Thursday, August 03, 2006
We've gotten a lot of emails recently wondering why we haven't been posting to the blog. First of all, I've come down with a nasty cold and have been in bed for a couple of days. I never knew what a luxury a shower was until I didn't have one. The shbath (see earlier posting) just isn't cutting it. Also, we've been lazy and busy.
I started Hebrew class last week and am having a lot of fun. All of a sudden, I see or hear a word somewhere and I go, "I know that word!" It's pretty exciting. And it seems to stick better when you're actually using it. Jamie is very busy with school, and his real school year hasn't started yet. He's in ulpan (intensive hebrew) for about 4 hours a day, and choir rehearsal and musicianship and voice lessons and tours of the old city. I barely see him and the real challenges haven't even begun (or so they keep telling me).
Right now we're getting ready for his week long break in the end of August. We're looking at Greece, or pretty much any affordable European city. That's one of the advantages to where we're living.
We hosted our first Shabbat dinner here last Friday. I had to go out and buy plates and wine glasses, but we managed. We also don't have a table, so it became a game to see who could find the best way to balance their dinner. Ethan found stools outstide and brought them in. By far the best solution. The apartment is beginning to feel like home, finally clean and a little bit decorated. I would have liked to put up pictues, but I'm a little too tired still to wander around and climb on top of the furniture to get good shots (don't worry mom, it's my furniture. I'm allowed to do that now!).
When the fall term starts, Jamie will have a full load of classes, plus lessons, community service, etc etc. So, I'm looking at how to fill my time. Right now, I'm planning on doing ulpan in the mornings and studying at the Conservative Yeshiva in the afternoons. The Conservative Yeshiva is a really neat place, run by the Conservative movement in America. They have intensive study all year, but unlike other yeshivas, they welcome women and look at text in an egalitarian way. Trust me, this is very rare in this city. Many of the other SOs (significant others) have said they'll be studying there as well.
I'm sure none of you will be surprised to learn that I've set up a listserv for the SOs and have been organizing things as much as possible. Most of you know I'm not happy unless I'm in charge of something, and the laundry wasn't cutting it. But, we've got some great stuff going. One of the husbands brought his projector and surround sound, so we're having movie nights. We've got one of the professors at the school to take us around on tours of the city once a month. Seems most of the SOs are in the same boat of trying to find things to fill the days, so we're working together on it.
Milchama (hebrew for war, but doesn't it sound better?) I feel like I need to address this because we've gotten some concern about the Israeli situation. First of all, please be aware that the American media is very biased and only shows the most sensationalized images, whatever gets more viewers and therefore more money. There are two good Israeli sources to check out (all in English): HaAretz Newspaper at www.haaretz.com and the Jerusalem Post at www.jpost.com. I'll also put these links up on the right side bar of the blog so they'll stay there for you to click on anytime.
Secondly, we have been told repeatedly (and are seeing that it's true) that Jerusalem is the safest place to be. There is a large Muslim population here and many Muslim holy sites. If there were a hit on a Muslim or their sites, the predictions all seem to say it would lead to all out war within the Arab world. In fact, we are so much safer, that they are sending students from evacuated cities here. And you can tell by looking around how much safer it is here. There are no scared people walking around, everyone is going about their normal business, honking, yelling, pushing--totally normal.
And thirdly, please know that Israel is hurting and she needs your support. There are some attrocious images being sent around the world. There is no balanced reporting happening. Israel has dispraportionatelly fought back, but what would happen if rockets were coming onto American soil. Would the US send rockets? Most importantly, Israel has attacked very specific targets and looks to avoid civilians (I realize they have not, but it truly is the goal). Hezbollah is sending random rockets with little aim and hoping to hit civilians. It is not an even fight and it won't ever be. But Israel depends on the support of America, she always has.
It's surreal here. Walking down the street, you see orthodox women, younger than me, with 3 children. Or, there are the Hassidic men, dressed in garb from 17th century Poland (and I thought I was hot!). There are tons of Muslim women with gorgeous head scarves, all walking together and holding hands. The other day, I took a cab home, looked out the window and saw a monk eating ice cream. Which of these neighboring nations might be able to show the same freedom? In what other country in the Middle East might you find Jews and Christians and Muslims freely eating the ice cream of their choice with little notice of anyone besides the tourists?
