Shabbat Chaye Sara in Kiryat Arba/Chevron

Where do I start? I really wanted to take pictures, but it was just...crowded and not worth trying to get out my camera, and then it was Shabbat and...I have pictures in my memory.

I went to sort-of cousins (we decided that the correct term for the family and how to explain how we are related is "chamula," which is the term for an Arab clan. We just happen to be a large family who used to live within about 4 blocks of each other (2 2-family houses and 1 2-family house a few blocks away). So-- I went to sort of cousins with my first cousin, and we met another sort-of cousin there who is an actual cousin of my sort-of cousin. Confused? It's ok. Moving on.

The whole experience was just overwhelming.

Break it down:

Friday

Took a bus from Binyanei Hauma. We left early, because we counted on lots of people (and therefore lines and waits) and traffic. Thanks to Murphy (and leaving earlier than we planned), we had neither. So we got there early.

There was a stand- basically a mobile ticket booth- with three or four windows and a sign- "הלוך ושב 18.30"- "There and Back- 18.30." There weren't long lines and there was bus after bus lined up. We took one bus to Tzomet Haminharot and then switched to a bulletproof bus for the rest of the trip. The bus was FULL of post-high school seminary/yeshiva students. Loud-comma-very.

Got to Kiryat Arba and went to my sort-of cousins. Was there a bit, and then went to where I was staying (a few minutes' walk away) to get ready for Shabbos.

Shabbat

We davened on Friday night at Givat Gal, which is a caravan community. The shul used to be in a bus, but now there is a real building (think 1-room schoolhouse, plus electricity and minus the wood-burning stove). The sunset on the way there was beautiful; at one point I stopped, turned around and just said, "Wow." The davening was nice- singing and there was a young boy who did part of it and the older men were encouraging him when he was having trouble. I was the only woman there, but lo nora (not a big deal)- they made a women's section for me :)

After davening we went back to the house and had dinner. After dinner there was an oneg at the Me'ara (the Cave-- Me'arat Hamachpela) in Ulam Yitzchak. BZ and I went (actually, everyone went, but BZ and I went together). We walked down this path that normally is locked (I think- there is a fence with a door and a lock; it was open, but if it wasn't Shabbat Chaye Sara with all the soldiers and police around, it would no be wise to go the way we did). There were tons of people and, of course, soldiers and police and patrols and security.

When I got to Me'arat Hamachpela, the first thing that struck me was the number of tents that there were. Lots and lots and lots of tents. Aka, lots and lots and lots of people.

We went to the Me'ara and made up to meet outside at a certain time, and then we went in. It was my first time there and it felt...even as I was going down the hill into Chevron, I felt a feeling of specialness and other-worldliness but familiarity, safety. It was my first time there, but it felt familiar. Also in Ulam Yitzchak (which is only open Chol Hamoed and Shabbat Chaye Sara, by the way) I went to where is supposed to be פתח גן עדן-- the entrance to the Garden of Eden-- and that, too, felt very familiar. The smell there, too. I said some Tehillim, but I was so tired that I wasn't focused.

In the morning I went back to Ulam Yitzchak for Shacharit (morning prayers). There was a chatan there, which was nice-- people threw candies, of course. It was very packed and stuffy, but people were nice about giving up seats for the elderly and pregnant or people who needed to sit. There was kiddush (food) outside after (grape juice/wine and cake and Yerushalmi kugel (Jerusalem noodle pudding), and then we went back for lunch.

After lunch I had the choice of napping or going back to Chevron. What do you think I did? Went back to Chevron, of course! Joined a tour in the early-middle-ish part, and then went back to the Me'ara (what, did you think I was going to miss an opportunity like this? Me'arat Hamachpela is so rarely open like this-- I am NOT missing the chance to daven there again!

When I left, I felt like I didn't want to leave, like it was pulling at my heart. Kind of the way I felt when I was leaving Israel in March 2008-- it hurt my heart; that's the best way I can describe it. It was kind of like...pulling me to stay, like I didn't want to leave. But we had to, because Shabbat was ending.

Motza"sh

Buses were packed. But they went straight from Chevron and Kiryat Arba to the Tachana Merkazit in Jerusalem (with a stop at Tzomet Gush, on my bus), no switching.

