The Best Christmas

In the midst of studying for finals today, my friend, Lara, started to spread the word in the library that we should go to Bethlehem for Christmas. I had already had plans to go out with some other classmates, but decided that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
As the day went on and we got more and more giddy (due to the amount of hours we spent in the library), we decided to make an evening out of it. So we had our traditional Chinese food on X-mas (as Jews do), and then we met up with classmates at school to walk to the Church where we were told that after midnight mass (at 10pm), there would be a hundreds of people walking to Bethlehem. When we got to the church, no one was there. Confused we wandered around for a little and soon discovered that the midnight mass was actually at midnight and that the walk to Bethlehem would not take place until around 2am.
The group at this point split, and I stayed for the midnight mass at the Dormition Church. The Church was beautiful and it was definitely a nice (and tiring) experience. We left early and Lara and I decided we still wanted to go to Bethlehem but that we couldn't wait until 2 am and walk (especially since we knew it was a long walk). So instead, we found a cab to take us there.
The cab experience was wonderful. Our driver was from Bethlehem so he knew where to take us when Lara said, "we want to see Christmas". I'm not going to lie, there were a few uneasy moments in the cab when our driver, Ruddy, would show us where the wall was and then we would ask what side we were on, and he said the Palestinian side.
We did make it to Bethlehem safely and got to see the beautiful Christmas lights, Subway, Star & Bucks, and of course the Church that was built around the site that Jesus was apparently born. All the more so, tonight's experience was a once in a lifetime one.
It's now 3:15 am, and I have lots of work to do tomorrow, but tonight is a night that I will always remember, and so if it means studying a little less tomorrow or being a little more tired, it's all worth it.

Laila Tov for now!

p.s. I'll post pics later...too tired

Chag Urim Sameach, tidings of comfort and joy

Thanks to my amazing British Israel Seminar professor, Jeremy, for the title of this blog.

For serious though, HAPPY CHANUKAH!!!

Here's a little update on my 8 days of Chanukah:
1st night: My oldest friend (we've been friends since 6th grade), Brittany, came to Jerusalem for Shabbat (She's living in Eilat for a few months). Brittany, Ally and I went to Yad Lakashish, where they sell beautiful handmade Judaica to browse around. I wanted everything! I'll probably go back when my parents come. Brittany and I had our own Shabbat dinner to catch up and then we baked with Ally.

2nd night: Brittany and I hung out all afternoon until she had to head back to Eilat.

3rd night: After school on Sunday, Lara and I planned Chanukah with the Gan and then I headed to Mevasseret to the Ethiopian Absorption center with several classmates for a Chanukah Party.

4th night: School

5th night: Chanukah with the Gan. Chanukah dinner with Kitah Bet at our Hebrew teacher, Zohara's, house.

Click here to see picts: Chanukah">

6th night: Chanukah party at HUC. Fun program put on by faculty and then party with the best white elephant exchange ever. I picked a stuffed animal dead cat, but traded for chocolate!

7th night: Parallel Lives program. We headed to a pool hall and hung out with the soldiers for the evening.

8th night: Shabbat services at school followed by FSU Shabbat Dinner.


Classes have officially ended, now we're in the final push studying for finals! Only 5 exams left! Shabbat dinner with the Mason's tomorrow.

The Mayor Served Me Soup

The Mayor



I have just returned from an amazing Shabbat in Binyamina. I was part of a group of 12 HUC students on a Shabbaton with 14 Israeli Soldiers discussing the topic of Jewish Life in Israel and the Diaspora. We began the weekend in the home of the founder of the Parallel Lives program with discussions about Zionism and Judaism and a rotation where the Israeli Soldiers taught us about the IDF. Did you know that the IDF has their own slang?

Friday afternoon we were picked up by our host families. My friend Hannah and I stayed with this wonderfully, sweet, welcoming family. The father is the Mayor of Binyamina, his wife is an architect and designed their home which is absolutely beautiful and they have four daughters! The two oldest daughters, Tomi and Maya were 22 and 23 (the same ages and me and Hannah) and we spent a lot of time hanging out with them and getting to know them.

The Soldiers and HUC students shared in a Kabbalat Shabbat service together at the local elementary school. It was an interesting service as the HUC students are Reform and the soldiers all come from different backgrounds. Some of the soldiers had never seen women in Kippot before.

After services, we had Shabbat dinner with our host families. Hannah and my host family took us to their cousins and we had dinner with 25 people- all family! Everyone was so nice and the food was delicious and endless. Israelis are worse than Jewish mothers and they make you eat, eat, and eat some more. If you say you don't want something, they tell you are too polite. The Mayor's brother in-law was quite entertaining (and a bit drunk) and kept asking how many times we had been served by the mayor (hence the title of this post).

Hannah, the Mayor, and I all had to be back at the school for an evening program at 9, and Tomi and Maya came along. The Mayor welcomed everyone to Binyamina and then a former IDF colonel discussed ethical dilemmas he encountered as a commander in the fighting region.

After the evening program, we headed back to the family's home where we had Shabbat dinner, as everyone was still there. The moment we walked in, the put more food in front of us and insisted that we eat all of the cakes and cookies!

Hannah and I enjoyed are little room in the basement of our host family's home as we got to watch a real TV which we haven't done in a long time and it was all American television! We enjoyed Friends and Sex and the City as we fell asleep.

Saturday morning the HUC students had services with Yoshi and Dean Kelman. Hannah and I chanted Torah. I was quite nervous as I was asked last minute to read and learned the portion in just 24 hours! It was a challenge, but a fun and rewarding one!

After services the soldiers joined us on a hike around Binyamina. Our host families picked us up for Shabbat lunch. Hannah and I spent the afternoon hanging out with Maya and Tomi helping to prepare for Shabbat lunch at their home. Shabbat lunch wasn't as big, but there were still 13 people! The food was delicious and I got to enjoy the Jewish dish Cholent for the first time. Cholent is a traditional Jewish dish that is cooked for over 24 hours! Towards the end of the meal, the Mayor stopped the meal and thanked Hannah and me for spending Shabbat with them. He acknowledged that since I didn't have any family or family friends in Israel that from now on, they would be my Israeli family. He invited both Hannah and I back for Shabbat and told us to come whenever we would like and to bring friends. The offer was so sincere. When Tomi and Maya drove Hannah and me back to the school, I almost started to cry. We are definitely going to go back and I really hope to continue this friendship.

