thinking jewish

Please Don't Talk To Me

Why is it that old fat men have an incessant need to speak to me while we sweat together in the steam room. Personally, I just want to sit there, look forward, and sweat. Nothing else. But here I am, and here they are, and they want to make conversation and a new friend. Why!?

In other news, Pesach in Jerusalem is good though weird. I'd prefer to be with my family, but this will do. There are plenty of kosher l'pesach restaurants to enjoy.

Also, I'm looking for a roomate. If you know of someone moving soon to New York who wants someone to live with, please do send them my way.

Camels and Good Wine

After a week of travels in two of the most 100% different places on Earth, I'm back in Jerusalem, ready for Passover to begin tomorrow night. The Negev and Italy were both great trips each, though very different.

Pictures from the Negev are posted on your right. We did a lot of hiking, some sleeping outside, some more hiking, and then had Shabbat at Kibbutz Yahel. Good times. We also did a lot of peeing outside.

Italy, for its part, was a crazy whirlwind 3-day tour of Florence and Rome. We saw just about every important site and piece of art you can think of, and even managed to squeeze in two of the most perfect meals ever into our time there. Not to mention that we were in Rome when the new afifior (Pope) was elected. Fun times.

Pictures are coming soon, as soon as I get all of the rest from Josh.

Until then, חג פסח סמח וקשר!

Who Knew She Could Dance

Diplomacy can be a funny thing.

On her visit to Russia this week to meet with President Vladimir Putin, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice did more than just talk to the former KGB head.

After a lively discussion on the future of US-Russia relations, Putin invited Rice to swing dance in the grand ballroom of his residence.

The two are said to have danced away into the evening, after many-a-glass of wine and shots of vodka.

Go Condy!

Sto Guidando un Cammello nel Sud

As if I haven't been in Jerusalem long enough since the Ride for Reform, I'm leaving in a few short hours on two new trips, back to back.

This morning I'm heading down south with my class to spend four days in the Negev. We'll be hiking, relaxing, seeing important stuff and maybe even riding a camel. We'll be at Kibbutz Yahel for Shabbat (Yahel is one of two kibbutzim aligned with the Progressive movement here). Motsei Shabbat, we're coming immediately back to Jerusalem. We should arrive here around midnight.

At 1 AM, Josh, Sara, Sadie and I leave for Ben Gurion Airport to catch our early-as-hell flight to Italy. Yes, as is apparent from the title of this blog I'm off to Italy, to partake in the sensational tastes of Il Latini, the breathtaking sights of the Uffizi, and to help the Cardinals choose a new pope of course. I'll return from our four-day non-stop tour of Florence and Rome Wednesday morning.

In the meantime, lest you go bored without something to read during my renewed absence, I have a game. First one who can translate the title of this post wins a prize.

Ready. Set. Go!

An Ode to Young Love

In case you didn't already know, I've been the crazy player that I am ever since I was a wee lad.

Got this message today on friendster:

"This is a total shot in the dark....but were you in Ms. Cohen's 2nd grade class at Beth Israel Day school?

This is Shana Weaver, I used to sleep over at your house..."

Now that's not random...

Shana Weaver, this one's for you. For all the loose tooth pulling and Halloween candy sharing under the jungle gym, I will never forget you.

Pictures Up

Check out the pics from my ride by clicking the link to the right.

(Note: All the captions are from Rachel Crossley. I take no responsibility for them)

Hiking for Reform

One week and 220 kilometers later, I have made it back and successfully finished the Ride for Reform. I think I can honestly say that this was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, even harder than my sea-to-sea hike.

There were roughly 26 riders, half Israeli, half American, who set out on this journey from Kibbutz Yahel in the south, through Mitzpe Ramon towards Ashkelon on the coast, and then northeast to Jerusalem. I think that every single one of them were in better shape than me. Nonetheless, I made it to the end and, after two days of recovery, am back up on my feet.

The experience was amazing. The desert was beautiful and not hot, the coast green as ever and extremely pleasant. There were a few very hard and long climbs, and many fun off-road drops.

I only fell and got hurt once, while walking my bike up a hill.

All in all, I'm very proud to have been able to take part in such an event to support Progressive Judaism in Israel, even if I still lack feeling in some of my fingers and parts of my legs. The last day saw the only time that I fully walked my bike up a long hill. But it was a nice hike, worth every step.

The ride raised a total of $75,000 for the movement. This on the heels of the recent Supreme Court decision giving near-legitimacy to non-Orthodox rabbis in Israel for the first time - it's been a few good weeks for Progressive Judaism in Israel!

Pictures are coming shortly - keep checking back!

Wish Me Luck!

I'm off for a week to bike from the Arava Valley back up here to Jerusalem in support of Israel's Progressive Movement. I'll be biking about 40 miles a day from Sunday through Thursday.

Pictures are forthcoming as soon as I return!