Jesus' Birthday Party in Bethlehem!

To all my Christian blog followers out there (there has to be at least one.... I think), I wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas!

I just got back from Xmas Eve in Manger Square, and it was a grand time! Xmas was much different than I expected in Bethlehem, I was expecting caroling, religious services, and salvation army Santas on the street corners. But instead it was more of a rock concert, with New Year's Eve feel, with tons of people carrying glow sticks, and neon flashing lights. I'm really glad I went though, it was another wonderful Holy Land experience.

I'll be posting pictures tomorrow so stay tuned.

May this year be filled with lots of joy!

Merry Xmas and Shabbat Shalom,

ERBP

It is a miracle... A Chanukah Blog!

Another holiday in the holy land... another wonderful experience.

So in honor of the 8 days of Chanukah, I thought I would share 8 things that I love about being in Israel for this holiday.

#1: There are so many sufganiyot (donuts) and they are really good. My favorite one is the Vodka filled donut. The vodka donut contains 35% alcohol, and the alcohol content of each donut is equal to that of a bottle of beer. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I can drink more beer than I can eat donuts.

#2. PARTIES... Like my donuts, my chanukah has been filled with many extra festivities. Including a Latke-fest at our apartment, a special chanukah dinner at my Hebrew teacher's home, and a chanukah jamboree at school. You will be proud to know that I'm racking the dough up at the dreidel table.

#3. Chanukah Decorations on the Lamposts... Unfortunately, I can't rate the Chanukah lights like I do in CT, but it is very cool walking to and from school and seeing Chanukiyot on every lamppost!

#4. You see people lighting candles everywhere! From homes to restuarants, to barber shops to supermarkets, when sunset falls people start lighting candles. Today we walked around a neighorbood just out side the old city and looked at all the candles in the windows, it was something very special.

#5. Speaking of Chanukiyot... Arielle and I bought a really cool one! You will have to come to Israel to see it but trust me it is awesome!

#6. Jerusalem cats dress up as the Maccabees and assemble at the Temple Mount to renact the Hasmonean revolts. It is pretty awesome, just like a civil war reanctment but with cats!

#7. Being in the place where the 1st Chanukah was ever celebrated.

#8. No X-MAS Music... (Though the hot song in Jerusalem these days is GMA got ran over by a Latke... It is an instant classic!)

I wish you all a very Happy Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanza, and/or winter soltice!

Peace and Love,

Ethan

All is good in J'lem because...

1. I had an amazing touchdown catch last night at my weekly flag football game. I was in the back left corner of the end-zone, with two guys defending me as I jumped for the ball, grabbed it and came down with it and I was able to get my two feet in the end-zone before falling out of bounds. You have to take my word for it but it would be one of the top 5 plays of the day on SportsCenter.

Unfortunately, it was the only touchdown of the game for team HUC as we were crushed by a group of 17 year old Yeshiva boys, they would probably crush us in Torah commentary too. I'll make sure to blog again about our next game, maybe even get some video too!

At least we look good

2. My GMA just spent 5 great days with me and Arielle in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Highlights of the visit included....

The Temple Mount sifting operation: Where we sifted through rubble that was salvaged from the Temple Mount during recent construction. Some of our findings included, parts of a Byzantine glass jug, pieces of Roman bracelets, and 21st century bathroom ceramic tile floor!!

Sifting... it rocked!

Arielle Showing off a piece of her Roman bracelet

Thanksgiving Shabbat Dinner with peeps from HUC, where I cooked (and "carved") my first turkey.

Check out my awesome kippah! I know you are jealous.

Attending a protest against Haredi religious coercion in Jerusalem: If you remember back to a previous posts, I blogged about a parking lot protest and how some of the Haredi community were (and still are) protesting a parking lot near the Old City that has been opened on Shabbat. Well things have continued to escalate between the ultra-observant and and other Jewish residents of Jerusalem. Including, a violent protest by the Haredim against INTEL who has opened their offices and production on Shabbat and the arrest of a Jewish woman at the Kotel who decided to put on a Tallit to pray (Read more about this incident here).

So in response to ultra-orthodox religious coercion in Jerusalem, a rally/march was organized by secular, reform, and conservative Jews to let people know that Jerusalem is their city too. I was glad that I could participate in this demonstration, as it is so important to me that non-orthodox Jews feel home in this holy city too. Check out this Article for more details about the march. Here are a couple of pictures...

3. And life is going to be even better in J'lem because now you are going to comment on this blog and help Kotel6.com win the blog wars against myholidayinnisrael.com.

PEACE,

ERBP