Dear friends and readers-
Over the past year and a half, you’ve grown accustomed to seeing this space being used to tell stories. You’ve seen me traveling Israel and Europe. To places many people never visit- the Bedouin village of Al-Aramsha, Hasidic Bnei Brak, Modi’in Illit, Taibeh, Kiryat Gat, and almost every single Druze village. And in Europe, places like Salerno, Italy; Debrecen, Hungary; and Sibiu, Romania. Off the beaten path and exciting.
If you follow my blog, you know how much I like to talk to people. About being Jewish, American, Israeli, gay. In different languages and in different cultures. And learning about the people I meet.
Sometimes, it goes great and sometimes it’s really hard. On this blog, I’ve shared 137 posts and counting. 192,085 words. Completely free of cost for you to explore. Filled with my passion for life and learning and growth. I have spent thousands of dollars and hours on this project- and it is so worth it. I’m proud to have connected with 70,000 readers from Libya to Poland, Taiwan to Pakistan. I even have 22 readers in Saudi Arabia!
Every story I hear from readers inspires me too. The Libyan woman learning Hebrew on her own. The Lebanese gay guy in Germany who loves Israel. The Kurdish Muslim who wanted to serve in the IDF! Where physical borders exist, technology sometimes helps us break down barriers and warm hearts. In all directions.
My new project, Nuance Israel, is all about this. I want to create travel, language, and cultural exchange programs to build human connections between Jews and non-Jews in Israel and around the world. To show that Israel is not black-and-white. My country is good, bad, and mundane. It has beautiful texture, like life itself. Together, we can grapple with the challenges and grow.
I’d be so grateful if you take the time to learn about my new venture and to consider making a donation. If you’ve loved my blog, it’s more than fair to ask for a little help to keep things going 😉 Your donation will help me build infrastructure- a website, staff, volunteers, grant writing. To be able to set up language classes, exchange programs, and more. It’ll give me the time to start this important work. Even $5 can help.
With your help, we can bring some nuance to the world’s understanding of Israel and promote the value of understanding in Israel itself. At a time of increasing polarization, let’s cross boundaries, not each other.
Thank you for your support. Join me in my next adventure 😉
-Matt
Planting Roots Bearing Fruits 