Differences & similarities

I wanted to start off with a few things that make Eretz Yisrael so unique and different from home ...

First of all ... the toilets.  So there is no handle on the side near the top of the tank.  Instead, you have two buttons on the top of the toilet.  One is for a small flush, and the other is for a large flush.  ROTFL!
Next up ... hot water heaters.  At home, when I want to take a shower, I can just pop into the shower.  Here, it requires advanced planning.  The hot water heater is expensive to operate, so people only turn on the hot water heater in the winter when they need it.  Now keep that in mind ...
This morning, I wanted to take a quick shower.  So I go and turn on the water heater.  Because it's cold, I need to give it about 30-40 minutes to heat up.  So I wait about 40 mins and go into the bathroom.  UH, guess who put on the bathroom heater instead of the hot water heater??? So the bathroom was nice and toasty.   Too bad I'm not taking a shower in cold water.  So, I flip on the hot water heater, and then start my wait again. *sigh*
Third of all ... Israelis are very friendly.  I was waiting outside a store for the girls to finish shopping.  Some elderly guy asks me why I am just pacing around outside.  I explain how bored I am.  He starts telling me about where he was born, that he lived in the US for 35 years, his wife died, and he buried her here and came here to be close to her.  Now I normally do suffer from a horrible case of MY-lipus-FLAPPUS, but this time I was out done!  I normally do get people to tell me various things, but a whole life story?  That is a record.  Later, a woman asks in English (in the same overcrowded store), "Can someone help me?"  It was super busy, so they just blew her off saying there are only two of them working.  I smiled and said, "Welcome to Israel".  They don't care if you buy from them or not.  You don't want to wait, go ahead and leave.  (On the opposite side of the spectrum , you will have sellers who are desperate for  you to buy their stuff!)  The woman's kids start acting up, so I volunteered to watch them for her outside.  A total stranger trusting another stranger with her most precious possessions.  LOL!  The kids and I stood outside counting busses and taxis.  I can guess you can file these under the ONLY IN ISRAEL file.

So now to share my full day (after my shower mishap).  We went to the kosel because it was a stunning day out.  There is something about the wall.  There is a strong feeling, a yearning, a shame for not rebuilding the Temple in our days, and more.  It is so over powering.  Again, as I approached the wall, I was overcome, and just started to cry.  I put my head against those holy stones, and just cried, begging Hashemi to please, please, please send Moshiach NOW!
After that, I again said tehillim for my classes full list.  (If anyone has a name they want added; I'm going again on Tuessday, IY"H.)

Afterwards, we headed to Geula. We actually ended up in Meah Shearim.  Meah Shearim is a busy shopping street full of religious Jews.  (I hate the label "ultra-orthodox".  What does that even mean, anyway???)  As we are walking along towards Geula, I saw a woman and several girls walking.  I was shocked, because they were wearing black burkas! They didn't even have their faces showing.  I said to Zahava, I thought they weren't allowed in here, meaning I thought they were Arabs.  Someone near me answers me ... They are Jews.  <OH. MY. GOSH.  Open mouth, insert foot!>  Personally, I think they are nut jobs.  There is no where in the entire Torah that is says a woman has to cover her entire body from head to toe.  If that is how these ladies feel, maybe they would be better off just staying in their houses?  Anyhoo.  I realized after I should have taken a picture.
Next stop, shopping.  Geula is basically 13 Ave on steroids in Hebrew.  Now, let me tell you ... If you think going to the grocery store without a list is bad, because you find a million things you didn't realize you desperately needed, well, then, you know how bad this was.  Store after store after store full of all kinds of wonderful and exciting things that I totally did not realize how important it was for me to own these.  So much for traveling light when I go home.  Let's just say that I am helping the Israeli economy as much as I help out the American economy back home.

The pictures are in black and white on purpose.  I was trying out "street photography", and I am really very pleased with the results.  Enjoy!

this one is my favorite --

OH yeah, I almost forgot to include this.  Israel is a very small country.  It is only the size of New Jersey .  It is very common for people to bump into other people they know.  I kept hoping I would run into someone from Richmond, but no such luck.  As we are walking along, Zahava tells me, "There's Hanoch Teller".  (He's an author who wrote a TON of books.)  I saw him giving his autograph to someone, so I asked him for one.  I mentioned that he once came to Richmond, VA, and he said it was a very long time ago.  Zahava snapped a picture of us.

And there you have another fun filled and enjoyable day in the Land of Milk and Honey.