Author: Eve Posen

Walking in a winter wonderland…

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Yes, that’s right, it snowed in Jerusalem, and then some. This is after all, always a question: when you are in Jerusalem for a winter, will it snow or not? The last time I lived in Jerusalem, it snowed one day, but I was in the desert and by the time we got back, it was gone. This time, i did not miss it. In fact, i document the entire occurance from begining to end. You see, yesterday they started to predict the possiblity of 1/2 an inch of snow today. It started as a nasty and not fun rain storm. This storm lasted all night last night, and when I awoke this morning, no snow. I did awake, however to some magnificent lightening, followed by watching the rain turn into hail and back. The power by the light at my house was out, and I will say, Israelis do not treat this situation as a 4 way stop. It was very much every person for themselves. I watched 2 of my classmates navigate the street and even took a picture of them from my window! Then, i watched as a police car showed up to direct traffic, but were too chicken to be outside. iw atched them suit up, get out of the car, get back in, get out again, get back in, and finally drove away. Just as they were driving away, traffic became very bad, so they had to turn around and come back, and finally got out of the car to direct traffic. Now, I understand that it is cold out, and wet, and I hate it as much as the next person if I had to stand in the middle of an Israeli intersection during rush hour, however, people’s lives’ were at stake, so I was happy to see them finally take the initiative to keep law and order to the roads!

My walk to school this morning was damp, but fun. i was all bundeled up, like I used to do when I was a kid. I had my rain pants on, my hat, hood, jacket, hood, scarf and mittens. I was ready to rock and roll. And dont’ forget my spiffy snow/ice shoes, I was ready for anything. School finished and it was still raining, no snow. I went home determined to do my work. Then, around 3pm i looked out the window and saw the most magnificent, beautiful, huge, pure white snow flakes fluttering down from the sky.

A shehechianu moment if I have ever had one. It was beautiful. I immediately grabbed my camera and started snapping pictures out of my window. When i realized it wasn’t going to let up for a while, i got bundled up again and headed out for an hour snapping pictures every way i looked. What a sight to be seen. This city is beautiful with it’s own special charm year round, but something about the pure, white snow blanketing the streets, trees, cars, makes this city even more holy, more special. Palm trees with snow on them. Children making snowballs, playing, laughing, care free. The mood lifted, people are smiling and enjoying the rare occurance.

Now, 7 hours later, it is still snowing and the trees are covered nicely. The night has made for a winter wonderland. I feel at home. I might be freezing in my cold apartment, but I am happy, peaceful staring at the white snow. I didn’t get my homework done, but I think that’s o.k. After all, how often will I have the opportunity to see Jerusalem covered in at least an inch of snow. I truly am in a winter wonderland!

All I want for Christmas…

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Where to begin!?! So, I have decided that this year is going to be my year of exploration, of myself, of my faith, and of other faiths. Afterall, what better place to learn and grow than in the Land of Israel. I have learned much more about myself since i have been here, and much more about my religion, both in my classes and in my experiences on the street, living in a “Jewish State.” I learned about Greek Jewry on a tip to Greece during Hannukah which seemed very fitting. So, I thought I shoudl continue this learning with a Christmas adventure. Ideally, I would have gone to Bethlehem for Christmas, however, with the rise in Palestinian violence and other security issues, and the fact that I am in school, this was not an option. A group of friends and I decided to do the next best thing, Christmas mass in Jerusalem’s old city. Last night, at 10pm I met iwth a group of cantorial and rabbinical students from HUC and JTS and began our journey!

