Yesterday was one of those days that comes along every once in a while that just overwhelms you.
At the Ulpan we were given more homework than we get for the 3-day weekend --- 8 pages of “stuff”. While I understood what was necessary, the sheer volume of words and rules we are given each day and expected to remember is tremendous. I am finding that I need more repetitions in order to remember, and this is causing things to take longer.
Combine that with a cantorial lesson that started at 5, from which I did not get back to the apartment to start on the homework until about 8:30, and you have me staying up until 1:30 in the morning trying to get it done.
Oh well.
Today I purchased the CDs that go along with the book we are using in the hopes that the dialogues will help me get the necessary repetitions for me to be able to retain the words and their meanings. We shall see.
I was given a series of new music to work on while at the cantorial lesson. Some of it is quite beautiful and I am looking forward to working on and mastering it.
I also met a young lady (hey, I’m OLD) that is here for her year in Israel from the Reform Yeshiva and is also studying to be a cantor. I’m sure that we will meet again and exchange a few melodies during the year.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Day 13 --- The Western Wall
Today is my 13th day in Israel and I FINALLY made it to the Kotel (the Western Wall, the Wailing Wall). The place has actually changed very little since I was last here with my family in 2001.
I walked from Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall/tourist trap down Jaffa towards the Jaffa Gate. When I was first able to see the city (at the corner of Jaffa and King David) I started to get an anxious feeling, but also one of wonder. As I approached the Old City the anxiety left me and the feeling of wonder changed into something else. I cannot identify it, exactly, but it felt like I was coming home.
It turns out that the Jaffa Gate area is under construction and I had to enter through another area. As soon as I did it was like I was on an entirely different planet. I had entered into a market area of the Christian Quarter in the Old City. This area, like many others, is full of small shops on both sides of the very narrow streets. You are immediately bombarded with various types of music and the sound of shopkeepers hawking their wares. There is also the sound of barter everywhere as that is how it works in the Old City. You don’t like the price of something, offer some other amount. As a friend of mine once said, “If you don’t ask, you won’t get”. That is certainly true in the Old City.
I had to stop several times to ask directions, but everyone was extremely helpful. After a number of wrong turns I finally got to a spot from which I could see the Kotel. The excavation that was being done on the south wall the last time I was here appears to be done, and the sight was one for sore eyes.
As I made my way down to the Kotel I felt yet another new feeling. This one was even harder to identify and I am not sure that I wish to hazard a guess at this time. I will say, though, that once I actually touched the wall I felt a spiritual connection like no other in the world. The feeling of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people over thousands of years was almost palpable. This is without a doubt the most spiritual place on Earth.
I had an odd experience while I was there, and it was deeply moving for me. I prayed at the wall for about 30 minutes, standing perfectly still with my eyes closed, one hand touching the wall. Every time I asked for Hashem to help me in my endeavor to serve His people I felt a cool breeze on my back. Make no mistake about it, today was HOT and there was no wind. Yet EVERY time I referenced serving His people I could feel that breeze. I felt it at no other time, and it was an almost instant response when I did. This is something I cannot explain and most certainly will not try to. Neither will I chalk it up to coincidence. I believe that it was a message from Hashem that I am following the right path, and this gives me great hope and confidence that I am doing His will for me. (Yes, I KNOW how that sounds but it actually happened, it REALLY grabbed my attention and I absolutely cannot explain it away.)
I walked from Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall/tourist trap down Jaffa towards the Jaffa Gate. When I was first able to see the city (at the corner of Jaffa and King David) I started to get an anxious feeling, but also one of wonder. As I approached the Old City the anxiety left me and the feeling of wonder changed into something else. I cannot identify it, exactly, but it felt like I was coming home.
It turns out that the Jaffa Gate area is under construction and I had to enter through another area. As soon as I did it was like I was on an entirely different planet. I had entered into a market area of the Christian Quarter in the Old City. This area, like many others, is full of small shops on both sides of the very narrow streets. You are immediately bombarded with various types of music and the sound of shopkeepers hawking their wares. There is also the sound of barter everywhere as that is how it works in the Old City. You don’t like the price of something, offer some other amount. As a friend of mine once said, “If you don’t ask, you won’t get”. That is certainly true in the Old City.
I had to stop several times to ask directions, but everyone was extremely helpful. After a number of wrong turns I finally got to a spot from which I could see the Kotel. The excavation that was being done on the south wall the last time I was here appears to be done, and the sight was one for sore eyes.
