Life is Beautiful.

Yes. I do want to be a rabbi.

When I push all of the negative things out of the way (such as the yetzer harah and the negative voices in my head) and as I logistically figure out details-when I see that happening (as it is slowly beginning to now) there is no doubt in my mind. I see myself doing what I need to do in my life. I see myself shining and glowing. I see the world and it looks brighter to me. Making a difference not only in other people's lives, but in my own, too. I light up when I look at a piece of text that I have not studied before (or even if I have). I light up when I do a mitzvah-or when I see other people doing mitzvot.

I should just embrace it. it is not going to be easy, but I really do believe this is what's going to make me truly happy-Some opportunity for me to be able to give to the Jewish People. Whether that is teaching, being a pulpit rabbi or some other form of a rabbi. I know I have to do this. And please know I am open to change and evolving.

Please tell me your thoughts.

:)

I recently talked with a rabbinical student about my life, challenges, dream, goals, etc. It was incredible. I talked (and had dinner) with him from 830pm until about 11pm. I think tomorrow I am going to go have lunch with another rabbinical student about the same thing. I am very excited.

Only in Jerusalem can you hear families singing the kiddush or shalom alienu or the blessing for the ushpitzin as you walk down the street. It is so beautiful. I recently heard a little child, who had to be about 4 singing the Grace After Meals with his/her Abba (Father).

I have pictures to put up of my time here so far, but I am waiting for my new powercord to come in. Bernie, thank you so much for allll of your help. It lasted as long as it could!

I had really forgotten how much I LOVE Succot! Seeing people carrying around lulavs and etrogs. Being in a minyan with people I know (and don't know) doing Hallel and Hoshannah. I LOVE Hallel. It's one of my favorites. I hadn't done all of that since my days back in Rambam (middle school age).

One of the next chaggim (holiday pl.) is Simchat Torah. This is the celebration of finishing the cycle of reading the Torah (5 Books of Moses). I get to have an opportunity to go to Netanya (on the coast 15 min walk from the BEACH) with friends from the yeshiva and celebrate Simchat Torah with a congregation which is mostly made up of elderly people. We get to give them a ruach (spirit) boost to celebrate. I'm so excited and looking forward to doing this good deed!!

I'll definately write more later, but now I must eat dinner.

Love and miss you.

Chag Sameach!!!

Never had I experienced a Yom Kippur like I did in Jerusalem. 

All of you from the South, try to imagine a city where streets that are usually bustling with traffic  suddenly come to a halt. The only cars on the streets are emergency vehicles. As I walked out of Kol Nidre (the beginning of the Yom Kippur service the night before) from Kedem (the minyan where I pray) on Emek Refaim I was blown away by the absolute beauty. The street was filled with people who had just gotten out of shul and were talking and shcmoozing. People were walking in the middle of the streets. I kept on seeing families with their children, who were riding on scooters or rollerblades. People came and took their dogs out with them, so there were plenty of dogs to see and pet. It was surreal. I also saw people that I have gotten to know since I've been here also walking on Emek Refaim, so it gave me a sense that I have started to build myself a community here.

Succot in Israel is beautiful as well. I have never seen so many Succot before in my life! Everywhere I look, I can see a succah one after the other . Another awesome thing is that for the resterants that are kosher, they are required to have a succah. So I can walk down the streets and see succot specifically for people who want to eat at a kosher resturant. 

I'm still tickled by all of the hebrew I am seeing. One example is that I've seen hebrew writing in cement. It really does make me smile. Rather than in the states where is would say "Jon was here". It's in hebrew :) 

Yeshiva is amazing. I'm so grateful for being able to be here. I still catch myself thinking about the fact that I am actually in Jerusalem. I am actually learning at the Yeshiva I had been wanting to study at for years. 

I have been also spending time with Colleen who lives about 15-20 min walk from where I live. So I've gotten to expand my social circles and have met people outside of the yeshiva! 

I wish you could all see the beauty that is here..

I hope to update more often. Love and miss you all.

I am about to experience the High Holidays in Jerusalem...I'm quite excited :-)