Overall I enjoyed. I want to go back when it's not Parshat Chaye Sara and there are fewer people there and it's not so packed and I can think a little more. Granted, I won't be able to go the same way and there will be less of the Me'ara open, but I think it will be a much more personal, meaningful experience and I'll be able to take things in more and actually concentrate better and more.

Two posts in one

First Post:
Yesterday I had to go from Beit Yehuda in Givat Massua to Rechaviya; I needed the 13. I could have taken the 12 the other way to meet the 13, but the person at the front desk said I could also catch the 13 at Malcha. I didn't remember that, but I figured, "Well, that's the direction I need." So I asked the bus driver where I catch the 13. He asked me, "Where are you going?" I told him, and he goes, "You should have taken the bus the other way." Well, I hadn't...so he told me what buses to switch to and someone else chimes in, and then the front part of the bus was debating which was the best way for me to get where I needed to go. Only in Israel.


Second Post:
Two years ago at this time I was back in NYC. March 25, 2008, was my return flight to NYC after spending about 9 weeks in Israel.
I did not want to be back, I did not want to be back. It was more like a vacation or short trip in between being in Israel.

And here I am now, March 25, 2010, getting ready for my first Pesach as an olah, as an Israeli, and planning my trip back to NY from Israel. This time when I book a round-trip ticket it will be from TLV to JFK/EWR and back to TLV.

It just keeps hitting me...I live here. I live here. I. LIVE. HERE. ISRAEL. This is freakin' awesome!

More updates!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
11:37 am
Been a few days.Technically a couple.
I passed. I'm just a nut about exams.

4:40 pm

Un-f'ing-believable. I'm on a bus back to Chashmonaiim and apparently the first 5 rows are for men only? There's nowhere for the women to sit-- so I went and sat back down. A guy mumbled at me that the first 5 rows were for men only, and there were still plenty of seats, so I moved a bit back. Well, now the seats are full and the front was 1/3 empty, so I moved back up. If he has a problem with me sitting here, he can ask me-- NICELY-- to move. Not mumble at me that the first 5 rows are for me. Besides, it's not an official rule, just an unwritten one that people are assumed to know.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

16:45

Right. So yesterday was my first day. Went well. I got there a few minutes early- but better early than lare. Today I was late. More about that later.

So- first shift. I had an orientation with Boaz, the volunteer coordinator at the Jerusalem station. (Oh, yeah, I'm at the Jerusalem station, not Petach Tikva.) I was on an ambulance with Elkie, a driver, Mickey, and another guy who was doing ride-alongs, Simcha. Spoke mostly Hebrew, which is good for me. First call was a car accident- single car crashed intoa guardrail; guy had actually already gotten out of his car, so we put a Philadelphia collar (a type of neckbrace, one that I like) on him, and put him on the backboard on the bed. The next call was supposed to be one guy who fell at a construction site, but it turned out to be two guys who fell...anyway, there were a few other calls, then at 2:45 we got a call-- on the other side of town. Mickey put on the lights and sirens and floored it. Because it was 2:45 and our shift ended at 3.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Third day. My second day was also okay.

7:18 pm

Wow, I need to back up.

Starting from Monday: I passed the exam. Yehuda, Shloime, and Dan called us in individually and gave us our results. Yehuda had my test rolled up, and he, Shloime, and Dan were sitting there stone-faced. Yehuda said, "Lauren, I'm really disappointed in you. I expected better." So now I'm convinced I failed-- did horribly, bombed the exam. He handed me my test, rolled up, and I opened it-- 99. Apparently the look on my face was priceless, or so Shloime told me a few times. It was the math questions I messed up on-- I knew I messed that one up. After that I went upstairs, showered, and came back down all ready to go to the Waffle Bar with people. We (Elkie, Eden, and I) sorted out the sweatshirts, then everyone closed, and most of us went to the Waffle Bar, ate dinner, then went to Zolli's-- a hookah bar-- to celebrate being done. I had one drink and sips of other people's, and did not get drunk. Some people did, and others were relaxed and some were totally smashed. I think the quote of the night come from Arie Jaffe-- "Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge!" There is definitely a reason he had to be drunk (read: very, very drunk) to tell that one.

