Shavua Tov

Whoa. So much has happened in the past week.

I've heard that the beginning is a good place to start, so here's the beginning:

Last Tuesday, I went on a tiyul with two friends to the Jerusalem Archaeology Park. Beginning in the late 1800s, I believe, archaeologists began digging up the area around Har HaBayit and the Kotel. After 1967, Israeli archaeologists put great efforts into uncovering the layers of history surrounding Har HaBayit. As a result of archaeologists' efforts over the past hundred years or so, you can now visit Bayit Sheini-era mikvaot, storefronts, and ruins, all located along the Western Wall (just a bit south of the Kotel Plaza). A couple of hundred feet away, on the southern side of Har HaBayit, you can walk through a Byzantine-era home (the mosaic floors are in perfect condition) and explore the former grounds of an Ummayad palace. Robinson's Arch and Chulda's gate, two of the former entrances to the Beit HaMikdash are must-sees as well. (I realize that I sound like a tour guide.) Near the end of our time in the park, I witnessed a pretty eery sight. I noticed dogs running through the excavations on the southern side of Har HaBayit; the image reminded me so much of the story of Rabbi Akiva and the foxes roaming Har HaBayit.

Rosh Hashana was an intense experience. I spent the chag in Beitar. Shachris began at 6:30 A.M. and ended at around 2:00 P.M. At the Yom Tov and Shabbos seudot, my hosts only discussed divrei Torah. It was a different sort of Yom Tov for me, which I think is a good thing since the Aseret Yimei Teshuva are a time to try to be a better person. My Rosh Hashana's atmosphere was definitely conducive to achieving that goal.

Today, Tzom Gedalya. After an abbreviated schedule of classes, a couple of friends and I visited Yad VaShem. (You know the quote in Maus, where Art Spiegelman quotes someone famous who said that putting an idea to words detracts from the idea, but Art comments that the person bothered to say that very idea?) Regardless of whether I paraphrased that idea correctly at all or not and regardless of whether it was intelligible, I'm trying to say that Yad VaShem goes beyond description. Description wouldn't do the place justice. All I can say is that three hours is not enough time to properly visit the museum, so I hope to go back sometime soon.

And now. I'm sitting outside, under some palm trees and across from a bed of rose bushes, typing. That's right. We've got Wifi.

Philadelphia Cream Cheese

Thank G-d, I'm having an all-around great time in Israel.

I'm even adapting well to the paucity of Diet Dr. Pepper in this country; I've taken up drinking Diet Coke by the liter instead. It's not the same, but it will suffice.

The one thing, however, that I've been trying to find here that I just can't seem to locate is American-style cream cheese. You know, the normal stuff you put on a lightly toasted whole wheat poppy seed bagel. Yeah, that stuff. Strangely, this country sells many, many varieties of cheese, but not regular, old-fashioned cream cheese. Israeli cheese even comes with the exact percentage of fat contained within printed on the package. Talk about full disclosure. But for an industry that has shomen-content down to the percentage, the Israeli dairy industry does not seem to produce cream cheese. So I was pleasantly surprised today when I opened up the fridge and found a package of Philadelphia cream cheese, tied in silver ribbon, laying on my shelf.

I have really sweet dira-mates. Thanks guys.

I Think I'm Falling in Love with Israel

Okay, so I've been here in Yerushalayim for just about a week and three hours now, and it's been quite an experience.

When I first arrived in Yerushalayim (after a rather lengthy delay in JFK), I had one of those simple yet profound realizations. I so badly wanted to visit the Kotel--merely a remnant in the place where a magnificent Beit HaMikdash should be--and I thought to myself, How awesome would it be to take a sheirut from Ben Gurion to the Beit HaMikdash. Halevai.

I forgot, or perhaps I never realized, how beautiful the city of Yerushalayim is. The hills, the valleys, the panoramic views, the brilliant sunshine--and that's just Bayit Vegan. I've got a great davening spot under a lime tree in a small courtyard outside my dira. Talk about a makom kavuah.

Thank G-d, the learning is great. Lots of Tanach, a good bit of Halacha, and a sprinkle of some Machshava. Maybe even a drop of Torah Sheh'bi'al Peh.

I love the street signs proclaiming the names of Rishonim. I love struggling with Ivrit and Israeli money. I love the cashiers who play Jewish geography ("Where are you from?" "Random Midwest city." "Oh, I have a friend there." "Yeah, it's a great place."). I love the fact that sketchy looking men walk around with giant gold Magen Davids, instead of crosses, around their necks.

