Final Course Evaluation

The Living Jerusalem course was one of the most unique and interesting courses I have taken so far at Indiana University. I took this course because I thoroughly enjoyed your (Professor Horowitz) Human Rights class last semester. In addition, I wanted to learn about Israel, Jerusalem, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. By nature I am Jewish, but have never considered myself religious. While my family celebrates holidays such as Hanukkah and Passover, I have never attended services or engaged in the “religious” aspect of Judaism. I think this class did a great job of teaching me the background of the historical roots of Jerusalem and made me feel more acquainted with my own culture. I’m going to start this evaluation by discussing all the parts of the course that I found interesting and/or exciting (in no particular order), and finishing with the components of the course that I think could be altered. Furthermore, I will include various recommendations for how I think the course can be improved in the future.

            First of all, I think the reading responses for each class are a crucial component of the class. They serve to keep the students engaged each and every day, and let us express our thoughts. There were many readings where I thought to myself, “how am I going to write about this? What connections can I make? I’m so confused.” However, the responses challenged me to try my best and come up with something…anything. I found myself thinking deeply about topics I had never before considered. For example, for one response we were asked to give our views/position on the Israeli-Palestine conflict. I didn’t have one-so I thought. After critically thinking about the issue and conducting outside research, I found that I could develop an opinion about a topic I knew nothing about just ten minutes before.

            Another aspect of the course I am a proponent of were the class discussions we held near the end of the semester. I think it was a great idea to discuss our blogs rather than comment on them. The entire semester I was hesitant to comment on classmates’ blogs. I was afraid of being judged or being ‘wrong.’ However, as soon as people started opening up and discussing their blogs (as well as others’) I felt more comfortable. I would recommend that throughout the semester there be more class periods dedicated solely to discussion between the students. Each discussion I got more and more comfortable listening, questioning, and evaluating others’ opinions. Furthermore, I learn far more about the material, as well as my fellow classmates by discussing our thoughts (vs. commenting on their blog posts). They bring up points I never would have considered myself.

            One of my favorite elements of the course was my classmates. I’ve been a part of many classes where I never really get to know anyone else in the class. In fact, I’ve had classes where I never had the opportunity to get to know anybody’s name. We just show up to class, take notes on a dull PowerPoint, and then regurgitate six weeks worth of material back onto a piece of paper. This class was different. The structure of the course allowed me to get to know the other students in the class, thus giving me a further appreciation for Living Jerusalem. Also, I don’t think I’ve been part of a course where the students were so engaged and enthusiastic about what they’re learning. I was really impressed with the level of knowledge my classmates possessed in regards to the issues we discussed. Although I didn’t know about many of the topics we talked about throughout the semester, I was still able to learn because of the caliber of the students in the class.

            Yet another part of the course I enjoyed were the final presentations. When the project was first introduced, I was really excited to hear about the liberty we would have in choosing what we wanted to research. The first thing that popped into my head was “sports,” and I stuck to it. I found it fascinating that sports could help improve the Arab-Israeli conflict. It gave me hope for the conflict. It showed me there are so many ways the conflict can be reduced. I highly recommend keeping the final project as part of the Living Jerusalem course. Just as important were the other presentations. It was an opportunity to see our classmates’ creativity, viewpoints, and passion for various subjects. In addition, the final presentations allow for people to communicate and connect with other individuals. For instance, I learned about the backgrounds of multiple people in my group. I learned why they took this course, and what they were looking to get out of it. While there are many fantastic components of the course, there are also parts I would look to improve for the future.

            As I briefly mentioned above, blog commenting created a nuisance for myself. From the very beginning, I felt uncomfortable critiquing others’ work (especially when I didn’t know them). It made me feel as if I was disrespecting their opinions. For some reason, it made me feel a little awkward when I walked into class the next day. They knew my name, they knew what I looked like, and they knew what I had said about their work. Also, seeing that we didn’t discuss our comments in class, I felt they weren’t necessary. If we were to discuss our comments in class, I think I would have put in more time and would have tried to connect on a deeper level. With that being said, I would recommend holding some sort of a “verbal in-class blog comment discussion,” where students could ask questions about what others wrote. On top of this idea, I would make it optional to talk about your blog (after all, classmates can read their blogs online if they wish).

            One of the biggest pieces I felt was missing from the course were current events. There were a handful of times where we talked about current news regarding the conflict, but not nearly enough. I think it would be a great idea to start off the day (maybe 10 minutes) discussing any news in regards to Jerusalem, Israel, Palestine, the conflict, etc. History is great, but it doesn’t replace what’s currently going on overseas. I think the discussion of current events serves many purposes. First of all, it makes students more engaged. It makes us feel like we can make a difference, and that we can still influence others to take action. This is one of the reasons I became so engaged with our final projects. The organization I studied (Football 4 Peace) was currently helping bond Arabs and Jews together to help reduce the conflict. It made me want to keep researching and finding out more. I wanted to help!

            For each class period, I think it would be a good idea to assign one student to report to the class about any current events pertaining to Jerusalem. This way, not each and every one of us has to attempt to keep up with the conflict on a daily basis. Rather, we can put trust in our classmates to come to class prepared to share their findings. This is a change to the course that would be very simple to implement, wouldn’t alter the structure of the class, and would provide students with the most up to date information regarding the topics we are studying.

            The only other part of the course I would advise to be fixed was the constant syllabus changes. While I understand that it’s not easy to plan out every class over a 16-week period, it also caused a lot of confusion and misunderstanding. There were times where I would complete entire reading responses, just to find out that I read the wrong set of articles. I would then have to read a new set of articles and complete an entirely new response. In addition, there was multiple times where I didn’t turn in a response on time because the due dates on the syllabus didn’t match up with what was announced during class. While this is a very minor critique, it would make the course more clear and less frustrating.

            Again, I want to reiterate the how great this course was. I would recommend it to anybody who is looking to challenge themselves, likes working with other students, wants to learn a lot, and likes to have fun while doing it. I’m excited to the changes made to the course and where it ends up in the future.

