Homecoming Results...

As I mentioned in my previous blog, last weekend was HUC's homecoming weekend, packed with a kickball game and a dance. Below are two quick updates from the weekend's festivities.

1. I went 5 for 6 in HUC's first annual Homecoming kickball game. I was a double short of a cycle, with a solo shot coming in the first inning, a single that drove in two runs in the third, and a base clearing triple in the fifth. I'm that good!! In the outfield, I had a slow start dropping a hard hit shot but I made up for it with a diving catch (webgem worthy), and throwing out a base runner at second. I know you are pretty impressed! I'm thinking about trying out for the Israeli National Kickball team...

And I'm also happy to report that my kickball team took the title (it was men vs. woman) and luckily the umpires at our game were better than the umps for the Angels/Yankees series.

2. Below is a picture of me running for HUC homecoming king, with some of my die-hard supporters. Unfortunately, this picture was taken before the results of homecoming court were announced. And it turned out that I was not number 1. I was devastated and I'm now thinking of transferring to JTS (the conservative rabbinical school), where people said that I would be a shoe-in for the King

So there is a quick update on HUC homecoming weekend. Stay tuned to my next post when I will share the day in the life of a first year rabbinic student.

Peace.

ERBP

Sukkah time and a visit to the Queen

Good News... (a bit late but good to know for next year)
The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has declared that "Jewish travelers may carry four plants – a palm branch, myrtle twigs, willow twigs, and a citron – in airports and through security checkpoints. These plants are religious articles and may be carried either separately or as a bundle. Jewish travelers may be observed in prayer, shaking the bundle of plants in six directions."

Bad News... (also late but good to know for next year too)
When flying during sukkot, one of three Jewish harvest festivals, you are going to have even less overhead compartment space.

So the run of Jewish Holidays is over and life is getting back to normal with classes, services, tennis games, updating my fantasy football team, and exploring J'lem. That means I'm going to have less and less exciting things to share so I have to capitalize and blog on these holidays when I have a chance.

So... I spent the first part of Sukkot in Israel, hopping from sukkah (hut) to sukkah (hut), taking some cool hikes, and shaking my lulav/etrog. Sukkot is something else in Israel. I live in a building complex of 8 apartments and there were six sukkahs in our backyard (Unfortunately, I was one of two tenants that didn't build one because I was away for half of the holiday... I'm the black sheep at 6 Menashe).

But I did have my share of sukkah time. Every restaurant in the city builds a sukkah, even the fast food joints (it is a mitzvah, a Jewish commandment, to eat in the hut during the holiday) so I was able to get many mitzvah points during the holiday. Also on every street corner there were people selling lulav and etrogs. Similar to December in NYC when you can buy a x-mas tree or see a salvation army Santa clause on every street corner. Speaking of Christmas, Israelis really get into decorating their sukkahs... tinsel is huge, along with lights, cut-out decorations, and Sukkah Clauses (I lied about the Sukkah Clauses... but this might be a good product to market for next sukkot).

Here are some photos that give you a glimpse of Sukkot in the holy land (thank you to my classmate Jodie for some of these photos.)

Recycled x-mas decorations in Sukkahs

Sukkahs on the main City Drag

Burger King Sukkah

The second part of Sukkot break, I flew to London... and luck would have it that I also ran into Arielle Traub there too. I'm so lucky.

Highlights of the trip included...
-Traveling in the smallest car in the entire world (G-WIZ)
-London's pub scene
-Checking out the Queen's weekend get-a-way at Windsor Castle
-Receiving a brand new swiffer-wet jet for my apartment floors (I don't know why the swiffer industry has not made it to Israel, it would do so well as there is a serious lack of carpet in Israel)
-Afternoon tea, scones, pastries, and non-kosher tea sandwiches at Harrods
-Walking (a lot) on the streets of London in surprisingly really wonderful and clear weather
-And of course... being with Arielle and her aunt, uncle, and cousin (cheesy, I know and you can get the barf bags... but totally true)



Now it is back to the daily grind, though I do have two exciting things coming up.

1. I start my volunteer work next week working with Ethiopian immigrants in an absorption center outside of Jerusalem. I'll make sure to blog about my experience.

2. Tonight starts HUC's first annual Homecoming Weekend. Including a pep-rally, a homecoming dance, and the homecoming kickball game. I'm stoked... I hope I become Homecoming King and that my kickball team wins (i bought a new sweatband for the big game)!

Peace,

ERBP

PETA members do not read....

The wait is over... The video of me swinging chicken is here!! But before pushing play, some back story.

Ever since I read the book "The Year of Living Biblically," by AJ Jacobs (his mission is to live the bible literally for a year--but you probbably were able to guess that from the title), I've wanted to take part in the ancient Jewish ritual of Kaparot. AJ Jacobs checks out this ritual in Crown Heights and paints a vivid picture, of chickens flying, prayers being chanted, and chaos. I thought to myself... if I could take part in this tradition in the holy city of Jerusalem, what an experience that would be.

According to wikipedia (my source for everything Jewish... I'm going to be an awesome Rabbi!) Kaparot is preformed by grasping the chicken and moving it around one's head three times, symbolically transferring one's sins to the chicken. Then it is slaughtered and donated to the poor to eat for the pre-Yom Kippur feast.

I decided when in Jerusalem do what Jerusalem-ites do and swing chickens... (though I think most Jerusalem-ites do not do this tradition and there has much opposition to this practice worldwide...) But unlike the parking lot (see a previous blog post) there was no one protesting Kaparot and I decided not to be a chicken (pun very much intended) and to do some swinging.

The site of Kaparot wasn't hard to find... as the stench of what soon will be be chicken parm and chicken cordon bleu was overwhelming. When I entered the courtyard, there were about 1,000 chickens ready to receive our sins. I found a chicken dealer, paid for my chicken, and after learning how to hold it (by the wings) started moving the chicken around in circles and saying some blessings that the chicken dealer gave me.

After feeling that all of my sins were gone (I behaved pretty well last year), I swung the chicken around my classmates and the chicken took their sins too. After five minutes, I was done... and went to the butcher, and told him that I would like to donate my sin-filled chicken to a needy family in Israel to eat prior to the holiday. And with one quick cut... my Kaparot experience was done.

And it was an experience... and a ritual that that I will probably never do again. Yet, after swinging the chicken and saying a couple of the prayers, I have to say I felt a bit lighter, more free, less sinful, and a bit more prepared to repent for my sins and missteps from the past year. (though this feeling may have been due to the stench of the Kaparot arena too.)

So you read the entire blog... Now push play. (A hint for when you watch the movie. Turn your computer and hold it like a Kindle then I'll be right side up.)



Ohh and I'm still trying to find a good "Why did the chicken cross the road..." Kaparot joke. If you got one let me know.

Be well,

ERBP