Sorry I've been MIA on the blog for a while. I haven't really hadinternet access. Here's what's been going on:

First, I think it necessary to mention that I've been dating a really awesome Israeli guy. He's an architect and he just moved back toIsrael from Italy where he was studying. This is very new, so I don'twant to give to much info. If it continues, I'm sure you'll hear more about him. His name is Michael (Pronounced Mee-Khail with a hard H sound).

But the last week or so, I've spend outside Tel Aviv, so I haven't seen him. I spent an awesome few days in Haifa with Yossi Edrey and his family. Yossi was a dear friend of my late aunt, Janet. He andhis whole family were incredibly nice to me and I've become friends with his daughter Tamar. We're hoping to stay in touch. They aren't religious but they do have Friday night Shabbat dinner. As Bella putit "It's not religious! It's tradition!!" It was really nice. Bella and Tamar are amazing cooks.

After that, I went to a hostel in downtown Haifa. I made friends witha girl named Ashleigh. She's from Florida and is now probably in India. She's a photographer and loves to travel. She was only a few years older than me, and we spent most of our time together. We spent a day in Akko, an ancient Roman city, and ate loads of spaghetti inthe hostel's kitchen. It was really fun.

Next, I headed to Tsfat. I was there for a weekend course on Kabbalah and Psychology. Kabbalah is Jewish mysticism. The courses were pretty interesting, but by far the most thought-provoking were the serious conversations I had with the ultra-orthodox Jews there. There were a bunch of girls who were studying in a Seminary. In orthodox Judaism, everyone is supposed to go to study Torah for several years before going into the work force and having families. Most of them had or were planning to go to regular college, too, this was extra. In a Jewish home, the mother really has to know a lot ofthe rules and know Torah really well so that they can teach their children. Contrary to popular belief (including mine, previously) it's not really oppresive to women. Women can be Rabbis although theycannot lead services where men are present. It is encouraged forwomen to work and men to stay home with children. And while there are lots of laws about modesty, there are equally many laws for men. Women are allowed to read from the Torah, although again, not in frontof men. Women can wear Talits (prayer shawls) although women areconsidered to be more connected to G-d than men, so it is unnecessary.


Still, I don't think I'll be converting any time soon. I do understand how people can be Orthodox now, which I didn't before. One girl, Mor, was an Australian with non-religious parents. She had beenOrthodox since early teens of her own volition. She was so excited about her religion and about G-d. She really believed with a passion and ferver I'd never seen before. She believed that the Messiah was coming any day now and that prayer really could do anything. Orthodox Judaism really has an intensity to it's purpose. Orthodox Jews believe that when we pray, it gives G-d a home on earth. Jews arespread out so that at any hour of the day, someone is studying Torah and G-d is welcome on earth. Another interesting idea is the term"The Chosen People." It doesn't mean what people usually think it means. Supposedly, to prepare for the coming of the Messiah, every group on earth has a role and is a piece of the puzzle. The Jews aresupposedly the ones who are supposed to be putting the puzzle togetheralthough we're not really doing that right now.

Like I said, some really interesting concepts. However the idea of never touching another boy until after marriage, meeting my husband through a date arranged by a matchmaker, and praying several times a day, isn't fully my cup of tea. I do have a new appreciation for itall though.