Shavuot was amazing. I almost didn't make it - at about midnight I thought I was going to have to go to sleep. But as I was walking back to the dorms, something about the night air, and the late hour (you know when you pass from fatigue to hyperness?) made me realize that I have very little time left here and I should take advantage! So I did! I learned until 4:30 am and then prayed with the sunrise, went to sleep at 6:30, and woke up at 1 pm for a late lunch. I went for a beautiful walk with Meira, spent quality time with friends and with my book, and ended the one-day holiday (two in the US - it was so disorienting!) on a fantastic note.
Wednesday night brought the beginning of goodbyes - I hung out with my friend Sammy for a few hours and then said goodbye (until we're in Brandeis together). It just felt weird these past few days to be walking around the neighborhood for the last time with these specific people. I have no doubt that I'm going to miss the land infinitely, but luckily I plan on coming back to visit next year!
I spent Thursday rushing around packing, getting souvenirs, telling teachers and friends that I'm leaving. Thursday night, though, was a bridal shower for a couple from Gush Katif that a group of girls from Midrasha have spent all year raising money for. I had no idea who these people were, but I was moved by the obvious joy that we brought them by celebrating with them and by presenting them with wedding gifts. After that I made pudding pie and chocolate covered fruit with my roommates and a couple of friends in preparation for today (Sunday's) Room 20 Picnic.
On Friday, we left early for Tzfat, and after a long three and a half hour busride, made it into one of the three holy cities besides Jerusalem. I hadn't been to Tzfat since my month long tour going into tenth grade, and I was so happy to be back! It just has such a genuinely holy feeling to it! We visited a Mikvah, which was very technilogically advanced. I was especially impressed by the handicapped facilities - it really moved me. We then saw the artwork of one of our Rabbi's cousins, David Friedman, who does Kabbalah-inspired artwork. It was really fascinating, especially considering his obsession with the letter alef, the number 8, and using colors to express unity and contrast.
Friday night we had a beautiful Kabbalat Shabbat in the lobby of our hotel. That's something I know I'll miss back home, but I plan on bringing it into my community as much as possible. Saturday morning I went to a beautiful shul, the Abuhav Shul, which had three arks, a raised bima, decorated ceiling, and a Sefardi nussach. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. In the afternoon, we took an official tour of the Old City of Tzfat, decorated with many stories of the Kabbalistic Rabbis who lived and taught in Tzfat throughout the years. I especially liked walking into the ancient cistern, singing, listening to stories, and then walking out only to realize that we had grown accustomed to the darkness (what at first seemed foreign), and then had to readjust to the light when we came out (clearly, symbolic).
Before Shabbat ended, I got to enjoy my last "slow shira", escorting Shabbat out. Then we had another long bus ride home, and went straight to sleep.
Today I rushed around again getting ready. But I did get to go for my last run in Israel, walk to town for the last time on errands, and to have my roommate picnic at the park next to the dorms. We had reflections, reminisced, and joked around, as usual. It's weird how far we've come since the beginning! I'm really going to miss everyone.
Tomorrow, I'm going to go to all of my classes, and then head out around dinner time. My flight is at 12:20 am on Tuesday morning. In two days, I'll be in my own bed! When I get home, I'll write one more time so I can reflect (somewhat) objectively before signing off. I would go on and on about how weird this is, but I want to go spend time with my friends for my last night here! Until next time (from the US!),
Gabriella
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Yom Yerushlayim, Shabbat Efrat (II)
So things haven't been all that eventful, but I most definitely have to update you on the events of Yom Yerushalayim. It was INSANE! I felt so lucky to be here for a day of such national pride.
On Tuesday afternoon, there was a scavenger hunt throughout the Old City, which I chose to skip since I was really tired and wanted to enjoy the rest of the programming. In the evening, we had a "portable tisch", where we walked and danced and sang around the Old City walls, stopping at various monuments having to do with the conquest of Yerushalayim, and ending at the top of Har HaZeitim, to pray looking over the Southern Wall, at Har HaMoriah (where the Beit HaMikdash is supposed to be). All together, a really enjoyable experience, touching, and a lot of exercise!
