First thing first...as Israel and Middle East editor, I have a confession to make...I’m not actually in Israel as I type this article, in fact, I’m not even in the Middle East.  

Luckily, I will be there soon. Beginning in November, I will be studying for my Master’s in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I am also planning to travel to surrounding countries as much as possible.

I feel as deciding to become Wandering Educator’s “Israel and Middle East editor” I have taken a huge risk. Israel and the greater Middle East is full of strife, yet passion.  Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians, Lebanese, Iraqis, and all those in between have a fierce passion for the land in which they live or come from. My risk lies in offending people, although that is never my intention. The point of my articles are to express myself and share and educate with others my experiences. I will never write an article or express opinions at the expense of a group of people.  

Israel and the Middle East has become an important part of my life over the past five years. As a Jew, many think that it is quite odd that I did not fall in love with the Middle East in Israel. In fact, I fell in love with the Middle East prior to ever stepping foot in Israel. During my senior year of high school in 2003, I went on a two week tour in Egypt with People to People International. It was a Peace Camp program with 25 American and 25 international delegates. More than just experiencing the sites and culture Egypt has to offer, we attended workshops on leadership, tolerance, and understanding. Needless to say, after that trip, I was forever changed.

Since then, I have taken every opportunity to learn and experience the Middle East. Its culture, history, and language has and continues to awe me. The mere amount of knowledge I have acquired over the past five years since my first visit to the Middle East is immense. Soon I will embark on a journey that will not only be the longest I have been away from home, but will also be the longest period I have spent in the Middle East at one time. I am excited to share my experiences, thoughts, and my newly acquired worldliness with all of WanderingEducator’s readers!