Spring Break
Jameel at The Muqata: Exclusive Interview
Batya Matla Herzberg
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Israel
The Observer: Can you tell us a little about your background? How you ended up in Israel?
Jameel: I guess my background is that of your average Yeshiva College student: grew up in a Modern Orthodox community, attended YC, spent two years learning in Yeshiva in Israel and didn't want to leave.
As most of us do, I ended up back in the USA. Luckily, I managed to make aliyah immediately upon completion of YC. It was the easiest way to move to Israel - single, and with very few expenses.
The Observer: What made you start blogging? What would you say is the mission of your blog?
Jameel: Three and a half years ago, I was shocked at the tacit support for the Disengagement throughout the Jewish Blogosphere, which ranged from apathy to outright zealous enthusiasm. When I tried to engage people in debate on the consequences of the Disengagement, be they security concerns of future possible rocket attacks from Gaza and reduced IDF military deterrence, social welfare concerns for the soon to be homeless and unemployed Jews of Gush Katif, or the abdication of our historical right to the land, I was dismayed at how many people simply ignored every single one of these concerns and blandly stated that "everything would just work out OK."
I therefore made it my mission to connect people to a love for the land of Israel. If according to the midrash, the ten spies went from tent to tent scaring the Children of Israel in the desert saying, "the land of Israel is a bad place that eats its inhabitants", then I made it my mission to spread the word from tent to tent, computer to computer, that "Tova Ha'aretz M'od M'od" -- the land is very, very good. Eretz Yisrael [The Land of Israel] is our land, our only land, and the future of the Jewish people.
While aliyah is definitely an ideal I would like to push, realistically I would be happy for people to even consider the thought of aliyah -- raising aliyah awareness among people.
That said, in addition to reporting on the good, I don't ignore the difficult challenges of the daily reality of life in Israel; there are numerous political, religious and security concerns. I remind the aliyah skeptics that their active participation in Israel's future will make Israel a better place.
Jameel: I guess my background is that of your average Yeshiva College student: grew up in a Modern Orthodox community, attended YC, spent two years learning in Yeshiva in Israel and didn't want to leave.
As most of us do, I ended up back in the USA. Luckily, I managed to make aliyah immediately upon completion of YC. It was the easiest way to move to Israel - single, and with very few expenses.
The Observer: What made you start blogging? What would you say is the mission of your blog?
Jameel: Three and a half years ago, I was shocked at the tacit support for the Disengagement throughout the Jewish Blogosphere, which ranged from apathy to outright zealous enthusiasm. When I tried to engage people in debate on the consequences of the Disengagement, be they security concerns of future possible rocket attacks from Gaza and reduced IDF military deterrence, social welfare concerns for the soon to be homeless and unemployed Jews of Gush Katif, or the abdication of our historical right to the land, I was dismayed at how many people simply ignored every single one of these concerns and blandly stated that "everything would just work out OK."
I therefore made it my mission to connect people to a love for the land of Israel. If according to the midrash, the ten spies went from tent to tent scaring the Children of Israel in the desert saying, "the land of Israel is a bad place that eats its inhabitants", then I made it my mission to spread the word from tent to tent, computer to computer, that "Tova Ha'aretz M'od M'od" -- the land is very, very good. Eretz Yisrael [The Land of Israel] is our land, our only land, and the future of the Jewish people.
While aliyah is definitely an ideal I would like to push, realistically I would be happy for people to even consider the thought of aliyah -- raising aliyah awareness among people.
That said, in addition to reporting on the good, I don't ignore the difficult challenges of the daily reality of life in Israel; there are numerous political, religious and security concerns. I remind the aliyah skeptics that their active participation in Israel's future will make Israel a better place.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
Jack
posted 2/27/09 @ 3:40 AM EST
You forgot to ask Jameel about his famous waffles and his plan to start a chain of Waffle stands throughout Israel. Not to mention that his skills at cooking waffles were first developed during his YU days. (Continued…)
Nati
posted 2/27/09 @ 8:15 AM EST
Excellent overview.
One of these days, someone's going to print t-shirts that say "Everything I needed to know about Israeli current events, I learned from Jameel. (Continued…)
Raizy
posted 2/28/09 @ 10:14 PM EST
Jameel is being modest about the impact that his blog has. During the recent war in Gaza, the Muqata posted a steady stream of the most up-to-date, accurate information to be found anywhere. (Continued…)
RivkA with a Capital A
posted 3/01/09 @ 12:21 AM EST
While it's true that "Jameel" and "The Muqata" might deter some readers, it also attracts others who would not have otherwise stumbled onto a blog by a Jewish "settler. (Continued…)
Lame
posted 3/01/09 @ 12:49 AM EST
Lame.
Not Lame
posted 3/01/09 @ 7:54 AM EST
Not Lame
Cosmic X
posted 3/01/09 @ 10:28 AM EST
Great interview. It's been a long time since I had some waffles.
YMedad
Yisrael Medad
posted 3/01/09 @ 3:26 PM EST
Jameel is a joy! Haven't spent so pleasurable a time at a Stern event since going out with my future wife in 1968-69. One thing Jameel did leave out and that was the need for a better, more effective networking system for what I would call the more politically activist bloggers. (Continued…)
tafka pp
posted 3/03/09 @ 12:43 PM EST
As one of his earliest readers (yes, even before Joe Settler) I recall that Jameel's and blogname was more considered than he lets on... and was a pained nod to his stance on this disengagement. (Continued…)
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