majority of my trip was fantastic, how could one complain while traveling around Europe and eating great food, drinking great wine, and spending time with a great company? Well, there was one mishap that was most definitely the ‘low point’ of my Passover Vacation. On Saturday, April 20th, my friend Alex and I were traveling from Florence to London. We had booked our flights months in advance. We were taking a 2:10 flight out of the Florence airport which was 20 minutes from our hotel, and we were scheduled to land in London at 3:30. If only it happened like that. 

We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare; we even figured out that there was a short line to go in if you had already checked in online, just to drop our baggage. We zipped through security, got some water and snacks and then we sat down. Finally, we were called to the gate; we were place in another line to go through border control where our passports were stamped with a “Firenze” stamp. We then sat and waited in the boarding area, and come 2:30 and nothing had happened. No announcements, no one was boarding the plane, nothing. Hours went by, and the gate agents kept saying there was bad weather, well update you soon. Three hours later they announced that due to strong winds there is a weight capacity for the plane to fly. So 43 people will be kicked off. They read a list of names and said go to gate 8. Of course Alex and I were sent to gate 8.

We got in another line, with no explanation as to why we were chosen to get kicked off the plane, we got a big X through our “Firenze” stamp in our passports, were loaded onto a bus like cattle, taken to baggage claim, and then we were sent upstairs back to the check in desk to figure out next steps. 

There was one man, in charge of assisting and redirecting 43 people, the line was not moving and we needed to get to London. So I decided to befriend those in line near me. As it turns out there was a nice couple from the UAE who was going to London and also impatient like Alex and I. We all impulsively decided to book another flight at 10 pm that evening out of the Pisa airport which was an hour away. We got in a cab with our new friends, we chatted our whole way to Pisa. They gave us restaurant recommendations for London and we all laughed a lot about the miserable day we were having. After hours of traveling and waiting in airports, we finally made it to London around midnight that day, I’ve never been as relieved to reach my final destination as I was that night when we arrived in London. While it all worked out in the end, and looking back on it we can laugh now, it was the most miserable experience while it was happening. 

Every morning I wake up, get dressed, brush my teeth but before I leave the dorm for the day there is one other thing that I do. I always make my morning tea. My tea consists of a scoop of Matcha powder, a fairly heavy pour of apple cider vinegar, a spoonful of honey, and when I have lemons laying around, I like to add some lemon juice as well. This is a tea that my mom started making years ago. Each ingredient has their own independent health benefits and different functions. The Matcha is a form of green tea, it is also a superfood and contributes to the energy boost. The apple cider vinegar has many health benefits, for your digestion, it helps with allergies among other things. The honey and lemon are mostly for taste, but if the honey is local honey, it can help with my allergies as well. Overall the tea gives me a lot of energy, helps with my digestion, and overall makes me feel good. the tea is important for me for many reasons but the health benefits is definitely a key, and the energy because I hate coffee! My friends hate it when I drink my tea because the apple cider vinegar smells terrible, but that does not stop me from drinking it each morning in my first class. In addition to the health benefits of the tea, it is also a taste of home, something that I have each morning that makes me feel a little bit closer to my mom which has played a very significant role for me throughout my time here in Tel Aviv. 

The second object that has become very important to me during my time studying abroad in Tel Aviv is a ring that I purchased while I was here. For the last day of Ulpan, my class took a field trip to Jaffa. Our class was divided into groups in which we were assigned a historic element or location in Jaffa. We were tasked with the assignment to present to our class this history and significance of the said object or location. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to put what we had learned in Ulpan to work, it was a really satisfying and rewarding opportunity being able to present in Hebrew to my peers and teachers. When the trip ended my friend Emma and I walked around Jaffa together. We went into the flea market and then to another alley way that was covered and we found a beautiful Jewelry store with the nicest man working there. I was on the hunt to get my boyfriend a present, and I was adamant on getting him a ring, that had an Israeli/ Jewish significance, that he could wear with his Magen David necklace. At this store I found the most beautiful rings, all with different sayings or prayers or designs, but the ones that truly stood out to me were the ones with the Shammah written on it. Growing up every night my parents would “tuck me in” and together we would all say the Shammah. As I have gotten older I try to do this before I go to bed on my own. It is a really special opportunity where I feel close to my parents, G-d, and I get a moment for private prayer and reflection. The second I saw the rings with the Shammah on it I knew that was what I should get Noah. And I also got one for myself. I don’t wear a lot of jewelry, but this ring is something that reminds me of who I am, where I come from, and the people I love most. 