We concluded at the school with another program with the soldiers talking about the woman who was arrested at the Kotel for wearing a tallis. It was an interesting conversation. Before we knew it, it was time for Havdallah and we headed back to Jerusalem. I am so excited for our next Parallel Lives program next Thursday.

This was by far one of the best Shabbats I have ever had!

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Thanksgiving was a little different for me this year. I didn't wake up to the smell of delicious cooking, have an entire week off of school, or lounge around the house all day. I was however, surrounded by great friends, new and old, and had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Jerusalem. My friend, Lara, and I organized and planned a Thanksgiving program with the preschoolers and with HUC students during our lunch break. We did a mini scavenger hunt which included and art project, a Thanksgiving story, football, and learning a song to teach the Israeli preschoolers about our American traditions. We concluded the activity with some pumpkin cake. The preschoolers had a blast (some were even crying when the activity was over), and the HUC students cannot wait for the Chanukah program. Below is a picture of me and Lara before the program began:




Click here to see some pictures:


http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?albumId=368175410506&ownerId=29345572406&token=813656410506%3A1990783144

Thanksgiving with the Gan">



We had Thanksgiving dinner at school with many classmates as well as a few faculty members. It definitely wasn't home, but the food was still quite tasty. After dinner several people went out for a little bit, which was really fun (especially since we don't get out often).

Tonight my friend Ethan is hosting a Thanksgiving Shabbat dinner. Ally, Allie, and I are making some sort of non-dairy sweet potato dish.

Last week was the HUC Israeli Ordination. I was fortunate enough to attend this momentous occasion. Even though I didn't know any of the students, it was still quite emotional. Here is a video from the ending of the newest Israeli Reform Rabbis dancing with some of their students:
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Next weekend I am going to Benyamina for a Shabbaton with Parallel Lives (the program with HUC students and soldiers). It should be a lot of fun, and I'm very much looking forward to getting out of Jerusalem for a weekend!

A Message from Rabbi David Ellenson about FSU

Rabbi David Ellenson, President of Hebrew Union College-JIR in Jerusalem:

NSCI Bulletin Article

Check out the article Ally and I wrote for the NSCI Bulletin:

http://nsci.org/uploads/583965December09Bulletin.pdf

Allison in Israel

This past week has been so fun and relaxing. Allison arrived Monday and left tonight:-(
But we got to spend a very nice week together. Some of our "Chai-lights" included:
-Walking around/shopping in the Old City
-Taking Allison to services at school and to Liturgy class on Thursday
-Going to Beit Ticho with Allison for lunch and enjoying the beautiful garden
-Shabbat services at the Great Synagogue with the beautiful music
-Shabbat dinner at our apartment with Allie, Ally, Allison, Rachel, Albert, and Ethan
-Interseminary bar night with other Jewish Seminary students in Jerusalem
-Going to the Shuk on Friday morning to prepare for Shabbat
-Lots of cooking!
-Kickball game for Lauren's bday on Shabbat

I am so sad that Allison is leaving, but excited for her to come back to Jerusalem on Thursday to hear me read Torah at services! I have a very busy next few weeks ahead. The Duma Election simulation is on Monday. Israeli Rabbinic Ordination is on Friday and so each afternoon this week is filled with different speakers from the states. Finals and midterms are approaching, lots of papers, readings, projects, etc.

Kippah Curious

Over the past two weeks I have become more intrigued by Kippot. Many of my classmates where them to services each week, during classes, and some even where them all the time. There's something that I love about Thursdays. Each Thursday begins with student led Tefillah followed by Liturgy class and Hebrew. One of the things that I love about Thursdays, is that I feel Jewish and feel like I'm in a Jewish Seminary. I like starting the day wearing a Talit and praying with my classmates and professors. I like that the tone of the day feels different. Instead of taking their kippot off after services, many of my classmates continue to wear it throughout the rest of the day. I like feeling Jewish while at school. I like seeing other people wearing their kippot.

My roommate, Allie, wears one and I keep saying that I think I want to try it. I never wanted to be that "Kippah wearing Jew" whatever that means. I'm not sure that I totally understand the reasoning behind wearing a kippah as there are many different explanations. For me though, I think it will make me feel more Jewish. It serves as a physical reminder.

After what my roommate called "Kippah Curiosity" I bought my first Kippah this evening. I'm very excited about it. I plan to wear it during services and when I am studying Jewish texts.

This feels like the best time to try new things. I'll let you know how it goes.

Shavua Tov!

A quick update...that's all i have time for these days

After a week of craziness (for lack of a better word), Mindy and I indulged in massages at the Inbal Hotel. It was the most relaxing hour I have had since I have been in Israel!
Nancy, the director of student affairs at HUC, invited Mindy, Matt, and me over for Shabbat dinner. It’s always nice to be in a real home at the end of the week and made for a great beginning for a restful Shabbat (even though I spent all of Saturday studying and doing homework).
Today, I began my community service project with my classmate Lara, volunteering in the Gan (preschool). We split our time in two different classrooms with four and five year olds who all have much better Hebrew than the two of us. It was a lot of fun- I forget how nice it is to be around little kids who are drama free and all they want to do is hug you and talk to you (even if it’s in Hebrew and they know that you don’t fully understand them). Yes, it’s a challenge, but a great one. It’s the best Hebrew speaking experience I’ve had so far, and the kids love that we’re from America and want to learn words in English too. I’m already looking forward to next Sunday!
I have a busy week ahead of me with a Liturgy midterm and Hebrew test, so I better get back to my work for the evening.
Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

FSU

Check out the FSU website for more information or to donate to the Pesach Project!
http://pesachproject.com/FSU_Pesach_Project/Home.html

If you can't tell, I've been slacking off a bit lately with my blog entries. I find my time here being eaten up by the 8-9 hours I spend at school each day, the 3 hours of homework most nights, my attempts and seeing Israel, and after all of that, just pure exhaustion. So, at the end of the day, it's hard to have the energy to get myself to blog.

