A Trip to the Israel Museum

So much to see and so little time. I think it would take my whole life here and I'd still run out of time to see everything.
Papa decided that he'd rather go to the Israel Museum instead of the Dead Sea and Masada. It would be so hot there, he told Nayna.
And so, after another big breakfast - burp! scuse me! - we walked up Nordau street and caught the #5 bus for the Tel Aviv train station so we could catch the #480 bus to the Jerusalem central bus station. We're getting pretty good at this public transportation thing.
I love watching the countryside change from city to fields, to mountains to city all within an hour.
This time, instead of taking the lightrail, or another bus, we decided to use a taxi.
Now that's an experience!
They weave in and out of traffic, almost drive up on the sidewalk and narrowly miss other cars and buses. I peeked out of Nayna's purse and snickered as Papa and Nayna gave each other funny looks.

The Israel Museum is big! We'd never be able to see everything.
On our way to the Shrine of the Book, Nayna reached up and set me on a very old carved stone from a synagogue.

We stopped to look at a scale model of second Temple Jerusalem.

 And then I saw what looked like a white Hersey Kiss with water sprayed over the sides. "Do we get to see all kinds of kisses?" I asked.
Nayna snickered. "No, silly bear. That's the Shrine of the Book. Its where the Isaiah scrolls found in Qumran in 1947 are housed.
We walked through a door and into a dimly lit hall where glass cases held all kinds of things they found along with the scrolls. There were cloth and coins, arrows and jars and plates. In some ways the people who lived back in Qumran more than 2000 years ago were so different, and yet, maybe they weren't. I've seen bowls and plates and even combs that look a lot like the ones I see now. I wonder what they ate and what they used their coins to buy. Did their moms sew them new clothes when they were children? Did they play with balls and have puppies and kitties as pets?
At the end of the hall was a door that led into a big room with the Isaiah scroll in the center. Because its so old and they want to protect it, they frown from anyone taking pictures of it, but I wanted you to see what it looked like, so Nayna found a picture on the internet.

It was cool! The Hebrew words look much the same as now so people who know Hebrew can read the scroll just like those who read it for the first time.
Now it was time to go into the big building and look at lots of really old things. We walked outside into the sunlight. We were surrounded by concrete and it was hot. Nayna found some handy hands to sit on for a moment.The ones in the shade where nice.

There is so much more I want you to see, so I'm going to save it for the next blog. I want to take you into the building where we saw things from the beginning of time when things were made. I'll tell you all about it and show more pictures from Nayna's camera.
See you in the 1st century BCE!

Jerusalem Bound

Lila Tov! That means good morning in Hebrew.
I slept like a log, but Nayna and Papa are still fighting jet lag. Nayna calls it chronic jet lag. Papa wants to know who's brain they will use because they both feel like they're walking through fog. I guess it's hard for them to wake up at 7 in the morning in Tel Aviv, but their body clocks think its 9 at night.
Today we took a bus to Jerusalem. I watched as the countryside changed from concrete highrise apartments to clusters of houses to fields and crops. Then as we began to climb in altitude, I saw hills and evergreen trees. I could tell that we were getting higher because my ears began to do that funny thing when the pressure changes. Nayna told Papa that she loves coming into the city and seeing David's harp. I liked it too.

Our bus took us to the Central Bus Station. 

We walked into the station expecting benches and ticket counters, but it was a big mall with lots of stores, just like the Dizengoff mall.
We went outside to where the lightrail tracks were. There was an automated ticket stand where we could buy tickets for the train. It's all new so everyone was having trouble figuring out how to use it. It was kind of funny. Everyone was pushing their way up to the screen so they could buy their tickets before others, but then when they didn't know how to use the machine, everyone helped each other. Us too!

When the train came, the doors opened and everyone pushed and shoved their way in, even before others could leave the train. It was crowded and we had to stand for awhile until we could get a seat. I stayed safely inside Nayna's purse. This was one place I did not want to be left behind.
We got off at Ben Yehuda Street. Its a wide open air mall with lots of little stores and places to eat.
Nayna wanted to visit her friend Uri who owns a skirt shop. But there was a sign on his door telling everyone that he would be back soon.
It was lunchtime so we walked down a side street to a McDonalds. They are EVERYWHERE in Israel.

After lunch we went back to the skirt store and Nayna bought some skirts and she and Papa talked to Uri for a long time. Snicker - I took a nap and woke up to find Papa and Nayna walking down Jaffa Street towards the Old City. I'm glad I woke up because they spied a gelato shop.

Yum! It was soooo good and refreshing because it was hot outside.
We walked some more and then I caught a glimpse of the Old City wall. My bear fur wiggled all over. Those stones were so very old and I was seeing them with my own wide green eyes.