Tuesday morning: It was snowing! Yay! The downside was that we had to leave anyway. Coby had told us that if there was snow and the buses didn't run, we could stay in the hostel another day and have just a chilled day. Yeah, so it snowed, but the buses ran so we didn't get to stay another day. (I ended up not being able to get the bus form the hostel to Chashmonaiim, so they driver took me to the Superbus that I usually take in.) --Insert story about bus to Chashmonaiim here-- I called Aryeh to talk to him about my station, and he was able to get me into Jerusalem. Yay! Petach Tikva is also close, but it would be a 3 buses, which is a huge pain in the butt.

So now I take one bus, but it gets me to Saraei Yisrael, right by the Tachanah, at 7. And I'm supposed to be at the station at 6:45 to get on the schedule. So I'm going to call Elkie in the morning. But that comes later.

Continuing on to Tuesday: Got to Rita and Dov's, spoke to Aryeh, foind out that I should be at the station at 6:30 am, and slept at Chaviva's (whose roommate is Ms. Gordon!). --Insert first day's story here--

Thursday: Day 2: So I waited for the 5:55 bus that comes about 6:15. And I waited at the bus stop outside the yishuv, because that's where the bus compny said it stopped...yeah, not so much...it stops INSIDE the yishuv until 8 am...so I missed the bus. Another one came about 10 minutes later, and I got in about 7:24, which is late. I got on an ambulance-- one of the girls was leaving at 9 and hey were switching divers, so I got on then.

Friday: Nothing. Day off! I went ot the Old City in the afternoon and met the Grosses at the apt. Shabbat was nice. The apt.- not so nice. The electricity blew twice, then the Shabbos clock switched off and the neighbor found an Arab to come fix it. There was no heat (because we pulled out the heaters when we though the electricity blew and it was the Shabbos clock), but the heater in my and Sho's room didn't work anyway, there was tons of food left in the fridge, and open package of cookies left on the table, coats on the hooks-- it looked like the family just left for the weekend- which they might have done. But if you're renting out an apartment, it should look and be proper. This was not.

Besides that, there was an NY NCSY trip and we went there/had seudah shlishit with them.

Today-- Wait, Motzei Shabbat- went to Ben Yehuda and met Eden and Benny, and one of Benny's friends, Lenny. Benny called Kaufman and I called Arie, and neither one came. Although Arie sent me a text and I called him back and I'm not sure what I said...

Today: had a shift in the morning. My driver was Gabi and the bat sherut was Leah. Whatever. At 2, my driver switched and I was with Shmulik and another mitnadev, Yakov (I think). We had one call-- it was actually exciting-- it was an unconscious pt. in Har Adar- roughly the middle of nowhere, Yerushalayim. We were supposed to meet a Natan-- we were basically out of the area and the Natan showed up. The pt. was breathing and had a pulse but was non-responsive, even to pain. Shmulik put in an IV and that was that. Got back at 4 pm, then came back to the girls from MDA 69.

Monday, February 25, 2008

7:09 pm

Today was a 10.5-hour shift. It wasn't actually supposed to be, but it turned into one. At 1 pm, my driver left and Alfasi took over. I should have been done at 3-- well, I sort of could have left at 1 om, but then Alfasi wouldn't have a team and I couldn;t do that. But I can deal with him-- he actually cracks me up.

We had a couple of interesting calls- we got called to the Knesset and Dave broke all the rules-- he wore jeans and didn't have his passport. Those are the rules for going to the Knesset-- no jeans, and have your passport. There's this whole security process that you have to go through to go into the Knesset, but when it's a senator in an emergency call (okay, it was emergency because it was a senator, but whatever), you get to go in as long as you're with MDA. There was also a car accident- 3 cars. No blood-- at least on my pt.-- but yes backboarding and took him to the hospital, obviously. Anyway, I'm getting very good at opening a file. I also know how to fill out the forms and the hitchayvut (the thing that says who is responsible for the charge and how much the charge for the ambulance is). Yay!

I have to confirm the tiyul on Thursday. I'm trying to get all the info, but the guy is not getting back to me. Not helpful. -pause to call him- Okay, he told me to go to the Stagerim group on Facebook and get the info there.

In other news, I thought that one of the guys who gave us a couple of lectures was cute, but apparently he wants a tall, thin, blonde or redhead. I don't fit any of those categories. Oh, well-- clearly I'm heartbroken...

Almost caught up!

Motzei Shabbos
10:46 pm
Back in my dorm, sweet dorm…er…”dorm, cold dorm” is more like it. It is so frikkin’ cold here! People say that it’s a cold that gets into your bones—I don’t think so, at least not for me. It’s a cold like there’s no heat—which there isn’t, because our heat seems to be on a “cool” setting…Lauren left a space heater (small), so I’m using that now to attempt to warm up my room somewhat. Whatever—it’s not like I spend soooo much time here awake anyway.

Okay. So Thursday night, Friday, and Shabbat. Thursday night I went to town with Avigayil—Andre’s cousin (very random how we discovered that connection). We went to T’mol Shilsom (which literally mean “Yesterday, two days ago.” It’s a restaurant with books; kind of like a restaurant/library. It’s off of Ben Yehuda—go to the Kent Station, make a left down that street, then go past the Underground and it’s a couple archways past there, if anyone cares) and I got a dulce de leche (hot milk, Irish cream, caramel, and whipped cream)—yum. The downside to T’mol Shilshom is that it’s more expensive than some other places. But then again, it’s also Ben Yehuda, so things are more expensive there ayway. It was 19 shek, which is about $5.27, so roughly the price of a Starbucks drink, but better tasting..0

Friday I was supposed to go pick up a check, but the office wasn’t open—I’m going to try Tuesday or Thursday; Avigayil is going home for a couple of weeks, so she’s giving me her monthly bus pass, so that’ll be good. Yay for unlimited bus rides in Yerushalayim! So I didn’t get the check, but met Zippy instead to give her her stuff, then we went to the shuk because she needed food for Shabbat, then she met up with Sivan, and I went to Rita and Dov’s.

The bus to them is a Superbus. But apparently Superbus rents other company’s buses. And if it’s not a Superbus that says “Superbus” on the side, the driver doesn’t have to take money…bit ridiculous—it’s the same company. Anyway, so the first bus didn’t take money…waited for the second one—THAT one took money. Got up to Chashmonaiim in plenty of time.

Shabbat was fun—chilled. The Brodskys and the Aarons live in Chashmonaiim—well, the Aarons are in the next neighborhood over, but it’s like— one side of the street is one neighborhood, the other side of the street is another. But the Brodskys are 5 houses away from Rita and Dov, and when I said something about, “I have to figure out where the street is,” Rita goes, “Claudia?” …yeah, they’re 5 houses away. The Aarons were 15 minutes, so it was all good. It was slightly pouring, but my jacket did a fine job of [keeping me dry]. After Shabbat I didn’t want to leave because it was pouring worse than before, but coming back to the dorm at 9:30-10 is better than having to leave Modiin at 6 or 6:30 am to get to school on time. SO I came back – left at 8:15-8:30, got in to Yerushalayim by 9:15-9:20, back in the dorm by 10.

Had a snack—carrots & chumus, and crackers & honey PB, juice, my iron pill, and now I’m going to bed. Once I put the heater back in Rachel’s room.

Still playing catch-up

January 22, 2008
8:40 am
In the morning shiur. I wanted to talk to Miriam, but she was talking to someone else. Yesterday Adina (apartment-mate) told me about Midreshet Rachel. I looked at the class schedules and it looks like they have classes I'd like. BUT it's not really designed for jump-in-jump-out as Shearim is.
I also talked to Mommy and Lis today. Mom talked to Vivian, who suggested I talk to Annette.
I don't know-- maybe I haven't given it enough of a shot. Really, it's been a day of Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday and a day fo Monday-Wednesday schedules. So...I don't know.
Maybe I'll talk to Miriam about tutoring for Taste of Torah or Level I.
I'll go do that after the morning shiur.
4:10 pm
Sitting int he Talk'n'Save office. This was a project-and-a-half.
I wanted to know/

