Reflections

I suppose it is a very fitting time of the year to sit and reflect. My commute to work these days is about an hour each way, so there's certainly plenty of time for thoughts, but rarely do I allow my emotions to connect with my thoughts. Isn't that truly the meaning of reflection? Looking in and staying open to what's staring back right at you! My thoughts I can think away, but my emotions usually steer me back to the truth. I had no idea I had so much philosophy inside me tonight! Ah... and so begins another 1 am post. Eastern standard time this time!

I have now lived in Washington DC for a few days over a month. In that time, Israel has seen the rise of a new female leader. The first in almost 40 years! The US election process has made history time and time again. Unfortunately, most recently with this ridiculous "candidacy suspension." I mean really!

Most emotionally for me personally though, WUJS Arad has closed its doors, and the staff who were my family and my support for what feels like all of last year are no longer employed by WUJS. The world marches on, but this small tragedy makes my soul ache. To know we were some of the last students to receive the enormous benefits of an education in the heart of the Negev is MAMASH a shame! WUJS promised I would come to understand and love the desert, and I did. They promised I would always have a home there to come back to, and I hope it's still true because a small part of me still lives in the sunsets above the Point. No one promised I would find myself there, but I did that as well!

I love my new community here in the District, but it's not all sparkles and pillow fights like people seem to think nine young women living together might be. It's challenging and sometimes down right exhausting, but it's yet another life experiment I'm enjoying pushing my way through.

I miss my family, that's for sure. Today was Mom's birthday, and it made me sad not spend it with her. She and Victor are coming up in October, and I can't wait! Life here moves a million miles a minute and having people who connect me to a past and a future is extremely beneficial lately. In case you're wondering, beneficial here really just means sanity keeping. I guess some would call that perspective. Which pretty much brings us back to reflecting, and I think I will end there at least for tonight.

L'shana tova, Kulam!
Sweet and warm wishes to all of you for a healthy and happy New Year!