Eretz Yisroel

In the afternoon we learn a sefer called Derech HaShem. Part of the sefer talks about how a Jew can make it into the next world. There is a Gemora in Niddah that says that all the Jewish souls that make it are all part of one big "body" of souls. Each Jewish soul could be the head of the body, or the foot, or anywhere inbetween. The part about this concept that I like the most is that all of the Jewish people are part of one "body." We are all one.
There is a concept in Psychology called Theory of Mind. When a child reaches a certain age he learns to have a Theory of Mind. If you put a piggy bank and a paper bag in front of a child, empty out the money from the piggy bank and put the money into the paper bag, and then ask the child where the money is, he will correctly say the money is in the paper bag. Then if someone else comes into the room and you ask the child where the other person thinks the money is, he will incorrectly say the paper bag. This means he has not developed Theory of Mind. If he correctly realizes that the other person will think the money is in the piggy bank he has. The reason the child thinks that the other person thinks the money is in the bag is because he thinks everyone knows what he knows. Acquiring Theory of Mind is looked at as a positive stage in a child's development. It is looked at as if he is now more intelligent. While I am not arguing that it is very useful for life to have Theory of Mind, I think that truthfully a child is more in touch with reality when he thinks all of our minds are one. We do only use 4% of our brains. What would the world look like if we could use all of it? Could we read each other's minds? So much about this world we don't understand. Could it be that we really are all one?
I heard an amazing story today. During the Holocaust a Nazi came up to a Jew and told him to kiss a cross. He refused. He told him that he would give him food if he would kiss the cross. Again he refused. Then the Nazi threatened that he would kill him if he didn't kiss the cross. Again he refused. Since the Jew didn't listen the Nazi shot both of his kneecaps. The Nazi gave him one last chance telling him to kiss the cross or die. Again he refused. The Nazi shot the Jew in the head and he died. This story was written down by Rabbi Yossi Jacobson who heard it from the Jew's son. The son knew the story because he was standing next to his father when he was murdered. Rabbi Jacobson asked the son one question. He asked, "Why did your father give up his life instead of kissing the cross?!" The son answered, "I have no idea, he was an atheist." There are so many amazing things about this world that we just don't understand. What would drive this man to sacrifice his life for something he never believed in his whole life?
I truly believe that children and people facing death are living in a different world. They are understanding things that us adults just don't understand. We question everything and therefore don't accept much. Their minds are simpler. The question "Do I do this or not?" is a simple Yes or No answer, it doesn't have pros and cons.
In Israel you feel somewhat of the same connection to your Judaism like the murdered Jew did. Whether you are religious or not you have this overwhelming feeling of love for the Jewish people. In Israel a Jew connects to something that some people only get to connect to before they pass on to the next world. Even though there are so many branches of Judaism, here you feel like the Jewish nation is one.
I just realized that I am coming back to America in 6.5 weeks. It's so soon. These last 6 months flew by. I have learned so much here. I have met so many amazing people. I have seen so many amazing things. You gotta love Eretz Yisroel. But even though I am sad to be leaving next month, I am so excited to get to spend some time with everyone in America.