Weblog Journal

I think my position in regards to Jerusalem has definitely changed. Coming into this course I was extremely uninformed about events in Jerusalem. I knew very little about the Israeli-Palestine conflict. When I did my first blog post at the beginning of the course, I talked about the conflict and said that I didn't think any action was being taken to try and fix the conflict (granted, I didn't know very much at this time). However, as the course went along I realized that there are many individuals, and groups of individuals, who are working diligently to help reduce the level of animosity between the two groups. A fantastic example of this was the Divan Orchestra. Both Edward Said and Daniel Barenboim were/are courageous individuals who have found a way to reduce hostility through music. Even though it's not a permanent cure to the conflict, it still acts as a mediator.

In addition, the Jerusalem Open House was made for both Israelis and Palestinians. Although we discussed in class that the JOH may have been biased towards the Israeli side, they are still welcoming of both groups.

Also, I think my classmates have helped change my views. Our class has many people who are very well informed about Jerusalem, the conflict, as well as Israeli and Arab cultures, beliefs, etc. Our in-class discussions have helped foster an understanding of Jerusalem as a whole. In addition, reading others' blogs has undoubtedly helped me learn and see things from various perspectives. Even though not everything in our blogs can be taken as fact, it gives me a great understanding of how different individuals see the same side of the coin.

I really enjoyed the course and would recommend it to anyone regardless of their background.

Reading Response # 18

The most difficult issue for me during the semester was by far the blog posts/comments. I had never been in a course structured quite like this (even the Human Rights class was laid out a little different!). It takes a while to get used to the transition between simply summarizing a block of text, and diving in deeper. Sometimes it was difficult to voice my opinion on a controversial topic such as religion or politics. At the beginning of the semester I was worried about being judged. However, as the course went along I began to feel much more comfortable posting to my blog. After a while I realized I wasn't the only one who felt a certain way in regards to a topic. Others in the class have the same opinions as me (many have different ones, too). Commenting on blogs was also a bit uncomfortable in the early stages of the course. I was always worried that someone would judge me if I disagreed with something they said. It's just something that you have to get past, however, if you want to get the most out of this course. Similar to the blog posts, after a few weeks I realized that no-one is judging... at least they aren't admitting to it. I've gotten to the point where I don't think twice about submitting a comment; I just do it.

Reading Response # 17

The Jerusalem Open House blog was extremely interesting. Even though the blog didn't provide us with dense information and facts, it was great to hear experiences from individuals our age. For example, one of the posts was written by a Junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst majoring in Judaic Studies. Hearing from the perspective of someone who is in the same shoes as us allows me/us to relate to them. The Jerusalem Open House seems to offer something for just about everyone. As one intern put it, "The Jerusalem Open House truly does offer something from every person, regardless of age, religion, or language spoken."

When I visited the Jerusalem Open House website, I was intrigued and drawn to the LGBTQ Bill of Rights. I think it's great that they have taken the initiative to really stand up for what they believe in. Within the Bill, they provide some great points in regards to lesbians, gays, gender, sex, and orientation.   For those who are not informed on the topic of LGBTQ, the Bill provides wonderful insight about how "these types of people" are being discriminated against. Even in areas regards to healthcare and identity,  these individuals are being treated as "aliens."

The first thing I saw when I visited www.alqaws.org was, "Palestinian Queer Party." I think what alQaws is doing is spectacular. I am a strong proponent of breaking down the barriers that exist in regards to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, trans-genders, and queers. Seeing that the "LQBTQ Palestinian community is still in its early stages," it is warming to see that they are already taking action. They are engaging in initiatives that make them feel welcome and included. I look forward to hearing from our guest speaker, Elinor Sidi (and/or Haneen Maikey) to learn more about these types of organizations in the Middle East.

Questions:

1.) How long have these types of organizations been in existence?

2.) What measurable progress has been made over the last 20 years? 10 years?

Reading Response # 16

These readings were surprisingly pleasant to read after coming back from spring break. It was nice to hear stories told by a group of unique individuals. The article, "The Promised Gas Masks,"was a wonderful article as a whole. However, one part in particular stuck out above all the rest. On page 89 it talked about the Israelis forcing the Palestinians to stand in straight lines. From what I have seen in films and learned about in history courses, this was strikingly similar to what occurred during the Holocaust. While reading, it actually gave me the chills. I remember watching films where the German Nazis forced the Jews to stand in line. Sometimes they would do nothing but taunt them; but other times they would shoot them down one by one. Although the Israelis may not be gunning down the Palestinians, there is undoubtedly a resemblance (in my personal opinion).

While reading the chapter, "A Dog's Life," I was disturbed by the fact that a dog (Nura) could acquire a Jerusalem ID while a human could not. I'm not arguing that a dog's life isn't valuable, but to deny a human being an ID, while giving one to a dog, isn't right. At the bottom of page 115, there is a short passage that reads, "The Israelis would not give her a Jerusalem ID because her father had a Palestinian Ramallah ID, and the Palestinian Authority would not give her a Palestinian ID because her mother had an Israeli Jerusalem ID." Rather, I think she should be allowed to have two ID's instead of none. Also, near the end of the chapter I was amused by the encounter between the girl and the soldier at the checkpoint. She used Nura's Jerusalem passport as a means of getting by the checkpoint, despite the fact that she herself did not possess one. She used the excuse that the dog had a Jerusalem ID and could not drive herself. The soldier let her through.

I enjoyed these stories because they were insightful, yet humorous at the same time. There haven't been many occasions where we have had the opportunity to laugh while doing the readings. It was nice to be able to appreciate the readings from a slightly new perspective.

Reading Response # 15

The link titled "Channels of Rage: Dissecting the Inner Conflict," was engaging to read. The two main characters, Subliminal (an Israeli-Jew), and Tamer Nafar (an Israeli Arab) were the best of friends. However, in the movie, the conflict is too strong and their friendship is lost over their "inherent differences." Each of these men talks about the violence and conflict that takes place through rapping.