This poem makes me think about the concept that despite the horrors and terrors and sometimes unfortunate realities of life, happiness can be found in the most unexpected places, ways or things. Every person finds happiness in different things, and it does not take much to instill happiness in an individual. Whether it be nature, where the poem talks about the blackbird, or having general motor functions like walking, or the freedom and time to casually drink ones coffee in the morning, this poem makes me realize that everything in life is truly a blessing, those that should not be taken for granite. The last lines of this poem also really make me think about the spontaneity and uncertainty of happiness. You never know where it is going to come from, and even in the darkest, worst time happiness can be found. It makes me think that I should be more open minded, and accepting of things, but I really never know when happiness might overcome me. 

High Point 

This Passover break has been one of the best that I have experienced up until this point. I had the opportunity to travel Europe both with my parents and my friends. I visited Paris, Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Pisa (briefly only in the airport) and London. It is really hard to choose one moment or day or place that was truly my the high point of this vacation. It was all spectacular. It made me realize how blessed I am to have these opportunities. It was really special traveling with my parents, but I also really enjoyed traveling and exploring with friends. It made me realize how capable and independent I am, organizing activities and making different plans on my own. I enjoyed getting to visit cities in which I had friends studying. It was special to have my close friends be my tour guide and show me around their “home” for the past few months. So overall I had an amazing trip. It is too hard to pick one high point so I am going to briefly give my high point from each place that I visited. My trip began in Paris, the city of lights and the city of love. My time spent in Paris was with both my parents and two other couples that they are good friends with. This was both my father and I’s first time in Paris, so I thought that was really special to experience it together. Overall, aside from museums, touring, shopping and eating spectacular food, my high point from my time in Paris was a dinner cruise we did our first evening. We got on a boat that was parked across from the Eiffel tower around 7:30 pm, we picked what we were having for dinner off the pre-set menu, and then we were on our way. The 8 course meal with wine pairings was spectacular, but the views of the city that we got from the water was extraordinary. My next stop was Rome and there it was just my om and me. We had the best time. We drank fabulous wine, saw countless beautiful and impressively preserved historic sights, we ate delicious food, shopped some and laughed until our bellies hurt. This was the first time my mom and I had been on a trip together just the two of us so it really was something special. So I think just exploring and spending one on one time with my mom was the highlight of that part. As for Florence, Florence was amazing. A beautiful city, small but with tons of great history. However, my high point from my time in Florence actually took place outside of Florence, when my friend and I spent an afternoon at Feragamos Il Borro estate touring the wine cellars and doing a wine tasting. We learned a lot, the views were spectacular and we had great fun. As for London, what a great city. It was nice to have a taste of reality and a big city with people speaking English before returning to Tel Aviv. We had a great time in London, however my high point for London was most definitely going to see Mama Mia live on our last night. It was so much fun, the entire audience was singing and dancing in their seats the entire show. However, the trip as a whole could be seen as my ‘high point’ it was a spectacular experience that I will never forget. 

Low Point

Majority of my trip was amazing, how could one complain while traveling around Europe and eating great food, drinking great wine, and spending time with great company? Well there was one mishap that is most definitely the ‘low point’ of my Passover Vacation. On Saturday April 20^th, my friend Alex and I were traveling from Florence to London. We had booked our flights months in advance. We were taking a 2:10 flight out of the Florence airport which was 20 minutes from our hotel, and we were scheduled to land in London at 3:30. If only it happened like that. We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare, we even figured out that there was a short line to go in if you had already checked in online, just to drop our baggage. We zipped through security, got some water and snacks and then we sat down. Finally we were called to the gate, we got in line to go through border control where our passports were stamped with a “Firenze” stamp. We then sat in the boarding area and it was 2:30 and nothing had happened. No announcements, no one was boarding the plane, nothing. Hours went by and the gate agents kept saying there’s weather, well update you soon. 3 hours later they make an announcement that due to strong winds there is a weight capacity for the plane to fly at. So 43 people will be kicked off. They read a list of names and said go to gate 8. Inevitably Alex and I were sent to gate 8. We got in another line, with no explanation, got a big X through our “Firenze” stamp in our passports, were put on a bus, taken to baggage claim, and then we were sent upstairs back to the check in desk to figure out next steps. There was one man, trying to assist and redirect 43 people, the line was not moving and we needed to get to London. So I decided to befriend those in line near me. As it turns out there was a nice couple from the UAE who was going to London and also impatient like Alex and I. We all impulsively decided to book another flight out of the Pisa airport which was an hour away. We got in a cab with our new friends, we chatted our whole way to Pisa. They gave us restaurant recommendations for London and we all laughed a lot about the miserable day we were having. After hours of travel and sitting in waiting in airports we finally made it to London around midnight that day. While it all worked out in the end, and looking back on it we can laugh now, it was the most miserable experience while it was happening. 