But, alas, it's Shabbat here in Jerusalem and I'm finding a little time this quite afternoon to write. Here's what I've been up to since I last updated:

SCHOOL:
Classes are in full swing. My favorite class is definitely Israel Seminar which is on Wednesdays. This is a study tour class to some extent and each week is very different from the next. This week there were three different opportunities that we could choose from. I chose to go to an old employee of HUC, Rahamim's, home to learn about Yemenite culture and eat some delicious Yemenite food! In the afternoon, Eli Amir, a famous Israeli author came to speak to all of the students. We also received our groups for the Duma simulation that is coming up in a few weeks. All of the students were assigned a political party to represent and we are going to fully reenact the Duma elections. I am in the Autonomist party.

FSU (Former Soviet Union) Pesach Project:
Last week we had our first meeting with our committees for the FSU Pesach Project. 18 HUC students and SOs (significant others) will be traveling to the FSU to lead Passover Seders in communities that would not otherwise be able to have a seder. Before the trip, we have to fund-raise to provide all of the food for the seders, rent out the space where the seders will be held, hire translators, etc. The education committee is also going to run several programs where we can learn more about the FSU as well as training to lead seders in a foreign country.

Homecoming:
Last week was Homecoming. On Tuesday we had a pep-rally. On Thursday we had a dance which was a blast. We decorated the Moadon, played a lot of music, and made some fun signs. Everyone who came had a blast! Saturday concluded Homecoming week with an intense girls vs. boys game of Kickball. Even our professor, Dave Mendelsson, played and brought his son along as well. As imagined, the boys did come out with the victory, despite two Israeli men who joined the girls team. After Kickball we had a group Havdallah in the park. It was a great ending to the week.

Parallel Lives:
It's going to be a tough call between Parallel Lives and FSU, but these are the two things that I have a feeling I will love the most about my year in Israel. Parallel Lives is a program with 15 HUC students and 15 Israeli soldiers. We had our first meeting on Thursday and met the soldiers and they are all so nice. Although we are only going to have 8 meetings throughout the year (including two Shabbaton's), everyone is anxious to organize other events outside of the "official" ones. Meeting Israelis is a struggle when you are immersed into a very American program. I've now spent almost 9 months total in Israel and still have no Israeli friends. I'm really looking forward to getting to know these Israelis. AND, they want to help us practice our Hebrew, which I definitely need to do!

Shabbat:
One of the Mason's friends, Rabbi Forman invited Ally and me over for Shabbat dinner. It was so nice to be in a real home. Our friend Ethan also came with as well as another Rabbi and his wife. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. It felt like having dinner with our parents friends at home. Sometimes, it's really nice to be with adults and have a home-cooked meal in a nice home (not to downplay our HUC pot-luck Shabbat dinners).

And now it's going to be back to a hectic week of school again. I'm very much looking forward to Allison's visit in a little over two weeks!

Shabbat Shalom and Shavua Tov!

Acharei Ha-Chagim

Acharei Ha-Chagim is a phrase that HUC students have heard since the day we arrived in Israel. I assume it will be a term that we will continue to hear throughout the rest of our education as well as in our careers. Acharei Ha-Chagim simply means, "after the Holidays". For those of you who don't know, the beginning of the academic calendar year begins with holiday after holiday after holiday. I wrote in a previous post about Rosh Hashanah. Just 10 days later was Yom Kippur.

Highlights from...
YOM KIPPUR IN JERUSALEM:
-Before Kol Nidre, Ally, Allie, and I hosted 30 of our classmates for a pot luck pre-fast meal
-After being sick for an entire week, I got to leave the apartment!
-HUC services were held in Blaustein Hall which is a beautiful room with a giant window overlooking the Old City
-No one drives on YK...NO ONE! All of the stop lights are flashing and you are able to walking down the center of some of the main intersections in the city. The streets were filled with children riding bikes.
-a short 3 day school week followed by...

SUKKOT BREAK:
-before I left for my trip, I got a glimpse of the amazing sukkot around Jerusalem
-For 8 days I traveled with three of my friends, Mindy, Carolan, and Kelly to Europe

DUBLIN:
-we took a hop on hop off bus tour with an amazing tour guide with an awesome Irish accent
-walked through a park talking about how we wanted to meet Irish people and a man approached us and asked where we were from. He had just come from lunch with a man from Chicago...who was a professor at U of I!
-Visited the Guinness Factory!
-went to an Irish pub with live Irish music
-at SUBWAY!!!

PARIS:
-I wasn't too impressed with Paris, it's a city, I saw it and don't need to go back
-we got on a tour bus and saw the main sights (including the Monna Lisa and the Eiffel Tower)
-ate creme brulee

GLASGOW:
-saw Scotland
-wasn't too eventful
-took a tour bus

LONDON:
-My FAVORITE of all of the places we went!
-Went to all of the main tourist sites
-The War Rooms was my favorite "museum"
-had Starbucks
-walked around the main city center
-saw WICKED for the first time
-On our way home, we were offered to bump for 600 Euro CASH! Individual hotel rooms for the night, free breakfast, free dinner...it was awesome! We were offered it again in the morning, but we had to come back because Simchat Torah was ending and classes were starting up again Acharei Ha-Chagim.

So now we are in full swing. Three FULL months of classes with NO days off (except for Shabbat of course). It's been a bit of a rough adjustment back to school, but the end of the week isn't turning out so bad. We went to Yad Vashem (the Israel Holocaust Museum) and Har Hertzl with Isreal Seminar today. Since I have been to Israel a few times previously and have spent a significant time in the country, I am in a group with other students with the similar experiences. It's very interesting to be going to the same sights we've been to (sometimes more than once) but to learn about them in different ways.

Speaking of learning, I must go finish my homework for tomorrow. I will try to be better at updating now that we are- Acharei Ha-Chagim!

Starting off the New Year...Sick

I must have a horrible immune system in Israel. I rarely get sick, and I've already had the stomach flu and now have the (swine) flu.

Sunday I woke up with a sore throat thinking it was just allergies (they're terrible right now) and felt just fine. Monday I had a really low fever and decided to tough it up and go to school. By the time I came home on Monday, I had no fever, but felt awful and went to sleep at 8:30! I woke up yesterday with a fever feeling just terrible. I went to the doctor who insisted that I had a flu virus and that it must be swine flu. I asked if he was going to give me tamiflu and he said, "your bat mitzvah is not this weekend, so no". I thought it was pretty entertaining/Israeli because then he proceeded to tell me that there was absolutely nothing to do except take advil and that sometimes it will help and sometimes it won't, but that I am pretty much going to feel awful for a few days. I am not on day three of feeling awful...I'm hoping to feel better before Yom Kippur.

