Incoming fourth year psychology major Rebecca Handler discusses experiencing new viewpoints in her summer classes at the Hebrew University that challenged her previously held beliefs and exploring the country with her Hebrew language skills.

Growing up, I’d always known I wanted to study abroad in Israel, so you can imagine my excitement when I found a program that fit my interests at the Hebrew University and the Mudie-Glaser scholarship allowed me to participate in it. Throughout my summer in Israel, I came to learn a few things about the country and about myself.

I was enrolled in two different courses at my time at Hebrew University. The first one was called Collective Memory and Mythology of Israel. This class taught me a lot about challenging my beliefs and finding my own voice in regards to my relationship with Israel.

While I didn’t always agree with some of the viewpoints we heard from, I was opened up to a wide range of new opinions. I learned how to develop my own views while still being open to conversation with those I disagreed with.

The other class was on the History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. This class was very informative and we explored the roots of the conflict all the way into modern day events. We also went on field trips to further our learning and see firsthand some of the places we were learning about in the classroom.

When I wasn’t in class, I was able to explore all around Israel. I went all the way to the north and explored the spiritual center of Tzfat. I traveled south to the Dead Sea and Masada to hike to some of the most beautiful scenic views.

I explored all around Jerusalem, including the Old City where I saw the history of so many different cultures. On the weekends, I traveled to Tel Aviv to experience Israeli nightlife and met a colorful array of locals.

Having taken Hebrew the previous year, I was able to practice my skills with the language. I spoke as much Hebrew as I could—during cab rides, on tours, even for directions to the beach. My skills grew immensely and I couldn’t have learned the language better in any other environment.

Through my study abroad, I was able to meet so many new people, expand my academic horizons, and simply grow as a person. I will forever be grateful for my study abroad in Israel and I look forward to returning to my homeland in the future.

Rebecca Handler is an incoming fourth year undergraduate student at UCLA. She is from St. Louis, Missouri and is studying psychology on a pre-med track.