(sung to the tune of “With a Little Help from my Friends”)

What would you think if I met with pro-life/pro-choice
Would you then stop speaking to me?
Lend me your ears if you can, if you will
So we can talk ’bout how we disagree

Oh we’ll get by if the discussion never ends
Oh we’ll get it right with a little help from our friends
Going to try with a little help from our friends

What do we do when the air turns to gray
Does it worry you to see it go?
How do you feel by the end of the day
Are you sad because we’re on our own?
No!

Oh we’ll get by if the discussion never ends
Oh we’ll get it right with a little help from our friends
Going to try with a little help from our friends

Do you need anybody?
I just want Etgar to last
Is that for any reason?
Because we’re having a blast!

How do we solve all the problems we see
Is there any way to turn back the time?
No, but if we use diplomacy
We are surely going to end up fine!

Have a great year!

Throughout our journey, organizations have brought up one event time and time again in our meetings – the Holocaust. I’ve rolled my eyes inwardly as groups I disagree with seem to desperately grasp at it in order to connect with our emotions. As I walked into the National Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, I tried to mentally prepare myself for what I knew I was about to encounter. Nothing could have made me feel alright as I stood horrified at pictures of starvation, slavery, sickness and treatment so horrendous that there were simply no words to describe it. I found myself crying and whispering “don’t do it, no!” as the photos became increasingly disturbing. It dawned on me that our trip is all about that – finding a cause, an injustice for which we can stand up and say “don’t do it!” The museum reminded me that genocide is far from over and it is time to take a stand.

Our next stop was at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum where we got a bite to eat before splitting up to check out the various exhibits. Stephanie and I went to see the American History exhibit with everything from Dorothy’s ruby red slippers, R2D2 & C3PO to Ben Franklin’s pipe and Carrie Bradshaw’s laptop. I think it was everyone’s favorite part of the museum because we could all connect with something there.

I was excited to discover that our next destination would be Arlington Cemetery and it completely lived up to my expectations. The tombstones were in stunning long white lines and they seemed to give a small glow off the grass. I talked with Emily and Jillian about what we imagine happens after death and the complexities of being alive. They gave me lots to think about as we reached the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and silently watched the changing of the guards.

The rain started to drizzle down but luckily it remained light as we went to see the graves of the Kennedys. Robert Kennedy’s was incredibly simple, marked only by a plain white cross. John F. Kennedy’s was completely different. Since Texas, where we talked about his assassination with conspiracy theorists and saw where the shooting took place, JFK has been constantly referenced. It was amazing seeing his grave next to Jackie O’s and to read the wise remarks he made etched in stone.

We boarded the bus and went off to dinner. After dinner, we went to an amazing theater where we watched Harry Potter on one of the largest screens I have ever seen. I thought the movie was great.

We were lucky again with the weather, which had stopped raining during Harry Potter. After the movie we went down to the National Mall and saw the memorials lit up at night. They were absolutely stunning. Everyone had their personal favorite but as we admired the World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials we shared family stories and really thought about the price of freedom and the toll that war takes. It was amazing looking up at a larger than life Abraham Lincoln and realizing that while we are from all over the United States and will soon be leaving each other and this trip behind us, we all do hope that government of the people, for the people and by the people will never perish.

Today was a much more laid back day than yesterday. We began our morning by going to the National Archives and seeing the 3 main documents that shaped our country into what it is today. We saw the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Seeing these old faded parchments was really fascinating and it is really amazing how our whole country operates based on these three documents.

Next on our agenda was going to a Smithsonian Museum. We had our choice between the Art or Natural History Museum. I went to the Natural History Museum and loved it. There were many exciting exhibits such as mammals and dinosaurs as well as rocks and minerals. There was a beautiful diamond called the Hope Diamond that was flawless and so pretty. I really enjoyed this museum and I am sure that the Art Museum was just as interesting.

Next we went to the National Coalition for the Homeless. We were shown a piece from “60 Minutes” on how homeless people are treated and about a phenomena called Bumfights which is a movie where homeless people are paid to do stupid things or fight each other. This documentary was absolutely disturbing. We also heard stories from homeless people and were able to understand what they go through. Listening to their stories opened my eyes and changed my views on the way I see the homeless. Most homeless people are harmless and good people who are just less fortunate. Francine, a lady who spoke to us, told us that when she was homeless all she wanted was someone to talk to.

