Friends
We have made new friends, spent time with old friends, reconnected with relatives . . . This has been one of the most wonderful parts of the Sabbatical.
I am going to focus on 3 friends who live here in Israel - connections that have been extremely meaningful:
Ruthie is one of my two oldest friends.
Here we are on Purim, on Ruthie and Shai's beautiful porch at their beautiful home in their beautiful yishuv (community).
Ruthie and her family live 50 minutes away in Eschar – in the Galilee on the top of a mountain. We have visited several times, and also, Ru and I have found a way to get together a few times each month.
Ruthie has lived here since we were 17. Back then we had 4-minute phone calls where we were so frantic to use the time well that we said nothing, and wrote crinkly air-letters to each other. We have seen each other every decade or so, so it is amazing to be able to meet like this and just talk, do an errand together, walk, giggle, sit in a kitchen and drink tea . . . Wow – what a gift.
Susan & Yossi, Aliza, Hallel, Adar, Zamir and Ashira have welcomed us several times in Jerusalem. When they visit Newton they are celebrities so we have to get in line to see them. OK – they are celebs here too . . . Again, the time has just been different here. Halleli (my Hallel) and Ashira became friends, we had long lingering meals, and I even got to talk to the big girls. Most notable was Pesach seder – a wonderful, warm, funny, yummy, musical collaborative, often spontaneous, experience. My parents were here for Pesach and fell in love with the A-S family.
No one has taken better care of us than Jenny & Golan, Keddy & Eli. We have spent many Friday nights together, singing, eating, laughing. It was a huge coincidence that our apartment is across the street from out only preexisting friends in Haifa. It has also been hugely fun, helpful, and turned the city into a village.
We all went together to Sulam Yaacov - the Jacob's Ladder music festival on Lake Kineret - where we camped out together.
Finally - you must see Halleli in her belly dancing recital yesterday! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEY277fpOVg
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