Its Wednesday evening about 7:30pm and I am in the area of the open air market here in Jerusalem called the shuk. I decide to walk over to pick up a few fruits and vegetables, knowing its a busy time and preparing myself for the hustle and bustle of the loud, dirty and crowded aisles of the shuk.
Standing on the side of an aisle, a religious woman pushes me as she passes by, doesn't acknowledge it and I react with a loud sigh...
An Arab man working in the shuk collecting all the empty vegetable cartons and tossing them in a massive metal cart parked in the center of the aisle, sees me and says with a smile, "everyone pushes in the shuk, doesn't matter who..." I agree and laugh and he continues, "צריך לזרום - you need to flow."
This word לזרום (to flow) can be used in lots of contexts, and is often used in slang to answer when someone asks what you want to do tonight - you reply אני זורמת - I'm chill, I'm flowing, as if to say I'm up for whatever. Rivers also זורמים - water, people, we're all flowing and chilling.
This is a perfect example of the infinite number of beautifully rich vignettes I've been stopping to appreciate these past few weeks as I begin to say my goodbyes to this period of my life.
This place Israel, and Jerusalem in particular, has come to be very dear to me, in a different way than my previous experiences in Israel.
I am so enamored by its complexity, its diversity and its vibrancy.
When I think back to when I arrived in Jerusalem two years and I recall that period of a couple months when I actually blogged and captured these a-ha moments, these observations, these reflections of incredible daily experiences, these vignettes of encountering the magic that is Israel and its peoples, and frankly I feel a little upset with myself.
I wish I had been able to be more mindful about recording these moments, these surreal connections, these truly beautiful opportunities to experience Israel with my senses- taste, scent, sight, sound and touch.
Having said that, I am thankful that life eventually became just that, life. I actually lived here.
While living here, I had my pauses of appreciation for the moment and thought, oh I should totally blog about this very cool experience, but overall I released that desire and just lived here.
As I think about returning to living in the states after two years of living in Israel, I know that I will recall these magical vignettes with a smile.
I also know that they will help me to communicate what Israel is to me... why do I love Israel? what is it like to live there? what is it like to get to know some of the many different peoples living here? what is it like to explore their cultures? and what is it like to explore their culinary cultures?!
I am very thankful to be sitting with the shuk man's words of wisdom - צריך לזרום - you need to flow.
Here's to 11 more days of flowing in Israel.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Torah Study on an iPad? Yes? No? Absolutely!
As a Master of Jewish Education student I have been introduced to many educational theories, developmental psychology and pedagogical practices. In addition to all these areas we also focus on the place of 21st century learning in today's educational world, which of course includes the discussion of technology's role in education. Currently I am enrolled in a class called Technology and the Jewish Day School. Our learning is largely oriented around the 6 Cs identified as 21st century learning outcomes: Connectivity - Communication - Collaboration - Creative Expression - Critical Thinking - Customization. Although there are also other aspects of 21st century learning, including skills that ensure students are prepared to work in the global job market, for me these six areas reflect the main rethinking necessary for truly integrating technology into education.
A perfect example of this rethinking is how we use technology in a way that is not just a bells and whistles addition but rather a comprehensive ecological change in the school culture- how do we integrate the use of an iPad or SMART Board to provide our students with opportunities to engage with and develop these different learning outcomes? These may seem like simple examples, but they are not. This kind of conversation is really about how do we challenge the assumed and accepted ways we "do school" and open up to innovating education, to breaking down the brick walls of the school and to connecting with the global, connected and largely online world.
This revolutionary change must happen in Jewish education as well. Therefore when my professor asked me to reflect on the question, "Should our students be allowed to study Torah on an iPad?" I felt comfortable and confident to say, "Absolutely, yes, 100% yes!" Because I believe that we must allow for widespread systematic change with regards to technology, I feel that this must include the study of Torah. If we are really discussing revolutionary change then I believe there is no danger of disrespecting or dishonoring our sacred texts. I also believe that relevance and authenticity are essential when it comes to teaching young Jewish American students to love and engage with Torah study. How can we allow for relevance and authenticity if we restrict our students from engaging with the 6 Cs listed above when it comes to Torah learning? Some may argue that to study Torah on an iPad is unacceptable, that bringing our holy texts to the mundane technological world which includes Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sends the wrong message. I cannot tell these people that their beliefs are not valid nor can I make them rethink the way they engage with Torah study, but these people are not my future students. My future students have grown up in this 21st century culture and will continue to engage with technology regardless of what happens in their classroom. Although I feel a part of the whole, the multi-generational Jewish people, I feel more committed to the next generation, to my future students. I am passionate about engaging my students in an honest, integrated and exciting Jewish life, which like it or not, includes Torah study on an iPad. I welcome comments.
