DAN PANORAMA IN HAIFA

It is wonderful to have friends. It is wonderful to have friends when you're on your own in a new country.

My friend, her husband and her mother met me at Or Hadash for Friday evening services. The evening went well. I was back in my element - on the bimah - and it felt very comfortable. The rabbi was very welcoming, as was the congregation. I co-officiated at evening services. We remained for Shabbat dinner.

I had a chance to meet a rabbi from Wellesly, who was traveling with young people from her congregation.

Before driving me back to the University of Haifa my friends took me to the top the Dan Panorama - to the Executive Business Center. Wow!!! Wonderful - spectacular - evening views of the entire city - lights, etc. etc. - with lots of cool breezes. The Dan Panorama is part of the Dan Hotel chain. They happened to be staying there for the weekend.

(BTW - if there is a spare slash anywhere in this or future blogs, it's because the lower left Shift key is smaller than on our keyboards because of making room for extra letters/marks - and the one I keep hitting is the slash. The keyboard has Latin letters (aka English), Hebrew letters and Arabic letters.)

I felt so much more at home and ready to take on the new things surrounding me because of my friends' welcome and the welcome at the synagogue.

May you always have friends where you are.

Rabbi Heath