Anyway, I thought that while I am bored in bed, I would blog a little about my experience at the doctor. I'm off to get some rest.

My Rosh Hashanah in Israel

I prayed this year. I think it was the first time I really ever prayed on Rosh Hashanah. I wasn't distracted this year by the social scene of gazing around the sanctuary to see whom I knew or look at all of the different outfits. I wasn't caught up in finding my old friends and waving to them during services to make sure that I would get to say hello afterward. No, this year, I actually sat in services and prayed. And it felt so good.
Don't get me wrong, I love services at NSCI, I love the social scene. But, this year in Jerusalem has been a different experience. It has been a great Rosh Hashanah. It began on Friday evening walking to services at HUC with my two roommates being greeted by every person on the street with a "Shanah Tovah". A real sense of community and joy was felt walking down the streets this weekend. At services I sat with my classmates as the director of our program, Yoshi, and the dean of our program, Naama led services along with three of our amazing cantorial students. Yoshi delivered a touching and beautiful sermon that inspired me to really take the time this holiday season to do "Chesbon HaNefesh" (literally translated to checking of the soul), self examination, to look at this past year and really reflect on the positives and negatives and what I can do to make myself a better person. Yoshi spoke of how we fall into a pattern of repenting for the same things year after year. I definitely agree with him, and it spoke close to home. It's not worth repenting for my sins if I am just going to fall back into my bad habits again. I want this year to be different. I am older now, I feel more mature, I want to feel more connected, Rosh Hashanah has been a meaningful one this year and I want the year to continue to be as meaningful as this holiday.
The music on Friday evening was just spectacular. The cantorial students this year are exceptional and extremely talented and truly enriched the services on Friday evening.
We went to our friend Matt's for dinner. The food was absolutely delicious (it may have been the best meal I've had since I've been in Israel) and the company was just so nice. Matt set the table beautifully with all sorts of fruits as decorations. The Holiday really felt special.
Saturday I went to Kol Hanishamah, one of the two Reform synagogues in Jerusalem, for services. There were two different services offered, a traditional one and an alternative "healing" service with meditation and a discussion. Allie Harris and I began upstairs with the traditional service. We arrived 5 minutes late and were surprised by how empty it was. Most of the chairs were empty and there were way fewer people than normally come on Friday evenings for Shabbat. As the service went on more and more people came. It was a very comfortable and welcoming environment. People were able to walk in and out as they chose. After a little while Allie and I decided to check out the alternative service where Ally Tick was. We spent the rest of the morning in the alternative service, which was also a relaxed environment with people walking in and out as the pleased. Rabbi Levi Kelman (Naama's brother) led the service and various meditations throughout. I'm not so into meditating but it was still an interesting service. We also split into four groups for discussion. There was only one English-speaking group and it was on the topic of "listening". It was a very enjoyable morning altogether.
Ally, Allie, and I walked home and made a nice Rosh Hashanah lunch. After lunch Allie Harris and I made our first Kugel to bring to Sally Klein Katz's (our ed seminar teacher) for lunch tomorrow. We made two so that Ally could have some- it's pretty delicious! Saturday night we went to Hannah, Rachel, and Jonah's for dinner. Dinner again was very delicious and we had all had a great time. We even played a game of "Apples-to-Apples" after dinner (sticking with the symbols of Rosh Hashanah of course.
Sunday concluded the Holiday weekend with Rosh Hashanah lunch at the Klein-Katz's. It was a relaxing afternoon and a very enjoyable way to end this wonderful holiday here in Jerusalem.
Now it is time to get back into "school" mode. We have a four-day week ahead of us, and then Yom Kippur, followed by three days of class, and then I am off to England for a week!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and Holiday as well.

Shanah Tovah!

Note:
If you have time, I recommend checking out this New York Times article that I classmate of mine sent to me. This is a quote from the article:
"
But Jews are different. People come to temple to identify with other Jews, or socialize. The writer Harry Golden once asked his father, who was an atheist, why he went to services every Saturday. The old man told him, ‘My friend Garfinkle goes to talk to God, and I go to talk to Garfinkle.’ There’s a lot of that.”

“At least they come,” I said.

“Sure. But when you have a large percentage at a religious service who aren’t actually praying, it dilutes the quality of the entire experience.”


It's an interesting perspective, and I've been thinking about it over the past few days and so I wanted to share it with anyone who is interested.

Shanah Tovah!

As the Jewish year 5769 comes to a close, I wanted to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and wonderful New Year 5770!

This evening I will be going to services at HUC with my classmates and other members of the community followed by dinner with about 15 of my classmates at one of their homes. Tomorrow, I am going to services at a synagogue in Jerusalem (I haven't decided where yet) and then having dinner at another classmate's home. I already love being in Jerusalem for the High Holy Days. As I went for a walk this afternoon, the streets were packed with people wishing each other a "Shanah Tova" (Good Year) and "Chag Samaech" (Happy Holiday).

While I am sad to not be at home this year for the High Holiday (it will be my first YK not at home), I am feeling a great sense of warmth, community, and right at home surrounded by my friends, classmates, and all the other Jews in Israel.

With that, I wish each and everyone on you a wonderful Holiday and "shana tovah u'metukah" a Happy and Sweet New Year!

Sending love from Jerusalem :-)

The 3rd First Day of Grad School

Classes have officially begun! It's a little funny because back in July, when the summer session started, everyone kept saying, "it's our first day of grad school", then last week, when fall semester began with Elul days we said it again. Well, today, classes really did begin.

School is Sunday-Thursday and starts at 8:30am everyday! It was a bit difficult waking up this morning after a very late Slichot Service at The Great Synagogue last night. The service was absolutely beautiful. You can read about it and see pictures at this website http://www.jerusalemgreatsynagogue.com/EN_AboutUs.aspx. The service did not begin until 10:30 and the Rabbi gave a 10 minute sermon before. So by 11:30 we were ready to go. We saw the gorgeous synagogue and listening to the beautiful High Holiday melodies and then decided to head out (the service didn't end until 12:40 am). I really forgot how much I love the High Holy Days. Just hearing the tunes and the darkness outside that could be seen through the windows (at a pre slichot service at HUC), brought all of the feelings of the Holidays. I am very much looking forward to experiencing the holidays in Jerusalem.

