I want to take the chance to wish everyone a Shana Tova, a Happy Jewish new year. Today was my first time experiencing the High Holy Days from away from home. I attended services through the Indiana University Hillel. This was a fantastic experience, mixed with a new element.
I attended the 9 a.m. Reform services and enjoyed the comfortable melodies, meaningful readings, and spiritual connection. I then decided to try something new and stayed for the second service, this time a Conservative service.
Sitting with my friends from the Judaic Studies department, I was amazed by how little I knew. Most of the Hebrew was new to me, the readings were unfamiliar, and the melodies were downright foreign. This was very awkward for me who, as someone who goes to services every week, thought I was very familiar with this stuff.
What I came to appreciate a little more was the diversity of practices, even within our own faith. It is easy to look at others and try to understand them, but it is rare that we look at our own communities and observe the differences within it. I found it meaningful to get the chance to evaluate the practice of my faith in conjunction with those who share a similar belief but a different style of practice.
I want to continue to spend this new year trying to see things from new perspectives. I want to remove myself from the routines of complacency and narrow-minded mentalities.
I want to become more appreciative and understanding of the differences that make us unique and the similarities that we have that make us strong.
May God give me the strength to learn and to understand.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Standing for Honor
Today was a day filled with emotion and memorial. Ten years after four hijacked planes reeked havoc on America, the day was filled with services, volunteerism, and remembrance.
I was in third grade when the attacks occurred. I have seen my peers post all sorts of facebook statuses saying "I will always remember where I was when it happened." I'm going to be honest: I don't remember much of that day. I don't remember what I felt when my parents sat me down and explained the concept of terrorism, what had happened, and what it meant. What I do remember is what came after.
I remember the feelings of insecurity that Americans felt, and still feel, when we board an airplane or go into a large city. I remember the ignorance that we experienced when we wrongfully associated all Muslims as terrorists. I remember the mourning, when we had to bury those who had worked so hard for this country, whether in the towers or to save their fellow citizen.
What I remember most, though, was the sense of pride that I developed after that day. I can say that I know what it is like to take pride in one's flag and one's country. I know how it feels to stand tall in defense of an idea, attempting to spread peace in a world so contaminated by hate.
The scary thing is, some people have forgotten. There are those in the United States who will post "I will always remember" today, and then return to spitting hatred about American defense against those who wish to see our downfall. I don't know whether or not I believe fighting for a just cause is right (because I am overall a fan of peace). What I do know, however, is that when someone challenges your right to live, you have every right to open a fire under their ass.
For anyone who knows me, they know that I don't like the concept of war, but that I am not afraid of a bit of conflict, especially when defending something that I think is right. That being said, I most definitely think it is right to defend the American way and to fight against anyone who tries to harm our nation and its people. I will continue to support the American troops who go out to defend us, and I pray that they return safely. It is also important that those who intend to hurt us know this: You will not succeed. We will not let you take the fire out of our hearts. We will end your reign of terror. And you will feel the whole wrath of the American people.
I might not remember the actual day, but I will always remember the sacrifice that men and women have made for me every day since to ensure that I can grow up in a land that is free. I may not be able to recount my location at the time of the attack, but I can be damned sure that I will remember the feelings I have of pride when I hear the national anthem, knowing well that the American people are too strong to take down without a fight. And I most definitely will remember every day that I am blessed enough to call America my home.
May all of those who lost their lives be a blessing to those who knew them, to those that loved them, and to those that honor their memory today.
May it be God's will.
I was in third grade when the attacks occurred. I have seen my peers post all sorts of facebook statuses saying "I will always remember where I was when it happened." I'm going to be honest: I don't remember much of that day. I don't remember what I felt when my parents sat me down and explained the concept of terrorism, what had happened, and what it meant. What I do remember is what came after.
I remember the feelings of insecurity that Americans felt, and still feel, when we board an airplane or go into a large city. I remember the ignorance that we experienced when we wrongfully associated all Muslims as terrorists. I remember the mourning, when we had to bury those who had worked so hard for this country, whether in the towers or to save their fellow citizen.
What I remember most, though, was the sense of pride that I developed after that day. I can say that I know what it is like to take pride in one's flag and one's country. I know how it feels to stand tall in defense of an idea, attempting to spread peace in a world so contaminated by hate.
The scary thing is, some people have forgotten. There are those in the United States who will post "I will always remember" today, and then return to spitting hatred about American defense against those who wish to see our downfall. I don't know whether or not I believe fighting for a just cause is right (because I am overall a fan of peace). What I do know, however, is that when someone challenges your right to live, you have every right to open a fire under their ass.
For anyone who knows me, they know that I don't like the concept of war, but that I am not afraid of a bit of conflict, especially when defending something that I think is right. That being said, I most definitely think it is right to defend the American way and to fight against anyone who tries to harm our nation and its people. I will continue to support the American troops who go out to defend us, and I pray that they return safely. It is also important that those who intend to hurt us know this: You will not succeed. We will not let you take the fire out of our hearts. We will end your reign of terror. And you will feel the whole wrath of the American people.
I might not remember the actual day, but I will always remember the sacrifice that men and women have made for me every day since to ensure that I can grow up in a land that is free. I may not be able to recount my location at the time of the attack, but I can be damned sure that I will remember the feelings I have of pride when I hear the national anthem, knowing well that the American people are too strong to take down without a fight. And I most definitely will remember every day that I am blessed enough to call America my home.
