Reflection

Coming into this class, I had no idea what to expect.  I am a business major with no real background or former knowledge on the conflict in Jerusalem, and initially was only taking this class to get my general education credits that were required.  After being in this class all semester, writing blog posts, reading articles, watching documentaries, and listening to the thoughts and opinions of my classmates, I can say that I have walked away from this class having actually learned something, which I cannot say about every class that I’ve taken during my time here at IU.  I am walking away with a better understanding of a very complicated topic, and also with a new-found initiative to try to stay better informed on what is going on across the globe.  This paper focuses on my personal reflections on the class—my likes and dislikes—and any suggestions I may have to better the course in the future.

The one thing that I think that I enjoyed the most about this class was listening to the thoughts and opinions of my classmates during class discussions.  As someone who has absolutely zero knowledge on this topic, listening to students who have a real passion for Jerusalem and the conflict surrounding the city was a very enlightening experience for me.  We had the privilege of listening to stories from students who have actually traveled to Jerusalem, and also got to listen to a student speak about the struggles that she faced being considered a Palestinian citizen.  These discussions and stories really helped me better understand the conflict and put things into perspective for me.  I hope that, if anything, these class discussions continue in future classes and hopefully happen more frequently.

Another part of the class that I really enjoyed was listening to scholars we got the opportunity to interact with during the video conferences.  I enjoyed listening to their thoughts and opinions about the different topics we had been discussing, and I feel like it was another way for me to really learn about different aspects of the conflict.  I also enjoyed listening to the questions that some of my classmates posed to the people that we spoke with.

The group projects that we did at the end of the semester were all very beneficial.  I think that being broken down into smaller groups helped stimulate more conversation on the topics that we were discussing in class, and it also made it easier for some students to voice their opinions without having to do so in front of a larger group of people.  I enjoyed watching the presentations and seeing the different types of media that students used to present their topics.  I liked that everyone got to choose something that they felt was important to them—or something that they could personally connect to when it comes to the conflict in Jerusalem.  All of the presentations were very stimulating and I feel like I came away with better knowledge of different aspects of the conflict.  I strongly believe that these group presentations should continue in future Living In Jerusalem classes to come.

Although I sometimes found it to be a pain, I do think that the class blogs made a valuable contribution to this class.  For me personally, it was much easier for me to discuss my thoughts and opinions on the blog than it was to discuss in class.  I could freely state my opinions without feeling like what I was saying was inadequate compared to some students in the class who have very extensive knowledge on this topic.  I also enjoyed viewing other students’ blogs.  Many went above and beyond what was required when it came to posting.  I saw many students post videos and photographs that they thought were appropriate for the class to see, and I thought that was very enlightening.  I think that it would have been beneficial if the students who posted these extra videos and photographs got to share them in class so everyone was aware of what they were posting, in case some students had not viewed other blogs.  I also think that requiring students to comment on three different blog posts every week turned out to be less beneficial than what we thought they would be.  I feel as though most people were commenting on blogs because they had to fulfill the requirement, and not because they had a valuable response or opinion to contribute.  Maybe limiting the comments to one a week would be more beneficial, and we would see more thought-provoking comments and questions instead of the standard ‘I agree’ or ‘I disagree.’

Although this class had many very strong parts, other aspects of this course were not as beneficial.  I am sure I will not be the first or last person to say this, but Karen Armstrong’s book was very difficult to read and understand for everyone, and even more so for students like me who have no prior knowledge of the conflict or the history of Jerusalem.  Trying to keep track of the different people and places discussed in the book was very difficult, and at some points I found myself thoroughly confused as to what was going on.  I think that it would be in the best interest of the class if a new book was chosen, or if there were any documentaries of a similar nature that could either supplement or completely replace reading Armstrong’s book or a book similar to it.  I think that in most cases it is easier to understand something when you can visually see and hear it, instead of reading and trying to work ideas out in your head.  Also, I think that watching a documentary would cut down on the time we took during the course to read Armstrong’s book, and could allow for either more class discussion or more video conferencing.

