Final Reflection

A Roller Coaster Ride in Jerusalem

            As my final semester as a college student comes to a close, I have realized that it has been quite the up and down ride that I thought it would be.   However, I didn’t exactly know what the ups and downs would be.  With that said, I would say that the Living in Jerusalem class can be compared to my college career.  The ups and downs with not only the class, but also Jerusalem itself can be considered a good reflection of the last four years as a student.

            Although the first few weeks seemed like they were starting off slowly, they were very fast paced behind the scenes due to the rapid reading pace of Armstrong’s book.  I really thought that the book had a lot of ideas that could have gone for either side of the conflict, but also had a decent amount of dry history that was very hard to keep up with.  I will say that one of the factors behind this is because I do not have many ties to the situation overall even though I am Jewish.

            I came into the class because of my Jewish background and it looked interesting; I never knew that would turn into this wild ride that goes in so many different directions.  However, the more that I continued to read and learn about the topic, the more I realized that I was getting a grasp on the topics, little by little.  One of the biggest helping points to the class were the people that have experience with the conflict, whether through living in Israel, working for a group, or having family ties to either of the sides.  I could really tell that when they spoke about the topics that not only did they know what they wanted to say and stood by it, but they also felt as though they were apart of it.  It made me feel like I wanted to be a part of it as well, even though I did not have nearly as much background as they did.

            Now, as much as I enjoyed listening and learning from my classmates about the conflict, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the speakers that joined in from all over the world to give us their perspectives on either or both sides.  I really think that the videoconferences from these inspiring people make a difference for the class.  It was beneficial to see what they had done for the conflict, even if it was the smallest thing.  From my perspective, it made me realize that there are so many people that do small things to attempt to make difference and those people deserve to be recognized. 

            Even though the second half of the semester was a lot different from the first, I did not think that videoconferencing with the OSU class was as beneficial.  I know that most of the idea of conferencing with them is for the speakers, and I thought that it was supposed to be more of a combined class once I got used to the structure.  However, we never did anything with them and I think that the classes should either be connected more or only conference when speakers are on so we can both share their time on our respective campuses.

            Other than Armstrong’s book in the first few weeks of the semester, I would say that the most time consuming part of the class were the blog posts that were due once or twice a week.  There are so many different perspectives on the blog and I feel as though there are many pros and cons to them.  I really enjoyed how freely you could share your feelings about the conflict and the friendly conversations that came up in class about opposing opinions.  It allows people to translate their newly found form of translating online and bring it into the classroom as they please.  I know that I am not one to speak very often in class and it helped me get some opinions from others as well as demonstrate my own so others could read them.

            On the other side of the blogs, there are some complications that I had, especially when I first started using it.   Yes, I had never used a blog before and took awhile to get used to.  I felt like a lot of people had trouble using it at times and it was also difficult to keep up with the 30 opinions that were floating around every day of the week.  I know that we didn’t have to keep up with everyone’s blog each week, but reading from different sources each time sometimes created a stir for me.  I found that at times, some people were pouring in a lot more than others, while opinions were so different and felt that it was difficult to keep up with.

            Within the blog assignments, I believe that the weblog journal entries that we had were a great idea to counter the back and forth craziness of the conflict.  By having us think outside the box and more about our normal lives that are relating to the topic of the conflict that we were talking about at the time, I think it really helped me connect better and understand what we were really diving into.  At time I felt like I was being pushed so far into certain topics of the conflict, but then was relieved to see that a weblog was due in order to calm things down.

            I think that is all I have to say about the overall dimensions of the class, so I am going to talk a little bit about some specific things that really caught my eye during the semester.  I think that the extended class when we watched the movie about the orchestra was one of the best things we saw or talked about in the class.  It was so cool to see first hand how the group of people was bringing in kids from different backgrounds to play in the orchestra around Europe.  By examining all of the background interviews and obstacles that they had to go through to get this done, it really brings a different perspective on the situation.  The leaders had a goal and they would not give up and that shows the future of the conflict.  I do not think will give up because they have hope and they realize what they want.

            When I was gathering my thoughts after we saw that movie, I really wanted to do my project on something that inspired the future of the conflict.  I knew that I had wanted to focus on sports because my life is basically revolved around sports.  However, I didn’t have the right approach until I watched the orchestra video; then I decided that I wanted to focus on groups that bring together both sides and hope to make peace in the near future.

