Day 45 - Linner

Day 45 - Monday 28 June 2010

Stole the idea from 'How I met your mother' to have a family dinner over the Skype..nice one Ericson family..

So I sat down for lunch, as my family in Melbourne sat down for dinner with the laptop open at the table and we had a great meal! I found the idea hilarious and successful..I think it was the same on the other end!

I highly recommend it for anyone away from family - it really is fun! =)

Day 44 - Tzav

Day 44 - Sunday 27 June 2010

So I got my Tzav Rishon in the mail today - which is the first letter you get from the army, usually at age 17, to go for the round of tests and exams which define your 'profile' in the army and subsequently which unit you will go into.

Had a little bit of התרגשות as you say in Hebrew when I saw the letter and read it, but then, felt calm and happiness knowing that the next stage in my plans, and my dream of Aliyah was about to begin..

Keep Smiling. =)

Day 43 - Hebrish

Day 42 - Shabbat 26 June 2010

So nothing artistic at all with this one! Just found it a cute picture..

Was on my out for my first night off in about 2 and a half weeks and saw that the bus stop sign was spelled incorrectly..made me laugh and for some reason, became photo of the day..

Language barrier yet again humors me.. =)

Day 42 - Yiddeshe Balabusta

Day 42 - Friday 25 June 2010

Found myself being in a mad last minute rush to finish the cooking for Shabbat - but thankfully came out with the image above - Chicken soup, Challot and Desert..

The Desert for some reason didn't come out so perfectly, but the other stuff did!

Day 41 - Shisen

Day 41 - Thursday 24 June 2010

In the interest of Israeli Irony - this car has been parked there on the old railway line for the last few weeks - I can only assume months. The Jerusalem municipality is in the middle of a project to re-vamp and make a nice long nature walk along the old railway line.

Someone has gone, and in the interest of public opinion, written what looks like the word 'Shit' on the front windscreen (in Hebrew). The comedy I found here is that that word could be describing numerous things here - the crappy old car, the general Israeli attitude towards money being spent on revamping things, or hatred towards the Jerusalem Rail - which can be found everywhere!..

Either way, made me laugh =)

Day 40 - 'Sugar Daddy'

Day 40 - Wednesday 23 June 2010

Today was the first time we sat down to go through the receipts of the apartment, and at the end of it all, after a slow start in the first few days of moving in, I came out victorious as the first official 'Sugar Daddy' - who laid out the most cash to buy stuff for the apartment and to get paid back!

I guess we could call this the first self-portrait as well.. =p

Other than that, was just working today - got the respect to be in charge of pack down/closing all by myself so I guess that's a milestone.. =)

Day 39 - For Frank

Day 39 - Tuesday 22 June 2010

Today was the commemoration of the passing of Frank Stein ז"ל and the unveiling of the plaque in his name of his former office.

He is still sadly missed and in our hearts and thoughts.

Day 38 - Wedding # 2

Day 38 - Monday 21 June 2010

Second wedding in two days - this time the other side of the Family..

And what an amazing simcha! =)

Day 37 - Wedding # 1

Day 37 - Sunday 20 June 2010

So the Yacubinski Family (My Israeli cousins) have this nice tradition of making Tshirts at the wedding for specific individuals..

This one was made by Shai for Eli, the Groom - a take off of the facebook announcement that hadn't occured yet! =p

Day 36 - Crude

Some people are really bad at graffiti and here's a perfect example of one of those right in the center of town..The party capital on a Thursday and Saturday night!

Day 36 - Shabbat 19 June 2010

Day 35 - Final Call

Day 35 - Friday 18 June 2010

Day 34 - DuvDev

Day 34 - Thursday 17 June 2010

Day 33 - Leadership

Day 33 - Wednesday 16 June 2010

Day 32 - Unity

To begin with, at the first day of the Zionist congress, (besides having to be at the hotel at 7am for the Mizrachi meeting!!) the youth found it completely hilarious that the 36th World Zionist Congress was opened by a person called 'The Zionist Elder.' I mean common seriously, do you want yet another reason for the anti-Semites of the world to hate us!?! =)

But as part of the congress, all 700 or so delegates were split up into 8 committees to discuss the resolutions put forward, before they were to be tabled to the entire congress on Thursday afternoon. As part of these committees, we attending siyurim (tours) pertaining to the topic of our committee. My committee was about the Future of Young Zionist Leadership, and we visited a small community just near Ma'aleh Adumim called 'Alon' - a community whose constituents are made up of 50% religious and 50% secular families.

This image is from the lookout point of the Yishuv, I liked the bare tree in contrast to the rolling hills..

