Shortly after the October 7th atrocities, and the onset of war, we launched the Writing Matters course, overseen by Professor Bob Vogel. Students and teachers from all over Israel–the south, north, center and Jerusalem, complete weekly writing assignments and then meet on Zoom weekly to share their writing and engage with one another. The pieces are powerful reflective works that capture raw emotions and deep fears and hopes, simultaneously uniquely personal, while resonating with our collective emotions. We will be sharing a poem, personal narrative, or short story by a different writer for each night of Hanukkah.
I Am From – Michelle Shoshan, 18
I am from IRAN
I am from one of the oldest countries in the world, the country which invented human rights.
The country with a great history known for its beauty, culture, food, amazing people and many other great things.
However Iran didn’t stay like that forever
Where I am from is the country that steps on every human rights policy and destroys anyone who speaks against its government.
Iran isn’t ruled by the greatest kings anymore, only by a bloodthirsty regime, who kills its own people, or sells weapons to other countries to kill other innocent people.
Where I am from people aren’t happy, they are suffering from inflation. They are suffering from seeing that every day someone gets executed for speaking against the regime.
I miss where I am from. I miss my family, who I can’t visit . Because I know if I go back, I can get arrested.
I miss where I am from because every weekend, every event or every holiday I used to gather with my big family, aunts, uncle, grandma, cousins and family and friends; there were stories, there was music and the feeling that you belong .
Where I am now isn’t where I come from but Israel is a promised land, the land where you feel like you belong.
Israel isn’t my real country but it its treating me better than my own country .
Where I am from you don’t miss anyone because they’re already there. But where I am now I miss everyone.
Debate for Peace 