Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea... Ein no better place!

Our sukkot adventures also took us to the dead sea and the nature reserve next to it, Ein Gedi. Here are some fun facts about the Dead Sea:

* earth's lowest elevation on land
* almost 10x as salty as the ocean
* deepest of the "salt lakes"
* the road the runs alongside the dead sea, highway 90 is the world's lowest road.
* it is so so salty you can float due to the natural buoyancy

Hiking in Ein Gedi

Amazing waterfall! 

Floating!!!

Dead sea mud at mineral beach 

A holy day, in the holy city, whilst in the holy land

Yom Kippur in Jerusalem was an experience that I'm not sure I will be able to perfectly put into words. A peaceful and meditative mood stirs the city into an alluring calm. there is nothing like walking the streets of Jerusalem on the way to Synagouge with this feeling in the air. Equally meaningful was visiting the Western Wall following Kol Nidre. Although it was fairly busy, it was serene to be be united in prayer with all different Jews. 

On Yom Kippur in Israel, people refrain from driving. Many secular Israelis refer to it as Yom offnayim (bike day) because children ride their bikes in the street. 

The beautiful Blaustein Hall, with services overlooking the old city. 

Sweet as honey

Rosh Hashana was made extra special by Megan's arrival in Israel! I am so excited to share this experience with one of my oldest friends! 

For Erev Roshana, we attended the services at school in the Murstein Synagouge at school. The rabbi spoke about making each moment count and it was a great reminder that my time here is short and to take advantage of each opportunity. 

Megan and I outside of school 

After services, Megan and I hosted dinner for some friends from school. Since some of us were feeling pretty homesick we tried hard to make it special! We made chicken soup, Moroccan chicken and noodle kugel. Yum! 

Our holiday table!

Two of our uspizin (guests) Maya and Jenn. 

The next morning we attended services at Kehillat Har El, a reform congregation in Jerusalem. After services we had a dessert picnic with honey and apple cakes. 

Megan and I at the picnic! 

A cheesy shabbat

For Shabbat, I invited friends over for a make your own pizza dinner. I had made the crust in advance, super easy recipe here, and asked everyone to bring a topping. It was a ton of fun!

Throwing my dough in the air

Lyz, Tamara and I with our pizza's 

My cookie cake that read "Shabbat Shalom!" 

keeping it fresh at the Kinneret

Our first Israel seminar tiyul (overnight field trip) was to the Gallilee. We learned about the origins of the pioneering and kibbutz movements in Israel and visited a Kibbutz farm, Tel Hai stayed on a Kibbutz hotel on the kinneret. The next day we had the opportunity to meet with Moki Tsur, a leader of the kibbutz movement and then meet with social activists in a community in the north. We rounded out our visit by visiting the Lebanon border in the north and then having a barbecue on the kinneret on our way back to Jerusalem. The trip was a great opportunity to learn about the foundations of Israel, as well as the challenges its citizens face in daily life. Here are some of my favorite pictures: 

Jenn and at the hotel

Lebanon border

Sunset on the Kineret: 

Our year in Israel class! 

Pasta fun!

Last night, Sarah imparted her Italian wisdom on Jenn, Allie and I and taught us how to make pasta! The first step is mixing the flour and egg. After letting it rise you roll it out and cut it into the length you want. The last step is hanging it to dry. It was so messy, but so fun!

drying the pasta

when you don't have a rolling pin... use a wine bottle! 

 covered in flour! 

waiting for the pasta to dry!

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ready to eat! 

Making waves in Tel Aviv

For the next part of break, I headed to Tel Aviv with Jenn, Allie, Sarah and Julie. We stayed in a great hotel next to the beach and spent friday and saturday on the shore and in the water. Friday night we went to services with Beit Tfila at the Port. It was amazing to relax and hang out with great friends!  Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip.