Rabbi Heath's 2007 Trip To Israel

Riff on the Single State Solution

2007-08-05T17:49:00.000-04:00

Early days in Haifa. Trips to the mall. Making friends - as someone chatty like I can - with the clerks at the record store.

After discussions about DVD/TV technology - multi-system, multi-region, DVD, PAL, NTSC etc. etc. - the inevitable (I guess) came out. Yup, I was a rabbi from the States. Discussion - brief - ensued.

Well, he was in his late 20's or early 30's. He had a solution for ha-matzav - the situation - in Israel. After all, he says, I'm not religious. Why be wedded to this piece of real estate? Why not let the United States just give us a state, let us move in and give Israel back to the Arabs? Probably cheaper than U.S. foreign aid anyway. Right? Certainly a novel solution to my ears.

By the time I got on the phone that evening with a friend, the perfect plan emerged in my conversation. The riff on his idea - the variations on his theme - just sprang full-blown from who knows where.

Not a state in the United States. No, there are Mexicans leaving lots of empty space down South of the Border - right? Matter of fact - a state in Mexico makes more sense. We could find one that has a climate not unlike Israel and - there you have it - a great transfer. A three-way swap - Mexicans to the States and Israelis to Mexico.

Besides, most Israelis already speak English. They could learn a third language just as easily. Besides, Spanish is "so difficult" for those of us Americans who think everyone should speak English and just not give us any more problems. Right?

Matter of fact, I continued, there are temples in Mexico. And, there are scholars who think they have proved that North American Indians are part of the lost tribes.

I think there's a real case here. Maybe he's struck on the solution. Yes, yes, the original two temples are in the Land of Canaan - but with a little creativity - we could do like the pilgrims and create a New Canaan in Mexico. Right?

Well - it was worth a try. The riff was a fun way to blow off steam and nerves the first week I was in Israel. The clerk's bright idea holds much more interest, though, bespeaking someone tired of the tension - a tiredness about which we - for the most part - know nothing.

Riff away this summer - you never know where your might end up!!

Rabbi Heath

Heading for Parts Unknown - Well, Almost

2007-08-05T17:37:00.000-04:00

My Alitalia itinerary included a plane change in Milan. As I left Milan on my way home to Boston, the boarding gates in the area to which I was directed by the electronic Departures board gave four choices to the intrepid traveler:

Boston, Casablanca, Minsk and Caracas

Boston certainly seemed like the "safe" choice - the others, places of story and somehow unreal.

You know what it's like when you hear someone you consider very ladylike - say Julie Andrews - swear like a sailor? Well, that's the same kind of disjuncture I experienced.

Casablanca? On a digital display board gate sign over a crowd of warm folks waiting with as much patience as they could muster? No. Of course, not. Where was Bogart? Where was the black and white? Why was this in color? And, so modern?

I must admit that if I were to have wandered off to parts unknown rather than coming home, it would have been to Minsk - on the hopes that it was a little cooler than the other locations. But, I really don't know where Minsk is (Poland? Russia? Pale of Settlement? Some country swallowed by the Soviet Union and then ejected into its own state 90 years later?) except in Jewish jokes and stories. Maybe it was part of the southeastern Europe heat wave where the temperatures soared over 100 for days on end and fires broke out in the countryside. It sounded cold. I imagined fur coats, fur hats and sleighs through snow - heading for homes warmed by roaring fires.

I had my choices. The road diverged in the wood with four paths.

I didn't choose the path less taken. Nope. I didn't head for parts unknown. I headed home.

Rabbi Heath

Roaming in Italy / Roaming in Israel

2007-08-03T15:33:00.000-04:00

I can truthfully tell you that in the past 13 months I've been to Italy 4 times -- for a grand total of no more than 8 hours. My feet have touched terra firma - well, at least the tarmac - during plane changes to/from Israel.

I actually have Israeli dust in/on my Crocs - so the "roaming" is more apt than for Italy.

Wait - wait - not that kind of roaming - the other kind. Roaming - sure - that's the cell-phone lingo for "you didn't use our network so you're going to really pay for the phone call!"

Here's the Cingular/AT&T "damage" for my roaming in Italy and Israel. How close did you come when I challenged you to guess in one of my earliest blogs?

Italy - 6 minutes for ONLY $14.94 plus $1.87 International Tax. Now, you tell me, exactly who gets the International Tax? It's probably divided down to the last half cent between heaven only knows whom. I wonder how many days of negotiations it took to get it figured out??

Israel - 5 minutes for ONLY $6.45 plus $0.45 International Tax. A slightly better deal - possibly a different time of day. Who knows?!?

That's a total of 11 minutes (hold on to that number 11, it will be important in just a paragraph) for $21.39 plus $2.42 International Tax.

All my Cingular/AT&T "roaming" in Italy and Israel comes to a grand total of $23.81.

Eleven - 11 - the important number - - - yes, that's the price per minute I incurred when calling the States from Israel on my Israeli cell phone - 11 cents per minute.

Now, the bill came in increments of seconds rather than minutes. It was interesting to see a call for 1689 and realize - whew - I didn't shoot the whole wad - that's just seconds, not minutes.

Well, let's round up for some easy math (I was a music major, not a math major!). We can make it 1800 seconds and then easily divide by 60 seconds per minute and come up with a 30 minute phone call. More math! At 11 cents per minute, that's a grand total of $3.30.

Hmmmm. 30 minutes for $3.30 versus 11 minutes for $23.61.

Some one is laughing all the way to the bank with my pocketbook in hand!!

Here's to roaming -- roaming without highway banditry!!

Rabbi Heath

P.S. Despite the charges - it was vastly reassuring that I could flip my Cingular/AT&T phone open, wait for it to figure out it "wasn't in Kansas" anymore and adjust accordingly. Expensive, yet, for those times I wanted it - definitely worth it. As I learned at the phone company in quality training in the 1980's -- "quality" is conformance to requirements. The Cingular/At&T experience roaming overseas was "quality."

The End is Near!

2007-08-02T06:19:00.000-04:00

Well, the trip is over. I might have a few more blog entries as I come across things when I unpack but - "the end is near" for this blog.

I really enjoyed having a way to share my experience in Israel. I know that many people didn't comment because it meant having to create an account and that all just seemed too complicated.

It will be more fun to have your comments in person and to chat about Israel with you.

Until then - be well and may your life be full of blessings.

Rabbi Heath

Cards and Letters

2007-08-01T16:05:00.000-04:00

If not already, then shortly, every one who

(1) lives in MA and made a contribution towards consecration, this trip and the rabbi's discretionary fund; and/or

(2) made a square for my beautiful quilt; and/or

(3) is from the congregation and had a birthday/anniversary in July; and/or

(4) was enrolled in 1st through 7th grade last year in our Religious School

should receive a notecard or postcard from Israel.

If I've forgotten anyone or something got lost in the mail, I do apologize.

The clerk at the post office on the U of Haifa campus chuckled each day as I brought in another stack of notecards/postcards to mail. As I slid notecards/postcards one-by-one into the post box, one of the young students was duly impressed that I was sending so many back to the States.

The post box itself has a slot that accommodates just one notecard/postcard at a time. An obvious security measure. It certainly does take longer than the traditional American "dump a bunch into the mailbox at one time" approach. You have to be sure everything's sealed and the stamps are affixed or they might come off as the notecard/postcard slides into the post box.

If you received a card that opened rather than being flat - I'm sure you've figured out by now that it doesn't "open the wrong way" - it opens "the Hebrew way."!!

If you think reading right to left is fun - then consider calendars where the week goes from right to left. That's quite another orientation to handle. But "they" do "drive on the right side of the road!!" At least that's one thing in our favor. Either the British weren't there long enough to have an impact in this regard or they weren't there at the crucial time when the automobile took over the roads.

May all your "wrong ways" really be "right ways."

Cheers, Rabbi Heath

East or West, Home is Best

2007-08-01T15:56:00.000-04:00

Well, I arrived safely and managed a good night's sleep on MA time. The Diet Coke helped some as did phone calls to family.

Today - errands - banks, mail, grocery store, gas. Haven't tackled the laundry yet, nor even really unpacked - except for my backpack.

It seemed funny to receive change in American coins and not in some variation of shekels.

The city buses here aren't green with a big Alef on them. Even if the city buses aren't green, nature is abundantly so. Not that there's not plenty of green in Haifa -just a different kind. It's as if it struggles to be green rather than exuding moist green.

I walked through the Logan airport walkways heading for passport control and saw two women airport employees. Thought to myself. Well, at least I'm back where they speak English in case I need help beyond my Hebrew skills. A few feet later I hear them conversing. Probably Portuguese. Stereotypes die hard.

It's good to be home. It's good to have my own wheels again.

See you soon, Rabbi Heath

Cinderalla

2007-07-30T06:29:00.000-04:00

When the clock strikes midnight, carriages turn into pumpkins and coachmen turn into mice and the dress turns into rags. Israel in July 2007 becomes the ball that is over. And darn - no prince :)

I'm coming home with all of my shoes - the lovely pink Crocs which have not only stood me in good stead, but have helped me fit in (as if I really cared!!) to the current fashion in Israel -- lots of Crocs around - in all colors -- on everyone.

The sherut/shared taxi/shuttle comes at midnight tonight - July 31st and it's all over except for the plane flight home (with a one hour layover in Milan) - though I do have the lovely struggle of four suitcases. I came with two - which were full (what was I thinking?) and I'm coming home with four. Ah, interesting times at the airport.

I'm not sure if I'll use the computer again until I get home, so it will be quiet on the email and blog front.

Thanks for your comments (though they were few - which means you have other things to do that keep up with the minutiae of my trip - which is good) and for the occasional emails.

See you soon - though, don't call me, I'll call you. It will take a little bit for me to get oriented after traveling without a night of sleep and the inevitable jet lag.

Thanks for all you did to make this trip possible.

