B'ruchim Ha'baim l'yerushalayim! (Welcome to Jerusalem!)

I had a really wonderful opportunity to see some family in Jerusalem today. My mom's cousins (I would call them aunt and uncle...as all of my extended family is very close) are in town on a tour with their synagogue. I awoke this morning from a dream about family and friends back hoome, and was feeling quite homesick most of the day. I was so happy to get a call from Betsey and Brian that they were in town for the evening! I met up with them and had a delicious dinner in downtown Jerusalem. They are very much like my parents, and it was really nice to be with them and welcome them to the Holy Land for their first time. it is so fun to hear about first experiences with Israel.





I have had the opportunity to welcome both Cantor Schiff and Betsey and Brian- all for their first visits to Israel. I love hearing first impressions, experiences, and seeing the enthusiasm of a first time visitor. I think it is so easy for us (myself definitely) to forget about the holiness of this place. Also, it is easy to forget where we are in the world. I walk the streets, and as I am getting more comfortable here, I sometimes have to consciously remember where I am and how amazing this place is. Last year, while I was here on a Taglit Birthright trip (if you are Jewish, under 26, and haven't been to Israel- GO ON A TAGLIT TRIP!!!) we visited Masada. Our tour guide showed us a very good example that I often think of. He took a rock and surrounded it with 4 large rocks. The rock in the center represented Masada, and the outer rocks represented the Roman troops which planned to destroy the city and people of Masada. He then placed an even smaller rock in the center, with 11 large rocks surrounding it and explained that the small rock is modern Israel, and the large rocks represented the countries surrounding Israel that wish it to be destroyed. Considering its small geographic size, Israel is a strong, thriving, and inspirational place to live and I remind myself every day how incredibly lucky I am to be living here this year. Many people complain about the abrasiveness of Israelis- using the term "sabras" to explain their spikey exterior and sweet insides, like the sabra cactus (like a prickley pear for my arizonian friends). While I do agree that being pushed out of line by a 4 year old or elderly woman can be kind of jarring to an American, it speaks to the true strength of Israelis. To live in a place that is hated by so many nations in the world takes chutzpah. And yet Israelis are fearless. Living in constant fear is not an option here, and Israelis certainly live life to the fullest (maybe that's why they don't make their kids go to bed early!)



Ok I have one funny story to tell before I start studying for my Hebrew test tomorrow (yes, i know it's 11pm already). For the past 2 weeks it has been all Hebrew all the time. We spend about 6 hours a day in class, during which time the teacher speaks only Hebrew, and we speak only Hebrew. Then, we leave class and Hebrew is everywhere. Granted, we do not speak in Hebrew to each other (except for the occasional "lo tov" and "beseder" comment), but we are fully immersed in Hebrew here. Which is truly wonderful, and it is teaching me a lot. However, it is not doing great things for my English, and it has only been 2 weeks. I left a note with my cousins at their hotel today, and it took me several drafts. I pulled out a piece of paper from my Israeli notebook (aka rings are on the right side because books open the reverse way in Hebrew) and I began to write. Dear Betsey...However...it came out more like yesteb raed...right justified. as if i were writing in Hebrew. In that moment, I had completely forgotten how to write in English. and it has been 2 weeks. In my defense, I had just gotten out of class and i haven't writte anything in English on notebook paper for a very long time. I guess it is a good sign that I am thinking in Hebrew!

Well my friends, I know I promised a fun graffiti post- and I saw a really cool one tonight so I promise to make that post this weekend. I am off to start studying for my exam, and hopefully get to bed at a decent hour.

L'hitraot!