Mashiv HaRuach U’Morid HaGashem

Mashiv HaRuach U’Morid HaGashem--- The One Who Brings the Wind and Sends the Rain. This is the liturgical addition to the Gevurot prayer, which praises God’s many powers. Well, God was showing off a little bit today in Jerusalem. It was a cold, rainy, windy, day. Hail fell quite a few times today, and from what I was told, it snowed on Mt. Hermon for the first time this year. The fact is, the rain is welcome here, as Israel is under a severe drought. My friend told me it rained only one day in January, normally one of the wettest months of the year.
Shabbat began with a typical, luxurious Israeli breakfast in the hotel: salads, smoked fish, cheeses and fruit. Everything is remarkably fresh and delicious. If you have never tasted an Israeli tomato before, then you have never REALLY tasted a tomato at all. The added bonus today was that I had breakfast with Senator Joe Lieberman. Alright, I had it next to Senator Lieberman, who is staying at the hotel and was at the table next to mine.
I attended Shabbat morning services at the synagogue of the Jerusalem campus of Hebrew Union College, conducted by the dean of the College, Rabbi Michael Marmur, and various Cantorial Students. The room was filled with rabbis here early, together with members of congregations here on tour with their HUC ordained rabbis. After inspiring services, I took the time to walk around the campus. HUC Jerusalem is located on what is now one of the prime pieces of real estate in the country, just outside the Jaffa Gate into the Old City. (Fascinating story of how they got the land--- before the Six Day War, this was an unwanted wasteland abutting the “no-man’s land” between Israel’s West Jerusalem and the Jordanian-controlled Old City. Dr. Nelson Glueck, the president of the College, recognized the potential of the land, and received it from Israel on a 99-year lease, paying one dollar a year! The original building was built with very thin windows, to prevent them from being shot by Jordanians.)
The campus itself is a beautiful place to spend time in study and personal reflection. There are rosemary bushes spread throughout the grounds, offering their beautiful aroma as you stroll the campus, which was designed by world-renown Israeli architect, Moshe Safdie. I spent some time in the very private mediation garden with it spiral fountains, and made my way to the upper balcony for the incredible view of the Old City. I am attaching some photos of the campus, the meditation garden, and the view from the school

Later that afternoon, I was picked up by my colleague Rabbi Michael Churgel, with his wife and daughter. Mike and I are classmates, were best men at each other’s weddings, and experienced many of life’s ups and downs together. We were born three weeks apart at the same hospital, lived in the same neighborhood as children, and have a nasty reputation among our classmates for getting into trouble whenever we’re together. Fortunately, it seems we have outgrown that reputation. I went with his family to the Israel Museum, visiting the Shrine of the Book, the model of Second Temple era Jerusalem and the temporary exhibits. Unfortunately, the main exhibit is closed for three years as the museum is undergoing a complete renovation, and it was raining too hard to visit the sculpture garden. We decided to drive around and look at some of the changes since our time there together. We made our way to East Jerusalem, and spent a few minutes getting pictures of the “other side” of the Old City you usually don’t see. Take a look here:

This evening, an old friend from home stopped by the hotel for a visit. Jonathan Cutler and I went to the same elementary and junior high schools, and he was my fraternity brother in college. He made aliyah about 13 years ago (we ran into each other then, too!) and works now as a licensed tour guide throughout Israel. After catching up, we spent a great deal of time discussing the political situation here. Even though he is politically right wing (in fact, he told me the tour company will not assign him to the Reform Rabbis groups, because they know he will get into too many arguments,) he shared some very interesting insights. He told me about his military experiences patrolling the Palestinian towns in the West Bank, and how he came to realize that no matter what the politicians agree to, there is so much hatred there that there may never really be peace. Even as a “right of center” secular Israeli, even he agreed that the only long range solution will be a unilateral withdrawal from almost the entire West Bank. But, he said, we can’t go back to the pre-1967 (Six Day War) borders, because Israel will never give up Jerusalem. Everything else, he thinks, should be on the table. It was great to hear a different view from someone “on the ground,” who I know loves this country so much. We’ll be meeting for diner later this week.
Speaking of dinner, I headed out in the miserable weather for my most important spot to visit, a shwarma and falafel stand. This is Israeli street food at its finest, and I can guarantee you that there will be several more visits to the different shops while I am here.
As I spent time traveling around, I was happy to see that my Hebrew is coming back. Like everything else in life, if you don’t use Hebrew regularly (and by that I mean conversational, not prayer Hebrew,) you lose it. Well, it is slowly coming back, and hopefully by the end of the week I will be able to hold a basic conversation. I’ll check with Matan when I get back.
Hoping to make it to Masada tomorrow, depending on the weather. Shavua Tov--- Have a great week.