Rainy Shabbat

After Safed yesterday we took a drive into the Golan Heights. On the way our bus had a driving malfunction. We took a break and looked at the mountains, drank a Beera Maccabbi on the side of the road and waited to be briefly rescued by another bus. We got to the lookout and looked into Syria. What an amazing view! With the binoculars I brought I could see the city of New Quinetra in Syria, the no mans land in between israel and Syria, and the UN buildings and Old Quinetra. I didn't see any riots but was looking. We walked through an old israeli barracks that has been turned into a visitor viewpoint and was amazing. Pictures to come when I am on a real computer. OurBus being fixed, we headed back to the hostel.

Friday night is Shabbat. We had some time to shower and get ready, lit the candles and had dinner. Then we had a tish all together. A tish is Yiddish (I think) and means table where everyone sits around talking, learning, singing, high giving, telling jokes, and all things begin Jewish...drinking. GT's were had. What a fun Shabbos evening with my new friends.

This morning we had a chance to mildly sleep in...until 8. Got up had some breakfast. Israeli breakfasts are different. They are full of salads, fruit, tomatoes, and hard boiled eggs. Yesterday we had a dish of egs and salsa...Israeli huevos rancheros. Today after breakfast we went all together to spend Shabbos in more discussions. We talked about why we are here in this program and a bit about God and Rabbi Akiva.
'rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg upon hearing the Talmudic statement that if all men repent the messiah will come, rushed to do something about it. He said 'I was sure I would succeed. However where should I start? The world is so big. I will start with the land I know best, my land. But my land is so big. It better that I start in my city. But my city is also big, I should start on my street. No, in my house. No! In my family no! In myself''. Start wi yourself and you will be better able to provide for the rest.

Now I am and Canada Centre in Metula in the north. I can see Lebanon. There is Internet and a hot tub. It has been raining for two days now and was pouring earlier. I am gonna go sit in the hot tub. Tonight we have Havdalah (my favourite of all ceremonies!) and after we will go to the bar and meet the home hosts we will be staying with for the next five days. Will be back next time I have Internet.

Sincerely,
Elliot S. w. Einstein