Rabbi Heath

Two More Nights

2007-07-29T07:41:00.000-04:00

Well, it's coming to a close. One more day of class for me (Monday) and one more night at the hotel (Sunday).

I'll spend the early part of the evening Monday at the hotel, but the sherut (shared taxi) will pick me up at around midnight to take me to the airport in Tel Aviv - about a 50 minute ride. I'm assuming (dangerous, of course) that the traffic will be minimal then.

It's taken me all month to go to bed Saturday evening and realize that Sunday is not the second day of the weekend, but is Yom Rishon - the first day of the week. Offices open, classes are held - it's like Monday morning in the States - only, of course, it's Sunday morning.

The off-setting piece is that Friday is a half day of work or a non-work day for most. There were no classes on Friday mornings - just Sunday through Thursday. Friday morning at the supermarket was very busy - shopping before Shabbat and the closing of stores around 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon.

The heat has increased and I am very, very glad to be in the hotel. Even folks who were doing okay earlier in the month are now feeling the heat rather badly in the dorms.

Lots to tell, lots to talk about - there will be time.

I am looking forward to being home, though it still seems a little unreal. But, soon the airport adventure begins and then--I'm in MA and this month starts to become part of history rather than the present.

Be well, stay cool. Shavua tov,

Rabbi Heath

TV - Part II

2007-07-28T10:45:00.000-04:00

Well, when I saw that the weather forecast focused on Egypt, I figured out that the game show with men vs. women that I described in the last post must have been on Egyptian TV rather than on Turkish TV.

Shabbat morning is still Saturday and there are certainly cartoons on lots of TV channels.

It is quite a culture shock to see a normal American comedy series with a mainly black cast being dubbed in German. The little boy wants to be a tap dancer rather than an investment banker and his dad's response in German was pretty funny. I took German in high school, so I "got" most of it - foreign language and body language.

Oh, I forgot to mention that there are Spanish channels and that not only are there Russian channels, but it's the predominant other language besides English.

And, Middle Eastern TV channel with American evangelical Christian programming - well, it has subtitles in Arabic, but not in Hebrew. Figure it out. Interesting - right??

Shavua tov - Rabbi Heath

Balcony / Mirpeset

2007-07-28T10:41:00.000-04:00

So, I'm sleeping away, soundly, definitely minding my own business. . . when, suddenly, a noise!! Wow, someone's on the balcony. . . is the sliding door locked? Maybe they climbed around from their balcony. It's possible. Hmm. Is someone rattling the door. EEEEKKK - I'm a woman traveling alone.

Well, maybe the next door neighbors did go out to the balcony to see the evening harbor view - and it's beautiful - but there was nothing to EEEEKKK about. Probably as they leaned on the metal railings they made some noise.

But, you bet I moved my personal effects to what I figured was a secret hiding place - down between the two slim single beds pushed together to make a larger bed.

Boy, if anyone were to break in I would claim that everything was in the safe (kasefet) downstairs in the lobby.

Whew - plugged in the earphones, grabbed a book - let another mini-worry go past.

Rabbi Heath

Ick!! The Food is Bad

2007-07-28T10:38:00.000-04:00

I'm telling you, the stereotypes come out really quickly.

Breakfast. I see some suspicious little black things on the watermelon and cantaloupe. Then, next to the tuna fish as well. Hmmm. I'm in a foreign country. Ick!!! Something wrong with the food. Well, what do you expect??

NOT!!! I'm the one who added a little sliver of chocolate breakfast cake and put it on top of the watermelon/cantaloupe plate. When I returned to the table, I ate it first. Crumbs - not food ick.

Yup - those stereotypes jump out when you least expect them.

Rabbi Heath

Divide by Four

2007-07-28T10:32:00.000-04:00

The current exchange rate is 4.25 New Israeli Shekels for every one U.S. dollar. Therefore - divide by 4!!

When you walk out of the store and you see the receipt and go - wow - 391.50 in big print at the bottom - not to worry - divide by 4. Ahh, it's all better now.

So, sometimes things aren't very expensive. An ice cream bar for 5 shekels is a little over a dollar - not too bad. But, a meal at the McDonald's at the University - well, that's 33 shekels. Divied by 4 and you're paying over $7.00 for a regular size diet coke, regular size fries and a 9-piece corn nugget box. Hmmm.

Three people at the movies is 105 shekels (actually - shekalim is the plural). Divide by 4 and you get a little over $25.00 Not too bad. A small popcorn is 13 shekalim - divide by 4 - about $3.00. Hmm. About right for overpriced movie popcorn.

Again - divide by 4 and take a deep breath!!

Rabbi Heath

Donating Money to Israel While You're Here

2007-07-28T10:29:00.000-04:00

Paperwork - there is paperwork. You can avoid it. . . sometimes.

When you spend $100 or more at one time, on one receipt, at a shop that is part of the network connected to the return of the value-added tax on departing the country - you get to do some paperwork on the spot and then visit the little cashier's office at the airport and get your 15.5% back as you're leaving the country.

But - there are many times when you're not spending over $100 at a time and, yup, you are paying the 15.5% value added tax.

Gotta love it!! And, think of how you're supporting the economy!!

Rabbi Heath

Plumbing Design

2007-07-28T10:25:00.000-04:00

Okay - here is a bit of practical information about your visit to an Israeli restroom . . . they are far ahead of all the foolishness in the States that passes for using less water in the toilet.

An historical note: when my sister moved "out to the sticks" - about 45 miles from downtown St. Louis, the 42 acres on which they moved had house etc, but only a cistern, not a well. The usage guide in the bathroom was : if it's yellow, let it mellow - if it's brown, flush it down.

Well, the same concept of saving water works here - except you have to decide how much needs flushing. Use the smaller push button or lever on the handle - or use the larger one. Very scientific and pretty obvious.

Yup, the Israelis (and probably Europeans) got there first.

Rabbi Heath

Taxi / Monit

2007-07-28T10:24:00.000-04:00

So - not much here except that it's rude not to sit in the front seat unless you have lots of packages.

Also, it's safest to ask for the meter rate - which drivers are required to do if you ask. Sometimes there are fixed rates arranged by organizations - such as the University. Otherwise - the meter.

Rabbi Heath

Let's Talk TV

2007-07-27T01:34:00.000-04:00

Well, there's no shortage of television here - though I haven't asked the ultimate TV consumers if there are massive numbers of TV channels like DirectTV and Comcast etc. provide.

At the hotel, there's a window on the world. I've found channels in English, Russian, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Turkish (or maybe Bulgarian or Hungarian) and Arabic. There are probably more, but I haven't figured them out yet.

From our great American storehouse of programming (!) - there's MTV, National Geographic, Hallmark, VH1, ESPN and CNN World News channels. There's also BBC Prime.

Individual American programs can be found on various stations - sometimes dubbed, but mostly with Hebrew and sometimes Arabic subtitles. The programs that are dubbed are usually those coming on other foreign language channels, not the Israeli stations.

On the MideastTV (METV) station - which is clearly a CBN-type station - you can find many of the programs from yesteryear -- Lassie (with Timmy etc.), then June Lockhart shows up again in Lost in Space (check out the start of it - looks just like the ATT logo from about 5 years ago), Cisco Kid (I kid you not!), the Lone Ranger, Bonanza and then some Hollywood movies - black and white. The one I saw a part of starred that famous couple - Madge Evans and Bruce Cabot!! Definitely not the A-list from the 30's and 40's!

It's been interesting to see how the English from programs such as Gilmore Girls, Seinfeld, Friends (programs from earlier in the series - boy, do they look young!), and Days of Our Lives are rendered in Hebrew.

There are plenty of American kids programs that are dubbed in Hebrew and then have subtitles, too. Programs like Dora the Explorer, Arthur, Pokemon and more.

There was a great program on Lebanese TV last night. Very basic premise. It was men against women. I don't know if they were stars of some kind, but they did have that shiny "I'm good looking" sense about them. Each of the teams of 4 men and 4 women had an audience of about 40 or so (same gender) backing them up in this endeavor. Then there was an additional studio audience.

So, the players had their hands resting on the big red button (think Family Feud) and a DJ began to play a snippet of a song. The first to give the right title got the point - and then, everybody started singing the main part of the song. Lots of hamming it up, etc.

What song stumped them all? Que Sera Sera by Doris Day!!!!! But once they figured it out, everyone was able to sing along and ham it up. The next song to stump the players for quite a while - until the lyrics began - was Rock Around the Clock. Again, everyone was able to chime in. Oh, yes, the lyrics were at the bottom of the screen - whether in Arabic or in English.

Finally, the program ended with a sexy star singing her new hit and lots of young women dancing in a belly dance, Middle Eastern style.

It's a very clear indication that Arabic language does not equal Muslim extremismt or even traditional Muslim life. If you were paying any attention to the news you would have heard about the Turkish elections and the concerns by the secular public about an Islamization of their government.

Plus, don't' forget, there are Lebanese Christians, Druse etc., as well as Muslims.

Oh, I almost forgot. The end of the program, before the star sang, was a competition between the men and women - each having their turn to go first - trying to identify the differences between two very similar photos. Basic stuff - but a lot of fun was garnered from it all.

I have seen in multiple languages bits and pieces of programs that look like variations on Deal or No Deal, Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, and Are You Smarter Than 5th Graders?

We export a lot more than defense technology to the rest of the world - for good or ill - in both cases.

BTW - the only American fast food commercials I have seen are for KFC. But I've not seen their restaurants around here. But - yummy McDonald's (kosher) at the school student cafeteria. I'll blog another time about the great corn nuggets.

Have fun and get out from in front of the TV and enjoy your family and the summer!! From all that it sounds like, I've only picked this up skimming channels looking for news. I have not been hibernating in front of the TV!!

Rabbi Heath

New Names

2007-07-26T10:42:00.000-04:00

BTW - did I tell you that I'm not "Anne" in Israel? I'm "Chani."

I figured that I needed an Israeli name while I was in Israel. So rather than Anne Heath - I'm Chani Sadeh (a pretty direct translation). Everyone calls me "Chani." It's really quite fun and seems so much more appropriate.

