Israel is still awesome: an update

Shalom!

Writing to you from sunny Yoqneam, where I've been staying this weekend with my Israel family. There is something so refreshing and calming about taking a break from Jerusalem, and I'm very thankful for the opportunity to have a change in scenery.

Plus, I'm not complaining about the home cooking.

Alright so what's been going on here in Israel?

I've been learning so much and going so many places. With school we've visited a few secular yeshivot (study places) where lots of post-army Israelis are learning about Jewish text and finding deeper meaning and connections to the traditions of the Jewish people. I love that it's possible to be a secular Jew in Israel but dedicate so much time and energy to learning about Judaism. These students are certainly not taking it for granted that you can be "Jewish enough" simply by living here. Most recently we visited the yeshiva at Ein Prat and then did a little hiking afterward. The landscape itself is so inspiring!

Life in Israel has finally lost its "vacation" feeling and I finally feel like my life is normal here. I'm so used to the culture and the tension and the language that living here doesn't feel out of the ordinary--it feels regular.

Marla came to visit!

With school we've gone a lot of interesting places lately: Gush Etzion (a religious settlement that was of strategic importance during the War of Independence), the Diaspora museum in Tel Aviv, and, in our discussions about the Arab-Israeli conflict, several cites of terrorist attacks. Everywhere we go I feel like I learn so much, even just from interactions and brief conversations with the Israelis where we're visiting.

Outside of school, I've been traveling, too. One day I went to Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea for some hiking and relaxation. This weekend, like I said, I'm up north near Haifa. I love how many different things it's possible to see in Israel. A 45 minute drive outside of Jerusalem in any direction lands you in an entirely different environment.

We had an incredibly rainy winter (and also tons of hail) and it looks like spring is finally approaching. The days are getting longer, shabbat comes in at a more normal time (instead of on Thursday.), and the flowers are blooming.

welcoming shabbat at kibbutz gezer

shabbat walk in yemin moshe

It's hard to believe it's already the end of February! There is still so much to see and experience here, and I'm hoping to make the most of the few weeks I have left in this incredible place.

sunset in haifa

Also, here's a link to my d'var torah I gave last week! click here



oh, and my sister got a hedgehog. meet la señorita pricklepants.

MUHLBAUMS IN ISRAEL

My dear, dear readers.

I have to apologize. The semester has been flying by without a moment to breathe. I have absolutely been neglecting my blog. Don't blame me--talk to the 2nd century rabbis. They basically occupy all of my time these days.

Okay so while I would love to update all of you about school, that will wait for the next post. Because we have business to attend to.

In December, I received the best Chanukah gift of all time.

The Muhlbaums came to Israel to visit me.

Not just my Muhlbaums, but the New York Muhlbaums as well! 9 of us together in Israel. What an amazing blessing!

We did a million and a half fun things. Mostly what we actually did was walk around and eat basically everything in this country.

I'm going to write a list of highlights, but what you really want are the photos. Collectively we took over 7 gb of photographs. Here are some highlights:

• The Muhlbaums [OH] arrive. They stayed in the King Solomon Hotel (approximately a 12 second walk from my apartment) which was super convenient. I met them in the lobby and got to hug all of them for the first time since June. Mark this day as a win. After a yummy dinner we gathered together and lit the 6th candle of Chanukah together. Yay!
• The next day we went to Yemin Moshe for some beautiful views of the Old City. We went to Machane Yehudah (the shuk) for some foodie fun and sufganiyot, and then my dad's cousin Eli came down from Haifa to reconnect with my family--he hadn't seen my dad in 40 years!
• Next day brought the Israel Museum and more fun in the Old City (the 5 Muhlbaum men together at the Western Wall was particularly awesome)
• We went to the Haas Promenade (aka the tayelet) for some awesome sight-seeing
• The 9 of us prepped for a Jerusalem Shabbat. Cooking together with the family was so incredible, and we just generally had an awesome shabbat.
• The next day, we went up north to Haifa for more family time and New Years! We saw Rosh HaNikra and even went through the prison in Akko where some of my favorite Muhlbaum legends were born.
• With so little time left, we had to fill up the days! We went for Uncle Joel's favorite hummus at Abu Shukri, and then wandered into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
• Sadly, it was almost time for the Muhlbaums to leave. But not before going to the Time Elevator.

I feel so unbelievably lucky to have a family who is so supportive of me stateside, but it was really just an incredible experience to have them here with me and to get to play tourguide for all of my favorite people. I'm a lucky lady!

Muhlbaums in Israel! - make slideshow