A perfect example of this rethinking is how we use technology in a way that is not just a bells and whistles addition but rather a comprehensive ecological change in the school culture- how do we integrate the use of an iPad or SMART Board to provide our students with opportunities to engage with and develop these different learning outcomes? These may seem like simple examples, but they are not. This kind of conversation is really about how do we challenge the assumed and accepted ways we "do school" and open up to innovating education, to breaking down the brick walls of the school and to connecting with the global, connected and largely online world.
This revolutionary change must happen in Jewish education as well. Therefore when my professor asked me to reflect on the question, "Should our students be allowed to study Torah on an iPad?" I felt comfortable and confident to say, "Absolutely, yes, 100% yes!" Because I believe that we must allow for widespread systematic change with regards to technology, I feel that this must include the study of Torah. If we are really discussing revolutionary change then I believe there is no danger of disrespecting or dishonoring our sacred texts. I also believe that relevance and authenticity are essential when it comes to teaching young Jewish American students to love and engage with Torah study. How can we allow for relevance and authenticity if we restrict our students from engaging with the 6 Cs listed above when it comes to Torah learning? Some may argue that to study Torah on an iPad is unacceptable, that bringing our holy texts to the mundane technological world which includes Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sends the wrong message. I cannot tell these people that their beliefs are not valid nor can I make them rethink the way they engage with Torah study, but these people are not my future students. My future students have grown up in this 21st century culture and will continue to engage with technology regardless of what happens in their classroom. Although I feel a part of the whole, the multi-generational Jewish people, I feel more committed to the next generation, to my future students. I am passionate about engaging my students in an honest, integrated and exciting Jewish life, which like it or not, includes Torah study on an iPad. I welcome comments.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Highlights from a day in the life...
ד׳ באייר תשע״ג
April 14, 2013
יום ראשון Yom Rishon, the first day (of the week) meaning Sunday...
[I’ve
decided to try to write seemingly mundane highlights for blog posts
from now on since it has been so difficult for me to actually invest
time in the extremely detailed descriptions I initially wrote many moons
ago.]
I begin my day with the sunshine and birds’ sweet songs streaming into my bedroom from the window which opens onto my balcony.
On
my walk to school two high school boys pass me, apparently reviewing
for an exam, and I overhear one say to the other, ”רש”י אומר” which
means “Rashi says” ... Rashi is a French medieval commentator of Jewish
text who is seen as the father of all commentators.
Starting
last week, balconies and cars began to display Israeli flags in
anticipation of the holidays observed this week and next, יום הזכרון,
Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day, יום העצמאות, Yom HaAtzmaut, Independence
Day, and יום ירושלים, Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day. This morning I
noticed even more flags waving in the wind from balconies, in front of
schools and businesses...
A
millisecond after the walk sign flashed at the traffic light in front
of my school, a car waiting to turn right honked at me to cross the
street. My initial reaction included a few profanities towards his
impatience and then I thought, with my Israeli hat on, wow, he didn’t
just turn and nearly hit me, he actually noticed a pedestrian!
I
finished reading the last chapter of the book of Ruth with my חברותא
chevruta, learning partner and then we began rereading the text and
asking questions, thinking like a commentator, noting gaps or
contradictions in the story, symbolic vocabulary words and grammatical
syntax, and much more. My mind is blown by this seemingly simple
narrative about Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth and the complex list
of questions my chevruta and I ask about the text.
After
three hours of studying Ruth, I sit and hear four faculty members share
about their personal relationship to Israel- people, land and
country... in anticipation of Yom HaZikaron beginning at sundown tonight
and Yom HaAtzmaut following immediately afterward tomorrow at
sundown...
Short meeting with the director of my program and my peers about the remainder of this school year.
Read
a commentary from Rashi with one of my favorite teachers in preparation
for a peer teaching lesson I will be teaching in a week and half on
some verses in the book of Ruth.
I
then caught a ride with a teacher who lives in Efrat where my cousins
live to join them at their community’s Yom HaZikaron ceremony. After
some amazing catch up time and yummy hugs from the little ones, we
walked to the community center which was packed with people, including
soldiers, teenagers, families and many communal leaders. For those who
have never been in Israel on Yom HaZikaron, it is an extremely personal
day in which people share stories about their loved ones who have fallen
while serving in the Israeli Defense Forces or who have been killed in
terrorist attacks. The Efrat community unfortunately has lost many
people over the years and honored them during the program. I find it
hard to explain in detail the different sections of the event and
especially the emotions I felt and the energy I felt from the hundreds
of people sitting in the room... One thing I must share is that the
ceremony was planned, emceed and included music and poetry performed by
teenagers from Efrat. To see high schoolers who in a few short years
will themselves be soldiers lead this evening was extremely powerful...
This evening opened a very heavy and meaningful day of commemoration
which I cycled through the next day.
