Hi Everyone!

I am just re-emerging after completing a month-long very intensive class at Hebrew University. I thought I would devote this blog post to sharing a variety of experiences from the past few weeks.

Hebrew University

I just took a 3 hour final in my class, which I haven't done for quite a long time!The class was in advanced Hebrew and gave me the chance to write long papers, give oral presentations and do a lot of great reading all in Hebrew.

Modern Hebrew is different from the biblical and rabbinic Hebrew that I usually read, but a language I love.I love being in a Hebrew speaking environment and especially being able to read social commentary and Israeli literature in Hebrew. The class was 5 hours a day with 3-4 hours of homework each night.My classmates were mostly graduate students from all over the world including Denmark, Switzerland, Finland and Russia.

Holidays in Israel

One of the most wonderful things about being in Israel is the celebration of Jewish holidays, which of course are the national holidays here. The holidays are celebrated by secular and religious Jews alike and infuse the entire Israeli Jewish culture. Last month we celebrated Tu B'Shvat.The outdoor market and all the stores had beautiful displays of dried fruits from all over the world.There was a festival in the pedestrian mall downtown.Below you can see pictures of dancers and also vendors selling plants and "floral" displays of dried fruits.During the week before and after Tu B'Shvat, one could join special Tu B'shvat hikes or attend lectures and activities regarding the environment.

Purim is coming soon and there are hamantaschen everywhere with many different fillings including date, halvah and chocolate.Many costume stores emerge with racks of costumes on the sidewalk. People walk the streets and sit on buses in costume on their way to Purim parties. is a big holiday in the schools.Galya's school has been preparing for Purim since the beginning of the month of Adar.

(Purim is the 14th of the Jewish month of Adar.)True to its carnival spirit, they create different fun games and quirky school rules.For example, if a teacher is 5 minutes late, there is no homework that night and if the teacher is 10 minutes late there is no class for the day!The kids give each other special Purim gifts called mishloach manot and have a big Purim costume party at night.Purim itself is a school vacation day and in Jerusalem Purim is 2 days, because the Megillah says that in walled cities, Purim was celebrated on the 15th of Adar, called Shushan Purim.In Jerusalem we will read the Megillah on the 15th, the day after everyone else.We will be going to a friend's house for a megillah reading and Purim party on Sunday night. On Monday, Galya and I will be joining Women of the Wall for a women's megillah reading at the Western Wall, where I have the honor of chanting the first and last chapter.

Many of you have asked about the gathering of Women of the Wall on Rosh Hodesh Adar (the first of the month of Adar).It followed a tense time when one participant was arrested 2 months ago for wearing a tallit and bringing a Torah into the Wall plaza..It was tense again, and I will devote my next blog post to that experience.