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Reflections on my time at HU

By Melissa Muskat, Toronto

I was in my last year at CHAT and had never been to Israel. I had already been thinking of two different options for the summer of 1983: 1) go on the Kibbutz summer program with CHAT; or 2) go on Ramah in Israel (I was a Ramahnik). Then, a few of my CHAT friends said that they were thinking of going to Hebrew University for their first year of University. At that point, I knew I wanted to apply to law school, so my undergrad years could be as general as I wanted and I could study anything. I researched Hebrew U and thought that the curriculum for the one- year program was so varied and interesting and I thought “what better way to see Israel than to live there for the year”. So, I spent the summer in Ulpan and started the one-year program in the Fall.

Studying at Hebrew U, created my connection to Israel and fostered my love for the country and the people. I had always had a connection to the Jewish Community but Israel was something that I had only “learned about”. The courses offered at Hebrew University allowed me to immerse myself in Israeli literature, geography and history and, of course, being there let me experience Israeli life. My classmates were both Israelis (as I took some regular courses) and international students. My residence mates were Jews and Arabs. I returned to Canada and focused my communal volunteer work on charities that helped those in Israel. I attended community events in support of Israel. I came back with a better understanding of how Jews and Arabs lived side by side (keep in mind this was well before the first Intifada). I matured as a person and became a much more independent person. It truly was an experience of a lifetime!

  • Melissa Muskat is a Partner in Minden Gross LLP’s Property Taxation and Assessment Law Group in Toronto.