            My favorite sport is basketball and that was my main goal to focus on.  I had worked with kids this summer working for the Atlanta Hawks and it is such a wonderful experience.  I can only imagine how difficult, yet inspirational it is when working with these kids due to the emotions and behaviors that they bring with them before they start these programs.  The most important thing I learned is that sports really can make a difference in these kid’s lives and the future of their respective countries.  I have said all along that the future is in these children’s hands and the more people that get on board and change their opinions at a young age, the faster that the conflict can be resolved. 

            With all of those thoughts being brought to the table, I believe that there should be more interaction for the students in the class and the outside environment.  I believe that future students should have to engage in some outside activities in order to get more outside perspective from the class.  Although the speakers are very nice to hear from and answer our questions, I think that it is difficult to only rely on the people that you have talk to us for perspectives on the conflict.  As students, I think it would be beneficial to talk to other students, especially those that have a large background on the subject or have family members that are in the Middle East going through it themselves. 

            One of the things that I really think would change the dynamic of the class is some kind of background material to get more people that have knowledge on the conflict.  I know that I learned a lot while being a part of this class and not coming in with little prior knowledge, but I think about half the class felt this way and it showed in most of our classes that everyone was not fine-tuned into the discussions.  I can only imagine how many more opinions added to the class would create for bigger and better things for the Living in Jerusalem project.

            With that said, I am very fortunate that I was able to take the Living in Jerusalem class this semester.  I met a lot of great people and learned so many new things, in history and in the present.  I know that I am now more knowledgeable about the topic and will be able to carry conversations in the future when it gets brought up.  Although it was very challenging at times, I think that it was definitely worth my time and I hope that the class can continue to grow at IU and around the country.

Weblog 5

Coming into the class, I barely had any knowledge about either side of the argument, other than what I heard about violence in Israel from friends and family.  With that said, I am a Jew and from my prior knowledge I would be pro-Israel for everything.  Going into this class I had no idea what was going to happen with any of my views, but I definitely opened up my opinions.  From listening to all of the guest speakers and reading about people on both sides of the conflict, I really believe that it is the highest authorities involved that are making this difficult to solve.

I don't think my position has necessarily changed or strengthened, but I can say that my knowledge on the topic has definitely increased.  I know more about both sides than what I did before and I know that it isn't all about Palestinians just pouring terrorist attacks into Israel for no rhyme or reason.  Listening to people from the Palestinian side made me realize that they are not bad people or mean to hurt anyone, they just want peace as well.  Reading into the stories about Israeli and Palestinian kids getting together makes me want peace more in the Middle East.  It is sad that they cannot come together to make something work because of the obstacles within the governments.

Issues from the class

Overall, I think this class makes for a unique challenge that has so many twists and turns in itself.  With that said, there are some issues that do make it difficult to wrap your head around the information being brought to our attention.  One issue that I really struggled with in the beginning was the Armstrong book.  I think that all of the information was great, but just the thought of where she got her information and some parts where she seemed to lean to one side or the other really caught me off guard.  There was so much going on in the book and with it being the beginning of the semester, it took a lot longer to get in the groove of the overall content of the class between the book and the guest speakers.  Although I thought they were both beneficial, for me personally, I thought it put the class to a rough start.

With regards to the categories in my final paper, I think that there were many great suggestions thrown out yesterday and I agree with some of them.  The thought of reading Armstrong before class would help, but how many people would actually read the book before the semester? I think that there could be certain prerequisites that would help the class because if you come in already knowing the history, then the Armstrong book is basically not needed and can be used for more speakers/activities, etc.  I also thought that going to events is something interesting because being at things first hand rather than just watching videos or listening to them really makes a difference. Other things I would like to touch on are social media/blogs, speakers and their topics, and Jerusalem updates.

Reading Response 15

After looking through these websites, it is different, yet interesting, when looking from a perspective that you are not used to.  When looking around, you can tell how these people feel about themselves and what they want to accomplish.  They believe that they have the power to do what they want and fight for what they believe in, which brings so much confidence to a group of people.  The Open House blog is very interesting because it has different interns posting about the things they have done around Israel to support the group.  All of the different events that have gone on supporting the community really makes them feel like they are making a difference in people's lives.  I think that these people are making a name for themselves and showing people that freedom of choice exists.

