A last post

Aside from the fact that a tall Haredi man's right elbow spent the majority of the flight comfortably settled beyond what I had presumed to be a green line of sorts demarcating the border between his seat and mine, the half-day journey back was tolerable enough.

And that's basically it. 

Several Arab dictatorships after my initial snowy departure, I've now returned to a warm and misty New York (this time sans the ticket back to that tiny and very special country called Israel).

After 6 months and over 4,000 hits in 22 counties, this will be foshJerusalem's 56th and final blog post.

I've enjoyed this process of occasionally verbalizing and sharing snippets of my experiences over the last few months, and I hope that on occasion you have too.

LY 001

After one final night in downtown Jerusalem, I've finally started to shove everything into my luggage so that I can hopefully make it onto an airplane in a few hours.

And I know you're probably wondering about this, so I'll just come right out and tell you: Yes, I packed them myself. Yes, they've been with me the whole time since the moment I finished packing them. Yes, I know what Shavuot is. No, no one gave me any gifts. Yes, I know why you want to know whether anyone gave me any gifts.

In other news, Bezeq has relayed to me via text message that it is under the impression that I want my Internet service automatically renewed in 2 months. Some things seldom change.

Alright, one final trip to Jerusalem awaits me, and then (save for the one paper I still have to write and any lasting complications) that's it for my semester abroad. Thanks, Israel. It's been metoraf.

Moving out

The refrigerator is empty. The apartment is clean. The library card is cleared. The transcript request is ready. The Internet modem is back with Bezeq (I'm at our dear neighbors' apartment at the moment). The dust from atop my shelves is gone (thanks to the obnoxiousness of the tall man checking my room). And the keys are all returned.

I'm headed to Bet Shemesh shortly. 

By the way, on my way out of Building 4, the following conversation occurred between Itai #2 and New Female Resident living across the hall:

Itai #2: Shalom! Welcome, do you, speak, Hebrew?
New Female Resident: Uh, some.
Me: Don't worry. They're very nice. And two of them are named Itai.

Last Shabbat, The

Well, assuming that I manage to make it out of the country this week, I'm about to begin my final Shabbat of the semester, in Bet Shemesh with the cousins.

I've mostly moved out of the Kfar--I'll be headed back there for one final Saturday night with the neighbors, as well as what will hopefully be my last morning spent with Nachman Syrkin, Martin Buber and Achad Ha'am.

Chickens and cats

Earlier this afternoon, I accompanied a soon-to-be-homeward-bound individual (and a loitering beggar-cat) on an impromptu eating tour of downtown Jerusalem.

It turned out that our chicken wings (post-schawarma, pre-pastries) were less-than-fully cooked. Well, some were blatantly raw.

Anyhow, that didn't stop me from eating the ones that at least appeared ready for human consumption (although based on certain gastrointestinal hints, I think their appearances may have been rather deceptive in nature).

Also, if there exists a person such that said person wants to write a 10-page paper on media and consumer culture, I'd appreciate said person coming to my attention.

Just another day trip

Since certain prospective nephrological mishaps made traveling to Jordan this week somewhat unfeasible, today a number of a us decided to head somewhere else for the afternoon.

(For the purpose of plausible deniability, I've decided against explicitly stating to where we may have gone, but it was certainly worthwhile.)

After arriving in the city, we headed straight to our main attraction for the day, a microbrewery about 30 minutes away from the central bus station (a large parking lot).

Then, we returned to the city that we originally intended to explore and spent time traversing the outdoor market before eventually heading back to Jerusalem before sunset (and having a rather new experience along the way).

Quite the normal afternoon.

Meat

Today I went to a Jerusalem restaurant with a menu that featured an item called "the Brazilian table."

For 145 shekels a person, we were (until we could physically consume no further) served course after course after course of different types of meats. It was perfection.

Haifa for a day

Earlier plans for a 2-day cruise to Cyprus fell through (just a little bit) after the cruise ended up becoming completely booked, but that didn't stop us from heading up to Haifa this morning nonetheless.

With our lovely guide, we toured the city from the beach all the way up the mountain (at which point we met up with a special guest). In the process, some of us may have gotten slightly discolored, but such is life.

