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