By
Maya Schechter
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Judaic Studies director encourages students to remain despite fighting
Despite the recent increase in Middle Eastern violence, Rachel Hughson is determined to stay for the duration of her junior year abroad in Jerusalem.
Hughson, a Judaic studies junior, chose to spend her third year of college in Israel. After visiting the country with several youth groups, she said the decision was obvious for her to live there because it's where she feels most connected to Judaism and herself.
"The violence has affected everyone's daily life here," Hughson said. "Since all the fighting, I have been avoiding crowded areas and buses.
"There is a constant feeling that something could happen that pervades over all," she continued. "My life goes on as usual, however, I have learned to assess situations as I enter them."
For the first half of her year, which began in August, Hughson has been working at Hiburim, an organization which aims to bring Judaism and humanities education to secular schools. She plans to attend Hebrew University in Jerusalem for the second semester.
Hughson lives in an apartment about 10 minutes from the center of Jerusalem. Although she said she is not too close to any settlements, occasionally she can hear shooting in Gilo, a town in south Jerusalem.
Hughson said she plans to stay in Israel until June 11, then to return to her hometown, Phoenix. She will resume her studies at the UA next fall.
"Occasionally, I miss my friends and family, but I am not homesick because I consider Jerusalem to be my home," she said.
Although she is on the other side of the world, Hughson said she tries to stay updated on US news.
"The elections are ridiculous! All day at work last week I was listening to CNN instead of doing my job. My boss was just laughing every time they thought they got an answer and then retracted it," she said.
Many American students who came to Israel this year have left either because their universities had canceled their study abroad programs or because they were worried about the violence, Hughson said.
Robert Kostrzeski, UA's study abroad program director, said that since the university does not have an official Israel exchange program, UA students in Israel did not have to worry about similar situations.
"The weird thing is that everyone who left all had excuses as to why they were leaving, none of them involving the war," Hughson said. "The truth is, people do not want to admit their fear. I find myself doing the same thing, but I don't want to leave something that I love so much behind."
Edward Wright, Judaic Studies director, said his personal encouragement is for the students in Israel to remain there, although the decision is up to them.
"I've lived through terrorism in Israel myself, so I don't think the danger in Jerusalem is at the point where they need to pack up and leave," Wright said.
Beth Nakhai, Judaic studies professor and undergraduate adviser, said that she has been e-mailing with Hannah Goodman, a Judaic studies junior, who is studying in Jerusalem for the year.
"Her and Penelope, her seeing eye dog, are doing just fine," Nakhai said.
Goodman said she thought about leaving the country when the Israelis bombed the occupied territories because she was scared the Arab states would retaliate.
"But it calmed down, so now I know I intend on staying for the rest of the year," Goodman said.
