Esther's Aliyah Experience

Happy Passover from Tel Aviv

2010-04-03T10:15:00.003+03:00

Hey friends and family,

As some of you may know, Jonathan and I moved in together at the end of February to Tel Aviv, specifically in Florintine. As of April 1st we moved to a bigger apartment in a suburb of Tel Aviv called Givatiym.

My Israel Wine Tours is a huge success and many people from all over the world are requesting wine experiences in Israel. Check out my blog to see the comments and itineraries that I have created with these families and groups.

I also started working part-time at Young Judaea in Tel Aviv as their office manager, so this way, I have a stable income. The work is 3 days a week so the other 2 days a week I can take clients on wine experiences in Israel.

Jonathan and I wanted to wish you a Happy Passover from Tel Aviv so we created this video of some of our favorite places in Tel Aviv.

Love,
Esther

My Israel Wine Tours Launched!

2010-01-27T11:02:00.000+02:00

Hello friends and family,

I am very happy to announce that My Israel Wine Tours is officially launched! The website is created, the accounting is done and clients are already being booked! www.MyIsraelWineTours.com

Please share this one-page blurb with your friends and family so they can take pleasure in a Wine Tour of Israel.

My Israel Wine Tours

www.MyIsraelWineTours.com

Esther Cohen, 052-738-6923

MyIsraelWineTours@gmail.com

Join My Israel Wine Tours for a unique journey through Israel.

My Israel Wine Tours provides high-quality, individualized wine tours for those who crave a delightful and different Israel travel experience. Israeli wines are becoming a worldwide and world-class phenomenon. Through wine and its culture you can discover the past, present and future of Israel! Tours are customized for you, according to your choices, which include:

· Which region do you want to visit? (Golan Heights, Lower or Upper Galilee, Mount Carmel, Shomron and Central Coast, Judaea Plain and Hills, and the Negev).

· What are your wine preferences? (kosher, non-kosher, boutique)

· What are your travel needs? (personal, corporate, price, length)

Based on your criteria, the experts at My Israel Wine Tours build an itinerary designed expressly for you! Your tour may be a one-day jaunt or a longer trek that lasts several days. We provide you with a tour director, transportation, entrance fees and other logistics. The price depends upon the length and the number of participants. You will know all fees upfront, with no hidden costs.

Each bottle of wine tells an intimate story. Join My Israel Wine Tours to see, hear and taste the flavors of Israel in a timely and timeless way!

Other Israel/Aliyah blogs that I recommend

2010-01-17T09:38:00.002+02:00

Hello Friends and family,

One thing I have not shared with you is all the other Israel/ Aliyah blogs that are similar to mine, but with a little twist. It is always good to get another perspective about what is it like to live in Israel as a new immigrant from the US.

Three of my favorite blogs are:

What War Zone by Benji Lovitt. Benji is a comedian that made Aliyah from Texas four years ago and he takes the littlest things in Israeli society and turns them into a hysterical satire. http://www.whatwarzone.com/

Israel by Day, American by Night by Danny Brothers. Danny is in the IDF and he made Aliyah 2 years ago from Virgina. His blog is about his experience as a new immigrant in the IDF.
http://www.israelibyday.com/

Moving to Israel by Ari Strauch. This blog gives information on which organizations and companies to reach for all your aliyah questions. It is very informative and also witty.
http://israel.shippingconsolidators.com/movingtoisrael/

Enjoy them!

Lots of love,
Esther

My Israel Wine Tours Update

2010-01-11T14:56:00.001+02:00

Hello friends and family,

It has been a few months since my last update and I am glad to report that life in Israel is still enjoyable, energizing, and fulfilling. It was wonderful to see the people that I was able to visit during Thanksgiving and in early December, and I hope to see some of you in Israel soon, maybe for Passover and during the summer.

I’ve been up to a lot in these past few months. I worked my way up the “ladder” at Tishbi to co-managing the Visitors Center and conducing English tours two to three times a day (I paced myself with the drinking!). However, when I returned from the States I decided I needed to develop myself professionally in Israel more than I could gain at Tishbi and I started my own Wine Tour Company called, My Israel Wine Tours www.myisraelwinetours.com.

The company is geared towards English speakers that want to enjoy a day or two days touring wineries in Israel. I customize the tour for them depending on their desires and hire them a tour guide, transportation and do all the logistics beforehand so they can enjoy their time and not worry about directions or any logistics. The website is not 100% completed and the business will be up and running by February 15^th.

I also have another part-time job at a relocation company called Dolphin Express www.dolphinexpress.com, which relocates people from Israel to USA and visa versa. They are very nice to work with and I mostly do their English marketing and sales. If you know anyone that wants to relocate to Israel have them contact me.

Last but not least, I met a wonderful, kind and loving mench, named Jonathan. He is 28, from CA and made Aliyah 6 months ago. He is in the film industry and lives in Tel Aviv. Life is going really well!

Even though there is facebook, I always love to receive a nice personal email letting me know how you are doing and what is going on with your life.

You can also find me on Skype at EstherMolly.

I attached 2 pictures, one of the Temple Mount, since I just recently experienced this for the first time a couple of months ago, and the other picture of Jonathan and I in Tsfat as the sun was going down behind Mount Moron.

Happy 2010!

All my love,

Esther

Rosh HaShanna Update

2009-09-20T12:16:00.003+03:00

Hello friends and family,

Shanna Tova (aka Happy New Year in the Jewish calendar)

It seems as if the summer just came to a close yesterday as I was sitting on the porch with good friends eating a delicious Rosh HaShanna meal when all of a sudden a dark cloud passed over and rain began to pour down in Israel. It was a Rosh HaShanna miracle for us because we have not seen rain in 5 months and we need all the rain we can get to fill up the drying out Kinneret (one of Israel’s main water sources).

As some of you have seen from facebook, life at the Tishbi Winery is going very well for me. I was promoted to co-managing the Visitors Center and Restaurant, my Hebrew has improved immensely, although I still find myself nodding, smiling and saying “ken, ken, b-seder!” (yes, yes, okay) when I do not understand what an Israeli has said to me which makes me think I’ve agreed to do some illegal things. My biggest improvements in Hebrew are understanding the Pilates instructor, going to the government offices and explaining to them what I need and getting it done efficiantly in Hebrew and the hardest thing of all in my opinion is understanding Hebew over the phone, which I am beginning to feel comfortable with doing.

As of right now, I do not know where this job is going to lead to but the Israeli wine industry is developing rapidly and I want to stay in this business for a while. I still get a feeling of excitement when I tour people around the winery and educate them about the history, progress, and advancements in Israeli wine. It makes me feel like I am a part of a long tradition of Jews cultivating the lands and developing new ideas for the Jewish people and Land of Israel.

I’ve realized my ideas of religion have shifted and I am becoming “more Israeli” in how I feel about the organized Jewish religion. Last year I was living in Jerusalem so I went to the Kotel for the High Holidays, which was an extraordinary experience. However, this year I did not go to synagogue because I feel that I do not need to sit in services and sing songs to feel connected to God or be thankful for a New Year. I believe my daily life in Israel is all about leading a Jewish lifestyle and I do not have to think to be Jewish, I just am in my daily life. Also, this past week, every morning over-looking the Carmel Mountains I heard the Shofar being blown from the religious men who work at the winery, which was an indescribable feeling for me.

On that note, I wish you all a Healthy and Happy New Year!

The pictures attached on this email are of Carignon grapes being processed at the winery and the one with friends is a Shabbat in Abu Gosh last weekend.

I will be in Boston visiting November 20^th to December 4^th so I look forward to meeting up with most of you.

Lots of love,

Esther

One Year Aliyah

2009-06-29T21:59:00.002+03:00

On Wednesday June 24^th I celebrated my One Year Aliyah Anniversary. It was a normal day at the winery touring around some tourists and serving delicious food to some locals. After work I went out for a couple of l’chaims at a local bar with work friends. Life in Zichron Yakov is simple and magical.

During the day of my one-year anniversary I thought about how incredible my journey has been thus far and all the interesting people I’ve met and opportunities I’ve experienced. I did not know what was in store for me when I landed at BG Airport last year but I knew that Israel was my home. The feeling has not dissipated, in actuality it has only grown and I feel more connected to Eretz Israel and Israelis more than ever.

When I made Aliyah I knew I was going to Ulpan for 5 months, which made me think I would be fluent in Hebrew, then I thought I would get a job in the Diaspora Relations field but after a year of lessons learned I am in a completely different place than I ever expected to be in my life. Even though I do not work in Diaspora Relations and my Hebrew is not even close to perfect I feel when I give tours I am inspiring people about interesting aspects of Israel, and educating them about the long history of the immigrant Jews from the First Aliyah in 1882 to the modern day process of wine making.

After this first year I know that this is only the beginning and there are wonderful treats ahead for my life in Israel. I have created a “chevrai” (tight group of friends) in Israel that have become my family and we really look after each other like we are “achi” and “achote” (brothers and sisters). I’ve also accumulated a few adopted parents which inspire me that my Aliyah experience will be a success and even though there are some majorly frustrating aspects of Israel, it is worth it and there is no other place I would rather want to live.

I attached 2 pictures, one of the me at the Tishbi winery near the Wine Vats and the other picture is of me and my mom at Ramat HaNadiv (Rothchild’s park) which is 5 minutes from my house.

Shalom!

Esther

Life Up in Zichron

2009-05-05T20:26:00.003+03:00

Hey all my friends and family,

So life here in Zichron Yakov is pretty much perfect for me. I am very happy living here and working at the Tishbi Winery. My Hebrew is improving everyday and my confidence to use Hebrew is growing, which was one of my goals of moving up to Zichron Yakov. The other goal of working at a winery was to learn the process of making wine, which yesterday I demonstrated by giving my first tour in English to two American guys. Valerie, a Scottish woman that made Aliyah 25 years ago, has taken me under her wing and taught me almost everything she knows about wine, so with her guidance I am learning a lot about wine making and the industry. Today, I also received my first Israeli paycheck which is a milestone in my Aliyah process.

Now that I've started to give tours I expect all my friends in Israel and who visit from America to book a tour with me at the Tishbi winery in Binyamina - we finish with a great wine tasting :) It is only 15 NIS per a person so get a car load of people together to come and visit me! We are open Sunday-Thursday 8:30am-3:30pm, no tours on Friday but the restaurant is open. It is kosher chalavi and serves breakfast all day.

On a serious note, I experienced my first Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom HaZicharon (Remembrance Day for the fallen soldiers) and Yom Haazmaut (Independence Day for Israel) in Israel. For Yom Ha Shoah and HaZicharon there are sirens that blast all around Israel for exactly one minute and at this time everyone has to stand still in their place, no matter what they are doing.

For Yom HaShoah I was at the grocery store at the check out line, and for Yom HaZicharon I was walking through the Tishbi restaurant. It is a strange feeling to suddenly stop, look down, and automatically think about all those Jews that have died throughout time because of all the external forces that have wanted us exterminated on so many occasions.

After Yom HaZicharon, within minutes, the country goes from one extreme of sadness to another extreme of happiness because of our Independence as a Jewish state. I celebrated my first Yom Haazmaut with my friends dancing in the streets of Jerusalem and eating all those yummy Israeli treats.

I am immensely enjoying life in Israel and during the patriotic holidays I felt proud and overjoyed to be a citizen of Israel and contribute to the Jewish State. After 10 months of living in Israel I wake up everyday, walk along historical parts of Zichron Yakov, take a bus to work overlooking the scenery of the Carmel region and go for a run in the afternoon where my view is the Mediterranean Sea on my left and the beginning of the Carmel mountains on my right.

I hope all is well with everyone and see you soon at the Tishbi winery :)

All my love,

Esther

Mindy, Michal, Debbie and me in Jerusalem on Yom Haazmaut

First day of real work at Tishbi Winery

2009-04-22T21:05:00.001+03:00

Ok so a little run down of my first day working at the Tishbi winery. The kitchen workers are Arab and one guy from South America that continuously flirt with me but they do not speak any English so I am forced to speak Hebrew although a smile with them goes a long way :)

The other waiters are all 20-22 year old Israeli boys, very cute, who already did part of their army service or ended their army service and are saving up money to travel to South America. One of the boys, Yaron, I staffed his Dor L Dor trip Summer 2005 - very small world!

The woman I am shadowing to learn how to give english tours is amazing, she is sooo sweet and is taking me under her wing and teaching me everything. She also gave me a ride home from work and invited me for Shabbat dinner.

So, during lunch we toured around an American couple and sat with them afterwards to do some wine sampling. After about 5 samples I felt myself get a little tipsy so I stopped and ate some bread and drank some water- I have to be a bit responsible!

The funniest thing that happened to me is there is a big vat of Petite-Syrah wine in the front of the store. Anyone can come and fill up empty wine bottles with 17 NIS wine - an alcohols dream. Anyways, I thought I knew how to work the system but I turned it in the opposite direction and wine went spritzing everywhere! My clothes, hair, the walls, counter! It was a big crazy but very funny and supposedly every new person does it and it is like an initiation.

Ok love for you all.,.,off to walk the strip before it gets dark
Esther

2009-04-21T19:57:00.002+03:00

Hey all,

My apartment in Zichron Yakov is located right beside a beautiful park with a innovative playground and along side the "Midrachov" which is a street that is closed off for pedestrians and has a variety of cafe's, restaurants, shops, and boutiques. The actual apartment is a converted basement of a retired British couple who are extremely nice. There are five houses in this complex and they all share a pool, which I can access through the British couple's home also the beach is 15 minutes away.

Yesterday I had my first taste of what it is going to be like to work at Tishbi. I was standing next to the cash register talking to the manager, Valerie (a Scottish woman who made aliyah 25 years ago and worked at Yarden for 15 years) and the son of Jonathan Tishbi, who studied wine making in New Zealand, came up to shown us a brand new bottle of wine he was testing in the laboratory. We both had a taste and commented on its texture and flavor. It was pretty amazing.

I have a lot of studying to do between my Hebrew and wine knowledge but in a short time I should feel comfortable enough to speak Hebrew and shmooze with the best of the wino's.

Here are a couple of pictures of the apartment and my walk around the outskirts of Zichron Yakov.

Come and Visit!

Esther

Chag (Passover) in Israel

2009-04-20T21:00:00.002+03:00

Shalom all,

It seems that the Jewish and Christian holiday’s fell on the same time this year between Christmas/Hanukah and Easter/ Passover so recently it was very busy time in Israel. You can see from the pictures the Church of the Holy Seplecre during Easter and a picture overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem during the Birkat Hachamah (the time every 28 years when the sun is in the estimated position from when creation began) the uniqueness of Jerusalem for different religions.

During the Birkat Hachamah, I could hear the echo of Jews praying from different areas around Jerusalem but what was amazing was hearing the Jews who were at the Kotel praying and singing all together because the reverberations off the walls of the Old City magnified the volume. It was one of those moments in life that I will remember forever and know that it was a special sunrise.

For Passover I went to my adopted Jerusalem family for a 6 hour seder where we read each and every page, front to back. Thank g-d there is only one night of seder in Israel. What I loved most about Passover in Israel is that you do not feel like you are suffering at all from dry matza rolls or horrible tasting food. Most of the restaurants were open and they served yummy potato bread and the menu was basically the same as during the year.

From my last email I told everyone I got a job in Zichron Yakov working at the Tishbi winery. I moved up here yesterday, got a one-bedroom apt that is very quaint, in the center of town and has a communal pool. I will send pictures and tell you all about my work experience next week. Today I went to the winery, picked up the menu and tour guide information so when you come to the Tishbi winery I will be able to give you a 30 minute tour and do some wine tasting

I can not end this email without recognizing that tonight until tomorrow night is Yom HaShoah. It will be my first time to hear the siren that will sound tomorrow morning at 10am in remembrance of the 6 million Jews that were murdered in the Holocaust.

I hope all is well with everyone.

All my love,

Esther

Moving On Up...in Israel

2009-04-01T20:39:00.002+03:00

Hello friends and family,

It has been a whirl-win of a month. It was very nice to see friends and family in Boston and visit my old-home but once returning to Israel, I knew I arrived to my new home, where I feel I belong as a Jew. Visiting Boston made me realize that there is no place I would rather be than living in Israel. I also realized I've picked up a few Israeli "bad habits" and do not understand the meaning of an organized line anymore, personal space or how loud my voice raises when I speak Hebrew.

I can not write this email without addressing the celebration of Purim in Israel and the passing away of the elderly man I took care of, Dave Medved. Dave passed away on Purim morning, which I found out is actually a huge mitzvah and we had a few shots of whisky in his honor. Although I was sad and miss him occasionally he lived a full life and died peacefully.

One of the best aspects of living in Israel is the celebration of Jewish holidays and Purim was an exceptional holiday to experience. All the kids were dressed up, humantashins were in abundance and the partying was plenty. I would not say it was better than Halloween because growing up near Salem, MA and having Halloween as my birthday makes that holiday a fabulous occasion as well.

For the past couple of weeks I've traveled around Israel with Cassie (see picture). We relaxed in Elat, partied a bit in Tel Aviv, went shopping and sightseeing in Jerusalem and relaxed in a beautiful bed & breakfast in the Galil (Cassie's aunt owns it if anyone wants the information). Now back to real life...

Although...real life consist of...working on the Tishbi Winery in Zichron Yakov. Today I got a job working on the Tishbi winery as a tour guide and waitress. My goal for working on the winery and living in Zichron Yakov is to improve my Hebrew by being immersed in Israeli society and to learn the process of wine making. I plan on renting an apartment with Israeli young adults or living with an Israeli family.

I hope all is well with everyone and I look forward to people visiting me on the winery :)

Chag Samach (Happy Passover)

Esther

Elections and other stuff...

2009-02-14T22:41:00.004+02:00

שלום כולם Hello everyone,

It has been a very productive and busy month in Israel (for me and the State of Israel), between the War in Gaza, Elections, Hebrew lessons, work and volunteering I barely had time to sit on the beach and read a book (which I did last Saturday). I have to admit I love wearing flip-flops in the middle of February and the sun is shining most of the days, however I am very appreciative of the little bit of rain that poured down in Jerusalem this very dry Winter (even when I get caught in it!). This is the driest Winter Israel has experienced in a very long time and it is scary because our water sources are getting lower and lower every year.

So even though I am enjoying my jobs and making a lot of friends in Jerusalem, I've decided that I need to step out of my comfort zone and be immersed in the Hebrew language and Israeli society more than I am now. Actually, I sometimes feel like I live in the Upper West Side or in Coolidge Corner. My plan is to move up to a Kibbutz in the Golan or Galil and work on a winery by the Summer. I've always wanted to learn the process of wine making and living in an area where English is rarely spoken is the only way I will become fluent in Hebrew. I am not ready to move to Tel Aviv but by improving my Hebrew I will eventually be able to get a job that suits my career ambitions which will most likely be in the Tel Aviv area. As for now, I am loving working and volunteering at PresenTense. This past Shabbat I chaired a very successful dinner at PresenTense with 70 people, which imitated a camp style feeling.

Ok- now my election experience...Most of you have read about the Elections in Israel so I will not recap the "still being decided" outcome. The one thing Israelis actually have an organized system for is the elections, probably because they do it so much. I get a card in the mail that states the location of where I vote, the hallway and even the exact booth number. However, I felt like I was voting for my Class President because I had to put a piece of paper with the party that I decided on into an envelop and the sealed envelop into a cardboard box. Even though Israelis are technology savvy they have not figured out how to make the election system modern. Also, Israelis do not understand the concept "mind your own business" (actually, I was told there are no words in Hebrew that translate this phrase) and even when I was in line to vote, the guy next to me asked me "who are you voting for?". I actually did not care that he asked and told him proudly "MIMAD" which is the Environmental party. He rolled his eyes at me and told me I was "throwing away my vote" which ended up being true because MIMAD did not get voted into the Knesset as a party (they were .3% shy of having only 1 seat). I was very excited and proud to be able to vote in these elections even if I did not vote for a big party. If you need explanation we can discuss in person or google "Knesset".

So as I was relaxing on this beautiful, sunny Shabbat day, I looked at my calender and saw that today was in fact Valentine's Day - I completely forgot about this holiday! What I love about living in Israel is that I did not see red boxes of chocolates everywhere, roses were no more expensive (I bought some for Shabbat), advertisements on TV are not geared to buying your "loved one" a present, and there was no pressure to be "on a date" today. To all my Friends and Family...Happy Valentine's Day and I hope you enjoy time spent with loved ones.

I am looking forward to visiting everyone when I come to Boston February 24- March 7. I will be in Boston most of the time but will travel to NY for a bit. I will have an American phone number so I will let people know once I get the SIM card. Have a good week and see you soon!

All my Love,

Esther

Getting Worse before it Gets Better

2008-12-31T15:14:00.000+02:00

Hello friends and family,

I have received a few emails/ phone calls about the situation between Israel and Gaza and how I am doing and I just want to reassure all of you that I am safe in Jerusalem. I am not traveling anywhere for New Years just hanging around Jerusalem with some friends.

It is with hesitation that I write this email about the matzav (situation) because a part of me hopes that it is over in a couple of days; although the reality is it will most likely get worse before it gets better. I can go on and on about the political issues, but most of you know that Iran is funding Hamas and Hamas's sole agenda is to destroy Israel, so the big picture is the reality of fighting Iran but the immediate threat is that throughout these 6 months Hamas has rearmed with longer ranging missiles, weapons and training. Now it is finally time to deal with Hamas on the ground.

Throughout these 6 months of living in Israel I've met some great guys that are now in the army, some were called up to go into Gaza and some were trained in Gaza. It is a very unsettling feeling of actually knowing good friends here that are in Gaza compared to living in Boston knowing that "some random guys" are fighting on behalf of the Jewish State.

One of the stories I can tell you that happened a couple of days ago is this: I called my friend Dave at 10:30 Monday night and in a panicky voice he said he would call me back in 10 minutes. Ten minutes later Dave called me back and he was in shock. He was just on the phone with his mate that is a journalist who was driving near Ashquelon and all of a sudden Dave's mate heard a siren that a rocket was launched from Gaza and in position to hit Ashquelon. In Ashquelon they have 1 full minute before impact so he had 1 minute to find a shelter. Dave's mate stopped the car, put the cell phone on the seat but did not turn it off, and ran to the nearest shelter. One minute later, Dave was still on the phone listening through the phone and heard the rocket's thud. Dave then hung up the phone. Dave's mate called him back once he got back into the car and said that he was safe but could not find a shelter so he had to lie on the ground with his hands over his head until he heard the rockets impact.

My daily life is not directly affected by the situation like the people living in Beer Sheba, Sderot, Ashquelon, Ashdod and other Southern cities, but who knows? I can only hope that this mission will be swift and that the IDF learned a lot from their mistakes in the Second Lebanon War.

I am still on all these list serves from Jewish American organizations and I want to thank you for your media support, organizing rallies, and general support of Israel. I hope the next time I write it is with good news. Go to my friend Benji's blog for his comedic insight, he is brilliant. http://www.whatwarzone.com/2008/12/here-we-go-again.html

Happy New Year…all my love

Esther

Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

2008-12-25T13:11:00.003+02:00

Shalom

There is something about the holidays in Israel which reminds me how special it is to be living as a Jew in the Jewish state during this time in history. I feel very lucky to safely walk the streets of Jerusalem celebrating Hanukah with my friends, however it was not always like this and it will probably not continue forever but at this point of time in Israel I am very grateful for my freedom and lifestyle.

Some of the things I love about Hanukah in Israel are:

Menorah’s lit up on lamp posts and on taxi cabs (see pic)
Chocolate covered parve, yummy, sufganiot (aka Donuts)
Walking down the street and seeing Hanukah candles burning in the windows of people’s homes
Saying Chag Samach to everyone and not having to explain to anyone that yes, in fact, I am Jewish and do not celebrate Christmas

My favorite Hanukah story in Israel is that one of my friends, Paul, was at the gym the first night of Hanukah at 5:30ish. Over the loud speaker the receptionist announced that lighting the Menorah will be at the front desk in a couple of minutes. All of a sudden the treadmills, elliptical machines, macho men lifting weights, dance class STOPPED! Everyone came to the front desk to light the first candles and sing Hanukah songs. Only in Israel!

My next religious experience was Midnight mass church bouncing in the Old City. These were some of my observations:

1. You can tell who is Jewish at mass by who is swaying back and forth to the pretty Christmas songs
2. The Jerusalemite Syndrome Jesuses were walking around like it was their Birthday
3. The priest of the Scottish church said Christmas is all about a crack-whore, I think he was talking about Mary but he could have been talking about a ritz cracker
4. The priest also said if Jesus was an entitled middle-upper class Jew than he would not be their savior. This could be taken as anti-Semitic or maybe this priest had a bad day with Israeli customer service.

To all my Jewish friends, I hope you enjoyed the Matzo Ball dance, saw a good movie and ate yummy Chinese food. To all my non-Jewish friends, Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoyed it with your loved ones.

Today is my 6 month Aliyah-versary and I will be celebrating with friends at a few parties tonight.

All my love,

Esther

Integrating into Israeli society

2008-12-15T11:10:00.001+02:00

Hello friends and family,

It has been about a month since I've updated you about life in Israel, which is going very well. It is getting a bit chilly here but I still go out for my morning runs which proves to be the most dangerous thing here because of the wet, slippery leaves on the limestone, hilly sidewalks.

I ended Ulpan Etzion early in November because life was getting busy and I started working a few jobs but I found a part-time intensive Ulpan which I will start in early January. In the meantime, I babysit the cutest baby, care for a very nice elderly man, am the Marketing Director for Sacred Burial Products which capitalizes on Christian ideology by selling soil from Israel to Christians for burial (everyone has their flugelbinder) so hopefully this is mine, and I am selling ads for PresenTense Magazine. I am also on the Steering Committee for PresenTense Summer Institute and will be developing a business/ leadership curriculum for the summer fellows. (my Masters is actually coming in handy!)

It is hard to express in words the transition that I am going through living in Israel but what I've realized is that this experience is a step to the process. It is not the end all be all, but something that will make me a better Jewish leader and Zionist. The World is too transient now to be in one place forever.

I've thought a lot about the transition steps for an Anglo who immigrates to Israel and these are some of my observations and insights. This past summer I was in vacation/program mode in which I made my group of friends, explored Israel, and finally enjoyed some free time in my life. Then the Chagim (holidays) month was a fun-food-filled festival in which I experienced some eye-opening events. After the Chagim reality set in and money starting running low so it was time for me to stop having so much fun and start applying for the jobs I was researching in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility, but reality hit me even harder when people told me my Hebrew was not up to par. This brings me to the real integration into Israeli society- working 4 jobs!

I love living here but there are times I feel like my world in Boston just lifted itself up and changed locations to Jerusalem. Through talking with people they say the integration into Israeli society takes a good three years, from learning Hebrew, to settling into a community, getting a "real" job and breaking away from my Anglo world. Who knows? I have friends here for all different reasons, some just to get a free Masters, or an Israeli passport which is more useful than their South African passport, and some to find a husband. I am still finding my reason but in the meantime gaining insight into the process. I also think to really understand what it means to live in Israel and be an Israeli I have to live in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and maybe up North (working on a winery).

Sorry this is such a long email but I've been doing a lot of thinking about the integration into Israeli society and how/where I would benefit the Jewish world at large.
I am very excited to see some of you this December/January when you are leading Birthrights, which if you need to me to speak to the group about any topic, I am available. For the rest of you, I will see you when I visit Boston/Philly/NY in late February.

Chag Samach and all my love,
Esther
www.esthersaliyah.blogspot.com
Me and baby Livnat...soooooo cute!

My street!!!

Nir Barkat and the GA

2008-11-19T09:56:00.003+02:00

Shalom from the homeland!

Sorry it has been a while since I've updated everyone about the happening with my life in Israel but life is very busy and interesting. I am still going to Ulpan (Hebrew lessons) but only about 3 days a week, I am working part-time babysitting and in elderly care, and enjoying my new friends.

The interesting part of my life is that I was campaigning for Nir Barkat, the newly elected mayor of Jerusalem and he WON!! I am sure most of you have heard about him if not you can go here: http://www.barkat.org.il/English.aspx. The day of the election I stood on the corner of a major intersection waving at people and yelling VOTE Nir Barkat (in Hebrew) - see picture! Also, the night of the American election we stayed up very very late to watch the results on tv and it was extremely exciting that Obama won.

These past few days the GA (General Assembly) of North American Federations was happening in Jerusalem so I attended most of the conference. The speakers included Prime Minister Olmert, President Shimon Peres, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and many other Jewish leaders. The main point of the conference for me was to network and see some friends from Boston/NY/DC which was very nice. I would fill you in on the details but my friend Benji Lovitt (who went with me) wrote such a hysterically true piece on the conference that I am going to direct you to his blog. http://www.whatwarzone.com/2008/11/its-ujcs-ga-2008no-its-matza-balloh.html

I hope all is well with everyone in the States and you are "staying above water" during this challenging economic time.

All my love,
Esther
Taryn and me volunteering on election day

Sukkot in Jerusalem

2008-10-16T18:46:00.005+02:00

Shalom,

Sukkot in Israel and specifically in Jerusalem is an amazing experience. For 7 days there are festivals, parties and ceremonies going on in the city which gives it a spirit like no other city in the world. Before Sukkot came in I went with my friends to the shuk which was unbelievably packed with people buying lulavs, etrogs, and decorating stuff for their sukkah. Most restaurants have a sukkah attached to their outdoor section and even the falafal stands have a sukkah.

Yesterday there was the Feast of the Tabernacles which is a parade of 8000 people from all different countries showing their support for Israel. This morning I went to the Berkat Ha Kohanim at the Kotel. Thousands of people packed the foyer and praying section of the Kotel to hear hundreds Kohamin bless the people of Israel. It brought back childhood memories of my father, uncles and Zayde doing the Kohamin prayer infront of the congregation but it also felt as if I was at the Temple 2000 years ago for the journey of Sukkot.

I can not attach the video clip becasue it is too big but look at it on my blog.

Chag Samach
Esther

PS...pass this onto whomever and I will post it on my blog at www.esthersaliyah.blogspot.com

see more at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017555159&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Yom Kippur in Jerusalem

2008-10-10T11:04:00.002+02:00

Every Jew should experience at least one Yom Kippur at the Kotel in Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem the feeling of Yom Kippur started at 10am Wednesday morning, the grocery stores were packed and people were rushing to finish last minute details before the city shut down. At 2pm every store was closed, and hardly any cars were on the street. At 3pm there was a hurry in my apartment building; we were cooking, cleaning, showering, and feeling the need to conclude our chores in an hour.

As the air gets cooler, the sun goes down we sit and enjoy our last meal for 24 hours with friends and family. As we sip our last dribble of water, eat our last crumble of cake, the Siren calling in Yom Kippur blasts all around Jerusalem for a whole minute.

I walked to the holiest site for the Jewish people, the Kotel, with thousands of other Jews just as they did two thousand years ago and along the way hearing different congregations start their Kol Nidre service. When I walked down the stairs that overlook the Golden Dome and Kotel I heard what sounded like a tenor cantorial chant of "KOL NIDRE" but it wasn't, it was the Muslim call to prayer. At that moment I was reminded how similar my religion is to the religion of my close neighbors and cousins.

At the Kotel no matter the differences in culture, Mizrahi or Ashkanazi, conservative or orthodox we prayed together to G-d to atone our sins in harmonic melodies. I sat there hearing the songs from my childhood, seeing people cry, smile, and in awe, and smelling the crisp Jerusalem air. After having an internal conversation with G-d I left the Kotel feeling in awe and overwhelmed about how special it is to live in Jerusalem.

There are so many aspects that are not discussed about Israel that are deep routed in their traditions. One of these special traditions is "taking to the streets" after Kol Nidre service. In the middle of the street there were thousands of kids on bikes, young adults mingling, and people strolling with their dogs. Not one car came through and not one person yelled at each other to move.

As I broke the fast with friends on my porch, I am reminded how lucky I am to be living in Jerusalem at this moment in time. I am happy for everything that brought me here along my journey.

L'Shana Tova Tikatavu (May you be inscribed in the book of life)

Jackie, my neighbor, and I at our break-fast shindig

Jerusalem's First Rain

2008-09-28T15:38:00.000+03:00

"The first rain reminds me of the rising summer dust" -Yahuda Amichai

Today was the first rain of the season in Jerusalem and it was a spectacular sight, feeling and sound. Rain is prayed for all year long so to experience it is emotional. In Boston we take for granted the amount of rain we get but when you do not see rain for months at a time, you appreciate its coming and purpose for the cycle of nature.

Shabbat shalom
Esther

שנה טובה Happy and Healthy New Year

2008-09-26T08:54:00.003+03:00

Shalom friends and family,

I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year! To be in Israel during the Chagim (holidays) is an amazing experience. It is like Christmas in Israel for Jews! The stores are packed, people are happy, and it is vacation time (again). For Rosh Hashanna I am going to my cousins in Netanya and for Yom Kippur and Sukkot I will be in Jerusalem, which I am looking forward to immensely. I have 3 weeks off of Ulpan but during this time I will be studying with friends for at least a couple of hours a day.

These past few weeks have coasted by but I have three "first" Israeli experiences that are news worthy.

1. Last Wednesday my throat hurt so went to the doctor. I stepped into 1970 doctors office where I was greeted by two secretaries on their cell phones and a room full of very diverse people (but this is what Israel is all about). Everything is okay - just some Strep throat. The best part about the experience is that I did not pay for any of their services- got to love a social system.

2. Last Saturday night I went Israeli Folk Dancing with my boyfriend and his adopted Israeli mother. The scene was 300 Israelis dancing in sync in a gym. I was able to learn a couple of dances but I stayed in the back of the room and followed the 75 year old guy in front of me - at least I used my Hebrew!

3. My friends and I crashed our first Religious wedding (see picture). The wedding had 900 guests, an open bar and dessert buffet - it was amazing. The bride was maybe 20 years old and a lot of the boys came straight from their army duty so they carried their M16 guns on them while doing the Horrah.

I will send a prayer for all of you during this time but if you have any specific wishes that you want me to bring to the Kotel please share them with me and I will bring them to the place where our ancestors traveled long journeys and prayed to for thousands of years. I can't wait to hear the Shofar at the Kotel during Nila services and eat in many Sukkot.

Shana Tova
Esther
Random scenery picture from Hike in Galillee

Work in Israel?!?!?!

2008-09-04T17:48:00.004+03:00

Shalom Chavarim (friends),

I hope all is well in the states with everyone. I heard the North East
is getting a storm this weekend and the South got hit pretty badly
with a couple of Hurricanes - I hope you are all surviving. Here in
Jerusalem it is hot and sunny everyday...which I love and I have no
complaints about. In the mornings there is a cool fresh breeze and in
the evenings the weather is a perfect 65 and breezy. I officially have
a Sabra (Israeli) tan and Israelis come up to me speaking Hebrew which
helps me practice my "English accent" Hebrew.

So the title of this email is Work in Israel? As of right now I am not
working but I have a few plans in action so when I need to find a job
after Ulpan is complete in December I already have contacts lined up.
I am also getting involved with volunteer work in specific fields that
I care about in Jerusalem such as being on the Steering Committee for
Presentense (http://www.presentense.org/) and getting involved with
Nir Barkat's Campaign for Mayor
(http://www.barkat.org.il/English.aspx) . Also, if any of you are
going in November to the GA 2008 (General Assembly) in Jerusalem I
will be volunteering and will see you there.

As for work, I want to get involved in Israeli Corporate
Philanthropy/Responsibility. Israeli non-profits are cutting staff
and programing because they do not receive as much funding from the
American Jewish donation anymore and they can not depend on the
Israeli government because the government is spending most of their
tax dollars on security. It is up to the private sector to sustain
Israeli NGO which contribute to Israeli society through social
welfare. I am researching the tax exemption laws, meeting with
organizations and corporations to understand the culture of Israeli
Corporate Philanthropy which is keeping me very busy and I am learning
a lot about the system.

Jerusalem is an amazing and intense place to live and through my
volunteer work I hope to make Jerusalem a more affordable and
welcoming place for young adults to consider their home.

Here is a picture of my favorite Israeli cold snack food..they are Parve ice-cream bon bons

Lots of love and enjoy your weekend

Esther

End of Summer

2008-08-24T20:23:00.003+03:00

Shalom all!

It is not the end of the summer yet but as visitors start leaving
Israel to go back to the States I am aware of how much time I've
enjoyed "being on vacation" with my friends in Israel. From going to
Eilat/Petra, beaches in Tel Aviv, pools at hotels, great restaurants,
wineries, Haifa, Golan and the Kinneret I've taken every opportunity
to spend quality time with friends in Israel.

However the homework is piling on and I can no longer miss Ulpan
(Hebrew lessons) because a friend is in town or I want to go on a
hike. I feel more confident everyday speaking Hebrew with Israelis
and doing daily errands but I have a long way to go before I am a
fluent in Hebrew. I found "my place" to hang out where the waiters
and waitresses know me and seat me right away and I have a great group
of friends in class and in the Merkaz (place I live).

This past Shabbat my friend Shoshana celebrated her one year
anniversary of making Aliyah. We were discussing how much she
accomplished in one year and what goals she will set for the next
year. We determined she was successful because she accomplished 3
goals - 1. speaking Hebrew fluently 2. working at a great job which
makes her happy and is on her way to her career 3. having a wonderful
Israeli boyfriend. I am on my way...I'm studying Hebrew, have a couple
of work opportunities but am waiting until I complete Ulpan, and am
going on dates but there is no one of substance yet.

Enjoy the end of your summer!
lots of love
Esther
Bethany and me when Bethany flew in on the NBN August 19th flight
My Ulpan class with Mora Linda

JCRC Non-Jewish Seminar

2008-08-16T19:57:00.002+03:00

Hello Friends and family,

These past 10 days I staffed a JCRC mission to Israel with MA Reps, Senator, and AFL-CIO participants. It was the first time I saw Israel through a Christian-Political lens. We toured the Via Delarosa, Capernaum, Bethlehem (which I am not allowed to go to because I hold an Israeli citizenship) and some of them got baptized in the Jordon River.

They also toured Masada/ Dead Sea, Yad Vashem, Jewish Quarter, Sderot, Haifa, Golan Heights and spent a day lying in the sun on a Tel-Aviv beach.

As you can see it was a whirl-win of a trip! Three highlights for me were touring the Golan Heights because it depicted the importance of Israel’s security and beauty. The Golan is one of my top 3 places where I would want to live because of its serene nature and vastness.

The second highlight was our tour of the Gaza outlook and Sderot (go to http://www.sderotmedia.com/ for more info). I envisioned what Gaza looked like but when viewing the dark, grey, polluted, and chilling area I understood the true reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On one side you have beautiful trees, agriculture and flourishing communities and on the other side it is dreadfully oppressing.

After viewing the outlook we ate lunch in Sderot and visited a community center. As the participants were taking a bathroom break and milling around the foyer we heard a TZEVAH ADOM (red alert) which means a Kassam rocket is being launched from Gaza and is going to land in Sderot in 15 seconds. Everyone ran into the auditorium which is also a shelter. Finally after advocating for Sderot for the past 8 months I comprehend only a small part of life in Sderot. Even though it is not the best situation to experience a TZEVAH ADOM this did impact the participants understanding of the situation with Hamas, Iran and innocent Israeli civilians. I attached the picture of Representative Golden playing soccer with a couple of boys afterwards because this states that life goes on and the community’s moral is somehow being upheld.

The third highlight was going to an Israeli incubator in Haifa that is working on a technology which treats all types of cancer without any invasive surgery. After a week of political and religious discussions it was very important for the participants, who could impact this technology in the States, to see Israel’s creative innovations and one of our best resources.

After this amazing week I had a very restful Shabbat which included a 4 ½ hour game of Monopoly in which I came in second out of four. Now that my travels are slowing down for the summer I have time to focus on Ulpan so I can become fluent in Hebrew.

All my love,

Esther

Gaza Strip Outlook

Rep.Golden playing soccer with Sderot children

Dead Sea experience

Shivli Israel August 3rd

2008-08-06T07:22:00.005+03:00

Allo! Sababa Aguzim!

It has been an interesting and adventurous week. My friend, Shmu (24,
modern orthodox, made aliyah with his family 13 years ago) planned to
do Shivli Israel (a trip from the Northern most point of Israel to the
Southern tip of Israel in 7 week). I told him I would do the first 3
days with him to start off his adventure. We bussed up to Kiriat
Shmona where we ate in the food court and then set up camp at Tel Dan
Kibbutz. At first everything seemed great! Some very friendly Israeli
girls brought us amazing chicken wings and then we gazed at the bright
stars. However, all throughout the night Shmu did not feel well and
ended up with food poisoning from the bad pizza he ate at the food
court. Even though he was not feeling well and did not get much sleep
we decided to start hiking at 7am. We hiked for 5 hours through a cow
pasture, nature reserve, and on the road. I attached some pictures of
our trip (tiul in Hebrew). As Shmu was feeling worse and worse we
went to a clinic on a kibbutz where he got medicine and paid a lot of
money for an ACed room. I, however, felt great so I went swimming
while he rested.

That night 2 things happened. Shmu got a call from his parents saying
his grandmother fell into a coma and will pass away any hour so he
decided to go back to Jerusalem Thursday morning. I also received news
that one of my best friend's father passed away suddenly. When I made
aliyah I did think how I was going to miss the simchas (joys) in my
family and friends lives, but I did into think about missing the bad
times when my friends needed me for support and a hug. At this moment
it felt like I abandoned my friend when she needed me the most but
there was nothing I could do or say to make the situation better for
her. This is something that will happen again and I will learn to
accept as part of my Aliyah decision.

Anyway, on a good note, I had a family friend connection near Kiriat
Shmona so I called them and they picked me up from Kfar Giladid
Thursday morning and I spend all Shabbat with the Ivgi family. They
live on Moshav Avivim which borders Lebanon and I could see the houses
in which Hizbollah lives. The mother, Devorah, who made Aliyah 30
years ago from Brookline, is an amazing women who brought up 4
strapping young men who are still in the army (21-28). It was a big
Moroccan family Shabbat dinner with her boys and their friends around
the table and delicious food. During the Second Lebanon War Devorah
cooked for all the soldiers in the area and refused to leave her
moshav so she could be of assistance to the soldiers. She is a very
brave and strong woman.

I am back in Jerusalem this week studying Hebrew at Ulpan although the
Hebrew I learned from the boys and traveling is better than the
conjugations I learn in class but both are necessary. Here is a quote
by Elie Weisel that I read in his book A Begger in Jerusalem. It
touched me.

Jerusalem: the face visible yet hidden, the sap and the blood of all
that makes us live or renounce life. The spark flashing in the
darkness, the murmur rustling through shouts of happiness and joy. A
name, a secret. For the exiled, a prayer. For all others, a promise.
Jerusalem: seventeen times destroyed yet never erased. The symbol of
survival. Jerusalem: the city which miraculously transforms man into
pilgrim; no one can enter it and go away unchanged.

All my love,
Esther

Shmu, the guy that is completing Shvili Israel
Amir, Cassie's cousin in Moshav Avivim

Weekend in Haifa/Gallilee

2008-08-06T07:21:00.002+03:00

Shalom!

"I wish I was part of the club!" This is a comment I received today
from an American grad student who is studying International Relations
in Beirut and living in Jordon for the summer. I met him and his
friend while on the bus traveling back from Haifa to Jerusalem. It
makes me very proud when he said this to me and I know I am lucky to
be a part of an ancient religion and traditions that link me to such a
controversial but special place.

Everyday I realize something new that I love about Israel but also
something that makes me understand the reality of living here. This
past week I went for a run past the King David Hotel 20 minutes before
there was a terror incident. I was running down King George Street and
I see ambulances, police, firetrucks zooming by and I knew it was no
regular car accident. As I passed the scene I could not help feel
saddened, shocked, but also frustration. I am frustrated about the
cycle of mis-trust and terror. The Arabs are upset about their
economical and political situation and the Israelis are frustrated
with their lack of security even with all the measures that are
implemented. Each time an Arab, weather Palestinian or Arab Israeli,
creates an act of terror the Israelis put more restrictions and their
level of trust of Arabs is weakened. Back in Boston when I was
advocating for Israel I did not understand the complexity of the
situation through emotions, only through intellect, but now that I am
experiencing this first-hand I am beginning to understand the cycle
and intense emotions of the conflict from both sides.

On to a lighter note, I am in love with living in Israel. This weekend
I went on a trip to Haifa with my friend Alyssa and we toured Zichron
Yakov, hiked Mt. Carmel, tasted Druze food at Daliet-al Carmel, and
swam in the Kinneret late in the afternoon on Shabbat (pictures
below). I also love the group of people at Ulpan and we are learning
a lot of conjugations which I have a test on tomorrow.

As I've told a few people I feel like a complete person here and I am
extremely happy. I felt a void in Boston and now I am in a place where
I know is the right place for me.

Have a great week
Esther

One Month in Israel July 20th

2008-08-06T07:19:00.001+03:00

Shalom!

Ma Matzav (What's up?) Last Thursday I started Ulpan (Hebrew lessons)
at Ulpan Etzion in Jerusalem. It is a 20 minute walk from where I
live and it is 8:15am to 12:45 Sunday through Thursday, so that is
what I am doing with my days for five months! I am in kita (class)
Aleph 3 which means I am 3 out of 7 levels. I thought I would be
higher since I can read and write but because I am not good at
conversational Hebrew they put me in this class to start but I should
move up within a month to kita Bet. There are about 15 people in my
class from all over the world (Chile, Holland, South Africa,
Australia, Ethiopia, France, Canada and of course the USA). It is very
interesting trying to converse with someone that knows little Hebrew
and English but fluent in Spanish when I know little Hebrew or Spanish
and am fluent in English...luckily he is very good looking so I put up
with the hardship of conversing with him (hahahaha).

This past week I went to the Jerusalem Wine Festival which was
amazing. I attached the picture of me and my friend Shmu who came with
Deb Donig and a few others. It was held at the Israeli Museum and
there were thousands of people, 150 different Israeli wines, music and
food. Jerusalem's scene is growing on me and there is something to do
every night. I am meeting a lot of people through where I am living,
networking and Ulpan so I have created a few groups of friends
already.

I've met a wonderful man here who gives me the best perks...free water
and popsicles and conversational Hebrew lessons. He is the local
convenient store man who is 60 years old and has taken a liking to my
smile (as he says). I sit with him for a half on hour a day and chat
which has improved my self-esteem to speak Hebrew to Israelis.

I wanted to fill you in on the daily happenings of my days in
Jerusalem...I am in love with living here. I feel as though the world
is at my fingertips here and I can accomplish anything I want...with
the understanding of the pushy Israeli culture.

Shavua Tov (have a good week)
Esther

Shabbat in the Old City - July 12

2008-08-06T07:17:00.000+03:00

Shabbat Shalom!

Tonight I went to the Kotel for the first time as an Israeli citizen and it was amazing. The area was flowing with thousands of Jews from all over the world and the Shabbat energy was fantastic. For those of you who knows some of these people, I bumped into Rachel Jacobson, Sari Fallas and Debbie Coltin.

Some of you do not know how close I was to the Chabad in Brookline (Mayshe and Shifra) but their sister and brother-in-law live in Jerusalem and do a monthly Shabbat dinner in the Old City that is catered. Mayshe and Shifra gave me their contact information before I left so I called Hinda and Yossi a couple of days ago and they said it would be their pleasure for me and my friends to join them for Shabbat dinner in the Old City. We met 40 others from all over the United States and enjoyed a delicious shabbas meal together. I met some very cute boys, sang songs that reminded me of camp, and listened to the parsha of the week.

Mayshe and Shifra- thank you for connecting me to Hinda and Yossi and I met your parents! Your dad is quite a character and I now know where you get your personality.

As we were walking out of the Old City all the gates were closed because there was a shooting near the Lion Gate which is near the Muslim Quarter. Two policeman were injured. We stayed in a hostel for an hour until they opened up one of the gates to let everyone that needed to leave the Old City out and everyone that needed to come back in. I wanted to let everyone know that I am safe, had a great kabbalat shabbat dinner and tomorrow am relaxing since there is nothing open in Jerusalem anyways.

Shabbat Shalom and all my love
Esther

First Update July 5th

2008-08-06T07:11:00.001+03:00

Shalom all,

Finally I get to sit down and right some of my thoughts of these past 10 days. This past week I walked/ran around Jerusalem getting a bank account, cell phone plan, health insurance, absorption center and settling into my room/apt. I now understand when people said it was not going to be easy maneuvering the Israeli beurocratic system! I considered a successful day one that I got one task completed. I forwent my go-getting mentality and "to do" lists because then I would just get disappointed that nothing got accomplished on the time table that I expect. Banks close in the middle of the day and some tellers would not assist me because they do not feel like at that moment, and in the health insurance place about 15 people overheard my conversation with the receptionist about any medical problems I have because there is no thing such as personal space. I am laughing off these situations and remaining positive.

I moved into my room which is in an absorption center with other recent English speaking immigrants that are going through similar experiences as mine. My room has a full bed, desk, dresser/closet, kitchenette and an outside porch. I share a bathroom and common space with 6 other people which is cool with me. I live off of Emek Refaim in the German Colony and LOVE the area!!! It is like the Beacon Hill of Jerusalem.

So a couple of observations since living here...when I say I made Aliyah to Israeli's in Jerusalem I get the response- "Mazol Tov! B'hazlacha" (congrats, good luck!) which feels pretty amazing to have the support and pride. However, when I say to Israelis in or near Tel Aviv I get the response, "why are you crazy?" which feels disheartening. I try to explain to them that it is a feeling of belonging in Israel rather than in the states. At this point they look at me like I have ten heads with one eye and a big green nose and they say "but it is so easy in the states and you get everything you want." To them I explain, "The materialistic part of life is not worth living in America when I can live in the Jewish state where even the bus driver says Shabbat Shalom." This usually shuts them up but I've had some great conversations from this response.

Another observation which is common to a Conservative Jew is the feeling of not belonging to a certain Jewish community especially living in Jerusalem. Many young people are Haradi, Modern Orthodox or secular but there is no middle ground. The modern orthodox speak to me and look at me like I do not know anything about Judaism because I am wearing a tank-top and skirt above my knees and the secular people do not understand why I keep kosher and observe at least some of Shabbat.

These observations are common and not a novelty but it is very different living here than visiting although I am loving every minute. I get lost walking around Jerusalem, party in Tel Aviv with thousands of Jewish people till 5am, go to the beach with my cousins, and meet new people everyday that are so interesting and welcoming.

I hope everyone had a great long weekend and Happy 4th of July!

Esther