In about 45 minutes I am leaving for the airport, where--assuming I pass racist El Al security--I'll be making me way, after 4.5 long months, back to the U.S. Thanks to everyone who has been following my aliyah.
My semester went off ALMOST with a hitch... that is, until I lost my wallet on an Egged bus last week. Being money-less and identity-less (except for, Barukh Hashem, my passport), my final week in Jerusalem was considerably lamer than it should have been. So, in lieu of a few last pictures and a proper goodbye to my home-away-from-home, I've compiled the following list:
MY TEN FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT ISRAEL
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10. The Dead Sea--who knew that the inhospitable waters could be so refreshing? Thanks for making me float like I never have before--and for making me rub dirt all over myself.
9. Fresh fruit juice--available from vendors everywhere, especially in the Old City. Pomegranate and orange juice are classics, but sometimes I went out on a limb and got mint lemonade. A wise choice.
8. Easter--despite the language barriers and near-death experiences, Easter was pretty much amazing, especially on the spot where it all happened. Only in Jerusalem.
7. The Galilee--Israel's beautiful northern country, home to both quiet biblical towns (Capernaum) and sprawling cities (Nazareth, Tiberias). Ours was most certainly a road trip to remember.
6. Qumran--of course, as a biblical studies person, I have to pay homage to mighty Qumran, the breathtaking spot on the Dead Sea in whose caves the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. I never actually got the chance to do the full hike--but one day, I will return.
5. Hezekiah's Tunnel--wading through Hezekiah's Tunnel beneath the City of David is like wading through ancient history, made all the more awesome by the fact that Nick and Kyla both chickened out, and I completed the eerie underground water-tunnel all by myself. Take that, Neo-Assyrians.
4. Marzipan rugelach--words cannot describe the chocolatey deliciousness that is God's greatest gift to mankind (besides, maybe, numbers 1-3), especially when eaten three-at-a-time. Oh rugelach, how I will miss you.
3. Chummus Lina--hands-down the most delicious restaurant in the whole Old City. My Hebrew teacher aptly called the chummus a "religious experience." I can think of no higher praise.
2. My classes--yes, I am a nerd, but seriously, my classes this semester were the best I've ever taken, and I had the amazing opportunity to study under some of the world's top experts. So here's to you, Mesopotamian Astronomy, Second Temple Period Historiography, and the Book of Leviticus!
1. חברים שלי--in English, "my friends." I have no doubt that my semester abroad would have been half as much fun if it hadn't been for the all of the amazing people I met, especially Dana, Shiri, Andrea, Brittany, Zach, and my roommate Alex. You all rock, and I miss you much-ly already. DISNEYLAND REUNION?!?!?!
Lehitra'ot, Yerushalayim!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Israel: The Bucket List
In my penultimate post of the semester, I thought I would list off the remaining items on my to-do list, which, suffice it to say, will remain unvisited. I see it as a good thing: now, I have to come back to Israel to finish them off!
THE (OUTSTANDING) BUCKET LIST
----------------------------------------
1. Herod's Family Tomb--the burial place of Herod's family, but not Herod himself (see Herodion), located in downtown Jeruslaem
2. The Jerusalem Time Elevator--a roller-coaster ride which reenacts the history of the city
3. Mea She'arim--the ultra-orthodox neighborhood located downtown; I've driven through here in buses, but never explored it on foot
4. King's Tomb--in the Sheik Jarrah neighborhood outside the Damascus Gate, I always drove past this but never knew what it was (how mysterious!)