And, of course, no trip to Haifa is apparently complete without being chatted up by some Christian missionaries with interesting preset Hebrew skills.

Finals, I suppose

Although most of the standard study abroad program here finished up last week, some of us still have a little bit left to do, and it's rather pleasant to have the occasional break worked into your schedule.

Speaking of which, for Israelis, tomorrow is Jerusalem Reunification Day. And for Hebrew University students, it's Yom Hastudent (Student Day), i.e. concerts, discounts and, of course, no classes (my last class is later this afternoon).

I don't anticipate any objections to an attempt to culturally diffuse that back to Waltham.

And back

It's nice to be back in Jerusalem.

Even though I wasn't able to be here for Lag Ba'omer, I'm currently having a small taste of the fiery action---something across the street is on fire, but I'm sure the proper authorities will be able to quell the flames with ease.

And apparently it's finals week at the esteemed Rothberg International School. This doesn't affect me so greatly.

Farewell, humidity

After a commencement-filled week, which included feminism galore and a very, very special cover of Adon Olam, my graduation spree in New York is at last coming to a close.

Tomorrow night: Another long flight (except this time I get chicken wings instead of angry and/or confused sisters upon my landing).

New York, not Eilat

The shock-induced expletives that may have emanated from the eldest Buechler child at 6:45 a.m. this morning made for a nice start to my surprise trip to New York. (I may have lied a bit in my previous post.)

And upon seeing me, this sister's nearly immediate concern was obviously the sudden increase in demand for tickets to the Barnard graduation.

So yes, after a less-than-exciting 12-hour flight, I'm back in the United States (for about a week) to attend some commencement ceremonies (only in New York; sorry, Brandeis).

By the way, American toilets, why so much water?

Atzmaut

Yom Ha'atzmaut night was wildly fun. So many people, so much commotion, so much Israel.

Also, there may have been a crazy dance party in the streets, and a certain song may have been played randomly in the middle, perhaps making me very, very happy.

And tomorrow night, I leave for Eilat---should be really surprising.

Zikaron

I just returned to the Kfar from the opening ceremony to Yom Hazikaron at the Western Wall, as well as a very mellow yet massive concert in Safra Square.

Most stores---yes, even those very much downtown---closed for the night quite a while ago. The deadness of Rehov Yafo (Jaffa Street), closed off for the light rail that has yet to officially start operating, was especially palpable.

Tomorrow I'll be on a rather interesting trip for Yom Hazikaron. The trip will be interesting because the trip is a Rothberg trip.

And then tomorrow night: Yom Ha'atzmaut. 

Praha, Osama, genus Dama

From sightseeing to beer-drinking and from quaint old buildings to scrumptious new love, beautiful Prague certainly made for a grand completion to the abroad-semester spring break.

It's true that the Czech city lacks that for-all-intents-and-purposes-limitless meat access that so poignantly characterizes my time in Jerusalem. But after a few days with Prague's extensive public transportation system, I admit it has become a bit of an effort to sustain my childish excitement for Jerusalem's perpetually forthcoming single-line tram.

Back in Israel-world, today's Rothberg International School's Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony was certainly moving---though a certain interpretive dance may have been just a bit too moving, unnecessarily and most uncomfortably emphasizing (in coherent order) the letters "L," "U," "S" and "T" of "Holocaust."

Finally, the genus Dama is a type of fallow deer common in many areas of Europe and Asia. The genus Dama lacks any substantial, non-rhyme-based relationship to this post.

Heading out

Passover is officially over here, as my diet last night so kindly confirmed.

Today, Emily and I (luggage in hand) are off to Netanyah for the afternoon.

And then very early tomorrow morning through Sunday: Prague.

Not too shabby

The final day of Passover is quickly approaching, but it's tough to feel as though I've really been missing out on anything food-wise.

After all, food over the last few days (in addition to the tremendous amounts consumed in Bet Shemesh) has included: actually okay-ish pizza, practically real pasta, barbecue-flavored chicken wings, ice cream, and lafa-less shawarma. Take-home lesson: Israel's a pretty good place for this holiday.

Also, Emily Enyaj Diamond is here and has insisted I mention such (with a link).