On Wednesday morning we had a special davening, but I had to urge to go to the Kotel before all of the craziness began. So I went alone, had a one-on-one with the Wall. Definitely a necessary experience every so often. I walked back to join the festive breakfast, and then we had a couple of classes on the importance of Yerushalayim. The afternoon was where it got crazy. We danced our way to the center of town, where we met up with Israelis and danced some more, waiting for the parade to start. The massive parade started it's way down King George Street, stopping for a concert by Udi Davidi (a popular Israeli artist). We then danced and sang some more from the Center of Town to the Kotel (a tiyul for everyone else, but just a march into our "backyard" for us!) where there was Jewish music and dancing and a HUGE celebration in honor of our posession of Jerusalem, where I live and study every day, which up until 43 years ago was not even Israel, but was part of Jordan. I felt so engulfed by the pride. Although, I also felt strangely foreign walking side-by-side with all of the legitimate Israelis. It was definitely a fun time, though.
Thursday we had normal classes, and Friday I went back to Efrat to the same family friends of my friend, Aviva, that I went to in the fall. Since it had been so long, the parents didn't remember me, but the children definitely did. I had a really relaxing and enjoyable time - the family was so welcoming, the kids taught me a game, Aviva and I went for long walks, and I finished and started a book. I came back on Saturday night and went to sleep early so I could go for an early run on Sunday morning. Sunday and Monday were normal programming...but now it's Shavuot! All night learning and davening with the sunrise! I'm actually looking forward to such an intense program.
Some important news: It seems that I may be coming home early. The plan as of now is for me to leave this coming Monday night. It's been an extremely beneficial year, but I'm ready to come home. Between now and then, though, I have Shavuot, educational programming about Gush Katif (which I may have to miss part of, rushing around packing up, etc.), and an exciting Shabbat in Tzfat (to which I have yet to be this year). Knowing that I'll be home soon makes me feel energized and prepared to take advantage of these last events before I go, so I'm looking forward to both (the next few days, and coming home)! I'll update you all soon...strange that this blog may be coming to an end!!
Chag Sameach!
Until next time,
Gabriella
On Tuesday afternoon, there was a scavenger hunt throughout the Old City, which I chose to skip since I was really tired and wanted to enjoy the rest of the programming. In the evening, we had a "portable tisch", where we walked and danced and sang around the Old City walls, stopping at various monuments having to do with the conquest of Yerushalayim, and ending at the top of Har HaZeitim, to pray looking over the Southern Wall, at Har HaMoriah (where the Beit HaMikdash is supposed to be). All together, a really enjoyable experience, touching, and a lot of exercise!
On Wednesday morning we had a special davening, but I had to urge to go to the Kotel before all of the craziness began. So I went alone, had a one-on-one with the Wall. Definitely a necessary experience every so often. I walked back to join the festive breakfast, and then we had a couple of classes on the importance of Yerushalayim. The afternoon was where it got crazy. We danced our way to the center of town, where we met up with Israelis and danced some more, waiting for the parade to start. The massive parade started it's way down King George Street, stopping for a concert by Udi Davidi (a popular Israeli artist). We then danced and sang some more from the Center of Town to the Kotel (a tiyul for everyone else, but just a march into our "backyard" for us!) where there was Jewish music and dancing and a HUGE celebration in honor of our posession of Jerusalem, where I live and study every day, which up until 43 years ago was not even Israel, but was part of Jordan. I felt so engulfed by the pride. Although, I also felt strangely foreign walking side-by-side with all of the legitimate Israelis. It was definitely a fun time, though.
