in the swing of things

First things first - check out the flowers which are blooming outside my dorm!!!

Though it’s only been little more than a week since I’ve posted, it feels like much longer. Classes are in full swing, leaving scant time for much else. My free time has been spent either studying, reading, playing music, exercising (walking – don’t get too surprised) and, of course, eating.

As I try to recall specific events to relay to you, it seems I have to reach far back into the depths of my memory. Whether that’s more a comment on the incredible amount of activity here or the preoccupied nature of my mind, I’m not sure.

There are many girls here who are very talented. One girl I’m friendly with is an accomplished musician who writes her own songs. We collaborated last week, she on guitar, I on clarinet. It was so satisfying! Last night we went for a nice walk (lasting around a half an hour) in the neighborhood.

Also, there are many girls here who are on a similar page as me – a big comfort. Relating to other girls who chose to lead the life of an Orthodox Jew after living in the “secular” world is really a big treat. I didn’t realize how encouraging it is to be literally surrounded by girls who are at various stages of “frumming out” (becoming religious). Baruch Hashem.

Recent events in my life:

Last Thursday, (and tonight, b’ezras Hahsem), I went to Yad Eliezer, an organization which provides food and necessities to needy families. Last week maybe ten to a dozen girls went, and, in less than two hours, assembled 150 boxes.

Also, my roommate Shoshana, a good friend of Avital, returned from spending two weeks in Chutz L’Aretz (the world outside Israel). She is such a ray of sunshine – I’m thrilled she’s my roommie!

I met with Rebbetzin Levitan and Rabbi Bear both this week. Each meeting was very, very nice.

Monday was with Rebbetzin Levitan. We had met previously, at R’Yari’s seminar, so there was already a level of comfort there. She teaches about Middos (character traits, and, more importantly, character development), and is phenomenal!

(Really, all the faculty here is amazing. Each class is like a diamond).

Meeting with Rabbi Bear was a little more nerve-wracking, mainly because I don’t really know him and wasn’t sure what to expect. I had attended a few of his shiurim (lectures) on the Kuzari, and felt somehow compelled to sign up for a meeting time. So, when I met with him Tuesday, I wasn’t exactly sure why. Baruch Hashem, he put me instantly at ease, and we spent the half-hour getting to know each other. Another meeting is scheduled for next week.

I’m beginning to understand more of what it means to have a rabbi you can go to who knows you, where you come from, and how to guide you. Of course, in St. Louis there existed relationships with rabbis, but since I came into the community in the manner I did, each relationship (with a few exceptions) was tinged with a shade of reserve.

Here, I feel freer, and Rabbi Bear had the personality with which I felt totally at ease. I was really amazed that I felt so instantly comfortable. Obviously, I was supposed to sign up.

Tuesday evening a girl in our building got married, so a large number of Neve girls went to go dance. It was an amazing experience – my first time at a wedding in Israel. One of the highlights of the evening was when the chasson (groom) sang Ayshes Chayil (a traditional song expounding upon how wonderful us women-folk are) to his kalla (bride).

Yesterday two new things happened: 1) I was moved to level four and 2) I met Avital and Aviva Grunberger in Geulah (a major shopping thoroughfare).

The former was surprising to me, as I was previously in level two (I’m not sure there is a level three, come to think of it). Even more so, Rabbi Chalkowski (the dean of Neve) teaches the Chumash (Bible) course, making it quite thrilling.

We’re in Parsha Noach, and, in addition to reading and translating the posukim (verses), we also read and translate the Rashi and Sforno. For today’s class he even assigned Ramban. This is great! I love it!

Additionally, I get to come to the level Shabbaton in Ramat Beit Shemesh. I even get to prepare a dvar torah for the third meal, so I’m very excited to start that! This parsha would have been my bas mitzvah parsha, had I had one. Incredible!

The latter event (meeting Aviva and Avital) was just fun! Aviva was so cute (she’s here for camp – which is even in Har Nof!), and kept repeating how strange it was to see Avital and me in this context! Indeed.

Okay – I need to get back to campus and get some sleep. Shabbos is coming!!

This is my room

This is my posterboard














This is my corner!!!