Another aspect of the class that I did not feel was very beneficial was the conferencing that we did with Ohio State at the beginning of the semester.  I feel as though a lot of time was wasted at the beginning of class each day trying to set up the connection between our class and Ohio State’s, or we were waiting for Ohio State to settle into class since their class started later than ours.  Although we both listened in on the video conferences, we had no real class-to-class interactions with the group from Ohio State.  Also, after our video conferences were done and we began to just have class discussions, we would just immediately mute or end the connection with Ohio State at the beginning of each class.  I think that if we had more interactions with them it would have been slightly more beneficial to video conference with them every day, but I believe that the way our class-to-class communication was utilized during this course was not very useful.  I think that if this course continues to have this interaction with the Ohio State course, it would be more beneficial to have a combined class blog of both IU and OSU.  This would stimulate more interaction between the two courses, and then maybe even stimulate class-to-class discussions via the video conferencing about topics students have blogged about.  I think that having the same course going on simultaneously at another university is a very good idea, but it just needs to be better utilized for the idea to have a more beneficial impact.

Overall, I feel like this class pushed me and stretched my boundaries in ways that other classes have not.  The general set-up of this class—the blogs, the video conferencing, thought-provoking in-class discussions—was very new to me, and definitely not like the normal lecture-homework-test class set-up that I am used to.  Although there were set-backs when it came to using the class technology, I think that it was a good change of pace for me.  I can walk away from this class with a better understanding of a topic that I formerly had no knowledge of, and I can also walk away with the realization that I need to make myself more aware of my global surroundings.  I have learned a lot from the people we held video conferences with, from my professor, and most importantly from my classmates.  I hope that this class continues on and that this project—in some way or another—has an impact on those who are involved.

           

            

My Position

As I've indicated in previous posts, I have absolutely no knowledge on the Arab-Israeli conflict and what it entails, so I did not have a position or a stake in the matter.  After taking this class, I have become more aware of the situation and it has broadened my thoughts as well as making me more aware of what is going on around the world, and not just what affects me and my life.

It was really eye-opening to listen to the speakers that we had.  I enjoyed learning about the different perspectives of the people who are actually living through this conflict, as well as those who have extensively studied the topic.  I also think that the Karen Armstrong book gave me a better history of Jerusalem and the constant conflict that surrounds the city, even though I still may not understand all of it.  I also found it eye-opening to listen to my classmates thoughts and ideas about the conflict.  Most of you have some sort of background or identify with one group or the other, or you may have extensive knowledge about the conflict. Some of you have even visited Jerusalem.  I think that listening to my classmates was the most rewarding part of this class.

So after this semester, I still do not have an opinion or position on the conflict, but I did walk away with much more knowledge and awareness of this struggle.  I have learned to think about these issues in a different way and it has also made me become more aware of the other struggles that are occurring daily around the world.

Reading Response 16

This class is very different than other classes I've taken before--it's caused me to think in a different way than I usually do in business classes.  It's really caused me to be more aware of what is going on around the world and think about issues in a different light.  I think this class has been very beneficial, but I have also had some difficulty when it comes to this class.

I come from a very non-religious background. I didn't grow up going to church every Sunday or having any strong religious beliefs.  Because of this, coming into the class I had no knowledge of the history of Jerusalem or any of the religious aspects that are involved in the conflict.  Having no real background on the topic before entering the class was a struggle for me because during the first few weeks while we were discussing the history of Jerusalem I felt as though many of my classmates had strong knowledge on the subject.  At first, this intimidated me, but as the weeks went on, I think I learned just as much (if not more) about the conflict from these classmates. I enjoyed listening to their ideas, experiences, and opinions. Although I had difficulty understanding and putting everything together (and still don't completely understand some of it) I do believe I benefited from it.  This class put me in a place that I had never been before, and I think that this is one class I can walk away from knowing that I truly did learn something.

Reading Response 15

Exploring these websites about the LGBTQ community and their efforts in Jerusalem was very interesting.  I thought that the blog was enlightening because it gave me perspective from interns and other people who are involved with the Jerusalem Open House and their experiences.  I think it is really cool that despite all of the conflict that surrounds the city, the Jerusalem Open House puts aside the Arab-Israeli conflict to focus on a different conflict that is just as important.