I think I'm fallig in love with Israel.

On Tying Up Loose Ends

I was recently reading a novel that is narrated from the perspective of the protagonist. The book is kind of like a diary, so the narrator rambles on about anything she's thinking about. In the course of advancing the plot, she explains that you, the reader, must expect what is coming next. Since she mentioned a random person earlier on, she says that you must know that the character will show up again. She paraphrases the following quote from Chekhov, in which he discusses good writing: "If there is a gun hanging on the wall in the first act, it must fire in the last."

But must it? Should it? Do readers actually want every loose end to be tied up by the end of the book?

My seventh grade English teacher always said that literature is meant to reflect reality (I'm not sure if that's true. Thoughts?). In reality, is every little thing crucial? Is every acquaintance of mine going to resurface years from now in some very important capacity? Somehow, I don't think so.

I know that I'm supposed to learn from every person I meet and from every experience I have--they are important--but from a literary perspective, should every character and detail that is introduced hold some larger significance?

I don't think that it should, because it's just not realistic if each and every one does. Personally, I appreciate authenticity in novels.

What do you think?

(This question makes me think of Harry Potter. I've always appreciated how minor characters (such as Cedric Diggory and Kreacher) and details (Harry's green eyes) are later very important. I'm wondering, though, if J.K.R. introduces characters and details which truly are unimportant. Can you think of any?)

Seinfeld

You got to love Seinfeld.

Back when Seinfeld was originally airing on television, I was too young to appreciate it. I don't think that I ever even watched an episode, besides for the series finale since it was such a big deal. But recently I've become acquainted with Seinfeld, and I love it.

I love it so much, I almost died watching it. For real. Thank G-d, I survived. But it was a close call. The story itself is almost out of a Seinfeld episode.

***One afternoon, I'm watching an episode with my family. Since I'm hungry, I'm eating a pear (a pear? I know. It's a random fruit, but I can't stand apples). Long story short, there's a really funny line, and I burst out laughing. Since I'm also eating at the time, a piece of pear gets lodged in my throat, making it difficult/impossible for me to breathe. Luckily, my mom does the Heimlich Maneuver, and I survive, thank G-d.***

I'm thinking about Seinfeld today, because a conversation from a rerun that was on today was reminiscent of a conversation I had with two of my nine-year-old campers. On the show, Kramer thinks of a number between one and ten, and another character guesses that he's thinking of the number of six. He's actually thinking of the number five, but is astounded that the other character's guess is so close. At camp, one nine-year-old (the same one from the hair and sisters stories) tells me that her friend is telepathic, because if you think of a number between one and ten, she'll guess it. The other kid demonstrates her talent, and then they ask me to try too. So I join in, and lo and behold, I'm also pretty good at guessing numbers between one and ten. The first nine-year-old turns to me with a look of wonderment and says, "You're telepathic, too!" Then we try guessing numbers between one and 100, and neither of us are any good at it. Surprise, surprise.

7 Days and Counting

I'm supposed to be getting ready for my upcoming trip to Israel. Every person I see asks me the same questions: "Are you excited?" and "Are you getting ready?" The answers seem pretty obvious to me. Who wouldn't be excited about spending a year learning in Israel, and who, with only a week to go, isn't getting ready? But the truth is that although I'm excited for the year ahead, I'm also nervous. Yes, I'm nervous. And although I only have a week until takeoff, I'm not really ready. Some of my friends already have duffels packed. The most I've done is unpack my suitcases from last semester (I finally did that last Tuesday. Pathetic, I know, but I'm a procrastinator.)

Although almost everyone I know has gone through the same experience, it's still a new experience for me, and I'm a bit nervous. Excited, but unsure of what my year will be like.

And as far as getting ready goes, I figure that Israelis live in Israel all year round, and they somehow survive without coming to the U.S. every couple months to restock on toiletries. So why can't I? Which reminds me--do I need to bring my own pillows?

My Throat Hurts

As soon as I finish work, I get sick.

I have a really annoying ear infection that is also manifesting itself as a sore (read: itchy and burning) throat. For some reason, some of my real-world friends think that it's all in my head. They're right. It is--it's in my ears and throat, and it really hurts. So, as you may have deduced, I'm looking for sympathy.