School's IN for summer

Classes began yesterday, and massive note-taking has ensued. The schedule is a little something like this:
Class starts at 8:30 with two hour-long classes.

Then a fifteen minute break.

Then one hour-long class.

Then tutoring in the library. This is an opportunity to work on my Chumash skills, which I do with the aid of a British tutor who is very exacting, thankfully.

Then there's lunch, followed by an hour class. Sunday is Rabbi Orlofsky, who is hysterical!!!

Following that is a three hour period in which I have an hour free.

Then take another tutor (a lovely girl from Baltimore),

and then free time until dinner at 6.

Following dinner are two more hours of classes.

So basically, I'm in class from 8:30am until 9pm with two breaks of an hour each, in which I can study, play piano, etc. This is my basic schedule, Sunday through Thursday, with the exception of Monday, which is free from the post-lunch class on. Fridays we have off.

One of the staff members informed me of free concerts at the Jerusalem Theatre every Monday at 5pm. We're talking classical music here! I'm thrilled! Last week was a pianist playing Bach and Ives, which I didn't get a chance to attend. This week was a string trio and oboist (Dudu Carmel, who is apparetly the creme-de-la-creme) playing Radzinsky, Britten, Mozart and Beethoven. It was sublime.

In addition to classes I also have a Chesed job (think volunteer work). On Friday mornings I go to a little old lady's apartment and clean it before Shabbos comes in. The bonus (as if I needed one)? She doesn't speak English, only Hebrew, Yiddish and French. For those of you who don't know, I thoroughly enjoy speaking French, and rarely get the opportunity. It's so nice! And she's adorable.

After that I go to a job job, where I also clean. I don't do windows (well, not yet). This family has many musical children, so when I went last week I was serenaded by a stunning pianist. Ooo, it was so nice!!

Additionally, there are numerous opportunities to do chesed on campus and in town. For instance, Avital coordinates girls to spend time with Rebbetzin Scheinberg (as in "the" Rebbetzin), and I was zoche (priveleged) to spend several hours with the Rebbetzin and her daughter-in-law last week. It was exhilirating. This country is amazing.

photos from the beach

Here are some images from our trip to the beach. The first two are from the hill overlooking the sea, and the last is from the STUNNING sunset we watched.

I hadn't realized that we were intending to stay that long, and had not brought my siddur (prayer book) with me. So, when it became apparent we were not leaving in time for me to daven Mincha (say the afternoon prayer service), I was faced with the challenge of finding a siddur.

I began to approach religious-looking women (the ones with their hair covered) and used the scant Hebrew I knew. "Slicha, siddur?" So, it turns out that there was an abundance of Sephardic siddurim (I daven with the Ashkenaz tradition, which is slightly different), and no Ashkenaz.

It became very upseting. Mostly I was frustrated with myself for not having the foresight to bring a siddur along. However, Hashem had mercy on me and the next person I asked provided me with the necessary siddur and I was able to daven.

I love Israel!!!!!!!!

fun in the sun

Yesterday I went to the beach for the first time in a long time. Tuesday, Thursday and Sundays are women's day at the separate beach in Tel Aviv. Avital, Malka, Rachel, Natasha and I all rode the bus and then a sheirut (a shared taxi/bus thingy) and spent the afternoon there. We even watched the sun set. It was stunning, and so relaxing.

Today classes began, but they are "special" classes to prepare us for regular classes (starts on Sunday). I was zoche to hear R'Liff, R'Brown and the famous Rebbetzin Heller. They were all amazing! I can't wait to start regular classes! The learning here is phenomenal.

the first Shabbos

My first Shabbos in Eretz Yisroel – how can I describe it?

Erev Shabbos (the day before Shabbos) was spent running errands and still denying the fact that I am in Israel!! I can see the breathtaking landscapes, read the signs in Hebrew (okay, so I can’t actually read them yet, but I’ll get there), hear the birds chirping, smell the cedars, but I remain in serious denial of where I actually am.

Back on campus, the girls on Avital’s floor made a treasure hunt Sam, whose birthday was Friday. I helped out a little with writing the clues and then Sharone taught me one of Sam’s favorite songs (Na Nachman….).

