Short and Sweet

I apologize for not posting sooner, with more exciting news than what I'm delivering today. Basically, I'm swamped in Modern Hebrew homework and trying to work ahead to hopefully finish level Alef before the end of September. I don't know if this will happen, but I will try. The plan, for our level, is to finish at chapter 22 in the text so I need to work ahead to finish the final 6 chapters; both exams are written on the same day. Plus, my placement exam for Biblical Hebrew was postponed to this Wednesday...it's a little crazy.

On a happy note, it looks like I'll be in Paris (yes, Paris, France!) this October to meet up with Jason who's there on business. So, instead of spending 2 weeks in Cairo, I'll do one week in each city. For the rest of October I'll be working on school stuff and touring around Jerusalem. I've decided to choose a site/museum to visit every day in lieu of classes, to both get to know intimately this city which is home till next July and to practice my Hebrew. Fun! You'll hear more from me then! You'll see more photos of me and my world then! And, a heads-up: I'm jonesin' for some Hawksley Workman...can anyone help me out?

This was taken at Montefiore on a class fieldtrip. Such a cool neighbourhood - the first built outside Jerusalem's old city walls. More to come...do stay tuned!

Jerusalem Street Festival

Last Shabbat, 29 August, Joseph and I went down around 4pm to Ben Yehuda for the Street Festival. Throughout the month of August, Shabbat was welcomed with live music in the middle of one of the squares in this pedestrian thoroughfare. It was packed, it was hot, it was fantastic. We arrived and found a good place to see the action and hear the music with our backs to one of the stores and right around the corner from the beer vendor. Mmmm, beer and great, live music. I found out a few days later that we were listening to Mosh Ben Ari and I'm in love. The best part of his band was the trombone player, and I took many photos of him specifically for Julie. The music was melodic, heavy, popular - everyone knew the words but us, it seemed - and the crowd - including us - went crazy when they did a a heavy-guitar-and-horn cover of 'If I Were a Rich Man' from Fiddler on the Roof. After the concert, there was a DJ playing house music (ha-muzikah ha-bayit, as I called it in class on Sunday) and everyone continued the party. I danced and Joseph sorta danced, but he was filming the whole thing. When I can figure out how to do it, I'll get some of his footage on here for you. It all ended around 6:30 or 7pm and the place cleared out. Unfortunately, I didn't get a shot of Mosh performing, but Joseph did.

More from Nazareth

This is just outside the White Mosque. Just after I snapped it, a man walked by and shook his head at us. I find the juxtaposition of the signs strange and fascinating.


This little boy ran up to me in the shuk and pointed at my camera - would I take his picture? I said of course and his beautiful face lit up. He signaled at me to wait a moment while he ran to ask his mother if it was OK. Less than a minute later he was posing.


As promised, the bust of Padre Pio for Nana. This was just inside the gates leading to the entrance of the Synagogue Church: the synagogue is said to be where Jesus preached; a church was later built right beside it. Padre Pio was a welcome face: Nana attributes the miracle of Dad being here to Padre Pio answering her prayers.


On Paulus VI.


To the left of the entrance to the Church of the Annunciation.

Flashback to Nazareth

I just developed three rolls of film, so there are more photos on the way - photos of which I am very excited because, to me, they are so much better than those taken with my digital. This is why I love photography, and I am more inspired than I have been in over a year to take my Minolta everywhere. Over the weekend I'll be adding more. These next five photos were all taken in Nazareth.

Chamber Music at the YMCA

Last night, Mary and I went to the 11th Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival. Can you believe this is a Y?





The tower was closed when we arrived, so that a man could give a concert with bells from it. We were sad that we couldn't ascend to see what Mary raves is an amazing view, but really enjoyed the music as we dined on spinach quiche and salad. I'll go back and get more photos, both of the building and from the tower.

Me!




Mary!






The Concert:

Mozart-Grieg -- Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major, k.545
Carter -- Gra for Solo Clarinet
Grieg -- Sting Quartet in G Minor, op. 27 (My personal favourite: the cellist was wonderfully expressive.)(and I don't care how high-falutin' that sounds, cuz it's true.)
Mozart -- Sonata for Bassoon and Cello in B Flat Major, k. 292
Mozart -- Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, k. 478
Grieg -- Songs (arranged by the students of the Israel Academy of Arts and
Science)