Now, whenever I see someone on the streets, I will acknowledge that they are there and give them spare food or socks. The stereotypes of the homeless are not always true and people need to see them as humans and they should be treated as such. This meeting was very touching and moved me towards doing the right thing and helping the homeless.

After this meeting we went to the Franklin Roosevelt Memorial. It was a nice memorial filled with his famous quotes. FDR was one of our greatest Presidents and it was a great memorial to him.

Our last stop of the day was Lafayette Park, which is located in front of the White House. It is home to many protestors.

One of the main protestors was a woman who has been camped in front of the White House for over 25 years protesting nuclear weapons. She is also anti-Israel and feels that America’s aid to Israel is wrong. Being Jewish, we wanted to hear her views and discuss our views with her. We kept asking her questions but she would not answer us so we decided to protest her by sitting in front of her booth. We followed the non-violent teachings of Dr. King by having a peaceful protest. This lady would not listen to us and made nasty remarks to us. It was exciting to protest because for 30 days we have been talking about acting on what we believe in. By sitting on the ground in front of her in the heat and not moving when she yelled at us to do so, we actually stuck up for our beliefs and put into action what Etgar 36 has been teaching us. The experience at Lafayette Park was unforgettable.

After dinner, we saw the show “Capitol Steps”. It was a funny show that made fun of a lot of political issues and politicians.

After the show we had wrap up outside on the National Mall in front of the Washington Monument. It is so beautiful at night with all of the lights. Today was a great day filled with really exciting things. The days are winding down but as each one goes by they get better and better.

Today we had a jam-packed day filled with four meetings and Friday nights services. Our first meeting was with the International Justice Mission. This Christian-based non-profit organization takes it upon themselves to not just talk about a problem but to solve it. They use the Bible to call themselves to action. Their focus is on global issues such as women and young girls being sold into the sex trade, hate crimes, and unfair trials and treatment.

Next we went to NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Their office staff was open about their views and even their personal actions. Many of us were surprised to learn that the main view of this organization is that the fight is not really over marijuana, but over what say the government has in what a person does in private. They also believe that marijuana, if used responsibly, is a harmless drug, as we deem cigarettes and alcohol, and, therefore should be legal. What surprised me was that NORML wanted a minimum smoking age just like with tobacco and alcohol. They also believed there should be laws against public usage and driving while high. This meeting served as a good discussion as it was one topic our group was split on.

After lunch we went to meet with NARAL Pro-Choice America. They spoke mostly about how the main argument was whether or not the government should interfere with a woman’s life. No matter what your personal views are, if you believe the government should stay out of making decisions for individuals, then you are pro choice. For me, it was refreshing, after hearing exactly one month ago from Operation Rescue, to hear someone who spoke about the issue in the way I believe. While I agreed with everything they said, this meeting was not my favorite for that exact reason. There was not much debate or discussion over the issue as almost all of us agreed with NARAL.

Our final meeting of the day was with Amnesty International. The main goal of Amnesty is to uphold the Declaration of Human Rights. This includes the right to free speech, religion, and to live. To make sure countries uphold these rights, Amnesty International protests, writes letters and creates reports against these wrongdoings. Our meeting ended with a debate over their views concerning Israel and the Palestinians.

To end our day we went to dinner in Georgetown and then to Friday night services at a Modern Orthodox Synagogue in Georgetown called Kesher Israel. We went to the Carlebach Service, which was filled with new tunes and young people. Although some of the service was unfamiliar to me, I still felt at home.

We began our Washington DC experience by meeting with Congressman John Lewis on the back steps of the Capitol building. While it was extremely hot outside, it was extremely cool that we had the opportunity to meet with this man who was such a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement.

He led the march from Selma to Montgomery and was the youngest speaker at the famous March on Washington with Dr. King, and the only speaker still alive today. Although we were disappointed that our meeting with Mr. Lewis was so brief, we have come to understand the ever-changing schedules of political figures.

