Holidays

It is the time of the year for some of the most important Jewish holidays - the start of the new year (Rosh Ha'Shana) and tying up the lose ends from the previous year (Yom Kippur). Rosh Hashana already happened, and on Monday it will be Yom Kippur - the day of atonement. I just want to talk about it because a) I really like the idea of it in a lot of ways, and b) I've never experienced it in Jerusalem before, so I think it'll be extra-interesting. On Yom Kippur, Jews fast to purify themselves of the sins they committed in the year before, and pray to be written in the Book of Life. There's a week between Rosh Ha'Shana and Yom Kippur, when you're supposed to correct your sins/apologize to those you have wronged. I don't usually do this physically, but I do think about it. And I fast, because I like the idea of taking a day to make a physical sacrifice for spiritual cleansing.

As for being in Jerusalem when all this is happening - it's interesting because most of my friends aren't religious (if they're Jewish at all), so they don't even fast or anything. On the other hand, there are a million more religious types who have come to be in Jerusalem for the holidays, who are sure to be fasting and even doing all the superreligious traditions like not even showering or brushing their teeth. I definitely fall somewhere in the middle (I think we can all guess which direction I tend to lean), but it's interesting to see the strict observance contrasted with the secularism that Diaspora Jews (those not from Israel) aren't able to take to the same extreme as secular Israelis, if they want to maintain any semblance of Jewish identity. Most people here wish you an 'easy fast' for the holiday - it's not a particularly joyous day, so I guess that's the best they can do. Anyhow it should be really, really interesting to see what the day itself actually turns out to be like - I'll let you know!

In other news, I had my first trip to the shuk today since I've been back and my first felafel at the best place EVER. It's my favorite, and a felafel is only 10 shekels - that's like a little over $2. It's good to be back!