5. Rockefeller Museum--at the foot of the Mt. of Olives, the Rockefeller Museum contains a number of cool archaeological artifacts, plus a few Dead Sea Scrolls
6. The Bible Lands Museum--another biblical-archaeological museum
7. Knesset--Israel's version of Congress; the building (from a distance, at least) looks like a contemporary version of the Third Temple
8. Supreme Court--essentially the same as above
9. Herzl Museum--on Mt. Herzel, the museum discusses the history of Zionism, and ends with the outdoor memorial to Theodore Herzl, the founder of the Zionist movement
10. The Biblical Zoo--a zoo containing only the animals mentioned in the bible, that is, a lot of goats
11. Tombs of the Prophets--an elusive shrine on the Mt. of Olives that is very rarely open; the tombs are said to contain the bones of multiple Old Testament prophets
12. Church of St. Mary Magdalene--also on the Mt. of Olives, the Russian Orthodox church has strange visiting hours, but is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL inside
13. The Wohl Archaeological Museum--located in the Jewish Quarter, the Wohl Museum shows the excavated remains of the Second Temple Period Herodian Quarter, much like the Burnt House
14. Rachel's Tomb--located at the checkpoint to Bethlehem, Rachel's Tomb is said to contain the bones of Isaac's beloved wife; the Tomb was also the site of anti-Palestinian violence about a decade ago... I tried to get in here, but couldn't figure out my way around the checkpoint
15. The Golan Heights--Israel's north-eastern territory, which is, of course, disputed; the Golan contains beautiful hiking trails and natural springs
16. Nablus--the now-Palestinian city in the West Bank, Nablus was the biblical Schechem, located between Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal, the site of Joshua's blessings and curses; the city is home to the largest group of Samaritan Jews, who believe that Mt. Gerizim, and not the Temple Mount, was God's chosen spot for the Temple.
17. Hebron--the biblical home of Abraham and his descendents, also the original seat of David; the city is sharply divided between Palestinians and Israelis, who both venerate the Tombs of the Patriarchs; I tried to go, but our Breaking the Silence Tour was turned away
THE (OUTSTANDING) BUCKET LIST
----------------------------------------
1. Herod's Family Tomb--the burial place of Herod's family, but not Herod himself (see Herodion), located in downtown Jeruslaem
2. The Jerusalem Time Elevator--a roller-coaster ride which reenacts the history of the city
3. Mea She'arim--the ultra-orthodox neighborhood located downtown; I've driven through here in buses, but never explored it on foot
4. King's Tomb--in the Sheik Jarrah neighborhood outside the Damascus Gate, I always drove past this but never knew what it was (how mysterious!)
5. Rockefeller Museum--at the foot of the Mt. of Olives, the Rockefeller Museum contains a number of cool archaeological artifacts, plus a few Dead Sea Scrolls
6. The Bible Lands Museum--another biblical-archaeological museum
7. Knesset--Israel's version of Congress; the building (from a distance, at least) looks like a contemporary version of the Third Temple
8. Supreme Court--essentially the same as above
9. Herzl Museum--on Mt. Herzel, the museum discusses the history of Zionism, and ends with the outdoor memorial to Theodore Herzl, the founder of the Zionist movement
10. The Biblical Zoo--a zoo containing only the animals mentioned in the bible, that is, a lot of goats
11. Tombs of the Prophets--an elusive shrine on the Mt. of Olives that is very rarely open; the tombs are said to contain the bones of multiple Old Testament prophets
12. Church of St. Mary Magdalene--also on the Mt. of Olives, the Russian Orthodox church has strange visiting hours, but is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL inside
13. The Wohl Archaeological Museum--located in the Jewish Quarter, the Wohl Museum shows the excavated remains of the Second Temple Period Herodian Quarter, much like the Burnt House
14. Rachel's Tomb--located at the checkpoint to Bethlehem, Rachel's Tomb is said to contain the bones of Isaac's beloved wife; the Tomb was also the site of anti-Palestinian violence about a decade ago... I tried to get in here, but couldn't figure out my way around the checkpoint
15. The Golan Heights--Israel's north-eastern territory, which is, of course, disputed; the Golan contains beautiful hiking trails and natural springs
16. Nablus--the now-Palestinian city in the West Bank, Nablus was the biblical Schechem, located between Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal, the site of Joshua's blessings and curses; the city is home to the largest group of Samaritan Jews, who believe that Mt. Gerizim, and not the Temple Mount, was God's chosen spot for the Temple.
17. Hebron--the biblical home of Abraham and his descendents, also the original seat of David; the city is sharply divided between Palestinians and Israelis, who both venerate the Tombs of the Patriarchs; I tried to go, but our Breaking the Silence Tour was turned away
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