I have been in Israel for three weeks now, although it actually feels a lot longer. I have managed to pack a lot in these last few weeks. I have had some great networking meetings and met some wonderful people. I've also managed to catch up with some dear friends and relatives.

I am in with a good chance for a particular job, and should hopefully know by early next week if I have been successful in getting the position. I won't elaborate now because I am trés superstitious and don't want to jinx it! In the meantime, keep your fingers and toes crossed for me and a few good prayers wouldn't go astray either!

It was also Chanukah here last week (the Jewish Festival of Lights). It was just beautiful to walk through the streets and see fairy lights lighting up the city, and every night there were myriad candle lighting ceremonies in every major city square. People would gather around and watch the giant Chanukiot being lit and jointly the crowd would say the blessings and then sing all the traditional Chanukah songs.

All the bakeries were selling sinful doughnuts (they are called sufganiot here) - the traditional fare of Chanukah. I can't tell you what a major struggle it was to walk past shop after shop with the smell of freshly made doughnuts floating past my nostrils!

One night of Chanukah I was in a bar with a friend having a drink and the owner put his kippah on and lit the Chanukiah in the window, so that the candles could glow for all to see outside. My friend and I looked at each other and laughed. Almost simultaneously we said to each other, "only in Israel!"

In the last week we have also had four more Israel Programs groups arrive from Australia. We now have all six birthright groups here and also our Leadership Development Program group. So far, so great. The groups and their program leaders are amazing.

I've got stuck into all the not-so-fun aspects of making aliyah and sorting through all the bureaucracy. I actually made aliyah three years ago, and so what I have to do now is essentially "re-activate" my status as an Olah Chadasha (new migrant). I've opened a bank account and I am sorting out my national health insurance and all that other fun stuff. I tell you what - having the ability to do all this with half decent Hebrew is making life quite a lot easier. Still, it is a slow (at times, painfully slow) process. Oh well, this is also Israel. No point fighting it, or getting frustrated. Savlanut... savlanut (patience!!)

Right now there is a magical winter wonderland outside my window. It's been snowing the last couple of hours here in Jerusalem. It is just beautiful. If it wasn't so darned cold, I would run outside and stick my tongue out to catch the snowflakes - but it is just too nice and snuggly warm in here! The view outside is beautiful though.

Here, take a look (sorry about the crappy quality - I took it with my digital camera!)

Posted By:Solid Gold Dancer

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With wintery blessings from Israel!

P.S. I did end up venturing outdoors this evening, and it was so worth it!
This is a picture of Ben Yehuda St in downtown Jerusalem. Beautiful!



Tonight I went to my favourite little hangout; a bookshop/cafe/restaurant called Tmol Shilshom. There was a book reading by a visiting American writer, Maggie Anton, who has written an award-winning novel called "Rashi's Daughters".

There was also a young Toronto-based singer songwriter who performed some of her beautiful music on the guitar. It was a lovely way to spend a freezing cold winter's night. Warm and toasty inside the cafe, listening to beautiful music and watching the snow fall outside the window...