Currently No Vacancy at Kotel6

I'm happy to report that all is good in Jerusalem. I'm slowly getting into a routine, which includes 25 hours of Hebrew class, three hours of Biblical geography/archeology, one and half hour of cantillation, and four mandatory services a week. All is going smoothly, minus the cantillation, where we sometimes have to sing verses of Torah out loud. I find it a little disconcerting when all of my classmates cover their ears when I start chanting. But today, I had a break through in cantillation and things are looking up. (I think I might be giving the cantors in training a run for their money).

Along with starting year one I have also started to explore J-town. (the photo below documents my first day of Hebrew with my roommate Sarah).


I'm on a mission to find the best hummus in Jerusalem (I looked in the old city... pictures of my search below).

I have started to synagogue hop. I went to this renewal service where people were dancing, chanting, drumming, pantomiming birds, and running around in circles--- I don't think I'll be going back to this service any time soon. I was a bit distracted and I suggest building a mehitza (traditionally a barrier that separates men and women during prayer) for people who are dancing and the other people that are a bit more reserved.

One thing that I really love about Jerusalem is Friday afternoons. Everybody is getting ready for Shabbat, the grocery stores are packed, and challah is flying off the shelves. It is really something special to walk around and say Shabbat Shalom to the checkout lady, the bus driver, and even the man asking for change on the street. What beats this is Friday evenings, when you can walk around my neighborhood and see Shabbat candles in almost every window, and take a stroll on the streets hearing different Shabbat songs from house to house. It is pretty cool, and there is probably no other place like this in the world. (Except maybe now in the NJ jails... with the kidney stealing Rabbis)

In another news... This past weekend Kotel6 had no vacancy as we had our first guests! I think they would give Kotel6 four out of five stars, they were a little disappointed that the staff did not turn down their beds. Don't forget to make your reservations for Kotel6... Holiday times are filling up!

And while we are on the subject of the Kotel... you can now twitter your prayers to the Kotel (www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1102104.html). I heard Obama is doing that too... check this out.

Until next blog,

ERBP