More to come on the experiences of this day and the following day of celebrating Israeli independence.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Falling in love with Tel Aviv
So there is this thing. Tel Aviv vs. Jerusalem- and I'd say probably the majority of your average secular Israelis would say Tel Aviv, hands down. Now don't get me wrong, I'm in love with Jerusalem... there is incredible history, beauty and complexity here. But there is something else going on in Tel Aviv, and I like it.
First off its a metropolitan city that just feels more city-like... tons of cafes, bars and restaurants that call my name everywhere I go... "Cara, come have a civilized glass of wine on this uber-cute street and watch the world go by."
Secondly there is the sparkling Mediterranean and incredible biking and walking paths the stretch from Yafo to north Tel Aviv, which is heaven. Even on October 27, 2012 it was warm walking this stretch in the afternoon... And the other biggest highlight in my mind right now, I have some amazing friends who actually live there!
Amazing Abra Cohen continues to host me and introduce me to interesting places, people and fun. Friday I took the train into Tel Aviv and walked the fifteen minutes to her adorable, chic, Israeli-style hipster-filled, gentrified neighborhood called Florentine. I am now familiar enough with the area to know where I am! After catching up a bit on the balcony of her and Joseph's studio apartment, we walked down to the shuk (market) and experienced the pre-closing shopping crowd.
Highlights include: at one fruit and vegetable stand I wanted to buy one lemon so I handed it to the man to weigh it and he replies, "מה זה? אחד" (What's this? (Give me) one shekel), it was very clear he was annoyed by my lame, singular purchase on a Friday; finding a bottle of French rose I used to get at Trader Joe's for about $8; looking up to the stormy grey blue sky and seeing a bolt of lightening; and buying an amazing olive mix in a posh little shop that felt out of place in the crazy shuk, where a sign reading sex, drugs and olive oil hung, see right.
Back in the studio they are subletting, Abra started cooking and we opened the bottle of rose. I provided some sous chef support and attempted to do some homework, like a good graduate school student, or something haha. Eventually a friend of theirs joined us for dinner. We had a lovely meal of salad, pita and hummus, rice and curried coconut lentils, and of course, red wine. Later a few other friends joined the festivities, including my former teacher Mika from my Hebrew distance learning I did from home in April and May! It was so amazing to finally meet her in person. She also lives in the neighborhood and was so lovely to spend time with. Overall it was an incredible evening.
In the morning Abra and I made shakshouka - a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers, onions, often spice with cumin. It was so yummy. We then met our other Oregon girlfriend, Dorit and all walked along the beautiful ocean to Yafo. Dorit and I go way back to a Shabbaton for young Jews in Portland when we were both 13 or so... After Yom Kippur services ended this September, I ran into her here in Jerusalem. We were at the same services and connected randomly outside. Amazing world.
Back to Tel Aviv... It was sunny, the boardwalk was filled with families out for a walk, the day was just lovely. When we got to Yafo, we all got massive frozen yogurts with fresh fruit (pomegranate seeds, mango, kiwi and tahina for me, yes tahina on frozen yogurt is super tasty, ממש טעים) and sat and chatted, getting to know one another more and laughing at all our moments connecting through Oregon culture. Eventually we came to this large warehouse space. One space housed an art gallery with photographs of a vineyard somewhere in Israel... and the other side... well there was an Israeli sample shoe sale in warehouse and THE best people watching ever- wow, leather shoes and handbag induced visual orgasm! Seriously it was one of the most incredibly stimulating experiences I have had in Israel. Both Abra and Dorit seriously checked out boots, and Ms. Abra actually bought a pair, after, hmmm, a bit of time speculating. Here we are celebrating her decision!
We walked into Yafo a bit more and I got a fresh savory pastry from this huge bakery. The young man helping me started to ask me where I'm from and why/how I speak Hebrew, the usual questions when they hear my accent, and then he asks me if I speak Arabic, and I say no... then Dorit responds to him in Arabic! It was an amazing moment. He got excited and gave us two free rugeleh, which are little sweet pastries, usually with chocolate. We then walked to a convenience store to by some essentials... a few beers to drink on the beach. The sun was already down when we arrived at the beach but the sky was still lit with the warm colors of sunset. After our beers and relaxation, we walked back towards Abra's apartment and stopped and had burgers for dinner.
The guy who took our order joked about Abra's name sounding like abracadbra and when they announced over the speaker for her to come get her burger, he called her abracadabra, it was so funny. We went home, I grabbed my bag and we caught a sherut, which literally means service, but is like a shuttle or large taxi or small bus. Her friend had a house warming party at her new apartment on Dizengoff street, one of the main streets in Tel Aviv. They have roof-top balcony that is huge and the party was happening, with a DJ and tons of people. Eventually I left and caught a sherut back to Jerusalem. At one point in the ride I dropped my cell phone behind the seat, and this Southeast Asian woman with broken Hebrew helped me find it by hollering at the driver to turn the light on. It was quite an experience to cap off an awesome, fun-filled weekend in Tel Aviv.