Another website that I found particularly interesting was the one that was for the documentary call 'City of Borders.' The documentary follows the owner of the only gay bar in Jerusalem, as well as both Israeli and Palestinian community members, and shows the daily issues they encounter. There was a quote on this page that struck me. The Israeli bar owner said, "When I read in the Bible I could be killed for being gay, I understood what it was like to be Palestinian."  I think that it's interesting how he drew this parallel.  Maybe this could help put the conflict into perspective in some way.  I think watching the documentary would give us more insight.

Questions:

1) What other LGBTQ efforts are going on in Jerusalem?

2) What major efforts have been put forth by JOH and has it been able to help change the perspective of people living in Jerusalem?

Reading Response 14

I found both of these readings very interesting.  The first reading by Suad Amiry gave me insight into Palestinian life from someone directly, instead of reading a paper that discusses what the author learned from visiting or researching.  Both chapters also showed humor in their situation. It was nice to read that because most of our articles revolve around emotions of sadness and frustration instead of humor. One part of this reading that stuck out to me was how the Palestinian veterinarian acted when it came to giving the female dog a rabies shot.  I wish we could have gotten more detail as to why the vet acted this way.  I also found it interesting how Suad's second dog obtained a Jerusalem passport just so she could get treatment from the veternarian.  It's crazy to think how a dog can obtain something that many people have been trying to get their whole life, and also that the dog had to obtain a passport in the first place.  It really shows how complicated and confusing the whole conflict is.

I also found the second reading enlightening.  Portraying Jerusalem in a feminine manner gave me a different perspective as to how the city is viewed by those fighting over it.  It shows how both sides want to 'possess' it. She talks about the similarities between men desiring to possess Jerusalem just as they want to 'possess' women, and how instead of wanting to possess them, they should be 'loved with equality' (both women and Jerusalem).  Bringing in this new feminist perspective gives me a clearer picture of how many people (both Israelis and Palestinians) view Jerusalem.

Weblog Journal 4: Music

Music plays a very large part in my life.  Whether it's studying, walking to class, or driving somewhere, I am always listening to music.  Music can be used to calm emotions, to express feelings, and many other things.  I think that music somewhat defines who we are as people.  Some people associate tastes in music to the background of that person.  For example, I come from a very small farm town and only graduated with 68 students in my class, so people could assume that I listen to more country music than other genres.  In my case, this is true, but that is not the case for every person.  I see music as a way to express yourself and who you are.

I think that when it comes to issues (whether it be in the United States or dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict) music can be used as a large platform to express thoughts.  I think that musicians who reach a very broad audience have more influence over their fans than they think, and by singing or rapping about issues going on in their country they can help influence their opinions.  I think that this really invokes a conversation between people and it can be helpful to get others to really think about what is going on in their country.  I think that this can both be helpful and hurtful when it comes to the Arab-Israeli conflict.  As we saw in the documentary, it seems as though both rappers only invoked more rage between the two groups instead of working towards peace.  I think that if music is used in a positive way, it can be used as a good platform to work towards a better understanding between the two groups.

Reading Response 13

This reading response revolves around the documentary Channel the Rage which follows the friendship (and falling out) of an Israeli rapper and a Palestinian rapper, and the differences between the two that revolve around the conflict.  Another article discussed the background of Israeli hip-hop and its comparison to 'black American hip-hop.'  I think both articles abourt Channel the Rage as well as the one comparing different cultures of hip-hop are good background articles to get us thinking about the conflict when it comes to different cultural aspects.

The first article discussing Channel the Rage gave me a good background and overview of the rappers as well as the documentary itself.  It was interesting to see how their views changed once the Second Intifada happened in 2000.  It was also interesting to read about the background of each rapper and see how they were using their music to take a political stance.  The second article was of interest to me as well because it was a blog plost that was a reflection of the documentary by a student.  I really liked how the student made connections between the violence that was occurring and the relationship between the rappers.  It really shows how events such as the Second Intifada can inflame the conlfict even more, and further identifies the differences between the Israelis and Palestinians.

The third article discusses the culture of Israeli rappers, and how they have taken on some of the 'blackness' from American hip-hop and infused their style (dress and appearance) into their own.  Although the Iraeli rappers have taken on African American rap's style and dress, they fail to see the true culture behind the lyrics and music that is created.  Dorchin, who wrote the book that this article revolves around, criticizes Israeli rappers by saying that they stray away from rapping about political, social, or cultural issues (which is something that is very common in American rap).  I found this interesting because the lyrics that were highlighted in the first Channel the Rage article were strongly politically affiliated.  I think that it is more difficult for Israeli rappers to really make a political stance because the conflict is something that seems to almost consume every person living there, and because of this, many people (and radio stations) do not want to play or listen to songs that hold such strong opinions (especially opinions they may not agree with).  I look forward to learning more about this culture and watching the documentary tomorrow to better understand this issue.

Reading Response 12

I found Noura Dabdoub's article very interesting, because it discussed the ideas of homeland and identity.  It was a good follow-up reading for our last reading response, because these ideas were discussed in the beginning pages of 'Parallel's and Paradoxes.'  It shows a contrasting view of what Edward Said felt about identity and homelands.

Edward discussed how he did not feel attached to any 'homeland' even though he was from Palestine.  This thesis by Noura highlights the feelings of both Israelis and Palestinians when it comes to their identity. I found it interesting that developing stronger identities seemed to create even more conflict between the two groups.  It shows how important identity is to groups of people.  I think that it's important to have a sense of identity, but I wonder sometimes if there is too much importance put on it.  When thinking about a few of the major conflicts throughout history, it seems as though each has surrounded identity, whether it be identified by religion, race, gender, or nationality.  I know it is impossible to take those things that make up who we are away, but I also wish that we could take away some of that importance as well.

Individual Project Outline

I am part of the Identity group, and am working with a few students on the subject of sports.  We have decided to look at sports and how they help (or hurt) the Arab-Israeli conflict.  We want to see if there are any other projects that are similar to that of the West-Eastern Divan orchestra that involve sports.  Another aspect of sports we wanted to look at is how sports are involved in the lives of both Arab and Israeli children, and how it impacts their views on the conflict. We hope to find some good articles and interviews about this topic.  We plan on meeting with our group next week to define a more solid outline of our project and also create a timeline for completing it.

Reading Response 11

"Parallels and Paradoxes: Explorations in Music and Society" was a very good follow-up reading for the videos and articles we watched and read about the West-Eastern Divan orchestra. It gave a personal look into both Edward Said and Daniel Barenboim, and their opinions and insights on the conflict and how music plays a roll.

What particularly struck me was the opening of the first chapter.  Both Daniel and Edward were asked the question "Where do you feel at home?"  I thought this question was a great way to start the chapter, because it immediately showed their thought process when it comes to Jerusalem and the conflict.  In Daniel's response, he mentions how he is at home with the "idea" of Jerusalem.  I found this interesting, because it shows that he (as well as numerous other people around the world) have their own idea about how Jerusalem should be, and that is what they want to believe about it. In Edward's answer, he discusses how he believes the sentimental feelings that are associated with homelands are "overrated" which I found interesting considering that he once lived in Jerusalem. He also brings up a point about identity, saying that it is a set of flowing currents, and not just a fixation on one place or thing that sets your identity.  I think that I have to agree with this.  I feel like people of both Palestine and Israel identify with one place, instead of all of the different things besides just one historic city that make up their identity.  Both of their answers were very enlightening to me, and they both gave me a different way to view my own identity and 'home.'

Reading Response 10

I found the readings and videos for this post to be very enlightening.  It was refreshing to see videos and actually listen to people from both sides of the conflict discuss their opinions about what has been going on.  I also think these readings and videos about the West-Eastearn Divan Orchestra are somewhat relatable to the video we watched in class about the schools that taught both Israeli and Palestinian children.  It shows that both sides can put aside their differences when it comes to something that they both have a passion for.

