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.
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!
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!
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
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
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 :{
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???
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!
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)
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!
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!!!
Ok, more food! But come on…holidays are about the eating, right?!? Potato latkes are another common food eaten during Chanukah, and what a surprise….a fried one!
To add something different I thought I would give you the receipe on how to make them….
What you’ll need:
2 peeled potatoes
1 peeled onion
2 eggs
2 tbsp. milk
2 tbsp. melted butter
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
black pepper
sour cream
Directions:
1. Grate potatoes and onions into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
2. In another bowl add the eggs, milk, butter and blend.
3. Then add the flour, salt, and pepper and mix.
4. Drop spoon-sized amounts on the skillet.
5. Spread out to make a pancake-type shape.
6. Flip over until both sides are nice and golden-brown.
The Dreidel is a well-known gift given during Chanukah. In Hebrew it is called a sevivon, coming from the root word for ‘to turn’. There are games played and songs sung; we even learned a song in my Ulpan called, “Sevivon, sov, sov, sov” (Dreidel, turn, turn, turn). The dreidle is a four sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side. Here are the four letters:
The letters stand for the Nes Gadol Haya Sham (The Great Miracle Happened There). One little fact: the dreidel’s here in Israel have the letter Pei ( פ) instead of the Shin. This translates to: Nes Gadol Haya Po (The Great Miracle Happened Here). Just another reminder of the story of Chanukah. Here is a picture of a small wooden dreidle I picked up.
No holiday would be complete without the traditional fatening foods that accompany it. Here in Israel we also have this very thing, called sufganiyot. Sufganiyot are like American-style donuts, except without the hole in the middle. They are deep-fried (all Chanukah food is, going along with the theme of the miracle oil) and filled with strawberry or raspberry jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Sufganiyot carry the added pleasure of around 500-700 caleries each, so its been said if you eat too many sufganiyot during Chanukah, you end up looking like one! I say, you always seem to put on a few kilos during the holiday season, so go ahead and indulge in this once a year holiday treat! (Even though the sufganiyot in these pics were ‘mini’ and about half the size of a real one.)
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
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. 
Ok, more food! But come on…holidays are about the eating, right?!? Potato latkes are another common food eaten during Chanukah, and what a surprise….a fried one!
The Dreidel is a well-known gift given during Chanukah. In Hebrew it is called a sevivon, coming from the root word for ‘to turn’. There are games played and songs sung; we even learned a song in my Ulpan called, “Sevivon, sov, sov, sov” (Dreidel, turn, turn, turn). The dreidle is a four sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side. Here are the four letters:
The letters stand for the Nes Gadol Haya Sham (The Great Miracle Happened There). One little fact: the dreidel’s here in Israel have the letter Pei ( פ) instead of the Shin. This translates to: Nes Gadol Haya Po (The Great Miracle Happened Here). Just another reminder of the story of Chanukah. Here is a picture of a small wooden dreidle I picked up.
No holiday would be complete without the traditional fatening foods that accompany it. Here in Israel we also have this very thing, called sufganiyot. Sufganiyot are like American-style donuts, except without the hole in the middle. They are deep-fried (all Chanukah food is, going along with the theme of the miracle oil) and filled with strawberry or raspberry jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Sufganiyot carry the added pleasure of around 500-700 caleries each, so its been said if you eat too many sufganiyot during Chanukah, you end up looking like one! I say, you always seem to put on a few kilos during the holiday season, so go ahead and indulge in this once a year holiday treat! (Even though the sufganiyot in these pics were ‘mini’ and about half the size of a real one.)
