Jerusalem, First Week

June 25, 2010 It has taken a few days to get onto the time zone here. We’ve planned for some time to get acclimated and adjusted before any of my study programs start and also to spend some family time together. I am getting to see Israel in a whole new way with the kids since we are looking for activities and things they like to do. Our first full day awake here we found a neighborhood playground only a few blocks away. While the playground equipment is pretty similar to what we have back home, one of the slides is a particular favorite - it has a series of rollers that you slide down on. On one of our first evenings here we walked to the Midrachov (Ben Yehuda street area). This central area is very popular with tourists and Israelis alike and is a fun area for shopping, eating and people watching. Kinyon Malcha (The Malcha Mall) was another interesting adventure. This three level mall is very popular and exciting - shopping malls like this didn’t exist in Jerusalem last time I was here. Lots of people from all over Jerusalem come here to shop. It feels much like malls back in the US except that you see lots of men and boys wearing kippot and tzitzit, and all the restaurants in the food court are under kosher rabbinic supervision. On our third day here the kids particularly enjoyed our trip to the Old City. We started our walk with shopping in the souk in the Muslim quarter, and then walking through the Rovah (Jewish Quarter) and to the Kotel (Western Wall). At the Kotel plaza we each wrote prayers to place into the crevices in the Wall. Other highlights of our first week included a wonderful evening out in Jerusalem and dinner with my friend and chevruta (study partner) Rabbi Sandy and her daughter, who are here on a tour.