Back to school- Today began with Rabbinics Lecture, followed by Hebrew, followed by Rabbinics Text. Each class is an hour and a half with 15 min breaks. All of my classes were in the same classroom today and two of the three classes were taught by the same person. Nonetheless, it was still a great day. This is what I have been waiting for. Tomorrow I have History of the 2nd Temple Period, Hebrew, Grammar, and Professional forum. It should be another great day. I am very much looking forward to my first Education Seminar class on Tuesday.

Anyways, I thought I would blog a little while I kinda sorta have time before the craziness of coursework begins (I already have TONS of reading as expected).

If I don't write before Rosh Hashanah, Shanah Tovah!

Elul Days and Tiyul

The end of break went by pretty fast and it was really nice to just relax and hang out in Jerusalem for a few days. The break ended with Shabbat dinner at the Regev's followed by a celebration for Allie's 24th birthday. It was all lots of fun despite the fact that I had to battle stomach flu.
Fall semester began on Sunday. Sunday and Monday were Elul days (Sunday-Rosh Hashanah, Monday-Yom Kippur). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the Rosh Hashanah Elul day, as I was still quite sick. The Yom Kippur Elul Day was very interesting. We discussed the difference between what Yom Kippur means to Americans versus what it represents for Israeli's. For many Israeli's, the Yom Kippur war and the 6-day war are big components of the Yom Kippur Holiday. For many Americans, getting all dressed up and going to synagogue to repent for our sins is our connection to the Holiday. I am looking forward to my first High Holiday experience in Israel and will be sure to blog about it in the coming weeks.
Tuesday we headed up North to the Golan Heights and the Galilee for our first Israel Seminar Tiyul. For three days we traveled to many different sites studying the theme of the tiyul "In Search of the New Jew". I love learning about Israel while in Israel. Some of the places we visited were: Zichron Yacov, Tel Hai, Metulla (Israel's most northern town on the border of Lebanon, Tel Dan, and the Kinneret Cemetery. Throughout these amazing three days, we had a chance to get to know some of our professors who not only offered their admirable amount of scholarly knowledge, but also enriched our experiences through their own personal stories and experiences. I was pleasantly surprised that I had never been to most of these locations. In fact the only two places I had previously been were Zichron Yacov and the hostel that we stayed at!
Tonight Hannah and Rachel Levin are hosting a "Girls Shabbat" which should be very fun. Tomorrow, a few friends are coming over for a little guitar learning session. I've been practicing lots, but it definitely takes time. Tomorrow night, Naama Kelman, the dean of students, invited several HUC students to her home for Havdallah. Followed by Havdallah we will head to Slichot services. I think I am going to the Great Synagogue for Slichot. Sunday is our first real day of class and actually our only full week of class until the second week of October because of the Holidays.
Speaking of the Holidays, I finally made plans for Sukkot break. I am traveling with three other girls to London, Dublin, Paris, and Scotland! I am so excited; it should be a great time!

I'm still a little tired from the tiyul, but I will try to update again later next week.

Shabbat Shalom!

Lots to say

So much has happened since I last wrote. Here are the "Chailights":

Monday Night Rabbi Mason and Patty came over to our apartment for dessert. Ally and I were super excited, we even made signs. It was so great to see the Mason's in Israel and get to have them over to our apartment.


Tuesday we woke up super early for a 5:30 am Sephardic Slichot service. It was a very unique and interesting service with a balcony mechitza (the women were seated in the balcony with a curtain). It's not really my cup of tea, but nonetheless was important to see.

Tuesday night Rabbi Mason and Patty took Ally and I out for and Israel meal (falafel, hummus, chicken, salad, etc). Not only was it delicious but it was so great to get to spend a little more time with the Mason's as they are both mentors and important people in our lives.

Wednesday was our last day of Ulpan. We took our final ulpan tests and then all of the classes performed for the whole group. Here is a video of the song that Kita Bet wrote and performed. After the performances there was a little end of the summer ulpan breakfast party.

Thursday we had our last Biblical Archaeology Tiyul. We went to Megiddo, the Mt. Carmel Caves, and to Caesarea. While it was a long day it was a lot of fun, interesting, and the sites were very beautiful.

Friday, nine of us headed up North for the weekend. We went to Haifa and toured the Bahai Gardens. There are only seven Bahai Temples in the World so and the one in Haifa is just beautiful (from the outside, you're not allowed to enter unless you are of Bahai faith). After the tour we found a little cafe for lunch in the German Colony right near our hotel. For Shabbat we went to Or Chadah. We had emailed the Rabbi ahead of time and he was so nice and welcoming. The service was just wonderful. We arrived and there were signs all over welcoming us to their congregations (with each of our names and home congregations listed!) The Rabbi called us up for several honors throughout the service and truly made us feel welcome. He was classmates at HUC with our Dean, Naama Kelman, and the Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Michale Marmur.

Haifa is a city, unlike Jerusalem, where many places are open on Shabbat. We found a place for dinner and drinks (right before the ended happy hour) and enjoyed a relaxing and fun Shabbat evening out.

Saturday we headed farther North to the border of Lebanon to Rosh Hanikrah and kayaked through the grottoes. Saturday evening began on the sun deck of the hotel with an impromptu Havdallah (we used three cellphones to represent the Havdallah candle-we HUC students are quite creative) and then headed to Carmel for dinner.

Sunday morning Rachel, Albert, Ally, Allie, and I went to Ein Hod, an artist village outside of Haifa. Apparently on Sunday afternoon it is completely empty. Nonetheless we had a great time. Albert and Rachel rented a car and dropped us off at the bus station and we headed back to Jerusalem as they headed off to another town, Rosh Pina.

Today, Monday, was spent in Jerusalem just getting settled back in. I went to the gym, walked around town, headed to the shuk and then we received a phone call from Rachel. Albert proposed!!! Immediately we began to plan a surprise engagement party for Rachel and Albert. Allie and I called all of our classmates that were in town and Ally headed out to buy decorations. We had invited Rachel and Albert over for a small dessert celebration and told them we wanted it to just be the five of us. There was a great turn out, the director of the year in Israel program, Yoshi, even made an appearance! It was such a great end to a great weekend!!! We are so happy for Rachel and Albert and it was so much fun to be able to celebrate this Simcha with them!!!!