I thought the segment about the media was the most intriguing, personally. We all know that the media has the ability to blow things out of proportion. In this case, "sound bites that contain shocking views polarize and distract, and give media outlets the opportunity to misrepresent and sow fear for the sake of ratings and profits." It shows that we can't take everything we hear as the truth. We have to be able to develop our own opinions.

As I began reading the background on Israeli hip-hop I was surprised to see that "they imitated black rappers with admiration and even envy, but without perceiving the world from a black perspective." In other words, Israeli rappers try and mix in their Jewish/Israeli culture with the stereotypical American "ghetto black culture." I thought the article made a really interesting comparison. So often people don't associate rapping with the Israeli culture (due to ethnicity). However, here in America, one of the greatest rappers is Eminem, a white man. They argue that if Eminem can be successful with his music, then so can Israeli rappers.

I really enjoyed the interview by Jewish rapper Subliminal. He is known as the Jay-Z of Israel, yet most Americans have never heard of him. He even said himself, "I want to get my music outside of Israel." His lyrics, beats, and music videos were very good. I think he (along with other Israeli rappers) could be successful in the American markets if people accepted Israeli rappers more openly.

Reading Response # 14

The first news article I came across was written just four days ago by Larry Abramson. It is titled, "A West Bank Story, Told Through Palestinian Eyes." Before I started reading the article I took into account that the article was most likely written with a biased tone (obviously in favor of the Palestinian side). It reminded me of our discussions regarding Karen Armstrong and how hard it is to write without any biases.

Anyways, the article portrays the West Bank separation barrier as favoring the Israelis. According to Abramson, the Israelis say that the barrier has helped prevent attacks by the Palestinians. On the contrary, the Palestinians are complaining that the barrier separates them from obtaining key agricultural land. The article specifically focuses on the Palestinian village, Bil'in (located extremely near an Israeli settlement). Even further, it narrowly focuses on Emad Burnat, a resident of Bil'in. Emad created an Oscar-nominated documentary titled "5 Broken Cameras."Ironically, Burnat and Israeli filmmaker Guy Davidi are co-directors of the film. You may be wondering why the film is called "5 Broken Cameras." While filming the protests, Israeli settlers smashed/shot not one, not two, not three, not four, but five of his cameras. How Burnat escaped injury and/or death in these encounters will continue to perplex me.

I also found it interesting that Burnat has become a main target of Israeli settlers and soldiers. Israelis have targeted him because his film has inspired courts to take action. The Israeli government was forced to move the fence off of the agricultural land. The film has sparked a so-called "camera war." Israelis have countered by attempting to document their own footage that depicts Palestinians mistreating the Israeli settlers. I thought this article was good for this response because it's informative, amusing, and symbolic of what is going on between Israelis and Palestinians.

While this article was the main focus of this response, I also found some other news/articles that I think are worth taking a look at. Here are the links to those articles:

http://www.vtjp.org/background/Separation_Wall_Report.htm

http://electronicintifada.net/content/it-fence-it-wall-no-its-separation-barrier/4715

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/fence.html

Reading Response # 13

I thought Peteet's article was interesting and thought provoking. When society hears the word graffiti, it creates a negative image in our head. We associate it with gangs and criminals. Graffiti is known to show-up in large cities and poor neighborhoods. In addition, graffiti is probably most well-known for creating an identity amongst people. In gangs, individuals often have "tag names," where they spray a letter, word, symbol, picture, etc. on buildings, cars, and homes. It's a way of saying. "hey, I belong to this group; I'm proud to a part of this group, and; this is what I stand for." While the images in the West Bank may have differed in artistry, they possess the same underlying meanings. Images were used to foster entire communities and establish power. As Julie Peteet explains, graffiti has been used in the West Bank to influence political action. Some of the images and words shown in her article include "Hamas,"and a Palestinian flag (painted in their native white, red, green, and black colors).

On page 16, I found it intriguing that graffiti was used to promote religious equality and tolerance of religion. For example, in Ramallah a string of graffitied text read, "Let the churches and mosques embrace each other in national unity."

The main idea I captured from the article was that graffiti has been used in more ways than one could imagine. There is no true limit to what graffiti can represent. While trying to find more information in regards to the writing on the walls, I found a YouTube video that provide a strong visual representation of what Peteet is writing about. The video scans the graffiti on the Bethlehem Wall, and can be
seen below.

Weblog Journal Assignment # 4

Music plays a significant role in my life. Music allows me to "get away" from the world when I want to. It allows me to enter my own little world where all that matters is me and my music. As we have learned, music creates an identity. In the West Eastern Divan Orchestra, for example, it allows people to forget their pasts, differences, and cultures. In essence, music becomes their culture. For me, it serves a different purpose. There isn't one specific type of music I always listen to. Depending on my mood and the situation, different genres of music satisfy my "needs." For example, when I study I tend to listen to either classical or alternative music. The quieter style of music calms me down and allows me to focus and get in my zone. Before a sporting event classical music would not be my tune of choice. Rather, I would prefer an up-beat sound to get my adrenaline pumping. As you can see from this small sample, music can play multiple roles.

Additionally, music allows me to think deeply and emotionally. Have you ever watched a sad scene in a movie, where the "soft and slow" music makes you tear up? If you have, you should attempt to re-watch that same scene with the volume turned off. You will most likely notice you don't feel the same emotion. In these situations, music is what creates emotion. Similarly, music is the reason the IU basketball fans get so amped up before tip-off. The music gets us excited and helps to unite us as a University.

Music as a form of communication becomes tricky. In one sense, music is an obvious form of communication, where the artist is "speaking" to the listener. Songs that contain lyrics usually tell a story, or a vision of that artist. From an artist's music we learn something about them and/or their life. Music containing no lyrics, however, is far more blurry in regards to communication.

I don't believe music has any one role in conflict. However, going back to the West Eastern Divan Orchestra, we have seen that music can absolutely reduce the amount of conflict in society. The Orchestra has created friendships between Israelis and Arabs rather than fuel animosity between them. I think the idea of music reducing conflict is still a relatively new concept. With that being said, I hope music can continue to play an important role in reducing the friction held between individuals, groups, and even nations.

