Blogs from Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel, Middle East - page 53

Sorry for the delay...just now got internet access. Oh, those of you who posted comments...they haven't appeared but for some reason I know they're there. Probably the best way to contact us is to send us an email via the contact The Windos button. We took Lufthansa from Atlanta to Frankfurt. Rabbi Analia of Chabad went around the plane with our battery powered hannukiah and led groups of congregants in chanting the brachot (prayers) for the lighting of the first night candles. As soon as dinner arrived, I took my ambien and went to sleep. The rest of the family slept fitfully. I drooled. Once in Frankfurt we changed planes for a short 3 hour trip to Tel Aviv. I cried when we landed and then later when the customs agent asked whether it was our ... read more

Slept in Monday then went to Shearim (another girl's seminary) in the afternoon. Lessons learned from Bresslov: Spend at least an hour a day by yourself in nature or room alone and just talk with G-d like you were talking with a friend. Taking time out of your day to meditate or just think is a big concept in all sects of Judaism. I thought it was a great idea. I just need to make time for it. Keleman's parenting class: Main lesson I learned was that the more time you spend at work, the less time you have with your children. Basically there are trade offs in life and you need to think about what you prioritize. He prioritized his kids above everything and tried limiting the time he spent at work to be with ... read more

From my journal: My heart started pounding when I first saw it. I could hardly believe it. I stood back for awhile, trying to imagine Your House on top of that retaining wall instead of that ugly golden pimple. I was very aware of the fact that YOU had brought me there. Literally, through this whole trip, it seems like You cleared the pth, like You're taking me by th hand and saying, "Come on, I want to show you everything." And then, You brought me to that last remaining wall, washed smooth by so many tears. Stepping close to the wall, gingerly reaching out to touch it, then moving my body closer to it with an almost passionate familiarity, rubbing the stones with my fingers like I would Sonny's hand, I felt as if I ... read more

Does the above thing exist? It seems to in the Old City of Jerusalem. Yup, I'm back in Israel, and back in Jerusalem. I decided to ditch my Israeli friends and take a day to myself in the old city, where the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian quarters all meet. I've seen orthodox Jews wandering the streets with their 8 children or more, I've seen Israeli-Arab's (Muslims) selling their raw cow hides, knick-knacks, tee shirts, and chessboards, I've seen Christians with their heads pressed down on The Stone of the Anointing, (the place where Jesus' body was prepared for burial), and Armenian Churches with odd lettering that I cant read at all. I came to Israeli by way of the Egyptian-Israeli border in Eilat/Taba. I made it through the border's security check A-OK but the two ... read more

Dear Friends, After flying on October 11 from San Francisco to Zurich, we spent two weeks with Evi's parents, Nelly and Edi, in Basel, and also brother Jean-Claude, plus cousins and friends in Zurich. Evi and I flew from Basel on October 23 from Basel to Tel Aviv, arriving at 2:45 in the morning. The airport was bustling like it was mid-day. Israel is a 24-hour country. People, dogs, car alarms can be seen and heard any time of day. Israel has a brand new, expanded airport, one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. We took the taxi to the home of Evi's friends Jacki and Dov, who live in Tel Aviv. Although they have a small apartment, and had 3 other sleeping visitors (children, and mother), they managed to leave one room available ... read more