Chapter Minus 1, Getting Ready, Remaining Nervous

Well, this is mysecond attempt at a first attempt at blogging. I am a bundle of nerves anticipating the CBST Israel trip. I am almost packed, got a replacement for my lost ATM card, selected a cheap fees credit card for use in Israel. (I am using USAA that charges only 1% while my Citibank and Chase charge 3%. I do not know what Amex charges.) My camera is working and I will take both lenses and regret the extra weight. Either that or regret not taking the extra lens. I set myself up to lose. But hey, that's part of my charm and pays the therapist's bills.

The other exciting thing is my new suitcase. It is a hard carry on with an extra compartment on the front big enough for a laptop. I found it in the Skymall magazine, the place to find things you have to have that you never knew existed. It has 360 degree wheels and is cherry red.

This blogging thing is strange. I feel powerful, you know--he/she who has the pen etc. And I promise that I will write more about the exciting things we will be seeing and hearing about and less about my internal workings as the trip progresses. But I assume that many of my travel mates are in the same boat tonight, ready to go but not quite ready. Bonnie and are fortunate in that we are leaving tomorrow. The rest of the group will join us the next day.

Rabbi Kleinbaum, trip organizer and rabbi of CBST (in the future to be referred to as RSK) held several classes in anticipation of the trip so that we all would have some idea about the political and social issues salient in Israel and the Palestine areas. For some on the trip all this is new, for others who have been examining Israeli politics for years it was a good review. And highlighted for us how little we really know.

I know that traveling members have been reading, becoming experts in selected areas, watching movies and just all around getting ready. Bonnie and I as well as Robin and Susan read "The Lemon Tree" ( I can't figure out how to underline) by Sandy Tolan, a story about a house in Ramle that was built on old Palestinian land before 1948 by a family who had lived on the land for generations. After the war the family was pushed out and ended up in Ramallah. After the war a Bulgarian family emigrated to Israel and made the house their home. Shortly after the 1967 war Bashir, a son from the original family, came to visit to see his home of origin. Dalhia, daughter of the new family welcomed him in and that began a long relationship between Dalhia and the Palestinian family.

The house is now OPEN HOUSE, which was founded in 1991 to foster better relations among Israeli Arabs and Jews, starting with the residents of Ramle, Israel. OPEN HOUSE has remained active and flourishing despite periodic outbursts of violence and the resultant climate of fear, which can sap hope and the motivation to work for peace. The house and garden, where a thriving lemon tree once grew, symbolize the homeland of two peoples that are still trying to create the conditions for a just and lasting peace between them.

http://www.friendsofopenhouse.org/about.php

I also read O'Jerusalem which describes the war in 1948 in a manner very generous to both sides. I also read 1967 by Tom Segev which talked about the origins, the actions, and the outcomes of the 6 Day War.It, like most of the things I read, are full of "could a, should a, would a" and things would be much better right now. Oh well.


L'hitraot, chavarot v'chavarim