As I made my way down to the Kotel I felt yet another new feeling. This one was even harder to identify and I am not sure that I wish to hazard a guess at this time. I will say, though, that once I actually touched the wall I felt a spiritual connection like no other in the world. The feeling of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people over thousands of years was almost palpable. This is without a doubt the most spiritual place on Earth.
I had an odd experience while I was there, and it was deeply moving for me. I prayed at the wall for about 30 minutes, standing perfectly still with my eyes closed, one hand touching the wall. Every time I asked for Hashem to help me in my endeavor to serve His people I felt a cool breeze on my back. Make no mistake about it, today was HOT and there was no wind. Yet EVERY time I referenced serving His people I could feel that breeze. I felt it at no other time, and it was an almost instant response when I did. This is something I cannot explain and most certainly will not try to. Neither will I chalk it up to coincidence. I believe that it was a message from Hashem that I am following the right path, and this gives me great hope and confidence that I am doing His will for me. (Yes, I KNOW how that sounds but it actually happened, it REALLY grabbed my attention and I absolutely cannot explain it away.)
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Shabbat at a Jewish Settlement
I spent this past Shabbat at one of the Jewish settlements on the outskirts of Jerusalem. We were about a 50-minute bus ride from the Central bus station.
I must admit that I was a little nervous about going as I was meeting and staying with people that I did not know. On top of that, this is the type of settlements we hear about on the news daily. Please note that this blog is intended to be strictly an accounting of experiences, and I will make no statements here relative to the social or political situation as it applies to the settlements (or anything else, for that matter).
Arrival was late Friday afternoon, just about 90 minutes before Shabbat started. It was clear immediately that I was in a very special place. The air was clean and clear, and there was a general feeling of tranquility.
The feeling that Shabbat was coming soon was almost palpable. There was virtually no vehicular traffic at all. Everywhere we went we saw people walking alone or in small groups. Most were going to someone’s house before the start of Shabbat. It was evident that this was a place where it would be easy to fully observe all of the laws surrounding the Sabbath, and I truly looked forward to the opportunity to do exactly that.
I was made to feel most welcome after arriving at the home of the family I would be staying with Friday night. They were a wonderful couple with several very well-mannered children. It was obvious that all of the laws and traditions of Sabbath, as well as kashrus (the laws for keeping kosher) were known and followed there.
I came to find out later that there are a tremendous number of synagogues in the settlement, with one street having as many as 3. (I am not talking about long blocks here, either.) There are both Ashkenazi and Sephardic shuls throughout the settlement.
We welcomed the Sabbath at services on Friday night. There was a marvelous feeling of peace and tranquility throughout the area. There were NO vehicles on the roads here, unlike Jerusalem in which there is the occasional car or taxi even on Shabbat. After services everyone was walking in groups to various homes to enjoy a Sabbath meal. All were very friendly and certainly interested in the “stranger” in their midst. I was made to feel completely at home in this environment.
My hosts had prepared a wonderful meal, which was preceded by Kiddush (blessing over the wine) and HaMotzi (blessing over bread).There was lively conversation along with the meal. Even after the meal and Bircat HaMazon (blessings after a meal) the conversation continued for quite some time.
Saturday morning we went back to the same shul for services. I was honored to be called to open the ark to remove the Torah and also to return the Torah after the readings.They started at 8 AM and were concluded by a little after 10 AM. I am used to starting at 9 AM at home and not finishing until 12:30 or 13:00. I guess when the service is in the native tongue and everyone understands fully, things move along much faster.
As with last Shabbat there was really only one melody that was familiar to me. This I view as an opportunity to learn more melodies (where they are used) to add to my repertoire.
A while after lunch I was asked to go to a Sephardic shul to help make a minyan for Mincha (the afternoon service). This was the first time I had actually been to a Sephardic service and found that it was, as I expected, very similar to the Ashkenazi that I am more familiar with. The prayers are slightly different in some cases. I was called for an Aliyah (being called to the Torah to recite prayers before and after the reading) at this service, which is a great honor. This was my first Aliyah since my arrival, and it held special meaning for me.
Following Mincha I was able to take my usual Shabbat nap. Believe me, I needed it! It always feels good to take a nap on Shabbat, but there was something very special about being able to do it here in Israel.
