Welcome Home, Gilad!

Today was an incredible day for many people, both Israelis and Palestinian. In exchange for the release of Gilad Shalit, an IDF soldier held captive by Hamas since 2006, Israel is freeing 1,027 Palestinians and Arab Israeli prisoners. Everyone has their own opinion and I wouldn't dare speak for the people of Israel, but I read an interesting piece today that has influenced my thoughts about the swap- Read it Here.

Yesterday, I was speaking with some friends, both Israeli and American, and we were discussing the publicity around Shalit's captivity compared to that of POWs in America. While it was almost impossible to go a day without thinking about Shalit here in Israel, we often don't even know the names of many of the POWs in the States, let alone the conditions and circumstances of their captivity. I am beginning to understand the intensity of this Israeli and Jewish sense of community.

It is a thrilling revelation for several reasons- Being here for Gilad's release, watching the nonstop news coverage, crying as I saw pictures of him and his family, discussing the events with others, allowed me to actively engage in the dialogue of Israel. So many conflicts here are beyond my understanding, have gone on too long for me to understand their depths, but I am familiar with Shalit's captivity and got to experience the news of the deal and the release along with the Israeli people. I felt a sense of inclusion and connectedness as I developed and shared my own opinions with those around me. Another reason is that, although I don't understand it fully, and likely never will, this is the first time that I've acknowledged a difference between the people living in Israel and the Jewish people. It's a difficult distinction to come to terms with, and one I've struggled with the most being here. I imagine that exploring this issue, which is something I intend to focus on during my time here, will be cause for much introspection and alteration of expectations. I'll be sure to write more about it as more thoughts develop, but simple acknowledging the difference is a huge step for me.

I spent yesterday hiking in the Golan Heights, doing a hike I did during Taglit. Thankfully, it's a beautiful hike and I was happy to do it again. It was refreshing to get away from the city. I don't think I really appreciated living in Colorado, where it is remarkably easy to escape city life and surround yourself with nature. Spending even a day in the mountains has left me feeling more grounded and content than I've felt in several weeks.