By Aaron Spiro
It’s hard to believe that I have only one more month of my semester in Israel. Spending a semester abroad and participating in the Nachshon project has challenged me, pushed me, and really allowed me grow as a Jewish individual. Back in January, Rabbi Zeff had us write down our goals for this semester in Israel. In class a few days ago, he gave us back our original goals, and told us to reflect on them, and to write down our new set of goals for the remaining month in Israel. When I looked at the goals I had written down at the beginning of the program, I was surprised at how specific my goals had been. When starting the program, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to learn, and where I saw myself at the end of the 5 months. But looking back, I realize that my perspective has changed drastically. I still have a lot to learn, but when I look towards the future, I see a much broader scope of opportunities than before. Just in these last few months, I have gained a new understanding of both Israel and Judaism as both a religion and a nationality. I learned about so many different cultures, as well as where I see myself in the bigger picture. I truly feel like I am coming back from this program a different person, and I still have a month to expand, grow, and explore. The activity with Rabbi Zeff reminded me that I should to take a step back from focusing on my future, and enjoy some of the amazing things happening right around me. I cannot wait to see what the next month holds, and I will not let it go to waste. More trips, adventures, and life changing experiences right around the corner.
