shula's cup

shula's cup

Friday, July 5, 2013

This is my "catch-up" blog.

Sea of Galilee

I know it has been a long time since I have posted anything here. My life is so full that something had to give. If I have the choice between going dancing or writing a blog, of course I would go dancing.

So this past spring flew by and now summer is in full swing. Some people want to know what a typical day is like for me here. Well, really no day is typical. It might make more sense to describe a normal week. These past few months I have had a full day of classes at the university on Sundays. Then on Sunday evening I go to Hebrew class in downtown Tel Aviv at Gordan Ulpan for 2.5 hours. Mondays I work on assignments, run errands, do laundry, etc. Then Monday night I go to rikudei am (folk dancing) at the university sports center. Tuesdays I work at Ruppin Academic Center, teaching classes in the morning and tutoring in the afternoon and evening. I get done at 7:30 PM and then get home around 9:30 PM. Wednesdays are like Sundays--classes all day and then Ulpan at night. Thursdays are like Tuesdays--work at Ruppin. But on Thursdays I get home in the afternoon and then go dancing at the sports center till 1:30 AM. Fridays I sleep, do laundry, grocery shopping, etc. and sometimes go to Rav Shaye's house in the evening for Shabbat dinner. During Shabbat I rest, go to synagogue, hang out in the park, etc.

Anyway, classes at the university have just ended and Ruppin and Ulpan will end soon, too. So none of what I described above will be typical in about a week from now. Then I will be going on some new adventures that I will write about later. 

My favorite thing is traveling around Israel. I have posted some pictures from my travels below.

synagogue at Capernaum
synagogue at Capernaum
Mt. Arbel near the Sea of Galilee
Mt. Arbel
Mt. Arbel
Sea of Galilee
Sea of Galilee
Banias National Park
Banias National Park
Nimrod's Fortress
Nimrod's Fortress
Nimrod's Fortress
Sa'ar Falls
near the Sea of Galilee
hyrax on Mt. Arbel
cranes in Hula Valley
Agamon HaHula
Beit She'an National Park
Qumran
Qumran
Qumran
Dead Sea
Masada
Masada
Masada
Masada
People on a hike near Masada
Masada
Hyrax at Ein Gedi
Ein Bokek
Ein Bokek
Dorcas Gazelle in the Negev
Camels in the Negev
Locusts in the Negev
Lizard in the Negev
Lizard in the Negev
This is just right across the street from where I live, but I had to throw it in. It is Tel Aviv University where I am getting my MA TESOL degree. It is a beautiful place to go to school.
Blessings to my family and friends in the states. I hope my pictures have given you a tiny glimpse of the beauty of Israel. If you ever decide to come here to visit, trust me, your life will never be the same.

Here are some videos of my travels this year:
Ein Yorqe'am https://youtu.be/4dg4T5DmvJ0
Eilat https://youtu.be/jfahIG2mBJ8
Jerusalem https://youtu.be/8eBWDgrQrCM
Sea of Galilee https://youtu.be/WM4xtNshWhw
Northeast Israel https://youtu.be/wyZtztCiAaE
Masada https://youtu.be/ol71NFgwxx0
Animals of Israel https://youtu.be/gyzDA_v8F8U
Dancing at Masada Hostel with Yaron Ben Simchon  https://youtu.be/8t1AHSlWgWU
Dancing in Eilat with Rafi Ziv https://youtu.be/4JmmwaNPmlI
Dancing in Tel Chai with Eran Bitton: https://youtu.be/aluHecqqm6o
Working at Ruppin https://youtu.be/TlZ_ACRA2L8

Monday, February 25, 2013

winter of 2012-2013

Hannukah, December 2012


Well, time has been zooming by and I love every minute of living here in Israel! As you may already know, Hadossa has been living in Haifa and is attending Technion. She is loving it and doing great. I have been busy as ever here in Tel Aviv, trying to keep up with all my assignments and having fun with all my new Israeli friends. One thing about living here--there is NEVER a dull moment. Every day is a new adventure and I love it more than I can ever express. We sailed through Hannukah in December, the Big Storm in January, and then I went traveling around Israel in January and February, all the while trying to wrap up my second semester at TAU. I am getting ready to start spring semester now and am as excited as ever to see what will happen next. This has definitely been the best year of my life. I know a lot of you don't see my pictures on Facebook, so I tried to post a good bunch of them here this time. Enjoy the beauty of the best place on earth!

Hod HaSharon

view from my dorm window of Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv



TAU campus during the BIG STORM of January 2013

TAU campus during the BIG STORM of January 2013

TAU campus during the BIG STORM of January 2013
umbrella carnage from the BIG STORM of January 2013
umbrella carnage from the BIG STORM of January 2013
umbrella carnage from the BIG STORM of January 2013
Ein Yorqeam (in the Negev)
Ein Yorqeam (in the Negev)

Ein Yorqeam

Ein Yorqeam
Ein Yorqeam

Ein Yorqeam
Ein Yorqeam

Colored Sands (in the Negev)

Colored Sands (in the Negev)
Eilat
Eilat

Eilat

Eilat--palm trees unique to Africa--seeds were dropped by birds and the trees were found growing here.

Eilat--pink salt-encrusted rocks

Eilat
Red Sea, Eilat

Red Sea, Eilat
This is where Absalom died near Jerusalem in the Valley of the Kings.
the Valley of the Kings
Arabs hanging out on the top of the Temple Mount

South end of Old City


view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

near the Kotel

road work in the Old City
tunnel tour at the base of the Old City
Here are some videos I have made of these past few months:
Hanukkah https://youtu.be/AN8PqmGkbVg
Ein Yorqeam https://youtu.be/4dg4T5DmvJ0
Eilat https://youtu.be/jfahIG2mBJ8
Jerusalem https://youtu.be/8eBWDgrQrCM