Thanks to the support of the Lothar and Sigrid Rohde Foundation, I fulfilled my dream of studying for a semester at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. This opportunity allowed me to immerse myself in Jerusalem's rich cultural and historical heritage, gaining invaluable academic and personal insights.
In 2021, I had an unforgettable experience of studying and living in Jerusalem. Traveling to Israel, when most of the world was still under Covid-19 restrictions, ended up being the best decision of 2021. Tired of the rainy and grey days of Germany’s spring, the ongoing lockdown, and closed coffee shops and restaurants, I was more than excited to go to a country where the majority of people were vaccinated, and no restrictions applied.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) is a public research university, and it is the second-oldest Israeli university, established in 1918. The first Board of Governors of this university included Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Martin Buber, and Chaim Weizmann.
Going to Israel during the Covid-19 pandemic, had its own advantages, as there were no tourists in the country. The Old City of Jerusalem is known to be usually overcrowded by tourists. For me, however, this was not the case. I had the chance to walk through the Old City many times, at my own pace, learn about the history, and be amazed by all the historical and religious sites. There I visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — a church built on the traditional site of Jesus’ Crucifixion and burial, Temple Mount — the holy site in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam alike, Via Dolorosa — the path that Jesus is believed to have taken on the way to his crucifixion, the Western (or Wailing) Wall — the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray, Dome of the Rock — the rock over which the shrine was built is sacred to both Muslims and Jews, Al-Aqsa Mosque — the third holiest site in Islam where only Muslim people can enter, Tower of David — the Citadel, Cenacle — room of the last supper, and many more.
Jerusalem is a breathtaking city, almost magical. So many cultures and religions co-exist in one place, something I had never experienced before. It truly felt like I was walking through history in a time travel machine. People were warm and friendly, and the city was lively.
Other cities I visited were Tel Aviv— known for the startup scene and freedom of self-expression, Jaffa, Nazareth— known for its mosques and churches, and the tasty food, Sea of Galilee (actually a lake) — where Jesus is believed to have walked on the water, Tiberias, Haifa — known for the famous Bahá’í Gardens, Acre (Akko) — a port city known for its well-preserved old city walls, Eilat — the most southern city, known for the wonderful underwater life and scuba diving with dolphins (I highly recommend this experience).
However, when I get asked about my favorite memory, I always mention wild camping in the desert and hiking to Masada. That day I fell in love with the desert, the warm wind coming towards my face, and its silence. It is truly silent in the desert, and it feels like everything stops in this silence, including time.
I also went to Palestine and visited Bethlehem, — the city where Jesus Christ is believed to be born, and Ramallah — the capital of Palestine. Palestinians are some of the most hospitable people I have met when traveling, and they even offered us to try their food.
During my semester abroad, I was lucky to have met people that I now call friends. They came from Mexico, Spain, France, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, and the Czech Republic. We created a very strong bond in a short time.
I will always cherish the memories I created during my semester abroad in Jerusalem.