New names for new experiences. Try them both sometime.

Rabbi Heath

Batei Avot / Parents' Homes

2007-07-26T10:36:00.000-04:00

Nomenclature is telling.

Consider the relational distance between you and your elderly family members when they are not living with you or "on their own" but are living in a "parents' home" (Israel) or living in a "nursing home" (United States).

I think you can figure it out. I don't know what to make of it other than nomenclature is telling.

Rabbi Heath

Me? From Brooklyn?

2007-07-26T10:32:00.000-04:00

So, I'm chatting away with my friend's mother in the lobby of the hotel and the new guests at the counter mention - at some convenient break in the conversation - that I must be from Brooklyn. Why? Because I speak Hebrew with a Brooklyn accent.

When I seemed a little confused, he thought that he had insulted me. No, I said, just confused, because I'm from the Midwest and didn't think that my few years in the Boston area (though I did go to school in Riverdale, NYC -- hmmmm) would have somehow given me a Brooklyn accent.

But, it should comfort all of us (?) that my Hebrew accent is recognizable in some fashion - even if a few miles to the west.

Cheers, Rabbi Heath

Every Kid a Twin

2007-07-26T07:43:00.000-04:00

We know that Jacob and Esau were twins (though they were boys, not "kids"!!).

Well, our bar/bat mitzvah students - beginning with this fall's 7th graders - will be twins as well.

Many Diaspora congregations have "twinning" programs with congregations in Israel. I have the preliminary work with Rabbi Nof completed so that each of our bar/bat mitzvah students will be "twinned" with a bar/bat mitzvah student at Or Hadash in Haifa.

Initially this means a few letters, maybe some emails or photo exchanges. Pen pals with a Jewish focus. The connection could grow over time, depending on our willingness to expand our outlook.

Congregants at Or Hadash have invited out kids to visit them and stay in their homes. We could return the favor. Rabbi Bob Samuels (see earlier post) let me know that he's an excellent resource for families who want to come to Israel for their student's bar/bat mitzvah.

We have a local connection as well. Didn't I write in an earlier post that Rabbi Nof's wife grew up in Brockton? Her parents made aliyah four years ago. The parents of one of our preschool families have been friends for 40 years with the rabbi's wife's parents.

Connections? We got 'em!! Plus, the aunt of the rabbi is a member of the Reform congregation in Falmouth with which some of our members are also associated.

I believe that we all have work to do. Jews in Israel are becoming more Israeli, leaving Judaism behind. Jews in America are becoming more American, leaving Judaism behind. We have a common task, remembering that being a "light to the nations" requires a foundation in Jewish thought, practice and culture. It's not only ceremonies and rituals, as we all know too well. It's an orientation, a way of thinking and connecting, a way of making a true difference in whatever patch of life we find ourselves.

Beginning with where you are, with what interests you, find a way - ask for a way - work together for a way - to bring the riches of Judaism into who you are, what you do, how you see the world and do your work - how you make your life.

It's a challenge for all of us. In the tension between remaining individuals and joining in community, we can each discover the balance that enriches both.

There's plenty of talk around this topic - always has been, I guess - but like the Nike logo - there's also a time to "Just Do It!". I think that time is now.

Rabbi Heath

Countdown to Massachusetts

2007-07-26T07:34:00.000-04:00

Well, it's Thursday afternoon here. Friday, Shabbat, Sunday (class again), Monday (last class for me) and then 5 AM Tuesday morning leaving Tel Avia (Ben Gurion airport) and I'm back on the plane to the States later that day.

I appreciate being in touch via email and some phone calls. The phone calls from my ATT cell phone (airport in Milan and airport in Tel Aviv) were non-issues - $1.29/minute - and my calls were just a minute or two. Quite a surprise, but still not the low 11 cents/minute that my Israeli phone costs when calling the States.

The big event when I return home (besides resting and reorienting and a month of mail at home and the office!!) will be A.J. Swartz's Bar Mitzvah on the 4th. It's a big day for the Swartz family and, also, for the congregation. I do hope you're planning on joining us that morning.

After that there will be the regular August's worth of planning and preparation for 5768 - High Holidays, religious school, congregational life in general, and programs new and old.

While work in many ways, my stay in Israel for this month has been a vacation. I hope you have had - or plan to have - some vacation - even if your travels are local or just a change of regular pace around home and town.

See you before you know it. I'll come up for air after the Bar Mitzvah and look forward to being back in the swing of things with everyone.

Rabbi Heath

On Speaking Hebrew in Massachusetts

2007-07-26T07:25:00.000-04:00

Worry, worry, worry. That's what I'll bet you're doing. (Yes, I read the comment!)

Is this rabbi of ours going to remember how to speak in English or will we be inundated with Hebrew all the time?

I guess I'll have to be sneaky and find ways to throw easy phrases in here and there so that it's painless. Inch by inch life's a cinch. Mile by mile it's a trial!! Just a little at a time should work. Just common courtesy words to start with.

You know some already. Gut Yontiff (in Yiddish) or Yom Tov is what we say to one another on holidays.

Everyday Americans will tell you to "have a good day / have a nice day." Everyday Israelis will tell you "Yom Tov!"

It's a little disconcerting. Hmmm. Did I forget some holiday? Don't think so? Oh, I'm in Israel - they're telling me to "have a nice day."

Things like that. It's a way of connecting. Teachers (and rabbis too) know to double-speak. Always say the Hebrew phrase first and then add the English. You know that I do this already when I address some of my posts and other missives to "Chaverim Yekarim / Dear Friends."

I'll do the same thing when speaking and do it in short, occasional bursts.

BUT - I will be on the lookout to keep up my skills, that's for sure.

AND - I do think in Hebrew at times and even dream in Hebrew - so things are sinking in. Which, of course, was the idea in the first place.

Shabbat Shalom / Sabbath Peace

Rabbi Heath

The Rabbi in the Classroom

2007-07-26T07:17:00.000-04:00

For the second time, we "made" Shabbat at the end of class on Thursday. The first time was a couple of week's ago.

You know, if you tell folks you're a rabbi, you get roped into these things. A little candlelighting, a little motzi and a little kiddush. Ah, the fun of it all. I know I'm recorded on some student digital cameras. At least my voice was back in shape this week (previously I had a serious cough and was hoarse - all from sleeping under the fan the wrong way in that hot dorm room!!).

This week our teacher brought her guitar and a classmate brought her violin. We invited the class next door to join us for blessings, songs and goodies. Only about half the students are Jewish, most are not Americans - lots of learning in many ways.

I attempted a little drash in Hebrew. Brief, simple, but OK, I guess.

It was fun seeing the 20-something gals from Denmark, Belgium, Germany etc. join in with the basics - songs, blessings. The distance between our continents seemed much smaller AND it is a reminder of the common element that Jews around the world have when they gather to celebrate.

May your Shabbat be peaceful and full of blessings, family, friends, guests, songs and goodies.

Rabbi Heath

Strike in Israel

2007-07-26T07:06:00.000-04:00

Wedneasday morning. Another adventure.

Figuring out what to do was interesting. There was the TV news, which I could listen to and read the headlines on the screen. There was the Jerusalem Post in English - at the breakfast table.

Hmmm. What to do? How much to worry??

The Wednesday strike (starting at 6 AM) of public sector workers affected the ports, the post office, the trains (but not the buses), the hospitals (limited service) and a little more. The strike at the airport (eeeeeek!!!) was postponed for a day - hanging as a threat over the negotiations.

Well, there was no message from school that school was not being held (though the Jerusalem Post said that universities were closed). Classes were held as usual.

I made sure that I extended my stay in case there ended up being a strike of several days at the airport and things got ugly trying to get out of the country early on the 31st.

The news in the evening indicated that negotiations were underway, but nothing had been decided. This was still the case when I last saw the news at 11 PM.

Ah - blessed relief - in the morning, the news said that an agreement had been reached and the strike at the airport wasn't going to happen and all the other places on strike on Wednesday would be open as normal.

Now, this sounds easy - except, the TV news was all in Hebrew (duh!!!). My vocabulary sent me to the dictionary - and then the words left the screen - I had to wait for the next time the subject was brought up to get a little more. It was certainly more work that just a quick listen to NPR etc. I had a taste of what life must be like for those in the States who don't undertand English and don't have TV channels in their native language.

I did figure it out though and am glad for everyone - and especially for me - that the strike was short-lived - - which is, I understand it, pretty standard (now!!) for strikes in Israel. But, when one doesn't know, one doesn't know!! And, it wasn't big enough news to make the CNN World News program, so I had not English source for the details other than the daily paper.

Ah - the adventure continues!!

Rabbi Heath

Shabbat Dinner in Ein Hod

2007-07-26T06:54:00.001-04:00

Last Shabbat I spent the last of my three Friday evenings at Or Hadash. I had arranged to meet a long-time friend of Rabbi Arnold's - Rabbi Bob Samuels. He founded Or Hadash and is the retired headmaster of the Leo Baeck Institute. He is still quite active in other projects, including the Israeli Reform Movement Rabbi's Association. What a treasure!

We left after Kiddush. He drove us to his home in Ein Hod - south of Haifa. I met his wife Annette and his brother-in-law as well. We had a wonderful Shabbat dinner and I learned much more about his work bringing Reform/Progressive/Pluralistic Judaism to Haifa and to Israel. They made aliyah in 1962 - quite a life's work!

Here's the website for Ein Hod. It's an artist's village. They built a house there in the middle to late 80's. His wife is a violinist and through a juried interview, they were eligible to join the village. http://ein-hod.israel.net/ It's obviously a place at which many of us would enjoy spending more time - various artist galleries, etc.

Here's the website for Or Hadash
http://www.or-hadash.org.il/index.html

And the link for Leo Baeck Institute http://www.leobaeck.org.il/ You can see that it is quite extensive in the populations it serves - as is Or Hadash.