(I'll post picts tomorrow...too tired now)

I Got a Guitar!

So I've wanted to learn how to play the guitar and song lead (even though I have a terrible voice) for a really long time. I kept tossing the idea around about learning this year or waiting until I am back in the states to learn, but came across an opportunity to purchase a good guitar for beginners. I plan to teach myself along with the help of my amazing classmates who have offered assistance.

Shabbat in Ramat HaSharon was a wonderful experience. Ramat HaSharon is a very beautiful small city not far from Tel Aviv. Right now the congregation meets in a High School but is in the process of building a synagogue on the border of Ramat HaSharon and Herzelia. The Rabbi and the President of the congregation gave us a tour of the new building and explained to us that they cannot continue to build unless they raise more money, but that they needed to begin the building process otherwise they would have lost the property.

Ally Tick and I were hosted by a lovely Israeli family for Shabbat dinner. The food was absolutely delicious and endless. It was probably the best meal I have had since I arrived a month and half ago. At the end of the meal we exchanged email addresses and phone numbers and hope to keep in touch.

Allie Harris, Bess, and I went to a cafe for lunch and to do our homework this afternoon. It was very relaxing (not typically the word I use to describe homework), but being outside on this beautiful (and hot) Shabbat afternoon it was quite peaceful. Tonight we are headed to Emek Refaim (the German Colony) to celebrate Rachel Levin's birthday.

I better go practice for cantillation since tomorrow is our last day. We are being tested on K'doshim (which ironically is the portion that I wrote about in my application essay and was the theme of Karav 2005) in the next few weeks.

Since it's our last week of summer session I'm not sure when I'll have the opportunity to blog again, so Shabbat Shalom and Shavua Tov!

HUC's Next Top Mohel (HNTM) is...

Allison Tick!

Wednesday evening we had an amazing Beit Cafe at school planned by the Kef (Fun) committee. They did a wonderful job from funny MC's, a summer slide show, decorations, and an incredible theme-HUC's Next Top Mohel. The Tzedek committee sold wine at the event with the proceeds going to Open House (Jerusalem's LGBT community center).

Josh Breitzer (one of the HUC summer interns) and me at Beit Cafe

Four volunteers served as the contestants for HNTM (Ally Tick, Allie Harris, Natalie Davidowitz, and Marcus Rubenstein). The contestants had to soothe the baby, tell a joke, and finally demonstrate their technique. Everyone had a great time, and in the end Ally Tick won by applause.

Ethan and Bess (The MC's of the Beit Cafe)

While Ally is out right now, I'm taking over her favorite spot, our balcony and people watching a bit while enjoying the small breeze on this humid Friday afternoon. Last night we went out for our classmate's, Ari, birthday. Ally's Israeli cousin and friend came over to hang out before. They are so nice and I'm looking forward to seeing them again soon!

Tonight we are headed to Ramat HaSharon for Shabbat services and will be hosted by families for Shabbat dinner. The Mason's arrive on Sunday and Ally and I are looking forward to seeing them. We are down to our last week of summer session, 4 more days of ulpan, 1 day of cantillation and 1 more biblical archaeology tiyul on Thursday.

I'm going to go enjoy the rest of afternoon before Shabbat begins.

Shabbat Shalom:-)

Shavua Tov!

Here are some pictures of my bedroom:

Lauren, Rachel, me and Rachel and the wine festival

Me and Allie at the beach in Tel Aviv

So I haven't really been super busy since I last wrote, and so I have no excuse as to why it's been a while since my last post. I'll just give you a rundown on the last week.

We had our second Masoret Day where we got a chance to put on tefillin, learned some of the choreography of prayer (i.e. when to bow), lift the Torah (Hagbah)-and might I say, it's just as heavy as it looks, and how to call people up for Aliyiot (blessing before and after the Torah reading). At the end of Masoret Day, Gingy explained to us what our role in terms of leading services is going to be throughout the year. Each student reads Torah a minimum of two times (I'm reading once in Nov and once in April), leads services once (I'm leading in Feb), and deliver a devar Torah once (mine is in March). We also have many opportunities to service as Hagbah as well as various other roles in the services throughout the year (all good practice)!

On Tuesday we had our academic orientation. As expected it's going to be a very busy and exciting year. My courses consist of: Rabbinics Lecture, Hebrew, Rabbinics Text, Bible, Hebrew Grammar, Modern History, Education Seminar, Liturgy, and Israel Seminar (every Wednesday we take field trips and have study tours throughout Israel). I'm looking forward to the beginning of classes.

Wednesday all of the Hebrew classes got together to sing a song for everyone else. Kita Bet (my class) got really into it and rehearsed all week (chorography and even attire). We had a lot of fun and so did our teacher Osnat. Here is a video of our performance.

Thursday we ended class at noon and had no extra programming afterwards. It was a very early start to our weekend! I took advantage of the afternoon and caught up on some sleep, but by the end of the day, I was ready to go out. It was our classmate, Brandon's, birthday so we all went over to his apartment to celebrate.

Friday morning I slept in, went to the gym, and then met Allie at a really cute Cafe not far from where we live. After a late lunch we headed home to get ready for Shabbat services at Kol Hanishamah. Before services HUC students had the opportunity to study with four different Rabbis. Rabbi Stanley Davids led a very interesting discussion about Israel-the reality and the ideal.

After services Ally, Allie, and I headed over to Rachel's for a very relaxing Shabbat dinner. We brought our pajamas, made breakfast for (Shabbat) dinner, and watched a movie. We said the Motzi over our large choc chip banana pancake and the Kiddush over the orange juice. After realizing that this was one of our best Shabbat's, we decided that this must become a tradition (at least once a month).

Saturday I slept in a bit and headed to a different cafe (open on Shabbat) for lunch with Rachel, Rachel, Allie, and Ally (I should probably start searching for some friends named Haley). It was delicious! Allie and Ally even got to enjoy a Cheeseburger...in Jerusalem...on Shabbat!

Rachel and Me at lunch

After lunch Rachel (Kaplan) and I started to discuss some travel plans for our break coming up in just two weeks. It seems as though we (Rachel, Albert, Rachel, Allie, Ally, and Jon) are going to be heading up North to Haifa for two-three days and then spending a day in Tzvat. We are all looking forward to this trip!

Our amazing interns are returning to their stateside campuses at the end of this week (all except Haim who attends the Israeli Rabbinical school) and so they organized an evening in the park followed by Havdallah. It was very relaxing and nice to see everyone and hang out for a bit.

Me, Allie, and Molly at the park

Today began the second to last week of summer classes; whoa did it go by fast! Wednesday we have a Beit Cafe (literally, coffee house, sort of like a talent show/open mic), Thursday a long Biblical Archaeology tour and then Friday I will be traveling to Ramat HaSharon for Shabbat services and then Shabbat dinner with a host family.

All else is well in sunny Jerusalem. I'm off to sleep after a long day of ulpan, micha, cantillation, a work out, delicious Cincinnati Chili and a walk to Ben Yehuda for dessert!

Shavua Tov (a good week)!

Shabba Shabba!

Some old photos:

Cantillation practice

Cantillation practice

Shabba Shabba Shabba Shabbat Shalom!

I'm sitting here on a beautiful Shabbat afternoon doing absolutely nothing. I know I've said it lots, but there really is nothing like Shabbat in Jerusalem.

Since I last wrote, I found the opportunity for a different community service opportunity that I am super excited about. I will be volunteering in the HUC Kindergarten for Israeli students. While working in a preschool is not something new to me, I am anxious and excited to begin the challenge of learning the cultural differences between Israeli preschools and American preschools. While my Hebrew has improved since I arrived a little over a month ago, it's still not perfect and it will be interesting to force myself to use it in order to communicate with Israeli 4 and 5 year olds whose Hebrew is way better than mine.

Thursday, we had our first Tiyul (there's really no good English word to use for Tiyul, but for lack of a better translation, it's sort of like a field trip in America). David Ilan, our Biblical Archaeology professor, led our Tiyul to the City of David. It was pretty interesting and the material we had been learning in class had started to make a little more sense when David was able to point out different archaeological features.

After class, we came home to get ready for the Israeli wine festival at the Israel Museum. But, before we could head out, we had an afternoon lecture at school. After the lecture, many of my HUC classmates all met up at the Israel Museum for the wine festival. It was a beautiful evening and a fun way to end our week. Ally, me, Rachel, Lauren, and Allie in front of the Ahava (love) sculpture at the Israel Museum

Ally and me at the wine festival

Friday, I headed to Tel Aviv for the day with a few friends. Rachel Levin (another joint ed/communal service student) and I spent most of the afternoon at the very large mall in Tel Aviv. We met up with several of our other friends at the port for Kabbalat Shabbat (the same service that I went to a few weeks ago). After Kabbalat Shabbat we found a place t o grab some dinner before heading back to Jerusalem. Unlike Jerusalem, everything on the port was open and there were hundreds of people walking around as if it were any other day of the week. I find the contrast between the two cities so interesting and while I love Tel Aviv (what's not to love about the beach on the Mediterranean), but at the end of the day, I love coming home to Jerusalem.

Rachel, Ally, me and Jonah at the Beach in Tel Aviv

Sunset over the Mediterranean during Shabbat services


Me, Ally, and Rachel

Ally, me, Hannah, Lara, and Rachel

Shabbat morning services are a new favorite of mine. Yoshi Zweiback led services along with Josh Breitzer, our intern in his 4th year of the cantorial program (who is going to be an amazing cantor), and a choir of HUC students and SO's (significant others). For those of you who don't know, Yoshi is extremely talented and is part of "Mah Tovu" a group that has composed many of my favorite melodies. This morning we sang "Tov L'hodot" together and it was definitely a spiritual moment listening to the words sung by Yoshi.

So now I am back home. Had Shabbat lunch with Ally and Allie and we are all having our individual Shabbat afternoon relaxation time. In America, I find my Saturdays filled with errands and running around trying to get everything done that I wasn't able to accomplish during the week. In Israel, Saturdays are called Shabbat, and on Shabbat, I rejoice in relaxing and enjoying a break from the craziness of the rest of the week. On our way to services the only people walking around, are dressed for synagogue, in the afternoon families are out for afternoon walks. The noise from the construction that wakes me up early in the morning is silent on Shabbat, the horns on the cars even lessen (and boy do those Israelis love to use their horns), and the police sirens have stopped. It's quiet, it's peaceful, it truly feels like Shabbat.

And of course, tonight we will have Havdallah at our spot in the park overlooking the walls of the Old City and truly feel the separation of Shabbat from the rest of the week. Typically after Havdallah we head to Ben Yehuda to experience the craziness of Saturday night. Everything is open and the street is filled with hundreds of tourists and it's a very fun site to be part of.

We will come home and get ready for an early day of school tomorrow and prepare ourselves for the week ahead. But for now, I'm going to enjoy the rest of Shabbat, the day of rest, set apart from the rest of the week.

Shabbat Shalom!

The News

Every Tuesday in Ulpan, each person in class says talks about a current event from the news. One of the reasons Osnat (our amazing teacher) has our Kita do this is to stay updated on what is going on in the world, and also, as a way to get us to speak more and more Hebrew in class while simultaneously increasing our vocabulary. After sharing our news, we then read a little bit of an Israeli Newspaper that comes out each Tuesday morning for recent Olim. This week I chose to talk about Michael Jackson's mother gaining custody of his children.

If you have been keeping up with the news this past week, you might be able to guess what was on all of our minds today, what we read in the paper, and what has become part of many discussions since Sunday morning. On Saturday evening, a masked man entered a gay/lesbian support group center and opened fire. Two victims were killed, a 14 year old girl, and 26 year old man. At least 15 others were wounded. I've read article after article on Haaretz. I was brought to tears when I read a quote from a young teenage boy stating that he was terrified to tell his parents he was gay, but that he had to do so when they came to pick him up from the hospital. Yoshi, the director of the Year in Israel program, addressed this tragic event on Sunday to our class. One of my classmates spoke out about her frustration, anger, and saddness towards the victim and the reality that these things do happen all over the world, a feeling most of us were also experiencing. The latest articles that I have read are implying that it might not have been a hate crime directed toward the gay community but rather a murder. Regardless, I hope that whoever committed this crime will be caught.

