Hebrew Lessons

Hebrew class today was all about the recent influx of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. We discussed how they go here, why thy came, how the move was accomplished, and what they thought about it all. Apparently they believe they are descended from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba and they have been dreaming about coming to Israel ever since (more or less). There were a couple of huge operations twenty or so years ago to move the whole Jewish population from Adis Abba to Israel. It was a dream come true for them, but like all dreams it has had its down side. They aren't exactly integrating well, and the culture shock for the older members of the family is huge. The discussion was all very interesting, but time consuming to discuss in Hebrew! We even listened to a song sung by and Ethiopian children's choir about traveling across the desert to get to Israel.

Our Class is quite an eclectic group (if you can use that word of people)- Jewish, Arab, and Christians from Poland, Australia, the US, Israel, Jordan, Italy, South Africa, Russia... Fascinating. So far I have only talked with a few of them but I hope I get up my courage to talk to more of them. There is even a monk in our class! At least I think he is, unless he is a priest or a brother or something else. Sadly I am a bit shaky on the differences.

Now I am waiting for my sister to get home. I worry about her getting lost and never showing up!

Let's try this again

I have been experiencing difficulties figuring this out- at least I can now write!When I tried to post the last one I could only write the title- and nothing in the body of the post. Megan told me how to fix it. It's nice to have a computer-savvy little sister.

Today is a regular work day in Israel- but it makes me feel vaguely wicked not to be going to church! I have been writing e-mails to various people, and made mashed potatoes for breakfast. After breakfast I did something I have been looking forward to for months- I took a chair out onto our little stone balcony and basked in the sun! Oh the richness of sunlight! Oh the bliss of warmth! Sorry I rhapsodize, but I have just been in a much colder climate.

I have such and interesting view from my balcony- all stone houses and olive trees, and a highway. I can hear the muezzin calls from Bethlehem, and in a lull in the traffic I could hear church bells! Sigh. I don't know of a single church in Jerusalem that meets on Sunday morning.

Home again