Monologues, Memorials, and Caves (though not in that order)

The first exciting thing that happened this week was that we had healthy food at almost every meal! I also happened to be on serving duty, and therefore couldn't enjoy said healthy food as thoroughly, but you take what you can get.

Besides that, I have stories from drama class, travelling, and learning (surprised?). In drama class we chose monologues to use for character development. That doesn't sound so exciting, but of course it sparked my theatre-mind-flame and now I'm itching for more. I almost squealed out of enjoyment when the teacher told us we had to memorize our pieces for the next class. Well, she said try, but I'm not one to deny myself a drama treat. My piece doesn't intially seem to have much substance, but that makes it challenging.

On Wednesday, we went on a tiyul (trip) not too far from Jerusalem to four different locations (all in one day...it was crazy)! We first stopped at the location of the fight between David and Goliath, then went to an excavated site which included a water cistern, a stone dove coup, and an olive press - all underground. I was in the Hebrew tour group, since I've really been trying to improve my Hebrew. On that subject, I just started learning once a week with a girl from the Israeli program here. It's a great new experience, since she's older, knowledgable, and can't speak any English! Anyway, back to the tiyul. We then went to a random cave and played some teamwork games (leave it to Israeli advisors to take you to a random cave to play games in the middle of a trip). The last stop was optional cave crawling through the Bar Kochba caves. Bar Kochba was a scholar who was temporarily thought to be the Messiah and who hid for three years in a cave with his son to escape the persecution of the Romans during the fall of the Second Temple. I have no idea how they lived in there, because to get from room to room you literally have to crawl on your stomach in the pitch dark. It's fun to do for an hour, though!

When we returned, we had a learning session in honor of the matriarch, Rachel, who's death fell on Wednesday's Judaic date. And today (Thursday) marked the anniversary of the death of Yitzchak Rabin. It's a difficult topic to discuss, since his death was a tragedy in of itself and in the way it came about (a fanatic Jew killing another Jew) - but of course, it's important to think about.

On a lighter note, I'm staying in a settlement of new immigrants and Israelis who have been relocated from Gush Katif for Shabbat with a friend from home. That should be fun. And on Saturday night I should be meeting up with family friends from the US who are here for their son's Bar Mitzvah. In about ten days I'm going on a two day tiyul to the Negev (desert), and I'm also excitedly anticipating that!

Well, that's all for now. 'Till next time! Shabbat Shalom.

Second Term

This past week was somewhat uneventful, but I'm sure I can think of a few things to tell you about.

We started classes again, and I felt an unexpected rush of excitement for delving into new material and for falling into a routine.  Days here are long, but you wouldn't believe how quickly the weeks go by.  I did try out a couple of new classes, one of which is Contemporary Law, in which we use logic to apply the early rabbi's teachings to contemporary issues that they could not have foreseen (for example, whether you can have a security camera rolling on Shabbat, or use the same dishwasher for both meat and milk dishes).  It's quite an intellectually stimulating class.

I also completed an entire chapter of Talmud (it's less than it sounds, but still a lot).  To put perspective on that, in high school I usually completed about two pages all year, and I've now completed about five in two months.

We had a Midrasha Shabbat this past weekend, which was really nice.  The more I get to know the girls here the more I enjoy those Shabbatot.  I also played intense games of Settlers of Catan with some yeshiva boys on Saturday, and even won a game.  Apparently, it's a fad throughout one of the yeshivot here to play that game whenever possible.  That's okay, because in seminary all of the girls spend their time crocheting kippot.  During lunch, I gave a d'var torah (speech about the weekly portion of torah) for the entire seminary, and was congratulated on my performance, which was definitely a gratifying experience.  At the end of the post I'll add the (short) speech, if anyone would like to read it.

Sunday and Monday I was sick with a virus, but everyone took care of me and visited during lunch.  It really proved to me how sweet everyone here is.  But now I'm back in classes, and I can really feel myself finally settling in and finding my groove.  Speaking of which, I have to conclude this post or I'll be late for my evening class.  Next week I'm going on a trip to the Bar Kochba caves, so I should have some interesting updates then!

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D'VAR TORAH:

Imagine yourself in boot camp.  It doesn't really matter how you got here, but you're here and the sergeant is screaming something at you and if you don't pay attention soon, who knows what will happen.  Pass, and you've got honor for life - no one will challenge your discipline.  Fail, and you'll be back at the beginning or worse - they'll probably make you clean boots with a toothbrush.

Now, imagine a shiny car pulls up and a loudspeaker announces, "You.  Yes, you.  This is too hard.  But you're a strong, disciplined person at heart.  So you get the medals.  It's all over.  Great job!"  Wow.  Glory is yours.  Success is yours.  You're not sure how you got there - but I guess you made it through!

