License to Drive and Ladies Night!

Shalom in the home!

Well, its' been far too long since I've last written to everyone. It’s time for a general recap.

Last week, while most of my fellow students were on an organized tiyul (trip) to the Negev (desert) in the south, I rented a car and drove up north to Tzfat and Tiberais for Shabbat. It was a very restful, relaxing 2 days. After Shabbat was over, I drove south on route 90 (which reminded me of the good, old, unreliable Mass turnpike) from the beautiful spiritual Golan region towards Eliat. Along the way, I cut through the small, Arab Israeli villages in the West Bank. It was a little nerve-racking to see signs for Ramallah and Jericho, but the highways are under Israeli control and army protection. You can tell the difference between Israeli cars and Palestinian cars by the color of the license plats, and I saw many yellow Israeli I.D. plates as well as the green Palestinian Arab ones. As I drove south, I could see the Dead Sea, the lowest point in the world, all along the left-hand side of my car. I've been blessed to witness many man-made and G-d made wonders throughout the world during my young life, but the desert sunset overlooking the Dead Sea adjacent to the Judean Hills was among some of the most amazing scenery I've ever encountered. After almost 3 months, I really missed driving on my own. Maneuvering around a crowded city like Jerusalem wasn’t easy, but the lonely one line road to Eliat was dangerous (very curvy and unpredictable) but not heavily traveled. The 6 hour drive was therapeutic and quiet. At the end of my journey, I had literally driven from the northern border to the southern border. I felt like Corey Haim and Corey Feldmen in License to Drive.

Once in Eliat, I met up with some British friends. We sat by the beach (Red Sea), soaked in the sun (received a little burn), swam a little, visited the aquarium, ate really well at a sushi restaurant and a delicious steak house (all kosher), and even drove to the Jordian and Egyptian borders. At night, I could see the coastal lights of Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and even Saudi Arabia off in the distance. The weather was hot (even the nights) but the water was still a little on the cool side. Eliat is very much a resort town, where the Israeli gov't has coincidently decided to void all sales taxes within the city. In the summer, it's hotter than Miami and filled with tourists but in the winter, it's a pleasant weekend get away for many European visitors.

This week was more or less a half week, with the trip and up-coming Purim festival http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purim. Please feel free to visit the linked website to learn more about Purim, the celebrations, and miracle of Jewish survival. At Ulpan Etzion, we had our own pre-Purim party where I went all out. I dressed in drag, as Ms. Marilyn Monroe, and I invite everyone to see the pictures of me at my facebook profile at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=506951945 . Just click on photos of me, and you'll have a guaranteed good laugh. Purim is a three day holiday this year, with Shabbat mixed in the middle.

For Shabbos, two of my ulpan friends, Sam from Boston and Richard from London, walked to the Western Wall in the Old city and enjoyed a really crazy, wild prayer service with Hasidic Yeshiva students. We saw thousands of men, dressed up in dark, black, suits dancing and screaming in prayer to the Almighty, as sweat pours off their body in 80 degree temperatures. I had a sports jacket on and felt rather warm. Afterwards, we were invited to the most amazing Shabbos meal at this random family's house in the German Colony. Basically, since the Western Wall is the holies site in Judaism, Jews from all over the World come to pray here on Shabbat. Many of us are single or from out of town with no place to eat. This real mensche named Jeff Sidel always finds a place for me, and whoever else needs a dinner, after services. He's been doing this wonderful act of kindness now for many years. Everyone knows about him and his real generous work. We walked for about 30 minutes but were properly rewarded when we reached the family's home. None of us knew the family, but they turned out to have the most delicious Shabbos meal, with really moist salmon, delicious wine, spicy Chinese style chicken, and so many side dishes. For dessert, we were treated to 18 year old Scotch and yummy cakes over games of chess, poker, while schmoozing with other various guests. We met some really friendly and well connected people from all over J'lem and Israel that night. Needless to say, the neighborhood was very posh. I was very impressed and very much appreciative to this American-Israeli family who opened up their home to me and several other strangers.


Well, I now have the travel bug and party vibe, but it's back to studying. We have a lot of hard work ahead of exams before Peasch (Passover holiday in 3 more weeks), and I feel my Hebrew progressing. There are certain things I feel comfortable speaking about in Hebrew. Sometimes I can hold an entire 20 minutes conversation with a few mistakes, while other times I need to ask for help or have a hard time finding the right words. On Shabbos afternoon, a few of us were invited to a mutual friend's flat for lunch. Many of the guests were Israeli so I was forced to talk (or try at least) to chat in Hebrew. The more I force myself and make mistakes, the more comfortable I become and the more I learn through social situations. I learn the material in class, try it out on the streets, make mistakes, and eventually mix the right words/phrases and grammar in through social interactions with Israelis.

Well I'd like to wish Chag Samech to all my Jewish friends and a Happy Easter to all my Christian friends back home. Friday was Good Friday, and during Shabbat services at the Kotel (Western Wall), thousands of Christian Pilgrims were in town to walk down Via Dolorosa to re-enact the Stations of the Cross. It's nice to see all three religions acting well towards each other for a change. It's been calm around here lately; I hope is stays that way.

So, please keep me informed of what's going on in all of your lives! I want to know who's pregnant, engaged, getting a divorce, G-d forbid dead, graduating, or enjoying a vacation/ mile-stone in their life. JUST BECAUSE I'M A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND DOESN'T MEAN MY LOYAL FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND SEEDY ONLINE READERS HAVE TO BE. Please feel free to email me at Mountdew2891@aol.com

L'hitarot,

David