The Need to Flow

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.