Firsts

Yesterday, a bunch of us woke up extra early to go hiking in the Golan Heights - the mountainous region of northern Israel. However, we made a slight detour along the way to attend Sunday mass services - a major first for me. Needless to say, it was quite an experience. For one, the entire service was conducted in German, which proved to be a major hindrance. I was also the only one not to take communion or rise in time to the prayers...but, it was a first! I was such a good Christian.

Anyways, because I was hiking with a bunch of fellow volunteers and co-workers from the Inn, all of them happened to be Christian (because Nazareth is mostly Christian and home to multiple churches and Christian sites, many of the volunteers tend to be Christian) and came to Israel with a different purpose than myself. While hiking, one of my co-workers kept on telling me, "Jesus hiked here" and "Jesus did this here" and I realized this was the first time I have ever seen Israel from a non-Jewish perspective. I have hiked in the Golan multiple times, but always to see Israeli forts used in the 1967 and Yom Kippur War and to visit ancient Jewish synagogues. However, this time, I saw it with a new lens.

At one point, we ended up passing a Jewish youth group hiking along the same path as us. As we passed, I heard them singing traditional Israeli folk songs and viewing the Golan as a place their fathers and grandfathers 'conquered.' I recall feeling like such an outsider, viewing these young kids externally instead of internally. What struck me as even more bizarre was that none of my fellow hikers batted an eye upon hearing the songs. They were as foreign to them as anything else they were experiencing. Because of this, the youth looked at us with a look that clearly said, "Christians, Americans." It wasn't a look of hatred, but more one of curiosity. I wanted to shout out, "I know those songs!" but I refrained.

One other first: talking to the local electrician on the phone solely in Hebrew to fix a malfunctioning alarm system. Oy, so stressful.

Transformations

When I first stepped off the bus into Nazareth, I was instantly gripped with this feeling of fear of being a Jew in an Arab city. I distinctly remember holding my bag closer to me and looking downward, speedwalking to the Inn. Having never been in such an environment before, I was unsure of who to trust and how to act. Because of the predominant Muslim population, I was soon drenched in sweat because I chose to wear jeans and a sweater despite the heat. Yet a mere week later, I have noticed drastic changes. I accept  the fact that I stick out like a sore thumb (an Israeli friend of mine calls me a glowstick because of my hair in the sun in contrast to the darker hair of the rest of the population) and smile at the regulars that I see every day.

What struck me deepest was an incident that occurred during my late night shift last night. A 30 year old woman and her mother came in later in the night asking if we had any rooms available. Saying yes, my co-worker was about to pick up the women's bags to take them to their room when both instantly tensed up and looked to me. It was clearly evident they were freaked that my co-worker (an Arab) was about to steal their bags. Feeling flustered, I instantly stammered that they should have no worries, the Fauzi Azar is an incredibly safe Inn. A second later, they snatched their bags away and guardedly peeked into the rooms. Constantly whispering to themselves and shooting glances at my co-worker, they skeptically interrogated me about the safety of the Inn. "Have their been any safety issues, any trust issues, can we knock off an extra 100 NIS from our room cost..." they asked. My first reaction was to be shocked at their impoliteness (my co-worker was born and raised here) but then I realized that this could have been me some time ago. It was last night that it finally dawned on me how comfortable I have grown here. 

However, no matter how many times I told them they had nothing to fear, they left the Inn to find another place. (Ironically, they felt safer ambling the empty alleys at 10:30pm than staying at an award winning Inn that was locked and secure...) My co-worker was beyond hurt and left early with tears in his eyes. 

So moral of the story...

Only in Nazareth...

Does a store owner see you with a Fauzi Azar staff shirt on and push through a group of overweight tourists, holding your hand to get you through a crowd. Does my co-worker invite me to share his dinner with you and then yell at you, "stop being so Jewish!" when I begin protesting against his generosity. Does the Imam of a local mosque greet you personally as you walk by. Does your boss check with you to see if you would like Shabbat off, despite being an Arab.

Nazareth = City of Tolerance

Ahlan we'sahlan!

So I thought this would be a convenient and smart way to keep all of you, friends and family, updated with my life and experiences here in Nazareth. Currently, this is my third day here and I feel like I have been here for years. I'll start this first post with a brief overview of where I work and history of the Fauzi Azar Inn. I would highly recommend checking out the Fauzi Azar website so you can see for yourself just how gorgeous it is. Built 200 years ago, this mansion was once owned by a Palestinian named Fauzi Azar. You can tell by his last name, Azar, that he is of Christian descent because Azar derives from the name Lazarus in the bible. His granddaughter is the current owner of the house (also my boss) but I am skipping ahead... Fauzi Azar died and the family was left with the decision of what to do what the house. Interestingly, an Israeli Jew by the name of Maoz confronted Fauzi Azar's granddaughter, Suraida (my boss)about converting the Inn into a tourist destination in the Old City of Nazareth. Initially, she was extremely insulted and hurt to be asked by a Jew to buy her grandfather's building and restore it. However, Maoz was persistant and spoke with Suraida's mother about the situation. Over multiple cups of coffee and tea, the Azar's finally relented and decided to sell the house to Maoz. You could only imagine the ensuing results. The Arab population here was in shock and outraged. "The Jews are already taking our land and now you give them our house!" they yelled to the Azar family. However, Suraida was optimistic and ignored the comments. She admits to feeling a surge of pride whenever she hears her grandfather's name mentioned in the streets and sees the Fauzi Azar emblem in local newspapers. Ultimately, Maoz's proposal and actions completely transformed the way local Nazreens view their own neighbors.

Less than ten years later, the Fauzi Azar Inn has been a raving success. It has won numerous awards, but most importantly, it is seen as a place where Jews, Muslims and Christians can come together peacefully. Because of this, I have been opened with welcoming arms to this community. Many of my co-workers are Christian and Muslim Arabs who normally, would judge me for being a Jew. Instead, they treat me as an equal, which is unique for this region of the country.

 The Fauzi Azar Inn is also a representation of Nazareth as a whole. Interestingly, Nazareth, or in Hebrew Netzrat, has the largest Arab population in Israel - 85,000 people! However, Nazareth is like the Inn because it is known to be one of the most, if not the most, tolerant Arab cities in the country. Nazareth's population is not radical and tense, but moderate and relaxed. For instance, the Immam at the local White Mosque participates in monthly worship sessions with a local priest and rabbi. He is always eager to sit down with foreigners to discuss Islam and religion and their experiences in the city. One of my favorite forms of religious tolerance in the city lies in a narrow alleyway. The back room of a local coffee shop is like a glimpse into the past - a smoky room filled with old men playing backgammon. However, these men are not solely Christians or Muslims but a mix of all three dominant religions: Christians, Muslims and Jews. It is a unique place of tolerance and acceptance. Many Israelis stay at the Fauzi Azar and remark that this city doesn't seem to be apart of Israel. It seems like its own entity where people temporarily put aside each other's differences. Never have I believed this to be possible, but it is happening before my very eyes.