Our first 2 days in Jerusalem (Dara's perspective)

You've already read most of the details of our first 2 days in Jonah's post, so I apologize for any redundancy.

This baby loves hummus!

The flight from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv was uneventful and we even got a couple of hours of sleep. We arrived in Ben Gurion at about 2 am, and made what we thought would be a quick stop at the cell phone counter, to get an Israeli SIM card. This should be a very simple thing to do. However, Verizon found a way to make things a bit more complicated. Unfortunately, although my phone is "unlocked" and should be international, Verizon makes it impossible to access the internet on a non-Verizon SIM card. The unbelievably patient woman at the counter spent several HOURS with us, on the phone with Verizon, on the phone with Samsung, etc trying to get it worked out. In the end, though, we left with the offer from Verizon to wave our international roaming charges and to just stick with my US phone number. They asked us to use it sparingly, but it's better than nothing. We're still hoping to find a way to make it work on an Israeli SIM card, but for now, if you need to reach us, my US cell phone # works.

We finally left the airport around 6 am, which had the advantage of driving to Jerusalem in the daylight, so we could appreciate the countryside. We got to our apartment and found that despite a few quirks (lights and wifi that don't work etc) it is very comfortable --  a great home base for exploring Jerusalem. Highest priorities, food and then sleep. So, we started at the tiny makolet across the street from our apartment (only open from 5-9 am and 5-9 pm). They had challah and humus, diet coke, and water. Enough to take the edge off until we could get to a larger grocery store. We walked down Keren HaYesod St and watched them setting up for the Formula One exhibition race that was taking place later in the day. The grocery store we found was better stocked, but extremely expensive, so we got just enough for brunch and headed home. After eating and a 4 hour nap, we were ready to start exploring. We headed the other direction up Keren HaYesod toward Machane Yehuda. Because it was just a few hours before Shabbat, this main market (shuk) in Jerusalem was packed with people -- it was a particular challenge to get through the crowds with the stroller! Shopkeepers were trying to sell out their wares before shabbat and everyone from modern, secular Jewish adults to young black-hatted yeshiva boys were buying all kinds of delicious foods. In the evening, following a harrowing cab ride with a nasty driver who refused to use the meter and instead overcharged us (Sylvia kept yelling at him "mean guy. No mean [to] my Daddy!") we appreciated the hospitality of the Leff family who fed us a delicious shabbat dinner and gave us lots of tips on what to see in Jerusalem!

And even a little more hummus while listening to the tour guide!

After a wonderful night's sleep (our first in several days) we headed out to meet the B'nai Israel Toledo confirmation class group at the Great Synagogue. When we entered there was a sign on the forst floor with an arrow that said "men" and stairs leading up. So, Ella and I went up toward the balcony. Abe and Jonah (with Sylvia) followed the sign -- which led to the men's bathroom!! Eventually, we all found the right places to sit, and enjoyed the end of the service with the beautiful choir. Afterwards, Cantor Lichterman had arranged for a brief explanation of the synagogue with a friend of his who is on the outreach staff there. We joined the group for a picnic in HaGan HaPa'amon near the Montefiore windmill and a walk with their tour guide, Ilan (up and down every staircase in Jerusalem with the stroller!) to the YMCA, King David hotel, etc.


We seem to have adjusted to the time zone and are settling in to our temporary home. The kids have already picked up a couple of Hebrew words and are enjoying the challenge of watching cartoons in Hebrew. Sylvia thinks shalosh means "jump",  because she was playing a game where she stood on a wall and we would count "ehad, shtayim, shalosh" (1, 2, 3) and then she would jump. Now, when she wants to jump, she says "shalosh! shalosh!" She has been an absolute trooper, sleeping when she gets the chance, eating the humus and pita with gusto, and going along with the flow happily.