Friday

On Friday we started our day at the Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book (Heichal haSefer).  Most of the Museum is closed for construction (but don’t worry, it was the same price for admission!).  We saw the Dead Sea Scrolls and that whole exhibit (but my favorite was watching them “water” the shrine building).  We saw the model of the 2^nd Temple period, which used to be at the Holyland Hotel.  We went into a cool exhibit on Israeli art 1998-2008 which included very creative and modern art and interesting messages about Israel.  Then we ran to Emek Refaim for, of course, some last minute shopping!  We had a quick and huge lunch at Caffit, then walked back to the hotel.  A bit later, Aaron B picked us up (we missed Mollie and Livnat by a few days because they are still in Denver!) and he drove us to Machaneh Yehudah.  We went shopping with him – lychee nuts, rugulach, pita, humus, olives, and lots of spices!  We sat with him and had a quick coffee – so nice to catch up.  He drove us home and we got ready for Shabbat, then walked to Shira Chadasha for nice, but very long, tefilot.  Then Adam and I had a lovely dinner in the hotel – it was nice to be relaxed and to be together.  We read our books in the lobby a bit – it was quite a scene of different kinds of Jews, in fact, so was dinner, which was very cool.  Israelis seem to really enjoy Shabbat dinner, and to find it important, even if they have cell phones with them.

Shabbat in Jerusalem

Shabbat morning we woke at 6:45 AM!  You’d think I thought I was running the shul! J  We walked back to Shira Chadasha and were just about 5 minutes late.  Nice davening – very, very long.  This week came the sad news that two of Israel’s soldiers, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, were dead, and their bodies were laid to rest.  So tefilot reflected this – very sad, very slow.  I noted how Israel really changed with this news.  All of the radio stations played sad songs on the day of the funerals.  In shul, we still prayed for the soldiers who are still missing, and two girls had aliyot because they are entering the army (we sang Oseh Shalom for them).  News is reality in Israel, and reality is felt in every element of society.  Very difficult.  After shul, Adam and I had a picnic lunch in our room and then went up to the pool for a bit.  It was hot up there so we only lasted a few hours.  We took an evening walk in Yemin Moshe, strolling through the neighborhoods.  We found the shul but didn’t go in because it was Mincha time.  We watched a group of Reform Jews (probably) sing Havdalah, Deb Friedman style, while a bunch of black hats stood nearby.  Very funny.  It is apparently the thing to do to have fireworks at a Muslim wedding, and we watched at least 10 different displays from East Jerusalem and beyond.  Saturday night, after we packed, we walked to the Machaneh Yehudah area.  Adam was convinced everything was closed, and it was a bit scary, but then we found Stekiat Hatzot and had one of the best dinners ever.  We ran into Etan W there.  We really enjoyed, then walked home very slowly, bellies full and happy, breathing in the sweet air of Jerusalem.  Funny story that Adam loves to tell.  On the way to Stekiat, a woman approached us on King George and asked if she could interview us.  I explained that we are Americans, so we probably shouldn’t be on her Israeli radio show, but asked what she was interviewing about.  She told us something that the government is saying you should stay a distance back from anything plugged in.  I said, ok, whatever, that’s ridiculous.  She then put the microphone at my face and said in Hebrew, “so now what are you going to do?” and I said, “we’re going to eat at Stekiat Hatzot!”  she said, “no, about this issue!”  I answered but not well and will probably just end up on the gag reel, but Adam thought it was very funny that I thought she wanted to know what we were doing that night!  Note my new necklace (thanks, Adam) in the picture.

Sunday - Lehitraot

We started the morning at the Kotel.  Adam even put on tallit and tefillin (this I would not dare).  We left the hotel and took a cab to Hod Hasharon.  There we schlepped all of our suitcases into Linda and Menachem’s house, and played with Ilan, Yasmin, Zohar (who is half and 2 years, as she’ll say), and Gilad (who is an adorable bouncy baby boy).  They left just as Emily, Simon (a very big 4 year old boy) and Eli (sweet and so blond) showed up from Raanana.  We went out for felafel (because the best is in Hod Hasharon) and Adam had important jobs, first of entertaining the boys, then of sitting between them in the car in the back between two car seats!  It was so hot but really nice to see them.  And it’s not true what you read on their blog, Eli does talk! J  We got to the airport, thanks to Emily, and checked in. 

The flight home was fine, El Al style.  Delayed, not boarded properly or with any order, and even started with broken ticket scanning machines so we had to go to a different gate first.  Loud annoying children sat in front of us, but Adam and I were tough and did not entertain them.  We landed late, got the bags and the car, and drove to NYC where we could not find a lot to park in.  Very annoying.  We slept from 4-7 AM then I went to my Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing training.  We’re back in West Hartford now and of course we miss Israel.  Can’t wait to go back soon!

Yaffa wants her own entry and picture

Here's a picture of the real Ravid and Yaffa.  She didn't like that the picture announcing her engagement was not of her.  So here it is: the happy couple.  Not much going on Chez Garberkowitz today.  We just saw the movie WALL-E (or however you write it).  Adam liked it; I was bored.  There were lots of kids there and most seemed totally engaged.  I agree that it had a good message about the state of our planet, but it lacked decent dialogue (that's a joke, there's no dialogue!) and the plot was rather simplistic.  And it was gross to think that if we don't take care of our land and our bodies, things could really end up like that. Time to hit the gym! 

Celebrating with Joyce

Mazal tov to Joyce Juda, who celebrated 25 years as NERUSY director last week.  Adam and I went to Providence, as did Yaffa and Ravid, and we caught up with lots of old friends. The day was lovely and included tributes to Joyce from all the 25 years.  We ended with singing the regional song, "Joyce's Little Region."  Our day continued with Celebrate West Hartford (basically a big fun street fair - awesome) and then a great dinner at Claire's in New Haven (kosher and vegetarian food - something for everyone!  BTW, the picture in the previous post is not of Yaffa and Ravid - I hope you've figured that out! :)

Yaffa and Ravid are engaged!

Been a long time - we're busy people with no time to blog. But I'm trying.  So here's just a quick update.  Yaffa and Ravid got engaged last night!  Apparently it was very sweet and romantic - I've only really heard Yaf screeching so far - she's very excited.  In other news, Adam and I were just trying to BBQ and I think we burnt the BBQ!  I'm in shock.  I didn't think that could happen.  So we've moved the chicken inside and we'll have to look at the BBQ next week.  Right now, I'm in a fight with the BBQ and I don't want to go near it!  Adam played with the Zamir Chorale in the beginning of June.  That was great - so nice to kvell in Boston!  Here he's pictured with my beloved Cantor Aryeh Finklestein after the show.  OK, must finish a sermon.  Shabbat Shalom!

Memorial Day

We had a memorable Memorial Day, starting with the West Hartford town parade - a real small-town experience with Daisy, Brownie and Girl Scout troops, sports teams, etc.  Then we went to Karyn and Melissa's for a BBQ and discovered that Adam likes to play badminton.  After, we drove to NYC to play with Hannah and Micah.  They are so cute!  Yes, they ate a topless dinner, but then we played with balls and read stories. So much fun. Yaffa and Ravid came over (after bedtime) and we enjoyed dinner with Lauren, Scott, and Yael. It's so nice to eat kosher food from a restaurant - we are so lame in Hartford. Anyway, then we toured Yaffa's apartment - very nice. And we were her first house guests.  That was a packed day!  Now someone just has to teach me how to load the pictures on blogger so they are in the right order. So annoying.