The other website that really stood out to me was the city of borders documentary about the relationship between gays and Israelis/Palestinians in a Jerusalem gay bar.  There are so many people that can relate to this in Israel and I think that it is a great opportunity for the people who are a part of this movement.  They are only trying to create an environment for these people and they have the right to do what they want, even if their friends, family, or others disagree.  The big quote that really stuck out was from the Israeli bar owner that said “When I read in the bible that I could be killed for being gay, I understood what it was like to be Palestinian.” I think that really makes a big impact in being the outside looking in and should give perspective to others doing similar moves in the future.

Reading Response 14

The two chapters from Amiry were very different from what we have been reading and I think it helps get through it easier.  On that note, I thought the second chapter was extremely interesting about how to get vaccinations for dogs in Jerusalem.  The relationship to actually getting a passport for your dog (which as I write this, still seems like one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard) can be compared to people in certain circumstances that are not allowed to go to certain places.  People in Israel and Palestine are not allowed in each others territories to a certain degree and it is amazing how powerful organizations are to make this kind of thing happen.  From the beginning of the semester until now, we have learned about how this situation has become top heavy in the governments and a majority of the citizens are just trying to live their lives the best they can.  It just seems so surreal that all of this can affect so many people.

The second reading from Galit was a bit of a twist from the first article, relating Jerusalem in a feminine way.  It is interesting to think about because as we discussed in class today, there aren't many things that are compared to men in this country today.  The feminine comparison has a spiritual meaning of love connected to it that should be thought about every day.  However, the main outlook I took from this was that it should not be felt as a 'possession' as one normally thinks, but as a love characteristic.

Weblog 4

Even though I do not listen to a variety of music and primarily use it to keep me entertained, I think that it does get me into the right mood.  I am a fan of R&B, Pop, and some hip-hop music.  I like to listen to r&b most of the time because it puts me in balance and seem like I'm carefree.  However, when I need to get pumped up for something, I might break out some old rap that I know the words to in order to get my adrenaline flowing. I do not update my music very often, but I do enjoy listening to music in the background of my daily activities.

Many people in the world use music to mean different things, especially in the movie we saw on Tuesday.  I think between the orchestra from a few weeks ago and the rappers we just saw yesterday, music can have so much more impact than just entertainment.  These people are making music and setting a stage politically by interacting with both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  I think that it is a unique way of attacking the subject, but can also help because of the shared interests.  The rappers had a lot more arguments about the political side than the orchestra players did, but that could partially be due to the kind of music they are doing.  Rappers are meant to be aggressive and I think the article that went with the video talked about the background of that very well.  We will continue to see if any of the music interventions will collect enough interest to become a part of a movement towards peace in the future.

Reading Response 13

After reading the article about the dissection of the inner conflict of Channels of Rage, it is very interesting to see tidbits of both sides of the story.  It seems as though both of them are doing this during a violent time, but stick to their own sides.  However, they both understand what the other is going through.  I think that the most interesting part was the quote from each at the end, when Tamer says the problem isn't between him and Kobi, but Kobi believes the opposite.  Maybe this is to make it bigger than it really is, or they are really in a struggle to find that inner peace.

The Israeli Hip-hop article 'All Flow, No Edge' really puts a different perspective on how Israelis look at rap compared to those in the United States.  When reading the article, one thing really caught my eye: How Israeli rappers perceive 'black'. Now to start this off, are there not any white rappers? Of course there are, and even though African Americans are a majority of the rappers, I think it is obscure to point them out like that.  There are tons of famous white rappers and to directly try to link to the blacks is weird to me, considering the Israelis can probably relate to the white rappers more.  I think the comparison of violence in Israel and in the ghettos aren't very similar and cause two different styles of rap, which is good for the category.

The interview with Subliminal was also very interesting from him rapping at his house to the army to making albums.  He has been progressing to make his music out of Israel since he has basically taken over the hip hop market there.  His next mission is to make an album in English for Europe and then progressively to the United States.  It is interesting to see where he has come from to where he is now.  Although he compares his childhood to being on the streets like the rapper Biggie Smalls, he was more in the politics side because there really isn't any other option.  He has come a long way to his success and I think he will continue to develop and hopefully make a difference in the region and in the world.

