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!