I finally found it…

For  a while now I’ve been on the lookout for something that’s been missing from my apartment. It’s a bit ironic that my apartment is lacking this particular item, since my landlord is an Orthodox Jew, but needless to say it’s been absent….

I’m talking about a mezuzah!

When I first moved to Israel, I blogged about my first experience with the mezuzah, and since then I have always had one wherever I lived…. except now.

Yesterday I headed over to Jerusalem to spend some time with my home church Pastor and his wife, who were here on a tour, and believe it or not I FINALLY found a mezuzah in the Old City that I really liked!

I decided to hang it on the doorpost of my bedroom instead of on the outside of my apartment (just to be on the safe side), but after I hung it I realized it was the perfect place for it.

I’m super happy with my new addition!

It’s Sukkot Time Again

This month has been one big holiday… first Rosh HaShana then Yom Kippur, and now Sukkot.  Last year at this time I was in my old apartment in Ramat Gan, and my flat-mate turned our varanda into a beautiful Sukkah.  This year I have no varanda, so I wasn’t really going to do anything for Sukkot until inspiration struck early this morning.

The sukkah is a temporary dwelling of remembrance (click here to read last years post explaining the meaning and origin of this Jewish Holiday); therefore, I’m making my temporary dwelling in my living room….

Mine is far from professional, but if you’re interested in one that is, take a fast forward look into building an outside sukkah:

Chag Semeach Everyone!!! חג סוכות שמח!

Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement and Bicycles

Tel Aviv. Not exactly the ‘holy city’ like Jerusalem and not exactly the quiet atmosphere of the Galilee…. but every city in all of Israel comes together for this day.

No public transportation. No personal vehicles allowed on any street.  No stores or businesses open…. nothing but a day of country-wide fasting…. and bike riding.

It’s traditional on Yom Kippur, because of the no-car rule, for everyone to ride their bicycles in the streets.  Here are a couple pics down on the beach road of good ol’ Tel Aviv.  I will admit it was kinda cool walking down the middle of the road with everyone else, not having to worry about traffic!

שנה טובה! Happy Jewish New Year!

Today is the Jewish Holiday, Rosh Hashana, the New Year.  This Jewish year is 5771… as you can see a bit older than our current 2010.

One thing I love about living in Israel has been learning more about the rich Jewish culture I am apart of. Bringing in the new year with apples, honey, and pomegranates are a few things we eat as well as hearing the shofar blowing across the land.

In honor of the celebration and the New Year, I am spending a few days up north in Haifa, to get away for the busyness and craziness of Tel Aviv.  I didn’t hear too many shofars blowing up here last night, but I did hear lots of booming firecrackers.

As most of you are beginning a new school year back home, and fall is approaching, it’s a new season for you as well…. even if it doesn’t involve a new calendar year.  So, Happy New Year from the Holy Land… lets make this one a great one!

and the winner is……kosher (ummm, not so much)!

I had originally wrote this post back in April of this year, when swine flu peeked its nasty head into the world.  Well, 7 months later, and I’m singing a new tune.  I guess I wrote a little hastely about the outbreak (now called H1N1), cuz here’s the thing:

I GOT IT (and its spreading through Israel, like the States too)

Yep.  I got hit by the little pig-snorting flu, and let me just say its not fun at all! Those pigs know how to take vengence on the human race.  I’m spending lots of time in bed, drinking lots of OJ and cough syrup, and feeling pretty miserable.

This isn’t over PIG!  I will survive you’re evil plan…..

(Here’s the original post:)

This is one good thing about living in Israel ……. I don’t think we will be seeing any of those Swine Flu Outbreaks over here.

(Finally, a good reason to eat kosher)

hehehehee.

…and that baby pig is way too cute to eat….doesn’t anyone remember the movie, Babe?

Update:  Oh no!  It looks like we have a case.  Someone came back from Mexico, but luckily he’s been detained and treated….whew!  We won’t stand for any type of flu that is NOT kosher!!!

Update #2: 2nd case in Kfar Saba has been confirmed.  Another man returning from Mexico, expected to make a full-recovery.  Why r Israeli’s going to Mexico???????

Update 3#: WE NOW HAVE A CONFIRMED CASE RIGHT HERE IN TEL AVIV! ISH!!!

Sukkot (סוכות)

Tonight was the last night of the 7 day holiday celebrated in Israel called Sukkot. Since I was back in the States during the beginning of it, I missed out on the festivities my flat-mates held at our apartment.

During Sukkot (aka: The Feast of the Tabernacles found in Lev. 23:33-44) Israeli’s are called to remember the time in which the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, with no permanent house dwelling.  The word Sukkot is the plural form of the Hebrew word, Sukka, which means booth or hut, in remembrance of the fragile dwellings the Israelites lived in during these times.