Reading Response 12

I have enjoyed the last few articles because we are finally starting to shy away from the history aspect and focus on the present day conflicts.  There are so many different kinds of people that are affected by the separation barrier, whether on the Israeli or Palestinian side.   I thought that Noura brought up some interesting points of how the actions of each side take place.  It seems as though neither side really knows what it wants and that is the whole outcome of this whole situation.

The main thing that stood out to me was the graffiti on the wall that stretched for miles.  There are so many different definitions for graffiti where ever you come from and how you portray art.  I have heard of graffiti as a way of art but also vandalizing another persons property with derogatory terms.  However, this is the positive way where people are showing pictures that have a thousand words behind it as we have mentioned in a previous reading for the class.  There are so many different pictures that all have a different meaning.  I think it is a way for people to not think the wall is there for separation, but for a hope that one day it can be taken down.

Reading Response 11

I think that the Parallels and Paradoxes article was one of the more interesting ones we have read due to the outline and connection that we have gotten from the previous readings and speakers.  One of the main points that really caught my attention was when Edward said talked about all of the hardships that he and the students encountered on the way to success.  He talks about how it was hard at first for the kids to realize what they were doing and to form new identities.  As one who has the gift of conversation, it is amazing what he said to those kids in order for them to come out of their shells to break through the struggles and come together to do what they love.  Music and the power of change without fear has brought not only a new thought for the kids, but also for people involved on both sides of the conflict.

Another big standout that was also touched upon by Mariam Said, about how Edward and Daniel did not always agree on the same things.  Some of them were probably due to the fact that they were both on different sides of the conflict.  However, they both had the same goal for the project.  They wanted to make a change and still want to continue something that has made a difference in many children's lives.  They both also responded about being home in the same way, being with each other creating music even though they had lived in numerous cities without each other.  It really shows the special connection they had and Mariam seems to have great control for the future of the project. May its success continue and maybe one day the light will shine bright on the conflict...

Individual Project Details

I am part of the Identity group and I will be focusing on sports along with a few others.  There are two specific parts that I am interested in.  The first has to do with the children; they can be said to be the future of the conflict and lead the direction that it goes.  I believe that having Arab and Israeli children play sports together is an outlet to forgetting about the whole overarching theme of politics.  If kids are interacting with each other at a young age, it could help them develop relationships for the future and make it easier to compromise.

The other part of sports that I would be interested looking into is the professional side.  I know that soccer is very big in Europe and the Middle East...are there club teams that have both Arab and Israeli players on them? If so, how do they coexist? Have there been any problems with this? There are a lot of questions to be answered and I look forward to seeing how sports has impacted the conflict in both a positive, and negative way.

Reading Response 10

After looking through the various sources of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, this really hits a unique part of how certain things link the Israelis and Palestinians together without any thoughts of politics.  I think I am more intrigued with how this has been set up because I am a part of the identity group.  Although we are not going to look into specifics of music bringing people together, these are the kinds of things we are looking for.  One of the main things that we think should be looked at for the future is how we can get the younger generation to interact with each other at a younger age so they can fix the bigger issues as soon as possible.

The video on the girls interviewing about their backgrounds and thoughts about the orchestra were the most interesting to me.  I think that they have a passion for what they do and don't even have the sense that they are working with their 'rivals' or 'enemies' at the same time.  Although they are friendly with one another, the bigger picture will always be there to attempt to separate these people.  However, I do believe that the strong bonds that the younger people are getting through music, schooling, and other activities will outweigh the political boundaries into a better future for all.  The identity group is looking forward to researching into this topic more and finding out how these connections can help with future negotiations.

Reading Response 9

Issam Nassar's article on the photographic history of Jerusalem really brings a different perspective than a bunch of words of history as Karen Armstrong did.  It is amazing how things have changed in the last 100 years through Jerusalem and to look at it through a new lens makes it easier.  Everyone always says that a picture is worth a thousand words, and this article couldn't have proven it any more.  Instead of writing a bunch of historical names, dates, and places over the last century, these pictures not only show you what is there, but raises so many questions that continues to shape opinions in regards to the history.