In short, I'm starting to fall in love with this city and look forward to exploring more. I still haven't even gone to a museum yet!
Had to include this picture I took last week, one night when I stayed late to work on the practice lesson I am preparing to teach this upcoming Thursday. I spend many hours in this room... Here I am working with the first two chapters of the first book of the Five Books of Moses or the Torah, Genesis בראשית (Bereshit) and focusing on two verses in particular in the two creation stories, one in each chapter. The relationships between man with nature, the land and animals, are different in each story and I plan to highlight these differences, in particular the Hebrew verbs central to the verses, and reflect on the two models for man's relationship with nature presented in the Torah. In the first mankind has dominion over the land and in the second the man tills and tends the land. More to come...
First off its a metropolitan city that just feels more city-like... tons of cafes, bars and restaurants that call my name everywhere I go... "Cara, come have a civilized glass of wine on this uber-cute street and watch the world go by."
Secondly there is the sparkling Mediterranean and incredible biking and walking paths the stretch from Yafo to north Tel Aviv, which is heaven. Even on October 27, 2012 it was warm walking this stretch in the afternoon... And the other biggest highlight in my mind right now, I have some amazing friends who actually live there!
Amazing Abra Cohen continues to host me and introduce me to interesting places, people and fun. Friday I took the train into Tel Aviv and walked the fifteen minutes to her adorable, chic, Israeli-style hipster-filled, gentrified neighborhood called Florentine. I am now familiar enough with the area to know where I am! After catching up a bit on the balcony of her and Joseph's studio apartment, we walked down to the shuk (market) and experienced the pre-closing shopping crowd.
Highlights include: at one fruit and vegetable stand I wanted to buy one lemon so I handed it to the man to weigh it and he replies, "מה זה? אחד" (What's this? (Give me) one shekel), it was very clear he was annoyed by my lame, singular purchase on a Friday; finding a bottle of French rose I used to get at Trader Joe's for about $8; looking up to the stormy grey blue sky and seeing a bolt of lightening; and buying an amazing olive mix in a posh little shop that felt out of place in the crazy shuk, where a sign reading sex, drugs and olive oil hung, see right.Back in the studio they are subletting, Abra started cooking and we opened the bottle of rose. I provided some sous chef support and attempted to do some homework, like a good graduate school student, or something haha. Eventually a friend of theirs joined us for dinner. We had a lovely meal of salad, pita and hummus, rice and curried coconut lentils, and of course, red wine. Later a few other friends joined the festivities, including my former teacher Mika from my Hebrew distance learning I did from home in April and May! It was so amazing to finally meet her in person. She also lives in the neighborhood and was so lovely to spend time with. Overall it was an incredible evening.
Back to Tel Aviv... It was sunny, the boardwalk was filled with families out for a walk, the day was just lovely. When we got to Yafo, we all got massive frozen yogurts with fresh fruit (pomegranate seeds, mango, kiwi and tahina for me, yes tahina on frozen yogurt is super tasty, ממש טעים) and sat and chatted, getting to know one another more and laughing at all our moments connecting through Oregon culture. Eventually we came to this large warehouse space. One space housed an art gallery with photographs of a vineyard somewhere in Israel... and the other side... well there was an Israeli sample shoe sale in warehouse and THE best people watching ever- wow, leather shoes and handbag induced visual orgasm! Seriously it was one of the most incredibly stimulating experiences I have had in Israel. Both Abra and Dorit seriously checked out boots, and Ms. Abra actually bought a pair, after, hmmm, a bit of time speculating. Here we are celebrating her decision!
We walked into Yafo a bit more and I got a fresh savory pastry from this huge bakery. The young man helping me started to ask me where I'm from and why/how I speak Hebrew, the usual questions when they hear my accent, and then he asks me if I speak Arabic, and I say no... then Dorit responds to him in Arabic! It was an amazing moment. He got excited and gave us two free rugeleh, which are little sweet pastries, usually with chocolate. We then walked to a convenience store to by some essentials... a few beers to drink on the beach. The sun was already down when we arrived at the beach but the sky was still lit with the warm colors of sunset. After our beers and relaxation, we walked back towards Abra's apartment and stopped and had burgers for dinner.
The guy who took our order joked about Abra's name sounding like abracadbra and when they announced over the speaker for her to come get her burger, he called her abracadabra, it was so funny. We went home, I grabbed my bag and we caught a sherut, which literally means service, but is like a shuttle or large taxi or small bus. Her friend had a house warming party at her new apartment on Dizengoff street, one of the main streets in Tel Aviv. They have roof-top balcony that is huge and the party was happening, with a DJ and tons of people. Eventually I left and caught a sherut back to Jerusalem. At one point in the ride I dropped my cell phone behind the seat, and this Southeast Asian woman with broken Hebrew helped me find it by hollering at the driver to turn the light on. It was quite an experience to cap off an awesome, fun-filled weekend in Tel Aviv.