Again - everyone in Israel has a story and Bob and Annette's was very interesting and informative.

Rabbi Heath

How to End Tisha B'Av??

2007-07-26T06:39:00.000-04:00

The Israeli way, of course, go out to eat and a movie!!

My friend and her mother picked me up at about 4 PM - the theoretical end of the fast day - just like it is the theoretical end of Shabbat - the time when stores etc. re-open.

We headed for the Grand Canyon (see early posts - the "mall") for a movie and shawarma and shopping.

We saw the movie "The Secrets" - HaSodot. It was fabulous. In Hebrew, of course, with subtitles in Hebrew. Eventually, I'm sure it will make it to the States with English subtitles. I'l certainly be on the lookout for an English subtitled version for us to hang out and watch.

You can "check it out" at http://www.thesecrets.co.il/ From what I could figure out on the computers here at the university, there is a video trailer or something needing FlashPlayer, which the network didn't want to install on the computer.

The acting was great and story line poignant. It was a little different than I understood it to be (I think I mentioned it in a previous post). Sometime before I leave I'll catch up with my friend so we can chat more about it. We didn't do so after the movie because we . . . . . .

ATE SHAWARMA!!! Yum. In a pita, with hummus, tehina, falafel, veggies, more drippy sauce. I have pictures. I used my best Hebrew and the young man assembling this two-handed feast used his best English. He was eager to have his picture taken. We had fun just ordering food and then being messy eaters.

Here's a link with photos that will help you get the flavor (pun intended) of the experience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawarma

After movie and dinner we did the regulation shopping - CD's and books and a few other odds and ends. We had a wonderful time and I got to speak in Hebrew all the time - definitely a plus.

It was great way to break the fast.

Rabbi Heath

Tisha B'Av on TV

2007-07-26T06:25:00.000-04:00

Well, Tisha B'Av was pretty quiet for me. I stayed in that evening into the next day. I prayed on my own the Tisha B'Av service that I had brought along with me and then chanted from the Book of Lamentations.

The fast was fairly easy.

TV - interesting. The 24 hour music video channel stopped running any advertisements or young adult serial drama programs. They played "quiet" music "continuously". It certainly wasn't themed on Tisha B'Av, but it was a major tone down from their regular fare.

There was a wonderful presentation (taped) from a meeting room at the Knesset. There were members of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) there - though not the Prime Minister or President - but the woman second in command (I should know her name and title, but don't) was there.

The presentation (hartza'a) that I watched was a drash on Psalm 137 (look it up!) given by a professor (his name is in my notes somewhere) from Hebrew University. He was a very good presenter. I understood about 50% of what he said in terms of words, but got about 75% of the content - though I couldn't repeat much of it at this point - and wasn't able to both listen and take notes.

With our separation of church and state (though the White House and Congress have prayer breakfasts, etc.) it was interesting to see the blend here in Israel.

As I looked around the room when the cameras panned to the participants (think C-Span) I saw that they all had in front of them a Bible which is exactly the one I bought for myself here in Israel. It's from the Aleppo Codex (an ancient manuscript) and was published by Hebrew University. I hadn't seen it anywhere in the States and it looked very interesting. Not that I needed vindication for my purchase, but it was certainly a confirming moment.

On the TV news channels there were discussions about Tisha B'Av and occasionally a small choir would sing appropriate songs.

A slice of life.

Rabbi Heath

Tisha B'Av

2007-07-23T08:14:00.000-04:00

The Ninth of Av. The day Jews commemorate the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Our rabbis teach that the destruction of the second temple in 70 C.E. occurred because of the rampant "baseless hatred" within the Jewish community.

Even if you're not of the school that considers historical events to be interventions of God which are determined on human virtue or sin, it is certainly worth noting that "baseless hatred" continues to be a problem within the Jewish community as well as throughout the world.

Rather than write my own "new thing" about Tisha b'Av - I would rather send you to www.myjewishlearning.com and let you roam through their various articles on Tisha B'Av.

You could also find information on the internet concerning Flavius Josephus, who wrote extensively about first century Jewish life. Here is a link with more historical detail

http://www.historynet.com/wars_conflicts/ancient_medieval_wars/3459516.html

(Do remember to consider that some sites - many sites - are Christian and they have a different spin on the destruction of the Temple. As always, consider the source.)

We all hold different connections to Jewish history, Israel, the Temple and its sacrifices. Reading this history helps broaden what most of us learned in public school or synagogue school history classes.

The destruction of the Temple and the Fall of Jerusalem to the Romans were - and are - a BIG DEAL. The laments recorded in the Bible - the Book of Lamentations - are recited in mourning of this event. Not until the Shoah did the Jewish people experience such catastrophe. It was a long time ago, but it is still very much a part of us.

We are to "live" Pesach as if we are the ones - at this very seder - leaving Egypt. Such is the sense of our other observances. We are to "live" Tisha B'Av as if we are the ones - on this very day - in the middle of the destruction of the Temple.

In Israel it's easier because everything is closed. It's a national holiday. In the Diaspora, it's different, but it can still carry much more weight that we are wont to give it.

But let's "get real." How many of us visit the cemetery on Memorial Day or on Veteran's Day, or participate in civil ceremonies for the war dead of our current country? These events are part of our recent history and on Memorial Day - hey, an extra day off from work and let's barbecue. Veteran's Day - oooo- the sales!! Even contemporary disasters fade from memory. Look at the fall off of September 11th memorial services. It's so easy to forget even when the tragedy was so large.

My advice: at least talk about Tisha B'Av with another Jew. Not forever, but for a little while. Make something of it. Why not try some Bible reading from the Book of Lamentations? Just a few verses. Just a small section. Get a feel of how our ancient writers recorded their sorrow. You don't have to tackle all of it. Start somewhere and do a little. Next year will come and you can do some more.

It's our heritage. Let's preserve it.

If you are fasting - may your fast be light.

Rabbi Heath

B'Kolnoa / At the Movie Theater

2007-07-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

Well, last Thursday after classes I headed for the mall (it was SO hard!! :) ) and figured out how to read the ever-changing digital movie program boards so that I found a movie that was playing in Hebrew. I didn't just want subtitles - I wanted the real thing.

My movie??? Shrek III. I have seen only parts of the other Shrek movies (I know, I know, I'm a bad American) so I had the general idea of what the movie would be like. I know Shrek III received fairly poor ratings, but, hey, in a theater on a weekday afternoon with plenty of leg room and no screaming kids AND in Hebrew -well, it was lots of fun.

Except - popcorn with butter - you know the kind that is so good and is so bad for you? Well, there was none of that around. Boo. Hiss.

And - there was an intermission in the middle of the movie - Hafsaka - a break. Everyone (all 8 other folks) went out and bought goodies. I just readjusted my crossed legs and waited for the rest of the movie.

Did I "get" it all? Of course not - but what is there to "get"? This is campy comedy referencing all the standard fairy tales of movies long past. The Hebrew was fun and I enjoyed following things closely in order to pick up words and phrases so that I could understand some of the intricacies ( as if! - k'ilu! ) of the plot.

I'm bringing back Alice in Wonderland, Hercules, Monsters Inc. and Brother Bear - Disney DVD's - all in Hebrew (plus some other languages besides English - Polish, German, etc.). It will be fun to watch and listen to what many of us know so well - but done differently.

I'm heading tomorrow evening with my friend and her mom to see an Israeli movie about two lesbians and the secrets they have to keep. It's called - Sodot - Secrets. I'm assuming it's in Hebrew without subtitles. If the dialogue is a little more pensive, I should be able to pick up more Hebrew. I'm assuming the drama will be readily understandable without knowing every word.

I hope you've found some movies you enjoy as well - and, if not - that you've taken the kids or grandkids and at least enjoyed some popcorn and some coolness.

Rabbi Heath

On Fitting In

2007-07-22T07:51:00.000-04:00

Imagine going to a foreign country and realizing that you don't fit in. You spend your entire time there knowing that you look differently than most everyone else. You're not surprised, it's just not what you're used to. You're used to looking like most of the folks around you.

Okay, now imagine going to a foreign country and realizing you do fit in. You spend your entire time there knowing that you look like most everyone else. You're surprised, because it's just what you're used to, but you're not "at home." Or, are you?

That's the experience reported by some students here. They look around and see people who look like them; older people who look like their grandparents; classmates who look like they came from their neighborhood back home - well, if this is so, how can seem that home is so far away?

All of a sudden it's the architecture, the language, the culture, and the way life is arranged that sticks out as the difference - not the people.

In the States we live we varying degrees of human diversity. Here, too, in Israel. The country is very heterogeneous. It is easy to find people who look like you, a group with whom you would fit in. But, it's Israel and not the States.

Hmmm. Fitting in happens in many ways and may never happen for some. I think it's part of what makes travel - especially travel to Israel - challenging. What if you really felt as if you fit in and belonged here? What would that mean for you? For your family and friends? For your future?

Everyone here has a story - and it is often just about this. Discovering fitting in and remaining or fitting in and not staying - or struggling to do both.

I wonder what keeps American Jews from Israel - even if just for a visit. Jews who can't afford to travel anywhere overseas - well, that's finances. What about Jews who can afford to travel elsewhere - but never seem to make it to Israel? I wonder.

And - I'll leave it at that - wondering - questions. We're a people full of questions. I have my share . I'm sure you do to.

Rabbi Heath

On Exams and Time Passing

2007-07-19T05:55:00.000-04:00

Well, the mid-term (yes, a test - some folks are talking this for credit) is over. Basic type of Hebrew test - read a story and answer questions true/false and short answer; some grammar (verbs and other exciting things); and then an essay to write.

Despite the fact that I'm not taking this for credit, there is still that age-old test-prep mentality that kicks in. Old habits die hard - or not at all.

I'm "off" until Sunday morning. Not much to do. Will figure out some things this afternoon. Will be at Or Hadash one last Shabbat evening. Next weekend I expect to be in Jerusalem.