Day two

Day one of Passover with family in Bet Shemesh? Great.
Day two of Passover not being yom tov? Priceless.

Now I'm back in Jerusalem (with a Haifa guest) and proudly celebrating chol hamoed.

Seder, not seders

I arrived in a very warm Bet Shemesh last night, where I'll be spending the first day of Passover with the cousins and Bubbie. (It'll be a bit strange to attend a seder away from Dix Hills and without the usual suspects, and I'd best be given some obnoxious acknowledgment in my absence.)

"Sea to Sea" was actually a lot of fun. A certain person (9th on the list) may have become very attached to a certain egg (the kind from the supermarket). And Shabbat in Tzfat was quite beautiful (and, like its chocolate cake, delicious).

Chag kasher v'sameach! Have a delightful Passover!

Architectural alliteration

This past Sunday was an unfortunate one in that a good chunk of it was spent working on a take-home midterm for my architecture class. Fortunately, I managed to work the following into one of the essays: "By comparing and contrasting the contemporary and considerably consequential constructions crucially connected to Christianity..."

It's a most serious and academic course.

Also, Passover is apparently happening soon, so it's probably time to clean the apartment to a status of kosher for Passover (and possibly locate and deal with the source of the smell under the sink). 

Finally, Israel greatly looks forward to tomorrow's arrival of the Buechler matriarch! Yes, that's a real link.

A latke, warm and sweet

A much needed haircut was carried out today by an Israeli man named Moti. (Moti came highly recommended by a certain sibling.) Consequently, everything is once again under control on the top of my head.

Also,  I received the itinerary for next weekend's Office of Student Activities trip.

I was under the apparently mistaken impression that the trip titled "Sea to Sea" would entail a physically strenuous and emotionally challenging hike from the Sea of Galilee (a.k.a. the Kinneret) to the Mediterranean Sea or vice versa. In actuality, my "Sea to Sea" adventure will involve some day-hikes, Shabbat in Tzfat and a barbecue by the Sea of Galilee, which is, in fact, a lake.

Juliano Mer-Khamis

Earlier today, a masked Palestinian militant shot and killed Juliano Mer-Khamis in the Jenin refugee camp. The militant had been waiting for the actor/director/producer/activist outside the Freedom Theater that he had co-founded in Jenin back in 2006.

Several weeks ago, Juliano stopped by Search For Common Ground's Jerusalem office during one of the afternoon's that I was there. He described his current theatrical work with Palestinians in Jenin, and then we discussed the possibilities of our collaborating on current projects.

Although we only met with Juliano for a few minutes, it was evident that he was a very generous, humorous and personable individual---and one whose life's work will be sorely missed.

Thanksgiving

Due to an Internet failure in the Search for Common Ground's Jerusalem office, I had a little more time flexibility in my Thursday afternoon. And thanks to a wise suggestion on behalf of the rest of Brandeis' delegation to the Rothberg International School, Rose and I ended up spending part of the afternoon on a Tel Aviv beach, where we met all kinds of wonderfully polite and pleasantly articulate individuals.

Also, since yesterday was March 31, the lovely inhabitants of apartment 691 hosted a dairy Thanksgiving meal, complete with macaroni and cheese, stuffing, pumpkin deliciousness and a wholly worthwhile and redeeming discussion of spices starting with the letter "C."

Finally Hebrew word of the week (for certain present-day Princeton gentlemen and 19th century Austrian composers): Agevet.

Mitzpeh Ramon

Just in case you were wondering, Mitzpeh Ramon is not the most happening of places in this holy, holy land.

However, it did make for a very relaxing and picturesque Shabbat. Hanging out on the edge of the makhtesh was spectacular. But aside from that and the occasional mating-rights battle between the local ibexes, there's not much to do in the Negev town.

And on the frying front, tonight: pancakes with rainbow sprinkles and chocolate chips, topped with Ben & Jerry's Phish Food (on sale---38 shekels for two pints).

Jerusalem Stone (Jeri)

Lots of posts this week...

Last night, my munificent right kidney graciously granted me a delectable (and déjà vu) dose of March merriment by way of a fresh and fidgety new pebbly product.

This is getting to be a little much, body. Consider this post to be a request for the cessation of all intra- and inter-orgran hostilities.

