Israel Reflections 2015 — Day Four: Har Bental

After our visit at Tzfat, we took a short bus ride into the northern hills to visit Har Bental, a lookout point on the edge of the Golan Heights. With a view into Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, we could all see the importance of geography.

Student Nicholas Sinram shares his experience:

One of the many great experiences on our International Conflict Resolution trip to Israel was our visit to Har Bental.  In addition to the salmon bagel lunch and the Druze fig jam, our excursion to Har Bental gave us the chance to experience the beauty and importance of the region.  The visit to Har Bental also gave us the unique opportunity to learn more about the conflicts throughout the Middle East, the role of the international community in the region, and how this situation affects Israel specifically. golan-picture

We had the amazing luck of running into two U.N. observers. They explained the roles of U.N. peacekeepers and observers.

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Israel Reflections 2015 – Day Four: Class at Tzfat

On day four of the trip, we joined Professor Yael Efron’s class at the Tzfat Academic College School of Law for a joint negotiation class.  A close colleague of mine, Yael conducts her class similarly to ours here at Marquette and we were lucky enough to join her on her first day of the semester.   Spoiler alert–the students below describe the card game BARNGA–and I’m happy to share the materials if anyone would like.

Student Marcus Hirsch describes the exercise:

Upon entering the classroom, we were joined at tables by Israeli students, and began mingling.  After introductions, instructions for a negotiation exercise were distributed and a card game commenced.  The game required individual interpretations of the rules, and forbid verbal communication from the participants – in Hebrew or English.  This led to an even greater learning experience, even as it caused massive frustration, confusion, and uncontrollable fits of laughter from the participants.  In the debriefing after the game, the participants not only came to understand how miscommunication and lack of information can lead to problems, but learned that these problems are cross-cultural and cross-linguistic.

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Israel Reflections 2015: Dome of the Rock

Dome of the RockWhile we were in Jerusalem, Sarah Farrukh, our Muslim student, was able to go visit the Dome of the Rock.  (Non-Muslims are generally not permitted to visit so this was an individual visit.) When she rejoined the group in the beautiful traditional garb, she was excited to share her story below:

Temple Mount is one of the most important religious sites in the Old City of Jerusalem.  Three monumental structures – al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and the Dome of the Chain – dominate the present site.  I had the opportunity to visit all three monuments.  Currently, only Muslims are allowed inside the complex.  I knew I may need to “prove” I am Muslim when I arrived.  I greeted the guards with the traditional greeting, “As-Salam Alaykum,” which means “Peace be upon you.”  They asked me whether I am Muslim as a formality.  Finally, a guard asked me to recite the heart of the Qur’an, which is Surah Al-Fatiha. The surah praises Allah and asks for his guidance.  I literally said the first two syllables, and the guard waved me in.

With its golden, glittering dome, the Dome of the Rock is hard to miss.  The shrine, built around the Foundation Stone, is covered in beautiful blue and white mosaics and Arabic calligraphy.  Because repairs are being made to the interior of the dome, I couldn’t see the stone itself, but I was able to touch a small portion of the stone around which a nook was built.  I also entered a cavern beneath the rock, called the Well of Souls.  The Dome of the Chain is a shaded prayer house next to the Dome of the Rock.  I actually did not know what it was or its religious and historical significance until after my visit.  Al-Aqsa Mosque sits on the southern end of Temple Mount.  The silver domed mosque is painted in rich, warm colors, and the architecture and arches are beautiful.  I offered prayers and read the Qur’an in both al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.  The sites were peaceful and relatively quiet.  I saw families and friends leisurely conversing, waiting for the call to the evening prayer.  As I was leaving, I heard the azan (call to prayer) for the evening prayer. I stopped and listened, but I was not able to join the communal prayer because I had to join the rest of my class at Hebrew University.  However, I am now motivated to return to Jerusalem, so I’m definitely going back!

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