Afterwards I began preparing for Shabbos (they have hot water all day on Friday, usually it’s just in the morning and evenings. The water heater is solar-powered. You can see the solar panels on the roofs when looking out over the mountain), played the song for Sam (she liked it!) davened Mincha, and went to go light candles in the cafeteria.

Meanwhile, a nearby yeshiva was having a Shabbaton. They took in Shabbos earlier than us and the sounds of Kabbals Shabbos and Carelbach tunes wafted through the windows. The intensity of the songs was palpable; it was exquisite. Sam told me “Hashem must love you, ‘cause they never do this.”

As I was davening mincha I heard the famed siren. Close before Shabbos comes in Jerusalem, a siren, much like the tornado warning siren, is sounded. I had heard of this phenomenon, but to actually hear it and to realize that the bulk of the Jews here are Shomer Shabbos and this siren is for all of us, that all the city is on the same page… it’s incredible.

I’m telling you – I could FEEL the kedusha, the holiness after I lit. I’ve never experienced anything remotely like it. It was a heady experience.

One of the other seminaries on campus, Bnos Chava (Sheva Brown’s sem), was having a Shabbaton, so all us in the cafeteria were treated to the sweet sound of these lovely girls davening Kabbals Shabbos. It was such a moving experience that I couldn’t look at these girls davening for fear of crying on Shabbos.

Before dinner, Avital and I took a stroll and looked out over the mountain onto one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. We went onto the roof of the main building and gazed out over Har Nof, Jerusalem, and whatever else is out there. When I first looked on the view, it was breathtaking. The view was literally too beautiful; I couldn’t take it all in. What a powerful experience.

Of couse, both of the meals were wonderful. The Appells were hilarious and amazing, and seeing Marc and Debbie was really wonderful too – they are doing so well, keinen hara! Marc gave a very impressive d’var Torah on the first few lines of the parasha.

It’s amazing here – amazing being in a place where so many girls are on the same page. It’s normal to want to grow Jewishly here, which is such a refreshing change of pace! Not that people aren’t growing in St. Louis, don’t get me wrong, but to be around so many of my peers who are moving in the same direction? Well, that’s just luxurious.

some of the gorgeous foliage on the walk "to town" (into Jerusalem proper)











also on the walk to town. There's a palm tree or two in there













Here's the building where all our classes are held - and the roof where Avital and I looked out over the country












Here's a close-up view of the view from the lunchroom

















PALM TREE!!!!!















This is the pathway from our dorm to the lunchroom

Coming Home

I have to preface this post by pointing out that no matter what I say about being here, I can't possible describe it.

When I first saw the coastline from the window of the jet I was thinking, "Wow, that's it. That's home. No way." I still kind of feel like that. I'm looking out the window right now at the hills of Jerusalem, and I still can't believe that I'm here. The Neve girls say it'll take about a week or two for it to sink in.

Avital picked me up from the airport - it was SOOOO good to see her again. She looks great, of course. No one's shocked about that one. She gave me water and an apple, which is so Avital! It was so refreshing. We took a sheirut (like a shared taxi - ten shekel) straight to campus, which is literally on top of the mountain. It's not called Har Nof (mountain with the view) for nothing. It's like paradise - there are beautiful plants, birds are chirping, the girls are giggling. I love it! And...there is a piano in the lunchroom. A Steinway upright. I've already played it. Twice.

I went to the Kotel my first night. A nice girl named Ilana, who lives on Avital's floor, took me. It was incredible. I wasn't sure what to picture, or what to feel, and I certainly wasn't crazy emotional, Baruch Hashem, my life is good right now, so I had mainly tefilos for others. But it was very moving to see people just pouring their hearts out to the wall. I was standing in front of the wall, a few people back, waiting for my first chance to touch it, to call out to Hashem, when there was a tap tap tap on my shoulder. Who should it be but Rivka Serel Yaroslawitz (my bosses' daughter, for those who don't know - she's finishing her year in seminary). We hugged and enjoyed the Hashgacha. Wow!!!! I've also seen Sheva Brown, Sara Zeffren, Chani Muser and Binyomin Yudin!! I've only been here two days. I love it.

