It has been a while since I've been able to update my blog, so this is gonna be a long post (probably, I haven't written it yet so I don't know). I was going to update it yesterday, but my internet broke, more on that later.
Last week was orientation and those were some of the longest days ever. Each day of orientation lasted at least 8 hours and were full of speakers and group discussions. It wasn't so much of an orientation to school and life in Israel as it was an orientation to the major ideas of why the YII program exists.
Orientation went from Monday night through Shabbat services. After services, I went back to Gan Sacher to play ultimate frisbee with some Israelis I met last week at the park. They play a pick up game each week and told me I could bring with some friends. I plan on going back every week that I'm in town and the weather is nice to play.
On Sunday, Ulpan started. Sundays are normal days in Israel, but the week ends on Thursday. Friday we have all day to prepare for Shabbat and Saturday is of course Shabbat so we don't have class. Ulpan is an intensive Hebrew program for 4.5 hours each day to help everyone become more comfortable with Hebrew and be able to speak and read it. I am in Kitah Hey, which is the highest kitah, so our class is entirely in Hebrew and moves very fast. We read short stories in Hebrew and learn dikduk, grammar. The class is definitely a challenge but I like it because I'll learn a lot more in this class than any other.
Also, since I'm an education student, I have a weekly Seminar with the other ed students. That is on Mondays from 330-530. In 12 days, my group of 3 has to give a 50 minute presentation about the book we are reading; The School and Society and the Child and the Curriculum. I can't say it is a riveting read, but it has some interesting concepts.
Monday night-Tuesday was Tisha B'Av. That holiday commemorates the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem as well as pretty much every other bad thing that ever happened to the Jewish people. We still had class for a while on Tuesday, but then had an extended Mincha service and were given a text packet to study if we chose to. I ended up sitting on the roof of my apartment with Leah and Dusty, two other students, and studied the texts for over 2.5 hours! And we only got through 3 pages of the packet! It was a great experience and I'd love to continue working in chevruta the rest of the year.
Now I'm working on reading my book and getting my work done because Monday night is Ari Rosenberg's wedding and thats gonna be one crazy night.
Erev tov from Jerusalem
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Wait....I have to go to school?
So orientation started tonight and goes all day tomorrow and pretty much the whole week. Before we get into that however, plenty has happened in the meantime.
Shabbat afternoon I went to Gan Sacher to hang out with Ari Rosenberg and Alexis and there was an ultimate frisbee game going on that I ended up joining. It was a mix of Israelis and Americans and they told me they meet there every Saturday at 2, so I may have found my Shabbat afternoon activity for the summer. Then that night we went out to watch the 3rd place game of the world cup and found ourselves in a bar that could show us the game, but not play the audio. So we watched the game while listening to MTV songs. It was great.
Before going out to the game, I stopped by HUC for Havdalah of alumni day (that was happening all day) and noticed a nametag that said "Irwin Zeplowitz." I thought to myself...that name looks really familiar, I think he was the Rabbi at my synagogue when I was born and lived down the street from me. So I went to introduce myself and lo and behold, it was him! Not only was it him, but he was there with his wife and traveling with another couple...the Echales. They have been family friends of ours since I was born as well and it was the most random connection I've made so far in Israel. It will definitely be hard to top. We got to talking and they asked how Beth was and I got to tell them that she is here in Jerusalem as well. After that they offered to take us out to dinner and who am I to say no to good free food?
So on Sunday night, myself, Beth, the Zeplowitz's and the Echales' went to dinner at Beit Anna Ticho (the Ticho House) and what a great meal it was. We got blintzes and knishes and an amazing spinach ravioli with fresh pesto. And then for dessert the warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream....delicious! That is for sure a restaurant to bring my parents to (so I don't have to pay for it....please mom and dad?)
Monday evening a scary thing happened. I had to go to orientation for school, which meant I was no longer free to do whatever I wanted all day. It was a little bit disappointing because there is so much more to do and see in Jerusalem, but it is also nice to finally have something concrete to do with my time. During orientation, on a whim, I decided to invite a few people over for dinner when we were finished. There ended up being 7 of us total for dinner at my apartment and I made a yummy pasta with red pepper, onion, carrot, and garlic. It was really good. I hope the people that came over don't think I can really cook though, that's my one go to meal. Nothing else comes out that good.
It is time now for sleep because I have to be at HUC at 830 in the morning for 9 hours of orientation! OY!
Until next time,
Lila tov from Jerusalem
Shabbat afternoon I went to Gan Sacher to hang out with Ari Rosenberg and Alexis and there was an ultimate frisbee game going on that I ended up joining. It was a mix of Israelis and Americans and they told me they meet there every Saturday at 2, so I may have found my Shabbat afternoon activity for the summer. Then that night we went out to watch the 3rd place game of the world cup and found ourselves in a bar that could show us the game, but not play the audio. So we watched the game while listening to MTV songs. It was great.
Before going out to the game, I stopped by HUC for Havdalah of alumni day (that was happening all day) and noticed a nametag that said "Irwin Zeplowitz." I thought to myself...that name looks really familiar, I think he was the Rabbi at my synagogue when I was born and lived down the street from me. So I went to introduce myself and lo and behold, it was him! Not only was it him, but he was there with his wife and traveling with another couple...the Echales. They have been family friends of ours since I was born as well and it was the most random connection I've made so far in Israel. It will definitely be hard to top. We got to talking and they asked how Beth was and I got to tell them that she is here in Jerusalem as well. After that they offered to take us out to dinner and who am I to say no to good free food?
So on Sunday night, myself, Beth, the Zeplowitz's and the Echales' went to dinner at Beit Anna Ticho (the Ticho House) and what a great meal it was. We got blintzes and knishes and an amazing spinach ravioli with fresh pesto. And then for dessert the warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream....delicious! That is for sure a restaurant to bring my parents to (so I don't have to pay for it....please mom and dad?)
Monday evening a scary thing happened. I had to go to orientation for school, which meant I was no longer free to do whatever I wanted all day. It was a little bit disappointing because there is so much more to do and see in Jerusalem, but it is also nice to finally have something concrete to do with my time. During orientation, on a whim, I decided to invite a few people over for dinner when we were finished. There ended up being 7 of us total for dinner at my apartment and I made a yummy pasta with red pepper, onion, carrot, and garlic. It was really good. I hope the people that came over don't think I can really cook though, that's my one go to meal. Nothing else comes out that good.
It is time now for sleep because I have to be at HUC at 830 in the morning for 9 hours of orientation! OY!
Until next time,
Lila tov from Jerusalem
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Adventures in the Old City
Its been one week since I left Chicago and Jerusalem is finally starting to feel like home. I know where most of the main places are that I'll be going to this year, and I've eaten enough falafel and schwarma for a month! I've also taken two fun, yet different, trips into the old city.
On Monday I went to the Old City with four classmates, Marina, Brian, Ari, and Alexis. We just decided to wander the streets for a while and see what we found. We went in through the Jaffa Gate and walked through the Arab Shuk and Cardo (main street in the Jewish quarter) for a while and then grabbed lunch nearish to the Kotel. After lunch we decided to keep walking through the Shuk and just explore with no real direction to where we were going. The only thing I knew I wanted to do was buy a board for sheishbeish (backgammon) so I could sit around in Jerusalem and play. Sheishbeish in Jerusalem is like chess in New York City. People will just sit around on the streets and play. I hope to spread my love of sheishbeish to the rest of the HUC students this year.
Today, Wednesday, I went to meet Beth at the Old City so we could see a few of the NFTY-ites in Israel including Emma, my past-president at LCTY (my youth group in Highland Park, IL). After we saw her and the rest of her group, we met with Sam and Henry, Beth's friends, and the four of us got to experience two of the cooler things to do in the Old City. A few days ago, Sam made friends with someone in the park at random, and that person happened to be a bigshot at the Kotel and invited Sam to come for a tour of the caves under the wall. Before touring under the city however, we first went through the Chain of Generations Center, a brand new artistic exhibit right next to the Kotel exploring how all Jews are connected from Abraham to the modern day. It was amazing. Pictures will be on facebook soon.
Then we had about 2 hours before our tour under the wall began so we walked to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and saw where Jesus was crucified and buried. It is a very impressive church and had the feeling of a Dan Brown novel while inside. So many things seemed to exude symbolism and I don't think I understood even a small part of it.
Then the tour under the Western Wall was very fun. We walked the entire length of the wall that stood outside the second Temple from over 2000 years ago. The wall was constructed by King Herod right around the turn of the calendar from BCE to CE. It was great to see how impressive just the foundation of the wall was. The second layer of stone, was one giant stone that weighed over 500 tons (thats 1 million pounds folks). Its unfathomable to think about how they would have moved that stone into place.
Now I'm resting and trying to take care of my blisters. Too much walking in this city has not been good for my feet. I popped one blister (it kinda exploded when I did that, and I'm sure you didn't need to know that either) and the other one isn't too bad, so I'll let it be for now. They are definitely smaller than the blister after my marathon, but much more painful.
Orientation starts in 5 days so I still have time to explore more places in Jerusalem and hope to do that before I'm in school 5 days a week.
Erev tov from Jerusalem
On Monday I went to the Old City with four classmates, Marina, Brian, Ari, and Alexis. We just decided to wander the streets for a while and see what we found. We went in through the Jaffa Gate and walked through the Arab Shuk and Cardo (main street in the Jewish quarter) for a while and then grabbed lunch nearish to the Kotel. After lunch we decided to keep walking through the Shuk and just explore with no real direction to where we were going. The only thing I knew I wanted to do was buy a board for sheishbeish (backgammon) so I could sit around in Jerusalem and play. Sheishbeish in Jerusalem is like chess in New York City. People will just sit around on the streets and play. I hope to spread my love of sheishbeish to the rest of the HUC students this year.
Today, Wednesday, I went to meet Beth at the Old City so we could see a few of the NFTY-ites in Israel including Emma, my past-president at LCTY (my youth group in Highland Park, IL). After we saw her and the rest of her group, we met with Sam and Henry, Beth's friends, and the four of us got to experience two of the cooler things to do in the Old City. A few days ago, Sam made friends with someone in the park at random, and that person happened to be a bigshot at the Kotel and invited Sam to come for a tour of the caves under the wall. Before touring under the city however, we first went through the Chain of Generations Center, a brand new artistic exhibit right next to the Kotel exploring how all Jews are connected from Abraham to the modern day. It was amazing. Pictures will be on facebook soon.
Then we had about 2 hours before our tour under the wall began so we walked to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and saw where Jesus was crucified and buried. It is a very impressive church and had the feeling of a Dan Brown novel while inside. So many things seemed to exude symbolism and I don't think I understood even a small part of it.
Then the tour under the Western Wall was very fun. We walked the entire length of the wall that stood outside the second Temple from over 2000 years ago. The wall was constructed by King Herod right around the turn of the calendar from BCE to CE. It was great to see how impressive just the foundation of the wall was. The second layer of stone, was one giant stone that weighed over 500 tons (thats 1 million pounds folks). Its unfathomable to think about how they would have moved that stone into place.
Now I'm resting and trying to take care of my blisters. Too much walking in this city has not been good for my feet. I popped one blister (it kinda exploded when I did that, and I'm sure you didn't need to know that either) and the other one isn't too bad, so I'll let it be for now. They are definitely smaller than the blister after my marathon, but much more painful.
Orientation starts in 5 days so I still have time to explore more places in Jerusalem and hope to do that before I'm in school 5 days a week.
Erev tov from Jerusalem
Saturday, July 3, 2010
First Shabbat
Just finished my first shabbat in Israel and what a great day it was.
I started with services at Kol Haneshemah with a handful of HUC students and got to see the Klein-Katz's, who have not changed one bit. Then we walked back up to Lincoln (pronounced Link-o-lin) for Shabbat dinner at another student's apartment. She made a home cooked dinner that was fantastic and delicious and I'm not even sure what most of the food was. Dinner did not start until after 9pm and we didn't finish and leave until almost midnight! I was so tired from dinner that I fell asleep around one, and woke up at 2:30....the next afternoon. I slept for over 13 hours and it was amazing.
I woke up today and finally got a chance to unpack and get myself settled in the apartment. I'm am now officially moved in and almost ready to call this place home. I just need to get into a bit more of a routine before it feels totally natural.
