I've arrived

I appear to be winning this blog competition. Thanks for all the support, fans.

It is so exciting to be back in Israel. It feels entirely normal to be here which in itself feels strange. My trip in August really helped me get a sense of the city and know what to expect with some basics like taking the bus, ordering coffee at Aroma, and avoiding the many cats near our apartment and elsewhere. Ethan's classmates and teachers have been so welcoming. We met up with many of them at a birthday celebration on Thursday night and continued seeing them over the last 48 hours at ordination, Shabbat services, and Saturday night dinner.

On Friday morning, after attending Israeli Rabbinic Ordination at HUC, we walked through the Old City and made our way to Mechane Yehuda. I decided I love the shuk (market). I want to go every week. I love the masses of people from all walks of Judaism shopping for Shabbat and the overflowing stalls of produce, spices, cheeses, meats, and sweets. I did embarrass Ethan a bit when I screamed at the sight of one fish gasping its last breaths in the fish bin (that's some really fresh fish). Ooops. We bought 100g each of basil, oregeno, thyme, and chili flakes for about $7. What a deal! I can't understand the prices when it comes time to pay so Ethan taught me my Hebrew numbers from 0-20 so if I ever go there alone, I might be able to pay in Hebrew.

We had a really wonderful Shabbat, and today, Ethan's back to school. This whole Sunday workday thing is going to take some getting used to. I'm going to check out the gym I might join and find my way to the home store. Later, I'm meeting up with Ethan to go with him to his volunteer placement in Mevaseret where he volunteers in the Ethiopian absorption center. He's paired with a family with three girls and goes every Sunday to play games and get to know them.

Here are some pictures of our apartment.


The gate to our apartment building


6 Menashe St


What you see when you walk in--to the right is the living room area, to the left is our bedroom, also to the left (on the other side of the wall) is the kitchen. The second bedroom is further back on the left and the bathroom is behind that hutch thing. The spare 1/2 bedroom is off the living room.











Ethan studying...


First Shabbat dinner in our home