The following is a blog entry written by Benjamin Cohen, Hasbara Fellow from Columbia College in Chicago who is participating on the winter Israel program.

Today, we woke up around 7:00 AM, and headed to the girls hotel, a few blocks away, next to Ben Yehuda Street to catch the bus, but me being me, I had to get an Aroma Iced Coffee. After that we boarded the bus and headed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where we got to sit in the top secret “Situation Room” full of red telephones and comfy chairs. We learned about the Palestinian Refugees and the UNRWA, and how it is not really helping, and a lot of them blame Israel for something that is more of their local government's (the PA's) problem than it is Israel's.

After that we had lunch across the street (falafel, of course). Then, we headed to a lookout at Ramat Rachel where we learned about the rise of violence in that area during the second intifada.

Then we headed to the Goldman Promenade which overlooks most of Jerusalem, and the Old City. Again, I took some great pictures there too, which I will post later. We stayed there for a bit and listend to a Jewish tour guide from South Africa. We then headed back to the Girls Hotel, Lev Yerushalayim. Where we listened to a member of the Kinesset, Einat Wilf talk about her history with the Israeli government, and how to help us, the students fight the anti-israel battle on our campus.

I finally remembered that it was Hanukkah tonight. When I entered the hotel lobby, I saw a few random strangers lighting the Menorah. It was just really weird to see random people get together for Hanukkah. But that’s the norm here. Then I headed back to my hotel, with the guys where we lit our menorahs, and sang. I had the feeling overcome me. It was weird. To see people on the street selling Sufganiyah on the street, like they were newspapers. And to see Hanukkah in the windows of convenience store and cell phone stores.

Then we had a free night, where i ended up sleeping for a good 14 hours. I needed it.