I really liked the two videos the most.  The one that interviewed two girls from either side of the conflct showed their own personal opinions.  It showed that they were there to do what they love--which is play music.  They were  not there to try to solve the conflict or show the differences between the two groups.  I think that more programs like this need to happen.  If more and more people from both Israel and Palestine participate in events where they can interact with eachother and understand their different opinions, I think that it will be easier for each group as a whole to begin to work to solve the conflict.  As I said in a previous blog post, I think that the more each group focuses on their siilarities instead of their differences, it will be easier to communicate and compromise when it comes to resolving the conflict.

I also enjoyed watching the interview with Daniel Barenboim.  He had some very interesting opinions on the conflict. I think it is sad that people like him (who seem to be very well-educated and have very enlightening opinions) leave their country because of the conflict.  I also found it interesting that he said "Jerusalem is a city that belongs to the world."  I agree with this.  So many people around the world identify with Jerusalem for religious regions that I believe it is very difficult to claim it as land for one religion over another.  But as the conflict sits now, I know that it is impossible for this land to be claimed as such.  I think that it will be interesting to hear what Mariam Said has to say about the orchestra and her own opinions about the conflict, and I look forward to hearing her tomorrow in class.

Reading Response 9

I found Issam Nassar's article about 19th century photography of Jerusalem to be very interesting.  I haven't extensively studied photography, but I am aware of how images can be somewhat distorted to evoke a specific emotion.  It was enlightening to read about how photography of the city of Jerusalem during the 19th century was manipulated, either consciously or subconsciously, to please those who were buying and viewing the photos.

I found it interesting that most of the photography of Jerusalem included no people, and if the people were included, they were depicted as insignificant.  I think the reason for this is that people in Europe and America wanted to view Jerusalem as it was depicted in the Bible, and not what it was at the present time. I think that part of the mindset of most people who practice religion is the need to have what they've been taught confirmed in some way.  These photographs that are supposed to depict Jerusalem and its religious sites are a way for people to confirm what images they have formed from reading the Bible.

I also found it interesting that photographers during this time added captions that had such strong biblical references.  I think that this also happened because of my previous point.  This was something I found interesting because photographers were labeling sites as religious relics instead of what they truly were.  This makes me wonder if they captioned their photographs this way to make more money, or because they themselves wanted to believe that these sites were truly holy places discussed in the Bible.

This article gave me a new insight on how photography is depicted and the emotions it brings to people.  It also helped me understand how people of the world viewed/wanted to view Jerusalem.  I look forward to hearing Nassar's thoughts and opinions tomorrow in class.

Reading Response 8

The articles by Salim Tamari were a nice change of pace after reading Karen's book, but I still struggled to understand the articles and their meaning.  The one article that I think I understood the most was "Lepers, Lunatics, and Saints."  This article gave a Palestinian history, and how people were trying to preserve their culture.

It seems that Canaan and his colleagues were doing their best to try to preserve the Palestinian 'peasant' culture. Tamari talks about how they went into the neighborhoods and performed vast amounts of ethnogric research.  What I don't understand, however, is why there is such a focus on the 'peasants.' I wonder if this means Palestinians as a group, or a specific class of Palestinians.  I also found it interesting that Palestinians were struggling to keep and preserve their identity to begin with.  It's enlightening to see what groups of people will do to make sure that their traditions are not completely erradicated.

Overall, these readings were enlightening when it comes to the Palestinian culture.  I think that hearing Tamari's thoughts tomorrow in class will also help me better understand these readings and what they mean in the context of the current conflict.

Reading Response 7

Now that we have finally finished reading all of Karen Armstrong's book, I think now is a good time to reflect on the book as a whole.  When we first started reading this book, I know many of us had reservations about Karen's writing style, her fact-checking, and many other things.  After getting through these reservations, I believe that her book has given me new insight on Jerusalem and an enlightening history on a world that I had very little knowledge about.

