Harbus

Issue date: 1/26/09 Section: Features

At the amphitheater in Caesarea.

Forty-two students converged in Israel on January 2, 2009 for the inaugural HBS Israel Immersion under the direction of Professor Dan Isenberg - uncertain of what to expect in the face of the ongoing Gaza operation. Perhaps because this conflict is decades-old, in this small country (approximately the size of New Jersey) day-to-day life continues unimpeded. More impressively, some Israelis even go as far as to credit "conflict" as a catalyst in cultivating a pervasive entrepreneurial spirit and fostering innovation.

It is nightfall and the travelers' faces weary by the time we arrive in Jerusalem. "Shalom!" the tour guide greets us warmly at the entrance to the Mount Zion Hotel holding a tray laden with glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice. It is unseasonably chilly for this time of year, but once inside our exhaustion subsides, the juice reinvigorates us, and excited conversation ensues.

Later that night, at our first group dinner, we are introduced to a delectable array of local cuisine, much of which originated in other countries and was brought to Israel by immigrants. A seemingly endless stream of plates: hummus, Israeli salad, ptitim, pasta, fish, and various meats.

The next day is Saturday and as the first light of dawn, it becomes evident that the hotel is surrounded by a spectacular panorama: we spend the day exploring the Last Supper Room on Mount Zion and the 1,000-year-old olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is believed to have spent his last night praying before crucifixion. One common misconception is that crucifixion was a highly unusual death sentence; at this time in history, however, under Roman decree, over 300 people were being crucified per day.

I find myself lost in thought as we move on to the Western (Wailing) Wall - studying the slivers of paper that have been inscribed with prayers and slipped into every discernible crevice of the wall. People from all over the world come here searching for guidance, solace, and relief - including then Democratic presidential-hopeful, Barack Obama, who was in Israel in July and slipped a solitary prayer into the Wall.

Our guide mentions that even here, in Judaism's holiest of places, someone dared to steal the sliver of paper containing Obama's prayer: a plea for God to help him guard against pride and despair, and asking for the wisdom to do what is just and right. The image of the 47-year-old Obama at the Western Wall - which dates back to 70 AD - provides a fascinating snapshot of contemporary and ancient worlds colliding.

Continued...

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