In Parshat Breishit, in the midst of all of the drama – the world being created, Cain killing his brother, people having babies all over who all live to 900 years old, the world is unknowingly about to be wiped out - a few pessukim mention somewhat of a randomer.  Chanoch.  Perek Hey, pessukim  22-24 read:

And Chanoch walked with G-d, after he had Metushelach, for 300 years, and he had sons and daughters.  And Chanoch lived to be 365 years, and Chanoch walked with G-d and he was no more because G-d took him.

Rashi comments on the words “and Chanoch walked” that Chanoch was a righteous Man among a corrupt humanity.  He could easily fall from the path of holiness, so Hashem took him to Gan Eden alive before catastrophe could befall him.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that since Chanoch lived before the Torah, or the Mabul for that matter, spirituality and physicality could not influence each other. Because the Torah was not in the world, there was no way to elevate the mundane – spiritual and physical were two completely separate realms that didn’t touch.   It was impossible for someone, even a righteous person like Chanoch, to sanctify his environment or himself except to hope for Divine Inspiration.  Chanoch's spirituality was not self-developed, but rather somewhat borrowed from Hashem.  So he was spared from further temptation, he was given a gift.  He passed.

But that's a little confusing.  Is it really a good thing?  Sure, in contrast to the rest of humanity, it was a huge schar that Chanoch merited a free pass to Gan Eden.  And I'm sure it was fantastic for him.  But on the other hand, he didn't have the strength to overcome the struggle of living in a corrupt world.  I'm not trying to say that he should have been able to, it was probably near impossible.  But that would have been such an accomplishment, right?

It's comforting to know that G-d is there to save you, but at the same time, people need to know that they have reached whatever heights they've reached through their own strengths and have achieved their goals despite their weaknesses.  Whoever's in Messilat Yesharim is familiar with this quote of Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzato:

"For someone to merit this good [that is, to receive a portion in Olam Habah], it is fit that he struggle first and make an effort to acquire it."

It's always more satisfying to earn what you get.  It's great to, say, get an A in an AP course.  But how much better does it feel to achieve success through knowing the material, and not just because the teacher - or G-d in this case - likes you and wants you to do well.

But back to the benefit of Hashem's gift to Chanoch.  Yeah it's great to succeed, to achieve, to struggle.  But on the other hand how comforting is it to know that G-d is there, walking with us?  In the Haftorah this week, from Yishaya, Hashem says:

When you pass through water I am with you, and the depths will not overwhelm you, when you walk through fire you will not be scorched and the flame will not burn you…do not be afraid, because I am with you.

So here's my take on the whole thing.  I think I want both.  I want to grow and succeed on my own.  But then sometimes I don't and I just want to be taken care of.  And as I was thinking about this I realized, I do have both.  We have both.  We get the best of both worlds!  For the vast majority of our lives, we have been and we will be living in regular society, given the opportunity to struggle and overcome, to solidify our faith in Hashem through those challenges.  But now - at this moment, for this brief year in our lives - we get to be in a bubble!  We are alive in Gan Eden.  Yes, it's very cheesy, but think about it.  We know what the world is like, we're not ignorant.  But suddenly we are in this environment where we can ignore the world and all of its obstacles. We don't even have to try.  In fact, we end up trying to find the obstacles because for some reason we don't want to be in our little Gan Eden.  But don't worry - soon enough we won't have to look, we'll be back in the regular world and all of the challenges we could ever want will be right there, ready for us.  And that will be an adventure in of itself.  It's exciting - we'll get to earn our success!  Overcome the challenges!  But before that, we get to breath.  And think.  And be in a bubble.  A really awesome bubble with new friends and experiences and knowledge.  For this year, if we choose, we get to walk with Hashem.  My wish for us is that we accept the invitation and enjoy the stroll.  Shabbat Shalom. 

Here, There, and Everywhere

I'm pretty sure I spent this past week in some magical alternate universe where a week is actually a month and you're not allowed to stop traveling until you fall over.  Here's what's been going on:

Monday: I woke up early to attend Birkat Cohanim at the Kotel.  Three times a year, any Jew who's lineage originates from the priestly tribe and who can make it to the Kotel comes to give a blessing to the Jewish people along with all of the other Cohanim who are there.  There's a loud speaker for those attending to follow along in prayer.  When we reached the blessing, you could hear thousands of voices rising together to bless the Jewish people.  It was a holy experience, albeit a little too early for me to truly appreciate the magnitude of people until later in the day.  In the evening I went to Beit Shemesh where there was a free concert attended by many Yeshiva and Seminary students.  That night I stayed at my friend's apartment just outside of Jerusalem.

Tuesday:  My friend, Atara, and I took a trip up north to Tiberias where we rented bikes and rode around the Kinneret, had a picnic lunch, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.  The color of the Kinneret and the surrounding plants and hills reminded me of the ocean in Switzerland - the colors were so vibrant.

Wednesday: I met up with friends from home in Yerushalayim and then stayed with my friend who was on leave from the army for the holidays.  Then on...