Initially we were going to go to the Scottish Church in Jerusalem, a Presbyterian church where the service was in english, and there would be caroling throughout the evening. We began there, but at some point, a smaller group of us decided to make the trek to the Old City and see what was happening there! We arrived in the old City around 10:30pm, and began to figure out a plan. we tried the Chuch of the Holy Sepluchre, but it was closed, not their Christmas. Our next stop was the Dormition Abbey, a wonderful German Catholic (?) church in the old city. We had heard much about the church, the wardrobe of the priests, the monks, the beautiful chapel, i could go on. We found our way as we followed the masses of others going to Mass! =). We arrived and were lucky to be some of the first to be let into the Abbey, so we were able to get a space standing behind the last row of chairs. In our wait for the mass to begin (at midnight!) we took in the sights and talked with others who came to Mass. Mass began at midnight, with a beautiful ceremony, the monks walked in with the various instruments, books and ornaments for the service. The service because with a ritual involving incense which smelled divine, and much German. The service was set to go for 2 hours, and after about 45 minutes and an hour and a half of standing, we needed to go! I had school today!

So, my impressions. First of all, I felt as though it might be rude to invade or observe another religion’s holy day. I’m not sure how I would feel if a large group of non-Jews came to watch/take up space during our holy days. But, I was assured earlier in the evening that Mass in Jerusalem is actualyl a mostly Jewish/Israeli event. That is to say that only 2% of Israel’s population is Christian, and so, the majority of hte people who go to Mass are Jews or others who are there to observe and learn. The Churches open their doors to us, and welcome the opporutnity for an educational experience. The music, liturgy (although i didn’t understand it) and mood were very moving. The sermon, which was handed out in English focused on peace, and the need to live together in harmony, respecting each other.

For my first Midnight Mass, I was impressed, moved and welcomed! Merry Christmas to All, and to All a GOOD NIGHT!!

Sometimes in our life, we all have pain, we all have Sorrow

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But, friends, they help us through these times. I am so grateful and thankful for my friends! For those who make me smile, make me celebrate my life, celebrate what is important to me, and important to the world. I have those friends who I can lean on, those friends who will support me, send me love when I need it, hold me, make me smile when I feel alone. I am grateful for them! Grateful for the little messages in my inbox that say “I am thinking about you” “i miss you” “i hope you’re O.k.”.
I am happy to know that there are people in my world who care about me, who know when I need to smile and make it happen. Life throws me a lot of curve balls, a lot of unexpected turns, and I know who my friends are, who my true friends are, when they call me, text me, im me and tell me that they know i need their support and they are there for me. that is what friendship is all about. Friendship is about giving a hug when I need it, asking how I am, and listening to me when I am lost and uncertain about everything! for this, I am grateful! It is the hug at the end of the day, the smile and the laugh that help me make it through to the next!
Thank you, for being a friend, for helping me stand, for guiding me, and supporting me… youa re amazing!

IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME

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Here we go! I returned from Greece this morning after beign awake for 20 hours! It was an amazing trip and what follows is the play by play of the experience! ENJOY! I realized that I am uncomfortable being surrounded by a foreign langauge that i odnt’ know, and kept trying to revert back to Hebrew!
December 17th, 3am:
Two impressions of the airport: 1. Stickers: What is with all the stickers that they check everything a hundred times and put a sticker on it. I’m surprised I dont’ need to wear a sticker saying I’m o.k.! 2. Shoes: My super duper hi-tec tigger shoes caused me a security snag in Israel. They had never seen such shoes, and for a mintue i thought htey weren’t going to let me keep them. But all is well that ends well! off to GREECE!