May all of those who lost their lives be a blessing to those who knew them, to those that loved them, and to those that honor their memory today.
May it be God's will.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
September 4th
After spending two weeks at Indiana University, I have really come a long way since my senior year in high school, when I spent much of my fall filling out college essays and applications and, much more likely, stressing about their outcome.
Now that I have been fully removed from the whole experience, I thought it may be valuable to take the time to write something specifically directed at the senior class right now. Basically, I have been in your shoes, and there are five basic things that I think you should know.
1. Set your relationship with your parents and siblings up for success early. Start talking about how you are going to communicate and how they can talk to you without pissing you off. In my first two weeks, I have been able to talk to my family just enough without annoying them by taking up there time or avoiding them, and also enough that I feel like they are involved in my life, but not to an extreme degree.
2. Drop the importance of the GPA. If I asked much of the Sophomore class here what they had gotten as a high school GPA, I bet they would barely remember. It is just a number. Don’t let it define you. It is so easy to be owned by that number and let it take over who you are as a person, but there is more valuable to extra-curricular that bring you inner peace or satisfaction, rather than spend all of your time hitting the books. Also, side note, don’t think that having a higher GPA than someone means that someone is “smarter” or “better”. That is extremely shallow and arrogant, or, on the flip side, demoralizing and self-depreciating.
3. No degree of stressing will impact your ability to get into a given school. You can spend hours stressing once the application is gone, or you can let it go, and simply wait until you hear a response. I did not attend a single class at the University of Wisconsin, but they did teach me one of the best lessons I have ever received and that is patience. You might as well enjoy the time you have, because soon a new form of stress will happen: picking which of the schools that you were accepted to will you actually attend?
4. Segueing well from the last point, DO NOT ATTEND A SCHOOL THAT DOES NOT WANT YOU. You may have grand goals for yourself and have your mind set on a school, but if a school isn’t willing to accept you with open arms and maybe a little money added in, then don’t go. I spent far too much of my time pushing a school that didn’t want me to take me, even though I had a school waiting in the ranks that was practically begging me to come. That being said, go to the places that you feel good about and that make you feel good. Don’t go if you have cried over them.
5. At the bottom line, which school you choose as a general rule DOES NOT matter. Clearly if you want to go into business, you should go to a school with a good business school (Kelley School of Business at IU is awesome). If you want to be a musician, go to a good music school (Jacobs School of Music anyone?). All of that being said, I go to a Big Ten school, and I would venture the guess that a school day looks the same all over, with professors who are among the elite in their field, who care about what they are teaching. If you are debating between two well-respected school, it doesn’t really matter where you pick, just that you enjoy the time you spend there.
I hope that this has been helpful or enlightening to someone. I wish I had had someone who had the guts to tell me “Senior year was stressful because you let it be, and you need to enjoy it”. Maybe they were there but I didn’t hear them clearly enough. So take this to heart.
Now that I have been fully removed from the whole experience, I thought it may be valuable to take the time to write something specifically directed at the senior class right now. Basically, I have been in your shoes, and there are five basic things that I think you should know.
1. Set your relationship with your parents and siblings up for success early. Start talking about how you are going to communicate and how they can talk to you without pissing you off. In my first two weeks, I have been able to talk to my family just enough without annoying them by taking up there time or avoiding them, and also enough that I feel like they are involved in my life, but not to an extreme degree.
2. Drop the importance of the GPA. If I asked much of the Sophomore class here what they had gotten as a high school GPA, I bet they would barely remember. It is just a number. Don’t let it define you. It is so easy to be owned by that number and let it take over who you are as a person, but there is more valuable to extra-curricular that bring you inner peace or satisfaction, rather than spend all of your time hitting the books. Also, side note, don’t think that having a higher GPA than someone means that someone is “smarter” or “better”. That is extremely shallow and arrogant, or, on the flip side, demoralizing and self-depreciating.
3. No degree of stressing will impact your ability to get into a given school. You can spend hours stressing once the application is gone, or you can let it go, and simply wait until you hear a response. I did not attend a single class at the University of Wisconsin, but they did teach me one of the best lessons I have ever received and that is patience. You might as well enjoy the time you have, because soon a new form of stress will happen: picking which of the schools that you were accepted to will you actually attend?
4. Segueing well from the last point, DO NOT ATTEND A SCHOOL THAT DOES NOT WANT YOU. You may have grand goals for yourself and have your mind set on a school, but if a school isn’t willing to accept you with open arms and maybe a little money added in, then don’t go. I spent far too much of my time pushing a school that didn’t want me to take me, even though I had a school waiting in the ranks that was practically begging me to come. That being said, go to the places that you feel good about and that make you feel good. Don’t go if you have cried over them.
5. At the bottom line, which school you choose as a general rule DOES NOT matter. Clearly if you want to go into business, you should go to a school with a good business school (Kelley School of Business at IU is awesome). If you want to be a musician, go to a good music school (Jacobs School of Music anyone?). All of that being said, I go to a Big Ten school, and I would venture the guess that a school day looks the same all over, with professors who are among the elite in their field, who care about what they are teaching. If you are debating between two well-respected school, it doesn’t really matter where you pick, just that you enjoy the time you spend there.
I hope that this has been helpful or enlightening to someone. I wish I had had someone who had the guts to tell me “Senior year was stressful because you let it be, and you need to enjoy it”. Maybe they were there but I didn’t hear them clearly enough. So take this to heart.
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