Women of the Wall 25th Anniversary

for Rosh Chodesh Kislev, I attended the 25th anniversary of Women of the Wall, the organization devoted to reaching equal rights for women at the western wall.

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to learn and study with the NFTY Wow delegation. With 8 classes, it is so easy to forget why I am here or what inspires me but meeting new members of our youth movement and seeing some much needed familiar faces was a great reminder!

With Sarah and Morgan, both of whom were my camper and I worked with in NFTY-NW! 

On Monday was the Rosh Chodesh service at the western wall. With the 25th anniversary of the organization, I was expecting to be drowned out by protesters. Instead, I had my favorite experience with WOW yet. While there were both men and women protesters, it was the first time I had prayed with WOW that I could hear the service. It was an amazing feeling. The women's section of the Kotel was full of supporters and it was beautiful to be united in prayer. In addition, dozens of men were supporting from the men's section and the back wall of the women's section. Though there were protesters, there were few screams or whistles. I think it is safe to say that all the supporters had a meaningful prayer experience.

That evening, the female students at HUC were invited to attend the Women of the Wall gala. it was amazing and inspiring to be with so many supporters of the organization. I felt honored to be able to mark this milestone and in the room with so many future colleagues and women from our movement. It was a remarkable evening filled with singing, speeches, dancing and meeting new people!

Camp Kalsman at WOW Gala

First wedding!

In October, I had the opportunity to go with my friend Jenn to her friends wedding. It was my first time going to a wedding, let alone a modern orthodox one. The wedding was at a bueatiful outdoor restaurant, overlooking the hills of the west bank. My faveorite part of the wedding was that for each of the 7 brachot, the couple honored a friend or family member by having them read the blessing. I also loved that while someof the dancing was with a mechitza (the traditional separation of men and women) as the night evolved, their was also modern dancing. here are some pictures from the wedding:

my friend Jenn and I at the wedding

In my frum outfit for the wedding!

The wedding couple under the chuppa -so beautiful 

Another beautiful tradition - the bride and groom celebrating on chairs 

bride and groom dancing

Chag-o-ween in the land of Israel

Being American, we had to celebrate Halloween. Together with some of my classmates I planned a party for members of our class. We had a costume contest, food contest and played trivia. Here are some of my favorite photos from the night:

Megan as Amy Winehouse and me as Jess Day from New Girl (Zoey Deschanel)

with my good friend Tamara

Our entry for the food contest: Orange is the new black and white cookies 

Simcat Torah and the rest of break!

When we got back from Eilat, we went with my classmates the next day to Kibbutz Gezer to celebrate Simcat Torah. 

Hanging out on the Kibbutz: 

3 of my classmates 

The next day we ended our vacation in Tel Aviv: 

Amazing Mexican food - felt just like Seattle!

breakfast on the beach!

last day of vacation ice cream! 

Eilat of fun

The best part of our sukkoy adventures was traveling to Eilat, a resort town in the south of Israel. here is a photo journey of our trip:

On the beach 

Amazing to hang out on the Red Sea

 The best part of the trip was visiting a dolphin habbitat, where the dophins swim and play all around you! 

We also got to hang out with my friends from school, Adam and Melissa

 

on the beach before going home

the best part of the 5 hour bus ride were the amazing desert views!

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.