Jumping Head First Into Israel’s Politics
My final transformation from a visitor to Israel, to a student in Israel to a citizen of Israel, culminated in going to an election talk… Read More »Jumping Head First Into Israel’s Politics
My final transformation from a visitor to Israel, to a student in Israel to a citizen of Israel, culminated in going to an election talk… Read More »Jumping Head First Into Israel’s Politics
It’s a hot summer night and I am sitting in my apartment, in Tel Aviv and I am going through my inbox deleting old emails.… Read More »Update- My Thoughts Three Years Later.
My cousin took out the Hagada and began to read. The first prayer read: “Today we are here, but next year we will be free… Read More »Passover in Israel
I love New Year’s Eve. I love it because I grew up in Soviet Union where it was the biggest holiday of the year. It… Read More »New Year’s Eve in Tel Aviv
A few years ago I spent a couple days in Haifa. I was there around Christmas time and I was amazed at all of the… Read More »Christmas in Tel Aviv
I’ve never spent Hanukkah in Israel. At least not in the way as a non-tourist where I get to take it all in. So… Read More »Hanukkah in Tel Aviv
Dear Palestinians, I’m a Jew living in Israel. I was a Jew in my passport when I was born. I didn’t choose this. No… Read More »Dear Palestinians- Don’t Shoot At Me Over Trump, Join Me In Protest Against Trump.
I like the number eight. As long as I can remember, eight has been my favorite number. Seven might be the lucky number, but 8… Read More »5778
I went to Temple Emanu-El today. A temple that has produced a lot of leaders in San Diego. I expected something special because of the many stories I have heard of this synagogue on a hill in historically Jewish San Carlos, across the canyon from San Diego State University.
The outside is made of white stone like the buildings in Jerusalem. The entrance was bright and full of light. The wooden doors lead me to the simple temple inside. Wood paneled walls with a beautiful clerestory. The ark was two large glass doors on a stage like many reform temples. No fancy artwork was there. Simple decor such that the eyes would stay with the rabbi. The one beautiful accent was a Sanctuary lamp that looked like something that Chihuly would make.
Last month I was accepted to the prestigious joint executive MBA at Nortwestern University-Tel Aviv University. As soon as I was accepted to the program, which would give me a chance to live and learn in Israel I was tasked with finding a way to pay for the education. This means applying to scholarships. Some scholarships have interesting prompts like this one for American Zionist Movement.
Sam Litvin On Zionism
I was seven years old playing with my best friend when he said “I’m, Russian.” I replied “me too!” My mother corrected me: “You’re not Russian, you’re Jewish.” It was traumatic, it was a three-letter word that made me “other”. This was the first time I heard the word “Jewish” and I did not understand what it meant. I’ve never heard of a country called Judea or of the people who are Jewish. I looked like all the kids around me and we all had the same customs. I did not understand what it was about me that was Jewish. It took nearly 23 years from that moment to learn what it means to be Jewish and what it means to be a Zionist.