The point anyway, is that Jamie and I are very safe, keeping our heads together, keeping up on the news and avoiding the northern cities (actually all cities besides Jerusalem). Have faith. Israel needs it and so do we. Lots of love and missing you all lots.
Love,
Anna
I started Hebrew class last week and am having a lot of fun. All of a sudden, I see or hear a word somewhere and I go, "I know that word!" It's pretty exciting. And it seems to stick better when you're actually using it. Jamie is very busy with school, and his real school year hasn't started yet. He's in ulpan (intensive hebrew) for about 4 hours a day, and choir rehearsal and musicianship and voice lessons and tours of the old city. I barely see him and the real challenges haven't even begun (or so they keep telling me).
Right now we're getting ready for his week long break in the end of August. We're looking at Greece, or pretty much any affordable European city. That's one of the advantages to where we're living.
We hosted our first Shabbat dinner here last Friday. I had to go out and buy plates and wine glasses, but we managed. We also don't have a table, so it became a game to see who could find the best way to balance their dinner. Ethan found stools outstide and brought them in. By far the best solution. The apartment is beginning to feel like home, finally clean and a little bit decorated. I would have liked to put up pictues, but I'm a little too tired still to wander around and climb on top of the furniture to get good shots (don't worry mom, it's my furniture. I'm allowed to do that now!).
When the fall term starts, Jamie will have a full load of classes, plus lessons, community service, etc etc. So, I'm looking at how to fill my time. Right now, I'm planning on doing ulpan in the mornings and studying at the Conservative Yeshiva in the afternoons. The Conservative Yeshiva is a really neat place, run by the Conservative movement in America. They have intensive study all year, but unlike other yeshivas, they welcome women and look at text in an egalitarian way. Trust me, this is very rare in this city. Many of the other SOs (significant others) have said they'll be studying there as well.
I'm sure none of you will be surprised to learn that I've set up a listserv for the SOs and have been organizing things as much as possible. Most of you know I'm not happy unless I'm in charge of something, and the laundry wasn't cutting it. But, we've got some great stuff going. One of the husbands brought his projector and surround sound, so we're having movie nights. We've got one of the professors at the school to take us around on tours of the city once a month. Seems most of the SOs are in the same boat of trying to find things to fill the days, so we're working together on it.
Milchama (hebrew for war, but doesn't it sound better?) I feel like I need to address this because we've gotten some concern about the Israeli situation. First of all, please be aware that the American media is very biased and only shows the most sensationalized images, whatever gets more viewers and therefore more money. There are two good Israeli sources to check out (all in English): HaAretz Newspaper at www.haaretz.com and the Jerusalem Post at www.jpost.com. I'll also put these links up on the right side bar of the blog so they'll stay there for you to click on anytime.
Secondly, we have been told repeatedly (and are seeing that it's true) that Jerusalem is the safest place to be. There is a large Muslim population here and many Muslim holy sites. If there were a hit on a Muslim or their sites, the predictions all seem to say it would lead to all out war within the Arab world. In fact, we are so much safer, that they are sending students from evacuated cities here. And you can tell by looking around how much safer it is here. There are no scared people walking around, everyone is going about their normal business, honking, yelling, pushing--totally normal.
And thirdly, please know that Israel is hurting and she needs your support. There are some attrocious images being sent around the world. There is no balanced reporting happening. Israel has dispraportionatelly fought back, but what would happen if rockets were coming onto American soil. Would the US send rockets? Most importantly, Israel has attacked very specific targets and looks to avoid civilians (I realize they have not, but it truly is the goal). Hezbollah is sending random rockets with little aim and hoping to hit civilians. It is not an even fight and it won't ever be. But Israel depends on the support of America, she always has.
It's surreal here. Walking down the street, you see orthodox women, younger than me, with 3 children. Or, there are the Hassidic men, dressed in garb from 17th century Poland (and I thought I was hot!). There are tons of Muslim women with gorgeous head scarves, all walking together and holding hands. The other day, I took a cab home, looked out the window and saw a monk eating ice cream. Which of these neighboring nations might be able to show the same freedom? In what other country in the Middle East might you find Jews and Christians and Muslims freely eating the ice cream of their choice with little notice of anyone besides the tourists?
The point anyway, is that Jamie and I are very safe, keeping our heads together, keeping up on the news and avoiding the northern cities (actually all cities besides Jerusalem). Have faith. Israel needs it and so do we. Lots of love and missing you all lots.
Love,
Anna