Day 32 - Tuesday 15 June 2010

To me this was an incredible concept, and as the ex-Head of the Yishuv was explaining to us all the wonderful stories of the original establishment, it brought a smile to my face to hear that places like this did exist in Israel; the type of community based around mutual respect, unity and pluralism - things that we are taught are core values to our moral and ethical place in society in the Melbourne community.

We went to the Midrasha that they have, a place for continued study post-army - again, for men and women together, religious to secular and learnt with the students there, and then had a Shiur from the head of the Midrasha, Michah Goodman - which was incredible. Apart from that, I found amazing that on the wall, they had one one of those usual calendars, tracking Jewish History from the dawn of time, through the Batei Hamikdash..Tanaim, Amoriam..Rishonim, Achronim - but instead of continuing on the Achronim seciton or calling it the Acharon Achronim seciton, the next section, beginning at the turn of the 20th Century, was called 'Zionism' - 'ציונות' which made me smile and contemplate this concept for a while.

Before the evening section of the congress, which was a tribute concert to the Youth Movements, we had a two hour break or so, so Frank, one of the other Mizrachi delegates from Sydney asked me and some others to join him for a drink in the hotel lobby. We thought why not have a beer and watch the soccer - so we joined him. Well, one beer turned into three, and I don't know how many Frank knocked back, but let's just say that to the others the concert was a little boring, but we enjoyed it! =p

Needless to say, the first day of the congress was great fun - looking back, it was one crazy week and these first two days did foreshadow it completely! At Binyanei Ha'Umah at 7am and leaving no earlier than like 11pm..it has been crazy!

Another thing I forgot to add, was in the afternoon before the Siyurim, we gathered a quick minyan to pray Mincha (the afternoon service). For me, it was an incredible feeling to pray together in Binyanei Ha'Umah - not because of the specific building, but because of what was going on. Over 700 Jews from all walks of life and numerous countries around the globe were gathering together for the conference of world Zionist Jewry. When I said the paragraph of:

'תְּקַע בְּשׁופָר גָּדול לְחֵרוּתֵנוּ. וְשא נֵס לְקַבֵּץ גָּלֻיּותֵינוּ. וְקַבְּצֵנוּ יַחַד מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפות הָאָרֶץ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', מְקַבֵּץ נִדְחֵי עַמּו יִשרָאֵל
Sound the blow of the great Shofar of our freedom, and fulfill the miracle to gather in the exiles, and we will gather together from all four corners of the globe. Blessed are you HASHEM, who brings together the nation of Israel.'

I couldn't help but smile and thoroughly enjoy that prayer..It is a memory that will stay with me forever..

But keep smiling! =)

Day 31 - Generations

Day 31 - Monday 14 June 2010

Today was the first day of the Mizrachi world congress, before the World Zionist Congress. I have some great pictures of the heads of Mizrachi Israel Political Parties, and all the delegates and some fantastic images of the sunset over Jerusalem from the Guest house at Bayit Ve'Gan where today's conference was held..

But beside all that, for me this image was the best for the day and hold a special message.

In the photo is Kurt Rothschild, the President of World Mizrachi, speaking to Solly Sacks, the Director General of World Mizrachi. The image that unfolded infront of me was that of generational continuity. Here was an elderly man, someone who's stories we heard throughout the week were inspiring and incredible, and still in his older years, manages to fly half way across the world to attend and represent the movement he holds so dear. And Solly, an immigrant himself, who runs the worldwide movement that I hold strong values and allegiance towards, representing the continuation of the baton - that one day he will be the older man passing on words or wisdom to the future generation.

To me, this was what the modern Zionsim is all about. The age old saying of 'you must know your history to be able to forge your future' really rings true. The messages, lessons, successes and failures of past generations must be passed on so that we now, in this current generation and towards the future can continue to bring about change and a secure future for the entire Jewish people.

Made me smile seeing it happen.. =)

Day 30 - Modern Zionism?

After yet again another crazy shift at work in the morning (crazy from the respect of I'd been working every day night/morning since Thursday) I received a call from the Lishkat Giyus (army drafting office) to come in for a meeting.

Being Israel, they asked for it to be 8am on Monday morning, which I couldn't do, his next response then was, 'OK, can you make it by 5pm today?' I look at my watch, 3.10PM, 'Sure thing' I tell him, 'See you soon.'

Luckily I was finishing work then anyway, so ran home to get changed and scoffed down an awesome Baba felafel on the way home (highly recommended!)

The meeting took all of 15 minutes, but it meant that I now am not having to wait a year for the process to start. And B"H I have my first test and all the medical checks in a month!

