There is Life Outside Your Apartment

I was nervous about moving to a different country, as would any human being.  I was nervous about a new start to my life filled with great opportunities and scary challenges. 

I'm nearing the end of my third month in Jerusalem.  The semester is in full swing.  To top it all off, we are a week away from the new year, Rosh Hashanah.  The peaches and nectarines are becoming scarcer and apples and pears are becoming the top-seller at the shuk.  More and more the Israelis are switching to long pants for the evening.  The sun that beat down on us during the summer is starting to feel more distant.  Today is the Autumnal Equinox.

Meanwhile, all of my classmates are stressed.  We have lots of reading, homework, and required "extra" events such as weekly pre-High Holiday programming and culture night for Israel Seminar.  We are told to do things, have fun, and get out of the HUC bubble.

Here's a list of some of the fun things I have done recently:

Wednesday night: As per my Israeli Folk and Pop Music class, we are to attend a certain number of concerts and programs during the semester.  The 5 of us in the class decided to go to a Matti Caspi concert.  I wish my pictures turned out great since the evening was amazing!  Caspi performed with someone whose name escapes me right now, and at times it seemed like Simon and Garfunkle were together.  The on stage comraderie, the high level of musicianship, the incredible performance, and they "played" with each other!  Sometimes, we weren't sure what was rehearsed or not!  The great climax was the second or third encore when they both came out with their accordions and did one more song together.  The audience was so enthralled the whole night!  What a great way to get this class rolling!

Last night, as per my participation with the Parallel Lives group, we meet once every month or so with a number of soliders in the IDF and talk about issues, make friends, and get a different experience.  Last time I had such an encounter with IDF soliders was with Birthright, and for a number of reasons, I did not get that close beyond making friends on Facebook afterwords.  My own personal hope is that with these interactions, I will make long-term friends.  The soliders ranged from ages 19-22.  One was an oleh, or someone who immigrated to Israel.  I am always amazed by the sacrifices these young people make for their country.  It is truly admirable.  Although, at the same time, it is compulsary here.

Stress is certainly at a high point among my classmates.  The schedule is very dense.  Then, more "extras" get thrown to us and the juggling act begins.  For those who knew me in college, this is not a major challenge.  However, being in a foreign country makes it that much harder.  Much harder.  I love it.

My sincerest condolences go out to friends and family of Lauren Felton, to Leah Joseph's family, and the family of my dear classmate, Abram Goodstein.

"There is Life Outside Your Apartment" is from Avenue Q.