Oren Hirsch, 23, Chevy Chase, MD
Cornell University, B.S. in Urban & Regional Studies
Track: WUJS INTERN JERUSALEM
Placement: Jerusalem Municipality Planning Policy Unit Projects
Check out his website: www.orenstransitpage.com/jerusalembusmap
What were you doing before you came here?
I graduated from Cornell University this past May with a degree in Urban & Regional Studies. Over the summer, I spent six weeks learning at the Conservative Yeshiva, also in Jerusalem, so I've actually been in Israel since mid-June.
How did you hear about this WUJS Israel program?
I knew I wanted to take time off in Israel after finishing college, and discovered WUJS while browsing the list of MASA programs. Learn more about Masa: WUJS Intern
What are your goals for this internship program?
The experience of living in Israel and especially in Jerusalem and the opportunity to try applying my skills here in Israel. I also am hoping to further improve my Hebrew.
What responsibilities will you have during this internship?
Most of the work in the planning policy unit pertains to land use regulations. Most of my time has been spent updating a spreadsheet so that we can use models to analyze the feasibility of some projects that the mayor of Jerusalem wants to propose.
What opportunities have you been taking advantage of while in Jerusalem?
I created and have been maintaining a fully interactive Jerusalem bus map that works in both Google Maps and Google Earth, available online at www.orenstransitpage.com/jerusalembusmap. As far as I know, it is the only complete bus map available for the entire city; even Egged isn't distributing a map at this time.
I have also been involved at Kehilat Kedem, an egalitarian minyan that meets in the German Colony. I've read Torah a few times there on Shabbat mornings, and I also led parts of the service on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
How are you becoming involved in your Jerusalem community?
I'm doing the Hazon Israel Ride (http://www.israelride.org/), a 300 mile bike ride from Tzfat to Eilat, between November 3 and 10 to raise money for the Arava Institute and Hazon. The Arava Institute brings Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, and other people from around the world together to study the environmental challenges that confront all of the citizens who live in this region of the world. Hazon works to create a healthier and more sustainable Jewish community and a healthier and more sustainable world for all. (My fundraising page is available at http://arava.kintera.org/2009fallride/orentree.)
What did your friends say when you told them your plan to come to Israel?
I think most people asked me if it was safe to be living here, and then the next question was whether I had plans to stay in Israel or whether I would come back to the US at some point.
