The latest

Hi family and friends!

Yes, once again it's been too long. But I suppose that means I've been busy..and I have! It's finals season for me in Israel and I am attempting to write a research paper on camels in the desert's history. The paper is for my archeology class. Since I last dropped in, I've been on anothe archeology tour of Negev ruins. I think my favorite ruins that we have visited is a group of shrines that were built thousands of years ago to exactly line up with the summer solstice during that time. So on June 21 the setting sun will hit this shrine in an exact parallel line. Because the earth has changed angles in the last few thousands years it doesn't exactly line up but it's a cool concept.

My campus has been hot with protests and counter protests in response to the flotilla attack. Israeli and Palestinian flgas have been having constantly. It has been the first time that I have really witnessed how much hate there is between people in Israel. Most of the hate between Arabs and Jews in daily like, especially on campus, isn't felt (as far as I can see). Now, with all the protests happening on campus and around the world it's easy to see the hate. It scares me.

I love being here in Israel. I love the Israeli culture and food and music and people. I think that it is amazing that there is a place where I am not going to be the only Jewish kid at my school. My history is understood and shared with millions of people in one place. It's incredible. Being here, I can see that people who live in Israel love this place and also criticize it. Any loss of life is horrifying and saddening. Who were these people? What were their real intentions? Was this all just a giant political scheme? Did Israel do the wrong thing? I haven't decided that yet. What would have my own country's soldiers been told to do in the situation? Would people around the world be as critical? More than anything, I've been shocked at the type of media around the world, within Israel, and outside of it. One thing leads to another and before you know it everything is turned upside down. Sometimes I don't know what to believe.

One thing I do know for sure is that Israelis sure know how to go camping. I went camping at the Sea of Galilee recently with Eyal and a huge group of his friends. We set up camp right on the shore of the sea. The water was so warm and beautiful. The bbq started up at 6:30 and didn't stop until the darker hours of the evening. Hummos, salads, beef, chicken, pita, the whole deal. It was hot, the water was warm, the food was delicious, and I could have swam my days away.