Questions for Murad and Broza

1.) For Wisam Murad: what prompted you to start the Sabreen organization? Has music always been a significant part of your life? If not, what drew you to Palestinian contemporary music?

2.) For David Broza: I loved both your and Wisam Murad's song, "In My Heart." After watching the performance on YouTube, I was curious as to what your inspiration was for writing the song? What events in your life have lead you to where you are today?

Reading Response #12

When I went to visit the websites for this week's reading, only two of them actually worked for me. The others said the page could not be found or that the site did not exist anymore. Therefore, I will focus on the two I was able to access.

The Sabreen website reminded me a lot of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. However, unlike the Divan Orhcestra, Sabreen focuses on expanding the horizons of Palestinian musicians. Beginning in 1980, Sabreen has held various workshops in areas such as Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank. Over the last week I've come to realize just how big of an impact music can have on the live's of individuals in both Arab countries as well as Israel. It truly is a form of identity. Although I really enjoyed browsing the site and learning about the Sabreen organization, I was left with a few questions. First of all, do they perform in countries outside of their home base? From what I've read, it appears they have performed within a limited area. Also, is the Sabreen organization still alive today? I ask this because as I was looking at the "News & Articles" section of the website, I realized their last press release was in 2008.

The Jewish rap was the other website I was able to access. I was upset that I wasn't able to view the Palestinian rap because it would have been a great medium to compare and contrast the two groups of people. With that being said, Yitz Jordan (also known as "Y-Love") was an awesome performer. Up until this point, the only music we had been exposed to was classical. "Y-Love" changed my perspective on music in Israel. I really enjoyed his lyrics and even proceeded to view more of his music on YouTube. I found it interesting that he was born in the United States to non-Jewish parents. He said from the time he was a young boy he had been interested in Judaism. By the time he was 14 he was wearing a kippah on a regular basis. I recommend his music to anybody who appreciates good lyrics presented in a creative and unique fashion. Even if you're not a fan of rap music, I think it's good to see Israeli music presented in a new, distinct way.

Individual Project Details

I'm part of the identity group. Specifically, I will be working with a few other students on the topic of sports and identity. I would like to answer questions in regards to how sports have helped close the gap between Arabs and Israelis. Similar to what Edward Said and Daniel Barenboim have done with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, we believe is being done through sports. Sports can create a common ground amongst individuals. As part of the project I plan to research articles that show how specific sports can create friendships between Arabs and Israelis. I also plan to look for videos/interviews that will depict the friendships gained through sports. I plan to meet with my group next week to discuss the project further. After the meeting we will have a better idea of the direction we would like to go.

Reading Response # 11

Parallels and Paradoxes was an interesting article. First of all, even though the groups were divided into Israelis and Arabs, the groups were able to join forces and identify with each other based on music. They may have had different backgrounds and cultures, but they are all "musicians." While doing some research on the article (as well as Edward Said and Daniel Barenboim), I stumbled across an intriguing interview conducted by NPR. The interview took place on December 28, 2002 (meaning the Orchestra had not yet reached its full growth). The interview was conducted less than a year before Said's death. I learned that they met each other while staying in a hotel in London. Edward said he and Daniel became friends right away, and have been working with each other ever since.

Later on in the interview I noticed the interviewer asked about Beethoven and the influence that he had on both Said and Barenboim. Said revealed that Beethoven hit so close to him (as well as many others) was the fact that he was an Austro-Germanic composer. This was significant because it allowed music lovers from Europe, Africa, Middle Eastern, and America to come together. Differences amongst cultures didn't stop these peoples from sharing an appreciation for Beethoven's music.  I think this is very similar to what Barenboim and Said have done with Arabs and Israelis. They have anchored these groups together through music.

As the interview continues, Simon (the interviewer) asks a ton of great questions that allow the viewer to see who Daniel and Edward really are. It does an excellent job of showing their personalities, values, and above all, their friendship. I would suggest all of you check out the interview. I have copy and pasted the link below. It only takes about 5 minutes to read, and gives a great deal of insight into the lives of Edward Said and Daniel Barenboim. Youtube also has numerous interviews starring both Said and Barenboim.

NPR Interview with Edward Said and Daniel Barenboim
http://www.npr.org/programs/wesat/transcripts/2002/dec/021228.simon2.html

Reading Response # 10

As soon as I clicked on the website, it made so much sense. What better way is there to bring groups of people together? Music is one of the most powerful ways we can express ourselves. By integrating both Arabs and Jews together, it allows each group to communicate with and listen to one another. Under the Director's Note on the website, I thought it was interesting to read, "I thought I would stay and film two or three days to document Barenboim's activities in reconciling Israelis and Palestinians. I ended up following this unique experience for seven years."

I think what Edward Said and Daniel Barenboim have done is brilliant. They've been able to successfully pull-off a feat that has been nearly impossible to do. They've successfully combined Israeli and Palestinian people. It's great that the young musicians get to improve upon their music development as well gain knowledge by learning about the other sides' culture. What I like most about the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is the fact that it's only been in existence for seven years. Already they have seen that this program has been able to break down barriers create a closer connection between Israelis and Arabs.

As I was reading background information, I found it very interesting that the orchestra had already played in countries such as Spain, Germany, the UK, France, Switzerland, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and the U.S.A. That shows that they are spreading awareness across not only Middle Eastern countries, but internationally, too.

I look forward to hearing from Mariam Said. I'm sure it will be difficult to speak on behalf of Edward, but I believe it has the potential to inspire all of us. After reading about the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, I can't wait to hear what she has to say.

