Written by Jesse Nagelberg
There are times when I would like the world to be black and white. Being asked questions is one of those times. Things would be so much easier if every question had a single and simple answer. But that is not how questions work. Each question can have many answers, and many times, being asked a question raises even more questions.
Since being accepted to The Nachshon Project in early November, 2014, I have been asked the same question over and over again: "You're studying abroad in Israel? What are you doing there/here?" In the beginning, I found it a really hard question to answer in a way that truly painted the picture of what it means to be a Nachshon Fellow. To some people, I answered that I was studying for a semester at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and to others, I answered that I was participating in a Jewish leadership program. There were times I told people that it was a leadership program for camp counselors and others when I said it was a program for aspiring Jewish communal leaders. And while all of those answers are true, they each only explain a small piece of the puzzle. There were even occasions when I took the time to try to explain the many pieces and parts of the program, that extend far beyond the confines of a single semester abroad. And while those explanations did a better job of explaining this experience, I slowly realized that my answers were going to continue to change and be better defined as I continued this experience.
Similarly, I am finding that I am changing, too. The person that arrived in Israel on January 14th is not the same person I am today, and is definitely not the same person who will fly back to New Jersey on June 4th. My time in Israel so far has been spent pushing myself to try new things and expand my horizons. From finding new foods in the shuk and trying out different synagogues to taking classes on new subjects and interacting with all different types of people, I have been able to form a better picture of my beliefs and the way I understand the world around me. This place and this program are the ideal places to grow, learn, and change, because with each day, I have the opportunity to experience a multitude of cultures, political opinions, religious practices, and ways of living. Each time I do, I ask myself, what about this person or experience do you relate to and how can this apply to you?
The world is not black and white. Israel is the perfect example of that. There are dozens upon dozens of ways to look at each scenario and each question. On one hand, so many unknowns can be daunting, but by filtering my questions through the lense of personal growth, development, and exploration, I can make sense of the seemingly never-ending list of questions. Yet, among all the questions, I know one thing for sure, that I am loving asking my questions and searching for the answers!