Tonight a group of us went out to Ben Yehuda street for dinner and I got to see Beth (and I had to give her back her adapter for the electric outlets) and then we walked a bit up Ben Yehuda street. While walking, we came across a youth group looking for people to Israeli dance with them, so we did Hava Negilah and Mayim in the middle of the street! It was one of the funnier things I've done since I've been here.
Now I'm back and just relaxing at the apartment. Tomorrow is registration at HUC and a 4th of July BBQ. Thats all for now. Hope to here from everyone soon.
Shavua Tov from Jerusalem
I started with services at Kol Haneshemah with a handful of HUC students and got to see the Klein-Katz's, who have not changed one bit. Then we walked back up to Lincoln (pronounced Link-o-lin) for Shabbat dinner at another student's apartment. She made a home cooked dinner that was fantastic and delicious and I'm not even sure what most of the food was. Dinner did not start until after 9pm and we didn't finish and leave until almost midnight! I was so tired from dinner that I fell asleep around one, and woke up at 2:30....the next afternoon. I slept for over 13 hours and it was amazing.
I woke up today and finally got a chance to unpack and get myself settled in the apartment. I'm am now officially moved in and almost ready to call this place home. I just need to get into a bit more of a routine before it feels totally natural.
Tonight a group of us went out to Ben Yehuda street for dinner and I got to see Beth (and I had to give her back her adapter for the electric outlets) and then we walked a bit up Ben Yehuda street. While walking, we came across a youth group looking for people to Israeli dance with them, so we did Hava Negilah and Mayim in the middle of the street! It was one of the funnier things I've done since I've been here.
Now I'm back and just relaxing at the apartment. Tomorrow is registration at HUC and a 4th of July BBQ. Thats all for now. Hope to here from everyone soon.
Shavua Tov from Jerusalem
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Arrived in Jerusalem
What a 24 hours (or so, I have no clue how long its been since I left home). I'm here updating from my apartment in Jerusalem. I live at 6 Mapu (pronounced mah-poo) which is by far the funniest street name of anyone at HUC this year. I left Chicago Thursday afternoon and flew to Rome, stayed there for 4 hours in the airport, then got my connection to Tel-Aviv where I boarded a Sheirut to my apartment in Jerusalem. The Sheirut took me straight to the apartment so I didn't have to try to find it.
Ryan met me here when I got in and showed me the place. It's great. A little grungy, but lots of good space. We went so I could buy soap and shampoo and shower, because I had been wearing the same clothes the whole time I traveled and I felt dirty. After showering, I met up with a group of about 10 HUC students at someones apartment. I'm not totally sure where it was, but I found it eventually.
From there I walked with Marina (Marz) to HUC to meet up with Beth and Sam and we walked to Ben Yehuda Street so I could get a falafel to make my arrival in Israel official. I got to see Beth's place then walked back to my apartment. However, I ended up going the wrong way from Beth's and ended up in Mea Sh'arim (the extremely orthodox community) and had to turn around and go back. I won't make that mistake again.
Now its time to go to bed and get ready for Shabbat tomorrow. I still have to unpack and Ryan and I are going to buy things that we need for the apartment during the day tomorrow (like a blanket, thank god I stole one from Alitalia!).
Lila Tov from Jerusalem!
Brian
Ryan met me here when I got in and showed me the place. It's great. A little grungy, but lots of good space. We went so I could buy soap and shampoo and shower, because I had been wearing the same clothes the whole time I traveled and I felt dirty. After showering, I met up with a group of about 10 HUC students at someones apartment. I'm not totally sure where it was, but I found it eventually.
From there I walked with Marina (Marz) to HUC to meet up with Beth and Sam and we walked to Ben Yehuda Street so I could get a falafel to make my arrival in Israel official. I got to see Beth's place then walked back to my apartment. However, I ended up going the wrong way from Beth's and ended up in Mea Sh'arim (the extremely orthodox community) and had to turn around and go back. I won't make that mistake again.
Now its time to go to bed and get ready for Shabbat tomorrow. I still have to unpack and Ryan and I are going to buy things that we need for the apartment during the day tomorrow (like a blanket, thank god I stole one from Alitalia!).
Lila Tov from Jerusalem!
Brian
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