In short, I'm starting to fall in love with this city and look forward to exploring more. I still haven't even gone to a museum yet!
Had to include this picture I took last week, one night when I stayed late to work on the practice lesson I am preparing to teach this upcoming Thursday. I spend many hours in this room... Here I am working with the first two chapters of the first book of the Five Books of Moses or the Torah, Genesis בראשית (Bereshit) and focusing on two verses in particular in the two creation stories, one in each chapter. The relationships between man with nature, the land and animals, are different in each story and I plan to highlight these differences, in particular the Hebrew verbs central to the verses, and reflect on the two models for man's relationship with nature presented in the Torah. In the first mankind has dominion over the land and in the second the man tills and tends the land. More to come...
Monday, October 1, 2012
Blogging in 5773
The Jewish New Year ראש השנה Rosh HaShanah was on September 17 followed by the Day of Atonement יום כיפור Yom Kippur on September 26. All Jewish holidays always start the sundown before the day of the actual holiday for those who are not aware. Tonight, September 30 the holiday called סוכות Sukkot began at sundown. It was amazing to walk around my neighborhood and other nearby areas and see these decorated sukkot (booths) everywhere. In front and behind apartment buildings, on balconies, on rooftops and even in front of businesses on a commercial street. I'm off from school for about a week and a half for the Sukkot break- vacation!
Tonight I also experienced rain for the first time in Israel. It was quite powerful to feel the rain drops through the beautifully decorated top of the סוכה sukkah, covered in date palm branches, other local leafy plants, a few strings of little apple lights and home-made paper balls and chains. It is a beautiful harvest holiday that lasts seven days in which it is a mitzvah to "dwell" in your sukkah, eating meals with invited guests and shaking the four species ארבע מינים arbah minim, see left. Although we had a festive feast of salad, hummus, challah, dolmas, roasted chicken, and kugels, my highlight of the meal was eating lots of pomegranate seeds for dessert, along with some chocolate cake of course. Throughout the meal the rain drops fell upon my plate, head and into my cup.Earlier in the evening I sat out on my balcony with a friend of mine from my cohort, the group with whom I will be studying for two years- there are six of us all together. We chatted about our weekend trips away- he visited the kibbutz in the south he used to work at for two years and I vacationed with four friends from Pardes at a hotel in Tiberias the north. As we sat there above the two sukkot standing below us in the back of my apartment building, we saw two bunnies jump through the area, one brown and one white. Sometimes I have moments here, well really every day, when I think to myself, "Where am I?" and I remember that I am actually living here... in Jerusalem, in Israel, in the Middle East... half way around the world from Oregon.
It happened also today when I walked on Emek Refaim, a main street nearby, to go to the bank and I passed about seven different tables of young Israeli boys selling the four species: etrog (אתרוג) – the fruit of a citron tree (and smells amazing), lulav (לולב) – a ripe, green, closed frond from a date palm tree, hadass (הדס) – boughs with leaves from the myrtle tree, and aravah (ערבה) – branches with leaves from the willow tree. There are also happy holiday חג שמח chag samayeah decorations all over. The bus reader boards have added חג שמח to their number and destination. There is a festive feeling :)
Now I will share a few random visual highlights of the past two month. In the next blog post I will explain all of my courses that I am taking at Pardes- Sunday-Thursday, 8:30am-5pm, sometimes 8pm, sometimes 9pm, sometimes 7pm... basically I'm spending many hours learning at Pardes!
Left: One of the most beautiful times of day, about 7pm, walking behind my apartment building and looking up and listening to the green parrots. 
Right: I discovered organic tofu that is made in Israel in my new favorite store called זמורה אורגני zamora organi. I love this store so much... guess what else they have?!Julie's Organic Sorbet made in Eugene, Oregon! So cool, huh?!
Obviously it was very exciting to find this cooler tucked in the back corner by all the goat milks and yogurts that are organic and of course, from the bountiful Israeli dairy industry. Foodie friends, Israeli food is amazing in general but this specialty store of health food, including organic produce, bulk items, mindful cleaning supplies, toiletries, vitamins, supplements and more, is out of this world- I love it! There are two locations, one very close to Pardes and the other near my apartment. I have a club membership there which gives me specials deals and credit back after a certain amount spent.
These two pictures were taken as the sun was setting in Tel Aviv, off a one of three balconies at an apartment Abra has been subletting in a funky area called Florentine. I love visiting her and exploring this diverse and thriving city. Even though going to Tel Aviv is a nice get-away from the holy city, I still love living in Jerusalem.
