Happy New Year Everyone!
Hard to believe Matt has completed his first semester of rabbinical school! Only nine more to go! We are enjoying Matt's two week vacation from school and have had some wonderful opportunities since the break began.
Matt was contacted a few weeks ago by Rabbi Jeff Sirkman, from Larchmont Temple in NY. He was traveling to Israel with a group from his congregation and needed a songleader for a few parts of the trip. Matt led a song session for Friday night dinner and Saturday Havdalah at their hotel, which happened to be right down the street from our apartment! This gave us the chance to meet the incredible members of this congregation and start to get to know some of the families. We then traveled with them Sunday-Monday to the Negev. We were afforded the chance to see so many beautiful sights of Israel we had not yet seen. Next, came the most exciting part of Matt's job - songleading for a sunrise Bat Mitzvah in Machtesh Ramon, the world's largest crater. Although the temperatures were more than frigid, this was an experience we will never forget. Seeing the sunrise over the crater as we were having the Bat Mitzvah was quite a moving experience. We truly thank Rabbi Sirkman and all the members of Larchmont for giving us the chance to travel with them and making us feel so comfortable and appreciated.
Later that week, Matt and cantorial student, David Frommer were given another wonderful opportunity. One of the HUC professors was doing a Bnai Mitvzah on top of Masada and she needed some musical accompaniment. This worked out perfectly for Matt and I because we were planning on going to Masada the same morning for another Bat Mitzvah! One of Matt's Shabaton families from Tifereth Israel in Cleveland was coming here for their daughter's Bat Mitzvah and Matt was planning to surprise her. It all worked out quite well - Molly was extremely surprised and so happy to see Matt and he was able to take part in another beautiful - and very cold service experience.
Lastly, the biggest news out of Jerusalem - SNOW! As you can see from the pictures below, a couple days after Christmas, we had about 3 inches of snow! Its been years since this city has seen snow and it was quite a sight. The city basically shuts down and the driving becomes even worse (if that's possible) than usual. It stuck through the night and melted by the next afternoon. Everyone was outside taking pictures and kids were throwing snowballs. It was our "holy" winter experience! I would say it made us feel right at home - but it seems we have had more snow here than in Cleveland!
We wish you all a healthy, happy start to 2007!
Love,
Erin & Matt
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3 comments:
Your adventures sound wonderful. Can't wait to see you both on Friday. Please make sure you pray for no more snow. I want to see new sights, not old ones. Love you both, MOM
Another fantastic entry. It's amazing all the wonderful opportunities you have been able to be apart of. Have a wonderful time being with family this weekend!
My Rachel wants Matt to know that Rachel's "best" tracks compilation of the FT preschool CD are playing in Mt. Lebenon (Pitt) for her little cousin Ben (almost 2). Ben makes his Daddy play it over and over again back and forth to their JCC every day. Just helping expand the fan base around the midwest.
Dan, Robyn, Rachel and Sophie
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