January 23, 2008

9:00 am
In the morning shiur. Right-- Talk'n'Save. I wanted to try to get the student plan-- 500 mins./month to Israel, US, and Canada, for $50. I thought that phone rental was $10, so it would be $60/month, total. It's for 3 months, and I wanted to get it for 2 months only. So it would end up being $70/month-- phone rental is $15, plus taxes, etc. And I'd have to do it for 3 months, so it would be $210 total,
10:35 am
which is considerably more than $180. So I did the "pro plan," which was/is 3 months rental (15/month), and 11 cents/minute to all Israeli phones (special dialing for non-Cellcom and landline phones), 10.9 cents/minute to my home number, and 16 cents/minute to all other US/Canada/UK landline phones. And incoming free. It took waaaaaaaay too long to get that sorted out, really.
The manager, Debbie, really tried to help me but she couldn't get me the student plan I wanted for 2 months . Whatever-- I just have to be careful. (But you all can call me, and I will be happy to give you my number if I haven't already, but please don't call when I'm in class-- 8:30-5:30 Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday; Tuesdays are 8:30-12:30.) But now I have a phone with a battery that holds charge! Yay!
So with my new phone, I went to Rita's for a sheva brachot; two people from the yishuv got married. It kinda felt a little like NYC- because one of the families was from Chile, so there was Spanish all over the place. Anywho, so I didn't really know anyone besides Rita, Dov, David, and Tzvia, so I ended up talking to this guy, Momi, who also didn't really know people- he's a cousin of the chatan's or something. So enither of us really knew anyone- so that was that. The sheva brachot was really nice, actually. There were tons of people and it seemed like everyone cooked/made something. I'm going back for Shabbat.
I\m supposed to go to the Old City tomorrow to pick up a check, but maybe I'll go Friday, go to the kotel, then go to Rita and Dov's. That could work.
Tonight I'm going to see "Arsenic and Old Lace" with Eli. School/Sem is getting better; I'm getting a lot more comfortable here-- if I want, I can go look at other mefarshim, or discuss something-- I also am getting to know my classmates-- it seemed like there were people on a break or something, but now they're back. The first day there were, like, 3 people in my class-- Level III-- and now there are 8, so that's happier. We'll see how it goes, but I think it's getting better.
4:30 pm, Medrash shiur
It's a re-cap now. I was just outside and took INCREDIBLE pictures. Well, I don't know if the pictures are incredible, but what I took a picture of was incredible. It was raining and foggy earlier
5:03 pm
and the sunset was kind of cloudy-- it was layers and there were rays and lines of light between them.
And so I went outside, before the shiur, and took pictures. It's one of those...wow moments where there is nothing to say but, "Oh. My. G-d. Wow."
I took a few other pictures as the sun was setting more; I got one shot as there was about a dot of the sun in the middle of all these grey clouds. Wow.
6:05 pm
On the bus to Bar Ilan, waiting for it to depart. This is like taking NJTransit, except in Hebrew.
'k, the bus is moving. Which means I need to put this away or run the risk of throwing up on it...Away it is.

January 24, 2008

...so apparently not everyone knows what "doing shots" is...because I said something about it and someone was very confused.
Anyway, so yesterday I went to "Arsenic and Old Lace" at Bar Ilan. The show was really good-- they did a great job.
I also had Thai food for the first time- Eli picked up dinner and I had chicken with mixed vegetables.
After the play I helped strike the set. Until, like, 1 am or so...ok, granted the play didn't start until 8:30 and ended at 11, so then the cast came out and guests hung around and...blah-blah-blah. The I went to Eli's friend Ilana's apartment; I fell asleep around 2 and woke up at around 6, and then went to the bus-- that wasn't so bad, it was just getting through campus. I tried to go straight through and sort of succeeded. I thnk I also went out of the apartment the wrong way. But the important thing is that I FOUND it. And didn't get lost...at least on the way to the bus to Yerushalayim. I got the bus to Har Nof-- and got off at the last stop, because I thought the bus stopped on Rechov Agassi, and it stops on an overlook ABOVE Agassi. So I walked about 15 minutes. At least I was in the right neighborhood. And it wasn't too bad to get to where I needed to be.
Oh! I learned a new word in Hebrew-- "stajier"- don't know if I spelled it properly, but it means "intern."
4:10 pm
Forgot to change my opinion about the bus to Bar Ilan: It's not exactly like NJTransit-- more like an express bus, rather than NJTransit-- it makes certain stops, and stops are either drop-off or pick-up, not both.




