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!