E-MAIL FROM ISRAEL

By BERNARD FREUDENTHAL

First of all, I wish to take the opportunity to wish everyone Chag Sameach, and I look forward to seeing everyone again in the summer when I return to London, before going to university. At the time of writing, I am about half way through my year-out in Jerusalem, and so it is an appropriate time to take a stock-take of what I am achieving here.

I am currently studying in Yeshiva Torat Shraga, The timetable consists of 5 days of full-time Torah study each week, with the main emphasis being Talmud. Other topics studied are halachah, philosophy, ethics, Modern Hebrew, Parshah, and Bible. There is no better way to learn how to learn Torah, having learnt comparatively little prior to this year, than to study in this kind of environment.

The other element to my year is of course the very essence of being in Israel. Anyone who has ever been to Jerusalem will know that it is spread over many hills, and so everywhere has a good view. Every view of Eretz Yisrael is inspiring, even if it is just the view across several suburbs of West Jerusalem from our Beit Medrash. My favourite vantage points have to be Mishkenot Sha'ananim (Montefiore's windmill) with its view over the Old City walls; Mount Zion, the Judean hills and then the Jordanian mountains in the background; and the vista from the Ha'as Promenade in Talpiot over the whole 'holy basin' containing the Old City in the middle. The phenomenal Dome of the Rock, on the site of the Temple, looks like a jewel mounted in the ring of the surrounding timeless landscape.

Every time that I take a bus into town, whether the destination is the Old City, Meah Shearim to buy books (every Yeshiva student's favourite occupation!), or a concert in bohemian Mishkenot Sha'ananim, I get a buzz within me, as I am re-enacting the pilgrimage to Jerusalem that every generation of Jews so yearned for.

Living in Israel has its funny side, and also, due to the ongoing conflict, it’s bitter side as well. In terms of living in Israel during the current Intafada, it would be dishonest of me not to admit to having been 100 metres from the double suicide bombing on Ben Yehudah Street last December. Fortunately, no-one that I knew was injured, though an Israeli student at Machon Lev, next to our Yeshiva, who was due to be married 3 weeks later was killed. Along with thousands, I went along to the funeral the following afternoon. The whole experience made me realise that being a Jew is inseparable from being an Israeli, as both groups are equally under threat. Furthermore, I then became even surer of my reasons for being in Israel this year, however much this may grate with my parents! However, as a note of assurance, I am being careful about where I go, especially with the recent increased spate of attacks (at the time of writing).

So, I am having an amazing and fulfilling time, and nonetheless, I am looking forward to returning this summer, when I hope I will be able to put my new skills to good use back in England.