But for now all is good.

Today's bombing

Rose and I were sitting in our common area watching "Friends" when we heard a dull boom from outside in the distance. It's not so uncommon to hear a sound like that here; it is a city, after all. But then we started hearing sirens. Soon thereafter reports of the bombing started appearing online.

The bomb detonated across from Jerusalem's central bus station, by a bus stop that I've waited at before. 

Notably, within minutes the story was given very low priority on the New York Times website (see if you can spot it below, just over an hour after the explosion).

                                                                                             Screenshot photo / Hillel Buechler

After a fatality was sadly confirmed, the story moved up a little bit. But not by much.

Anyhow, the Rothberg International School took just over an hour to send out a mass-text message alerting us to the attack and requesting that we confirm our safety. No further instructions were given. Typical Rothberg...

Needless to say, we'll be staying in our apartment tonight (with Burgers Bar).

Post-Purim post

Shushan Purim in Jerusalem is quite awesome.

After hearing the Megillah read in a nearby synagogue, we eventually ended up at the Hebrew University party: thousands of students in a parking garage. It was great.

It was at that party that I realized that there was a total of perhaps eight different costumes among all the people in this city (all of the stores were selling the same things). Also, I realized that even if this country hasn't exactly worked out the whole democratic thing super perfectly, the Jewish part is pretty evident, at least in character (a famous Purim song at an extremely secular party had the entire room singing together).

Additionally, Israelis have no hesitations about setting off fireworks literally anywhere and everywhere. Their explosive sounds leave locals surprisingly calm.

And for the record, it's not courteous to get on a bus in Jerusalem wearing a giant, full-body costume that exposes only your eyes. It may or may not scare the Americans.

One last thing---on Sunday, Maya Dimant Lentz (Yes, the Maya) and Rose and I were waited on by a 7-year-old girl at a garden restaurant. But it's okay. Maya's going to be an international human rights lawyer.

... and roll

After a rigorous academic week here at the Hebrew University (I may not have had any classes since Wednesday morning, but I did have a 3-page paper due a few days ago), it's finally time for Shabbat/Purim/Shushan Purim.

For Jerusalem, it seems that Purim started roughly two days ago. People here have been walking around shamelessly in costume for little apparent reason, although last night did see a justifiable green-theme to that widespread dress code (courtesy of St. Patrick's Day, a huge hit with certain populations of this city).

Alright, it's time for my Friday falafel and this week's special guest, the quick costume search.

Funerals

Unfortunately, this post won't have that lighter tone that I like to use in most others.

Avi Scher called me this morning and suggested that we go to the funerals for the five members of the Fogel family that were brutally murdered in their home this past Shabbat.

I had never been to a funeral in Israel---let alone one that would also play a key role in the unraveling of something that had quickly become a national tragedy here.

There were thousands and thousands of attendees, throngs of people standing or sitting in any place that was stand-able or sit-able---ledges, roofs, platforms outside of bathrooms.

The numerous eulogies took on a variety of forms: personal, religious and political. Sometimes the politicized settlement talk was a bit much for me (and my previous notions of proper funeral speak). But overall the funeral was meaningful albeit extraordinarily and disturbingly tragic.

Moti Fogel, the brother of Udi Fogel, spoke the words that stayed with me most clearly: "Atah lo semel ... Atah achi." ("You are not a symbol ... You are my brother.")

The Sorcerer's

Entry into Adar-Numero-Dos this week was certainly joyous. Unfortunately, however, it also now means that I must come up with something of some sort to dress up as for not one but two Purims. (I'm open to suggestions.) Maybe a group costume with this rosh-edah-for-life...

And although it won't include sitting out in the sun on a Tel Aviv beach, the forthcoming Shabbat in the Kfar is looking pretty promising.

Alright, schnitzel-making time is quickly approaching: time to go get some bread crumbs.

That last link was cruel. My bad.

Rose's mom

And so it was that with the clothing on our backs (in our backpacks) and the food in our shopping bags, we departed Jerusalem and headed to Tel Aviv for the holy Sabbath. And there was a beach. And the weather was beautiful. And it was awesome.