Abra is from Eugene and we are becoming good friends. She and I are both lucky to have cool brothers who are also good friends. While in Tel Aviv she and I have rented bikes and ridden along the beach, watching the glistening Mediterranean waters and all the people out worshiping the sun. We ourselves have worshiped the sun with heavy doses of sunscreen and shade breaks, of course. We have also gone shopping in the shuk, visited a Friday arts and crafts fair and ventured into home goods stores in the area where I bought long coral curtains and a small woven rug to brighten my bedroom.
In a few days I will travel to briefly visit Abra again in Tel Aviv, go wine tasting in Zichron Yaacov and then visit a family who used to live in Eugene, who live in Ein Hod, an artists' village in the north.
להיתראות (liheetraot)
See you later
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
A Quick Visual Post
As many of you told me, my aspiration of writing weekly succinct and interesting posts has been hard to achieve. Of course I have many incredible stories and adventures to share... to make sure I share at least a few highlights I will start with a few photos. I finally got a cell phone about a week and a half ago and therefore now have a camera that takes quite decent photos!
Last week was Tisha B'Av, literally the ninth of the Hebrew month of Av. This is an intense and complicated "holiday" to explain so if you are truly interested check out the link. But in a nutshell it is a fast day in which Jews commemorate the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, both in 586 BCE and 70 CE, as well as many other unbelievable Jewish catastrophes. I spent the day at Pardes studying the many aspects of observing this day and the significance of such a day for Jews in our time.
After a long and very meaningful day, I broke the fast with Dana. She was one of the counselors on my very first trip to Israel in 2000! Yes we reconnected 12 years later and enjoyed a lovely meal at an outdoor cafe. I drank a half liter of Hoegaarden beer which looks huge in the picture but is really only 16.9 ounces. This street is close to my school and not too far from my neighborhood. It has a few very cute cafes with outdoor seating, as well as lots of shops, like a produce store I love, beauty salons, dry cleaners, and more.
After Tisha B'Av I had the last day of classes at the Pardes summer program. The following day in the evening I went to the Annual Israeli Wine Festival held in the sculpture gardens at the Israel Museum. Incredible views, fifty Israeli wineries, olive oil, chocolate and other artisan booths, jazz music and lots of people, including Shimon Peres, the president! I could go on and on about this evening and all the wines I was sober enough to enjoy. Yes I had a bit too much to drink, but overall it was awesome, and I will be better prepared for next year. I will eat dinner first :)
The next day I went on my first real hike since I arrived in late June. I went with Rina and her friend Avishalom to the Jerusalem forest, located not far from my area, just west of the city. It was hot, of course, hiking at 3:00pm but not unbearable. We had lots of fun and I took lots of pictures, including the one of me riding a sheep... yes this is indeed a statue. Gullible ol' Cara thought they were real from a distance!
This hike will take you to three springs, called mayanot in Hebrew. There were about 10-15 people hanging out around the first spring. We didn't go in but enjoyed a rest near the spring. Unfortunately everywhere I've hiked/walked in Israel there is always some trash lingering... gross.
We then had a discussion about littering in Israel. I shared how in Oregon we are nice to nature :) yeah northwest pride! The landscape and vegetation here is simply amazing. I wish I could incorporate smells into the blogs! Za'atar grows everywhere! When we returned to the car the sun was beginning to near the horizon and the magical Jerusalem sunset light was starting to grace the hillsides.
The following day I went to an IKEA for the first time! Rina and I took in the massive store, full of Jews, which you think would be normal for me now, but its still not. After only about two and a half hours, we left the store with some major deals, including a desk for my room, some kitchenware and of course purple organizing bins! Yeah organization! I seriously love all their modern, simple designs, and affordable too. Wow, can't believe I've lived this long without a visit to IKEA. After an exhausting but stimulating shopping adventure we drove to a beach in Rishon Letzion, which is near Tel Aviv. There is a boardwalk-like promenade and tons of chairs and umbrellas decorating the sandy beach. The weather outside of the Jerusalem area is so different- much hotter, extremely humid and just stifling! It was the first time I'd seen the Mediterranean since I arrived, besides from the window of the airplane, and it is so magnificently radiant. We had a lovely dinner of small salads and fresh fish before driving in "rush hour" traffic back to little ol' Jerusalem.
I spent Shabbat at two of my teachers from Pardes' homes in Alon Shevut, which is near Efrat where the cousins live. It was a lovely, interesting and educational experience being in their observant, warm and welcoming homes. I went to services in both an Ashkenazi and Sephardic synagogue for Erev Shabbat and Shabbat morning, and was so happy to happen upon a Bar Mitzvah chanting the very Torah portion I had tutored the fabulous Kirtner twins!
