Being here for the holidays is truly amazing. Very different than being in the states. On erev Yom Kippur, everything became very quiet, no cars to be seen anywhere. People go out and purposefully walk in the streets. I went to a Masorti shul that was an easy walk from my apartment. They had a… Read More Jerusalem 

On Thursday evening I got to go to an Indian music concert. My landlords’ daughter plays the bakla (Indian drum). The center was just down the street from my place and on the same block as Netanyahu’s house. They have the street blocked to vehicle traffic but we just walked through after telling the guard… Read More Shabbat Shalom

On the second day of Rosh Hashanah I went to a conservative shul within easy walking distance. There was a cantor who led most of the service little participation by congregants. There was more English so I was able to follow along. Not a very welcoming place. However they do allow visitors for Kol Nidre.… Read More Back in Hebrew school

Had a really wonderful day. Went to Ma’ayanot for services. They were all in Hebrew which made it a little difficult at times but my neighbors helped me find the place in the Matzor. Found out where Nehama learned the melody for Aleinu. After I was invited to join a group for lunch. They all… Read More 1st day Rosh Hashanah

I have made contact  with someone at a synagogue called Ma’ayanot. Even though it is modern orthodox it has an equalitarian minyan. I am planning on going there for Rosh Hashanah services tomorrow. Erev Rosh Hashanah services are very short, 30 minutes, in Israel so I skipped them since it is not that easy for… Read More L’shana tova tikatevu v’techatemu

I arrived in Jerusalem on Monday night. I spent my first day, Tuesday, unpacking and going grocery shopping. The markets are mostly small stores that have no fresh produce, etc.  The supermarkets are bigger but nothing like the ones we have. Produce and meats are limited. Things are identified in Hebrew with little or no… Read More In Jerusalem

I am writing this as I sit in Tamar’s kitchen in Frankfurt. We ended our trip to Spain with a wonderful stay in Sevilla. We visited a Jewish Interpretive Center which was basically one room. Not nearly as comprehensive as the museums in Girona or Córdoba. However they did offer a walking tour of the… Read More Sevilla

Just love Córdoba. The old town area is relatively small and easy to get around. The synagogue here is well preserved and the museum is excellent.  Córdoba has a Sephardi restaurant that does not serve pork. It changed owners from the last time I was here but the food was still good and we had… Read More Córdoba 

After two nights in Segovia, we spent one night in Toledo. Tamar got a milder version of my stomach bug. When we first got into town, we viewed the walled city from across the river. The only thing we did was walk around the old Jewish Quarter. There are two synagogues still remaining. One is… Read More Toledo