More like the teachers strike back. On Tuesday evening, when all universities were closed for the holiday, we got an email saying that the teachers all over the universities are on strike. I'm not sure for what because it was in Hebrew, but apparently this means that the Israelis, who were supposed to start November 2nd, do not have a start day for classes. I've talked to a few Israelis who are already in the dorms because of summer classes and they said they didn't care. They had plenty of stuff to do. Anyway, this strike means that a lot of the University's facilities are going to be closed, ie the library, the gym, the cafeterias. They say that it's not worth it to keep these things open for less than 150 students. The gym and the cafeterias, I can understand, but the Library? That's an essential learning place! It's the only place we'll be able to find research materials and print paper. (Ok, ok so we can both those things with the computer lab, but still, it's nice to have a hard cover book in front of you when you are learning about Menachem Begin)
In addition to the strike, there was a riot in Akko on Yom Kippur. An Arab was driving through a pre-dominantly Jewish area and since most Jews in Israel do not drive on the holiest day of the year, this act was not welcomed. As a consequence, the driver got stoned and there was a rumor that he was killed eventhough he wasn't. As a result, dozens of vehicles and stores were smashed. As of now, Israeli officials are deciding what to do next.
Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, began Wednesday night and ended Thursday night. Kol Nidre, the first of many services, began at 5 (that's 5:30 Israeli time). A friend and I cooked dinner for these two Danish boys who were so grateful because it was their first real meal since Rosh Hashannah. After eating dinner at 3:30, we met up with basically the rest of the students from the International program half an hour to a new up and coming synagogue, which is barely "up" and unlikely to be "coming" in the following months. Kol Nidre, at least for me, is supposed to be a beautiful welcoming of Yom Kippur and admitting to ourselves thee sins that we committed the previous year. It reminds me a lot of the welcoming the Shabbas Bride, only prettier. The rabbi who sang Kol Nidre, literally "all vows", was an old Charedi Orthodox guy from a shtetl in Russia. He had to be by the "yisroiel". Anyway, he sounded like a tea kettle that was almost ready for tea. Y'know the squeaky annoying high-pitch right before it actually beings to whistle? That times ten. In addition, he would add "ay ay ay" and to make it interesting "doy doy doy" and even "blee blee blee" at one point (there's no di di di here) in the middle of a word. And if he didn't feel like saying part of a prayer he wouldn't. Like in Aveinu Malkenu, we read random parts of a line outloud. And it wasn't the mumbling in an undertone. He was legit chanting.
In addition to being an Orthodox shul with separation of the men and women (which was fine because it's an Orthodox temple), there were not enough prayer books for the women, and there weren't enough seats for anyone. All the non-Jews who went to experience Kol Nidre, were turned off completely. The good thing, though, was that the service was only an hour and a half instead of three. That meant we got back a little after seven and didn't know what to do with ourselves. One of the Israelis told us that we should go down to Horev because everyone hangs out there, but it was an hour walk down (the reason we didn't go the Conservative synagogue there) and with the dry air I was already thirsty, despite the numerous gallons of water I had earlier.
Thursday morning, seven of us walked down to a synagogue in Denya, the one we should have gone to. The moment we saw the Beit-Kenesset, all of us were grateful that we could not only hear singing, but harmonizing and real stain-glassed windows! This service, although still Orthodox was so much better. The cantor and his son harmonized beautifully together and between this, the fasting, and overlooking the mountains and beach, it was almost as if you could feel G-d in the synagogue writing our names down in the Book of Life. (Ok, so I had a spiritual moment)
This time we were smart and borrowed some Machzors (prayer books) from the synagogue in the dorms, but these books are falling apart and are at least a few decades old so either some of the prayers weren't in the book or they would be in a different order than the newer books. Also, they were obviously alllll in Hebrew so it eventually became a blur of letters especially when I lost my place, which was frequent. What I am still trying to figure out is how we ended the first service so early. The Torah service was at 10:15/10:30, like at home, but we ended a little before 1:30 with Yizkor and everything. There was no talking of sermon which cuts half an hour, but still my temple is rarely done at 2 on Yom Kippur.
Not wanting to walk back after Musaf (the end of the morning service), the seven of us hung out for three hours. It actually wasn't that bad. By the time we figured out where we wanted to sit (sun or shade, grass or concrete), it was actually only two hours. When on a walk, we found a park three minutes from the temple so we plopped ourselves down on the grass. Then during Mincha, the afternoon service, someone else led and let's just say that my slow motion playback on my computer goes faster than that. It got exciting/scary when some lady fainted, but she's ok, don't worry. As soon as she blacked out someone shouted "Is there a doctor?" and as my friend said "do you really need to ask if there's a doctor in a house full of Jews...we can get her a lawyer too if she wants." We were surprised that no one jumped the Mechitza to help her and instead everyone magically had food in their hands and began giving it to her. 5:30, almost two hours after it began, Mincha still wasn't close to being over and the fast was supposed to be over at 6:01 so we left because we had to walk back up to campus and knew that by the time we got back, it would be time to eat. The best food is always after you haven't eaten for twenty-six hours.
