1492, the JEWS sailed the ocean blue!

Since being back from being nestled in the Judean Hills, climbing the academic ladder (as Paul Reinbach [sp?] would say), I have not all that much to do with all this new knowledge inside of my head. Going to my shul just makes me angry...and well now I'm going to be working there which I'm actually pretty exciting. Although it might be hard trying to save the world as an office assistant, filing papers, passing out pizza, putting out the challah, pouring the grape juice...Hey! But it's a start!...right?

The fact that I know that in 1492 was the Spanish Inquisition and all the Jewish people left Spain, is something that if I were to tell a friend at school would look at me and probably call me, "Crazy Jew!" and walk away.

It's frustrating being a Jewish girl in a Christian world. We are apparently part of American the "Mixing Pot" which doesn't make sense when most of our holiday breaks are on CHRISTAN holidays, and revovle around their calenders. Another example is my own high school track and field team.

My track coach is a very religous man making his kids go to church on sundays. And he even says that Family comes first, then religon, then school, then track. I could say that I keep the Sabbath, but then I would have to miss every single track meet. It sucks. I want to be able to keep the Sabbath, but it's hard to do it in a Christan world.

When I was in Israel, I kept the Sabbath, didn't spend money, travel, or work on anything really. I would take a nice walk to the Tel at Tzuba and just sleep a lot. But now, I have to go to track. In a sense, throwing the shotput and discus isn't really "work" because I enjoy it, but I'm not so sure if is considered work in the eyes of Judaism. It's a struggle that a lot of Jews face in America. I know it was one of those main topics of Rabbi Eric Yoffe at the URJ Biennal, but I was in Israel so I didnt get to hear that first hand.

I have stopped using money and doing any kind of school related school work on Shabbat. I know its a step in the right direction, but I guess I'm just longing for the homeland to be honest.

This post has kind of a lot of ramblings, but it's my mind kind of splatered on my computer screen. I haven't blogged in a while, so it's all coming back to me. And its frustrating for sure.

My current struggle (besides all of those other things) is how I'm going to make that difference. Sure, I may only be 18, but there's one thing that I know. I want to make a difference in Judaism someway some how. Whether it be in Israel or America.

Question of the moment...would you call America the Galut? Or the Diaspora. It's what I'm wondering at the moment.

<3