On impulse yesterday we rented a car and bought tickets for the final event of the Israeli Eco-Film Festival. This event took place in the forest of Ben Shemen about 35 minutes drive outside of Jerusalem, near a town called Modi'in. The event started at 9PM. We parked our car and walked up a gravel path to find ourselves in a cleared gravel area with a large screen set-up and about 200 plastic outdoor chairs. The night was clear and the weather perfect. We first watched a strange and not very good animated short film called: The Man Who Planted Trees. The main film was An Inconvenient Truth. It was certainly a unique way to see films about the environment - sitting in a nature reserve under the moon. We highly recommend it!
Friday, May 25, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Eating Cheesecake at the Western Wall
Well, to be honest we didn't eat cheesecake at the Western Wall but we did celebrate Shavuot (the holiday where we commemorate the giving of Torah at Mt. Sinai). There is a custom to study all night in honor of Torah, so we studied a little, slept a little and then got up at 3:30AM and took a walk to the Old City (with a lot of other people). There is also a custom to eat dairy - some say cheesecake is the best way to fulfill that requirement. 
Once we arrived at the outskirts of the Old City we made our way to Robinson's Arch (see photo by Lisa Katz - the arch no longer exists - folks believe the arch to have been destroyed by the Romans). Robinson's Arch is a section of the Western Wall that is set aside for egalitarian prayer. It is a beautiful section of the Wall that has been made into an archaeological park and educational museum. Once at Robinson's Arch we found that we were amongst many of our close friends from the English speaking community in Jerusalem. We all joined in morning prayers as the sun rose over the Western Wall. It was a very special and memorable morning.
After a couple hours at the Wall, we decided it was time for coffee (around 7AM). So we took a walk through the Old City towards Damascus gate in hopes of finding a coffee shop that would also sell us some coffee and traditional Arab sweets. It turned out we needed to exit the Old City through the Damascus Gate to find coffee on the outskirts of the Old City. After coffee we walked back through the city and took two amusing detours.
Saul talked our way into this youth hostel in the Old City that advertised a wonderful view from their rooftop - so we shimmied up their very small stairways and landed on their rooftop overlooking the Dome of the Rock (see photo by Marc Herman). Our next stop on our way back home was at the Convent/Church of St. Mark. This was a strange and unique experience. We wandered in, hoping to take a look at the church and the caretaker of the property sat with us for nearly 25 minutes telling us all about the church. Apparently the lower rooms had once been the house of Mary and they claim the last supper happened there.
Once we arrived at the outskirts of the Old City we made our way to Robinson's Arch (see photo by Lisa Katz - the arch no longer exists - folks believe the arch to have been destroyed by the Romans). Robinson's Arch is a section of the Western Wall that is set aside for egalitarian prayer. It is a beautiful section of the Wall that has been made into an archaeological park and educational museum. Once at Robinson's Arch we found that we were amongst many of our close friends from the English speaking community in Jerusalem. We all joined in morning prayers as the sun rose over the Western Wall. It was a very special and memorable morning.
After a couple hours at the Wall, we decided it was time for coffee (around 7AM). So we took a walk through the Old City towards Damascus gate in hopes of finding a coffee shop that would also sell us some coffee and traditional Arab sweets. It turned out we needed to exit the Old City through the Damascus Gate to find coffee on the outskirts of the Old City. After coffee we walked back through the city and took two amusing detours.
Saul talked our way into this youth hostel in the Old City that advertised a wonderful view from their rooftop - so we shimmied up their very small stairways and landed on their rooftop overlooking the Dome of the Rock (see photo by Marc Herman). Our next stop on our way back home was at the Convent/Church of St. Mark. This was a strange and unique experience. We wandered in, hoping to take a look at the church and the caretaker of the property sat with us for nearly 25 minutes telling us all about the church. Apparently the lower rooms had once been the house of Mary and they claim the last supper happened there.Saturday, May 19, 2007
BBQ #1
In a valiant effort to see lots of friends, eat good food and finish off all of our booze before we leave the country we have embarked on hosting a series of BBQ's. Thanks to the help of some of the young ladies at the party we counted three stars (the traditional indicator that night has come and that Shabbat is over)and we fired up the BBQ.
Eduardo and Dani toast to good food.
The evening wound down and Saul played some tunes on his guitar.Eduardo was very thankful for the last song that Saul played.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Some Words of Torah
I humbly post the following D'var Torah (words of Torah) for your enjoyment. I wrote the following comments on this week's Torah portion for a listserve to which I belong. These comments are in honor of my dad, Jeff, and my new nephew, Judah.
This week’s parasha, Bamidbar is the first parasha of the fourth book of the Torah. Bamidbar, the Hebrew name of the book, means literally “in the desert” which is where the Israelites are preparing to enter. In English we refer to this as the book of Numbers, perhaps because the parasha begins with the commandment from God to Moses to conduct a census of the entire Israelite community. All Israelite males, over the age of 20, are to be counted except for those from the tribe of Levi, who will be counted separately.
Two weeks ago, we read parashat Emor which tells of a different kind of counting: counting the Omer – the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot. This represents the time between the Israelites exodus from Egypt and the revelation of Torah at Mt. Sinai. During the week when we read Emor I was visiting my father, who has been battling cancer for the last 2 years. In preparing for Shabbat I read a particularly poignant D’var Torah that suggested that we think of counting the Omer as a method for taking notice of and appreciating each day. Counting the Omer can be a reminder of how precious time is: by counting each day, we are made all the more aware of each passing moment in time. Spending two weeks with my father was a gift of time for both of us. We were able to value each moment and note that each day is precious and worth counting.
In Bamidbar, which we read just one week before we celebrate Shavuot, Moses is commanded to count the people of the nation of Israel. One reading, according to Rashbam and Rashban, is that the census had a simple strategic purpose; Moses needed to assess the Israelites military strength as they set-off to conquer the land of Israel which explains why only males over 20 are to be counted, and the Levites, who will not bear arms, are counted separately. I prefer an interpretation given in Midrash Numbers Rabbah 2:19: that the people are to be counted to demonstrate God’s love for each individual. The Midrash depicts God as a king with a fabulous treasure, God checks it over and counts it carefully to make sure nothing is lost.
Reading Bamidbar during the period of the counting of the Omer highlights the connection between counting our days and counting our people. While Emor reminds us to be conscious of and appreciative for each moment, Bambidbar emphasizes the importance of each person within our community. Emor’s message of making each moment count is strengthened in Bamidbar as we are reminded to appreciate not just each moment in our life, but each person within each moment. Yesterday, I felt the power of the connection between these ideas as, with great appreciation to God, my brother and sister-in-law welcomed into the world their first child: a son, my nephew. This week my family adds to its numbers; we are thankful for these moments of miracle and feel blessed by the new person who has entered our midst.
May we all have the opportunity to count each day and appreciate those who have joined us on our journey to this moment of Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom.
This week’s parasha, Bamidbar is the first parasha of the fourth book of the Torah. Bamidbar, the Hebrew name of the book, means literally “in the desert” which is where the Israelites are preparing to enter. In English we refer to this as the book of Numbers, perhaps because the parasha begins with the commandment from God to Moses to conduct a census of the entire Israelite community. All Israelite males, over the age of 20, are to be counted except for those from the tribe of Levi, who will be counted separately.
Two weeks ago, we read parashat Emor which tells of a different kind of counting: counting the Omer – the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot. This represents the time between the Israelites exodus from Egypt and the revelation of Torah at Mt. Sinai. During the week when we read Emor I was visiting my father, who has been battling cancer for the last 2 years. In preparing for Shabbat I read a particularly poignant D’var Torah that suggested that we think of counting the Omer as a method for taking notice of and appreciating each day. Counting the Omer can be a reminder of how precious time is: by counting each day, we are made all the more aware of each passing moment in time. Spending two weeks with my father was a gift of time for both of us. We were able to value each moment and note that each day is precious and worth counting.
In Bamidbar, which we read just one week before we celebrate Shavuot, Moses is commanded to count the people of the nation of Israel. One reading, according to Rashbam and Rashban, is that the census had a simple strategic purpose; Moses needed to assess the Israelites military strength as they set-off to conquer the land of Israel which explains why only males over 20 are to be counted, and the Levites, who will not bear arms, are counted separately. I prefer an interpretation given in Midrash Numbers Rabbah 2:19: that the people are to be counted to demonstrate God’s love for each individual. The Midrash depicts God as a king with a fabulous treasure, God checks it over and counts it carefully to make sure nothing is lost.
Reading Bamidbar during the period of the counting of the Omer highlights the connection between counting our days and counting our people. While Emor reminds us to be conscious of and appreciative for each moment, Bambidbar emphasizes the importance of each person within our community. Emor’s message of making each moment count is strengthened in Bamidbar as we are reminded to appreciate not just each moment in our life, but each person within each moment. Yesterday, I felt the power of the connection between these ideas as, with great appreciation to God, my brother and sister-in-law welcomed into the world their first child: a son, my nephew. This week my family adds to its numbers; we are thankful for these moments of miracle and feel blessed by the new person who has entered our midst.
May we all have the opportunity to count each day and appreciate those who have joined us on our journey to this moment of Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom.
Team Liz Becomes an Aunt & Uncle
With much rejoicing and thanks Team Liz is proud and thrilled to announce the birth of Judah Ilan Freirich, son of Jonathan Freirich and Ginny Reel, Liz's brother and sister-in-law.
Judah was born on May 17th at 5:10PM in Nevada. He is 6lbs 14 ounces and 18.5 inches long. Ginny is feeling good. Judah was born with a full head of dark hair, a dimple in his chin and his father's appetite! Liz's mom, Marti, managed to catch a plane from NYC to Reno, rent a car and drive from Reno to Carson City (where the hospital is) and still arrive an hour before the birth - don't get in the way of a first-time grandma!
The brit milah will be next Thursday, May 24th.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Arava/Hazon Israel Ride
Team Liz wants to thank all of our friends and family who generously contributed to our participation in the Arava/Hazon Israel Ride 2007. At the last minute Liz had to pull-out from participating in the ride and is presently in America but Saul is off and riding.
Saul set-out on the Ride on May 2nd representing all of Team Liz. Go Saul! Saul left from Jerusalem with 175 other riders and rode down to the Dead Sea and then to Mesada. May 3rd was a rough day that included an almost continuous 13 mile uphill. Saul is feeling good and riding strong. You can check out the progress of the ride by clicking here.
Once again thanks to everyone for your support - all the money you donated to support Liz also supports Saul and will still be received by the Arava Institute and Hazon in support of peace, co-existence and the environment.
Saul set-out on the Ride on May 2nd representing all of Team Liz. Go Saul! Saul left from Jerusalem with 175 other riders and rode down to the Dead Sea and then to Mesada. May 3rd was a rough day that included an almost continuous 13 mile uphill. Saul is feeling good and riding strong. You can check out the progress of the ride by clicking here.
Once again thanks to everyone for your support - all the money you donated to support Liz also supports Saul and will still be received by the Arava Institute and Hazon in support of peace, co-existence and the environment.
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