We were lucky enough to run into Congressman John Murtha just as we were leaving our meeting with Congressman Lewis. We saw him while he was checking out the new Humvees that are much safer for the troops in Iraq and that companies are trying to sell to Congress. Mr. Murtha actively speaks out against the war in Iraq and was one of the main people that shifted the feelings of our country against the war. He advocates pulling the troops out of Iraq, though he realizes the process will not be completed overnight, so he wants the soldiers to have the safest equipment available while they are still there. Once he was finished looking at the humvee and speaking with the press, he came over and spoke to us about his views on the war and answered our questions.

It was very nice of this important man to take time out of his busy day to meet with us.

We had a yummy lunch in Chinatown to re-energize us for the upcoming meetings. Our first meeting was with Greenpeace, an organization that deals with environmental issues. We spoke about everything from global warming and saving forests to keeping our water clean. We also heard about their famous Save The Whales campaign.

Our final meeting of the day was with Jubilee USA. This organization works towards eliminating debt in poor countries such as Zambia and Kenya. Eliminating their debt will allow these countries to benefit with better education, healthcare, and an overall better quality of living. We wrote letters on paper plates to our Senators and Congressmen to promote the Jubilee Act.

We had a fun night in Georgetown where we ate and shopped. It was a great first day in DC!

During the ride to Philadelphia from Boston, we watched a couple of movies which I feel parallel some great lessons and ideas we have learned and experienced this summer. The first is “Wet Hot American Summer”, a movie that relates to the American Dream by telling the story of a Jewish summer camp. The boundaries that some of the characters break are in the spirit of the beatniks. Life is about living, adventuring and leaving your apartment.

The other movie was “With Honors”. It portrays a brilliant Harvard student who gives up graduating with honors in order to learn valuable life lessons from a bum he happens to meet, and truly graduates life with honors. Etgar 36 has stressed the importance of not only succeeding in school but also truly making a difference in this world. By reaching out to others, one can truly graduate life with honors.

When we got to Philadelphia we walked a few blocks to South Street. It was nice to walk around and see some of the local atmosphere. The area was very diverse and alive.

We started the next day in the heart of Philadelphia. As a preface to the rest of the day we went to the Constitution Center to learn about our forefathers and about the document which began it all. First we saw a live presentation that explained the Revolutionary War, the debates over the ideas of the Constitution, and explained the significance of the first few words, ”We The People…”.

In the museum, we saw an original of the Magna Carta written in Latin. The rest of the museum was basically a timeline of American History and the role the Constitution has played in it.

After this museum we walked to the Liberty Bell. Although it was cracked, it is still a symbol of our freedom and justice.

We then went to one of the oldest synagogues in America and saw a monument to Israel’s Hollywood-like successful raid on Entebee in 1976 and how they freed the hostages.

After stopping by Benjamin Franklin’s house, we started to leave for Baltimore but made a quick detour to run up the famous Rocky steps.

Our first stop in Baltimore was with Neil Rubin, who is the editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times. He spoke with us about the freedom and responsibilities of the press and also about what it is like to be a member of the Jewish community reporting on the Jewish community.

He explained that he needs to fit his stories for the various communities within Judaism and the various dilemmas that can arise when covering the Jewish community. He gave us a few scenarios that illustrated the tension between reporting what is really happening in the community and people’s desire for the paper to just talk about the good things in the community. His talk was very interesting and inspiring.

For dinner we were set free to walk around the Inner Harbor. After dinner we drove Washington DC and to pass the time we watched a special episode of “West Wing” that talked about how America works and the issues facing it.

Our first stop in Boston was to see the performance of “Blue Man Group”. It was a spectacular show, especially because our seats were in the first three rows. During the show we all contemplated the questions that Billy asked us before we walked in, which were “how do 3 blue men who do not talk communicate so much with the audience?” and, “what is it like to be a white person in a blue world?”

The next day began by visiting Walden Pond. We walked half way around the pond and sat as a group where we read and discussed some of Thoreau’s quotes. It was such a bonding and moving experience to each share our thoughts. The beautiful scenery was just an added perk.