*Sara's Comment: about the last part- at least you ended up ABOVE agassi, not below it.*

More updates!

January 19, 2008
Motzei Shabbos:

First Shabbat in Har Nof. It was nice.
Wait, first finish the budget-- a kartisiyah (bus ticket) is 44.80 (44 shekels and 80 agorot) and you get 10 rides on it, but it's only for inner-city buses. Sunday I'll be staying within the city, but Monday I'm supposed to go to Bar Ilan (the university that the play is at)- or maybe Wednesday- depends if Chani and Oren are going Monday- so I have to take a bus to the Tachanah [HaMerkazit] (Central Bus Station; like Port Authority in NYC), or Eli said something about a bus from Knisah La'Ir (the Entrance to the City), but I'm not sure, and then a bus from the Tachana to Bar Ilan.And Tuesday I'm supposed to go to Sheva Brachot by Rita's. If I don't go see the play Monday, I might got to Zippy and bring her stuff then, and go to the play on Wednesday. I really have to see what Chani and Oren are doing.
Anyway, so Shabbat. The school set up meals for me and Penina together. Friday night we went to the Cohen's-- it was so nice- not only the food was delicious, but the Rebbetzin was so sweet. There was another woman there that Penina knew from neve, Shulamit, and the three of us were just talking with the Rebbetzin for at least 2 hours; we left there about 100:30 maybe?
Came back hom, read a bit, then Penina and Lauren and I stayed up talking for an hour or so; went to bed at 1 am. My alarm rang, but then the phone shut off- not helpful- and I woke up when Lauren came in at 10. So I missed shul. Meh.
For lunch, Penina and I went to the Movsas, another person from school. Again, food delicious-- Hey everyone, I was FLEISHIG!...but then again I don't have any dairy nosh here. After that I played Rummikub with one of the daughters, followed by coming home and going to sleep. I slept until after Shabbat, then woke up and made Havdalah. Tonight we're having a party for my roommate- for Lauren- who is leaving Monday. Now I'm off to shower.

January 21, 2008
Yesterday I was sick. Today I'm not as sick. I don't feel great, but I feel better. I told Annette- I'll see how far I can get. I have to go to Talk'n'Save today; I called them twice and they didn't get back to me. Now I feel pretty tired already, and it's only 8:50; I've been up for an hour, roughly. Maybe I'll go to the first class and tell the teacher I don't feel well and might have to leave early, take a nap, and go back, I'll see.
I have to go to Talk'n'Save because I need a phone that works. They have a plan for students for $59.99/month, including 500 minutes in the US, Israel, and Canada.
4:24 pm:
Waiting for the last class of the day to start. Called Eli- we're going to "Arsenic and Old Lace" on Wednesday; Chani and Oren aren't going tonight, because Oren is sick.

5:50 pm
Class was over at 5:30, but I went to use the computer; quickly; gave someone else a turn, and I'll go back when she's done.
Anyway, I suppose classes are okay- I'm actually not liking it- I think it's because I'm bored. I wanted it because it's small and was very recommended, but- I'm just...bored. I'm translating meforshim (commentaries) that I've been doing since elementary school! I feel like I'm teaching-- no, not teaching-- well, kind of. I'm leading the chavrutot (paired/grouped learning sessions) that I'm in...I'm just...bored. I didn't come halfway around the world and I'm not paying so much money to be bored. I'm going to talk to Miriam, the person who works with scheduling issues. Maybe I'll do this part-time and volunteer the rest of the time. All I know is-- the teachers are great, it just seems like a lower level of learning than I'm geared for. I've got 12+ years of a background in this. I want classes on Jewish Medical Ethics, a WIJL (Women In Jewish Law-- a class I took in high school) kind of class, a class on women in Tanach (the Bible)-- MORE. Not straight reading! The only class I really liked, besides the morning Navi (Prophets) shiur (class/lecture) was the Megillat Esther (Book of Esther) class. I also really liked the teacher. Anyway, so that's that. Still waiting for Talk'n'Save to call back; I might end up going down to them tomorrow. I also have to go to Rita's for Sheva Brachot, and then Wednesday I'm going to bar Ilan to see "Arsenic and Old Lace."