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עמוד:134
Friends Across the Sea Forum Jonathan , United States : Hi guys , I’m back home and very tired , and not just from the flight . You were right . Hadas took me all over Israel . We didn't rest for a minute . Hadas , thank you so much for everything — for your hospitality and for all the stories you told me about Israel . You were a great guide ! A visit to Israel is definitely more than just having a good time . It raises a lot of questions . Like , is Israel my country as well ? And if so , should I consider spending some time there when I grow up ? And so on ... I'm going to sleep now , but I just wanted to tell you all that you really should visit Israel ( with Hadas !) . After visiting Israel , you'll feel differently . Hadas , Israel : Hi everyone . I know you're waiting for me to tell you about Jonathan's visit . There's a lot to tell , but to make a long story short , we had a great time together , right Jonathan ? His visit also gave me a lot to think about ... OK , that's enough ! Stop smiling in front of your computer screens like my friends here in Israel . I've had to put up with knowing smiles and comments like : “ So , how did it go with you and your American friend ? " So annoying ! I was surprised that Jonathan was so interested in things connected with Jewish tradition , even though he's not religious . For example , he thought it was really cool that stores and restaurants are closed on Shabbat . He also sees modern Hebrew as a kind of miracle , because in school he was taught that by learning math in Hebrew or by ordering a drink in a coffee shop , we are reviving the language of our ancestors and the language of prayer . I never thought about it like that ... And when we visited holy sites , I noticed that we responded differently . Like the Kotel ( the Western Wall ) ... I also think of the Kotel as a special and holy place , but he was so moved . He mentioned that Jews all over the world pray in the direction of the Kotel , and that for generations Jews dreamed of Jerusalem . Maybe it seems natural to all of you that Jonathan responded like this ... Jonathan's questions ( he had so many !) and his enthusiasm ( a lot ! •) made me ask myself all sorts of questions ... like , what does the fact that Israel is the “ land of our ancestors" mean to me ? For me , Israel is the country where I was born . That in itself means a lot , doesn't it ? What kind of relationship should Jews outside of Israel and Jews in Israel have ? Do you mind also answering some of these questions ? I've included them in an attachment . Please write and tell me what you think . Thanks !
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