After five days of classes and homework I'm not sure I have anything stunning to say other than that today is the 19th of July and I leave at 5 AM on the 31st, so time is starting to feel downhill rather than expansively in front of me. (Not that this observation qualifies as "stunning"!!!)

A month is, indeed, a long time.

Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Heath

SuperSal / Shopping

2007-07-18T03:48:00.000-04:00

Yup - the supermarket. The same as in the States, only different.

First of all, you have to pay for a cart. The 5 shekalim that you insert into the slot allows you to unchain it and use it for your shopping - per usual. When you return it to the row of carts and pop it in place, the 5 shekalim are returned to you. That means that for about $1.25 you are encouraged to put the cart back where it belongs rather than leave it all over the parking - whoops - what parking lot?

Might you be under the assumption that there is parking near the Supersal? No, it's as if there were a supermarket on Taunton Green. People come and go because they live in the neighborhood. Probably they got off the bus and stop by on their way home.

Most walk home with groceries. None of this stocking up the SUV with weeks' worth and freezer's full of food. There is more immediate purchasing because the refrigerators are smaller and there is less cabinet space.

It's not that there might not be a CostCo or Wal-Mart somewhere - I haven't seen them yet. At the mall, two of the anchor stores are the SuperSal and the SuperPharm. Plus, of course, the Ace Hardware store where I bought my fan, extra pillows, towels, etc. when I moved into the dorm.

It takes more thinking to manage your shopping when what you're buying has to be carried several blocks home rather than just from the mall to the car or from the shopping cart to the car and then into a spacious house.

Oh - and bagging purchases yourself is standard at most places I've been. And, they do have the cards - i.e. CVS cards, Shaw's cards, etc. that let you in on the discounts and, of course, allow the store to keep track of who's buying what.

Different. Not better. Not worse. Different. . . Part of the challenge of being new anywhere.

Rabbi Heath

Exhiliration and Exhortation

2007-07-17T06:34:00.001-04:00

During this morning's classes we traipsed over to another building for a lecture - hartza'a - from a Conservative rabbi (born in Israel).

He spoke (in Hebrew, of course) for an hour and I "got" it. The subject was dispersion and galut/exile, especially in the book of Genesis / Bereishit and how it is emblematic of the lives of Jews and the lives of all humans - that we are born - leaving the comfortable womb, then leave our parents' home and thus, spend the rest of our lives being "on the way" to a new home. Like Moses we usually are able to see it, but don't quite make it and have to recognize that there will always be that part of what we want/hope "home" to be that is beyond our reach.

I know that teachers and lecturers work on keeping their language simple, but it still was an exhilarating feeling to be able to just listen and not have to strain to put thoughts together before he moved on.

He was a good speaker, the topic was one with which I was familiar and I was able to lose the sense that I was listening to something in another language than my native one.

By the end I had tears in my eyes - partly from his message but mostly from being in Eretz Israel listening to the story of our people in the language of our people.

The little bit of Hebrew that our children acquire in Hebrew school is paltry and impoverished compared to what exists. We owe them more.

When you want it for your own children - for yourselves - let me know and we'll work on making more of what we have to give ourselves, and them, as parents, teachers and Jews. It's their inheritance - it's our inheritance. We settle for just enough and then consider it done. This is not competence in math or basketball. This is the very essence of who we are.

As rich and beautiful as the quilt present for me is - so is what we can be - together.

I so look forward to our days, months and years together. Thank you for this experience.

Rabbi Heath

Tisha B'Av

2007-07-17T06:29:00.001-04:00

The month of Av has begun and with it the religious recognition that the 9th of Av, Tisha b'Av, is coming soon - Tuesday the 24th. It is a day with no classes. I think most offices and shops are closed as well, though I don't know for sure.

I've heard that in Jerusalem there are men at the Wall bemoaning the Temple's destruction and then there are loads more tourists taking photos of the event. It sounds like religious voyeurism to me and I object, so I don't plan to be in Jerusalem for it unless I learn otherwise.

I'll bet the free Israeli breakfast at the hotel goes on as usual. I wonder how the concept of the full day of fasting will play itself out.

I'll keep you posted.

By the way - what about you? Tisha b'Av - just another day? Destruction of the Temple - twice - big deal? Or not? Just history? Any connection with how you understand your Jewishness?

These are questions for us all and the answers are probably as unique as each of us.

With thoughtfulness - Rabbi Heath

Constant Transfer of Learning

2007-07-17T06:16:00.000-04:00

People ask me - couldn't you learn Hebrew in Boston? Aren't there programs locally?

The answer, of course, is "yes." What there isn't in Boston is the constant reinforcement in the environment. Everything feeds off everything else.

The word for "madam" or "lady" or "miss" is geveret. I learned this word early in my Hebrew studies - back in the mid-90's. I'll tell you, though, when you keep forgetting to take your ticket on the bus, or take all your change from the bus driver or stand at the wrong bus stop but the bus driver recognizes you and stops anyway - well, they all begin their remarks with "geveret!"

I'll never, ever forget the word and could pop it out of my mouth to another woman at the appropriate occasion without thinking twice.

In our text yesterday we learned the word pair for military reserve duty - sheirut miluim. Well, after having gone over it in class and then used it again in my homework, where do I see it but on the news program than evening on the crawl line at the bottom of the screen. I didn't have to figure it out - I recognized it on sight - which is the entire idea about language acquisition - more and more words become sight words and sound words - without the intervening translation.

Two days ago Shimon Peres was sworn in as the 9th president of the State of Israel. It was informative to see how the entire process was managed and to hear him speak. Since it was a state occasion there was more precision and decisiveness in people's speeches so that was easier to "catch" as opposed to daily conversations where the speech is understandably more rapid.

You may remember the live TV program called Sabrina the Teenage Witch and then the animated programs that followed. I've been able to watch bits and pieces of the animated version. It's quite fun to follow along with. I also have watched Clifford - the Puppy Days and other children's programs from the USA, all in Hebrew.

I've picked up Disney DVD's for Alice in Wonderland, Hercules and a couple more titles which I hope to have fun watching with others over these next months. I've found on Amazon the correct DVD player which will play any DVD format onto any TV format (it's not as easy as you might think) for under $100.

Enjoy your July - Rabbi Heath

Being the Majority Part II

2007-07-16T03:23:00.000-04:00

So, Saturday evening, in my COOL hotel room, I'm watching Arutz 24 - the Israeli music channel - think MTV before it became full of reality programs.

Well, after some interviews - like "Behind the Music" - the collaboration on a song and the making of its video - there is a live program - announcer, band, singers - etc. Well, for a bit of a break - out comes the comic. Now, I don't really "get" the jokes. I can keep up with some of them but don't really "get" the punch line.

However, I did keep up with the comic enough to know when he made a reference to Torah. I ask you, when in the USA, on MTV, will you hear a comic bring up the parasha of the week - the weekly Torah portion as part of a joke and expect that folks will "get" it???????

I tell you - Jews are indeed the majority here!!! :)

Rabbi Heath

Shabbat is Coming!!

2007-07-12T09:25:00.001-04:00

How do I know? Because there's this sense of a rush starting. Will I get things done before shops and banks close at noon or 2 PM on Friday? Do I have something to wear to Shabbat dinner? To synagogue? Out for fun on Saturday evening after Shabbat?

Even though many Israeli's are secular and not involved in organized Jewish life - - well, Israel IS organized Jewish life - and all are involved.

We are so used to being in a minority status and having to explain who we are and what we do and why etc. etc. Ba'aretz - in The Land - in Israel - we're the norm and it's an exciting feeling that you have to learn to pick up on rather than push against when the calendar and clock intrude on your normal patterns of running a week.

If you think reading a page from the siddur from right to left is "interesting" - well, how about a calendar? What if the scroll bar were on the left side of your screen?

There's so much.

Classes are over for the week. Yes, there is shi-urei bayit - home work- plus I have a presentation to write (Hebrew, of course) and then deliver on Sunday - yom rishon - in class. Only 5 to 10 minutes. At this point, I'm writing by hand - no time to figure out local Hebrew word processing options. Lots of students brought laptops, but I'm glad that I'm not keeping up with that level of technology at this point.

And - hmm. If I want to have copies of things made to pass out during my presentation, I have to have that figured out before noon tomorrow, because the copy shop etc. won't be open between Friday mid-day and when my class begins on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m.

So - things perking along here. Feeling better. Looking forward to new (again) digs at the hotel. The bus is air-conditioned etc. It also will be nice to be outside the University again.

Thanks for your comments. I have read them, just not commented back on them in the regular patern.

Kol B'seder. All is good.

Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Heath

GETTING BETTER

2007-07-11T09:46:00.000-04:00

Ah - it looks like I can post titles again.

Class is great. Lots of homework, but it all feeds into what we're doing the next day and things are really sticking. Yippee!! That's the entire point of this trip.

More later - off to Hebrew Zone - the help session run several times a week.

Rabbi Heath

2007-07-10T11:18:00.000-04:00

THAT GYM FEELING

Remember what it felt like at the end of gym class? Remember what it feels like when you leave the weight room at the Y? When you're finally finished with that extra mile on the treadmill? When you've come back in after walking dogs in a hurry?

You're glad the showers are nearby, waiting to return you to a normal, non-drippy state. Refreshed from the exercise, cooled off and renewed for more of your day.

Well, that drippy feeling is too much a part of my life (aka 80% night and day) and I'm moving back to the hotel this weekend. My dorm room seldom drops below 83F (thanks to my cute, purple, back-lit L.L. Bean travel alarm I know this piece of weather data) and when it does, it falls precipitously to 81F. Mornings find this same device registering 90F+.

The fan, you ask? Of course - duh. It's blowing on me brought on the cold, the sore throat, the drippy nose, the cough.

Not sleeping. Never comfortable. Cranky. CRANKY.

So, it's back to the beautiful Dan Gardens Hotel from the 16th to the 30th. It's not where I had planned on spending some cash, but if I don't get real comfortable, real soon (says she in perfect! English), there's going to be a complete waste of the month.

