Palestinian Protests

As I mentioned in my last blog..there have been escalating tensions here in Jerusalem. The Hamas Organization is protesting the opening/rebuilding of a ancient temple in the Old City that was destroyed in the 6-Day War. Hamas declared today as "the day of rage" and threatened violence and bloodshed in East Jerusalem. Protests did occur in East Jerusalem and the army/police thwarted the attacks with by using guns with rubbet bullets and other methods to detain the Palestinians. We have be asked not to go to the Old City, ride buses, and practice safe traveling methods. The student village, where I live, is located on French Hill, a primarily Arab neighborhood. Our madrichiem have asked us not to walk anywhere in French Hill and take taxi cabs to all our destinations. I was woken up this morning at 6am by helicopters flying above the student village, passed 5 armed guards at the south entrance of the village, had the usual bag check and walk through the metal detector upon entering campus, and then received a text message mid-day regarding the specific locations of the riots thus far. The school, our madrichiem, and the student community is doing everything possible to live normally and stay safe.

I do not feel completely safe however..this is what living in Jerusalem is like...there is always a "what-if." I would not trade in any of my experiences here thus far..and could not picture living anywhere else this semester. After school, my roommates and I came home and spent hours looking up articles and other things to educate ourselves about whats going on. I saw that temple under-construction when I was here in the summer for birthright..and I saw it almost complete a couple weeks ago when I was in the Old City for Shabbat. We are actually living the conflict and it is quite the experience. I hope everyone will also take some time to read up on the situation here..about the temple, the prayer situation at the Temple Mount, the protests, and the US involvement.

Love always
Kayla