Reflections from 2 Weeks in Israel

My time in Israel has been a profound continuation of personal growth and developing a sense of identity.

Much of my family history is rooted in Judaism, including the struggle through the Holocaust and World War II. For some reason, I’ve always felt disconnected from the Jewish part of myself. At times, I’ve felt that I don’t belong as a Jew, as though I’m an outsider looking in, trying to find my place in all of this.

Maybe it’s because of my brown skin. Maybe it’s because I’ve always had a bit of a negative sentiment toward religion. Maybe it’s because we always see disparaging news about Israel and how they’re steadily taking away the homes of their darker-skinned Palestinian and Arab neighbors. Maybe it’s some deep rooted shit related to antisemitism in our culture.

With all of that said, here are a few things I gathered from my time in Israel.

1) I am Jewish. It is a part of me, always has been and always will be. I’ve spent most of my life ashamed of it, and I’m now trying to reframe and become proud of it. Just because religion often tends to be misconstrued and weaponized to create pain and suffering for some, doesn’t mean the religion or culture is bad. It simply means we might have the wrong leaders, teachers, and messengers.

2) I am not pro-Israel. I am not pro-Palestine. I am pro- the people of Israel. I am pro- the people of Palestine. I am pro- the people of the Middle East. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and listen to humasn on all sides, and they all want the same thing: love and peace. It’s the same thing I want. It’s the same thing almost every religion and culture wants. It’s the same thing preached in Yoga and Buddhism. The people are good — it’s the select few in power that have problems. It’s the rest of the world turning a blind eye or judging based on headlines that makes it even harder to reconcile.

3) If you have the opportunity to explore your personal background, consider taking it. You’ll learn about yourself and your place in the world. It may be challenging, but it will be worth it, even if it’s just a deep conversation with family members.

Much love,

Ben