After that experience we shopped and ate in Harvard Square. The area was such a blast and the locals were super sweet.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library followed our time in Harvard Square and it was really interesting. I finally actually learned about the Cuban Missile Crisis and the life and times of JFK.

Next on our day in Boston we walked the Freedom Trail where we traced the development of the beginnings of our country. While on the trail we had dinner and time in one of the biggest tourists traps, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market.

Another stop was to walk through and view the Holocaust Memorial. Many of us commented that it was a very powerful monument.

We also went into the North End, the Italian neighborhood, for some mind blowing desserts. I had a lot of fun even thought it was raining.

The next morning we had our last stop in Boston. It was with a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party. We listened to his ideas and asked questions to fully understand his views.

Americans so often disregard Communism rather than listening and understanding that it is just another idea to consider. Some of us were disappointed that some of our questions and some of his views were not fully answered or developed and we did not seem to walk away feeling that Communism was the answer to society’s problems. We had some lunch and then headed towards Philadelphia.

We finally made it! Our dash to New York was complete.

We started our New York adventure by having a meeting with the American Jewish World Service. We learned about their work with Darfur and we were able to connect it to our Jewish teachings. We also learned how we can get involved in helping this situation. The meeting inspired me to get involved and help out.

We then walked to dinner and then to see the Broadway show, “Avenue Q”. It is a wonderful musical that is very funny and has much wisdom in it. Billy had asked us to consider the question, what does the play mean when it asks what does it mean to go outside your apartment? This message could be taken in two ways. One could mean to literally leave your apartment to go to college. The other could be interpreted as opening yourself to the world outside what you are used to. We should take a couple of risks and experience the world. This is very similar to the journey we are on this summer. Following “Avenue Q”, we walked through Times Square, saw the lights and went back to our hotel.

The next day we learned one key thing, timing is everything. First thing in the morning, we took the subway to Battery Park and got on a ferry for Ellis Island which had no line to get on. On the way, we passed the Statue of Liberty.

Billy had asked us to try and put ourselves in the shoes of our ancestors and what they thought when they saw the Statue of Liberty on their journey to America.

At Ellis Island, we learned how our ancestors got into America and all of the processes they had to go through.

When we took the ferry back to Manhattan, we were shocked to see an enormous line to get on the boats to Ellis Island. After our boat ride we were very hungry and what better way to take care of your hunger than to have some New York pizza.

Following lunch we went to Wall Street and heard about how the New York Stock Exchange works and the relation it has to the American Dream.

From there we walked to Ground Zero, which basically looks like a construction site but to most of us we were able to see beyond that to the true significance of this area. While we were there, Ezra told us his experience of being in Manhattan on September 11, 2001. We understood how the ideals of the American Dream are tied to Ellis Island, Wall Street and Ground Zero.

We then went to our hotel and changed for Friday night services at Bnai Jeshurun. These services were very different than what I am used to at home but very fun to experience. After services we went to a New York deli for dinner.

Saturday was a jam packed day. We began by having brunch and then to Central Park and listened to a man who goes by the title, “That Guitar Man in Central Park”, play guitar for a while as we relaxed in the park.

After that, we went downtown and walked through and experienced the Lower East Side, Chinatown and Little Italy. It was really neat to see how each community backed into each other. We then had time to shop on Canal Street.

After shopping, we caught the subway to Greenwich Village where we had dinner and some free time to walk around the Village.

On Sunday, our time in New York ended by going to the United Nations. We learned about all the work they do around the world and then also spoke about why some people are against the United Nations.

We all agreed that the job they do to make sure there is dialogue between countries is important. We then spent the afternoon driving to Boston.

Today in Cleveland we went to Kent State University and the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

At Kent State University we met with Alan Canfora, a survivor of the shootings that happened on the Kent State campus on May 4 1970.

He gave us a walking tour of the campus as he told us about the events and days that led up to that fateful day. He began by showing us a memorial that the school made and it is a shame to hear that they only completed 7% of it before they stopped. It was incredibly moving to be at the site that such an event occurred. Alan Canfora feels that the new evidence he uncovered of an actual command for the guardsmen to fire will help bring closure to this tragedy and bring those responsible for killing four students to justice.