Orthodox services in Tel Aviv are a lot like Conservative services on Long Island: intriguing female garb, cell phones galore and less-than-polite guests for the aufruf.

Oh, and I happened to discover Haina Just-Michael, mother to the famed sister(s) of the same last name(s), wandering around the Kfar last night. Due to a series of what turned out to be intentionally staged misunderstandings, this was both hilarious and relieving.

(Rose had earlier received a sketchy call from someone claiming to be a Kfar security guard. The person on the phone inquired as to exactly where Rose lived in the Kfar because of "a package"---and she obviously told him. (Go Rose.) Consequently, we may have been under the impression that someone was going to attempt to break into our apartment. But it was Just, Haina. Pun very much intended.)

Cacti

The flower/plant store in Sheikh Jarrah that I pass by several times a week finally received some business from me by way of 45 shekels in exchange for two potted cacti. They're pretty cool. And prickly.

And speaking of really great weather, a bunch of us are heading to Tel Aviv for the weekend for a relaxing Shabbat on the beach. Those of you devotedly reading this from places like Waltham and New York City: Be jealous.

Also, this morning, one of the security guards at the Kfar was putting on his tefillin while on duty; go figure. Oh, Israel.

And so on

I saw Tony Blair today.

By Tony Blair, I mean the back of Tony Blair's head. Well, we were pretty sure it was the back of Tony Blair's head. I mean, the bus driver thought it was the back of Tony Blair's head. Anyway, what looked like the back of Tony Blair's head (and presumably the rest of Mr. Blair, as well) was being photographed halfway up Mount Scopus, in front of a picturesque, panoramic view of the Old City. And that's what we saw.

In other news, as part of a successful short-term plan to delay studying for my Hebrew test tomorrow, I opened up and read "Slaughterhouse-Five" for a few minutes earlier this evening. Vonnegut's great. So it goes.

We're heading downtown for sushi, et cetera in a bit. I guess these vocabulary words will, in fact, have to "learn themselves," a verb phrase that, coincidentally, could be incorrectly translated and thus mistakenly placed in the category of verbs that I'm supposed to be studying.

In-night

So we heard through the gap-year grapevine that tonight might not be the best night to go downtown. Apparently it might be nothing, but to appease mothers everywhere, we're going to spend the night in the Kfar with the mounds of leftover food that we inherited from the parents before their return to the U.S. yesterday.

I had a most lovely week with my parents (during which I became the first Buechler sibling to host both parents for a meal---Boo ya), followed by a most lovely mini Brandeis Shabbaton in Rechavia. Yet, alas, it is time to once again return to my studies, i.e. Rothberg High School.

On that note, I have a "class" field trip tomorrow to go take a flashlight and play in the water tunnels outside the Old City. I, of course, look forward to being stuck in a dark tunnel with 40 other people.

Vis-a-vis

On Sunday, I took minutes at a Search for Common Ground workshop for Israeli and Palestinian journalists. Most important take-away piece of knowledge: It's apparently not too soon for Haifa fire jokes.

In visa-related news, today I had the privilege of delving into the Israeli governmental bureaucracy as I sought the coveted A2 student visa, which they apparently no, no, don't have it because you no need it, you eh just studying now so B2 is better, no A2, okay, tov.

Also today, the instructor of my architecture class (yes, I'm taking an architecture class, and, yes, it's a lot like middle school) informed us that, in all seriousness, the real reason it's difficult to capture Jerusalem is because "God protects Jerusalem." Things are very, very academic at Rothberg.
 
Oh, and this character has imported himself to Jerusalem for the week.

"OMG"

Today, an Israeli solider in full uniform walked passed us while pushing a baby's stroller. Adela, Ilana and Rose are still recovering---enough said. That's all for today.

Windy

Concerning this post's title, it's been very, very windy here---really, ask my hair about it. 

Last night, the apartmates banned the use of oil in any type of cooking initiated or carried out by yours truly. Something about being worried about health or calories or heart disease or something. Their loss.

I'm still finalizing my schedule here, which is rather challenging considering several factors, including the fact that the Rothberg International School has the organizational skills of an inattentive third-grader, as well as the presence of a certain employee.