December 18th, 5pm:
We arrived in Greece after a short flight (we had to take a bus to our plane because it was too small to be at the regular terminal!) No problems entering the country other than the disappointment of the Greek stamp in my passport; it doesn’t even say Greece on it! We got our luggage, found the metro, and took 2 trains to our hotel! We wealked up from the train station and there, straight ahead was the Acropolis. It was incredible to see such an amazing piece of history just in the distance. I know I see history all the time in Israel, but this was different, this was new!
We set our bags down at the Hotel and off we went to explore Athens. We decided to save the Acropolis for day 2 or 3, so our only plan as we set off on foot was to avoid the Acropolis. We used it as a fantastic landmark, but did not want to end up climbing up! We went all around the city seeign ruins from one place and then with the map, trying to find them and figure out what they were. It’s like every street we turned down had another piece of History waiting to be discovered. We saw the fleamarket, which reminded me of the Shuk, and continued to be surrounded by worry beads, churches and other ancient ruins! Many pictures were taken and finally, at noon we decided we were hungry having not eaten since the night beore. Lunch was found at a cute little outdoor cafe: “Traditional Greek Salad” chopped cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, onions and crispy bread from Crete, tossed together with Feta! AMAZING!
Then we decided to ehad back to the hotel to see if our room was ready a bit early! Itw as, so we headed up, looked around and passed out for a much needed 3 hour nap!
We woke up, lit hannukah candles, in Greece, publicized the miracle!! After the lights went out, we headed out on the town to find some diner. We originally wanted to go to this vegetarian place, but it had closed. So we wandered some more and found a nice little restaurant. We sat down at our heated outdoor table and were greeted with a glass of Ouzo on the house! I dont’ love licorice, but this was pretty good! We ordred, too much food, but it was worth it! I had an incredible tortellini and of course a liter of the house wine, it was too cheap to resist!!
After dinner it was late, so we headed back to the hotel and called it a night, watching legally blond and al the other stations that were in Greek! It is all Greek to me!!
December 18th, day recap:
We woek up late today, headed out to the Jewish museum, a let down! I am sure there is so much more to Jewish Greek life outside sororities and fraternities on college campuses, but alas, what can you do! it was too late to begin hikin hte Acropolis, although, I’ve now seen it from just about every angle!! WE walked around town, saw the parliament, and the changing of the guard. Then we wandered through this strange Christmas wonderland to a ton of diferent stores and then thru the botanical gardens to Zeus’ palace and Hadrian’s Arch. We wandered and wandered and then found a place for lunch; another salad, another complimentary shot, and nap time!!
After nap time, we went to a cute little outdoor resturant for an amazing mozzerella pasta and a good glass of sangria. We were both feeling pretty tired so we came back to the hotel, and went to bed to prepare for our big day the next day! The highlight of the evening: Finding a Starbucks! I MISS AMERICA!
December 19th:
Today was jam packed! We left the hotel around 9:30am and headed off to the Acropolis, finally! We ended up finding a random ancient temple on the way, so we wandered through there and met Spartacus, the dog who led us up until we reached the top of the Acropolis! The Acropolis was amazing! We saw the parthenon, all these really cool temples and statues! I know it’s not a Jewish sight, but i felt such a strong connection to the incredible detail and other efforts that went into building all of these intricate buildings! I love walking throughhistory, living history, trying to visualize what life must have been like in those days!
The Scenary here has also been breathtaking! The views are always spectacular with history sprouting up in the distance, but mostly the skies and trees have touched me! Everytime i see an amazing cloud, storm or sky, I think of my Grammy and this trip was no exception! I miss her a lot. I know she would have loved to be in Greece and the natural beauty that surrounds me there, i know I get this love from her, and I know that I carry her in my heart and she is watching over me and enjoying nature as I am! This was very prominent today!
After the Acropolis, we headed out ot the nearset port city to see some water and get away from Athens for a bit. We got to the city, walked around a bit and decided to try and catch a boat to one of the islands for a while! We were in luck and bought tickets to the 1pm boat to Hydras on Hellenic Seaways! Our boat was a hydrafoil, which means that it sat ontop of the water. We had an hour to grab lunch, so we headed out to the nearest Starbucks and enjoyed a little treat from home, which made me all the more homesick! 1.5 hours later, we disembarked on Hydras and had about 1.5 hours to walk around. It was magnificent, with beautiful shorelines and forts built all around! I was so thankful we decided to visit an island. It was much mor elike the Greece I had imagined, much less commercial! A cute little island splattered with little white houses and blue doors, donkeys moving tourist luggage and other goods, peaceful, quiet and authentic! We stayed utnil just about sunset and enjoyd the sun setting over the watter (Mediteranian/Aegean sea) on the boat on our way back to the port. We got back after dark, found our way to the metro and headed back to Athens! Now, we are pros at figuring out Greek signs and what train to take!
We arrived back in our room at 7:30pm, enjoyed the lighting of the Hannukah candles, figured out where to go for dinner. We ate at this little resturant called Mi Sueno, some of the most amazing food I’ve had in a while, fish, Paella, wine, free liquor, this is vacation!!