After Kent State we went into downtown Cleveland and to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum. We met with Howard Kramer, the curator of the museum, who gave us a brief overview of the museum as well as spoke about the role rock and roll played in social and political change.

It was incredible to go and see the museum. It was great to see exhibits and things associated with the artists I enjoy listening to. Two of the things that really stood out to me were the exhibit on the Warped Tour and the signatures of every musician who has been inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I can’t say I was ready to leave the spectacular city of San Francisco with the hilly streets, great weather, lots of public transportation (which did get us around the city very well) and funky people. However, the Windy City of Chicago presented a whole new excitement and new agenda of things to do. Our group will truly miss the eleven friends that departed for their homes yesterday. It is amazing to think how much we bonded and how close we got to know each other in just three weeks, coming from all over the States and diverse backgrounds; the good memories we share will never fade. After all, this is just the beginning.

Looking around the city of Chicago, one could sense a vibe of the bustling city life with all the skyscrapers and unique infrastructure. Touring the Sears Tower and learning how it was built was quite the experience. The view from the top gave us an idea of what Chicago is all about. An interesting feature of the city is the Chicago River which runs through the heart of it all.

Following our Sears Tower tour, we got to experience the tastes of Chicago with some zesty delicious deep dish pizza at Ginos East. The wide variety of toppings, sea of sauce and deep crust made it an unforgettable experience.

We then went to Evanston and to Northwestern University where we met with the Dean of the prestigious Medill School of Journalism, John Lavine.

We discussed the First Amendment, Freedom of the Press, how to be consumers of media and the future of media. It was a shock coming to the realization that news corporations are not always delivering the whole story, or both sides of a story, to its viewers. As a result, bias becomes a big factor in all forms of news communications. This raises an important question: What are Americans supposed to believe? The simple answer is that Americans can believe whatever they want, accept some things, deny others, and are forced to find out the entire truth for themselves. That is what people power is all about.

We then had time to explore downtown Evanston on our own. After shopping we did what Chicagoans do in the summer, we hung out at the lake. Some of us chose to play football to get some of our energy out while others played guitar and listened to music, while others just enjoyed the quiet atmosphere and looking at the skyline of Chicago across the lake.

To top off our first day in Chicago, we went for another Chicago tradition, Improv Comedy. We went to Improv Olympics where many comedians got their beginning and we had a great night as a group and got a good laugh.

“Please give me 30 more minutes to sleep” is the first thought that came to my mind when Ezra knocked on our door to wake us up. The breakfast at this hotel has been one of the best so far so it was a good start to the day.

First on our agenda was a meeting with the Sierra Club to speak about global warming.

We discovered that the effects of our pollution and carbon dioxide emissions from our cars are truly hurting the earth. Our speaker informed us that there is so much we can do to prevent the worst case scenarios from happening. For example, we can buy special energy efficient light bulbs that use only ¼ the amount of energy of regular bulbs, carpooling, using public transportation, unplugging items that are not in use because when plugged in they are still pulling electricity even when they are off. If we do not act on this issue now, it will be our children and grandchildren that pay the ultimate price.

After our meeting we went to downtown Chicago and had some free time on the part of Michigan Ave known as the Magnificent Mile. We were able to eat and shop. This area of town was very crowded with lots of traffic and active city life. After our downtown stroll we went to Grant Park. Here Billy spoke to us about 1968 and the anger and confusion America was feeling after the assassinations of Dr. King and Robert Kennedy, the changing mood on the Vietnam War, and how it all came to a head at the Democratic Convention that was being hosted by Chicago. Many young people came to Grant Park to protest against the war and the fact that the Democratic Party decided not to push for peace. The mayor of Chicago was not going to allow these protestors to make Chicago look bad so he called in the police and National Guard to control the riots. Many of the young people were beaten by the police and it was shown on television. This outraged some of America as they could not believe our elected officials would turn against its own people.

After our discussion and listening to Bob Dylan sing “The Times They Are A-Changin”, we went to the Chicago Art Museum, which had paintings from such famous artists as Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh and Dali. I personally enjoyed the miniature works as well as the architecture exhibits. The huge museum had something everyone could enjoy. Our Chicago experience is something I will never forget with the wide variety of amazing things we did.