Wimp guilt? I'm over it.

Whining and complaining guilt? I'm over it.

Can't suck it up and move forward guilt? I'm over it.

Ugly, pampered American guilt? I'm over it.

Overweight and out of shape guilt? I'm over it.

Spending time logging all of this crankiness guilt? Almost over it.

I can easily take the bus to and from school. My classroom is air conditioned - currently the only two bright periods since I've moved to the dorms.

And, in a spate of total justification, there is lots of English being spoken in the dorms and I can get out of that bubble back at the hotels.

I hope the heat wave which I see on the AOL home page is not affecting you too much (I didn't see which part of "the East" was affected.)

May your guilts be legitimate and all your drippy times be followed by renewal and refreshment.

Rabbi Heath

2007-07-09T11:13:00.001-04:00

FIRST DAY IN CLASS

There are 14 different classes - from very beginners (just barely know the alphabet) to quite advanced. The levels are given according to the alphabet

Alef, Bet, Gimmel, Dalet, Hey, Vuv -- Levels 1 to 6

I'm in level Dalet (4 of 6) - class 11 out of 14. So far, so good. I have vocabulary to acquire to improve my reading, but conversations went fine today.

This is an intensive program, so I'm working away, even though we didn't officially receive homework after our first class - other than to purchase a couple of books.

Don't forget (little advertisement) that there are Hebrew classes on many Thursday evenings in August (check the newsletter calendar). You can purchase the materials and be ready to learn - from whatever level you are at - to a better level.

Hebrew opens the door to new aspects of Judaism and Jewish life. Try it. You'll like it!!!

Rabbi Heath

P.S. With a little more patience today I was easily able to shift the blog interface to English (from Russian).

2007-07-09T11:08:00.000-04:00

HOW MANY STUDENTS?
KAMA STUDENTIM?

At orientation Sunday afternoon I found out the numbers several people have asked me for.

There are 250 students in the Ulpan program - from 30 different countries. Many are young (17-25), but there is certainly a fair representation from my age group.

The University of Haifa has 16,000 students and 2500 faculty/staff.

You can see from the numbers that it's quite an institution.

Rabbi Heath

2007-07-08T08:34:00.000-04:00

LAND OF BEAUTIFUL COLORS

Just in case you think the night lights are just night lights, I want you to be sure to know that the two towers of the nuclear power plant which are clearly visible from my dorm room, are lit every night.

One in a lovely sparkling green and the other in - what else (wait for the laugh, wait for it - here it comes) - ELECTRIC BLUE!!!!!!!

Rabbi Heath

2007-07-08T08:20:00.000-04:00

DALIA, SCHWARMA and YEHORAM GAON

Doesn't it sound just delicious to say that you can't wait to eat Schwarma again?

Well, what we had in the Druze (look it up folks) village of Dalia wasn't, according to my friends who took me with them, quite the real thing (and they were counting of having the real thing) - essentially because ours was chicken and real Schwarma is made with lamb - a big leg of lamb, roasted on a spit off of which meat is shredded and given to you, along with rice - or the ever popular Tzhips (french fries - just say "chips" with a non-English accent on the "ch" and you get the idea).

Regardless - my inexperienced palate found the food to be plentiful (I have leftovers in the fridge) and delicious.

So, we're sitting in this restaurant in Dalia and I have on the table a clipping from the newspaper of a concert in Ceasarea which I would like to attend that evening (no, I didn't go). The waiter asks about it and then tells me that Yehoram Gaon is sitting in this very restaurant and I should go say "hello." I didn't "get" all of this right away and I though maybe the owner was his brother, or something, but no, it was Yehoram Gaon himself.

Now, I'm sure you're wondering what the big deal is. Well, imagine you happen to be - say, in Portland, Maine, doing a little touristy kind of thing and have clipped from the local paper that James Taylor is in concert nearby and you want to figure out how to get there. Then, the waiter says, oh, you like that kind of music, do you?, well, sitting up in front is Paul Simon.

Get the idea? Yehoram Gaon is a classic Israeli music star from the 70"s to now. Everyone knows him. Everyone knows his songs. He is a part of everyone's musical experience. And, he's eating in the same restaurant as we are.

So, pure tourista, we walk to the front (the place isn't very crowded - it's near closing time) and say hello, etc. - my friend's husband takes picture of us standing together. There it is in living color, my photo next to a STAR!!

BTW - when the owner of the restaurant asks my friend's husband how the meal was - when he was paying the check - he tells him the food was only so-so, but Yehoram Gaon made up for it.

We then proceed to get 20% off of whatever we buy in the shop next door - and we do some shopping - which was part of the trip to Dalia - authentic Druze crafted wares.

Cheers from 7 hours further along in the day than all of you on the East Coast of the USA.

Rabbi Heath

2007-07-08T08:13:00.000-04:00

DRAMA AT 5:55 A.M.

So, I'm up early this morning and notice that through the window (mine faces north) there is a wonderful sunrise that I want to be sure to capture on my lovely new digital camera (thanks again, kids).

I don't know which genius opened the screen - but in my angling over the desk table for just the right shot - whoops - the camera falls two+ floors to the terrace below.

Did I mention how much stone and tile and cement there is everywhere?

I was sure the camera was doomed, but it did hit a tree on it's way down and I could sit it lying - lens opening up - on the terrace below.

It is, of course, 5:55 in the morning and I didn't go to sleep until after 2:00 a.m. and, yup, I have to get at least decently dressed to hike down the madreigot - the stairs - to the terrace below.

I left the screen open, hung a pink shirt a little way out the window so I would know where to begin looking.

Hooray - the bottom of the camera was open and both batteries were missing (I did find one of them) - but I've been taking pictures of various signs (I know, I'm so boring) and the camera does seem to be working. When I put new batteries in it, the little display suggested turning it off and on again because the lens didn't close properly. I did so and all seems well.

I don't know if it's worth a quick hooray to the HP folks, but I'm quite pleased.

May all your bobbles be uneventful.

Rabbi Heath

2007-07-08T08:05:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-08T08:04:00.001-04:00

NO TITLE OPTION and I've checked the settings. We'll see if this publishes. At least the interface is in English! Rabbi Heath

On Telling the Truth

2007-07-07T13:31:00.000-04:00

I would be lying if I told you that this was easy. I was just a little bit settled into the hotels - but by myself. (little whine here - or as my sister would say - "do you want some cheese with that whine?")

Well, Thursday brought me to Talia Dormitories at the U of Haifa. Immediately after arriving I took a cab back to the Grand Canyon (the big mall, remember) to buy a fan, some pillows, a little rug for the floor and some towels.

It took me an hour to assemble the fan. I failed to bring a tool kit. Fortunately one of my suitemates had a screwdriver (she wasn't around when I started the project).

My room is very nice and I have my own bathroom.

The not easy part - besides NO AC!! - everything I have to do is for the first time - the laundry, the computer room, the mini-market, etc. etc. And, though I need the exercise, it's all up and down steps.

So - enough of the whine. These things happen to everyone who travels and they pass.

I've not been near a computer since Thursday at the hotel - hence the delay in blogging.

Oh - the last new thing - the interface for preparing this blog is in Russian and I can't find the place to change languages - well, I did find the place, but it looks like dialects or something.

More later - Rabbi Heath

P.S. The spell-check failed with an internal server error!! Wonder why!!!!!

Changing Rhythms

2007-07-05T06:36:00.000-04:00

Chevre / Friends - I'm leaving the plush comforts of the Dan Gardens Haifa and moving to the Talia dormitory at the University of Haifa this afternoon. I asked the question whose answer I knew but didn't want to know: no air-conditioning. Ah, such a wimp. There is, of course, an Ace Hardware store at Canyon Grand. I'll be able to buy a fan that "fits" the room once I've seen it.

My luggage is already heavier. Did I tell you that there are two bookstores at the Canyon Grand? Enough said. My special find (which may be in the U.S. as well, I've just never looked) is the Tanakh (Bible) called Keter Yerushalayim - Crown of Jerusalem. It is published based on the Aleppo Codex and comes from Hebrew University. More later.

As I sat on the mirpeset/balcony/porch of the hotel - overlooking the entire harbor - such a view - a delivery truck arrived with a package for the front desk. Had the computer not been slow, I would not have been sitting there.

I read the side of the truck - and figured out (without difficulty - hooray) that they delivered packages throughout Israel and the entire world. Great. I can lighten my load on the way home. We exchanged phone numbers, etc. and one more task is checked off the list.

Not much else to report. In between adventures, I guess.

Rabbi Heath

Dark Streets in Foreign Countries

2007-07-04T06:52:00.000-04:00

Hmmm. Well, my daughters won't like this post. I did just what I would have yelled (figuratively speaking) at them for doing. After coming home from the Canyon Grand (my first visit), I had taken the bus and was back in the neighborhood I was getting to know pretty well - Mercaz HaCarmel - Center of Carmel - which is in my hotel's neighborhood. I scoped out a shorter way back to my hotel from the bus stop. The bags were heavy and just wanted to finally get settled for the evening. It was easily 10 PM

Now the bus runs along a major street. Lots of shops, lots of night life, folks sitting out on the sidewalks in cafes, etc. Not to worry - right? Right.

As I figured out by looking at the map on the bus on the back, if took Rabbi Elchanan Street to George Elliot Street and I could make it back to the Dan Gardens without going the long way around - not that when I first took it I knew it was the long way. Again, I wanted to save time and get back to my room and put my feet up.

Well, I did save time - but once off the "main drag" by 1/4 block I was in an ordinary neighborhood. Now Mercaz HaCarmell is definitely the "nice" part of town - but neighborhoods of houses with only modest street lighting can still be qualified as - hmmm - worrisome.

There I was, the lone female (though of substantial size, especially here in Israel) with purse slung around her neck, cell phone around her neck, toting bags from the mall. Yep - the kids would have yelled.

