12-28-08 Amazing Community

Wow... so I just got back from a kumzitz... which I've heard means come and sit... so i don't know if its just ridiculous english or yiddish or what... but it was unbelievable.

It was held for Bracha Elisheva Bat Kayla because she has recently become ill.  First of all the entire community has been praying for her.  Second, there were at least 40 people packed into their aparment and this group was made up of many Yeshiva and Seminary students but also almost every Rabbi I know came.  This along with 5 guitars, a violin, a tamberine and tons of food and drinks.  It was beautiful.  It's times like these that I really can't imagine what life would be like without such a community.  I was talking to Jeff about it afterwards and I usually imagine an ill person in the hospital barely getting visitors... and I'm sure that's the average case.  But here it's unbelievable.  I hear stories all the time of random people coming and singing on Shabbat in the hospitals and bringing food... It's a mitzvah so tons of people take advantage and build up their "Heaven" or Shamayim as we say.

And Sisi Wu gets a shout out because she emailed me and that doesn't happen all so often.  And if you did email me and ur reading this and I haven't given you a shout out... then shame on me... but if you're not reading it then you can't do anything about it and sucks for you!  

So I should prolly be going to bed but just to let everyone know I wasn't affected at all with what happened today.  I actually didn't even know it was happening.  I'm sure you've heard about it but if you haven't then don't worry.  The farthest area that can usually be reached by attacks is still 60 miles west of me and I'm staying away from public areas and transport.  As they say I do my best and G-d does the rest... or if that's too religious for you: I deal with what's in my control.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Omri

12-25-08 goodbye untznuicity

If you don't understand the title it's prolly better haha.  

Life is pretty awesome right now.  We're on Chanukah vacation and Kate and I went all over the city the past two days and had a lot of fun seeing Jerusalem.  I feel very at home here now.  It's an amazing feeling to know I know Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and New York city as well if not better than I know Rochester.  AND  I was walking around with Kate and we ran into three groups of people on trips in Israel that we knew!  It was amazing.  The JEC, MEOR and someone else... I can't remember but it was awesome!

I want an electric car!

did you see the new mini?  Yoni just showed me... ima go look... mini e

12-14-08 sorry it's been so long!

Hey homiez,

Sorry I haven't written in forever.  I've been very busy.  Chanukah is coming up so I'm super excited.  I've been selling lots of wine, had an amazing trip to Tzfat, switched up my learning so I'm learning a lot more and have spent a lot of time on Shabbat with some of the most amazing people in the community.  It's amazing how close I am to some really big Rabbis and amazing people, not that I'm special... it's just easier to be close to them here because the community is so close and involved.  

Two stories... In Tzfat we went the the Mikvah of the Ari-Zal (he is basically the source of Kaballah that we have today.)  And Jeff was about to get in when a guy dives in next to him... and if you've never been, there is no room to dive let alone get around someone who is about to go in... and then flails wildly while Jeff is waiting to go in.  It was hilarious.  Then Jeff gets dressed and leaves and he immediately witnesses a man vomiting.  So we get back to the hotel and he asked Rabbi Bernstein if it was some weird sign from G-d HAHAHA. 

Also about learning... I'm now learning with Jeff alone, no prep shiur.  Meaning we have no one feeding us the words in English and basically have to work through it on our own in Aramaic.  Its extremely hard because you can't just look words up in a dictionary without knowing their roots and even finding the roots is hard.  But I'm learning an amazing amount and it has brightened up my days a lot more to have such a big challenge every evening.  

I hope everyone is doing well!  Rabbi Lynn had a baby girl on Friday!  

ttyl

Omri