As you can see in my previous posts, I learned new things about religion that I wouldn't have known otherwise.  I was able to read about the evolution of Christianity and Judaism, as well as Islam.  Since I was raised in a household where we didn't attend church on a regular basis, I enjoyed gaining insight on topics that I had known nothing about.  It was also interesting to have my opinions swayed when it comes to Jerusalem, and being able to have a new perspective on the conflict.

It was also interesting to learn about the different facets of religion in general, and how critical a role it plays in people's lives.  I still find it fascinating how much this small piece of land means to so many people, and what they are willing to do to call it 'theirs.' Overall, I think that this book has given me a great insight into Jerusalem and religion, and this information will come in handy when we begin to dive into our group projects.

Project Discussion

Last week in class we discussed different ideas for our group project. Our group has the relatively broad subject of the culture of Jerusalem.  After discussion, we decided to divide into two different groups of sports and fashion.  

Our main goal is to research and discover how sports affect the relationship between the Arabs and Jews.  We would also like to see why the two groups dress differently, and how this affects their relationship as well.  We still need to get started doing research, as well as deciding on which form of media we will use to present our conclusions.  Overall, we made a good start look forward to forming more ideas and diving deeper into these subjects.

Reading Response 6

In these chapters of Karen Armstrong's book, Islam is introduced as a religion.  I found this interesting because I myself do not hold deep religious convictions since I wasn't raised in a household that regularly attended church.  I was not familiar with the origins of Islam or how this religion came about, so it was enlightening to read the history of this religion and how it originated.

One thing that struck me was how Muhammed did not see his prophetic revelations as something separate from the religion that Christians and Jews practiced, but rather something that integral to these religions.  I always viewed these religions as separate and not inter-connected, so this was something I found interesting.

I also found it interesting how the Muslim's orignally viewed all three religious groups living in Jerusalem side by side.  Reading that the Muslim's believed by having all three groups living together would 'reflect their vision of the continuity and harmony of all rightly guided religion...' and 'living together in a city that was sacred to all three faiths could have led...to a better understanding of one another..' was very striking to me.  It was interesting to realize that these groups, or at least the Muslims, wanted peace and coexistence and to actually share and learn from one another, and not fight over who deserved to live on the land that all three found so sacred.

I  think that these three chapters really helped me realize where this conflict originated and how these events set the roots for the growing problems in Jerusalem.  But it was also refreshing to read that at one point not every group was against eachother and that some had originally wanted to learn and grow from the different faiths.

Reading Response 5

I found chapters 8-10 in Karen Armstrong's book quite interesting.  In chapter 8, opening pages struck me. She talks about how the Romans had taken over Jerusalem, and how the Jews were being stricken of their religious practices.  These pages really put into perspective what these people were going through.  She talks about how symbolic the Temple was, saying "The Temple had represented the heart of the world's meaning, the core of the faith.." After the Temple was destroyed, it was as if most Jews had lost their faith because it was so central to their religion and their beliefs. The Temple seems to me like the heart of their faith, and without it they could not properly practice their beliefs.  It is encouraging to know that the Jews did not abandon their faith, and fought to keep their beliefs and practices alive.

Another part of the reading that I found interesting were the photos that were included. It was refreshing to get to see colorful pictures rather than just reading page after page.  Seeing these pictures also helped me better understand the geography and architecture of Jerusalem, as well as some of the cultural aspects. It also helped me see how beautiful of a city Jerusalem really is, and that it is full of life and culture. Since our group is doing our project over the culture of the people, I feel like these photos will be helpful when it comes time do to research and put our project together.

Weblog Journal 2

Before I give my opinions on the Arab-Israeli conflict and how to solve it, I would like for everyone to know that I have very minimal knowledge, if any, on this subject. I grew up in a non-religious household--I've never gone to church on a regular basis, nor do I hold any truly strong beliefs when it comes religious topics.  Because of this, my views on this topic may be very broad compared to most of you.  I have gathered from being in class that a lot of our fellow classmates have a much deeper understanding and knowledge of this conflict than I do, so I look forward to learning more about it by reading what everyone else has to say.