The passage in this essay that I find particularly interesting is actually on the first page of the essay. It is the paragraph that is explaining what a get is, how she already is divorced in the eyes of the District Family court, but to be able to remarry in Israel and to be divorced in the eyes of the Jewish religion how she needs to go through this additional divorce process/ ceremony. I find this paragraph interesting because I think it says a lot about differences in culture, and how within religion that are so many traditions, rules, and regulations that could be considered as so outdated, but still are still upheld and enforced. I think the difference of being Jewish and living in Israel compared to the rest o the world really stands out in this passage as well. A Jew in America does not need to go through this additional process and ceremony to truly be divorced. This passage also makes me think a lot about Judaism in general. Every religion has it’s individual traditions, but those of Jews seem to be more present in daily life in my opinion. There are so many things within a Jewish wedding that do not occur in other weddings, and those are common and known about. The process of getting a get, in my opinion is not as commonly talked about. To me, this says a lot about how society and the world focuses so much more on the good, and the bad is swept under the rug and not as often talked about. 

Labensohn’s essay “Leaving Babylon” is very interesting and thought provoking. I am Jewish and knew that the divorce process for Jews was different than other religions, just because the marriage ceremony has so many religious aspects, so in my mind it was inevitable that divorce would be different. But this essay is the first time I’ve really read about the extent of the Jewish divorce process, and the details of it. I find it very fascinating that in particular for a woman to remarry, she has to get the approval of the religion and her husband, whereas the husband has all the freedom in the world to go do whatever he wants after the civil divorce, get or not get. 

In terms of something I learned from the article regarding the aspects of writing themselves, I find her tone to add a lot to the essay. I find the essay to be more engaging given that it is written in frist person. It is more believable and sucks you in more. Personally, because it was this woman telling her own story I felt very sympathetic for her and I felt bad for her to an extent as well. Had this story been written by a third party, it would not be nearly as relatable. 

After reading poems by both Mahmoud Darwish, “To a Young Poet” and Tuvia Ruebner, “A Postcard from Tel Aviv”, I really liked the work of Mahmoud Darwish, I felt like at this point in my lifetime and given my personality, upbringing, and views on the world that his work was a little easier to understand and more relatable than that of Tuvia Ruebner. Thus, I decided to continue to research Mahmoud Darwish’s work and to write a response on one of his other pieces. After reading a couple, the one that really stood out to me and resonated with me was “It is Night and She is Lonely.” 

Given I am going through a rough patch in my relationship right now, I found this poem to be very relatable. In a way, I see myself in the shoes of the lonely woman that is being observed or admired in this poem. I find it interesting and so common to be sitting somewhere alone, next to people who are also alone. Regardless of whether or not a conversation is started up between the two individuals, when I am in this situation I always catch myself watching the other person out of the corner of my eye. Trying to see if they are watching me too, but it is hard when you do not want to be so obvious. More often than not in these situations I find myself creating a story for the other person in my head. Like they are single and looking for a partner, or they have been recently broken up with and are sulking. It is always an interesting and confusing thought, to go up to them, not to go up to them. 

The way the narrator is asking himself questions, to strike up a conversation, to taste her wine, while tasting a strangers wine to me seems fairly aggressive, I find it to be so normal and common to have so many questions and wonder so much about other people in these situations. Are they nice, do they want you to start a conversation, do they want to be left alone? Do they want to start a conversation with you? You really can never tell. 

However, the narrator in my eyes takes it a little too far. Without disturbing her, without directly engaging with her at all, he claims that love has become an idea in his head. That seems to be a little aggressive and forward for me. While love at first sight I think is totally feasible, without even having a conversation I find it to be relatively unrealistic, and that seems to be the situation that the narrator has created in his head. 

Overall I think this poem says a lot to daily life. Of individuals going about their lives, and especially in today’s era, keeping their heads down, being somewhere alone but not even being alone because they’re on their phone and connecting with the rest of the world. The ability to have the world at our fingertips with today’s technology lessens the chance of any spontaneity, like that in this poem.