*SIDE NOTE: I miss Israela nd knowing where I am going! I guess i fell in love with Israel more than I realized and I am looking forward to going back! Also, this was my first time travelling with soemone who wears a kippah all the time, and I have to say it felt strange to receive stares, people saying Shalom or acting differently because they figured out we were Jewish!
Also, people automatically assume that since a man and a woman of a certain age travel together, they must be married. Thus, making me very uncomfortable, but also showing society’s pressures and standards… UGH!!

December 20th:
MUSEUM DAY! Today, our last day in Greece turned into a museum extravaganza, 5 museums from 9:30am-6:30pm. We walked and enjoyd! We started at the Byzantine museum, followed by a brief visit to the War/Military Museum, then a long walk to the Archaeological Museum, lunch, a train to the Interactive Hellenism Museum where we visited in Olympia and the temple of Zeus, checked email and finally headed back across to our side of town to the Islamic Art Museum. Off to sushi for dinner, the hotel to light candles, change clothes, pick up our bags and off to the airport.
I have to say, I am more than ready to be back in my Apartment. Seeing American resturants: starbucks, Applebee’s, TGI fridays has made me miss America! I also just miss having my own space and being in a country where I understand the language!

And now I’m back, and tired just typing about the trip!! MORE IN A BIT when I’m awake! Peace out!!

Another Turning Point

Eve Posen1 Comment
It seems that as we grow, our lives are always turning, time directs us, time brings us out into the world. Time is my enemy and time is my friend. Everyone keeps telling me to have a good time, have a great time, enjoy my time, have the “time of my life.” But here’s the problem, I don’t know what that is. I don’t know what the time of my life is, I don’t know where I’m supposed to go at this time in my life. It’s all unpredictable, and it’s hard to wait for those things to work themselves out. I know the challenges, the unpredicatbility, the changes are all apart of growing up and making me into the person I am today, but sometimes, I wish they would just stop, that sometimes things would be easy.
I guess this is one fo those growing pains moments, where it hurts to go through it, and at the end I’ll look back on this and know that it was for the best. But, I still wonder if it’s worth the fight, if this is what it’s all about. Time keeps moving, and some days it feels like I am standing still, going no where, with nothing to do, no control over what will befall me. Growing up is hard to do, especially when you’re a world away from everything familiar, from what feels safe and like home. But, i need to spread my wings, find myself, and endure the struggle because it will be worth it in the end. I hope. And one day, I won’t be facing the world alone, but i’ll have someone by my side, to share the struggles with. I have that now in some of my friends. But, this too is a point of growing pains. Friends change, become more, and then sometimes less. Friends are what support me when I’m alone, help me make it through the days when I just want to go home. Friends make me smile, laugh and love. but sometimes, friends make me frustrated and sad, because I don’t know what they want fro me, and I dont’ know how to help them. Friends have the power to be a family for one another, and in that, we fihg,t laugh and love ach other each and everyday. I’d be lost without my friends, becuase without their guidance, their love and the fights, I wouldn’t know who I am.
this is all over the place, but so is my head right now. I’m growing, I feel it, that’s what the pain is, that’s why my head is racing, my thoughts are scary, my fingers are pounding the keys. This is it, this is a growth spurt, and I will grow, and I will be o.k. I just wish I knew where it would end.. when will I know?!?!