Shabbat In Jeru

This weekend was my first real Shabbat in Jerusalem. I was here for it last week, but my cousin and his gf went to visit friends and stuff, so it didn't really count.

On Friday I woke up to a georgeous day, so I went downtown to the shuk (it's like a permanent, open-air farmer's market) and bought some fruit, then sat in the sun and people-watched, talked to a cousin on the phone, and just enjoyed the day. I got back to my cousin's in the early afternoon, where they were cleaning like nothing you've ever seen. Traditionally Friday before sundown is when you clean the house and prepare for resting on the Sabbath, plus Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is coming up and that is also an excuse for spring cleaning. So of course I offer to help - what else am I going to do, sit on the couch and watch them clean? That would really help improve the stereotype of lazy Americans...

We cleaned for 4 hours. The apartment is not very large, I have no idea how it was possible. Of course, there are 3 people, 3 dogs, and a cat living here right now, so maybe it does make sense. I have to admit though, it is completely satisfying to enjoy a clean area, and know that you made it that way.

A friend of my hosts came over for Shabbat dinner. Have I mentioned that my cousin's gf is more traditional than my fam? She keeps kosher and everything. It's kind of cool, actually, since she doesn't try to force it on me or anything. So anyhow the friend comes over, and my cousin gets out his Turkish drum, and we sing some Shabbat songs, then say the Shabbat blessings, and have a delicious meal. It was really nice! Funny, though, knowing that my cousin is from a kibbutz and not raised anything close to religious, and still not as into it as his gf. But it was lovely, and felt appropriate, given that I'm in arguably the holiest city in the world.

Today I woke up and it was raining. It was suggested that maybe I brought a bit of San Francisco to Israel, ahaha. I had an appointment with the Association for Americans and Canadians in Israel, so I hopped on the bus with plenty of time. As I got off the bus at what I thought was the right stop, I noticed that there were lots of puddles. I headed up the street, accidentally stepping in one. And then another. And then another. Then I realized I was going the wrong way. So I turn back, into another puddle. By now, my pants are soaked practically to the knee. Finally, I stop and ask a man where the street I am looking for is. I tried in Hebrew, but apparantly I was so hopeless he switched to English. I stepped in several more puddles until I finally found the place, only to find out that the woman I was supposed to meet with was out sick today. There was no way in hell I was leaving without some darn good advice at this point, so I sat there for a bit until they got someone. He gave me a nice long list of tasks I need to complete. Not fun, but at least I won't be wandering aimlessly around the country anymore! Maybe I should get stilts to combat the puddles.