1983-1984 Rothberg Yearbook

why did you coitie to %u.*?
Was it a mere 10 months ago that I was deciding between packing my Dolby stereo system or my Sony
Walkman? My designer wardrobe or my basic shlumpy jeans? Boy, time sure flies. But the question isn’t what
I brought, rather why I decided to come to Israel, the Holy land, in the first place.
Most people, when asked, would answer with: ‘Well, my family’s always supported Israel . . . I
was thinking of Aliya, and this is a foot in the door. .. after Ramah Seminar I was going to come back . . . I
needed a break from the drudgery of Mannhatten . . . four years at the same University — I ’d just die . . .
for tuition of $1800, how could I go wrong . . . It’s just a stop over — my real aim is Europe.
Okay, these are all valid responses — but, c’mon, *let’s get real’ and discuss simple facts. When you read
the propaganda advertisment (oops, too many activism workshops) what was the first thing that caught
your eye? You probably didn’t bat a eyelash when they described the campus; even the thought of
the OYP . . . There you were — calculating in your mind . .. “Hmmm, lets say 50% of them are
male (female). They’re all Jewish .. . and I ’m almost 20 — could be it.” I hate to be cynical and
downplay what OYP has to offer, academically, that is, but would that alone compel students
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to drop everything and run?
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Just as an addendum, I would have to say, whereas 600 new faces to meet and
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600 people to interact with and become friends with, is probably incentive enough f
to take a break from old routines. We could have chosen to do it at various
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universities throughout Europe, yet we chose Israel. I’m not in any position
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to evaluate each student’s reason for being here, but all of the above cited
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reasons brought this year’s OYPers here. It’s been a great year which
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was enhanced by being in Jerusalem, Israel.
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Debbie Hecht
Northwestern University
~arrivals~
Lauri Kritt
Claremont Mekenna College
The arrival begins with goodf
,byes . . . Promises tossed out —
f “I ’ll write! ” Buckle in, strap down —
it’s an adventure . . . A long flight. ..
f was that JFK Airport or a mass produced
f air terminal? No one ever told me Paris was
f grey . .. and is it really 10 a.m.“here” or maybe
f Paris is “there.”
f Tel Aviv . . . keep expecting to see stage prop camels
f across the airfield . .. Bad odds — three pieces of luggage,
and all in New York still Ein davar . . . Hebrew is essential to
coping — with this experience — no other language could adequately
describe it all . . . Gradual withdrawal from the U.S. . . .
The hotel I spend my first night in has hot water all the time and
paper napkins at breakfast.
The University — what’s Goldsmith — a building or an environment? Up the
hill, the first bank of many . . . “What stamps?” Back up the hill .. . Are we all
living in Resnick 8-150? They seem like nice girls . . . it’s been all of three minutes
since I met them after all . .. “Hmm . . . can I borrow some clothes, towels, and ...”
Key doesn’t work on the door; does this mean something?Luggage . . .Did it grow on the
trip over? I don’t remember packing this much .. . Breathe . . . I think IVe arrived . ..
Now what?
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