LIVNOT WORDS OF WISDOM 8/24/2012
Martin Buber, an
Austrian-Israeli philosopher, once said, “All journeys have secret destinations
of which the traveler is unaware.” One
year ago, I received an email that I had been accepted to the only graduate
school program I had applied to. I had no idea that, beginning in October 2011,
the next ten months would be a whirlwind of experiences and adventures in Israel that
would change my life forever. I can now proudly say that I am a Master of
Science in Organizational Behavior with a deeper understanding of the Jewish
world around me, and both a knowledge and wisdom that I have connected to and a
desire to pass on to many people I meet in the future.
I have done so
much while here. I have traveled all over Israel ,
learning about this country’s unique history and culture, as well as traveling
to Jordan and Europe . I have traveled on my own, or with friends, to
nearby cities while living in Tel Aviv, the cultural capital of Israel . I have
learned to speak Hebrew while engaging with locals, the best way to learn about
a new culture. I have made many new friends in other MASA programs, not just
from the United States but
also from Canada , South
America, Europe, and Russia .
I have participated in several security and diplomacy programs and seminars,
becoming more of a Zionist and paying more attention to world news. I have even
worked an internship that has taught me about the human resources field by
selling a new service by a start-up company.
As Kohelet (the
Book of Ecclesiastes), King Solomon mentions, “For as wisdom grows, vexation
grows; To increase learning is to increase heartache” (Ecclesiastes 1:18). In
other words, to grow wiser is to get annoyed, therefore, as one becomes more
knowledgeable, this person feels more sorrow. I both agree and disagree with
this quote. As I have journeyed around Israel
and Europe for the past year, I have
experienced both pleasures and pains but have learned from others and myself
how best to react in situations in which I engage. I have ultimately grown to
become a better person, and the person I was meant to be. We may feel pain and
experience failure but we really succeed when we overcome that pain and
learn something new about ourselves, no matter how big or small. Pain is only
the road to success, and in order to reach your goal, you must take chances.
I have learned
that real opportunities don’t come by very often, but when they do, one must
take advantage. I chose to come to Israel
for a year, not just to get a Master’s degree and to get out of the U.S. for a year, but also to strengthen my
connection to Israel
and to my Judaism. Even though I have missed many celebrations with family and
friends back home, I don’t regret coming here. I have missed birthdays, a
wedding, weekend adventures with friends, concerts, and an engagement. However,
I have gained new friends here and learned so much about myself. Nothing could
have prepared me for what I have done in the past year. I took everything day
by day, careful not to analyze things too much and just to enjoy myself.
We will always want
and need things in life; we are both biologically and psychologically
programmed in such a way. King Solomon narrates, “…The eye never has enough of
seeing, nor the ear enough of hearing” (Ecclesiastes 1:8). One will always want
and need to learn because we, as human beings, crave wisdom and knowledge. We
are constantly looking forward to the destination but the real treat is the
journey that accompanies our travels.
Beautifully written, Josh.
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