betach!

This has been such a great day, and it's only noon! I have about a billion blog posts planned, so get ready! In Jerusalem, there is no work or school on friday or saturday, so thursday night is the big party night. Ok let's be honest, every night is a big party night here. Most of the HUC Pre-Ulpan students went out last night to a bar on Ben Yehuda Street, which basically feels like America. everyone is speaking English, and they served us popcorn and american french fries (chips) and schnitzel (basically chicken nuggets). They also have notoriously bad beer in Israel, so I had an Irish stout. in Israel. awesome. While we were walking home at 12:30 am, there were still families with small children out on the streets and in the restaurants (which were all stilll open). I am amazed by how late children stay up here- and they all look so tired, i just want to tell their parents they need to sleep! But don't worry, I resist the temptation.

This morning I woke up at 6am (thank you jetlag) and my roommates and I headed to the kotel (Western Wall) and then to the Shuk.

This was my first trip to the Kotel since last summer. I have a lot of mixed feelings about the Kotel, but I can say that it is a moving experience to walk up to the wall and I am always taken aback by the sheer size and significance of the wall. As I was sitting there looking at the notes in the cracks, I had the realization that I am LIVING in Israel. I am not a tourist, I'm not just visiting for a short time, I dont have to cram in all of these experiences in a short time. I can go to the Kotel any day I want. and that is an incredible feeling.

After the Kotel, and a refreshing drink of fizzy bubbly, we went to the Shuk to get some food for Shabbat; and to experience once again the craziness of the shuk. I got a whole sak of potatoes for 1 shekel- that's about 25 cents. It is amazing to see all of the fresh fruit and vegetables and fish. Those of you who know me well will be shocked by the pictures of what I bought. fresh fish at the shuk

and this is the man cleaning up our fish! We are making salmon and potatoes for dinner!

And since last time I raved about the rugelach at Marzipan in the shuk- here are some amazing pastries from Marzipan. And fyi, the entire box was 20 shekels, which is about 5 dollars for warm tasty savory pastries. zeh deal tov!

I am headed out to take my Pre-Shabbat Nap! Shabbat Shalom Haverim!

Shabbat Shalom

things I love so far about being in Israel.

1. Friday- everyone saying "shabbat shalom".

2. fresh juice at the shuk.


this morning, thanks to jetlag, i woke up at 4am. Fortunately, this means I was awake for most of the evening time in America so I was able to talk to a bunch of people! which brings me to skype. I'd like to thank skype for making it easy to keep in touch with friends and family. it's amazing. even though we look like robots when the connection is bad.


after talking to friends and family for about 4 hours ( crazy i know, but thank you again skype for making it free) my roommate and I decided to head to the shuk. From what I've heard about the craziness of the pre-shabbat shuk, I was teriffied. crowds of loud, hungry, busy Israelis getting ready for Shabbat packed like sardines into aisles of fresh fruit, meat, and judaica tchotchke shops with the people who work the shops screaming in Hebrew something like "apricots for cheap! buy them now! you crazy people why aren't you buying my stuff?!"- no joke, some guy actually said that. I didn't get a chance to take a picture, but I found one on google that I put in here. which brings me to the best place I have found in Israel so far. Marzipan. for those of you who know Israel, you know Marzipan. best rugelach EVER. I also got some yummy savory pastries at marzipan, and i'm officially in love with the place. it's worth braving all the crazy israelis.

this is the shuk. with about 1/10th the amount of people that were actually there.



this is me eating the best rugelach in the world. thank you marzipan.


Tonight all of the HUC students went to services at Kol Haneshamah, a Reform synagogue (some would argue, THE Reform synagogue) in Jerusalem just down the street from my apartment. the service and community were fabulous. Most of the tunes were new, but I picked up on them quickly. and everyone there was very welcoming and excited to have a new group of HUC students.

it is getting very late here and i was on foot for about 6 straight hours today, so I am going to relax with my fresh challah and rugelach!

Shabbat Shalom!