Absolutely gorgeous day with sun and rather warm temperatures. Cooked a kugel, a lasagne, and apple crisp. Had 3 really sweet EIE kids and Heather over for Shabbat dinner. So nice. Lots of laughter and nice hearing and talking to these kids. We served, kugel, ratatoulle, salad, apple crisp and truffles. mmm good!

Heard Edward Septimus (Daniel, a 4th years father) speak about infectious diseases and more specifically avian flu which has attacked some of the bird population and then been transferred to people. Was really interesting. Interesting to hear how Israel is actually at risk due to bird migration patterns and its proximity to Turkey which has had some cases of the bird flu.

Today at KEEP I let with Joseph who is a Consevative Yeshiva student. We did our session on Fall, taught the kids London Bridge which they loved. We taught the kids the words fall, jacket, hat, scarf, and pants through a memory game. Then we did leaf rubbings and they wrote the word FALL in twigs on top. Then we had the kids do relay races with fall clothing. Kids had lots of fun. So nice to see how smoothly things fell into place. Totally exhausted afterwards. Came home and did not move for about an hour. Went out for Claire;s birthday ended up at Zoli's had my drink and went home!

Today was a busy but productive day. In Israel Seminar we heard Col. Uri Dromi who was head of the Government Press and now writes for Ha'aretz. He was really interesting. Media in Israel has really changed from a wide variety of papers from various viewpoints to a few main papers with very similiar ideology. We went to the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, was a neat very experiential museum with screens and fims like Hapalmach and Herzl museums. Afterwards went to Ben Yehuda and picked up gift for the Adlers and a new phone card. Went to the shuk and bought lots of yummy fruits and veggies. Enjoyed having the afternoon off. Met the Adlers who brought me a bag of stuff from the States! Met Courtney for dinner at Joy, got to try wine from the grapes of this year so it was a November 2005 wine. Very light body. Tomorrow I am leading KEEP activity!

Today is Rabin's 10th yarzheit on the hebrew calendar. During t'fillah a special section was added in his memory. We read about him and memorials to him during hebrew. The walk to school has been somewhat disrupted due to a visit by Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton. Apparently they are staying at The David Citadel but attending lots of stuff at the King David so my normal walk to school and back was interupted. Got asked where i was going one day. Had to put my bag on a truck with a xray machine on the way home from school one day. Can't wait to be able to walk my normal way to school not being watched every step!

Had a really fun Forum meeting and getting to know the Israeli students. Robert had a really sweet few words about the first year program.

Kings of Israel Square, The Day After by Ronny Someck
The candles are lit in the tin cans,
one flame after another like the spots
on the leopard shot in the jungle of his dreams.
His eyes, which almost saw the lamb dwell with the wolf, suddenly hang on the wall of blood on the way to the heart.
~Shalom Chaver
Yitzchak Rabin z"l

Today I went on a tour of Christian Jerusalem(as you read this if you notice any errors, please let me know,"dont quote me." We went through the Old City, meeting at the Lion's Gate. We saw a Christian pilgrimage making their way along Jesus' path with a big cross and palm branches. First we went to the All Nations Church, Church of the Gethsemane (referring to the Olive Press that was most likely there since it is set on the Mt. of Olives. We had perfect timing and walked in during their welcoming of guests and got to see the Communion taking place. We then went to the Crusader's Church, St. Ann, the Grandmother of Jesus which is next a resevoir. We went along several of the locations along the 14 stations of the cross, the path that Jesus took. We went to the Monostary of Flagellation, St. Veronica's, an Eithiopian Church near the Coptic church, where we heard a priest read in Bez, the Bible from t'hillim. and finally ended at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Interesting and informative day.

Shabbat tonight at HUC, potluck afterwards, making roasted potatoes.

Had a nice brunch today at Sarah's in honor of her birthday and her parents being in town.

Babysat in the evening for a family i met on Janglo. Energetic and cute 11 year old. Goes to a really neat Democratic School where the kids choose their classes and have workshops for taking the Bagrut. The mom had a freak out when she came home because the stepson was visiting and she didnt recognize him with a new beard. She thought i had brought a friend on the first time babysitting. No no! Ends up the mom's niece is married to one of my second cousins, small world folks!

Breakfast at the King David Hotel with the HUC Board of Governors, 3 ed, 3 rabbinic and 3 cantorial students were selected to meet with them and speak about our experiences at HUC so far. Was a really nice breakfast, even had caviar but I didnt try it.

Went to the HUC Israeli Rabbinic Program Ordination. They ordained 4 students and honored the first ever ordained Rabbinic Sutdent from the Israeli program. Came home and relaxed after ushering.

Services at HUC and then a dinner at Beit Shmuel with the Board of Governors, good food!