L'shana Tova! So, it's a little late, but I want to wish everyone a happy new year full of love and success and goodness. I enjoyed my holiday, even though I missed going to services at the Temple I know, with all the people I love, and really really missed having the whole family at my house for dinner (well, they were there, I just wasn't). I spent Rosh Hashanah at the Hecht's, who invited me to their family lunch/dinner. It turns out that Jewish family events are basically the same, no matter what continent you are on: loving family, good conversations and chopped liver. :) I really appreciate how welcoming they have been, I feel like I have family here, which is beyond life saving.
We had a Rosh Hashanah party at the Ulpan...it was pretty much the cutest thing ever. Our teachers arranged it, and the three classes each sang different songs and prayers, and our class (kittah alef, aka first grade) put on a little play. I was one of the two stars of the play...the pot of honey! I wish I had pictures, but unfortunately I don't. Use your imagination...I was adorable :)
I spent Yom Kippur in Jerusalem with 5 of my friends from the Ulpan. We spent the day walking around the Old City. The Jewish Quarter was completely closed, but the Arab Quarter was open, and we shopped in the huge shuk, where I bought two beautiful scarves and some earings (I know you all care about the details of my life :)...). We prayed at the Western Wall in the morning, but towards the afternoon were incredibly bored, and since everything was closed, we just hung out and lay around on the lawn of the YMCA. We went to services in the King David Hotel and then went to THE BEST bar in Jerusalem, Mike's Place, where we were able to break our fast with burgers and cheese fries and calzones (turns out I reeaalllyyy miss american food!). The best part of the whole trip was the hostel we stayed at. For 30 shekels (like 10 dollars) we got to sleep on the roof. I slept under the stars and woke up to a gorgeous panoramic view of Jerusalem.