Purim!!!!

We received an email a while ago telling us about the 3 P's (Purim, Passover, and Packing). It is so hard to believe that Purim is now behind us and we are getting ready for our big trip to the Ukraine. The year is flying by!

Purim in Israel was certainly an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately Erin and I were a bit under the weather but we still managed to have a lot of fun. The festivities began at HUC with an absolutely hilarious Maariv service at including the ENTIRE reading of the Megillah. Following the service we headed down to the Moadon for a falafel dinner and purim spiel. The spiel, written and performed entirely by the students, was based on the hit show "Saturday Night Live." I played the Chassidic Ladies Man, giving all sorts of good advice to my callers. Other acts included Celebrity Jeopardy, Night at the Roxbury, The Cheerleader Sketch, Weekend Update, Debbie Friedman Downer, and plenty of crazy commercials. The night ended early for us while our "younger" friends enjoyed a very drunk night out on the town. They take this holiday very seriously here! I am willing to bet that the majority of people in this town could not tell the difference between Mordechai and Haman by the end of the night.

Purim continued throughout the next day and I was able to catch a free Hadag Nachash concert on Hillel Street later in the evening. It was amazing how many people were still out celebrating Purim. Purim concluded yesterday at Mevaseret, the Ethiopian Absorption center (our community service project), in which we gave the kids one last taste of Purim. We played games with the kids, decorated masks and crowns, ate goodies, and performed a play for the kids re-telling the story of Purim.

All in all, this was a great time and we look forward to the next P. Enjoy all the pics below!


Lookin' fly before the Megillah Reading


Our service leaders Josh & Phil


Josh chanting Megillat Esther alongside Eli Schleifer and Ari Plost


Nice costume Steph


Erin with Anna "the riveter"


Mara looking so cute


Schva Na (Emily) and Schva Nach (Jessica) with Missy, who stole Matt's costume idea!


The Chassidic Ladies Man


Celebrity Jeopardy starring Josh as Sima, Dave V. as Dean Marmur, and Dave F. as Moshe Silberstein


Another round starring Phil as Sean Connery, Mara as Naama Kelman, and Jamie as a professor I don't have but sounded funny. Pictured in the orange hat is Miriam, who played Gingy.


Jamie and Josh as the night at the Roxbury Guys, but orthodox trying to convince guys to put on tefillin and Daven on Ben Yehudah Street


The Chassidic ladies man reappeared and got in on the Davening action


Aaron Miller and Mara as the cheerleaders of Reform Liturgy Workshop


Erin with Steph, Mara, and Miriam


Hadag Nachash live on Hillel Street


Maura painting faces


Me with our girls Avtam and Tadila (the children of our family at Mevaseret) They are the cutest!!!

Negev Tiyul followed by a taste of home

Last week we had our third and final HUC tiyul. We spent 4 amazing days in the Negev. (desert in the Southern part of the country) The first day began with a moderately challenging hike in Ein Avdah followed by an alternative "meditative" Mincha service overlooking Machtash Ramon. Machtash Ramon is the crater we had the opportunity to see back in December when Matt lead the sunrise Bat Mitzvah. It was as stunning as ever and on top of the beautiful sights, we had amazing weather.

We stayed at Kibbutz Yahel which is one of two Reform kibbutzim in the South. We were exhausted by the end of the night, but what better way to unwind than with a Karaoke party! Matt surprised me by singing the song from the first dance of our wedding - "Here, There, Everywhere." Then, he had to partake in a little boy band action with some of the guys singing the Backstreet Boys (thanks to Jessie's camera, the footage of that one will re-surface sometime again this year).

Day Two - We had two choices, supposedly between a "beginner" hike and an "intermediate hike." Yeah right. More like "super challenging" and "extremely-super challenging!" Matt and I separated for these few hours, I went on choice A and he took choice B and the camera. After an unbelievably difficult, but fulfilling day of hiking, we spent the night sleeping on the ground at a Bedouin tent (owned and run by Israelis, not quite Bedoin but still a unique experience). Although the sleeping part was less-than the Ritz, we were in the middle of the most spectacular view on a mountain in the desert.

The next morning we traveled to the second Reform kibbutz in the South, Kibbutz Lotan. This is a eco-friendly living environment and the projects they have developed over the years are incredible. Everything from creative recycling to constructing their own homes out of all environmentally friendly materials. There are some amazing projects going on at Lotan and we hope to visit them again before our time in Israel ends. (especially for their Watsu Center - that's shiatsu massages in a heated pool!)

Next onto the resort town of Eilat. Again, absolutely perfect weather and a chance to snorkel in the Red Sea. Although the water was frigid, Matt braved the waters to see the spectacular coral reef and its exotic fish. I took a pass on this one and sat on the beach playing Euchre.

We headed back to Kibbutz Yahel for Shabbat. We had a wonderful Friday night service led by the rabbi at Yahel, followed by dinner and a very touching, meaningful discussion with Rabbis Danny Freelander and Elyse Frishman (married, Reform rabbis in the States, on sabbatical in Israel) about what life will be like for the students and spouses as they progress through their careers. Saturday morning services were led by the HUC cantorial students. We had a relaxing Saturday on the Kibbutz where we also heard a panel discussion from the residents and had the opportunity to ask them questions about living at Yahel.

We headed back home Saturday night, to a very excited Mitzi! This was our favorite tiyul and I think we definitely felt a sense of becoming "one with the desert" but it was nice to be back in our comfy beds!

After a couple of days of rest following the tiyul, we met up with our friend Peter Freimark (Matt's good-friend Adam's father) who was here in Jerusalem participating on a Mitzvah Hero mission. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and great conversation together and thanks to his generosity, we received a couple of requested items we just could not find here in Israel: Low-Fat Peanut Butter (for Erin) and Kraft Mac & Cheese in the blue box (for Matt).

Pictures from the Negev

Climbing up the mountain at Ein Avdah...


and stopping for a quick pose


A breath-taking view of Machtesh Ramon.


Upon arrival to Kibbutz Lotan we had the opportunity to pick fresh Palmettos from the trees.


While Erin was on the "less challenging" hike, I climbed the mountain in the distance known as Mount Shlomo. The mountain I am standing on here is 500 Million years older than the molten Mount Shlomo.


Just one of the countless views while hiking in the dessert.


The peak is in sight!


At the top with Aaron, Josh, Phil, & Dave.


At the top overlooking the city of Eilat, The Red Sea, and the mountains of Jordan. Not pictured but can be seen from this point is Egypt and Saudi Arabia.


And then we had to get down (I thought getting up the mountain was difficult!)


An onlooker...


Just making sure we are getting down safely.


Relxing in the Bedoin tent after a very long day of hiking


My hike group arrived to the Bedoin tent back a bit later than Erins (after sunset) and this is what I saw when I woke up the next morning.


Kibbutz Lotan. Everything you see in these pictures are eco-friendly structures made of all natural resources.




Erin and I having some fun in the eco-friendly childrens park.




Back in Jerusalem, Phil and Josh joined us for the ultimate Shabbat lunch: Kraft Mac & Cheese, Real Jell-O, PB & J Sandwiches, and of course, Chocolate Milk!