But I have some pretty solid classes lined up so far, including one about alternatives to the two-state solution based on various political theories, taught by this professor, and one dealing the philosophical problems behind the trouble of teaching Israel today, with this professor (due to the kind advice/demands of Hannah Perlman).

To be an idiot

Back in Kfar Hastudentim after a most lovely Shabbat in Rechavia with the apartmates and special guest/host for the weekend Rabbi Howard R. Buechler. And, of course, I readily await next Shabbat with an additional American visitor.

On Thursday evening, we had the great privilege going to a theater off of Emek Refa'im to see a show titled (and this is a translation), "The Right to Be an Idiot." The theater was a bit...small. In fact, the crowd there was even smaller than that at certain past Brandeisian/Hebrew theatrical performances.

Anyhow, the play was very special. Basically, crazy young guy falls in love with crazy old woman, and, as the play is of the Israeli persuasion, the woman obviously turns out to be a Holocaust survivor. Also, Rose and one of the actors really hit it off (Facebook picture pending). Again, very special.

Classes start tomorrow, but I clearly didn't sign up for any Sunday classes; I'm trying to introduce Israel to the whole Sunday-as-part-of-the-weekend thing.

Searching for Search

I may have gotten just a little bit lost in East Jerusalem today while trying to find the location of my internship interview. In case you're wondering, Sheikh Jarrah can be somewhat difficult to navigate.

Anyhow, I made it to my interview, and hopefully I'll soon start interning at the Jerusalem branch of Search for Common Ground (hence the title of this post)---should be very interesting.

In intensive language immersion news, tomorrow marks the end of ulpan (super duper sad, of course), so today we had an ulpan-wide gathering, at which I may or may not have performed a certain Hebrew monologue in front of quite a large number of people. 

And the one and only Rabbi Howard R. Buechler is set to land is Israel tomorrow; hopefully he'll still be a little hungry after spending the week in Rome.

Between boils and lice

Today's laundry extravaganza was marginally more successful than that of two weeks ago.

Although this time I avoided my past vernacular misunderstanding and used laundry detergent rather than (fortunately color-friendly) bleach in the washing machine, the machine itself wasn't working and ate up some of my shekels, causing me to walk back to my room to get more. And despite the sunny skies, it obviously rained during that little walk. 

Speaking of which, a little while ago there was some thunder followed by the sound of hundreds of pebbles falling against the ground. I, of course, ran downstairs and headed outside. Subsequently, there's a handful of 1/2 inch hail now in our freezer.

And my apartmates had a little wine and meat reception last night.

Understanding Israel

After our final Sunday morning ulpan, my natural instinct was to make french toast, a lot of french toast. Subsequently, I'm currently in a losing fight with an impending late-afternoon food coma.

In other news, after Rose became involved in quite the bureaucratic communication breakdown within the Office of Student Activities last week, I think I've figured out why Israel is the way it is. It'd certainly explain why even though this country is hopelessly disorganized, it still manages to be really good at more exciting, quicker activities. It's just a theory. I'm sure I'll come up with others as the semester goes on.

Finally, I just explained to a certain Emily Jayne Diamond that the fact that it's 6:30 p.m. here at the same time that it's 6:30 p.m. in Greece signifies that we are in the exact same time zone---not that I am a full day ahead.

The fish is snake

Just woke up (along with a sizable portion of the apartment's population) from a poorly placed and shortsightedly executed late afternoon-into-evening nap. Hopefully we'll be less disoriented in the next little bit, as the Hadag Nahash concert (hence the title) is in just a few hours.

In case you were wondering, there is, in fact, 60 shekels worth of moist-looking chicken from Mahane Yehuda sitting in our refrigerator right now. We're going to be making some form of dinner tomorrow night because we just love frying schnitzel (and, well, everything).

And due to a confluence of eye contact, seat placement and general lack of organization and clarity on behalf of the good folks of the Rothberg International School, I was briefly mistaken for a professor specializing (at least to a Rothbergian extent) in ethnic Middle Eastern foods today. It was interesting.

By the way, Adela, in the interest of avoiding the impending situation in which you know that I know you know but I don't know that you know I know you know---I know you know.