In my opinion, I believe that the Arab-Israeli conflict is so deep-rooted that I do not believe a true solution to the problem will ever occur.  As we can see from past attempts at peace, either side (or both) tends to reject whatever resolution may be drafted.  Because control has gone back and forth between Arabs and Jews, it is hard to divide out the land between the two without conflict over which part truly belongs to each group.

If each side would focus on their commonalities instead of what makes them separate from eachother, I believe this would be a good start in trying to come to some sort of compromise.  Both groups of people have inhabited this 'Holy Land' for a very long time, and they both have strong religious beliefs in that.  Like I said previously, this conflict is so deep-rooted that it may seem impossible to focus on anything other than the conflict itself, so this may be an impossible feat.

I also think that this conflict has been something that has been looked over by most of the world lately.  Everyone knows about it, but I feel as if the majority of national governments that have any sort of political power have not really tried to help the groups sort out the conflict. Maybe more international participation can somehow help the sides come to a compromise as well.

These suggestions are by no means a solution to the conflict, but I believe starting small is a good step to take.  If somehow both sides can see their similarities, and with the help of other foreign governments, I think that some sort of compromise may be attainable, but I do not believe that a true solution and lasting peace will ever be reached.

Reading Response 4

The chapter titled 'Exile and Return' was a very intriguing chapter by Karen Armstrong.  One thing that struck me was when she talked about how Ezekiel and how he creating a 'new sacred geography.' I found it interesting that when constructing the replica of Solomon's Temple (which had been destroyed) he surrounded the Temple buildings with 'two walled courts.' She speaks of how holiness and God began to be separated from humans at this point.  I found this interesting because before reading this I had never imagined these religious ideas being thought of as 'equal' to humans. 

Another part of the reading I found interesting was how the Tobiads tried to force the people of Jerusalem to get rid of their old and storied customs and embrace Hellenism.  I feel as though this is just like any other part of the world when it comes to colonization.  When the people of Jerusalem felt threatened, they clung even tighter to their religious practices.  

I think that is one of the main reasons why people feel the need for religion to have some sort of presence in their life.  When a group of people is presented with conflict, they seek comfort in knowing that something of a 'higher power' will see them through their problems.  Having these beliefs instills faith in the fact that even if their customs and cultures are stricken from them, they will still have their faith in whatever higher being they believe in, and no one can take that from them.

Reading Response 3

After reading the first four chapters of Karen Armstrong's book, I have gained an even better understanding of Jerusalem and its history. Prior to taking this class, I had little to no knowledge of the city, so I feel like this book will really help me gain a better understanding.

One thing that really stuck out to me in chapter one was how easily something could be named 'holy'.  The book talks about how anything "the unknown, the alien, or even the perfect seemed to.... point to something other than themselves." One question that has always been in the back of my mind is how certain objects become the symbol of a religion, and learning this has been insightful.  This makes me wonder why and how certain objects become so symbolic, more than just because they're "alien".

Another interesting fact I came across while reading was the conflict of what the bible says about Jerusalem versus what some archaeologists believe.  The book says that the first mention of Jerusalem is viewed as "enemy territory" but some archaeologists believe otherwise, finding little to no evidence of any type of conflict. This makes me wonder how those living in Jerusalem, as well as any religious scholar, feels about this revelation.  

This reading talks a lot about the cities and the conflicts surrounding religion. I find it ironic that there is so much violence that revolves around religion. I was not raised in a very religious household--I never went to on a regular basis--but I always associated religion with peace, and something that was helpful to people, not something that caused so much conflict.  I realize that many wars and conflicts have arose because of religion other than the one surrounding Jerusalem, and I wonder why this is the case. Do people use religion for power? Or because they fear others' religious views? Or because maybe they fear that if there are other beliefs then theirs may not be legitimate? I am curious to know the true reasons behind these conflicts, and not just what we see on the surface.

