Journal 1

      Since I'm writing this post so incredibly late (WHOOPS), I have the perspective of already having read Armstrong's first 7 chapters and her introduction, and this reading assignment has set the final stone in the foundation of the course for me. Coming into class on the first day I was expecting to find other students who were as passionate about Israeli-Palestinian relations as I am, and that's what I found. As for the professor, I had no idea what to expect. I had heard amazing things about the course, but only expressed in vague generalities--I had no concrete descriptions off of which to develop expectations. I was ecstatic at the end of the first class, feeling trusting and confident in Noura's knowledge of, passion for, and balanced approach to this topic. After reading Armstrong's chapters that were assigned last week, I feel as if I am carrying around in my backpack a treasure trove of easily digestible historical information and critical, objective observations about a subject that I was once too wrapped up in to make myself. I know that this book and this class will push me more that I've been pushed before to question why I think the way that I do, why I care about the things that I care about, and what implications and consequences that has.
     The concept that (paraphrasing Armstrong) many peoples' connection to a physical place is potentially entirely mythical is one that I've never felt comfortable acknowledging or addressing in conversation. Only in the privacy of my own mind have I most often entertained the jarring possibility that everything I grew up learning and believing and feeling is not real. I can't say definitively whether or not my journey away from religious observance of Judaism has impacted my views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because at the same time I was going through a period of intellectual transformation, as well, reading more and learning more independently than I had the previous decade and a half or so.
     This practice of keeping a blog and reading each others' thoughts and opinions is incredibly exciting to me. I appreciate having a space where we can individually reflect on what we learn and discover in class because this is a complicated and heavy topic and it's important to keep track of where we are personally with the information we explore. There is rarely a moment where I feel intimidated or afraid of sharing my personal opinion, but it helps when I'm in a space where I feel accepted, respected, and safe. I feel perfectly comfortable in class--everyone seems so nice and genuine and interested in having meaningful discussions--and I believe that this open atmosphere will lend itself to exciting discussions in the coming months.
     Todah rabah, shukran, thank you, Noura and everyone in class--I can already tell that I'm going to really love this semester spent learning with and from you all.