After the service, the father of the Bar Mitzvah, also a Pardes teacher, gave a talk, a teaching really, all in Hebrew. I was pleased to grasp the gist of his message, discussing the Ten Commandments and different commentators interpretations and codifications of the various commandments. I enjoyed amazing food, great family energy, singing and just a wonderful Shabbat atmosphere.
After Shabbat ended, cousin Shoshana picked up my friend Tammy and I from Alon Shevut and we went to Efrat for a short social session. April and the kids had just returned from the states and uncle Cal is visiting so it was fun to spend some time with everyone. Of course Bruce opened two delicious Israeli wines, and Rina brought out some local chocolate, and some tasty olive oil also purchased at last week's wine festival. I feel so blessed to have family that I genuinely enjoy spending time with, not to mention, family with really good taste in wine and food!
Sunday afternoon I began my intensive Hebrew class, which is Sunday through Thursday for three hours every day. I love, love, love it! Next post will include some stories of new words I've learned, including some fun slang. This evening I had an incredible dining experience... photos to come!
Tomorrow morning I'm going on an outing, a tiyul, with my fellow student (yes there is one other student in my group!) and a Hebrew teacher. We're exploring the shuk, which is the main outdoor market that anyone who visits Jerusalem must see. It will be an adventure that I will be sure to recount in the near future. Sending love and well wishes to all my amazing friends and family!!!
Last week was Tisha B'Av, literally the ninth of the Hebrew month of Av. This is an intense and complicated "holiday" to explain so if you are truly interested check out the link. But in a nutshell it is a fast day in which Jews commemorate the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, both in 586 BCE and 70 CE, as well as many other unbelievable Jewish catastrophes. I spent the day at Pardes studying the many aspects of observing this day and the significance of such a day for Jews in our time.After a long and very meaningful day, I broke the fast with Dana. She was one of the counselors on my very first trip to Israel in 2000! Yes we reconnected 12 years later and enjoyed a lovely meal at an outdoor cafe. I drank a half liter of Hoegaarden beer which looks huge in the picture but is really only 16.9 ounces. This street is close to my school and not too far from my neighborhood. It has a few very cute cafes with outdoor seating, as well as lots of shops, like a produce store I love, beauty salons, dry cleaners, and more.
After Tisha B'Av I had the last day of classes at the Pardes summer program. The following day in the evening I went to the Annual Israeli Wine Festival held in the sculpture gardens at the Israel Museum. Incredible views, fifty Israeli wineries, olive oil, chocolate and other artisan booths, jazz music and lots of people, including Shimon Peres, the president! I could go on and on about this evening and all the wines I was sober enough to enjoy. Yes I had a bit too much to drink, but overall it was awesome, and I will be better prepared for next year. I will eat dinner first :)
The next day I went on my first real hike since I arrived in late June. I went with Rina and her friend Avishalom to the Jerusalem forest, located not far from my area, just west of the city. It was hot, of course, hiking at 3:00pm but not unbearable. We had lots of fun and I took lots of pictures, including the one of me riding a sheep... yes this is indeed a statue. Gullible ol' Cara thought they were real from a distance!
This hike will take you to three springs, called mayanot in Hebrew. There were about 10-15 people hanging out around the first spring. We didn't go in but enjoyed a rest near the spring. Unfortunately everywhere I've hiked/walked in Israel there is always some trash lingering... gross.We then had a discussion about littering in Israel. I shared how in Oregon we are nice to nature :) yeah northwest pride! The landscape and vegetation here is simply amazing. I wish I could incorporate smells into the blogs! Za'atar grows everywhere! When we returned to the car the sun was beginning to near the horizon and the magical Jerusalem sunset light was starting to grace the hillsides.
The following day I went to an IKEA for the first time! Rina and I took in the massive store, full of Jews, which you think would be normal for me now, but its still not. After only about two and a half hours, we left the store with some major deals, including a desk for my room, some kitchenware and of course purple organizing bins! Yeah organization! I seriously love all their modern, simple designs, and affordable too. Wow, can't believe I've lived this long without a visit to IKEA. After an exhausting but stimulating shopping adventure we drove to a beach in Rishon Letzion, which is near Tel Aviv. There is a boardwalk-like promenade and tons of chairs and umbrellas decorating the sandy beach. The weather outside of the Jerusalem area is so different- much hotter, extremely humid and just stifling! It was the first time I'd seen the Mediterranean since I arrived, besides from the window of the airplane, and it is so magnificently radiant. We had a lovely dinner of small salads and fresh fish before driving in "rush hour" traffic back to little ol' Jerusalem.
