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Published: July 27th 2008
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Rebecca & Judy
We're out to dinner - notice the laundry. Friday, July 25, 2008
Relaxing on Friday afternoon before Shabbat. Judy and I were up early today to meet another friend for a trip to the shuk (outdoor market). We were finally able to get there without any security warnings (we are told to stay away from highly populated areas during such warnings). First we stopped at a wonderful bagel shop (naturally) called Holy Bagel (love the name) to get a bagel, lox, and cream cheese sandwich for breakfast. Mmmm… Then off to the shuk. Since we were there pretty early, we almost had the market to ourselves, which was really nice, although it filled up before long. We had fun exploring the different stalls and haggling with the vendors. Found head scarves and shawl wraps that I’ve discovered I really like to wear. Of course, head scarves here for an observant woman means she is married. I just think they are pretty and I don’t have to worry about bad hair, which has been just about every day since I fried my flatiron. No one has said anything to me about it since I am not married (and believe me, people here are not shy about saying anything, esp,
if it’s about a religious custom) although some folks at the yeshiva joked about me abandoning the umpteen kids I would naturally have as an observant woman …!
We are going to a Shabbat dinner tonight after services so we also picked up a few items to bring to that. Jerusalem’s best kept secret (although it isn’t much of a secret because it’s always packed with people) is this catering place that opens to the public only on Friday mornings until early afternoon with an assortment of already cooked foods that one can pick up and have for Shabbat. I like to pick up meals for the next week, esp. since it’s really hot and I don’t feel like cooking, more so than normal! So Judy and I negotiated what to get for meal stuff and we now have a refrigerator full of food.
This second session is turning out to be just as wonderful as the first one. I still really like my Talmud class and am proud of myself for sticking with it and working the puzzle the rabbis left for us. After that, I like the Tanach class, which is a continuation of the last
session with the destruction of the first Temple and Jerusalem by the Babylonians.
And I’ve connected with a nice group of people. I am grateful for Judy - she is outgoing, willing to explore, very upbeat, has a quirky sense of humor, and is overall a wonderful flat mate! Last night, a group of us went out to dinner on this pedestrian mall I really like (it’s off the main drag of Ben Yehuda and less crowded - it’s literally the road less traveled and I like that!) that has quaint shops and great restaurants. It was a lovely evening.
Oh, and something really exciting - there are clouds today!!! Up until now, I really didn’t think there was any other weather pattern here during the summer except blue sky and sun! Strange that for the first time in a long time I don’t have to check out what the weather is going to be like on a daily basis! Rather boring, actually, but at least the predictability is nice!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
The clouds are still with us. I never thought I’d be so excited to see clouds! They even look like they
Pedestrian street
Again, where we had dinner. might hold some moisture, but I won’t hold my breath about seeing any rain. The last couple days have been noticeably cooler, too. Don’t worry, it’s still pretty dang hot!
Another wonderful Shabbat in Jerusalem. Shabbat has become my favorite part of the week. Not because we have the day off (two days counting Friday) but because I am really enjoying experiencing the different ways congregations and even denominations observe it here in Israel. I’m curious now to check out other congregations when I get back to Minnesota.
Friday night we welcomed Shabbat at Shira Hadashah, that modern orthodox congregation I’d been to one other time where the singing was spectacular. We were equally delighted this time as well. I’d say the singing was even more moving and full of spirit. Even during the silent parts where people pray quietly to themselves there was a constant melodic hum.
We floated out of there to a friend’s apartment nearby for dinner. Once again, dinner and the singing went until past midnight! In fact, by the time Judy and I got back to our place, it was almost 2 in the morning! I can’t remember staying up so late.
Back home, I’m in bed by 10 at the latest. Both Judy and I find it easy to stay up late. I attribute it to the cooler weather in the evenings that often inspires us to go somewhere, even if just for a walk in the neighborhood.
Shabbat morning we went to the Reform/Reconstructionist shul I’d also been to before but the rabbi is in the States for a month and I didn’t find the service quite as moving as I’d seen before but it was lovely none-the-less. Afterwards, a group of us went to this pedestrian promenade in the southeastern part of the city that offers a spectacular view of the Old City and surrounding countryside. On a clear day, one can even see the mountains of Jordan, which we did indeed see.
Finally, Shabbat concluded with another meal at someone’s house. We went to a nearby park afterwards that claimed to have Israeli folk dancing but could find no such happenings. Just as well as it had been a long weekend with all the walking we did between Friday and Saturday, so we just went back to the apartment. I was actually in bed by 10:30!
Have I mentioned the plethora of cats that live in Jerusalem? In all of Israel, too, so I am told. They are everywhere. I forget how it went but apparently cats were brought here to help with the rodent problem. Now they themselves are often seen as vermin but for the most part coexist nicely with people. It’s an odd symbiosis, actually. For the most part, the cats are being taken care of - most look pretty healthy (eyes clear, coat groomed, etc.) and I’m told that many people do provide food and water for them but they remain outside. And for the most part, they are rather docile. I don’t think I’ll be able to approach one, but they don’t slink away either in the true feral sense of a wild domestic cat. I’m reminded of them because I’m watching from my window a cat hop among the building tops as I am writing. Makes me think of my boys back home…!
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