Even though my navigation was perfect, I doubted myself at the last minute because the street looked steeper than I remembered it should be down to my hotel. What did I do? I took a left rather than going mostly straight ahead and I ended right back where I started from - only a block a little further along the main drag.

This steep street that I didn't take is the short way UP to my favorite restaurant.

So, I did make it home without problem - just a little longer on the feet and more ready for bed than ever.

So, girls, do as I say, not as I do!!

Wishing everyone safety in their dark streets, Rabbi Heath

Back to the Grand Canyon

2007-07-04T06:34:00.000-04:00

Well, I left the hotel on Israeli time - not East Coast time - which means I was out and about by 10:30 AM rather than 3:00 PM. Quite an improvement. I made it up (and I do mean UP) the shortcut to the restaurant that has become my favorite - just because it makes me feel more at home not to keep having to find new places. The food is excellent, plentiful and fresh.

There is free breakfast from 6:30 to 10:00 AM here at the hotel and I have never been up earlier enough to take advantage of this offer. Deep sigh.

I have not been able to find a map of bus routes, so I figured things out by city map. First I took the Carmelit - which is indeed all underground. I confused it with the cable cars in another part of town when I said that it was half above ground and half below ground. The chatty guard helped me figure out that I couldn't "get there from here" by bus (at least with how much he knew), so my trip to Elijah's Cave was going to be more unscripted than I had planned.

Now - did I do this in the middle of the day when it's hottest. Of course. The SPF 45 is working just fine, though I may come home with a farmer's tan.

So, I bought my ticket. Took the ride to the bottom - accompanied (he was taking his break) by the chatty guard - he's from Russia, is a singer, has CD's, etc. Everyone - and I mean everyone - has a story!

Exiting the Carmelit station into the old part of the city I located a bus stop and still didn't find the bus numbers I needed. The taxi looked really good when it drove past and I took the option when the next one presented itself.

Elijah's Cave is very near the Mediterranean. I could see the beachfront, the big waves etc.

You'll have to read your Bible to find out more about Elijah's Cave and why he needed one in the first place. It was not an over organized site - i.e., not run by our National Park Service. I took the long way around because there was a ramp rather than LOTS of stairs. Modesty forbids speaking of yet another interesting restroom experience.

Up the stairs inside a large room of the cave, there was a woman's side and a men's side, clearly marked by a mechitza/dividing wall. There were prayerbooks of various kinds, a large box for tzedakah and more. I took the opportunity to daven Mincha (recite afternoon prayers).

Yesterday was the Fast of Tammuz (look it up on www.myjewishlearning.com) and I chose to eat anyway. Had I been at home, I would have fasted. This may be the country in which to do it, but not when traveling (at least for me).

Oh, the Grand Canyon!! Well, after coming back from Elijah'Cave by taxi and taking a nap, I headed back to the mall for an experience that had some semblance of life that I know, plus it was more fun than sitting by myself at an outside cafe or wandering the neighborhood etc.

I haven't caught up with folks yet in Haifa. I do have connections and cell phone numbers - though woudn't you know it the one I needed most I have incorrect, so will be emailing to get it recorded properly.

Kol tuv, Rabbi Heath

Swapping Brains

2007-07-03T03:14:00.000-04:00

As soon as I begin typing I am ready to tell you all about things in Hebrew. Then, I have to switch to English and get things out. I'm not sure what will happen when I get busy totally immersed in Hebrew once my program begins next week.

I'm off this morning to visit Elijah's Cave as well as some other sites. I will take the subway - which is partly above ground and partly - well, a subway. It's the only one in Israel.

I spent a great deal of time out front - at the front desk - talking with the desk clerk (though she is really more than that). Her name is Tzipora - Tzipi. She was so friendly and we chatted lots and lots. She helped me with my Hebrew.

I've been watching kids TV in Hebrew. I get a lot of it, but not all. I'm sure you'll understand me when I tell you that everyone speaks so fast - maher, maher!!

I figured out how to use the digital camera yesterday evening - well, actually the middle of the night. I think I'm getting close to being on Israeli time and not East Coast time.

Finally - let me tell you - you should be here with me. This is great!!!

Rabbi Heath

My Visit to the Grand Canyon

2007-07-02T14:06:00.000-04:00

I bet you think I'm telling you about another trip of mine, not the one to Hafia - yes?

Well, the Kahn-yohn Grahnd is the shopping mall deluxe in Israel. I'll let an etymologist figure out why it's called Canyon.

After catching up on lots and lots of sleep and finally making it out into the world at 3 PM (which is, though, only 8 AM EDT) I found a place for lunch in Mercaz Carmel - Center of Carmel - and then took the bus to the end of the line - the mal!!

Tower Records hasn't closed here. Office Depot is alive and well, as are Toys'R'Us and McDonalds and Burger King etc. etc.

So, Im busy talking to the receptionist about the CD's I bought and about my visit last summer to the shuk when I bought my first set

Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to Haifa by Sherut

2007-07-02T13:56:00.000-04:00

A Sherut is a shared taxi, kind of like a shuttle. However the sherut will only leave the airport when it has at least 6 passengers. This means a wait of a little bit or a lot, depending on the time of day etc.

My sherut on Sunday - which I took instead of a train or a bus since it would bring me directly to the hotel rather than to a station AND I wouldn't have to lug my luggage - made an interesting detour through Netanya because the last group of people desiring a ride had the address and phone number of the location to which they wished to be driven .

Now - was there a lot of traffic? Sure - it was Sunday - a work day - which took me awhile to figure out. We're used to Sunday's being quiet times for traffic - or at least less busy.

By the time we took the exit into South Netanya, it was clear that the driver - HaNahag- was doing what my naval captain father did - he was navigating.

Unlike the image of men in America - he asked for directions - over and over again. When he found a fellow sherut driver he would yell out the window and inquire. When we were stopped at a light he would open the door and ask random people where to go next.

Finally, after interesting detours through neighborhoods that I'm sure I would never have seen otherwise, we made it to the correct location and the rest of us headed to Haifa.

The best part is that when we left Netanya we went right up the coast and had wonderful views of the Mediterranean all the remainder of the way to Haifa.

I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting - but it was quite a ride.

Rabbi Heath

Cell Phones

2007-07-01T13:15:00.002-04:00

I think we should have a lottery based on the following:

How much do you think I've spent on my Cingular cell phone to make the following calls?

To daughter in Atlanta from Milan - left a voice message.

To daughter in California from Milan - talked with her for a few moments, during which the first daughter called and we conferenced together for about 90 seconds- Me in Milan, one in Atlanta and one in California.

Side bet - which time zone do you think the call will be registered in? Side, side bet - if it hadn't been Nights and Weekends in all time zones, which zone would have ruled?

To my daughters - one call each - for less than a minute - from airport in Tel Aviv.

From the sherut (shared taxi) while we were going through Netanya - to the hotel to make sure that our delay (see another blog about this) did not mean I was going to lose my room.

And - passed the phone to the Australians in front of me so they could do the same.

Again - the lottery can be on a per item basis and then on a total fee. When my cell phone bill comes in I'll let you know and then you can figure out if you want to rent a cell phone in the country within which you're travelling or just feed the cash straight to Cingular.

If you "win" the lottery you get to donate the $$ to the Rabbi's Mitzvah Fund!

P.S. Someone in the ladies room at the airport in Milan (yes, we had time to get acquainted waiting in line - especially since one of the three stalls went "sour" when a kid didn't know how to flush and some sensitive types refused to use it. Of course, you know who took care of that problem. Just needed a quick application of the foot to the floor pedal flusher - a couple of times - until the unit was back in operation and the needy female traveling public returned to full facility status.) Oh - yes, someone in the ladies room line at the airport in Milan said the she couldn't use her Verizon cell phone. Maybe that Cingular ad campaign was really true. More bars!

They do say that travel broadens one. Cell phones and foreign restrooms - what's next?

Rabbi Heath

Reading Blogs

2007-07-01T13:15:00.001-04:00

Dear Friends - you are reading these from the "bottom" up? Otherwise you won't get the references. Have fun - Rabbi Heath

Airports in General

2007-07-01T13:08:00.000-04:00

Shalom (doesn't that sound just right!! :) )

In Boston in Terminal E they have rocking chairs and also seats that are comfortable!! Plus, they have seats with leg rests. Go figure.

Oh yes. Using the transformer/converter at the Milan airport. Be sure you have something to put under all of this to keep it propped up and in the socket. Fortunately my backpack and my little purse wedged under the transformer made it all possible.

Another point - ladies - travel wearing clothes with pockets. I've bought jumpers for comfort and pockets. They were wonderful to have all along the way. I currently have U.S. coins in the left pocket and Israeli coins in the right. I don't jingle all the way yet - but it could come to that.

Finally, the pink Crocs are comfy beyond belief. Perfect for this trip (even if they weren't pink)!

Rabbi Heath

Milan

2007-07-01T13:00:00.000-04:00

I'm flying Alitalia and Milan is a hub city. Now I've been to Italiy twice - last summer and this. Never left the airport terminal - but in my "notch on the belt" rules - it counts!!

There were no internet cafes in Milan, so this is coming to you from Haifa (hooray, I made it!).

First lesson - if you don't know how to use the buttons on your iPod, it probably will be out of "juice" when you want it most. That said, I took my transformer, my converter plug, my iPod charger and my iPod and sat on the floor, next to an electrical outlet at Milpensa - the airport in Milan - and charged that little rascal. Of course, the next plane ride - from Milan to Tel Aviv was on a plane where it was really too noisy to use an iPod. Deep sigh. There went my Hebrew prep.

Second lesson - listen to your friends. Peg told me to buy a neck pillow. I did. It is cushy and has foam microbeads.

Third lesson - believe your friends. Someone else told me they can't sleep on a plane. I have a refinement as it applies to me. I can fall asleep, I just can't remain asleep because the lolling head awakens me.

