All Settled In...and Pictures!

Well as of right now I am finally all settled in! My room is clean and organized, I have successfully bought food at the shuk and supermarket, and I have explored some of New Jerusalem on my own. It's not quite home yet, but it's only been a week.

The experience so far has been amazing--and the program hasn't even technically started for me yet! The thing I was looking forward to most of all this year was being in an environment with other people who have the same passion for Judaism as I do, and so far it's coming true. Friday night we had Shabbat services at another rabbinic student's apartment, and it was self run. Everyone was singing and praying together, and it was wonderful. After praying we had a potluck dinner followed by Birkat.

Saturday morning I went to HUC for services, where two cantorial students led one of the songs. They both did wonderfully. The dean of the Jerusalem campus, Rabbi Naamah Kelman, led services along with a cantor (who's name I unfortunately do not know yet, but she was really nice). It was a great service, there were some melodies I did not know, but that's ok because it's great to learn them. Rabbi Kelman gave a great service connecting Miriam to women's rights to Israeli politics. I wish I remembered more details...I'll have to start taking notes on sermons!

Saturday afternoon was spent relaxing with friends...and watching Star Wars Episodes IV and V, because a couple of students had never seen them!

Saturday night we all gathered at a park that overlooked the Old City of Jerusalem where we held a Havdallah service run by our student interns (4th and 5th year students who are here to help us for the summer). My roommate Jeff helped out on guitar. It was a great service, something that's hard to describe: the feeling of connection I felt with the other students and with Jerusalem. I know this is the place for me and I'm glad to be here.

Havdallah overlooking the Old City

After Havdallah we went into the Old City to find shawarma and I ran into Anas! He's my friend who lives in the Old City whom I met three years ago when I studied in Haifa. We're not close, but I visited him a few times when I lived in Haifa and it was fantastic to see him again.

Sunday was spent cleaning my room (finally...it need a good thorough cleaning) and then going out to a sushi restaurant (no, I didn't order sushi).

My room

Today I visited the rock gym that's located in Jerusalem. It's about a half hour away via bus, but I'm going to borrow someone's bike and see if bicycling there is faster/easier. It's a little cheaper for day passes than RSC but memberships are pricier. The gym itself is pretty good. Smaller than Rock Spot, but the leading is way better--you can lead 50% of the ceiling! They also rate the top-ropes with the French rating system, so that'll be fun to get used to...

Kir Yerushalayim - the rock gym in Jerusalem

A view of Jerusalem from Tayelet

 One last note: I have a lot of pictures from my first week, so you can check them out here: https://picasaweb.google.com/107045988306851522351?feat=email. I'm using Picasa right now, but I'm already 20% full, so I'll be switching to something else for pictures soon. There are pictures of my room and apartment, my trips to the Old City and the Kotel, Havdallah, and more.

And that's pretty much it! The rest of my week will be spent practicing my Hebrew and getting ready for orientation next week.

L'hitra'ot!