Reading Response # 9

I enjoyed reading Nassar's article. It was interesting to read an article being told from a different perspective than what we are accustomed to. On the very first page off the article I was able to make direct connections to this course. Near the bottom of page one, it reads "Nineteenth-century European photography had a similar attitude towards Jerusalem, representing the city as an ancient place that belonged more to the world of the Bible than to this world. In doing so, it failed to document Jerusalem as a living and socially inhabited place." Had that short paragraph not been included in the reading, I would have most likely failed to recognize that pattern. At the very least, this article was extremely thought-provoking. I think as humans we sometimes forget that images don't tell the whole story. For example, we often see images (on television, in magazines, newspapers, books, etc.) of violence, misuses of power, and others that lend us to negative perceptions of society. However, this is likely not the case in all regions. Likewise, Jerusalem was depicted as being a mundane, "people-less" place.

When I took a look at the various photos presented throughout the article, it indeed made me feel that at one point, Jerusalem must have been empty. However, this was far from the truth. Since Jerusalem's existence they have been populated with a variety of different people groups.

I found it interesting that Palestine was presented as a "biblical site most relevant to Europe." The images focused on the minority groups of the Christians and the Jews who had potentially close relationships with the Europeans. It was for these reasons that many Europeans perceived Palestine as somewhat of a Holy Land. I think this article does a wonderful job of reminding us to take everything we see with a grain of salt. Before automatically perceiving images, people, etc. in a certain way, we should take a look at them from multiple angles, consult a variety of sources, and ask questions.

Weblog Journal # 3

In my home here in Bloomington, IN I don't have have my most cherished possessions. I have left those in my home city of San Francisco, CA. As you can tell from the photograph below, I haven't posted a possession that has been handed down by my grandparents, or something that most would see as valuable. However, this is who I am. I think this image captures a large part of who I am, what my interests are, and even where I live. The hat is more than just a baseball cap. The San Francisco Giants have been my favorite baseball team since I was a little kid. Growing up I always envisioned being a professional baseball player for the Giants organization. I was ecstatic when they won the World Series in 2010, and was even more thrilled when they took home the title again in 2012 against the Detroit Tigers. Besides the fact that they're my favorite team, San Francisco is also where I reside. When I'm not here at school in Bloomington, that's where I am. It's the place many of my closest friends and family live. It's the place I have created the most memories; and also the place where I've faced the most hardships. It will always be symbolic to me.

The object under the hat is of course a baseball glove. Although baseball may not be so popular in Indiana (they have no professional teams), I can't say the same about California. Depending on where you live you may be a fan of either the Los Angeles Dodgers, Anaheim Angels, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, or the San Francisco Giants. I was five years old when I first picked up a baseball, and I just recently put that baseball down. When I got to high school I made it my mission to play college baseball. It's all that was ever on my mind. When I wasn't playing ball for my high school, I was practicing and participating in tournaments around the United States with my club team. When I got to be a Junior/Senior in high school I began attending showcase events where collegiate scouts could evaluate players based on various attributes (speed, strength, future potential, etc.). After one of the events I got a phone call from the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB). They offered me a scholarship to play baseball for their school. I accepted. It wasn't until I arrived at Santa Barbara that I began having severe elbow pain. After rehabbing for months they determined my injuries were severe enough to require surgery. They eventually told me I probably wouldn't be able to play again. Although that was extremely hard to accept, I knew I had to have a positive outlook. I quickly turned to focusing on my education (although UCSB is one of the best rated public schools in the nation I wasn't studying an area that appealed to me.) I transferred to IU after my freshman year and got into the Kelley School of Business. If it weren't for baseball, I may never have arrived here. Baseball gave me a strong work ethic, close friendships, and even a support system. Baseball is, was, and always will be part of my life. 

Reading Response # 8

As much as I appreciated Karen Armstrong's passion, I must say Tamri's article(s) were a nice change of pace. The articles presented us with a new perspective, a new writing style, and a plethora of new information.

After doing external research and reading background information on Salim Tamari, I was able to gain a more clear understanding of his articles. It was fascinating to find that he is both a professor here in America as well as overseas in Palestine. He teaches at Birzeit University. I learned that Birzeit University was the first institution of higher education to be established in Palestine. In addition, he teaches in the Arab Studies department at Georgetown University. I learned that each of the three articles ("A Musician's Lot", "Lepers, Lunatics, and Saints", and Isaq Shami and the Predicament of the Arab Jew in Palestine") we are responsible for are all part of a a larger piece of Tamari's. Each of these articles are essays depicting Palestinian society and culture. They can be found in his book, "Mountain against the Sea."Furthermore, it was extraordinary to hear that Tamari himself has lived in this conflict from a first-hand point of view. According to Wikipedia (I know this isn't the most reliable source), his family fled the city of Jaffa in 1948 after being attacked by a group of Jews. He has a multitude of credentials that include, but are not limited to: director of the Institute of Jerusalem Studies, a member of the Institute for Palestine Studies, and a visiting professor at the University of California Berkeley, NYU, Cornell, as well as the University of Chicago.

The essay, "A Musician's Lot," particularly captured my interest. I was drawn to this article because of my passion for music. I was intrigued to learn about how music shaped Jerusalem's society and culture.
The article is told from the perspective of Wasif Jawhariyyeh, a musical master. Jawhariyyeh serves as an invaluable source in regards to the role of ethnicity and sectarian identities during the period spanning from the early 1900's to the late 1960's. It was interesting to read that he divided the groups of people into four segments: Muslim, Christian, Jewish (the three we are most familiar with), and Armenian. He says they differed in almost all facets, including traditions and celebrations, educational systems, and as he put it, "the rules of confessional endogamy" (meaning the custom of marrying).

Reading Response # 7

Guess what guys? We did it. We have at last made it through Karen Armstrong's novel. Nobody said it was going to be easy, and I will be the first to tell you...it surely wasn't. After spending a few weeks analyzing and discussing the vast amount of material, I feel I have grown as a critic, as a writer, as an active listener, and as a student. While many of us may have differing opinions and thoughts on Armstrong's writing style and where she gets her information, I believe there's one thing we can all come to a consensus on; the history of Jerusalem is complex, and will continue to be complex. Every person, every event, and every religion has made Jerusalem the Holy City that it is today. Although I cannot remember every minute detail covered in the book, I now have a good sense of what Jerusalem stands for and why it is such a coveted place.