Fourth lesson - take what your friends tell you and improve upon it and then share it. Use the neck pillow AND roll up the blanket to put on your shoulder under the neck pillow so that when your head lolls it only goes a little way and you can sleep.

Fifth lesson - don't try getting such wisdom (a) when the first plane ride is almost over and (b) when you have a different seat (window, not aisle) on another model plane and your problems are different enough that the solutions from your friends and your improvements don't work.

Rabbi Heath

EEEK!

2007-06-28T18:25:00.000-04:00

Forty-hours until departure - but - who's counting!!

My surprise package arrived today - a digital camera from the kids. (Thanks to you all.)

Eeeek!! More new technology to master. I've just been loading my video iPod (thanks folks for your gifts, some of which, combined, made this possible) for the past several weeks. It's now full of Israeli music of all kinds and lots of tracks of Hebrew lessons. I think about adding other things that I have listened to (opera, jazz, Frank Sinatra, pop, Enya, some country, Lucy Kaplansky, Uppity Blues Women, Dave Matthews, Louis Armstrong - and tons of American Jewish music, etc.)- that are sitting on my shelf of CD's and it somehow seems like polluting the Hebrew/Israeli music purity of the iPod. (I know there's therapy for this kind of stuff!)

The to-do list is getting shorter, things are falling off, needing to wait for the August list. An author of a time-management book suggested that we treat each day as if it were the last work day before a vacation and then we would accomplish enormous amounts of work. Well, that's great, but, oh, the tension that can be aroused!

As someone wrote me yesterday (and I quote) . . . . RELAX!

So, I will do just like the little train . . . I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . . and then - like the Nike folks . . . Just do it!

Until next time - Adonai oz l'amo yitein - May God grant strength unto His people - Adonai yivareich et amo - May God grant His people peace.

Rabbi Heath

P.S. I hope the exclamation point on my keyboard doesn't break. What ever would I do?!?@!

Oh, The Guilt!

2007-06-26T16:44:00.000-04:00

Shalom - So, I read my blog online (such narcissism) and, of course, found typos and 'there' instead of 'their.' What can I say? Sure, I spell-checked it. Sure, I read it through. Duh!!

I guess it's the nature of blogs. . . but, I hate it nevertheless (perfectionist that I can be - or, truthfully - am). Please put your critical judge to sleep and just read along ignoring what I've missed. Or, if it makes you feel better (as it does me sometimes), count all of them and just smile at the inaccuracies with your own certain perfection!! :)

Oh - I noticed that I posted my first blog at 3:25 a.m. Not!!! This must be Greenwich Mean Time or something such technological feature. I was fast asleep then, not knowing that Mike had even fixed up such technology for me/us.

Useful fact - Israel is currently 7 hours further along in their day than EDT. Adjust accordingly for your own time zone.

Be well, cheers, hugs and be sure to thank the Creator of All that you're alive and have time to read the almost useless - in the grand scheme of things - musings herein.

Rabbi Heath

Getting Out of Town

2007-06-26T06:25:00.000-04:00

Chaverim yekarim / Dear Friends

As you might imagine - it takes as much to "get" out of town as it does to "be" out of town. For those of you organizing travel this summer for families - I know that I have it easy. There is no one to please except myself! If you read to the bottom (or skip ahead), you'll find out about the picture at the left. I'm not experienced at placing photos, yet.

The "cliche" - be careful what you pray/ask for, you might get it - has come true. When my family asked what I wanted for an ordination gift, I told them that a trip to Israel to study more Hebrew would be ideal. You added to my ability to travel with your wonderful gift at consecration. Thanks to all!!

I'll be at the University of Haifa Intensive Hebrew Ulpan for the month of July - living in the dorms. I have a single room/bath as part of a suite of six single rooms/baths that share a living room, dining room and kitchen. I'm "on my own" for eating/dining/cooking. There are opportunities in the student cafeteria or restaurants or shopping and cooking "at home."

Each floor of the dorms has a laundry room and computer room, plus there are other computer rooms on campus. Thus, I'll be able to keep up with this blog (making no promises on frequency) and with crucial emails. Rabbi Steve Arnold is "covering" for me. Call Jon with anything vital and he can take it from there.

Classes run 5 days a week - Sunday through Thursday - from 8:30 to 13:30 (better brush up on your international time!!). This is a mixture of lecture, discussion, small group work, language lab, etc. We've been told to expect 2-3 hours per day of homework. Do you know - this is actually my "vacation"! Leave it to me to go to school on my vacation :)

I've signed up for three side trips: Acco, Nazareth, and Tel Aviv. More about those later.

I've found a local synagogue - Or Hadash - and made contact with their rabbi - Rabbi Edgar Nof. The first weekend in July I'll be their cantor on Shabbat! They have 6 sister congregations in eastern Massachusetts, one of which - Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley - will be at the services the weekend I'm cantor. Boston and Haifa are sister cities - so the connection is natural.

In exploring the web I found on the Israeli Weight Watchers website local meetings in Haifa. One of them meets Monday's at 18:00 - - (drum roll here) - - at Or Hadash!! When I explained to Rabbi Nof that this would be a great way for me to work on my Hebrew, he invited me to their summer camp program - anytime - to hang out with the kids and work on my Hebrew that way as well.

Here's the link to Or Hadash - they really are quite a remarkable congregation.

http://www.or-hadash.org.il/index.html

A friend from school comes from Haifa, her mother still lives there, and she will be in Haifa almost the same times I am. Looks like some home cooking! Another friend has a long-time friend who made aliyah 25 years ago and lives in Haifa. That's the second home cooking! Then, my good friend Peggy - Rabbi de Prophetis - whom you may have met at consecration in May - has friends in Jerusalem and this is looking like not only home cooking, but a homestay for Shabbat weekend!

Mike Peckman (thanks loads!!) our webmaster has set up this blog which is accessible from our website. We're really becoming part of the 21st century. Before you know it I'll have podcasts on our website for you to download! What won't be so long in coming is a section on our website devoted to resources for learning - especially MP3 files of yours truly davenning core sections of our services so that you can listen online, make your own CD's or download to an iPod.

In case you want a closer look at Israel - here is a YouTube entry - maybe someone's trip photos (nicely done) set to music. You will, of course, have to put up with stupid comments posted in the commentary section - by whomever, but that's the price for free expression.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxgywtGKcaU

And, here's my Zionist, pro-Israel YouTube entry - from a well-known Israeli artist with a long career in many musical genres - Shlomi Shabat. I know that the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) are by no means a perfect group (what military is?). I do believe that a country the size of New Jersey surrounded by neighbors who are - at best - neutral to her, that finds it necessary to have every young person serve in the military after high school - needs to have exposed for others the fact that the general nature of the country is to deal with hard realities and still long to "let us grow up in piece and quiet" - the title of this song.

I think that most of us the U.S. have absolutely no clue about the everyday concerns for danger and how they affect the physical and psychological nature of life in Israel. We would do well to tread cautiously before making judgments.

And, I do believe that almost every person on earth wants to live in peace and security - the biblical promise for everyone tending his own fig tree in peace (Micah 4:4). I just don't think they are led to act as if this desire preceded others. But, whoops, this is starting to sound a little political and I'm going to leave all of that alone for now (maybe forever - but you'll pick up your own clues along the way, I'm sure!)

Now - I could be displaying massive lack of knowledge about the Israeli music scene and someone could point out that this song is a left-wing peace protest - BUT, I don't think so (and if it is, so what?). I know - I think I know - just how much I don't know about Israel. The possibility for my being naive looms large - but, ignorance is curable any my time in Israel is a beginning remedy. Therefore, brickbats cheerfully accepted, but deflected somewhat with my Teflon caveat!

Finally, here's the link and then a translation follows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io3iRBe3z-Q

LET US GROW UP IN PEACE & QUIET

And when will come upon us some graceful morning
that will shout for joy in front of us, just a cheerful, smiling morning
when joy will suddenly daze (us) without an early notice
(for military action/awareness., of death)?
It will fill, once again fill, our hearts as it will come upon us.

Until when (for how much longer) will the wind carry cloud and worry?
And when will it return to offering
just a day of delights, a day without sadness, day without fear?
The whole Land sobs, like a small girl crying out
"let live in silence!"

She cries out: "Love me!
Of war do not teach me
show me your love.
Let me grow up in stillness!"

What happened to our youth,
the beautiful and naive?
Who will bring peace upon us
and onto the earth?
The flowers will return to bloom
and we will return to shout in joy,
with the light and the clear blue sky.

Let one live like a child.

Translation (slightly modified by me) is from a GREAT website - www.hebrewsongs.com Just search under the "T's" for the song with the transliterated name shown on the top of the YouTube display. There are links to the Hebrew words to the song, a transliteration, info about the composer etc.

In closing:
I'll have a cell phone in Israel - though I'm not expecting calls. All kinds of folks know my itinerary etc. I've registered with the State Department. I have health insurance. It's going to be OK!! I know people are worried. I'm worried (at least in my subconscious/dreams) - but, I'm not! Millions of people live there everyday lives in Israel and die of ripe old age. Yes, there is danger. Our lives here are dangerous as well. We are just used to our kind of danger and don't think about it.

With that cheery note :) I'll end this missive. Mike can check to be sure the links work from the website and you can have your first chance to read me (at length) rather than listen (you've been warned!!) As I've told folks - when I come home I'll be able to talk and talk and talk - in two languages!! Aren't you lucky!!

Rabbi Heath

P.S. I'm spending the first four nights on my own (can't check into the dorms until July 5th - program starts July 8th) and will be staying at the Dan Gardens Haifa. The online reviews are excellent (not that I checked them before I booked my rooms!! - I went for price, from a hotel chain I had stayed in last summer and thus had some confidence in). The photo at the top is of the Dan Gardens Haifa - and, savvy traveler that I'm becoming - I'm in their Rewards Club - joined last year when I was in Tel Aviv at the Dan Panaorama and the staff person in the Business Computing Center received employee "points" for signing people up.