From Idan Raichel to a family visit in Nitzan

This week began with an IDAN RAICHEL CONCERT!!!! The group is probably one of my favorite artists ever. They blend Ethiopian, Yemenite, Ashkenazi, Latino and other influences to create quite the group.

We went to the concert hall to be greeted by hundreds of other Diasporic Jews at this MASA sponsored event. MASA is a group that encourages Jews in the Diaspora to go on a long-term program in Israel much like myself. So, I, along with other Rothbergers walk in there and it felt like a USY/NFTY/NCSY/BBYO convention. People were running into people they knew from home. I ran into Eli from UMass and Sam K-Z, along with Mallory. Before we got into the actual hall there were strange clowns in fake store fronts laughing at us and trying to play circus games, I don't understand what that was about but I guess it was MASA's way of greeting us.

We got in there and were greeting by people from MASA, the Jewish Agency, a video of MASA participants like us and then a dance to welcome us. I thought it was strange since I've been in Israel for 3 months, that I was still being welcomed to the country...I think I've passed that stage already, but anyway. I kept feeling like I was in the US the whole time since that's basically the people that were there, it wasn't an actual Israeli concert. It was really exciting when the group came out. It was great they sang songs in Hebrew, Spanish, Amharic, and maybe other languages. We all loved it so much that we started dancing in the aisles and made a make-shift mosh pit in the front. When they played they're most famous songs: Bo'ee and mi'ma'amakim everyone sang along. It was a great night.

Then the week continued as usual...Hebrew on Monday, Tuesday had a bunch of classes. My Political Communication likes to pick on me a lot and others to answer questions, but I guess it's good to keep us on our feet.

In my Conflict resolution class we talked about Race relations in the US and got in a debate over whether America is Post-Racial or not. So, my teacher said...look what happened here, we had a conflict.

Wednesday, had a test in Hebrew, I think I did well. Thursday, had Poli comm again in the morning. Then I went to my Internship where I again tutored Amir, a Director there in English. He read some more and then had me read a little to hear "how it should sound"

That night...pitom (randomly) this guy walked into my apartment and said "Where's the guy from the Mechina with the beard?"I said "There's nobody from the Mechina here" and he said "Is this the 2nd floor", I said "no, it's the 9th"...he didn't believe me so he looked out in the hall and then out the window...realized that he was 9 stories up and not 2, apologized and left. Oh, Israel

Then Friday, Eric and I went to my Family in Nitzan (halfway between Ashkelon and Ashdod)

We had a really nice time there...I met them before from when I was in Efrat before. They spoke mostly in Hebrew so it was good to hear and I practiced a little. I went to Kabbalat Shabbat with them and could understand the gist of the D'var...It was about Abraham being the world's doctor performing Tikun Olam (repairing the world). So, My Hebrew has improved greatly from the first shabbat when all I understood was the Rabbi asking if someone was in the room.

When they were talking at their house I could pick up a lot more Hebrew than other family visits, but still not enough to jump in so they translated a bit to help. During the day they had some guests over with more Hebrew conversations. Some kids came by asking if their friends were in the house and I told them yes (all in Hebrew). So, that felt good. this was all in between reading Harry Potter. So, I had a nice conversation with my cousin (in English) and Eric for Sedua Shlishit (third meal) and then we went back to Jerusalem.

So, this ends October...and I can't wait for what Jerusalem in November, December, and some of January have in store for me. I can't wait for more adventures with friends, good classes, fun Annie rehearsals, more Shabbatot, and more family visits.
אני אוהב את ירושלים
(I love Jerusalem)

Shavua Tov! Have a good week!