The other part of the article talks about how Europeans didn't want people to actually live in Jerusalem...which is odd.  As different cultures came through, they joined together and started to make a very unique community.  However, Europeans were not fans of this and wanted it for their own natural sights without anyone bothering them.  Europeans wanted to keep what they thought was all theirs which brings to mind the question of how they didn't want to give and wanted more for themselves. And the roller coaster of Jerusalem's history continues...

Reading Response 8

We have finally made it through the windy path that was Karen Armstrong's wild and crazy Jerusalem history feature in a few weeks.  To be honest I was not the biggest fan of the book due to its lack of sources and overload of information, but I think it will help put things into a better perspective for the rest of the class.  I thought things would slow down and we would let off the gas some, but then here comes the articles from Tamari...

These are two very interesting articles that have some Palestinian twist to them, but still talk plenty about the relationship between the Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Armenians (in no particular order, of course).  The concept of nationalism and pride really makes one think about how you feel about your own.  While reading these articles, I couldn't help myself but to think, "Do I do certain things for myself or for others?" Well it's that same sense of pride that people have about their country.  It comes to that point where everyone has their own opinions about what they should and should not do and continues to raise questions that will possibly never be answered...

I continue to think who is right and wrong in all of these scenarios...but of course I have my own side and am entitled to my own opinions.  We all do and that is how life is.  We just need to figure out how everyone can have their own while giving up the smallest amount that will make the slightest bit of difference in their ways of life.  That's just the way it is and we continue to wonder what's to come next...

Weblog Journal 3

When I think about my tangible items that I have in my apartment, my first reaction will be straight to sports.  I am an avid sports fan that includes basketball and football.  When you look around my room, you will see some memorabilia or posters of my favorite teams or players which include the Louisville Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and the Atlanta Hawks.  Sports are a huge part of my life and it is something that I really have a passion for.  I have been to so many different games and events and I could not be more thankful for the opportunities I have been given.  I want to pursue a career in some kind of sports related job because I feel like I will be more involved and love what I do.

Although sports covers a majority of the belongings I have, there a few smaller things that make up who I am that are in my living space.  I have a few memorable items from my grandparents, sister's wedding, and my last summer internship that remind me of the memories I have had over the years.  I feel like it is nice to have things around that make you think of the things you remember the good times you've had.  Another thing that is very important to me is my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.  It has a special place in me and I will never forget where I am from.  I have plenty of sports memorabilia from my favorite team (Louisville Cardinals) and also have a license plate from Kentucky hanging above my bed that always keeps my roots with me.

Reading Response 7

Whew, it feels like we just got started, but we have finally made it to the end of Armstrong's twisting and turning history of Jerusalem.  So that means everything is peaceful and everyone can now go back into their lovely lives and enjoy, right? Wrong. Although Armstrong puts us through 1995, the last 18 years has shown that there is still unrest in Jerusalem. 

I thought that these last few chapters were the best of the book because I could relate to them more than the earlier history that I had not previously studied.  From the Holocaust to the 1967 War, I could follow along easier due to the minor knowledge I have on those events.  Armstrong really does a great job in wrapping up the book and allowing an open flow of continued history to jump right in.  I think that is amazing how far Jerusalem has come, but has so much to live up to in the future. 

After these last few weeks of reading, it has really spun me around multiple times with all of the dates, names, and rich history that surrounds one of the most historic places in the world.  I think that the book has helped me analyze history a little better in some sense, even though there is no way that I could remember even half of the people or places she mentioned.  As a Jew, it is interesting to learn the major pieces of history that surround the state of Israel, especially the holy city of Jerusalem.  I think this book is a good transition for the rest of the class, looking into the last 18 years of history and what we have to look forward to in the future.  The questions of "will peace ever come back?" continue...

Reading Response 6/Initial Project Thoughts

After reading chapters 11-13, the main points that were discussed had to do with religion, especially the Muslims.  A few things really caught my eye.  It seemed as though when the Muslims or Jews were in rule, they were not forcing anyone to join their religious beliefs, but when the Christians ruled, they were doing the exact opposite.  Was it because they had more people so it was easier to get others involved? I doubt it. I believe it was the fact that they had more control throughout history so when they lost their power at some point or another, they wanted to get it back and keep it for a long time.  However, that did not happen because of the way they were treating others.  It always came down to religion even though the Jews and Muslims did their own thing and did not want to overpower any other religious beliefs.