There's no question that religion has an extremely powerful influence on our behaviors and beliefs. However, I don't think religion should be the sole factor that separates groups of people. I mean, in the end aren't we all taught that religion is a sacred place where we are free and safe. We're really not all that different from one another. So why is it that we must treat groups with such animosity? Is it really that difficult to accept others' beliefs for what they are? If you don't agree with a religion and their set of beliefs that's okay. Nobody is forcing you to convert or to change your way of thinking.

It was in these chapters where I finally was familiar with some of the material that was thrown at us. The Holocaust is a familiar name to all, Jewish or otherwise. Just hearing about the horror the Jews were put through makes me cringe. It makes me angry and upset. Nearly seven million people were executed and many others were forced from their homes and separated from their families. It makes me feel that the Jewish people deserve to have a homeland out of sheer sympathy. Israel was like a paradise to the Jews. They were welcomed, and above all, they were appreciated. Who knows how this event changed the way Jerusalem is today.

Jerusalem may never be completely free from its struggle, but one can hope. While the conflict(s) in Jerusalem may never be satisfied, we can't stop trying. After all, nothing is impossible.

Initial Ideas For Project

Today in class we discussed how we want to go about constructing our project. We wrestled over various ideas and wound up with a temporary idea. We're going to split our "identity" group into two subgroups; we will focus on sports and dress/fashion, respectively. We're attempting to answer questions such as, "How do sports affect the relationships between Israelis and Palestinians? Do they help the relationship? Hurt the relationship? How do they do this, and why?" When looking at the fashion component, we will analyze why Israelis wear what they wear, and why Palestinians wear what they wear. We're intrigued to find out how clothing and appearance factor in to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

We haven't yet decided on what medium we will present the information through. We've considered PowerPoint, Prezi, etc. Overall, we are excited about the direction we're heading and look forward to developing our ideas through research as the course continues. Next week we will begin expanding on our foundational ideas and honing in on our primary objectives.

Reading Response # 6

Chapters 11-13 brought about a plethora of new information. I'm starting to believe that this is a common theme throughout Armstrong's book. With that being said, she did a great job of explaining the significance of the Islamic religion and how it has grown throughout its existence. Unlike previous chapters, Armstrong strayed away from and even seemed to look down upon Christianity. She explained how the Crusaders were horrible people who took innocent lives while destroying cities. After going on their rampages they took the remains for themselves (including the city). It would be an understatement to say that the Christians didn't make a great impression on the Muslim population. They took the Holy City away from them.

In addition, I found it neat to find out that there was a time in our history where the Jews, Christians, and Muslims lived side by side. It had been my impression that these groups had never shared such respect for one another. I was wrong. The world would be a better place if we accepted everyone for who they are. We shouldn't be making judgments based off of others' beliefs. Each and everyone of us should be free to choose how we live. Don't we have some important document named the Constitution (not to give away any hints or anything) that states this?

Before I began reading Armstrong's book I had negative associations with the Islamic religion. Karen seemed to do a good job of calming those associations. I learned that the prophet Mohammad was passionate about restoring the Islamic religion. In the grand scheme of things, the Islamic religion is not so different from all the rest. These chapters reiterated the fact that Armstrong writes this novel from an unbiased perspective (I suppose that could possibly be my biased opinion). She treats each of the religions and groups of people with equality, telling both the good and the bad. It will be interesting to see if Karen completes the book writing in this unbiased style. I look forward to hearing others' opinions in regards to these chapters.

Reading Response # 5

First of all, I want to talk about a point we have repeatedly discussed in class. Each discussion we've had, we've been critical of where Armstrong is getting her information. Up until this point, however, I have not developed an opinion. After hearing everyone's remarks and reading the book (half of it, at least), I have come to the conclusion that Armstrong does in fact use multiple sources. If you turn to page 446 you can see the beginning of a multi-page Bibliography. I understand that the vast majority of these sources come from interviews Armstrong has conducted. In that sense, one may say that those aren't credible sources because they are just opinions, not facts. However, how else do we get information? Information regarding our history is passed on via word-of-mouth, period. When reading a history book, does one really believe the author knew everything about every event? No way. They obtain that information from stories that have been told; stories that have been passed on from generation to generation to generation. Karen does an awesome job of taking supposedly factual information, and putting it together to clearly convey the story of Jerusalem.

On a separate note, I also became frustrating while reading the text. Coming into this course I had no background on Jerusalem; I knew very little about the Israeli/Palestine conflict. Because of this, it is extremely difficult for me to retain information in regards to the names and places discussed. Through the first 10 chapters there must be 100+ names/places discussed. I would really appreciate it, if, as a class, we created a timeline/chart of characters and their significance. It would be beneficial for all of us and may even help us with our projects (depending on what we have chosen).

Reading chapter 10 was enjoyable due to the fact that there were multiple images. It was inspiring to see such sacred geographic locations. In particular, The Western Wall was a beautiful picture. Physically being able to see what Karen is discussing makes the book easier to follow and also gives my mind a foundation to process so much information. I think it would be helpful to google image search the people and geographic locations Armstrong talks about in order to paint a more clear picture in my mind.

Weblog Journal # 2

The Arab-Israeli conflict has been an ongoing problem. Nobody has been able to come up with a sustainable solution, and we must understand that. There have been no right or wrong answers, but rather failed attempts. I will offer my opinions and thoughts, but we must realize Jerusalem may never be completely rid of conflict; it's not easy to relinquish territory thought to be the most sacred our history has ever seen.

On the one hand, it seems nearly impossible to think that Israel would give up territory that is considered to be where the Jewish people originated from. However, on the other hand, Hamas and the Islamist Party don't seem to be budging either. One potential solution could be a two-state solution in which the territory would essentially be divided in two. Each group of people would have their own flag and anthem. The groups would live beside each other in peace, holding the upmost respect for  each other. Each group, Israelis and Palestinians would be able to engage in their own traditions, embrace their own cultures, and have their own individual rights. Many academics have pleaded that a two-state system could "never work." However, I don't see how anyone can say this without being hypocritical. They demand that the two must live together as one cohesive group. Over the last several decades we have seen that this is not the solution.

