Love is all you need.

This has been one heck of a week. I've learned a lot and continue to appreciate how beautiful life is-even when it seems that it is possibly at it's worst.

I was talking to a dear friend of mine recently and we were talking about love, self love, love from G-d, etc. I was so moved by her words, that I had to share them-in hope they can help you too. This has nothing to do with our personal lives. We just really enjoy talking about hard issues, morality, growth, life, life lessons, theology, etc  :-)

"It takes a lot of time to earn trust [...] but the thing is, people are fallible and they're going to make mistakes. That's the beautiful thing about love and why G-d's love is so important. We must forgive one another , trust them even when we're not perfect, because G-d does that for us and that's how love works. And love is so important. It's a part of faith and what makes there "a point" to anything at all. And that love and trust is important in our self love as well."

"People we love deserve that love coming from someone's who's strong enough to love themselves. We let ourselves down more than anybody else (except G-d)."

"The people we love need us. We can serve them best when we are strong. We're all going to be weak, but we must be as strong as we can for each other. That is why it's just as important to learn to love, trust, and forgive yourself as it is to do that for someone else."

You know, it's a wonderful feeling to wake up and feel blessed by being alive.

I forgot to mention that recently we were studying at the yeshiva and people began gathering outside. I was busy in chevruta, but I decided to take a look to see what the commotion was about. There was the most beautiful and vibrant rainbow I had ever seen before. It was huge. We all said a blessing over it, too. Come to think of it, I think the parsha that week was close to Noah.

I can't remember if I told you all this or not, but I went to netanya (near tel aviv) for Simchat Torah. It was one of the best weekends I've had here. We went to a congregation whose congregants are mostly made up of elderly people. Some CY students went to this congregation for Simchat Torah to give the shul a ruach boost :) We danced in circles with the torah, sang songs, the Rabbi got on top of one of the CY students shoulders, while holding the sefer torah! It was an incredible experience.

I held and danced with a torah for the first time. I did it about 4 times. It was one of the most incredible experiences ever. To know that I was holding something so sacred. So ancient. Something that has kept the Jewish People together for generations. Something that I am learning to get closer to and apply to my daily life. I remember having a moment where I was holding the Sefer Torah and just hugged it. I just felt this rush of warmth running through my body. I also led a hakafot, which during Simchat Torah you circle the room 7 times. I led one of those! Also, during Simchat Torah everyone in the shul get's an alliyah. They are called to the torah to say the blessing before and after someone reads from the Torah. What we did was, we split the congregation into groups and one person said the alliyah for that group of people. I did it for one group of congregants! I did so many beautiful things for the first time there at Netanya. I don't know what it is about the Rabbi's shul. When I am there I feel like I can do anything.

I need to get going, but I'll post more soon enough. Tonight I am going to my Talmud teacher's house for Shabbat Dinner! I'm soooo excited!

Love you all and miss you.

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 :-)