Thursday we had normal classes, and Friday I went back to Efrat to the same family friends of my friend, Aviva, that I went to in the fall. Since it had been so long, the parents didn't remember me, but the children definitely did. I had a really relaxing and enjoyable time - the family was so welcoming, the kids taught me a game, Aviva and I went for long walks, and I finished and started a book. I came back on Saturday night and went to sleep early so I could go for an early run on Sunday morning. Sunday and Monday were normal programming...but now it's Shavuot! All night learning and davening with the sunrise! I'm actually looking forward to such an intense program.
Some important news: It seems that I may be coming home early. The plan as of now is for me to leave this coming Monday night. It's been an extremely beneficial year, but I'm ready to come home. Between now and then, though, I have Shavuot, educational programming about Gush Katif (which I may have to miss part of, rushing around packing up, etc.), and an exciting Shabbat in Tzfat (to which I have yet to be this year). Knowing that I'll be home soon makes me feel energized and prepared to take advantage of these last events before I go, so I'm looking forward to both (the next few days, and coming home)! I'll update you all soon...strange that this blog may be coming to an end!!
Chag Sameach!
Until next time,
Gabriella
Monday, May 10, 2010
CAN'T THINK OF TITLES ANYMORE
So, after I wrote last time, I headed off to Ra'anana (near Tel Aviv) with my friend, Malka, to our Madricha, Miriam's, house for Shabbat. Their house was so American that I felt just like I was back in the US. I definitely missed home, but it was also a really nice Shabbat. I finished a book on Michaelangelo (finally!) and started reading The Poisonwood Bible, and then took a walk (reading while I walked) around the neighborhood, by myself. It was so beautiful out...I stopped in a couple of parks, walked in a huge circle, and dropped into a Sephardi shul to say Mincha. Those few minutes really astounded me. It was just me and a few people in this tall sanctuary, with a beautiful, elaborate, wooden Aharon Kodesh. I quietly said Mincha to myself, and when I finished, a woman came up to me and asked if I wanted tea. It could only happen in Israel. I politely declined, and went on my way, back to Miriam's house. I don't know why it felt like such a profound experience, but what can I say.
Saturday night we rushed back to the Old City for a bonfire in honor of Lag Ba'omer. So much fun! I even tried roasted banana! Then Sunday morning we took a tiyul (also in honor of Lag Ba'omer) to Givat HaTachmoshet - one of the many points of surprising victory for Israel during the Six Day War. There's been a lot of discussion about that specific war, recently, because Yom Yerushalayim is coming up on Tuesday night! I can't wait to be here for that...what an honor!
Last week was pretty uneventful - another full week of classes. I find that the full weeks go by fairly quickly, and since nothing dramatic happened, this one wasn't any different. My tour class on Wednesday went to Rechov HaNiviim, where we heard one to many stories about different characters that of course I can't remember anymore. We also stopped at the Ethiopian Church, and noted the peculiar juxtaposition of that community and Me'ah She'arim (the super-religious, fanatically reputed community in Yerushalayim). That was interesting, but I found the whole class a little too long (and hot) to handle.
On Friday I had another little Brandeis gathering, which was low-key and fun, as usual. I'll hopefully organize one more before the year ends (5 weeks!) because a lot of people were away with their seminaries or yeshivot and couldn't come.
This past Shabbat I stayed in a Charedi community called Beitar, about 45 minutes away, with two friends of mine. The one related to the family we stayed at, Maxine, is really sweet (and is coming to Brandeis with me!), so of course her family was too. Although, it was kind of crazy with 4 kids under the age of 5 running around. It's definitely a particular lifestyle to choose.
I came back to an uneventful Saturday night, woke up early Sunday to go for a run before it got shmoiling outside, and have had a good two days of learning since then! Those are the best. I'm even rediscovering authors and commentaries that I love, and have dedicated more time than usual to reading the literature. Tonight I'm hanging out with a potential roommate (cross your fingers!) and then tomorrow I have a half day of classes, until Yom Yerushalayim celebration commence at 3:30 sharp! Can't wait!
'Till next time,
Gabriella
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