Reflections on My Time at Hebrew University
By Maurice Bijo, Montreal
I came to Hebrew University for two summer sessions in 2016 to do a series of Hebrew Ulpan courses at the Rothberg International School (RIS). I was taking time off from work and recalled having heard from Brandeis friends from my college days very good feedback about Hebrew University and its programs. I definitely wanted to be at the Mount Scopus campus in Jerusalem where I could explore the nearby city and its surroundings.
So many backgrounds, nationalities and religions were represented by the students and the teachers. So many languages could be heard in the hallways of the RIS building – Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Hebrew, English, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, Dutch and the list goes on. Some students were on a semester abroad program, others came to study the language of the Bible, others were taking a few months off from work, others were on the path to Aliyah, yet others were meeting language requirements to get their degree at Hebrew U. I was impressed by the atmosphere of learning, respect and tolerance between students and teachers of all backgrounds.
The Rothberg-OSA facilitated a lot of great experiences during that summer. Among these were trips and tours that embodied the spirit of Israel and its residents, past and present. We did a biking trip in Emek Ha-Ela and saw ruins of ancient settlements in the time of the Roman sieges; we had a Kibbutz wine and chocolate afternoon where guides explained the process of market development of the kibbutz products; and we did an interactive Q&A tour in Hebrew of the historic Nahlaot neighborhood of Jerusalem outside the Old City walls. There was also an all-day cultural tour to Haifa, the Baha’i gardens, Mount Carmel and a Druze village – great hospitality was extended to us.
Every Friday afternoon in Jerusalem, commercial activity would slow down and stores and public transport would shut down in preparation for Shabbat – a day with elements of family gathering, calm, self-reflection and meditation. The feeling of Shabbat is unique in Jerusalem. When it ends, many people resume their commute on the Saturday night – soldiers return to their stations, students return to their schools and yeshivot, workers return to their places of work after spending Shabbat with family or friends. With renewed energy, people are once again busy planning and organizing their week on Sunday morning. This showed me the importance of disconnecting from our mundane activities and stepping back.
Through the experience with Hebrew U–RIS, I came to renew my appreciation of Israel, its people and our history and to reconnect with our ancestral homeland. What a great experience it was for us, to learn and practice Hebrew in a living way in Israel, in Yerushalayim of all places!
Today, I continue to visit Israel to see family and friends there and share in semachot. Here in Canada, I keep the good souvenirs going and remain connected with Israel through synagogue activities, continued learning in Hebrew and community events.
- Maurice most recently served as a Risk Management Advisor at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). He has advised commercial banks, federal and provincial agencies on matters relating to financial risk, capital and portfolio management.