I have more to write about, I just don't want to make this post longer than it is so I'll post more later with pictures.
In addition to the strike, there was a riot in Akko on Yom Kippur. An Arab was driving through a pre-dominantly Jewish area and since most Jews in Israel do not drive on the holiest day of the year, this act was not welcomed. As a consequence, the driver got stoned and there was a rumor that he was killed eventhough he wasn't. As a result, dozens of vehicles and stores were smashed. As of now, Israeli officials are deciding what to do next.
* * *
Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, began Wednesday night and ended Thursday night. Kol Nidre, the first of many services, began at 5 (that's 5:30 Israeli time). A friend and I cooked dinner for these two Danish boys who were so grateful because it was their first real meal since Rosh Hashannah. After eating dinner at 3:30, we met up with basically the rest of the students from the International program half an hour to a new up and coming synagogue, which is barely "up" and unlikely to be "coming" in the following months. Kol Nidre, at least for me, is supposed to be a beautiful welcoming of Yom Kippur and admitting to ourselves thee sins that we committed the previous year. It reminds me a lot of the welcoming the Shabbas Bride, only prettier. The rabbi who sang Kol Nidre, literally "all vows", was an old Charedi Orthodox guy from a shtetl in Russia. He had to be by the "yisroiel". Anyway, he sounded like a tea kettle that was almost ready for tea. Y'know the squeaky annoying high-pitch right before it actually beings to whistle? That times ten. In addition, he would add "ay ay ay" and to make it interesting "doy doy doy" and even "blee blee blee" at one point (there's no di di di here) in the middle of a word. And if he didn't feel like saying part of a prayer he wouldn't. Like in Aveinu Malkenu, we read random parts of a line outloud. And it wasn't the mumbling in an undertone. He was legit chanting.
In addition to being an Orthodox shul with separation of the men and women (which was fine because it's an Orthodox temple), there were not enough prayer books for the women, and there weren't enough seats for anyone. All the non-Jews who went to experience Kol Nidre, were turned off completely. The good thing, though, was that the service was only an hour and a half instead of three. That meant we got back a little after seven and didn't know what to do with ourselves. One of the Israelis told us that we should go down to Horev because everyone hangs out there, but it was an hour walk down (the reason we didn't go the Conservative synagogue there) and with the dry air I was already thirsty, despite the numerous gallons of water I had earlier.
Thursday morning, seven of us walked down to a synagogue in Denya, the one we should have gone to. The moment we saw the Beit-Kenesset, all of us were grateful that we could not only hear singing, but harmonizing and real stain-glassed windows! This service, although still Orthodox was so much better. The cantor and his son harmonized beautifully together and between this, the fasting, and overlooking the mountains and beach, it was almost as if you could feel G-d in the synagogue writing our names down in the Book of Life. (Ok, so I had a spiritual moment)
This time we were smart and borrowed some Machzors (prayer books) from the synagogue in the dorms, but these books are falling apart and are at least a few decades old so either some of the prayers weren't in the book or they would be in a different order than the newer books. Also, they were obviously alllll in Hebrew so it eventually became a blur of letters especially when I lost my place, which was frequent. What I am still trying to figure out is how we ended the first service so early. The Torah service was at 10:15/10:30, like at home, but we ended a little before 1:30 with Yizkor and everything. There was no talking of sermon which cuts half an hour, but still my temple is rarely done at 2 on Yom Kippur.
Not wanting to walk back after Musaf (the end of the morning service), the seven of us hung out for three hours. It actually wasn't that bad. By the time we figured out where we wanted to sit (sun or shade, grass or concrete), it was actually only two hours. When on a walk, we found a park three minutes from the temple so we plopped ourselves down on the grass. Then during Mincha, the afternoon service, someone else led and let's just say that my slow motion playback on my computer goes faster than that. It got exciting/scary when some lady fainted, but she's ok, don't worry. As soon as she blacked out someone shouted "Is there a doctor?" and as my friend said "do you really need to ask if there's a doctor in a house full of Jews...we can get her a lawyer too if she wants." We were surprised that no one jumped the Mechitza to help her and instead everyone magically had food in their hands and began giving it to her. 5:30, almost two hours after it began, Mincha still wasn't close to being over and the fast was supposed to be over at 6:01 so we left because we had to walk back up to campus and knew that by the time we got back, it would be time to eat. The best food is always after you haven't eaten for twenty-six hours.
I have more to write about, I just don't want to make this post longer than it is so I'll post more later with pictures.
No comments:
Post a Comment