Chatima Tova

While I have been in Israel I am constantly comparing society and life here to life back in the states. Nothing could be more different than the day of Yom Kippur. It was such an amazing experience. In the states most of the population is not Jewish, therefore the holiday of Yom Kippur is not noticed by the general population. On the contrary, here in Israel the population is about eighty percent Jewish. During Yom Kippur the country literally stops. Every store, even 24/7 markets, are closed. No one drives a car. Its as if someone turned off a giant light switch. Instead of cars on the street, they become flooded with people walking and children on thousands of bicycles. Like any other holiday, it is also used as a massive social gathering. I walked out of the synagogue after services Wednesday night. It was a breath taking sight. People were walking up to everyone and saying "Chatima Tova" (May your name be written in the good book as having lived a good year) and wishing a happy new year. Most people were dressed in the traditional white. Yom Kippur seemed like such a somber holiday back in the US, but here it was hard to find a person without a smile.

Here it seems that everyone had their own individual way of celebrating. The amount of people attending a synagogue literally triples, but some people go the whole time and some go when they choose. Other people choose to do things that would seem totally irrelevant to the holiday. There are a large group of people that spend it hanging out on the beach. Others stay up talking all night so that they can sleep through the fast easier. Some people just stay in all day and watch movies. However it is done, the day is something special.

Most of the children in Israel ride there bikes everywhere for the day. My cousins May and Guy rode their bikes about 24 km. The day before Yom Kippur, the bicycle stores make their earnings for the year. It made me a little jealous. Me being such a bike nerd and not riding one :(

It's not to say that my Yom Kippur was not amazing. It clearly was the most memorable Yom Kippur I have had so far. I initally wanted to try and spend the day in Jerusalem in the old city, but plans didn't work out. Maybe it was for the best. Instead I went back to Kfar Saba with the cousins. They were thrilled to have me and I was happy to be where it feels just like home. First thing I did when I got there: ATE! mmmmmm I love a full tummy! Then I went to their local Synagogue. The inside of that building is painted with various different scences of the bible, Judaism in general, and each month has its own section. The ark is large and painted beatifully and sits in a dome the height of the building. The dome itself is painted in waves different shades of blue. Haim's father had his own chair there that is now Hiam's. The services themselves were very recognizable because it was an Ashkenazi, which is what I am used to. The difference is that everyone there speaks Hebrew and is comfortable with the service, so things moved along at a much quicker pace.

Besides going to services, and taking my own little walk, all I did was sleep. It was much needed. Wednesday night I was asleep by 9:30 and woke up at 10 the next morning. The two days I was there I managed to get in more sleep than I do in four nights back in Holon. It was much needed.

After the holiday was over on Friday I had some logistics to figure out. This coming week is Sukkot, yes, another holiday! Sukkot is immediately followed by, guess what? Another holiday! Simchat Torah (which I hope to go to Tsfat for)! For these two holidays I have about two weeks for free time. I have to find something to do! I had heard from a friend about a music festival on the Kneret called "Bereshet". Seemed like a cool idea. The only problem is that I have some mandatory things to attend during the middle of Sukkot. Well after sitting on the phone for about an hour, I had a plan. A counselor in another section of YC was getting buses figured out, so I had a way to get there. She was also getting a discounted rate for all of YC. Great! Now I needed at tent. I called the office in Bat Yam, there are out of tents to lend. Then I remembered my cousins have camping equipment. I gave Lior a call and within an hour I in my hands a six person tent, a stove and accouterments to make coffee (I LOVE TURKISH COFFEE!), and some equipment to repair some parts of the tent. I am so lucky I have such wonderful family. Once I got back to Holon I found out that about half of YC is going to the festival. So now people are fighting for spots in my tent. That should be interesting. As far as cost goes, it is a little of the expensive side.

Here is how it breaks down:
-130 NIS (New Israeli Shekel) for the ticket at a discounted rate (normally 180 NIS)
-120 NIS for transportation there and back, but on private bus. So no getting lost, darn.
- Roughly 50 shekel for food
Right now the exchange us about 3.6 shekel to the dollar. So the whole deal will cost about $85. Actually not so unreasonable for a three day festival. In the states those are usually about $150.

I think I might spend a little money to make some. I will go buy about 50 pitas, some peanut butter, and some chocolate spread. I can then heat them up on a stove or fire and sell them for 3 shekel a piece at the festival. It could potentially pay for my ticket in. I would only have to sell 44 of them. (130/3=43.33333)

Tomorrow I am going to start the celebration of Sukkot in Jerusalem with my roommate Aviel's family. I am so excited to meet his family and eat more food! I have heard wonderful things about his grandmother's cooking. Great news on top of this: we are bringing back bikes from Aviel's house! YES!

Wednesday I have a mandatory hike followed by a day of volunteering on Thursday. Then Thursday night I will be off to the festival. So you won't hear from me for a while. Chag Samaech everyone!