Weblog Journal Assignment 1

After the first week of this course, I feel like I have already learned a lot about Jerusalem, the culture, and the conflict that surrounds the city.  Before coming into this class, I had very limited prior knowledge of Jerusalem, but after spending only a few days with my classmates, I found it very beneficial to hear their insights and knowledge on this topic. Professor Horowitz also explained some interesting facts, elaborating on the festival that was supposed to occur in Washington DC.  It helped me gain an understanding of how difficult it was to properly represent both Palestine and Israel. Along with listening to my classmates and Professor Horowitz, reading the different views on the history of Jerusalem also helped me to better understand this topic.

To me, this class is very unique.  This is the first time I've been in a class that uses video conferencing extensively, and I also find that working and learning alongside another class at a different university will be very beneficial.  Overall, I think this class will be very interesting and ensightful and I am excited to dive deeper into the topics we have just started to discuss.

In-Class Recap

During class, we discussed different topics that we could use for our final project.  It was enlightening to hear about all of the different ideas that were talked about.  It was helpful to hear everyone's thoughts, because many of you have much more knowledge on Jerusalem than I do, and I learned a lot just by hearing everyone's ideas.  I think that overall, everyone had great contributions to this discussion and we have some great ideas evolving for our projects.

Reading Response 2

"Jerusalem Then And Now" by Mick Dumper really gave me some insight on Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It was nice to get a history of Jerusalem and the reasoning behind why both Israel and Palestine have conflicting opinions when it comes to the city.  I also found it interesting that Dumper says that nothing will be resolved without international pressure to come to an agreement. I agree with this because without this pressure, I don't believe that either side will negotiate with the other. The second reading, "The History of Jerusalem", was also interesting. It gives an Arab perspective, and I found it interesting to see how these two sides differ in their opinions of Jerusalem. I also found it interesting that there was an agreement to divide Jerusalem after the 1948 war, but was not put into effect. This makes me wonder how different Jerusalem would be if this agreement had been acted on. "Jerusalem: The Holy City" also had a very good history of Jerusalem and the conflicts that have risen.  It is astounding to really put into perspective how much change Jerusalem has gone through over the years.

 

Reading Response 1

While reading the articles by Suad Amiry, I came across some very interesting facts.  In the first article, "Researching East Jerusalem," Suad discusses their exploration of the city, and all of the different cultures they encountered.  She explains how they emerged themselves in each culture of East Jerusalem, whether it be Ethiopian, Christian, or Moslem practices.  This particular passage surprised me. This shows that not only is Jerusalem divided by Israel and Palestine, but also within each part of Jerusalem lives subsets of cultures, which I find to be very intriguing. I think this shows how rich and full of life the city really is. I also enjoyed reading the second article, "Representing Jerusalem."  What I found most interesting was how hard it was to represent the true culture of Jerusalem. Suad discusses how it was hard to represent the richness of the culture and not contextualize it.  I think this became difficult because of the many identity issues that surround Jerusalem and its people.

The article written by Galit Hasan-Rokem intrigued me as well.  I found it interesting that the folklorists from the Smithsonian rejected so many interesting cultural aspects of Jerusalem for the festival.  Hasan-Rokem speaks of how the folk-dance groups were rejected by the Smithsonian folklorits. Why were the Smithsonian folklorists (who had no true cultural knowledge of Jerusalem) able to name what was folklore and what was not?

Professor Horowitz's article about the festival really enlightened me as well.  She highlighted the background of how the festival originated, as well as the problems surrounding taking on this task.  I got a better understanding of what ethnography is, as well as some of the reasoning as to why having this festival was so controversial.  There are so many political and social problems in Jerusalem, that it is hard to paint an accurate picture without making some sort of political stance yourself, and that is what the Smithsonian Institute was trying not to do.  

About Me

Hi, my name is Jessica Adams, and I am currently a junior studying Accounting and Technology Management through Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.  I am from Dublin, Indiana, which is a small town about an hour outside of Indianapolis.  Outside of school I have been interning for the past two summers and winters in the accounting department for a company called Belden, which is a global company that produces and distributes cable as well as fiber optics technologies.  I am very excited to be able to take this class. While I may not have any ties to Jerusalem, I always welcome the opportunity to expand my horizons and learn about a different culture. I look forward to working with all of you throughout the semester.