My flat-mate turned our varanda into a sukka, which technically we are supposed to eat and sleep under. I did eat under it (though I eat most of my meals on the varanda), but sleeping out there didn’t quite happen  I think she did a really good job, and I was pleasantly surprised, returning home to see our varanda all “sukkoted out”. (I really don’t think that is a word). hehehe

Happy Last day of Sukkot!

חג שבעות- The Feast of Weeks

Starting at 5pm tonight (Thursday) we celebrate yet another holiday, The Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost as its called in the states.  It comes exactly 50 days after Passover, which is now! It marks the giving of the Torah to Israel on Mount Sinai.

How does The Feast of Weeks overlap with Pentecost.  Well, after the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples had gathered together to celebrate the festival (as good Jewish would) when what was known as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came upon them and tongues of fire rested above their heads.  

So there you have it. Once again. The same holiday celebrated for two different reasons…

Jewish: The Feast of Weeks 

Christian: the Pentecost

I will be be celebrating both, thank you very much, and enjoying my Friday and Saturday as a holiday

Matza, Matza, Matza

And here I was wondering what I would do with all my extra matza from Pesach…..

Pesach is here

No more pita and hummus.  Pesach (passover) calls for no bread or pita (yeast) for 8 more days.  I think its a good thing, though…my hips and thighs are proving to need the break as well :{

Ulpan Sader

Yesterday was our Ulpan Sader.  Even though Pesach is not for another week or so, we celebrated it early in account that today was our last day.  All the classes in the entire school came, and it ended up being almost 3 hours (ish!!!), which isn’t even long in sader-world.  I took some pictures, but these two were my favorites….

What is a Sader without Coca Cola with the matsa and wine???

Even a dog joined our Sader.

Mediterranean Monday: Ulpan

 

My Ulpan Book

You might have heard me mention going to Ulpan in other segments, so today I am going to explain what it is.  Ulpan is the educational center where you go to learn Hebrew.  Just like in regular schools, there are levels in which you learn. Since I was a total beginner, I started of in kita aleph (like a Kindergarten class).  I didn’t know how to read, write, speak, or even recognize the letters so we started off at the very beginning.  My class is Monday-Wednesdays, 8:am-1:pm…5 hours of intensity and brain drainage.

Ulpans are pretty unique to Israel in that they are the only institutions that offer Hebrew lessons.  It is the hub of foreigners, especially new immigrants just making citizenship.  The government actually pays for new immigrants to take Ulpan classes, in promoting the Hebrew language. In my class alone we are represented by many different countries: Russia, Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Japan, Italy, France, The US, Brazil, and I’m sure I’m missing a couple (but you get the point.)

One things I’ve loved about learning at Ulpan, along with the actual Hebrew language, has been the cultural aspects.  My teacher is so awesome in making sure we learn about every Jewish holiday that comes along, and Jewish traditions as well. She incorporates the history of the Jewish people (from the Torah) to the history of Israel.  We learn about different places within Israel and where to go and what to see.  We have learned songs that Jewish children learn growing up, and even had computer lessons to learn the keyboard. Overall, its been such a great tool for me.

I say this because this week is my last week of Ulpan!  I debated on whether to go on to the next level or not, but in the end I realized that I have all the tools I need….I just have to go out and start using them (aka: speaking in Hebrew)  I will miss going to Ulpan and especially my teacher (the best Ulpan teacher in the world!!!).  I have met some great people in my class and it will be weird not seeing them every week.  I owe a lot to my experience at Ulpan, and now I can officially say that I can read, write, and speak in Hebrew….and it can only get better!

Book Review: Schindler’s List

Pushing through nights of tears and heartache, I finally finished reading Schindler’s List. Crying while reading books is not new to me; I often cry during a good book, but these tears were a bit different. The book gives a life account of Oskar Schindler, who saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust of WWII.  While the account shows that he was definitely no saint, what he did for the Jewish people was above and beyond any question.  

The book starts out a bit slow, talking about pre-war issues and giving a background into Schindler’s up-growing. Some of it was hard to follow, but as this was a story about him, I understood why it was necessary.

Once the war began, and his antics were unveiled, it was evident to see how he un-selfishly gave all he had to save as many as he could.  Oskar was an extremely wealthy man, and used all his material wealth for the good of mankind.  What I found interesting was that after the war, he lost everything: job, factories, money, etc. and was basically poor from that time on.  He moved to Argentina for a brief stint, but returned to Germany to live out his last days.  

There were a couple moments in the book that I was so overwhelmed… where the tears were flowing and I just sat to take a moment in order to grasp the realness of it all. One time was during the very end of the war, when Schindler had just found out the Germans had surrendered and he was making the speech to all his Jewish survivors. He told them he had to now flee Germany in order to escape being killed by the Russians (he was still German, after all).  The Jewish men got together and made him a gift, to repay him for all he had done to save them.  They had nothing to make the gift out of so one of the men, Mr. Jereth, opened his mouth and insisted they take out the gold fillings.  With it, they melted down the gold and made a ring for him…engraving in Hebrew a Talmudic verse, which was quoted to Schindler at the beginning of the war by his Jewish friend/manager.