So what's Israel like in times like these? First of all a note to my family and friends, and those worriers out there:
Israel is a safe place. Jerusalem is a safe place. Things can happen unexpectedly here, just as anywhere else in the world. Before you panic (Grandma), read the sources and evaluate the facts. To clarify, I go to school in Jerusalem, not in Tel Aviv, and the horrific shooting took place in a gay/lesbian support center. Of course you can always contact me directly (if you don't have my phone number and would like it, send me an email and I will send it to you), but also know that I am most likely in class. Know that I greatly appreciate your concerns, and I am safe.

To my surprise, or lack there of, there has not been a whole lot going on in Jerusalem with regards to this event. Sunday evening there was a vigil in Jerusalem for the victims. In Tel Aviv there was also a vigil and there has been a few other gatherings in memory.

This morning at services, Cantor Havilio talked about love. For those of you that don't know, tomorrow is a holiday called, "Tu B'av" which is essentially the Valentine's Day of Israel. At the end of the service, before the Mourner's Kaddish, she acknowledged the lives that were lost in Tel Aviv because of hate (even if they are not calling it a "Hate Crime" there is still "hate" involved in a murder) and then asked us to all remember all of the lives that have been lost because of hate as we said the prayer together.

I am really glad to be part of this liberal, Reform community here in Israel, especially during this time. Each day, I become more and more inspired by something or someone else's words, actions, or teachings.

For now, I must go finish studying for my Hebrew quiz tomorrow, but before I do so, I'll leave you a word of the day:
מלקק המורה (mih-lah-kek ha-more-ah)- "to suck up" or "brown noser"
(side note: we asked our teacher how to say "brown noser" and she told us that they say "licking the teacher", so that is actually the literal translation)

What will tomorrow bring?

Update and lots of pictures

Jonah, me, Allie, and Rachel on the Tayellet tour

Rachel, Dave, Andrew, me, Allie, Matt, Ally

Havdallah two weeks ago (Jeremy, Molly, Ally, Matt, and Me)

First of all, I cannot believe that four weeks ago, I left for Israel. It definitely does not feel like that, time here goes by really fast. As hard as it is to get used to Sunday being a weekday, it sort of makes the weeks go by faster. Mondays are not as dreadful, Tuesday become humpday, and with Ulpan only going until Wednesday, class on Thursday (Biblical Archaeology) is almost a breather. And then of course, unless you've experienced Shabbat in Israel, you just really won't ever understand the peacefullness of Shabbat in Jerusalem.
Alright, so here's an update on what had been keeping me busy since Monday. Tuesday after class we had a presentation about community service projects for the year. I haven't decided for sure yet, but I'm thinking of doing the Mevasseret ZIon Absorption Center where I would volunteer every Tuesday from 4:30-7:30 with recent Olim (people who have moved to Israel) from Ethopia. It sounds like a great opportunity and something I would not necessarily get the chance to do ever again.
Wednesday I had my first Hebrew exam. I didn't think it was that bad (if any of my classmates are reading this, they might disagree). Wednesday evening began Tisha B'av, the 9th of Av, when both the 1st and 2nd temples were destroyed. It's an interesting holiday, especially for Reform Jews. Tisha B'av is a fast holiday, yet many Reform Jews (including me) choose not to fast because we don't believe that the temple should be rebuilt. During services on Wednesday evening overlooking the Old City, or 4 interns each presented their viewpoint on the Holiday. Scott and Emily, both Rabbinical students in Cincinatti, had similar viewpoints in that Judaism exists today all over the world and that having the once central temple, would send the message that Judaism cannot exist the way it does today. Haim, a Rabbinical student in Israel, believes quite differently. He spoke of how he thinks that the only place to be Jewish is in Israel and that a Third Temple should be built. Obviously a very controversial issue, but it was much appreciated to hear the different opinions. Josh, a cantorial student in NY, presented his viewpoint through Music. After the beautiful service we walked from school to the Kotel. As you can imagine, there were thousands of people and it was very difficult to move, but nonetheless an experience to be at the Kotel for.
Thursday we had to get up bright and early for our first Biblical Archaeology quiz. After class we had Mincha. My amazing roomate, Allie, was the first HUC student to chant Torah this year and did a wonderful job chanting Thursday afternoon. Thursday evening we had a potluck to "break the fast" even though only about 10 people in the class fasted. It was still lots of fun and there were some delicious food items, especially the Nutella pancakes! After the potluck we went out for a few hours.
Friday was actually the first day since I've been here since I haven't set an alarm clock and guess what? I woke up at 6:30am, went back to sleep, woke up at 8:30, and then forced myself to sleep in until 11. Ally, Allie, Rachel and I headed to the shuk. On Fridays the shuk is just insane, you cannot walk anywhere without being pushed stepped on or smoked on, but we braved it anyway. We went to services with HUC at Harel, the first progressive (Reform) synagogue in Jerusalem. It felt a lot like a service in the states. Allie, Ally, and I hosted our first Shabbat dinner. Rachel, Marni and Jordan, and Greg and Tami (two HUC-LA students who knew Allie) all came over. Actually two years ago, Tami lived in my bedroom and Greg proposed to her in my room (we even reinacted the scene)! Dinner was a lot of fun, Tami and Greg gave us advice about the year in Israel, places to go, etc.
Today we woke up for Shabbat services at school, which I've actually started to really enjoy. Then we came home had lunch, Ally made a delicious chicken salad with our leftover chicken from last night, and then we all took our Shabbat naps. There's something about Shabbat in Jerusalem that is just so peaceful. The honking of the horns lessens, fewer cars on the street, and families taking walks together just creates such a relaxing Shabbat. In the midst of relaxation I took some time to write my first Education Credo that is due tomorrow.

Jordan and Marni invited the entire class over tonight for Havdallah in their beautiful apartment. It was nice to spend Havdallah with everyone, but of course we were all exhausted and have to wake up early tomorrow for our long day of school.HUC Year in Israel at Shabbat at Harel

Shabbat Dinner at our AptGreg and Tami in my room reinacting their engagement

Tomorrow is a long day. Ulpan, Mincha, Cantillation, and then the Ed students are going over to our teacher's house to watch Mr. Holland's Opus. Should be a busy but fun day. I'll try to blog throughout the week, but if not, I'll catch up next weekend.

Picture of the ed class with our teacher Sally

Shavua Tov!