back at Muss

So, I am back in Hod Hasharon and life is back to the way it has been. I miss the kibbutz already. A few interesting things happened in the last few days - I found out that all the Americans living on the kibbutz now know about my blog and laugh and make fun of me for not wanting to make aliyah. I decided that I strongly believe that a person can be a Jew and even a Zionist without living in Israel. I think that Israel needs the diaspora. Staying here for almost three months makes you realize what is so important about the American Jewish - or even the Washington Jewish community. The differences are very important. For instance, in America, because Jews are a minority, there are not as many divisions between sects. The clash between religious and secular is not seen the way it is in Israel. In a strange way because there are fewer Jews, at least compared to everyone esle, the connection is stronger. Thats not to say there is no connection in Israel - there certainly is - but in the states, when you meet a Jew - its almost a surprise, it gives you a connection and someting to talk about. In Israel its basically a given.

Believing in Israel and recgonizing its importance does not mean that I have to move there. I can support Israel from my home in DC, and that is something that I dont think many Israelis - or at least none of the Americans who have made aliyah - seem to agree with. But I'm okay with our difference of opinion even if they are still trying to convince me. Its the Jews who live outside of Israel that give the contrast - that show a difference perspective on how Jews can live.

So thats what I've been thinking these past few days. I'm heading off to my last free weekend tomorrow and then only one week left! It's going to be weird to be back.

If anyone from the kibbutz is reading this - thank you for housing me these past few weeks and for talking and discussing with me. It gave me a lot of new thoughts and perspectives.