Corn Flakes Are So Much Better In Israel

Notice anything about the cereals depicted on these boxes? Evidently, "corn flakes" has gone the way of Xerox, Kleenex, and Coke (for Southerners) and become the generic word for its industry's products. But I'll tell you this right now, I've never enjoyed Corn Flakes so much. Since I've been here, I'm finding that I'm cuckoo for corn flakes because theyyyyyy're grrrreat! And luckily I didn't listen when one young shopkeep tried to warn me off a purchase, saying "Silly rabbi, Corn Flakes are for kids!"

To be fair, this is not generally what the cereal display looks like here. In most places, they have all different kinds and the selection looks similar to its American counterpart. I have found, however, that it is a particularly expensive item in a lot of stores. I expect, sadly, to eat less cereal this year than usual.

In other news, things are going really well here. I'm enjoying meeting and hanging out with my classmates, and discovering Jerusalem and how to do what, just a few weeks ago, were the simplest of everyday tasks with them. Most have now arrived, with a few more to go as we officially begin our program next week (the work/school week runs Sunday through Thursday here - that's a difference).

The other night, I played basketball at a park near my apartment and confirmed, first-hand, that there is quality cadur sal (basketball) to be played just about every night there. Was fun to meet some other people whom I'm certain I'll see there regularly. And it was fun to try to use my Hebrew on the court and to learn some of hamilim shel cadur sal b'Ivrit (the words of basketball in Hebrew). I learned, for instance, that to call a foul, one would yell out "fah-ool!" To call a travel, one would summon up his inner Middle Easterener and yell, "trah-vell." I also learned that they call fah-ool a lot! That's when the real Hebrew discussions start and, for now, I just kind of have to let the calls go as I can't hold my own in the heated conversations, but I believe the poor self-refereeing I wintessed the other night will serve as great inspiration in my language studies. Until I can argue calls, my Hebrew is clearly useless!

Tonight, I will put down my Hebrew studies as Shabbat will fall on Jerusalem, once again - my second one here. There is a siren late in the afternoon (reminiscent of our civil defense/severe weather warnings - I expect to turn on the tv and see Dave Brown, Jim Jaggers or [insert your local meteorologist] tracking storms via live Doppler radar) to warn that it is time to stop doing business and prepare for the Sabbath. This bustling city does get very quiet, reawakening on Saturday night. I may visit a synagogue for services tonight with classmates before Shabbat dinner at a friend's apartment. I could go to a different one every time the whole time I'm here and not hit them all! I'm probably not really looking to hit them all, though. Some will not likely appeal to me, but I do plan to experience a wide variety of worship while I'm here. Looking forward to starting the tour.

Shabbat shalom and have a great weekend, Riders!

Old And New

It occurs to me that people who've not visited must have a lot of ideas of what Israel and Jerusalem, in particular, must look like. I have found it, so far, to be an incredible mix of old (VERY old!) and new. The 21st century's prints are all over parts of the city, which is constantly developing, while the prints of centuries BCE (Before the Common Era) have not worn. In fact, those old prints are, perhaps more evident now as a result of extensive excavations of ancient existence.

Within a half mile of my apartment, you are here...











Not 200 yards from the Gap stores, located in a beautiful, modern shopping mall, this view of the walls of the Old City greets you...

It really is an incredible mix of the ages, putting modernity side-by-side with antiquity, forcing a coexistence that seems comically unnatural, yet comfortable in a way that reinforces everlasting qualities of tradition, even as the present is continually reinvented.

Early this morning, I ventured with several classmates and two of our "upperclassmen" summer interns, who are helping us acclimate to school and to life in Jerusalem, to a Rosh Chodesh (beginning of the new month of the Hebrew calendar) service at the Wall. You know, THE Wall! My classmate, Marc, has posted an excellent account of the special circumstances of this worship experience on his blog. I encourage you to read it.

I found it meaningful, touching, and inspiring to participate in the service and to stand beside my fellow Jews, whose wish it is to be able to fully embrace the tradition in which they share. It aroused in me prayers for unity, understanding, and tolerance within my faith family. Surely those would allow us to do better the work we were meant to do - the work, according to Elie Wiesel, not of making the world more Jewish, but of making it more human. I pray those same prayers for every faith and nation, with the hope that each and all can be united by our profound commonality rather than set apart by our often miniscule differences.

As the Fourth of July, my first outside the U.S., draws near, I am committed as ever to the right of each voice to make itself heard, and to the responsibility each of us can take - and effort we can make - to replace chains that restrict with ties that bind, and barriers that divide with connected hearts and helping hands.

May we remember and embrace the ability of our traditions, like our ancient structures, to stand amidst modernity, so that the fear of losing what we are may be supplanted by the hope - and then the reality - of becoming what we are meant to be.

Jump back on the Ride tomorrow for July 4th fun, including some early observations and opinions of life in another country and a celebration of our 15,000th visitor. Was it you???