Rain/reign troubles

And yet another pun in the title. This one is derived from the current weather conditions in Jerusalem and the content of a mass-text message (or SMS, as they say here) that the Rothberg International School sent out to all of its students today:

"Strong advisory by Israeli gov't and US State Dept to refrain from traveling to Egypt, Jordan or other countries in the Middle East due to current political unrest."

Other than that, things are quiet around here (at least, and relatively, for the moment). I added pasta with tomato sauce and wine-just-sort-of-thrown-on-top-of-it to my cooking repertoire last night. Tonight I might step it up a bit: tuna melt via sandwich-maker thing.

"Did you mean to call her 'Linda?'"

Shabbat in Bet Shemesh was wonderful, as usual. Now I've got to figure out class/internship/ stuff.

But more importantly, my plans to go spend some time in Egypt/other countries in the region have perhaps have been...derailed. So, Europe, I guess I'll see you soon-ish?

Anavim anavim anavim

I'm procrastinating. (Grammar test tomorrow.)

Anyway, today in ulpan it was as though this person came and taught class for an hour. We had an Israeli theater professor instruct us in a selection of refined techniques employed in contemporary Israeli drama, such as repeating the Hebrew names of fruits in rapid succession. Best class ever.

Also, yesterday while in Jerusalem's Old City for the first time this stay (and after eating my first schawarma of the stay, as well (again, great country)), I went to a bookstore to purchase a new siddur. It was kind of like going to Olivander's but in a geekier, Jewish way.

And Adela cut class today.

Key roove

Just got back from checking out the "Hillel" at Hebrew University. It's a bit different from entities of the same name back in the States (I'm in Israel now, so I think I've earned the right to refer to the United States that way). And that's all I'm gunna say about that.

We're back in the apartment for the evening after a long day. It's a bit chilly outside, but I'm not complaining.

I'm in the process of selecting classes, which is quite a headache as this university doesn't exactly present its course offerings in a useful format: I've got two packets filled with random classes in different schools, along with a Hebrew registrar's website that's perhaps loosely organized. (Can't wait for fall 2011 classes to go up.)

And I got to see a certain, now Israeli, Hebrew monologue expert today.

Kfar/Kvar Shabbat

As the struggle between Bezeq and our apartment continues (maybe---just maybe---it will be resolved in the morning), I'm now at a cafe with wireless Internet in the Kfar.

Last night, after venturing northward down a hill to a nearby synagogue, we hosted quite the potluck dinner in our kitchen area: There were 18 guests and three of us from the apartment.

Our main task had been to prepare an ample supply of schnitzel for the gathering, and I dare say that we were successful (three packs of chicken and two hours later), despite the occasional consequences of certain logistical setbacks that we may have incurred during the frying process.

The rest of Shabbat was very pleasant and quite restful. In the afternoon I made it two synagogues, one Ashkenazic and one Sephadic, for minchah and ma'ariv respectively, and lacking a proper havdalah candle, we improvised just a bit and did a havdalah of sorts a little while ago.

We have ulpan tomorrow (Sunday) morning. (Go Israel.) It'll probably remind me of this.

Sorry, Sherman

Well, ulpan (intensive Hebrew learning fun-ness) is in full swing, and by that I mean that I've managed to sit through it for two days so far. It's...ulpan.

On the Internet front, still no Internet connection in the apartment. The lovely folks at Bezeq (an Israeli Internet company) are being less than available, but hopefully that'll be resolved shortly.

At the moment, my apartment-mates (I'd say suite-mates, but we have a stove-top so I feel that it's really more of an apartment, and suite-mates in my mind is still a term applied to those that dwelt within the confines of Ziv 130-203 in fall 2010) and I are planning a Shabbat dinner for tomorrow night, which now is up to about 15 people---it'll be a bit overwhelming to fry that much chicken, but it should be most delicious and delightful.

And I've discovered the Frank Sinatra Cafe; life has renewed meaning---sorry, Sherman; but we are officially on a break.

Jerusalem

Yesterday's registration for ulpan was a bit of a bureaucratic pain (at one point I had to fill out the same form twice so that I could keep a copy for myself, and, of course, the form was basically a contact information sheet), but I survived and eventually moved into my apartment in building 4 of Kfar HaStudentim (The Student Village). The Kfar is just outside the main university campus.