I wanted to take a photo of the Lishkat Giyus entrance sign, but wasn't allowed for security reasons. Funnily enough, this image was directly over the road and made me start thinking.

Day 30 - Sunday 13 June 2010

Apart from the fact that I was to be attending my first Zionist Congress starting on Monday, this next part of the graffiti art series evoked some thoughts. Roughly translated it reads:

"Zionism is a plague of death"

Now, this could have been done by an activist from the far left, or quite possibly an Arab Israeli citizen or a Palestinian - the main thing was that it was specifically tagged on a mail box directly opposite the headquarters for the army in Jerusalem.

IT makes one think, is the Zionism of today, what we have turned Zionism into, merely being seen once again as the days of the 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion' when Jews were hated for trying to 'take over the world'? Or is it that in today's modern world, people cannot differentiate between Zionism, Israel, Jew and all become intermingled into one big ball of 'something to be hated by the world.'

I don't for one second believe any of this, from the graffiti art to the thoughts above; but to be a Zionist in this modern world, to be a citizen in the modern world, one needs to think. We are in an age, far after the original enlightenment. An age where we are charged with the somewhat daunting task of having to think. Being open minded and able to question, answer and reason what we believe in and why we believe in it are very important values that we should cherish..

I'm going to call it quits here, because, as I'm doing this a week late, this is starting to verge on another discussion I will be having, come Day 34's photo.

Also, we went tonight to the Australia VS Germany match - from the highlight of wandering the streets in Aussie gear to the feeling of torn hearts at the hands of the Germans some 90 minutes later..It was a sad night..

Hope this wasn't too boring and just keep smiling =)

Day 29 - No TV and No Beer make Homer something something..

This is a retrospective choice of photo of the day - I spent a relaxing Shabbat at home before the busy week ahead, but also, was working like a donkey!

Thursday night, Friday morning, Saturday night and Sunday morning - meant that I didn't really get the chance to go out over the weekend, or spot any compelling images! This photo and Sunday's were both taken on Sunday - I could have gotten away with not explaining that, but why hide the truth! This was taken at the Shuk, after one of the shops had packed up - meaning that during the day, it is probably hidden or obscured from view, so I'm glad I was able to see it..

This is the next installment in the street art/graffiti art series..

I think it's pretty clear and for me, when I see this image, I'm just reminded of the episode from 'The Simpsons' where homer loses TV and Beer and goes crazy..

Day 29 - Shabbat 12 June 2010

Keep smiling! =)

Day 28 - Language Barrier

Day 28 - Friday 11 June 2010

The double pun of this title reflects the cute nature of today's photo - both in the fact that the line serves as a barrier so as the Lemonade will not overflow, but that the interpretation is completely wrong!

Enjoy and I hope this Shabbat was great! =)

Day 27 - CENSORED #2

So I went into work today and found this lovely new addition on the staff notice board!

It comes as the next segment in the bumber sticker series..And if you speak hebrew, or at least know the Israeli Slang, you should be able to pick up what it's saying, and why it shares the same title as another previous picture!

Day 27 - Thursday 10 June 2010

And PS on another note, remember that great poster I saw that was put up by the Bnei Snif, supporting the IDF soldiers? Yeah so while I was working, I saw someone had taken it down and was carrying it down Emeq Refaim..it actually really annoyed me! I wanted it to be the photo of the day, you know, exemplifying the irony of the country that people who have a different opinion simply act out about it, even against the work of young kids..but I couldn't pull the phone out fast enough..Still, thought I'd voice the opinion!

Day 26 - HaShablul

Day 26 - Wednesday 9 June 2010

We went for a late breakfast this morning at Shoshcafe to farewell two friends going overseas..I ordered some massive breaky - I thought what with working nowadays and the big day planned ahead, I'd (a) need the energy and (b) could afford it!

First of all, it was amazing to have a real coffee again, I've cut down since Australia, where at the office I was used to 1/2 a day, here I've had 3 in 3 weeks..When the coffee was presented to me, I found a snail in it! (Snail = Shablul) But not a gross snail, a cute smiling snail, which was a great start to the day..awesome barista work as well I might add..

We went shopping AGAIN today for the house..pretty certain we won't have to go now for like 3 months..and that we finally have all the basic staples we need to survive!

Again, we found ourselves at the Shuk, comparing prices between our top three home-wares stores, this time for pots and pans - we walked out successfully with what we needed and of very good quality and with the bargaining stakes still high like previous times. That's three visits to the Shuk and a fully furnished kitchen now!..

