Trip to the North and a welcome ceremony

 We spent a weekend in the north. We hiked up to Mt. Arbel and enjoyed a beautiful view of the Kinneret, Sea of Galilee, and the surrounding area.

My friend, Ben

Our awesome madrich, or director, Shlomy

 Following Mt. Arbel, we hiked up this stream.
We stayed at a beautiful Kibbutz on the shore of the Kinneret, called Nof Ginosaur. We awoke Saturday morning to a rare rainstorm.

 Last week, we had an official welcome ceremony. Our program and the Israeli Ministry of Education planned the event especially for the Minister of Education. There was amazing catering, live musical and dance performances, several speeches, a video from the parents of the some of the participants, and a flash mob. We all learned a dance a few hours before the ceremony began for the flash mob. We were prepared to wow the Minister of Education with our enthusiasm and dancing skills! Unfortunately.... he didn't make it. But we had a great time!

Ellana, Emily, Emils, and me

Rachel

Mike, Ellana, Emily, Shlomy, Emils, and me

Breaking it down!

Me and Rachel

Slichot and Yom Kippur

 The last few weeks, Israel has been observing the High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and I've had a wonderful time watching and participating in the activities surrounding these holidays. Rosh Hashanah, or the head of the year, marks the beginning of new year according to the Jewish calendar.
     Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, many religious Jews  come to Jerusalem to seek forgiveness for a year's worth of transgressions in an activity called Slichot, or forgiveness. Our program bussed us to Jerusalem last Tuesday night to observe this ritual-- or at least to observe those observing the ritual.

 As we walked through the Old City, toward the Western Wall, we encountered a myriad of organizations asking for Tzedakah (charity), throngs of people making their way to the wall, and groups, like this one, dancing and singing in the streets.

 As we approached the Wall, we could see a huge mob stretching from the security entrance to the Wall itself.

The Wall is directly ahead. The men's side is to the left of the big, black speaker and the women's side is to the right.

Standing on the railing all the way at the back. The men's side of the Wall is in the right corner.

 Prayers and songs were broadcast over loudspeakers. Several groups formed and recited their own service on the fringes of the crowd, singing, praying, and observing the wall from a distance.

A few members of the group managed to push their way through the mob, all the way to touch the Wall. This was no small fete considering that our guide estimated that 10,000 people were present.

 We left the wall around one in the morning and got stuck in a huge bottle neck in the narrow pathways of the Old City. In the picture to the left, we're pushing our way through a market place. Ballagan!

 Sunset on Friday night marked the beginning of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. On this day, religious Jews fast and attend synagogue. Since only official vehicles drive and all businesses close on Yom Kippur, the streets in Netanya were drained of the onslaught of honking, shouting, and blaring music. Instead, we found a stream of white-clad people walking to synagogue, children riding bikes, and pedestrians ambling down the middle of the street, absorbing a momentary respite from chaos.

My teaching partner, Emils, in the middle of the intersection.

 Normally this intersection is clogged with crazy drivers and pedestrians going to the mall (building on the right).

Me and Ben in the intersection.

The empty highway

 

  

Jerusalem

 During September, my cousins in Jerusalem graciously invited me to spend a weekend with them. Before arriving at their home, I spent Friday morning on Ben Yehuda street and in the market, Machaneh Yehuda. The market was swarming with people, the vendors were shouting their prices, and it was an altogether enjoyably hectic experience.

Mango nearly the size of Adam's head...

Challah

and more Challah!

Throughout the shuk, you can see vendors with boards piled with Challah lifted above their heads, navigating through the mob. I think this guy flexed for the picture, but, unfortunately, the man in the forefront walked in front of him just as I took the picture.

Halvah

spices

And of course, the Kippa Man

I had a wonderful time with Jamie, Lea, and their sweet baby girl, Maytal. Jamie and Lea let me join them for a delicious Friday night dinner and a very restful Shabbat.

Jaffo and Tel Aviv

  I got to spend some time in Jaffo over the past few weeks. Jaffo is an ancient port city attached to Tel Aviv. It has a heterogeneous population, unlike many places in Israel. There are many interesting points in Jaffo. To the left is the clock tower in one of the main squares of Jaffo.

 My good friend Melissa took us to an amazing restaurant in Jaffo. The hummus was delicious and was accompanied by a dozen variations of salads, tahina,  and eggplant. We were served pita, lemonade, falafel, and a variety of meat kebabs. Even though Melissa and I split a meal and shared the hummus, salads, and pita with our friend Adam, there was an impossible amount of food!

 













The meal was followed by hot tea with nana (mint) and baklava.  The restaurant is in a cavernous stone building, split into many sections to create a feeling intimacy.

 
  This is the wishing bridge in Old Jaffo. The railing is lined with seals of each of the Zodiac signs. Supposedly, if you touch your Zodiac's seal, look out at the sea, and make a wish, it will come true. We'll see!

A view of Tel Aviv from Jaffo.

 













The streets of Jaffo are narrow and cobbled. We passed many unique art boutiques and one floating tree...

 
We got to step through these ornate doors to glance around a mosque as we walked from Jaffo toward Tel Aviv.

The world mat-cot museum in Tel Aviv. Mat-cot is a popular sport to play on the beach here. (Perhaps it is familiar from its feature in an opening scene of "You don't mess with the Zohan"... or not.)

We ate lunch at the shuk in Tel Aviv. We wandering through the bustling covered market, browsing stalls that sell trinkets, electronic accessories, produce, clothing, Judaica, pastries, and more. A few of us ventured to haggle... but were unsuccessful. Maybe next time!