A short while later I was taken to a Rabbi’s home, where we enjoyed more conversation and Shalosh Seudos (the third meal on Shabbat). After the meal I joined in Ma’ariv (the evening service) at a shul that the Rabbi was building at his home. This was followed by Havdalah (a service to separate the sacred Sabbath from the mundane weekdays) at the Rabbi’s home.
Unfortunately, Shabbat had come to an end and I had to catch the bus to go home. This was by far the most pleasant Shabbat that I have spent due to the full observance of all of the covenants of the Sabbath, and I look forward to repeating the experience. The level of peace and serenity I experienced this past Shabbat was beyond my expectations.
I would like to thank my friend Ayala for inviting me and making all the arrangements and to all of my hosts for their gracious hospitality, open hearts, stimulating conversation and Yidishkite.
I must admit that I was a little nervous about going as I was meeting and staying with people that I did not know. On top of that, this is the type of settlements we hear about on the news daily. Please note that this blog is intended to be strictly an accounting of experiences, and I will make no statements here relative to the social or political situation as it applies to the settlements (or anything else, for that matter).
Arrival was late Friday afternoon, just about 90 minutes before Shabbat started. It was clear immediately that I was in a very special place. The air was clean and clear, and there was a general feeling of tranquility.
The feeling that Shabbat was coming soon was almost palpable. There was virtually no vehicular traffic at all. Everywhere we went we saw people walking alone or in small groups. Most were going to someone’s house before the start of Shabbat. It was evident that this was a place where it would be easy to fully observe all of the laws surrounding the Sabbath, and I truly looked forward to the opportunity to do exactly that.
I was made to feel most welcome after arriving at the home of the family I would be staying with Friday night. They were a wonderful couple with several very well-mannered children. It was obvious that all of the laws and traditions of Sabbath, as well as kashrus (the laws for keeping kosher) were known and followed there.
I came to find out later that there are a tremendous number of synagogues in the settlement, with one street having as many as 3. (I am not talking about long blocks here, either.) There are both Ashkenazi and Sephardic shuls throughout the settlement.
We welcomed the Sabbath at services on Friday night. There was a marvelous feeling of peace and tranquility throughout the area. There were NO vehicles on the roads here, unlike Jerusalem in which there is the occasional car or taxi even on Shabbat. After services everyone was walking in groups to various homes to enjoy a Sabbath meal. All were very friendly and certainly interested in the “stranger” in their midst. I was made to feel completely at home in this environment.
My hosts had prepared a wonderful meal, which was preceded by Kiddush (blessing over the wine) and HaMotzi (blessing over bread).There was lively conversation along with the meal. Even after the meal and Bircat HaMazon (blessings after a meal) the conversation continued for quite some time.
Saturday morning we went back to the same shul for services. I was honored to be called to open the ark to remove the Torah and also to return the Torah after the readings.They started at 8 AM and were concluded by a little after 10 AM. I am used to starting at 9 AM at home and not finishing until 12:30 or 13:00. I guess when the service is in the native tongue and everyone understands fully, things move along much faster.
As with last Shabbat there was really only one melody that was familiar to me. This I view as an opportunity to learn more melodies (where they are used) to add to my repertoire.
A while after lunch I was asked to go to a Sephardic shul to help make a minyan for Mincha (the afternoon service). This was the first time I had actually been to a Sephardic service and found that it was, as I expected, very similar to the Ashkenazi that I am more familiar with. The prayers are slightly different in some cases. I was called for an Aliyah (being called to the Torah to recite prayers before and after the reading) at this service, which is a great honor. This was my first Aliyah since my arrival, and it held special meaning for me.
Following Mincha I was able to take my usual Shabbat nap. Believe me, I needed it! It always feels good to take a nap on Shabbat, but there was something very special about being able to do it here in Israel.
A short while later I was taken to a Rabbi’s home, where we enjoyed more conversation and Shalosh Seudos (the third meal on Shabbat). After the meal I joined in Ma’ariv (the evening service) at a shul that the Rabbi was building at his home. This was followed by Havdalah (a service to separate the sacred Sabbath from the mundane weekdays) at the Rabbi’s home.
Unfortunately, Shabbat had come to an end and I had to catch the bus to go home. This was by far the most pleasant Shabbat that I have spent due to the full observance of all of the covenants of the Sabbath, and I look forward to repeating the experience. The level of peace and serenity I experienced this past Shabbat was beyond my expectations.
I would like to thank my friend Ayala for inviting me and making all the arrangements and to all of my hosts for their gracious hospitality, open hearts, stimulating conversation and Yidishkite.
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