So tonight, after taking the new dishes to the mikveh and making them Jewish (I know that sounds bad, but it's funny in my head), I decided not to go out with the other boys, and rather to stay home and cook..Mum would be proud but I feel kind of a little bit like a woman!..But it was awesome - first trial at my own zucchini slice and It worked perfectly. (IT wasn't the first time I had cooked here though, I made dad's pasta sauce on Monday night which was amazing..) Two lessons for next time (a) There is no need to use the Turbo oven! It just crusted the top and (b) We bought big oven dishes and need to double the recipe to make it fit in!

Why I am writing this on the public forum I have no idea, guess it's because I am that tired and just babbling now..so all in all, a very fun day had by all and I hope you've enjoyed the rabble if you've made it thus far!

Keep smiling =) and speak to you guys tomorrow!

PS to all - Sorry about the massive lag in uploading photos since Friday, I have been busy, a little bit Lazy, working, but mostly lazy! It won't happen again! And if it does, the same people who were badgering me all week (you know who you are!) you did a fantastic job so do it again! =)

Day 25 - Keep Dreaming

So I was thinking, in doing a series on Graffiti art, I'll also do a series on bumper stickers! There will be more to come as I see them..

For all those who were lovers of the famous Dag Nachash song, 'Shirat HaStickerim', the bumper stickers really exist and are ever changing - here's a nice one I saw this morning, commemorating 150 years of the birth of Herzl. Something that I'm sure will be touched on at next weeks Zionist Congress..

This sticker reads: "Still today, it [zionism] is no dream.
To believe, to act, to change!"

A very pertinent message to all..

Day 25 - Tuesday 8 June 2010

Keep Smiling =)

Day 24 - Support

Day 24 - Monday 7 June 2010

In light of the bad wrap Israel has been getting in the general media as of late, seeing this reminds me of the hope we all share in our country..

Yes we are being challenged by our enemies for defending ourselves and doing what is right to save our soldiers, and here is how it trickles down to even the youngest members of society to stand up and support them.

You know you are in Israel and part of the nation, when people can just put up a sign like this at the main intersection of a main shopping strip for all to see.

The poster proudly reads: "Tzahal (IDF) we are with you" and it was made by the children of Shevet Nitzanim (which I'm pretty sure are grade 5's - correct me if I'm wrong) of the Bnei Akiva Snif in Baqa.

Seeing this sign made me proud to be a Jew, and even more so, proud to be an Israeli, who can all walk around with our heads held high.

Day 23 - Woof

Just a slow day today, sleeping off the effects of last night before this afternoon!

Here is a photo that came to me at work, this man came in with his beautiful dog - and just had everyone watching it and bringing smiles to all the faces! Which you all know is something I love!

Day 23 - Sunday 6 June 2010

Day 22 - Lost

OK so this is night I don't wanna talk about!

No kidding, it was an awesome night bar a 45 minute hiccup at the very beginning..

Shabbat with the cousins was real fun like usual - relaxing and catching up and seeing the old friends in Yishuv who are now older and either in, finshed or just starting the army. We even went for a nice Shabbat arvo tiyul down to the ma'ayan..which ended up being some trees on the way to the ma'ayan because we couldn't be bothered!

After Shabbat, and feeling like a real Israeli, I thought I would tremp to Tel Aviv (for a friends Mesibat Shichrur from the army) from Ginot after Shabbat - which is fine, catching one from inside the fence of the Yishuv, I managed to find a guy going right to Ramat Gan - which was awesome..

Needless to say, Israeli's are crazy on the roads, and we managed to get there quite quickly..which was great, because he said he would drop me at a bis stop, and the buses come every 10-20 minutes..45 minutes later, I'm still stuck there, and friends in Tel Aviv are asking where the hell I am?!

Finally a nice car stopped and told me the bus stop was actually a 5 minute walk backwards, and that the reason at least 7 buses had gone straight past me was that they were not allowed to stop where I was waiting! Hmmm imagine how happy that made me!

I walked to the bus stop and caught a bus no more than 10 minutes later..found myself in Tel Aviv and where I needed to be 20 minutes later..and back on track for a fun night.

I'm going to pull the old Seinfeld trick of 'yadda yadda' right now between arriving in Tel Aviv and the next part, and say that the night was awesome fun, and I managed to pull back into Jerusalem close to before 5am..

Regardless, it will be night remembered as the first tremp as an Israeli and a night not to forget!

Day 22 - Shabbat 5 June 2010

Keep smiling =)

Day 21 - White

Day 21 - Friday 4 June 2010

Friday in Israel signaled the first Friday of Summer, and the first of what will be a regular weekly occurrence, Friday afternoon music parties before Shabbat. Each week, at a different venue around the city, different bands will be playing from 1pm - so if you're around, check it out, they're meant to be really fun and a great way to spend erev Shabbat. Also they are free..

