This was originally posted at Jewschool.com

Just over a week ago I voted for the first time in an Israeli election. If you didn't know there were elections just over a week ago in Israel, you’re not alone.

Certainly, most people on earth were unaware. Probably most people from around the world who pay attention to Israeli politics were unaware. Actually, the majority of eligible voters were unaware. Maybe they weren’t unaware, maybe folks just weren’t interested. However, if you, like me, are into building a world of justice and peace, and the end of oppression it’s fairly important to be vocal about it.

It could be the fact that these were only municipal elections that made them so uninteresting. After all, these are the people who deal with the unimportant stuff such as water, health and safety, roads and public transportation, and (lack of) caring for refugees.

This originally appeared at The Daily Beast (Open Zion). My photos from the day are here.

On Friday, just before midnight, I was shivering in the Hebron chill, trying to make sense of the day’s events, including the fact that a group of seven of us were arrested in the mid-afternoon sun for learning Torah in Hebron.

That morning I had climbed onto a southbound bus in Tel Aviv-Yaffa to catch the ride to Hebron in order to learn about Jewish literature, history and the occupation as it manifests in that city. With the long rectangular box holding the tent that we were going to study in under my arm, I held on to an open bus railing and felt as if all eyes were on me. I felt as if I was carrying something dangerous. I wondered if anyone could guess where I was heading or if anyone cared.

I hesitated before writing this. I didn’t want to even engage with the silly idea that “there is no occupation.” Unfortunately, that idea is finding more and more traction in main stream forums.

Not too long ago I was talking with a good friend and fellow member of the movement for justice and peace. I told him that it’s not the occupation itself that is pushing Diaspora youth away from Israel; it’s that they are lied to throughout their Jewish educational lives and then shocked when faced with what undoubtedly is a part of the reality here: Occupation, racism and violence.