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Date Posted: 05:57:14 10/08/06 Sun
Author: Noname
Subject: Only In Israel


ONLY IN ISRAEL

Sukkoth in Jerusalem is nothing like Sukkoth in Walnut Creek.

On Friday, I went to the schul to daven Maariv. There, I met a Moyshe (a local Anglo) who introduce me to 2 more local Anglos--Barry and Freddie. Barry is from Boca Raton and has been here long enough that he does not speak with an American accent.

Freddie invited me to dinner at his house, which I gladly accepted. There, I met his wife and children. Freddie's wife is Moroccan and her spicy cooking overwhelmed my Eastern European palate and caused me to sweat profusely.

Saturday, I was invited to a schul in Emek Refaaim, but since I woke up early, I decided to doven Netz. Since everything is still a big mish-mash, I did not know which custom to follow as to whether I should put tefillin or not during Chol Hamoed

Emek Refaim has a large Anglo community (but not as large as the one in Bakka) so I felt right at home, especially since the dovening was done in an Ashkenazi style and on e of the guys there been to California before. I had to explain to him that Walnut Creek is very far away from Disneyland. Later at the schul they served lunch which consisted of Gefiltefish and Chulent. For the first time in Israel I saw an American Bagel—what a miracle. This was nothing like the meal I had the night before.


On Monday, which is Chol Hamoed, a technician from the Israeli Electric Company (another government owned monopoly) was supposed to be here between 1 to 4 p.m. I woke up at 7:00 am and since everything is still a big mish-mash, I did not know which custom to follow as to whether I should put tefillin or not during Chol Hamoed.

At about 8 a.m. while in the schul, I received a frantic phone call that he was there. I raced home only to find out that the guy had already left. A note on my door indicated that he will try and call me later. As I was exhausted, I went back to the Iraqi schul which is right around the corner.

Later, the guy from the electric company called again and we worked out an arrangement that because I am a new "oleh" and an Anglo, he will knock on the door of the landlord who will let him in.

When I arrived home, there was finally electricity. . In the future, I will post pictures to prove to you that my place has electricity.

The landlord told me that when the guy from the electric company was here he asked him maybe I will be interested in a shiduch. Apparently, the technician also moonlights as a matchmaker. Only in Israel

On Tuesday, I asked my cousin to give me a ride to downtown Jerusalem. I had to go pick up the check from Nefesh Benefesh. While there, I met the Mexican guy who was on the flight with me:

“Hey Gringo, que passo” he shouted at me. “Chag Samyeach” I told him. (Growing up in California I do know some words in Spanish, but now that I am in Israel I did not want to use my Spanish vocabulary in order for it not to interfere with my Hebrew) After we finished our business in Nefesh Benefesh, the Mexican guy invited me to eat lunch at his Sukkah.

It was a fascinating experience to have tacos and paella for lunch while sitting across from a Mexican Jew together in a Sukkah, while we both try to communicate in Hebrew—Only in Israel

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