I don't think I could even explain what's happening right now in Tel Aviv on the bus. I am trying to escape the stress by an ipod and a paper and pen. I write not only to escape but to do it before I get home which looks like it is gonna be around 3am by the looks of our missing students and stolen passports...BH none of them where mine. Today was so long I'm forgetting what we did already. So of course we had classes, which contained more relationship advice and secrets of Torah. I met with Shira to discuss my judgments of myself and others and how or if I can overcome them. I mean is it realistic to walk around without judgement at all? No...thats not really obtainable. So I must find peace in judging everyone favorably...that's the key..."simple?" and obvious but according to everything we are taught to be is truth is within us all along, you just have to look hard.
I then attempted to enjoy lunch which I am getting pretty sick of cucumber and tomato...okay mom...I believe you now!
And so off to Tel Aviv. We went to a blind Museum! This was such a life changing experience! A museum in complete darkness led by a blind person through rooms and situations. So basically for 45 min I and my group where blinded. The challenge is to use your other senses to get through. Of course with some help from our guide. So at first I was terrified. We were led into rooms that were like a jungle, a river boat, a market place, a concert and a cafe were we had to pay blind and eat blind and got to ask our guide questions about what it is like live blind. By the end I really began to not feel bad for the blind but rather appreciate how much they get out of life from all the other senses. I suggest this experience to all.
Now on to a great dinner in Tel Aviv and a "beautiful" night on the beach that had a bar that extended to the waves. We smoke hookah and drank a SOTB with the flour like sand under our feet and 85 degree ocean waters. But there were a lot of Jelly fish so it was scary to go in the dark.( NO MORE HOSPITAL VISITS PLEASE). How can I mention that all the mellow people did this and all the crazies ( that i love so so much!! )went to the club and thought it was a great idea to meet us...which for social reasons of course it's a great idea...but OYYYY....The large amount of people, drunk only added to the unpaid $200 shecks, thefts of wallets and passports and missing people...
The people came back but the other things were gone for good. A few panic attacks later ( literally), we were off safe with Harel! BLESS HIS SOUL!
Of course the aviator soundtrack was playing on my ipod during the later part of these events. And I sat there in the dark staring straight ahead thanking Hashem I didn't lose anything but my sleep.
TRUE CHAMPS we are I like to think...TRUE CLASS
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
I think I could stay :)
I haven't written in awhile. Things like this (writing) suffer when you start to really become present here. Again there is a card game going on in my room and talking about the day and of course some pretzels. People eat a shit ton of pretzels here... I basically don't want to see white bread, pretzels or really any bread for a large amount of time, TODA! So lets catch up here...quickly of course because I really do want to go and type these soon...but maye I'll have to wait...boo...lets start with Thursday. Things are starting to get less touristy ( minus the large bus) That we twist and turn through the Jerusalem streets in. I'd also like to note here that I have not thrown up in one week! BH! :) Thursday was some more good classes on Shabbat and Torah you know...which were I swear interesting but i am just getting exhausted so it was hard for me to get through. The afternoon was a mandatory seminar at Ner'Lelef regarding questions like the difference between animals and humans (freewill...ect.) and how important keeping the Jewish race alive is because really its a miracle we have survived. Jews make up 8% of the US population and 2.8% of the world! Now think about this....Jews should technically be unheard of but ask anyone and they will probably know what a Jewish person is or at least heard the term! CRAZY!
After this lecture I decided to take it easy at Ben Yahuda with some delicious veggie food and coffee bean. The seminar that night was my favorite so far. We discussed values and attempted to figure out why we wake up everyday!? What's the point? What's Rachael Jimenezs point!? We had to choose 10 of 50 values and I chose: Friendship, Judaism, Truth, Justice, Success, Loyalty, Spirituality ( G-d), Passion, self development and creativity. We then had to pick 5 which wasn't so bad, I picked : Spirituality, Passion, Justice, Truth, and Friendship. The next step was 2 and put them in order...this was hard. I had to really think about..."why do I do what I do? what do I believe in most?" I came up with 1. Spirituality (G-d) and 2. Passion. Sound like me? Today, yes.
Now the point is that keeping Shabbos is a time to celebrate what you really believe in, your values. I went to sleep with more than enough to think about including laundry and packing for Shabbos ( our trip to Tsfat, Galalie, Tiberias, Jordan River and a hike to remember).
Friday came and I was so excited for Shabbat. I needed it! And after all this week I was in need of good Shabbos food. I was excited to exercise my challah pacing ( as in don't eat a shit load of challah because you won't be able to eat the other 3 courses). First though we went to beautiful Tsfat! Which reminded me of a more crowded ( jewish) Mykanos. Filled with Art and jewelry shops in the midst of ruins. I finally got one of those Israeli wrap skirts. Can't wait to wear it in Cali! After a delicious salad we were off to a not so delicious orthodox hotel...can I say...wait maybe I won't say...
But besides the awful smell of the lobby, crowded with orthodox Israelis with at least 10 screaming children each. The rooms reminded me of a run down Motel 6 but we had it lucky because some girls had lizards, roaches, pee coming out of the shower, and blood stained sheets. WEEEEE! I nearly starved the food was so unappetizing. Sara is now considering becoming a vegetarian. But despite the little discomforts we got to sleep in till 11am and have wonderful learning sessions full of meditations and stories all by my favorite Rabbi Katz. I actually got a one on one with him about the entertainment career and Judaism and how do I keep holy considering the profession I am interested in. Ask me about the answer as it is personal and better to relate to in person. Needless to say, I have a lot to think about.
We ended Shabbos with a beautiful sunset over the sea of Galalie and we celebrated on a small boat with drums and Israeli music and dancing. I know there are videos! I hope people post them eventually.
Sunday we were right back to work, minus the classes. We wre off to an intense "Birthright" day full of serious hikes to a waterfall after driving through a minefield. And of course kayaking with Sara on the Jordan river! Being the 4th of July and all me and only two other people wore red white and blue...sad. I would have loved to go celebrate but after a three hour bus ride back to Jerusalem I just wasn't feeling it. Which is weird because if you know me you know it's my favorite Holiday!
So right around the end of week two I am feeling like I could stay forever and never go back and that it would just be easier that way. I am now already planning my next trip to Israel. And I have a Liz Gilbert moment and I'm like STOPPP!!! YOUR HERE!! LOOK UP!
So yes I will come home and on the 4th of July of all days I am feeling like I miss the good ol' ( not as ol' as Israel) USA...and of course Starbucks
After this lecture I decided to take it easy at Ben Yahuda with some delicious veggie food and coffee bean. The seminar that night was my favorite so far. We discussed values and attempted to figure out why we wake up everyday!? What's the point? What's Rachael Jimenezs point!? We had to choose 10 of 50 values and I chose: Friendship, Judaism, Truth, Justice, Success, Loyalty, Spirituality ( G-d), Passion, self development and creativity. We then had to pick 5 which wasn't so bad, I picked : Spirituality, Passion, Justice, Truth, and Friendship. The next step was 2 and put them in order...this was hard. I had to really think about..."why do I do what I do? what do I believe in most?" I came up with 1. Spirituality (G-d) and 2. Passion. Sound like me? Today, yes.
Now the point is that keeping Shabbos is a time to celebrate what you really believe in, your values. I went to sleep with more than enough to think about including laundry and packing for Shabbos ( our trip to Tsfat, Galalie, Tiberias, Jordan River and a hike to remember).
Friday came and I was so excited for Shabbat. I needed it! And after all this week I was in need of good Shabbos food. I was excited to exercise my challah pacing ( as in don't eat a shit load of challah because you won't be able to eat the other 3 courses). First though we went to beautiful Tsfat! Which reminded me of a more crowded ( jewish) Mykanos. Filled with Art and jewelry shops in the midst of ruins. I finally got one of those Israeli wrap skirts. Can't wait to wear it in Cali! After a delicious salad we were off to a not so delicious orthodox hotel...can I say...wait maybe I won't say...
But besides the awful smell of the lobby, crowded with orthodox Israelis with at least 10 screaming children each. The rooms reminded me of a run down Motel 6 but we had it lucky because some girls had lizards, roaches, pee coming out of the shower, and blood stained sheets. WEEEEE! I nearly starved the food was so unappetizing. Sara is now considering becoming a vegetarian. But despite the little discomforts we got to sleep in till 11am and have wonderful learning sessions full of meditations and stories all by my favorite Rabbi Katz. I actually got a one on one with him about the entertainment career and Judaism and how do I keep holy considering the profession I am interested in. Ask me about the answer as it is personal and better to relate to in person. Needless to say, I have a lot to think about.
We ended Shabbos with a beautiful sunset over the sea of Galalie and we celebrated on a small boat with drums and Israeli music and dancing. I know there are videos! I hope people post them eventually.
Sunday we were right back to work, minus the classes. We wre off to an intense "Birthright" day full of serious hikes to a waterfall after driving through a minefield. And of course kayaking with Sara on the Jordan river! Being the 4th of July and all me and only two other people wore red white and blue...sad. I would have loved to go celebrate but after a three hour bus ride back to Jerusalem I just wasn't feeling it. Which is weird because if you know me you know it's my favorite Holiday!
So right around the end of week two I am feeling like I could stay forever and never go back and that it would just be easier that way. I am now already planning my next trip to Israel. And I have a Liz Gilbert moment and I'm like STOPPP!!! YOUR HERE!! LOOK UP!
So yes I will come home and on the 4th of July of all days I am feeling like I miss the good ol' ( not as ol' as Israel) USA...and of course Starbucks
Friday, August 6, 2010
Really
So I'm sitting Jaffa Street in Jerusalem with some great girls with my great coffee bean ( Kosher, of course ) and attempting to focus and write about the past two days but part of me feels like I'm missing out by looking down at my journal, but let me tell you, it's not that bad since all I've been doing is engaging in conversation and thinking and evaluating and not gonna lie stressing about going home already even though I have a week and a half left. I could extend? But responsibility calls. I gotta move in my beautiful new house with my girls and my trip to AZ is coming up. I have at least two more trips to Palm Springs and getting ready for what will be the rest of my new life. So you can see why I am a little distracted at times. But most of time I really am present here. I am really working on that as well as a WHOLE lot of other things. So you know when its like late at night and you end up having a deep conversation with a friend that ends up being 3 hrs and changes your life...well thats kinda what this is like all the time. We are self discovering while brushing our teeth. Never ending learning....the "jewish way". It's the most exhausting fullfilling thing I have been a part of.
So back to Tuesday. Class, class, and more class. Self discovery, Judaism and sexuality, relationships and basically that I have been doing everything wrong...surprise? NOT REALLY. Ask me about this its really interesting and I would love to talk about it in person. In the afternoon we went to Yad Vashem. The Holocaust museum of Israel. I feel like this is something everyone should see at least once. Even if that means going to the Tolerance Museum or the one in D.C. it should be mandatory that you know these stories. I know when I attend these museums that the images of such torture and cruelty are vivid and almost a visceral experience. It's a heavy sadness that you want to be able to fully comprehend but you can't really. This museum was so detailed and like Judaism nothing was placed by accident, including the architecture. I was deeply moved once again by the stories of the survivors and chilled by the pictures and descriptions of the what took place. Of course I have heard stories before and gone to museums and learned about this my whole life, but I will never think "Oh Ya...I've heard that before", I hope no one feels that way about the Holocaust, because once it becomes that way we might forget and we must NEVER FORGET. It is my job as a Jew and as a human being to know history, so I can be a part of "NEVER AGAIN".
After the museum we went to the main mall in Jerusalem where I bough some religious clothes...can't wait to show you guys :). and funny Israeli fashion items. After some falafel we headed back to Ben Yahuda BACK to Constantine....which I swore I would never return...after a swallow of the Israel equivalent of Popov, appropraitly named "Perfect", we entered the club where it was just our group. Sometimes things the second time are really not good at all. So I tried to leave but the security gaurd proceeded to yell at me in Hebrew and as I went to escape by him he raised his hand to me...uhhhh...scary...and told me I couldn't leave for an hour. WTF! So I called Thalia to come save me which she did. I was okay now. But REALLY!!! That was my last time at Constantine.
I haven't really been waking up too tired even though we basically go out everynight. Wed morning of course there were classes and I am so overwhelmed by such wisdom and truth that as I've been saying its really difficult to take it all in. I can only hope that somehow if I ever get into a situation where I can use this knowledge I'll be able to access it. A few topics for today included reincarnation, Torah and more of it's secrets. The afternoon was filled with everything stereotypical "The Israel experience". We went to the land of Genesis in the desert where we got a "Bible experience". We entered a tent, but not just any tent, the tent of Abraham where an actor (with a south african accent) told his story, the story of Abraham, and shared with us dried fruit, pita baking and a little hebrew lesson where we wrote with a piece of wood and ink on a postcard. I sent it to Mom and Dad..maybe they'll get it. Lastly I rode a camel....which was a little cruel because I don't think they really like it too much... I had a great camel partner Ariella! WOOT! So basically it felt like riding a horse as we crawled up a hill no longer than some Palos Verdes driveways which I am kinda glad these poor camels do not have to do too much in the hot sun. Poor babies :(. After we went to an awful food court that is suppose to be really great...but I REALLY could not eat any more falafel. So I got cucumber roll...ehhhhh....well just imagine. Quickly after were were off to another home to listen to a speaker talk about Shomer Negiah. A practice that some jews keep that includes not touching the other sex at all. Sound Crazy? well talk to me about it...it may seem ridiculous but its probably the most valid thing I have heard so far. Please ask me about this one, I would love to have a chat. uh-oh the "brainwash" is working.
So of course I went to Ben Yahuda, even though I shouldn't have. But it was Ariellas birthday!!! So of course I couldn't say no. So we went to a cute Israeli cafe were I got tea and some some more debate and questioning. Another late night and No i didn't send my postcards or do my laundry, but thats just the way it goes.
So back to Tuesday. Class, class, and more class. Self discovery, Judaism and sexuality, relationships and basically that I have been doing everything wrong...surprise? NOT REALLY. Ask me about this its really interesting and I would love to talk about it in person. In the afternoon we went to Yad Vashem. The Holocaust museum of Israel. I feel like this is something everyone should see at least once. Even if that means going to the Tolerance Museum or the one in D.C. it should be mandatory that you know these stories. I know when I attend these museums that the images of such torture and cruelty are vivid and almost a visceral experience. It's a heavy sadness that you want to be able to fully comprehend but you can't really. This museum was so detailed and like Judaism nothing was placed by accident, including the architecture. I was deeply moved once again by the stories of the survivors and chilled by the pictures and descriptions of the what took place. Of course I have heard stories before and gone to museums and learned about this my whole life, but I will never think "Oh Ya...I've heard that before", I hope no one feels that way about the Holocaust, because once it becomes that way we might forget and we must NEVER FORGET. It is my job as a Jew and as a human being to know history, so I can be a part of "NEVER AGAIN".
After the museum we went to the main mall in Jerusalem where I bough some religious clothes...can't wait to show you guys :). and funny Israeli fashion items. After some falafel we headed back to Ben Yahuda BACK to Constantine....which I swore I would never return...after a swallow of the Israel equivalent of Popov, appropraitly named "Perfect", we entered the club where it was just our group. Sometimes things the second time are really not good at all. So I tried to leave but the security gaurd proceeded to yell at me in Hebrew and as I went to escape by him he raised his hand to me...uhhhh...scary...and told me I couldn't leave for an hour. WTF! So I called Thalia to come save me which she did. I was okay now. But REALLY!!! That was my last time at Constantine.
I haven't really been waking up too tired even though we basically go out everynight. Wed morning of course there were classes and I am so overwhelmed by such wisdom and truth that as I've been saying its really difficult to take it all in. I can only hope that somehow if I ever get into a situation where I can use this knowledge I'll be able to access it. A few topics for today included reincarnation, Torah and more of it's secrets. The afternoon was filled with everything stereotypical "The Israel experience". We went to the land of Genesis in the desert where we got a "Bible experience". We entered a tent, but not just any tent, the tent of Abraham where an actor (with a south african accent) told his story, the story of Abraham, and shared with us dried fruit, pita baking and a little hebrew lesson where we wrote with a piece of wood and ink on a postcard. I sent it to Mom and Dad..maybe they'll get it. Lastly I rode a camel....which was a little cruel because I don't think they really like it too much... I had a great camel partner Ariella! WOOT! So basically it felt like riding a horse as we crawled up a hill no longer than some Palos Verdes driveways which I am kinda glad these poor camels do not have to do too much in the hot sun. Poor babies :(. After we went to an awful food court that is suppose to be really great...but I REALLY could not eat any more falafel. So I got cucumber roll...ehhhhh....well just imagine. Quickly after were were off to another home to listen to a speaker talk about Shomer Negiah. A practice that some jews keep that includes not touching the other sex at all. Sound Crazy? well talk to me about it...it may seem ridiculous but its probably the most valid thing I have heard so far. Please ask me about this one, I would love to have a chat. uh-oh the "brainwash" is working.
So of course I went to Ben Yahuda, even though I shouldn't have. But it was Ariellas birthday!!! So of course I couldn't say no. So we went to a cute Israeli cafe were I got tea and some some more debate and questioning. Another late night and No i didn't send my postcards or do my laundry, but thats just the way it goes.
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