sad news...

Before the sad news, some catch up...this weekend was a lot of fun, the usual, went out, explored Ramat Aviv on Shabbat (found a lot of open restaurants within walking distance) rested, etc. Sunday after Ulpan I went to an exhibition with Darya and Maresa called “Postcards from Gaza.” The exhibit was interesting, but not what I expected. It wasn’t very big and didn’t have much of an explanation. It was really tough to look at the postcards, which were mostly just pictures not so much art, of war stricken areas of Gaza. The exhibit was put on by a humanitarian aid group wanting to get word out of the situation. I would have been interested to see photographs from other cities that were affected as well like Sderot and Ashkelon. It’s frustrating that this group isn’t concerned with aid for everyone who needs it, Israeli’s and Palestinians, why does everything have to be one or the other, can’t we see the similarities of everyone affected? Yes, of course, some areas and people are worse off than others but does that make it okay to only focus on them? I’m not sure, it’s a tough topic. Anyway, Sunday night I went to my first (probably will go weekly or bi-weekly) discussion group through this program with a religious woman. They give you food and 20 sheks ($5) per class you go to, yea incentive, and you just listen and learn about various topics relating to religious Judaism. Some of the things seem a bit ridiculous to me and I just dont agree, but alas, I enjoy learning none the less. Afterwards we went to a dance bar for an “OSP party.” It was cool because that many people from the program never go out together since we have our own circles of friends and everyone ends up splitting up going to different bars. I am going to another discussion group tonight with a Rabbi (again, sucker for these things) entitled “Judaism, Israel, the 21’th Century and I” and yes, that’s what the flyer says. I'm excited for tonight because I think it is going to be more appealing to my way of thinking. One of the topics on the flyer is "why in modern ages are people preventing couples in love to get married only due to differences in religion." We shall see what this Rabbi has to say about that. Oh, and there is free food, again. Before the sad news I will conclude with...I need to get back to eating healthier (but so much delicious and sometimes free pastries and chocolate!), I need to run more, and I will buy my bike tomorrow (hopefully).

So unfortunately it's true, although I'm not sure I believe it yet. Mom and D aren't going to be able to come. Medtronic global assignments sucks and took too long figuring things out for my mom and now it's too late, she can't come. It seemed unreal that we would all (Allie, me, mom and dani) in Israel together anyway, and I guess it was. Too good to be true. I'm sad that we can't all experience this country together, but I'm more sad that right now Dani and mom don't get to experience it at all. This just means that something else will come along for them, another great opportunity, exciting, new, adventurous, something will come. And also, of course, that they will have to come to Israel at another time.

-a very sad Lauren