These chapters really put a good view of what is currently happening in Jerusalem...nobody can agree on anything because their religious beliefs cause battles that lead to worse battles.  Everyone has to realize that in order for peace to occur, everyone is going to have to recognize that there are differences within the people of Jerusalem, just as the Jews and Muslims did some time ago.  While I was reading, all I could think about was, "If everyone would have a mindset like the Jews and Muslims did during this time, I think things could be in a better state right now."  Who knows if history will re-write itself at this point...

In regards to our group project, I think we have decided to break up our "Identity" group into 2-3 different parts.  After a brief discussion, it seems as though we will be looking into sports and/or people/dress/architecture.  I am very interested in sports and am looking forward to the opportunity to look at this in Jerusalem.  I think that it will be interesting to see what kind of sports everyone plays and if any of the sports actually hurt or help with the peace in Jerusalem.

Reading Response 5- New Developments

After reading chapters 8-10, I begin to wonder a few new things and some that keep coming up.  There is still part of me that is not pro-Armstrong.  Some of the context isn't connecting for me...the only thing I can think of is because of my lack of knowledge of the situation and history at hand.  There have been so many different years, people, and places that have come along in this book already and it is very difficult to keep up with.  However, with that being said, Chapter 10 was probably the best yet for me due to the pictures and allowing me to see what is really going on here with the geography.

One of the main points in these chapters is how the "New Jerusalem" came to be.  Jesus had not been around and many churches were being built.  However, my real question is why was it called New Jerusalem? There are so many religions that are tied to Jerusalem so why would they want to make a New Jerusalem to cause even more problems.  It is odd to me that they made this decision and did not try to build into the already based Old Jerusalem.  Things are starting to seem odd...

But then again, Armstrong talks about how the Christians and Jews interact with each other.  Now a days, things have changed dramatically.  In the old times, Christians would interact among themselves and Jews would do the same.  Today things are the same to some standard, but I am a Jew and have never had a problem with an Christian due to their religion and I believe that most Christians would say the same thing.  By comparing them to today's issues, it would be amazing if the religions would be able to do their own thing while getting along and making peace.  But we all know it isn't that easy. And this mind blowing history continues...

Weblog Journal 2- The Conflict

When you think about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or whichever way you want to call it, you don't even know where to start.  It is such an abysmal situation that nobody knows (or in my opinion, will ever know) how to solve the issue for both parties.  Yes, Israel is holding their own right now, but ever since I can remember, there has multiple conflicts consistently going along between the two.  Now, the issues are about land, Jerusalem itself, and even religious controversies.  There is no way that anyone is going to be happy about one outcome or the other because it just not seem feasible. 

While reading Pressman's article, I did like how it was straight to the point where I could follow along and put the facts together. It is simple to follow what has been going on because it has been witnessed and there is no way around it.  The last 50+ years since Israel became a state has been documented by fact, and not opinion by any means.  However, there are so many opinions on each side of the conflict that believe their way is the right way.

From a personal view, I have acknowledged that I do not believe there will be any kind of settlement anytime soon.  I am a Jew and would not want anything to happen to Israel.  That might sound like bias, but I am not against a plan if it favors everyone.  Sacrifices would have to be made on both sides and that is where I believe the problems will occur.  Neither side wants to give anything up, but only wants to gain for power.  Who even knows where to start how this can be resolved.  I like to be optimistic, but this could be awhile...

Reading Response 4- The Jews Didn't Back Down

While reading the next few chapters of Armstrong's book, a reoccurring theme was that the Jews never seemed to back down from anyone taking over Jerusalem.  Between others trying to take over and the destruction of the temples, the Jews stuck together because they believed this was the holiest place on earth.  While thinking about it...how could you not believe them? Everyone wanted Jerusalem and it has been in crazy conflict as far as history can go back.  There was a connection of some sort like no other place and many religions wanted to settle there.  Although some people wanted to create a better economy, the Jews didn't care.  They could be kicked out of their homes or lose their jobs but they were not going to lose the spiritual land that comes with Jerusalem.