My room is in the same building as Avital - up one floor. My roommates are two New Yorkers, both my age. One girl, Kimber, was a vocal music performance major - neat, huh? They are both very sweet. I might move down to Avital's floor, though, when the room opens up after people leave for the summer. It's right at the end of the summer semester, so everything's changing. I'm meeting people and they're leaving in two days.

So there are certain things I expected that I’m seeing – like soldiers with rifles and security everywhere, which is in a sense comforting and in another sense disconcerting. Comforting because you feel protected, disconcerting because you remember there’s what to be protected from. There should only be peace here. One thing which is really cool is that is normal to be religious. That’s one of the best parts - I’m not a minority.

For Shabbos I’m going to the Appells (sp?), the Im Bayit (dorm mother)’s family and then to Marc and Debbie Jacob!!

Have a great Shabbos!!

This is a picture of my building








This is the view from the lunchroom









Avital and me!!!!







This is the tree outside my dorm. Stunning









(I'll try to put up more later - it takes a little while to upload)

JFK

Well, check-in is in a few minutes. I'm sitting on the unforgiving concrete benches in a lobby in terminal four. I've already been to Miami today (how I managed to get a flight to New York via Miami is beyond me). From Miami to JFK I had quite possibly the smallest seat ever. Check it out in the above picture. I'm such a tourist!!
I'm leaving the country in a little under four hours. INCREDIBLE!

Yesterday I was running around like a meshuggeneh; I must have driven to Creve Coeur three separate times! While I managed to see and get pictures with many people who I love and will miss, it wasn't possible to get to everyone. Really, it was quite bittersweet.

Last Sunday the Yaris threw a going-away party (for them, not me, well, mostly for them). Reb Yari made me this beautiful sign ------->
which my mother is going to ship to my dorm, once I know the address that is.

I'm going to go check in my luggage!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday

I ran into Raizy Golumbeck this morning at Barnes & Noble. She asked me,

"So, are you going to Israel soon?"

"Tuesday."

"Wow! You're going to love it! Have a great trip!" (paraphrased)

The conversation gave me pause. Six months ago I was answering that same question with a much more detached response. Sure, I was excited to be going, but it seemed so far away and the emotion was much less tangible. However, as the time flew by and the amounts of days preceding my departure shortened, my excitement grew. I remember thinking only two weeks ago that soon I would be answering that question with a one word.

That day is here.

* * *

There was a beautiful Shalosh Seudas at the home of the Franks (I guess soon I'll be saying "Seudah Shlishit!"). So many wonderful people came by to wish me well, and there was delicious food, inspiring words, uplifting zemiros (songs) and even a guest appearance by Rabbi Yari! It was a wonderful, yet bittersweet, meal. I was surrounded by my extended family, yet I knew that I would not be seeing many of them for quite some time. To everyone who came by or helped in any way - THANK YOU! I'll miss everyone so much, but, b'ezras Hashem (with G-d's help), we'll keep in touch!

50 pounds

This morning I did a test run of the luggage situation. It used to be that for international flights one could take any amount. Then it was restricted to 70 pounds. Just recently it was lowered to fifty. How does one pack for a year's trip and remain within those parameters?

Well, there are a few options. The first is to send items with other people, which I took advantage of. The next is to live minimally. That's a little more complicated. Even though I know I don't really need three pairs of black Shabbos shoes, somehow I can't shake the urge to take them all with me.

When I spent a semester abroad in my undergrad years I took way too much stuff. It made the return trip challenging to say the least. I had to pay something ridiculous like 200 Deutschmarks to get my luggage on the plane. So, I'm doubting the wisdom of having both my suitcases to maximum capacity on this trip. However, it seems like human nature (or at least my nature) to see the limits and push right up against them.

Less than a week remains before I embark on this incredible journey which lays before me. I'm facing an interesting mixture of known and unknown. On one hand, it's a culture with which I an unfamiliar. On the other hand, it's all family.

Avital, who I miss terribly (she's been in Israel since late January/early February), is planning to meet me at the airport in Tel Aviv. When she left I told her that it wasn't exactly fair that she was going on her own, forging her own way, while I was just going to come later and reap the benefits of her hard work and experience. She's setting up my first Shabbos for me, the tzedekes.

Have a great Shavuos!

***