Apple Pie!

Shabbat has become my favorite holiday and luckily it happens once a week. 

On Friday I went on a tour with my school to the caves and caverns outside of Jerusalem. We left at 8am on friday morning so I was not feeling like Miss America. We traveled outside the city to caverns that were man-made. They were originally quarries but had been used by many different peoples to hide or store things. The caves were beautiful and we sang Jewish camp songs (which I am quickly learning) in the caverns. I took a tumble leaving streaks of the chalky limestone all over my clothes. It also left a massive bruise which does not look to lovely. The weather was not great so we walked through quite a bit of mud leaving my shoes caked with mud. But it was a fun way to see the countryside. I loved driving through the valleys covered in almond and olive trees. The almond trees flower beautiful white flowers. it is surprising how lush Israel is considering it is in the heart of the Middle East. 

Friday evening Jacki, Marissa, Milia and I headed for the Kotel (Western Wall) dressed in our orthodox garb. The Kotel is absolutely amazing on Shabbat. Everyone rejoicing and celebrating a wonderful week. A group of about 200 soldiers made a huge mosh pit right in front of the Kotel singing and dancing. We all joined in on the women's side singing and dancing to celebrate. Such a moving experience to see and have such joy. Israeli people live for the moment and are so thankful because no one knows what tomorrow will bring. We danced, sang and rejoiced with each other. I am forever thankful for being in Israel and for the friends I have met here. We all just enjoyed the moment and celebrated the wonderful experience. After our time at the wall we found the father who had invited us to dinner at his home for Shabbat. 

The man who took us in for dinner owned a restaurant in New York and Jerusalem. We were so excited for the food! This was the first orthodox family I had encountered that had jobs and therefore had money. We arrived at his beautiful home to meet his five children and lovely wife. His wife had a baby 6 weeks ago, was wearing heels and was hosting 18 people for dinner! Absolutely amazing! Both of them were welcoming and more than kind to us. We sat down 6 girls and 6 boys as guests along with lots of their extended family. The 6 boys were studying to become Rabbis (Rabbis in training) and the other two girls were studying in seminary. It was a huge table decorated with over 20 different dishes. Once the first prayers were said and the Hallah was broken we started to eat. I was stuffed trying all of the amazing dishes. Then the girl studying at seminary broke it to us that this was just the first course! Then came Matzo Ball soup and then the main meal! It was a lively table, filled with stories, prayers and song. We laughed and shared stories. I loved getting to know the family. For dessert we ended the meal with individual apple pies with a scoop of ice cream on top (dairy free of course)! This women was 6 weeks post pregnancy with 5 children wearing heels hosting 18 people for dinner and served us individual pies for dessert! I am forever impressed and the hostess bar has been raised! It was a simply magnificent evening filled with so much joy and love. 

On Saturday we headed for the West Bank for a day trip to Bethlehem. I was a bit nervous because the West Bank is the source of quite a bit of conflict. We had to take an Arab bus and made it to Bethlehem very easily. No Israelis are allowed in the West Bank but Americans can go. Once we arrived we were bombarded with taxi drivers trying to get us to with them for the day. We finally made it to the Church of the Nativity. This is supposedly the place where Jesus was born. The church is Greek Orthodox and so very different from the Methodist Church I was raised in. We waited in line to touch the wood in which Jesus laid. I was very unimpressed with the whole ordeal because the church was so gaudy. I always imagined Jesus in a simple manger not surrounded by gold and crystal chandeliers. After we viewed the church we walked around Bethlehem. I was in a group with males and I was still harassed. In hindsight I probably should not have brought my lilly scarf to double as a Hijab. By the end of our walk I was frustrated and I power walked back to the taxi just to avoid all the harassment. We made it back to the bus with no international incidents.

Although getting to the West Bank is simple, security on the return end is not so easy. When we reached the border all the Arabs had to get off the bus to be searched and have their papers checked. While two soldiers boarded the bus and checked our passports. Both were carrying pistols and riffles. One man did not have the right passport or papers so he was escorted away and not allowed to board the bus again. It was a little bit scary because it was so different than anything that happens in America. Finally the bus passed security and we rode back into Jerusalem safe and sound.   

I can't wait to dance and sing at the Kotel this week! Mazel Tov! 

xoxo,

Katy Ann