The more I read, the more similarities that I find with the past.  Although these might not be exactly the same, history continues to show that things can happen more than once, twice, or seven times.  Jerusalem keeps on being shifted between different religions, ethnicities, and others.  It is an everlasting swing of who "believes" they have control at a certain time.

As we talked about in class, I still cannot read without thinking about where all of the historic information is coming from.  I understand that most of her sources are from the Bible, but unfortunately, we will never know who's opinions or observations are right or wrong.  Armstrong was only a British nun for a short time, but some times it seems like she can sway one way or the other.  Is this good if there is a good balance? Does anyone else feel that little itch that it could be biased in the slightest bit? There is no way of knowing but things seem to get more interesting as we continue.

Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths- Reading Response 3

As Professor Horwitz said in the previous class, I decided to look up some information on Karen Armstrong before I started to read the book.  I have learned that she is a British Christian who has some previous unbiased writing history on the Middle East.  It helped me get a better point of view from her because I know that she isn't leaning her opinions toward one side or the other.

We have started looking into Jerusalem from a historical perspective and Karen Armstrong imposed such a rich history within the first few chapters of this book.  Although there is importance behind all of the history, how can all of this research be determined to be true? Yes, there are certain sources and the Bible that could be considered the truth, but nobody really knows.  As I continued to read, it is so hard to understand if this really is the truth because someone's opinion from a certain side had to give their version of the history at some point or another.  It could be that all of this history is twisting all together and causing overthinking, but I always have an extra thought in the back of my head.

Although the facts are shown about the history in the book, one of the points that stuck out to me was about all of the religions being able to shy away from the spiritual aspects of Jerusalem and finding G-d from anywhere.  Jerusalem is considered one of, if not the, holiest place in the world.  Millions of people go there to pray because they feel that special connection when there.  As a reform Jew, I will say that I do not go to synagogue other than high holy days and special occasions.  However, when I went to the Western Wall five years ago, I felt something unique. Something special.  A feeling that you don't get when you are in the last row of synagogue talking to your friend while listening to your rabbi speak.

Experience is one of the greatest things in the world.  Once you experience something, you know how it feels and more things seem to open up for you.  Karen Armstrong has given us a background that will allow us to experience a broader view of Jerusalem and shape up how we have gotten to present day Jerusalem.  But there are still questions to be asked...do we know who's Jerusalem it really is? Who is the next set of people to take over? We know the history is such a roller coaster and I think that is what makes Jerusalem such an interesting place in the world.

Weblog Journal Assignment 1- The Beginning

Going into this class, I had no idea what to expect outside of the topic of Jerusalem.  However, after learning about the course through the first few classes, I know that there is so much to look into that could be studied for years and years.  I believe that the set up of the course is quite different than any other course that I have taken.  For me it will take awhile to get used to because I am not one of those who respond well to others' dialogue and reactions.

As we spoke about today in class, I am curious to see how the blogs turn out.  I think that they could be a success, or they could cause some trouble.  It is hard to keep up with 30 people writing blogs about similar, yet broad issues.  With all of the time and effort put into these readings and blogs, there could become a potential time problem for me in this class.  Between those and understanding what we are actually reading with the history, it could create some havoc.

After the first few sets of readings, I think that the most interesting ones were about the Festival in Washington D.C.  When reading about it and finding out that the main reason why it did not happen was because of financial issues, it really made me think whether or not to believe it due to all of the other issues that were going on at the time between the Israelis and Palestinians.  However, on the research side, residents just wanted to have their own designations of certain things such as food, art, and living quarters.  The aspects of this allowed each side to have their own parts of the Festival, but unfortunately, money was the most important thing and could not be resolved.

Through the first few classes, I can tell that we have a variety of people in our class including male and female, Jewish and non-Jewish, and people who know absolutely nothing about Jerusalem.  There is nothing wrong with this.  Actually, I think it is great because of all the different perspectives that will be brought up through the semester.  I am looking forward to hearing everyone's opinions, whether we agree or not because that is what this class is all about.