One major drawback to this solution, however, is that another conflict would arise in regards to which group of peoples would give up what. Also, Arabs and Jews are inextricably linked and breaking them apart could lead to even more hatred and animosity towards one another. The Palestinians want no part in this two-state system, despite the reality that Israel would most likely welcome the system.

Overall, there is no one solution that is going to solve this Arab-Israeli conflict. More likely than not, it will take a combination of solutions (some of which we may have not even come up with yet) to help reduce the severity of the conflict. Even once we have solved this conflict, who's to say it will be maintained? It will require the cooperation of the Israelis, Palestinians, governments, businesses, and everyone and everything in-between.

Reading Response # 4

Exile and Return was another insightful chapter by Armstrong. I come from a very non-religious background. My father is Catholic, while my mother is Jewish. However, we never grew up attending either Church or Temple. Because of that, this chapter jumped out at me because it made me realize how big an influence religion can have on a group of people. After the exiles had settled down in Babylon, they were shocked that they were encouraged to still "concentrate on the Law of Moses and the covenant that Yahweh had made with the people of Israel before they had ever heard of Jerusalem."Yahweh followed as the people of Israel fled to Babylon (neglecting the Judaeans who were still stationed in the city of Jerusalem). I though this was significant because without Yahweh "living in Zion, the destruction of Jerusalem was only a matter of time." It really showed me how big of an influence a hierarchical figure can have on a group of individuals.

Reading about Antiochus in Jerusalem was actually frightening. Can you imagine someone coming into your city (not just any city, but the Holy City) attempting to impose Greek Hellenism upon you? For this particular chapter I have compiled a list of questions. What was going through the people's mind when they became aware of Antiochus' emergence in Jerusalem? How many people fell victim to Antiochus' attempt to inflict Hellenism upon them? What were Antiochus' motives to take over and destroy the practice of Judaism?

When the Roman Hadrianus invaded Jerusalem he had big plans in mind. He was known for leaving some type of lasting impression at the places he visited. When Hadrianus came to Jerusalem he was going to "reward" the people with a new city. This man was going to invade Jerusalem and completely get rid of Jerusalem and Zion, two of the most holy and symbolic places to the entire Jewish heritage. They didn't care that a Roman presence may in fact bolster their economy and bring wealth to the area. Hadrianus was going to eliminate "circumcision-a barbaric practice, in his view-the oridnation of rabbis, the teaching of Torah, and public Jewish meetings were all outlawed." How can one city be put through so much turmoil time and time again, yet still be determined to regain their own image? Jerusalem is a Holy City, and much much more.

Reading Response # 3

Unlike other reading responses, I would like to take a new approach to responding to Karen Armstrong's "Jerusalem; One City, Three Faiths," book. There are too many interesting components to each of the chapters to focus on all of them. Rather, I chose one interesting piece from each chapter and expanded upon it.

In the first chapter, Zion, I found it extremely intriguing to hear Armstrong describe Zion as such a sacred/holy place. As I was reading I noticed she had referred to Mount Zion as the "highest place in the world." However, the rabbis and the psalmists didn't refer to Mount Zion as the tallest mountain due to its physical attributes. Rather, they were describing "its place on the spiritual map."When people were around Mount Zion they felt safe, protected, and closer to heaven." It gave these people a purpose in society. Before reading this book I had heard of Zion, but never completely understood its significance. Each and every one of us has a place that we go to where we feel more powerful, more comfortable, or more spiritual. In reading this chapter I now understand that this "place", "the city of peace, the holy mountain, and the eternal heritage of its god," is Mount Zion.

"Israel" was one of the more interesting chapters for me, personally. Back home (in California) I have many Jewish/Israeli friends who often speak of their religion, culture, traditions, beliefs, etc. When I ask  them about what god they believe in, they most often respond with Moses. I was shocked to learn that at one point the Israelites believed in many different gods. Until Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, the Israelites worshipped many other deities such as Asherah (fertility goddess), the consort of El, as well as a plethora of other Syrian gods. Once the city was destroyed the Israelites then realized that Yahweh (the God of Moses) was the only God they were to have faith in.

The City of David is a large historical piece of Jerusalem. It was here that King David established himself, and built his palace. It was David who helped Yahweh become the holy god of Jerusalem (and later Solomon who solidified it). It is also said that The Kingdom of David has brought about controversy in regards to its existence. Many argue that because the Kingdom was not supported in the Eastern texts of that period, it did not exist. However, the majority still believes that both the Kingdom of David, as well as the Kingdom of Judah, were undoubtedly real.

In comparison to the Kingdom of David as well as the Kingdom of Israel, the Kingdom of Judah was relatively poor and badly located. They were exposed to few resources and were unable to prosper agriculturally. However, the Kingdom of Judah was able to overcome these hardships because "Yahweh had established a haven of shalom: wholeness, harmony and security."Although I was confused at various points throughout the chapter, I learned that Judah is a "nation"of good people (other than their kings) who are loyal to those they believe in. Each of these chapters were able to add value to Jerusalem's rich history, tradition, and culture. As I read further, I hope Armstrong can paint an even more vivid picture in my head and get me thinking about the city of Jerusalem with a new perspective in mind.

Weblog Journal # 1

After the first week of the course I'm very excited about the direction that it's headed. It's refreshing to come to a class that takes a different approach to learning than traditional courses. Rather than coming to class, listening to a lecture, taking notes, reading a textbook, and then coming back to be quizzed/tested on the material, we get to learn through others' experiences. For example, when discussing the second reading response in our small groups, I learned that everyone takes a different perspective on the topic/issue at hand. In turn, it leads me to think about the material differently and provides me with insight to what others are thinking.

