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)