Reading Response 2- Jerusalem's Wild History

After reading the three articles, there is so much history behind Jerusalem that I wouldn't even know where to begin.  I know that Israel has only been a state for 55 years, but to realize how this all came to be is quite fascinating.  I am not the one to say history is my first, second, or even eighth favorite thing to learn about, but the fact that so many countries have had control of Jerusalem over so many years is astonishing.  Now I know most countries have similar history in that matter, but with Jerusalem being such a spiritual city, I would have figured that it would have been kept in the same hands for longer periods of time.

With that being said, the history of Jerusalem is out of control.  I had trouble getting through it all because of all of the different reigns of control.  The more I know about the major points in history, the more I can tie it to what is going on in the Middle East today.  I will be the first person to say that I really do not know a lot of details regarding what is going on in Israel right now but I know there has been uproar in the last few months.  However, I feel as though Israel has always had something major to deal with in and out of the country.  History has played its part and I think it will continue to be this way. 

Who knows what will happen in the next month, year, and decade.  History continues to amaze us and we never know what is coming next.  Will the Palestinians and Jews make peace with each other forever? Will there be war in Israel? Will Israel be attacked for no reason? How long will Israel stand on its own? In my opinion, nobody knows.  History is one thing in the world that plays itself out and is extremely difficult to determine. 

Project Thoughts

I think that I am most interested in two aspects of Jerusalem: food and sport.  Many cities, states, and countries are known for specific kinds of food and Jerusalem is one that is very cultured as well.  The one thing that stands out is that there are different cultures that make the same food but in a different way.  Everyone wants to claim it as their own, but one opinion varies from another depending on where you are and who you are talking to.

In regards to sports, it is a very large part of my life.  I have grown up playing and watching them and my interest has continued to increase as I have gotten older.  To be honest, I have not looked into the sports in Jerusalem and couldn't really tell you what they play.   My best guess would be to go off what they do in Europe but I am interested to see what the differences are with other countries.  Sports connect people and also provide an outlet to get your mind off of everyday life.  I believe this is one of the intriguing ideas that people overlook in Jerusalem.

Reading Response 1

After reading Suad’s piece about East Jerusalem, I wondered to myself how much things change in Jerusalem over a short period of time.  I have been to Israel once and it was five years ago.  When I went, I never saw any Palestinian trouble or any trouble for that matter.  Now I understand that five years ago is different from today and so is Suad’s research.  When reading through the article, I thought to myself how much of Jerusalem I didn’t see and how it would alter my thoughts.  Was I only being shown the Israeli side so I would not have any fear at the time? I saw no conflicts between anyone and since then I have wondered what it would be like to go back and explore all of the parts of Jerusalem.

The interview with Suad about the Festival was very interesting.  She said that the main issue of the Festival not happening was because of finances.  However, after reading through the entire interview, I think it was more than that.  It seems to be that the intense conflict over who’s Jerusalem it is will never end.  Some believe it is theirs and others believe otherwise.  Jerusalem is such a sacred city and the everyday conflicts between religions, governments, and people probably wont end anytime soon.   The Festival would have been a good way to get more people educated with the region but could have caused more problems.

One of the most interesting things that stick out from Galit’s article on the Festival is how the political leaders and field workers rarely met.  I wonder how everyone wants to get this done and then they couldn’t even meet in person to make progress on the Festival.    Everyone needed to be on the same path in order to get this done and it just didn’t happen.  There were so many different aspects to this project and I believe that the more people that were working together then the more progress would have taken place.

When reading through Professor Horwitz’s article and journey, it is so cool to read all of the different dimensions of the research in Jerusalem.  The hardest part of the whole Festival seemed to be the framework that had to be completed in order to make all sides happy.  From reading and knowing the history between the two sides, it had to be extremely difficult and some might have said impossible.  Both cultures would not give anything up and it turned out to hurt them for the Festival. 

Introduction

My name is Max Fine and I am a senior from Louisville, KY. majoring in marketing.  I am a huge sports fan and follow the Louisville Cardinals like it is my job.  I have been to multiple bowl games and NCAA tournament games including last year's Final Four.  I am Jewish and have been to Israel once.  I went five years ago with the Jewish Federation of Louisville with five others.  Even though I do not remember all of it as vividly as I would like to, I had an amazing time and am looking forward to going back soon.  I look forward to building my knowledge on present-day Jerusalem.