MASA Students share their impressions -- Isaac Hogarth

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MASA Students share their impressions -- Isaac Hogarth


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	Up close and personal with Ariel Sharon

"He warmly welcomed us both to his office, and to Israel. He expressed great pleasure in seeing us, and told us that we would always be welcome in this country. The future of the Jewish people, he said, is our collective responsibility, and we each need to take it into our own hands. He told us how the very fact that we had come to work, learn or volunteer in Israel was a great thing, and that he hoped that we would all consider staying in Israel permanently. He told us that before all other things, he is a Jew, and that the future of our people is a difficult and worrying thing, which can be fulfilled by support from friends abroad, and Aliyah. He also promised that the one subject on which the country will never compromise, is security, and that we will always be safe when in Israel."

I was lucky enough to meet Ariel Sharon, as part of an event for MASA Gap year students, held at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem. Prime Minister Sharon kindly managed to make time to meet with us in spite of his poor health and busy schedule.

We arrived at the Prime Minister's office building a few hours before we were due to meet with Prime Minister Sharon. I met the other nineteen participants from around the world, and together we worked with a professional artist to paint a wooden sculpture of a dreidle to offer to the Prime Minister as a Hanukah gift.

The time came, and we went into the Cabinet Room to await Ariel Sharon himself. The room was filled with cameras and journalists, who were continuously filming or clicking throughout. The table was liberally laid out with juice and doughnuts, and looked spectacular. Naturally, we were all rather nervous- we had been told that we would all have to introduce ourselves and say where we came from (preferably in Hebrew).

After a couple of minutes, the Prime Minister entered to the clicking of a multitude of cameras. We all rose, and tried to grasp the amazing fact that we were now standing in the presence of the most important man in Israel. We sat, and waited for him to speak. He said a few words in Hebrew to welcome us, and handed over the show to the representatives from MASA.

After they spoke, it was our turn. One by one, we went around the table, saying our names, the program we were on, and where we came from. Then at last, the Prime Minister addressed us himself. After asking us if it was better in English or Hebrew, and receiving a poignantly anxious response, he began speaking to us in perfect English.

It was very distressing to hear only a few days later, that Prime Minister Sharon had been admitted to hospital, and was in a critical condition. As a soldier, a politician and a Jew, Ariel Sharon has given his whole life to the service of Israel and the Jewish people. For this, he has gained my utmost respect, admiration and love. I feel highly privileged to have met him, and my thoughts are with him now, as Israel sits in waiting for an improvement in his condition.

Isaac Hogarth, is currently on a Noam gap year in Israel. Since he arrived, he has volunteered in Carmiel with at-risk populations on a program organized by Britain's United Jewish Israel Appeal. He is now continuing his volunteering with Magen David Adam, after which he will study at the leadership training program "Machon LeMadrichei Chutz La'aretz".

Isaac will return to the UK to study English at Oxford University where he intends to be active in pro-Israel advocacy. This is Isaac's first time in Israel.

MASA Israel journey is a project of the Government of Israel and Jewish communities around the world, represented by the Jewish Agency for Israel and its partners, United Jewish Communities / the Federations of North America, and Keren Hayesod - UIA.