Thursday: Ori (the friend in the army), Coby (friend from high school), and I took a brief trip to Tel Aviv to see the sights (ie the ocean and the shops).  We didn't have swim gear with us, though, so I resolved to go back later in the week to soak up more sun.

Friday: I stayed at the Wolffe's house (a family that used to go to our synagogue, but then moved back to Israel).  They have six children, and they were willing to speak Hebrew to me the whole time, which I really enjoyed.  I may yet have a chance to improve!

Saturday night: I met Atara at a cafe in Jerusalem and we also went to all-women's dancing with a band to celebrate Simchat Torah.

Sunday:  Four girls from my seminary and I went to the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo!!! Let me tell you - Jerusalem is stocked up on its various preserved animals.  There wasn't much specifically Biblical about the place, but there was a huge variety of species to see, and to imitate, as my friends and I did.  I need to go back again to see the giraffes and the bears, though.  There were so many different kinds of monkeys!! They were definitely the cutest.

Today (Monday):  As promised, I went back to Tel Aviv for the day with two friends from high school and we went to the beautiful beach by the Mediterranean.  We really need to find warmer and nicer water in the US.  We lay in the sun, swam, and had a picnic lunch.  It was the best way to end my crazy vacation.

Tonight I'm going out to dinner with my roommates just for the fun of it.  It will be nice to spend some time all together outside of our slightly cramped living quarters.  Tomorrow classes start again, which I am looking forward to (crazy, I know).  I'm also starting rehearsals with the inter-seminary choir that volunteers to perform for the needy.  I'm looking forward to getting into routine again, and now that I'm more acclimated, I can't wait to spend the next nine months here.  That's all for now!

Gabriella

The Calorie Episode

Part 1 - Burning Calories
Let me describe for you my two days of ultimate activity in the Carmel (emphasis on "mel" not "car"). We drove an hour to the Carmel, a beautiful region that's green year round (as opposed to most of Israel that turns yellow for a good amount of the year), and stopped at a museum called Ptil Tcheilet. There we learned about the origin of a sacred blue dye, which is likely from a certain species of snail, and is used on some TzitTzit to dye one of the threads. It's a much more common practice in Israel than it is in America to dye one of the threads blue. We then proceeded to snorkle in the Mediterranean looking for that specific species, or in my case, just exploring the deep blue. As you know, swimming takes a lot out of a person, but we didn't stop for the day before hiking for an hour. We hiked Reches Etzba, the Finger Ridge, named for a myth about a mean giant who stuck his finger in the ridge and made a finger-shaped cave when he was stung by an avengeful bee. It's a cute story. We stayed for the night at a vacated Yeshiva high school (everyone's on vacation for holiday now), but before I went to sleep I decided to run a mile or so to get in my cardio for the day. I'm not going to lie, I was proud of my willpower that day. The next day we hiked part of Har HaCarmel (the Carmel Mountain) where, according to the scriptures, the prophet Elijah had a showdown with idol worshippers and emerged the victor (his water-soaked sacrifice was miraculously taken in flame while the idol worshippers' sacrifice would not light no matter how hard they tried). That hike involved bounding over boulders and mini dried waterfalls for four and a half hours and ended in a half hour of climbing straight upward to a beautiful view of Haifa and Lebanon. It was quite the rewarding experience, and reminded me a lot of the five day hike I did last time I was in Israel, from the Kinneret to the Mediterranean.

The next twenty four hours or so were spent mostly relaxing, except for meeting up with friends outside of the Jewish Quarter for a couple of hours. Friday, I made my way to Rechovot, a town 45 minutes from Jerusalem, to spend the first part of the holiday at my teacher's house (who taught me in high school and then moved back to Israel this year, lucky for me) with my high school classmate. Which leads us to...

Part 2 - Consuming Calories
Being at the Maazari's (my teacher's family) for chag was a relief in that I knew the family fairly well, and it was a little bit like a taste of home. Metaphorically and literally. You think that American Jewish mothers are bad until you're in Israel and they actually won't let you stop eating. I've learned a new technique: never clear all of the food off of your plate until they're clearing the table - that way it always looks like you're still working on something. Also, take really small portions at first, that way when they make you take more, you're still safe. And then, when you go to a Sukkot party afterward, move away as quickly as possible from the pastry-filled Sukkah, otherwise you'll find yourself stuck in a frenzy of ruggelach, wafers, and sponge cake (of the varieties chocolate, cinnamon, and candy). I feel full just remembering. And hence the semi-fast I've taken upon myself today. Next time, I'll know to eat very little for a couple of days before the weekend. But that's not to say I didn't enjoy myself. And when everyone around you keeps eating, you don't even feel like a pig! It's fun, you should try it sometime.

So those are my calories adventures for the week, and a preview of my vacation is (hopefully): Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, concert in Beit Shemesh, bike riding and picnic at the Kinneret, and a venture into Tel Aviv (if I can find people to go with me). So it should be fun-filled and exciting, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.

Chag Sameach!