I spent Shabbat at two of my teachers from Pardes' homes in Alon Shevut, which is near Efrat where the cousins live. It was a lovely, interesting and educational experience being in their observant, warm and welcoming homes. I went to services in both an Ashkenazi and Sephardic synagogue for Erev Shabbat and Shabbat morning, and was so happy to happen upon a Bar Mitzvah chanting the very Torah portion I had tutored the fabulous Kirtner twins!After the service, the father of the Bar Mitzvah, also a Pardes teacher, gave a talk, a teaching really, all in Hebrew. I was pleased to grasp the gist of his message, discussing the Ten Commandments and different commentators interpretations and codifications of the various commandments. I enjoyed amazing food, great family energy, singing and just a wonderful Shabbat atmosphere.
After Shabbat ended, cousin Shoshana picked up my friend Tammy and I from Alon Shevut and we went to Efrat for a short social session. April and the kids had just returned from the states and uncle Cal is visiting so it was fun to spend some time with everyone. Of course Bruce opened two delicious Israeli wines, and Rina brought out some local chocolate, and some tasty olive oil also purchased at last week's wine festival. I feel so blessed to have family that I genuinely enjoy spending time with, not to mention, family with really good taste in wine and food!
Sunday afternoon I began my intensive Hebrew class, which is Sunday through Thursday for three hours every day. I love, love, love it! Next post will include some stories of new words I've learned, including some fun slang. This evening I had an incredible dining experience... photos to come!
Tomorrow morning I'm going on an outing, a tiyul, with my fellow student (yes there is one other student in my group!) and a Hebrew teacher. We're exploring the shuk, which is the main outdoor market that anyone who visits Jerusalem must see. It will be an adventure that I will be sure to recount in the near future. Sending love and well wishes to all my amazing friends and family!!!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
An Israeli Feast
So I made it through three weeks of regular weekly posts, and am already finding it hard to set aside an hour to write a thoughtful and descriptive account of the many things that happen each week. I have been making little notes of stories to share, and plan to write a bullet point post with many of these incredible learning moments, encounters with Israeli culture and personal growth experiences.
I've decided that rather than let it go another week, I will write a short post about this fabulous Israeli feast I had last Shabbat lunch. Now calling it a feast implies that I labored for hours and ate at a huge table full of people, but this feast was a quiet meal with my lovely cousin Rina. Now in addition to being a great tour guide and gracious host, Rina is a phenomenal cook. She taught me how to make her tahina salad, which I am now officially announcing as Rina's Famous Tahina Salad.
This dish I actually "made" with her, which really means watched her in awe. She began by roasting an eggplant. She then carefully filleted the eggplant open as if performing surgery. She mixed tahina, olive oil, freshly grated ginger, lemon juice, salt and garlic. This mixture is poured over the eggplant which is then decorated with chopped red pepper, tomato and parsley, and normally red onion, but she left that out since I'm not a fan. Then a dash of olive oil, za'atar, sesame seeds and black pepper.
Ah-mazing flavor. Although wonderful served alone, we ate it with some pumpkin seed bread. Yummy!
We also made chicken, called schnitzels here, basically small boneless, skinless breasts pieces. We brushed them with egg then coated them in a mixture of bread crumbs, sesame seeds and za'atar. We, I mean she, then lightly fried them in a cast iron pan, which made me feel very homesick... my kitchen has pretty basic cookware, which often makes me miss cast iron pans from home. By the way if you don't know what za'atar is be sure to click the above link!
Disclaimer:
I was not present for the cooking of these beautiful stuffed artichokes... but I did get to eat them! Filled with ground beef, celeriac, cilantro, many spices and other things I can't remember. And served with a side of plain rice.
We also made a salad of baby greens which reminded me of home, and made me miss the Farmer's Market. It was a wonderful meal.
I've decided that rather than let it go another week, I will write a short post about this fabulous Israeli feast I had last Shabbat lunch. Now calling it a feast implies that I labored for hours and ate at a huge table full of people, but this feast was a quiet meal with my lovely cousin Rina. Now in addition to being a great tour guide and gracious host, Rina is a phenomenal cook. She taught me how to make her tahina salad, which I am now officially announcing as Rina's Famous Tahina Salad.
Ah-mazing flavor. Although wonderful served alone, we ate it with some pumpkin seed bread. Yummy!
We also made chicken, called schnitzels here, basically small boneless, skinless breasts pieces. We brushed them with egg then coated them in a mixture of bread crumbs, sesame seeds and za'atar. We, I mean she, then lightly fried them in a cast iron pan, which made me feel very homesick... my kitchen has pretty basic cookware, which often makes me miss cast iron pans from home. By the way if you don't know what za'atar is be sure to click the above link!
Disclaimer:I was not present for the cooking of these beautiful stuffed artichokes... but I did get to eat them! Filled with ground beef, celeriac, cilantro, many spices and other things I can't remember. And served with a side of plain rice.
We also made a salad of baby greens which reminded me of home, and made me miss the Farmer's Market. It was a wonderful meal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)