2-day chag...let the fun begin

During my last trip to Israel I officially made yerida - moving outside of Israel. Of course as you all may not know, I never officially declared that I was moving to Israel for the rest of my life. Rather, it started as a few months of time after I quit my job in New York and I just wound up staying. In order to work legally at my last job in Israel I needed to get a Teudat Zehut (ID card), which was rather easy for me being as my dad is Israeli. So technically I guess I did make aliyah, but I'm still waiting for the day when I make some huge declaration of where I will live for a significant portion of my life.

Where was I going with this? Oh yeah. Israelis (living in Israel) get to observe 1 day of religious holidays where us folk living in shmutz l'aretz have to observe 2. I knew that anyway (plus I believe in keeping the law of the land), and in years like this where a 2-day holiday goes straight through Shabbat, that's a lot of time in synagogue and lying around doing nothing and eating!

Tonight begins the holiday of Sukkot. It also begins me hanging around the Upper West Side and trying to get better (the recent change of climate has taken its toll on my immune system). In short, to those who live in Israel, enjoy your day in between chag and Shabbat. And to those who live in shmutz l'aretz, let the fun begin. To all - Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom! Happy shaking :)

A summary of days - Part 2 (from the bus)

Lately I find myself really missing my grandparents. I wonder what that's all about, but I like that they are constantly in my mind. I get a strange warm feeling from it. I hope to dream of them both soon.

It definitely has the feel of autumn in New York. Today my feet are in closed-toe shoes for the first time in weeks. Last night I was happy I had brought my coat.

Although I was exhausted and suffering from delirium after only a few hours of sleep on my flight, I allowed my mom to convince me that an 11 PM supermarket run was a good idea. It was one which led to cheese blintzes and half-sour pickles at 1 AM.

My trip to the supermarket was like a breath of fresh air. No Russian women to intimidate me. Every item in its place. Blintzes on sale (good old Waldbaum's). Like a dream. Like the NY skyline (sorry, but I write this on the bus to NYC)>

Ah Manhattan. My first love. This seems to happen on my first trip back to the city. Something like the chills mixed with cold sweats. But in a good uneasy way. I become anxiety-ridden as I think of a snow-filled winter. Note to self: buy galoshes and a raincoat. And yet I digress.

NY Israel, Israel NY. Will the dilemma ever end? One thing is for sure - nothing feels like home as much as Tel Aviv...except of course for NY.

A summary of days - Part 1 (from the plane)

I haven't had the heart to write much of anything lately. Too much dwelling on the last 3 - 4 years of my life. Too much dwelling on the past. How difficult it is to move on while seeming so effortless.

Some parts of my trip tried to make me lose faith in Israel. How bureaucracies decide what's convenient for them while always seeming to inconvenience those with a lot at stake. All in all, I do not owe 2,000 NIS to Bituach Leumi.

And who knew that in the end I would wish that I could have stayed? But I made a decision and so I should stick with it. What I would give for a full time job already. And a cigarette and a warm bed and someone with whom to share it.

I wonder how religious women feel about their husbands' appearance. There men/penguins seem to do a lot of learning and eating. They go hand-in-hand?

Finally exhaustion creeps up on me. These trips are tiring.

Word of the day

In my Inbox today I found the latest word that Merriam-Webster wants me to know.

convivial \kun-VIV-ee-ul\ adjective
: relating to, occupied with, or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company
Example sentence:
Ellen and Kevin's dinner parties are always relaxed, convivial events, with good food in abundance, and wine and conversation both flowing freely.

It made me happy to read, because that's exactly how I would have described last night. I can't remember the last time I had such a pure, good and happy drunk. It was great seeing some old faces. I loved every minute of it. Here's to a shavua tov.

There's something about an Israeli supermarket shopping experience that intimidates me incredibly. Perhaps the Russian women behind the counters who don't speak English and wouldn't be able to help me if I was in a bind. Perhaps it's that I need my American reliable pre-packaged portions that always seem to suit my meals so perfectly.

Today I completed a survey about my experience while on my 10-day organized trip to Israel. "It did not meet my expectations." In my wine-tinged truth, I must say what followed freedom from my trip hasn't met my expectations either. And the more I think about it, the brattier I feel. I have to say, I never once wanted to be anywhere else until now. Something's off and I think it's me. Because it's a Thursday night in Tel Aviv and where I once would have wanted to be painting the town red, I want nothing more than to bury my head in the pillow until I fall asleep.

Too many thoughts go round this pretty lil head o' mine

For 10 days I served as translator to 20 some-odd NY-area Jews

Either life changes incredibly or nothing changes at all. I look in the mirror and either I don't recognize my face or really it's just me 3 years ago.

I'm sharing a bed now that was once familiar. It makes me toss and turn a dream-filled sleep of past and present. Until I reach the root of the problem I will continue to blame it on the Tel Aviv heat.