So Friday for me was pretty fun..after finally leaving the house following a chilled morning, I was told I could get into the White Party (the first of the parties for the summer) that was being held outside the town hall, headlined by Barry Sochorof and Myumana..which I obviously jumped at the opportunity of.

For all those asking themselves, 'what's a white party?' The simple answer is that the only rule to get in is that you must be wearing white; and have a ticket, but mainly the white thing.

So turned out that the headliners were only playing mid afternoonish and I had to be on a bus to where I was going for Shabbat by 2.45pm..needless to say, I didn't even go in, I just took this photo from the outside! But I heard the music from outside and it sounded awesome!..

Regardless, it was a fun experience..as was that bus ride to Ginot again - always love it! And literally just made it in time!

Day 20 - Avis

We have been blessed the past 2 and a half weeks with our rental car, care of Jonny's parents, who we lovingly named Avis.

Today was our last day with her - so I thought I'd commemorate her by the photo of the day.

Avis was an awesome little thing, taking the streets and drivers with ease and happily taking us wherever we needed. Fitting in an oven and washing machine to the new house are two of her highlights.

Avis you will be sorely missed, and we thank you for the time you spent with us. We look forward to continuing your legacy, knowing we have decided that any next car we get will be named in your honour, Mavis.

Day 20 - Thursday 3 June 2010

PS - Jonny and I spent close to 4 hours today cleaning and kashering our 'new' oven..It was second hand, and is a year and half old, but the way it looked, it had aged much quicker! Pretty much after Jonny and I busted our guts to clean it, let's just say it's value has pretty much increased 6-fold! We even considered selling it to buy a perfectly new one..but not!
It was a great feeling to cook our own dinner that night and eat in our apartment!

Plus with the washing machine, I finally have clean clothes! And it's so much fun and easy to do!..I've even had to learn a bit of Italian to get the washing machine going, but hey, I'm a little more cultured now because of it!

Keep smiling and having fun =)

Day 19 - The Big One

So we went for 'the big shop' today - thinking it was our last day with the car (turns out we had another day!) but regardless, I'm going to upload two images, because I don't think you'll believe me when I say that the BASIC shopping necessities cost us close to 830 NIS!

Plus yesterday, we got an oven and washing machine! It was such an awesome feeling buying and shlepping these things home - the washing machine not so much for the shlepping! - but we did it and now we're pretty much all set!

Day 19 - Wednesday 2 June 2010

Made me smile =)

Day 18 - Mammoth

Here's another one of those photos that 'just happened.'

Day 18 - Tuesday 1 June 2010

On the way back from the Shteiblach this morning after morning prayers, Jonny (my roommate) noticed this rather large truck! (Note him in the photo for scale purposes!)

It kind of foreshadowed the day, in which today we are finalising purchases of an Oven/Stove and Washing machine, (finally!) and a day in which we would love a truck that size - but alas our dear Avis (our small hatchback rental car) will have to take the load!

That ones gotta make you laugh! =)

Day 17 - Hummous

So I started a new job yesterday, funnily enough, I've gone back to waitering!

The profession I started in at the fit young age of 14 and 9 months (Aussie minimum standard working age..), plus all the skills learnt over the years at Red Scooter have paid off! Apparently the skills are evident - because I said I hadn't had much experience (for me working behind the bar at Scooter wasn't a la carte experience!) - and after a while the other girls said, 'Liar! You definitely know what you're doing and have done it before!' I was obviously looking foremost for a job in architecture, but without knowing definitely when the army will draft me, it's hard to get a more serious job.

And on a day when a pretty serious incident occurred on our borders, it was a different feeling to be discussing the issue as an Israeli, with Israeli's, who are all ex-Army and to hear their ideas and thoughts..just an aside.

When I walked in a saw the wall, I knew it just had to be photographed..Although I wasn't sure what should be the photo of the day - the wall, the first order I took, the first Israeli note I made as a worker - I reverted back to the wall picture, because for all it's worth, it's a pretty damn decent sketch and I reckon it's nice to show these things around. I see it as a piece of Art worth admiring - both for its character in the line drawing itself, and it's slight comedic approach to a typical Jewish/Israeli kitchen..

Also, when I tell people I've only been here 2 weeks, they are quite amazed at the Hebrew - both written and spoken, so kudos to the teaching over High School and Uni - I'm sure it gave me some mad skills as a base and refresher!

So, enjoy.

Day 17 - Monday 31 May 2010

And keep smiling =)