T-1

Right, just packing things for departure tomorrow. In general I think on most trips one can get by with a very minimal amount of clothing - outerwear anyway, the underwear always seems problematic. My dad is great at this - I think he just brings one pair of pants, one long-sleeved shirt, and a jacket. I haven't had the courage to ask about underwear :)

Took a look at the weather today in Tel Aviv. It's a balmy 28-30 degrees, should hold for a few more days too. The list we get from the trip organizer suggests three pairs of pants, but I dunno... certainly don't want jeans. The challenge is to bring clothes for touring around, but a few occasions we'll get to go to 'nicer' places, where a slightly more polished look is called for. I'm squeezing everything into my soccer bag, wheels on the back for airport lugging.

The trip will be nine days, and is sponsored by Larry and Judy Tanenbaum. Working with National Jewish Campus Life, they want to expose young people to a view of Israel that news reports don't always convey. Certainly the many, often conflicting viewpoints of the situation in the Middle East have crossed my mind more than a few times. I look forward to expanding my opinions of the region with a little first-hand knowledge -- a damn rare thing these days, it seems.

One thing I find hard to grasp, partly due to my largely secular upbringing, is the way some communities define themselves with faith. I read an essay by Bernard Lewis in which he highlighted how Islam is more than just religion, but a way of life. The same is true for many Jews I think. Is a Jew someone who practices Jewish religious traditions? I suspect there are people who observe religious ceremonies about as much as I do (not much), yet would still identify as Jewish. The history of the Jewish people is almost as important to the story as the religious beliefs are. I think this deeply intertwining of both faith and culture is a big part of the story.

Regarding tomorrow, I'm nervous, not about flying, but about the experiences to come. It seems so intimidating to think of the new stories, friends and photos that come from the next 9 days... but onward to the Holy Land.