My room is also the miklat, the shelter to which we're supposed to go in case the politics in the region get a bit rough. So I have a few extra square feet and a pretty solid second door.

All five of us have now moved into the apartment (along with the apartment's other residents and Hebrew word of the day, n'malim), and it looks like it's going to be a lot of fun. There's still no Internet in there, so at the moment I'm sitting at a cafe in an academic building on the Hebrew University campus in order to get a connection. Hopefully, we'll get some Internet setup in the next few days or so.

Last night, I had the fortune of witnessing the crux of the yeshiva gap-year experience in an area of downtown Jerusalem that may be known to some as "crack square," though I'm told that Thursday night there will be an even more fantastic view into the structure of that intensive year of Torah study.

We've got some orientation stuff later, and ulpan starts tomorrow morning. Oh, and apparently the Israeli government decided to make itself fall apart a bit.

Shabbat rocks

It turns out that Percocet does a great job alleviating the pain of a kidney stone exiting the kidney and traveling through the ureter---lucky me! (This post's title is a pun. Get it?)

That minor setback became fully and rather throbbingly obvious to me during services this morning. But despite that (and the accompanying need to drink disgusting amounts of water), Shabbat with the Bet Shemesh Buechlers was delightful and very, very delicious.

After Shabbat, I also got my uncle Jeffery and cousin Shirel to laugh at the "shtuyot" of the Modern Family pilot episode. And thanks to my youngest cousin, Talielle, I'm now all-too-well acquainted with this fun little website that you should totally check out.

Checkpoints and weddings

The checkpoint was really not an important part of my day at all---I passed through it with my uncle this evening on the way to visit my cousin Aviel, who is studying at Yeshivat Har Etzion in the Gush Etzion block in the West Bank. I just thought it might be nice to mention checkpoints in the title to add an aura of ironic juxtaposition (and, consequently, a conjunction).

Anyway, this morning I walked around Bet Shemesh a bit and then ate the last one and a half of the, yes, three turkey sandwiches that my father insisted I take with me on the airplane. (I don't think it spoiled; so far so good, anyhow.)

And this evening, after some deliciously oily fresh falafel, my cousin Deena and I eventually spent time at a wedding to which we may or may not have been invited. Colloquially, some might say we "crashed" the wedding, though that sounds quite a bit more violent than what we actually did.

Later in the evening, we perhaps discovered that there is a new law in Israel that prohibits stores from selling alcohol after 11 p.m. We also perhaps discovered that such a law can be overridden if the alcohol is consumed within the establishment or makolet, as the case may be.

On a separate note, I found out that last night there was a Maccabeats concert in Jerusalem. I heard about it too late to actually attend, but I hope that all those who went, as well as anyone who clicked that first hyperlink, enjoy reliving that Chanukah delight as it's on constant replay in their heads over the next few days.

Day one in Israel

After a very snowy hour on the tarmac, the kind folks at the John F. Kennedy International Airport de-iced our (I suppose then-iced over) Boeing 747, and we were cleared for immediate takeoff---just ahead of what was apparently quite a little bit of snow, or, as the Israeli steward on board announced it, "ay beeg eh snowstorrm."

Quite the pleasant flight overall. I mean, it's hard to complain after having an aisle seat next to what appeared to be the only empty seat on the airplane. Needless to say (but not to write), my restless legs were pleased.

I'm now in Bet Shemesh with the Israeli segment of the Buechler family, as well as the one traveling New Jersey representative, who already wants me to go wedding crashing tonight.

By the way, in case you were wondering, there's a Brookstone at JFK's third terminal. And you can buy remote control helicopters there. Just saying.

Flight day

Well, tonight's the night!

I'm not exactly packed yet---the floor of my room resembles somewhat of a waffle shirt convention, but so long as the snow holds off a few more hours and the third stone in my right kidney lacks any ureteral aspirations, I'll be getting on a 9 p.m. flight to Tel Aviv.

On the weather front, it's really quite the shame that I'll be missing this little bit of precipitation, followed by the nighttime lows of delightfully frigid Waltham. I guess I'll just have to settle for a sunny 70 degrees Fahrenheit in Beit Shemesh.