“He who saves a single life saves the world entire.”

It is said that when they presented it to Oskar, he put the ring on and could not even speak as he was so filled with emotion.

The other moment was at the end of the book, when it tells of Oskar’s post-war days.  He was so poor and had nothing, and by this time many of his Jews had gone on to become successful and wealthy. Many of them came together and ended up supporting him, financially, until his death.  He had paid for them and kept them alive during the war, and now they believed it was their turn to do so.

The book is very graphic and definitely not for the weak of heart.  It is written to tell the truth about what really happened, and at that time, the truth was extremely hard to swallow.  For me, it was so important to read it in order to have a tiny, sliver of a glimpse into the history of the lives I am now living alongside.  But, even if you do not live in Israel, or are not Jewish, I would still recommend you to read this book.  It is after all, a part of our world history!

Mediterranean Monday: Purim

It is holiday time here in Israel: Purim.  Purim is the holiday that celebrates the saving of the Jewish people (once again) from the Persian Empire, according to the book of Esther.  It is celebrated from the 13-15th during the month of Adar (the Jewish calendar), which is today, tomorrow and Wednesday.  If you are not familiar with the story, then you can find it in the Bible or Tenach.  (Don’t worry, its a short book.)

There are 4 things a Jewish person MUST do during Purim:

1. Listen to the story of Esther, either in the bet-knesset or at home.  Usually the first night is reserved for the telling of the story by parents to the family.

2. Send a gift of food to at least one friend.  

3. Give charity to the poor.

4. Eating the Purim meal, and drinking alcohol.  

Even the Orthodox Jews drink alcohol during Purim.  It is one of the only times that they are ‘allowed’ to do so, and drink they do!  They are told to drink until they cannot distinguish between the evil of Haman and the good of Mordachai.  

Modern day Purim has also been influenced by the Western Civilization’s adaptation of Carnival.  Over time it has become a blend of the two, since they seem to overlap on the calendar.  Now, not only do people observe the 4 laws during Purim, but it has also become a costume/party fest.  Each night everyone dresses up in costumes and parties. Yesterday, while I was at the hospital visiting the Shevet kids, a group of teenage girls came in dressed in various costumes, giving out Hamantashen (a Purim pastry) to all the kids in the hospital.  It was part of their giving to those in need, while at the same time enjoying the fact that they can get dressed up. 

(There is also a pretty good movie adaption of the story of Esther called One Night With the King, FYI)

Mediterranean Monday: Praying toward Jerusalem

There is one thing that all Orthodox Jews have in common, no matter where they live in the word…..they pray facing Jerusalem. It doesn’t matter if its east from the US or south from Russia, it is always facing toward Jerusalem.  

I remember my first encounter with this was in the airport on my way to Israel, the first time.  The flight was soon after the 3rd prayer call (yes, there are 3 times a day for prayer), and all the Orthodox men were in one area, reading from their prayer books and facing……yep, EAST!  At the time I had no idea what that was about, but now I do.  

Even though there is currently no temple in Jerusalem (it was destroyed the 2nd time by the Roman Empire), a prayer for the construction of the 3rd temple is part of the daily prayers.  The temple acts as a figurative dwelling of God’s presence in the physical world, and since there is no physical temple, they pray toward the direction it was/will be. Those already in Jerusalem pray facing the Temple Mount.

What is also interesting is that all Bet Knesset’s (synagogues) also face toward Jerusalem.  The bet knesset is a type of substitute temple, which reminds the Jewish people of the incompleteness resulting in the destruction of The Temple. In each Bet Knesset there is an ark, with the Torah inside.  Even the ark must be situated in the direction of Jerusalem.

I could go on with more detailed information, but I think you got the jist of it.  One thing is for sure….the Orthodox better be good with directions!

Mediterranean Monday: Mezuzah

Outside my front door

The mezuzah (doorpost in Hebrew) is a small case with Hebrew writing on it that you will find on every door post, hallway, or even in closets in Israel (on the upper right hand side).  The cases are inscribed with Hebrew verses from the Torah, which state the Jewish prayer, Shema Yisrael.  It begins with the phrase, ‘Listen Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.’   Inside the mezuzah, if you open it up, is a tiny scroll which contains the verses.  

The custom is to touch the mezuzah then kiss the fingers that touched it when you enter or leave the room.  This is to be a reminder of love and respect for God.  

The other day I was in the apartment, and I heard a loud noise.  When I came out to see what it was, I noticed my bedroom mezuzah on the floor!  It had fallen and opened up…but what was more disturbing was the missing blessing scroll on the inside!  Someone before me had obviously taken it out, probably after it had fallen for them too.  Shame!  I want my blessing back!!!

Here is my (fallen) mezuzah: