And God said, "Let there be baskteball."

Since my last post much has happened. Due to popular demand, I have consented to write another blog post. Recently the NBA started their grueling 82 game schedule. I am very excited to watch as many games as possible. Unfortunately our TV is stuck on world series until it's over....go Rays. What have I been up to? Well, on shabbat I went to shul...on sunday a couple of friends and I went to the Sushi place previously mentioned and ordered the all you can eat sushi again. It was just as good. School's starting to get into ful swing, and my workload's growing larger every day. My rabbi's comming into israel and I'm hoping that I'll be able to have shabbat dinner with him.

That's all for now

-Z

Sushi Sooshi Sooshie Sooshiey SOOOSHI

Hey!

Today I decided to eat sushi. Not just any sushi, my friend Jonathan and I decided to go to a sushi place near beit NATIV and order all you could eat sushi. For about 20 USD we ate our fill of sushi. It was fantastic. Shabbat is coming soon, and it's raining outside. It will be wonderful. Tomorrow I'm reading Haftorat Breishit, many of my friends are coming to see me. It should be nice.

Shabbat Shalom

-Z

Back to School Blues

Contrary to popular belief, just becuase I haven't blogged recently, things are still happening! Last Wednesday NATIV left their humble abodes and went down to the desert to discover their Bnei Yisrael roots. Armed with Lulavim, Etrogim, water, and high spirits we came to the desert where we would spend the next three days hiking, sleeping, hiking, shmoozing, hiking, eating, hiking, sitting, and bonding. Oh, and a little more hiking. My group, Yerucham's task was to get to the Machtesh (giant crater in the middle of israel...look it up, it's cool) from the Aravah Valley. Walking about 20+ kilometers in 3 days we did it. It was fantastic. My favorite part of the trip, aside from all the hiking, heat, sleep deprivation, and exhaustion, was my 45 minute nap up on the ledge of the Machtesh. You just don't do those things every day. We davened with our lulavim in the desert to simulate a real o'naturAl experiance.  We got back to Beit NATIV a few hours before Shabbat. Shabbat was very nice, I attended the Great Synegogue for kabbalat shabbat which is always a treat, and then congregation Kedem for shacharit. I allowed them to nudge me into doing haftorah for this week. Bereishit...it should be fun, once I look at it that is. The remainder of chol hamoed Sukkot came and went and we found Simchat Torah in our laps. In America, Simchat Torah's pretty insane. In Israel, Simchat Torah's a legitimate reason to quit clubbing. Nowhere else can you get this many people singing, and dancing, with this type of kavanah. It was a very amazing, and special experiance. On erev Simchat Torah I attended Yakar. We danced for 2 hours. Up and down the street, around cars, around people. It all became a reality when I was able to dance with a Torah during the 7th Hakafa. There are some experiances that I may remember my whole life. That makes that list without fail. I was then invited to a very lovely dinner with some friends and staff. It was very nice to have a homecooked meal again. This morning I attended The Great Synegogue. I had wanted to hear Geshem since I arrived in Israel. It did not dissapoint. Both the cantor and the chior were fantastic. I left right after because it was time for lunch. After a quick game of risk with some friends I moseyed on down to the sukkah to see what was happening. I walked up to a game of Jungle Speed. This is an intense game, I had learned it under a different name: Jungle Jam. And I played that for an hour. For those who would like to look this game up, please do, also note that no one was hurt, physically that is, for the enjoyment of this game. After Jungle Speed, NATIV walked over to a park and attended Hakafot Shniot. This is a ceremony that is basically Hakafot with live music. It was great fun. Shimon Perez was there, along with all the cheif rabbis of Israel, and they were all dancing and having a great time. I go back to school on Thursday, and I've got much homework to complete. For all you readers out there. Please leave a little comment, either with questions, comments, things that will make me laugh, etc. You've been slacking a little bit on my past blogs. 

Until Next Time

V'samachta, Bechagecha, Vahita Af Sameach

-Z

Shake Shake Shake, Shake Shake Shake, Shake your Lulav, Shake your Lulav

Today I had the unique experiance of buying my very own lulav and etrog. We went down to the Jerusalem Shuk and there was a huge bazarre of lulavs etrogs hadasim and aravot. I saw etrogs the size of softballs and lulavs that were upwards of 4 feet tall. There was a man trying to sell a 10 foot lulav. It was awesome. I picked out my own lulav and etrog, along with hadasim and aravot, all from different sellers mind you. The total was 50 NIS, and with a neat lulav carry case it was 65 NIS. Tonight is erev Sukkot, and the Sukkot are up at Beit Nativ. A couple of friends and I are going to sleep outside tonight, it should be a very fun experiance. Tonight for the Chag's dinner we are putting together a nice chicken dinner. I am going to go out and pick some roasted chickens from supersol and other people have brought other things. It should be a wonderful evening. After the chag we are going to be spending time in the Desert as part of our Tiyul. I'll be back Friday right before Shabbat, and I plan on staying at one of my co-counsuler's houses this weekend. 

Chag Sameach!

-Z

Dissapointment in the wake of Adversity

So, I went into my Jerusalem final thinking that it would be hard. Found it to be quite easy, then turned around, got it back, and I didn't do too well. I guess it's my luck. Word from the wise, if you don't pay attention to a class, you're probably not going to do well on the final. Huh... I guess I'll just have to try harder in my other classes. Anyway. It's Sukkot! It makes me very excited, I am going to go out and by my own lulav and etrog. What should I look for in a lulav or etrog? I've never had the opportunity to buy my own. It's an interesting experiance. Though the dissapointment of my grade is keepign me down a little bit i think that I'll do better in my other subjects.

-Zach

Saturday, October 11

It's been a while since I've blogged, and I'm going to start doing it every day, because these mass blogs are just annoying. Classes started on Monday and they are all very interesting. I am sick, and I have a pretty harsh cold. Yom Kippur in Israel is FANTASTIC. For all of you who saw the movie "I am Legend." The streets of Israel could be compared to that, minus the monsters of course. No one was driving, and everyone was just walking on the streets it was so fantastic. I attended a minyan outside of the Prime Minister's house with Gilad Shalit's family for Kol Nidre and Ma'ariv, then for Shacharit and Musaf I went to Shir Hachadasha. It was fantastic. Finally to end the fast I went to the Kotel for Mincha, Ne'ila, and Ma'ariv. It was an awesome experiance. Shabbat's nice here, I'm still a little bit under the weather but I'm getting better. Sunday is school again, and after school we get to start building the Sukkah. It will be pretty fun. 'Till then...

Gmar Chatimah tovah!

Long time no Blog

There have been a couple of reasons why I haven't blogged recently. Due to mostly laziness, and a little thing called Rosh Hashana, and a slightly bigger thing called internet malfunction, I have not blogged for about a week.

Shanah Tovah Umetuka, to Everyone!

To recap the week....
Thursday I had my first college final. It went extremely well and I should receive my grade no later than Sunday. Friday held my 2nd final and that went slightly less fantastic, but still very good. I'm really starting to get the hang of this study thing. On shabbat I davened at the Great Synagogue, both Kabbalat Shabbat and Shacharit. It was an uplifting experience. I really enjoy listening to the Chazan and the choir, even if it's a very orthodox service. Saturday afternoon was spent studying for my 3rd and final final (:)). On Sunday I took that final and I performed well. Monday we had a couple of Rosh Hashana seminars and then I bought my first acoustic guitar. It's awesome and I'm enjoying every minute of it. Then erev Rosh Hashana I went and davened with everyone on nativ it was amazing. We then walked over to the parents of Gilad Shalit who were having Rosha Hashana dinner outside of the Prime Minister's house for the first time since the kidnapping. It was an awesome experience. His dad talked to us and said that it's great that we have so much support and also told everyone not to have a seat at their table for Gilad, because they want him at their table. It was amazing

Rosh Hashana was awesome, services were swift and painless, the meals were more than I needed and the company was fantastic.

until next time


Gmar Tov Everyone

-Z

So I figured it was time for another post

Hey, how is everybody

I'm doing great. We visited a messianic church yesterday and I was intorduced to a man who tried to convert me. It was a very intersting experiance. I hung out with one of my co counsulers from this summer last night. We went out and got a beer at a rock pub. It was a very nice experiance. The Israelis don't go to the bars that Us americans go to, they have more class than that. We didn't have first period today so I'm hanging out in the halls of Hebrew University. It's a lot of fun. I earned a 20 out of 20 on one of my essays yesterday. It was an awesome experiance. I've been waiting to be an academic for the longest time.

As George Harrison put it, "Here comes the sun"

I'm back in the academic game, and you know what? I'm here to stay.

-Z

I'm fine

There was a terrorist attack in Jerusalem tonight at about 11:00pm. I'm fine, and the rest of NATIV is fine. It's an unreal experience, scary but it makes me feel proud to still be in Israel, and to know, I still have a paper to write, and I'm going to do it, and nothing's going to stop me.

-Z

Good New

My friend Matt and I at Hebrew U

My friends Matan (right) and Nathan in my dorm
Just me and Nathan


So today started out pretty well. The history essay that I was working on was turned back to me and I earned an 86% on it 13/15. I'm pretty happy with that grade. I'm waiting to get my Jewish texts essay back and I'm hoping that will get better marks considering I spent a lot more time on it. I set up my Rosh Hashana schedule that features Erev dinner at Paul Friedman's house. Excited is a sever understatement. There were 4 spots allotted from each group to attend dinner and I managed to squeeze in. Today we have a meeting with Jules Gutin about conservative judaism and I have another History essay that needs to be written. This one about an Arab Israeli citizen who's a part of parliament. He wrote an article that we're analyzing and then taking a stand with an Israeli political party and writing a letter to the writer about your opinion based on your stand. It should be pretty interesting. I have a friend who's helping me write essays, he's a fantastic writer and I'm really enjoying the college atmosphere of everyone in the same boat and doing the same work. It's a really good environment for me.

Sunday Night Football...Really

So it's Sunday night and most of NATIV is out watching the football games at verious venues. I'm stuck here about to go to bed and get a better nights sleep than most will tonght. I take pride in that. It was a good day today, turned in my two essays, had another assigned due Tuesday. For dinner I bought some salami, turkey, dijon mustard, mayo, french bread with raisins and nuts for 80 NIS. That should keep me with dinners for about another 6 days, it's a good price and I need to start saving my money and my calries. Any suggestions on quick and easy meals? Thanks

-Z

School in 4 hours woo

Worked on two essays tonight, about to go to bed. Slichot was fantastic and so was the rest of shabbat. I played 4 games of rummikub with my buds and won 2 of those games. It was fantastic. I'll talk to y'all tomorrow. Any ideas of fun things to do in Jerusalem, or ways that I can optimize my time better, or good wakeup habits, that'd be awesome...THANKS!

-Z

me and my new mouse

My friend Avi and I

My friend Elisheva and I

Friday the 19th of September

After a night of working on two very interesting essays, a Jewish texts class, schnitzel-shwarma sandwich, and a little shopping I'm back at Beit Nativ with a few new toys. I have a new keyboard with Hebrew letters a small mouse, and some new headphones, in total about an 100 shekel purchase. With Shabbat starting soon i'm getting ready to get ready for the weekend. Shabbat Shalom everyone

-Z

Nativ is school too

Upon coming to Hebrew University, many of my friends and family did not believe it would be a real college experience. I have two essays due on SUNDAY. One for my Jewish texts class dealing with the final chapter of A.J. Heschel's The Prophets and one for my Israel society, politics, and culture class comparing and contrasting a video and an article. Both are underway, neither are done, and I plan on doing most of it on Friday.
Things are getting really exciting here. I'm going to the Jerusalem Symphony on Thursday to see:

Abir – Work for Mandolin, Clarinet and Strings (première)

Haydn –Concerto in D Major for Piano

Breiner - Symphonic Concerto for Giora and Orchestra (Israeli première)

It should be a lot of fun. It's very interesting how many people are going for the social aspect as opposed to an appreciation for classical music. I charged myself with the task of convincing a few of my friends that classical music is not just for old men and high class citizens of the rennaicance period.

Last night we had boys and girls bonding night. The girls did girlie talk things that I did not bother learning about. My groups boys happen to be fantastic, and they're all amazing kids. The first order of business was walk to a park, recieve a single NIS from our staff. Our task was to go around to the neighborhood and see what we could get for that single NIS. Kids came back with clothes, plants, candies, a hubcap, bread, anti-itch cream, and more NIS. Our group came back with 11 20 minute calling cards to America from Israel, it was fantastic.

The next thing we did was situate ourselves on a little patch of grass with a sweater in the middle. The game was called kadawa. The object of the game was similar to tag, but whomever was "it" had to hop on one leg while trying to tag people, he could only go on two legs if he was on the sweater. If he fell to two legs over the course of him trying to catch a kid, we would kick him until he got back to the sweater. This game was invented in the Israeli army, and was played no asphalt. If the "it" went off and tried to catch someone, somoene behind him could step on the sweater, transfer to one leg, and then kick him, thus subjecting that person to a beating until he got back to the sweater. Let's just say I woke up with my share of bruises this morning. It was great fun.

Today I'm sitting in the Hebrew University Lounge waiting for class because the bus came early and our 2nd period class was cancelled.

L'hitraot till next time

-Z

First day of school

Hey,

Today was my first day of school. At 8:30 we took a bus to Hebrew University, and I reached my first class: Israeli Society, Culture, and Politics. It was fantastic. Our professor, from London, England, is a brilliant scholar and infused the whole class with pride for the state of Israel. Asking us questions such as: Where did Zionism start? Did it start with the beginning of the diaspora, or with Herzl. He is a really engaging teacher, I'm looking forward to taking many more classes with him in the future.
Walking around Hebrew University today was a lot of fun. We needed to walk to a certain spot on campus to pick up our "readers" for that class. Our next class was supposed to be a Jewish Texts class, but the teacher called in sick. Our class made up of 10 antsy 18 year-olds itching to get off campus, decided to take the public bus home early. The regular bus doesn't get back home to Beit Nativ until 2:30. It was quite an adventure. I'm really looking forward to the readings I have to do this afternoon in order to prepare for my next class.
Today we get to talk to a representative from the Jerusalem Post, one of Isreal's most prominent Newspapers. Later we will recieve some "gifts" from Masa, the fund that donated a lot of money to our trip tuition. I'm very excited.
My phone number is 05260422580, for those who are interested. My email is on this page, and if you would like to visit me, I'll be at the Fuchsburg Center on Agron Street.

Talk to you later!

-Z

My Bed

The Views outside my Building

Our Porch

King George Street

Agron Street

My Dorm

This is my Room, Clockwise

Baseball Pictures

These are some pictures of a Baseball game I attended. The New Jersey Jackals, a minor league team, beat the Sussex Redbirds in a thriller

I'm finally home

Greetings from da holy land!

Hey, It's Zachary from my dorm room in Jerusalem. it's about 8:15 AM and I'm about to go to Tefilla. The flight was long, but it was enjoyable with all the new people anxious to get to Israel. We got to the airport and got picked up by our staff. We went to the Costel, and talked about how this trip is not necessarily about the history of Israel, but about modern day Israel and how we're going to be a part of the culture for the next segment of our lives. We arrived at Beit Nativ, the hostel that we'll be staying at for the next 5 months and we promptly recieved our Israel Phones and neccessary information. We woke up the next morning and we began to learn about the Nativ life. That was followed by a night of hanging out at Ben Yehudah street. Shwarma never tasted so good. My personal favorite flavor as of now is lamb shwarma with cole slaw, hummus, tachina, a little charif (spicy), and some israeli salad. It's fantastic. It's great being where I belong.

-Z

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya...you get the idea

So, if you had not guessed it already I'm leaving tomorrow. I'm leaving to New Jersey to stay with some relatives who will ship me to other relatives who will then ship me to more relatives who will ship me to the airport to finally go to my final destination: Israel. I'm finishing packing, and deciding what I'm going to forget and ask my parents to send or bring to me during winter break. I've got all of my essentials, but I'm worried about my luggage, I hope it passes the size test or else the fee is intense for an oversize bag. I'm excited about my morning flight. I do a lot better on morning flights than night flights because in the morning I want to sleep and at night I don't really want to sleep. But a 7:15 flight leaves little room for sleeping in. A kima (wake up in hebrew) of o-dark thirty does not excite me. Oh well, I may blog in the airport in San Diego depending on how fast I get through security but more than likely I will blog again from the Cincinnati airport, which apparently isn't in cincinnati at all...hmmmm. See you tomorrow

-Z

Hey,

So it's Sunday, I leave on Thursday. I'm really excited to go on Thursday and I'm just sitting here contemplating my time here in San Diego. 4 years ago I did not expect to be going away to Israel for college, in fact, college seemed like a mere afterthought to me socially dominated priorities of a high school freshman. I'm working on getting packed a day earlier than I'd usually pack because my Dad seems to think that I should finish all the packing early then goof off later, and I agree with him, even though I'm going to have to find what to wear and my anxiety about the trip will only heighten with the packing. I am used to packing for weekend trips, and every year I pack for camp, but going away for 9 months is a big deal. The idea of not being with my parents for Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, their anniversary, my birthday, the list goes on. Its an interesting idea that I can't seem to comprehend right now, but I'm sure the full effect of it will hit me when those dates occur. I'll continue to keep you posted. I leave in about 80 hours, it's scary.

-Z

15 Days Until Showtime

Well, as you can see there are 15 days until I will arrive in Ha'aretz (the land) and I'm making my preparations. I've gotten a new computer, started cleaning my room, practiced my cooking, and setting up my fantasy football league. I'm getting really excited and nothing made me more excited then reading the handbook that describes my second semester schedule of activities. I'm planning on seeing my USY friends for the last time tomorrow, and I'm planning on working on my packing list and my room for the rest of the day.

-Z

Quick Facts

For those of you who don't know, I'm leaving on August 28th to go to NYC to visit some family and friends but the NATIV program doesn't start until September 1st. I will be in Jerusalem for the first 6 months of the program, then I will be in Yerucham, doing community service for the rest of the year until I come home in late May. In Jerusalem, I will be studying at The Hebrew University and livin' it up in the land of my ancestors.

If you've got any ideas of fun things to do in Jerusalem, or even in Yerucham, please feel free to let me know.

-Z

Guitar Woes

So here's the deal, I acquired an old classical guitar from my neighbor a week before I went to camp. I did not take it to camp because I didn't think I had enough skills to practice with it, or the room in which to be able to take it home. At camp I practiced on my friend's guitar and I have gotten much better even in my Dad's eyes, but he does not support me taking it with me to Israel, where I will be spending the next year for college. I know that there will be others with guitars on the trip but having one of my own would be tremendously convenient. I would not have to ask others to borrow their guitars and I could play with them and not have to borrow from them. I believe that it's a good idea to bring the guitar with me. I know that a year off would hurt my skills and it'd be hard to catch up. On the flip side, I believe that having the guitar with me would enable to me to practice often and get a lot better especially when I come back after 9 months of being away from home. It would give me activity to do that doesn't involve a computer video game or things more detrimental to my brain power. I do have a hard case that I could check it in to the airport when I travel. Also it would be my responsibility and my hassle to deal with the extra charge for checking it, or if I carried it on I'd have to bring one less carry-on bag, which shouldn't matter to my Dad but it isn't. His direct quote was that he wouldn't forbid me from taking it, but he thinks it would be a very bad idea. I disagree with that...What do you think? I could use some inspiration.

-Z

2 Weeks Until Nativ

Hey everyone!

Zach here, and yes, it is 2 weeks until NATIV, but I will update this periodically until I get settled on NATIV. I'm starting to pack even though I've got 2 weeks until I leave. I'm saying my last goodbye's to my friends and I'm really enjoying my time in San Diego.

-Z