We decided though, that it was getting late in the day and didn't really have enough time to explore the Old City this day. We would come back another day. I was sooo close!
We caught the train back to the bus station. It was more crowded then the first time and there were no seats for us. But then a young couple got up from their seats and offered them to Nayna and Papa. I learned the Hebrew words for thank you very much - todah rabah!   On our way to the ticket counter downstairs, we passed a bakery, Nayna saw trays of bourekas. "We can have these for dinner," she said. And so she bought mushroom, potato, cheese and spinach and feta pastries. I looked forward to sinking my little teeth into the flaky dough.
We caught our bus and settled in for the hour ride back to Tel Aviv. I got the giggles because Nayna and Papa couldn't keep their eyes opened and their heads bobbed up and down the whole way home.
This time when we got back to Tel Aviv, we ended up at the Central bus station instead of the train station because we took a different bus. And you'll never guess what's inside the bus station...yup, another mall with lots of stores.
Now we needed to catch the number 4 sherut instead of a bus back to our hotel. Nayna told the driver we wanted to get off on Nordau Street and he grunted. We thought he heard us, but Nayna realized a few blocks past our street that he either didn't hear, or didn't want to stop. Our feet were sore again just like the night before, but now we had to walk back a few city blocks before we reached our hotel. Well, actually, Papa and Nayna had to walk. I rode the whole time in Nayna's purse.
When we got back to our room, Nayna looked out the window and the sun was shining on a building. 

She grabbed her camera and called Papa and I to look. The sun poured its liquid shimmer all over the building.
We all settled in for the evening and enjoyed our bourekas. 

Ahhh. I'm a contented little bear.
I wonder where we're going tomorrow.

A Sukkah in My Backyard

My backyard neighbor is no doubt rolling her eyes. From her perspective, all she sees are four colorful sheets flapping in the breeze. What's wrong with that, you say? Well, they aren't on my clothesline. They're draped around our back porch.

As I look out from my back door, however, I see something much different. I see a table and chairs, a porch swing and festive tinsel sparkling in the sunlight. My back porch has been transformed into a sukkah.
For eight nights here in the US I partake in the festival of Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles. It's like a campout.
Since it's just hubby and I, and he works late during this time of year, it's a quiet affair. We eat our dinner in our sukkah. Because we share our backyard with critters - skunks, racoons, possums and such, it's not a good idea to sleep outside. I don't mind a kitty at my feet, but a pole kitty? Nope.
Now if we were in Israel, it would be a whole different story.

I love being there during this time of the year. During the day in the Old City of Jerusalem, kids are making and selling cotton candy, small bands of musicians are singing, people are dancing. Celebration is everywhere.
In cities and towns all over the land, sukkot are shining with twinkle lights, children are singing, people are carrying large pots of food to their neighbor's booths. Its considered a great blessing to share your hospitality with others, especially strangers.
I miss being part of a close knit community. Where I live, everyone keeps to themselves. Everyone is busy. No one would dare to show up unannounced at someone's house, even with a big pot of food. We just don't do that.
All that said, I am enjoying my sukkah. It's cozy and inviting. I love sitting in the glow of a small lamp, listening to the evening quiet, sharing dinner with my husband. It's simple.
My gift to you this Sukkot is a blessing and a song ~

Ba-ruch a-ta Adonai, Eh-lo-hei-nu

Meh-lech ha-olam,

she-heh-kheh-ya-nu v’kee-yeh-mah-nu
v’hee-gee-ah-nu lah-z’mahn ha-zeh.

We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the Universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us and for enabling us to reach this season.

The Flu - It Can't Be!

You'll know what I'm talking about. As the day progresses, you begin to feel something in the force is not right. You try to ignore the tickle in your chest. Those tiny aches that tease your body, you justify with the extra heavy bag of groceries you lugged from the store, or an extra lap around the track. Even as you crawl into bed, you don't want to admit you may be coming down with the dreaded...FLU.
It was our last night at Nof Ginosar Hotel at the shores of the Sea of Galilee - New Year's Eve. Hubby went to bed early, not feeling well. I stayed up with our tour group to see in the new year. I felt it coming on. I should have expected the inevitable. Our granddaughter was sick when we left home, hubby was coughing. Who was I to think serious jet lag and a plunge in an ice cold Jordan river wouldn't take its toll on my immune system.

I didn't go half way around the world to a Land I'd wanted to go to since I was a teen, to hole away, sick in bed. I did what I needed to do. "Abba!" I cried, "help!" Desperate prayer went up to the Throne. And then, armed with nothing more than lots of water, extra protein and sheer grit - plus strength and endurance I knew was beyond me, I took on Masada, En Gedi and Jerusalem. Each evening I gave thanks for my new adventures.
By the third day, my fever broke and the only evidence that I'd been sick was the nagging cough that becomes your best friend.
Being one of the worship leaders for the group, I worried that I'd lose my voice, or have one of those coughing fits that grab you. But neither happened. My speaking voice was raspy, but when it came time to sing, my voice was clear and strong.
Because of a heart condition, I can't take over-the-counter cold and flu meds. Once again G~d proved that He could care for me without props. I attribute my strength and quick recovery to Him. After all, when I cried out to Him at the Western Wall - it was a local call.