While the courses approach to learning is refreshing, it is also challenging. For many of us, this is the first time we have taken a class of this nature. It forces people out of their comfort zones and allows them to share their opinions: whatever they may be. Furthermore, it challenges us to be accepting of others' ideas without reacting with a negative demeanor. We have to learn to respect others' thoughts and be aware that each of us comes from different backgrounds that may (or may not) influence our opinions. Additionally, video conferencing is another aspect of the course that is new to many of us. It's difficult enough to voice an opinion in front of our class, let alone to a class of students we have never met (Ohio State). However, as the course continues, I believe we will all become comfortable in this new experimental environment.

Some of the difficulties with a course designed in this manner pertain to organization and timeliness. It's easy to get off track or to forget to post to personal blogs. This class is very 'open-ended' in the fact that we are paving our own road. The direction of the course will flow in whatever direction we take it. That means it's important for us to understand that the course may not always stick to exactly what the syllabus says (which is what we are accustomed to), and that it may deviate to topics we have not considered before.

With that being said, I look forward to understanding opinions, respecting opinions, voicing opinions, and challenging others' opinions. By the time the semester comes to a close I hope to 1.) learn all about Jerusalem's society, culture, and history 2.) actively participate in-class as well as in our groups and 3.) learn to challenge ideas in a respectful, yet constructive, manner.

Multimedia Discussion (In-Class Recap)

Today, (Thursday, January 10) we began discussing topics people may be interested in researching further for our final project. It was interesting to hear everybody's opinion. Many people (including myself) were excited by topics such as sports, music, and food. However, I was fascinated by some of the other ideas people came up with. It's evident we have people from all sorts of backgrounds, each with their own passions and interests. We discussed topics ranging from the embargo and supply chain all the way to how food can say a lot about sexual orientation and one's mannerisms. While I would enjoy studying a more broad topic such as sports or food, I would welcome the opportunity and challenge to take on a topic that is new to me.

Reading Response # 2

The article written by Reba V Rubin titled, "Jerusalem The holy City Through The Ages," was a great article for me to read. Coming into this course I knew next to nothing about the history of Jerusalem. Rubin did a wonderful job of providing a background about Jerusalem and was able to help give me a basic understanding. I had always heard the names and phrases of David, Abraham, Solomon, Judah, Assyrian Empire, and Sennacherib, but never knew the precise significance of each character. It gave me a new appreciation for Jerusalem and all the history that has engulfed it over the years. Before reading the article I was unaware that the Jew's who were populating Jerusalem were made up of three subgroups: "native-born, Arab-speaking Jews, Ashkenazi, or Western, Jews, and Sephardic Jews, refugees from Spain. It showed me that the diversity that exists/existed in Jerusalem runs much deeper than Israelis and Palestinians. Even within single religions, much diversity is present.

In "Jerusalem Then And Now," by Mick Dumper I learned even more history about Jerusalem. Who knew that Jerusalem's population varied depending solely on the fresh water supply. I was shocked to hear that Jerusalem sits high upon a mountain range, surrounded by the valley on its west side. When I imagine Jerusalem in my head I picture a very flat, dry land. Additionally, the article provided a great introduction to the three main divisions of people who occupy Jerusalem; the Jews, the Christians, and the Muslims. The article inspired me to pick up our book, "One City, Three Faiths" to inquire more about the rivalries that existed between the religions. I can't help but become intrigued by quotes such as "As they jockeyed for demographic dominance, squabbled over administrative power, and enlisted foreign states for diplomatic and military support...". I thoroughly look forward to studying this topic as the course progresses and to discussing any relevant issues pertaining to the conflict amongst the various groups of people.

Reading Response # 1

After reading through the first paragraph of the article, "Researching East Jerusalem," by Suad Amiry I had a vision of what Jerusalem was/is like. He says that Jerusalem is a placed filled with beauty, yet a place filled with problems. I admire Suad for attempting to neutralize the rage between the Israelis and the Palestine's. In her article she explains that there are problems pertaining to minute (or at least seem to be minute) issues such as the name of the festival, to more substantial issues such as the nature of the boundary separating the two Jerusalem's. I also really enjoyed the article"Representing Jerusalem" because it was an interview with Suad Amiry. Her responses to the questions differed from what I would have guessed. In particular, I thought it was interesting that the Jerusalem Festival was postponed due to a lack of funding. Funders weren't willing to give the Festival money because they despised the fact that the funds would be shared amongst the Israelis and the Palestinians. In addition, it was interesting to learn that government from either side was uninvolved. The Festival was planned to occur without the funds from either government.

Galit Hasan-Rokem's article, "Dialogue as Ethical Conduct" had me pondering a few questions. First of all, is progress being made towards a new 'Festival'? If so, when can we expect this Festival to occur? Are there any underlying reasons (unmentioned in these articles) that could be causing such conflict between the two sides?

The article written by Professor Horowitz also caught my interest. It was amazing to read a published text written by a person that you are in contact with on a weekly basis. I was intrigued by the section focusing on ethnography because I believe that in order to get the most out of this course, we as students need to become ethnographers ourselves. In the text, Professor Horowitz writes "our ethnography developed counter representations and displayed the contested chronologies that undergrid the ideologies of contending national, ethnic, and religious communities." We must carefully study and analyze the conflict in Jerusalem. We must look at it from multiple angles and perspectives as well as through the eyes of Israelis and Palestinians.

About Me

Hi, my name's Austin Ellis. I'm a Junior studying Supply Chain Management through the Kelley School of Business. I'm originally from Sunnyvale, California (about 30 miles South of San Francisco). I began my studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) where I was studying Economics & Accounting. However, after my first-year I realized I wanted a change. I transferred to Indiana University in the Fall of 2012 and have loved every minute of it. I'm taking the "Living Jerusalem" course for multiple reasons. First of all, I took professor Horowitz's Human Rights class and thoroughly enjoyed her teaching style and passion for the subject. In addition, I'll be traveling to Israel this summer on birthright and want to gain a background/understanding about the rich history and culture that has taken place in Jerusalem. I look forward to working with each and every one of you at some-point throughout the semester and getting to know all of you better.