Genesis: At the Beginning....

First, apologies for falling off the face of the earth for the past 2 months, I literally did exactly that. The trip, as I expected, didn’t happen the way I expected. However it happened exactly the way it was supposed to happen. It was so much fun and I learned a lot about myself, the world, and Pamela (one of the most inspirational women I’ve ever met). The Mediterranean is beautiful, Italian food is delicious, but the novelty of wandering around with all your belongings on your back wears off and wears you out quickly. By the time I arrived in Israel, banging on the gate of my school at 6:00 in the morning, I was broke, dirty, and exhausted.

Although the residue of my trip remains (I am still pealing from the sunburn I got on the sandy beaches on the coast of Valencia and whip lashed from riding a motorcycle through the maze-like alleys in the medieval city of Genoa), I have only a few minutes to share with you and I am so excited about my present situation in life that I will resist bringing you up to speed on my past wanderings, and start from where I
am right now! Please don’t feel gypped that I am withholding all the juicy details of my trip in Europe, I promise I will divulge when I have more time, but I want to talk about Israel.

After 2 years of setting my sights on this, working hard to save my money, and taking the longest travel route…I am finally where I want to be, the Land of Israel. I can hardly believe I am here. My state of mind can only be described as teetering between a state of complete tranquility and sublime ecstasy. I once met someone claiming to be the luckiest person in the world, but I beg to differ, I think it’s me. I arrived at my program on Thursday, September 18 with a reception fit for royalty. That is how everyone at this program is, completely open, welcoming and liberal with their love and affection. Immediately I had thirty new best friends that completely blow my mind with their journeys, insights, and spirituality. The women I am learning with come from all over the world, Florida, Alabama, London, Australia, Colombia, South Africa, etc. and all different stations in life.

1 Day in Israel was really special. It was Chai Elul on the Jewish calendar, which is actually a holiday. Not only is it my Hebrew birthday (a holiday in itself) it’s also the Birthday of two of the greatest Chassidic luminaries. The night was celebrated with a party called a Febregain, which is an amazing invention consisting of singing really loudly, pounding on tables, drinking vodka, eating hummus and cake, and telling stories that rival any New York Times bestseller.

Day 2 was also exceptional. It was Shabbos and spent in the beautiful hills of Jerusalem.

Day 3, as if the previous could be outdone, was spent sitting at the Kotel, Western Wall and wandering through my new hood, the Old City.

Day 4...I should really refrain from recounting the story of creation but lets just say there's been a lot of light, vegitation, animals...and it was all very good.

More about my program: long story short, my classes are really intense. Short story long, I’ve never stretched my mind to such lengths, felt so inspired, felt so awed, felt so intimidated by the breadth of information that lay before me. Every bit I learn unlocks the doors to hundreds of more ideas. I feel infinite and miniscule simultaneously. I am daunted by how much wisdom there is, but at the same time, it’s thrilling to be challenged intellectually and esoterically and to experience the richness of my heritage. I want to share it with you, but find myself limited by my small comprehension of these huge ideas and even more limited by my inability to articulate it clearly and relevantly to you. My mind has been blown open. From here on out, I will do my best give you a glimpse into the world I have just entered…which is completely foreign and different than anything I have ever done. I am in a place I have never been, doing things I have never done, yet it feels so natural as if my essence knew this all along.

Since I don’t even know where to begin, and there is only 1 computer that all 30 women on this program share, I’ll let this blog post serve as both an update letting you know I’m alive (I mean that in many senses of the word) and as the initiation of a dialogue that I intend on carrying out with you, my friends and family, throughout the next year of my journey.

Thank you for being in my life. The love and faith you’ve shared is what propels me forward.