This month’s Israel Spotlight interviewee is Aaron Eckstein. Aaron primarily grew up in Passaic and attended TABC for high school. He and his family daven at the Young Israel. Aaron is now studying in Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi in Katamonim, Jerusalem, and is planning on making aliyah and serving in a combat infantry unit in the IDF.
Why did you choose Eretz HaTzvi?
I chose to go to Eretz HaTzvi for three primary reasons. First off, the yeshiva offers an intellectual environment rich in discussion and the exploration of big ideas without the cursory “easy” answer at the end. Eretz HaTzvi also has an eclectic bill of learning that leans heavily upon serious, academic and intensive Tanach, Halacha and philosophy. A majority of staff here not only have smicha but also have secular degrees, giving the background of the yeshiva a multifaceted framework.
What kind of goals did you have for your year?
Going into the gap year, I knew that I wanted to develop my strength in observance of Judaism, and why that would be something I want to keep for the rest of my life. I also wanted to develop the principles by which I hope to govern my life for the future.
What has been the biggest highlight of your year so far?
The highlights of my year must be the plentiful times I have traveled outside of the city of Jerusalem, both by bus and hiking. When I travel outside of the urban city and pass the flowing agriculture, developing civilization and historical land of my ancestors I connect with why I am here in a very reflective and powerful sensation. Seeing the rise of Mt. Hermon over the Golan and Galilee as I hike up the slopes with my own two feet lends itself to a very powerful moment that combines the sense of awe and inspiration one might have climbing any mountain in the world, but also includes the lens of spiritual and historical meaning of this land in particular.
What kind of challenges have you faced in Israel?
The biggest challenge of the year has definitely been the language barrier. Everything else pales in comparison.
How has being here been different from your expectations? Did you feel prepared for your experience or did you have culture shock, and how so?
After coming to Israel with the expectation that it would be vastly different from what I was used to, I would not say that I have had a severe shock of any sort. I think it is all about having the right mindset coming in.
Where is your favorite place to go for weekends/Shabbat so far?
My favorite place to go to for Shabbat definitely has to be Alon Shvut. The combination of wonderful family, a sprawling and open landscape, some of the (relatively) coldest weather in the country and a communal environment committed to an ideological ideal at its center come together to offer a very enjoyable and influential experience week in and week out.
What are you most looking forward to from the rest of your year?
Over the course of the rest of my year I look forward to developing what it means to be a committed Jew, operating with the overarching themes of Judaism at all times and in all places.
By Tzvi Silver/JLNJ Israel
