Shalom Aleichem from the Holy Land!  At the request of my family, Rabbi Annie, Rina, and other members of the congregation I’ve decided to share my experience living in Israel with everyone back home for the next few months.

Since arriving Jan 5^th, I’ve been one busy Jew.  I’m living with 2 roommates from my program (Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies) in southern Jerusalem in the German Colony area (good amount of Americans and some of the best places to eat in the city).  The city is beautiful so when ever I can I walk.  I’m about a 25 minute walk to the Jaffa Gate, the old city, and the Kotel and 20 minutes the other way to the center of town, Ben Yehuda area, and the shuk (market).

 

One quick story to share, last Shabbat I went to Tel Aviv to stay with our congregation’s very own Rachael Rochman.  It was great to see her again as she’s been here since September, but best of all was the weather that weekend.  It was 77, sunny, and the place to be was the beach.  I have to tell you, I’ve never spent a Shabbat in January at the beach.  It was really something else and amongst other things a fabulous first Shabbat in Eretz Yisrael!

 

Much more to come.  I wish everyone back home all the best.  You can contact me through the temple office:  admin@temple-sinai.org. I’d love to hear from you.

 

L’hitraot,

Steve Simon