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Month of Marcheshvan 5767 - חודש מרחשון תשס"ז (October 23 - November 21, 2006)
בס"ד

I hope to try to keep up and not fall behind, but I may have a pretty busy next few weeks. We'll see what happens... At least I'm only 1 month behind now.

**Note that when you see 2 asterisks (**) it means that I'm adding comments based on the fact that today is December 26 - ה' טבת and a lot happens in a month, some of which applies to stuff written in this journal.

Month of Marcheshvan 5767 - חודש מרחשון תשס"ז (October 23 - November 21, 2006)

Monday, October 23 - א' מרחשון:
Today was a long and exhausting, but very productive day. This morning I met a professional wedding photographer for a job interview. It went very well. He taugt me some interesting things about lighting, and I think I made a good impression. I may become his assistant and lightman. (**I did end up getting the job.) I also brought in 1 of my camera lenses for repair at a store he recommended.
Tonight I was on another "interview," as Seinfeld might say. It turns out the girl was on Yavneh Olami's SIP with me last year. It also went well. (**But I didn't "get the job.")

Tuesday, October 24 - ב' מרחשון:
There was a crazy light show tonight around Israel - I saw at least 30 lightning bolts in 10 minutes, but no thunder or rain. It's on its way here though, and V'Ten Tal U'Matar is coming to Israel in 5 days. Tonight we had pizza at night seder and between that and a few other things, I ended up staying at Machon Lev til late. Then I came back and watched game 3 of the World Series and davened Vatikin as it ended.

Wednesday, October 25 - ג' מרחשון:
I was out for over 10 hours today at a wedding, watching the photographer and his assistant in action, and helping a little. It went well, I learned a lot, and I think I made a good impression, and he may, B"H hire me to be his next lightman and assistant. **He did.

Thursday, October 26 - ד' מרחשון:
More assistant coaching of little league baseball for kids ages 5-6, then 10-12 after errands in town including picking up my camera body while my lens gets fixed.
The 1st Parshah Club of the year tonight was interesting.
A bunch of people were over the apartment tonight while I was on 2 long phone calls.

Shabbat, October 27-28 - ו' מרחשון:
I was on a really fun and great shabbaton. It was for young English speaking Olim (~age 19-30) in Nahariyah to meet each other, talk about ways to "Keep Making Aliyah", meet people of the northern Israeli city and show solidarity with them after the war. Yavneh Olami and Am Segula co-organized it, Kumah joined it, Young Olim United and Nefesh B'Nefesh Singles also advertised it. I walked on the beach (by myself with camera on Friday and got rained on; with others Shabbat afternoon), hung out with old friends & made new ones - a great group of people. We had a nice dinner last night with an area family, interesting sessions, a fun car ride each way (which featured a tour of Haifa on the way up and a tour of Nahariyah on the way back), moving stories from the war, and so much more.
We started saying V'Ten Tal U'Matar tonight in Israel. It rained a bit friday (camera & I got soaked but we're both fine), a bit on Shabbat, and it's supposed to rain more for next 3 days!

Sunday, October 29 - ז' מרחשון:
This morning was the 2nd half of the "starting an online business" seminar at Nefesh B'Nefesh's office. It was very interesting and informative, as was part 1 last week. I got a microwave oven/grill at the mall today, among other things. Then I helped a friend move stuff to my apartment to store until his new apartment is ready next week. I messed with Windows install files to get around WGA tonight. That's always fun. Finally I had a 2 RBI triple down RF line in a softball loss tonight. I was 2-7 overall. It was fun, but I'm sooo exhausted.

Monday, October 30 - ח' מרחשון:
I was out for 14 hours with the photographer today, and got paid for the 12 of them I was working. The photographer was very satisfied. It went pretty well. The wedding was out in Bnei Brak and was a Belz wedding with a long Mitzvah Tanz afterwards. Photographers don't get paid as much in Israel as in the USA and assistants don't make enough to live off of unless there's a job more or less every day, but it's definitely something and the experience is great. I learn a lot from these jobs, which is useful in general, but especially if I end up going into this in the future. It's interesting, enjoyable, I get to eat good food, hear good music, and be MeSameach Chatan V'kallah (the Mitzvah to make the bride and groom happy), have Segula challah and wine, and until I get a full time job, it's worth it.
In other news, it's over with me and that girl. She called tonight and said she thought about it and she didn't think we were quite a match and she's not sure if it's the right time for her anyway because she's not sure about her future plans, etc... I wasn't really feeling anything special toward her after our date and phone calls so I guess u can say it was mutual.

Tuesday, October 31 - ט' מרחשון:
As the wedding "Belz" rang, I worked. It was another late night (til 3 AM, out over 11 hrs) at a Belz chasidic wedding in Yerushalayim (in the belz "Beit HaMikdash") working as lightman and assistant after being out 14 hours (til 4:30 AM) yesterday at a Belz wedding in Bnei Brak.
What I learned in addition to a lot about lighting and photography:
A kallah on her wedding day is 1 of the most beautiful things in the world, the Yiddish language is very alive and well in some communities, and Belz chassidim are cool.
Tonight I slept like a baby - I was so exhausted!

Wednesday, November 1 - י' מרחשון:
Today was a relaxing day. I helped out at night seder tonight, then some shopping with Amichai, and when I came back, Dan and Louis had made some good food and we sat around and laughed for a while.

Thursday, November 2 - י"א מרחשון:
Last night - today was the yahrzeit of Rachel Imeinu (our matriarch Rachel from the Bible, Jacob's wife) and my grandmother, so I spent a meaningful morning davening at Kever Rachel. When I came back, I did some more baseball coaching.

Shabbat, November 3-4 - י"ג מרחשון:
Shabbat was pretty nice. I went to the Kotel for Kabbalat Shabbat with 2 friends from the apartment, something which I like to do around the time of my grandmothers' yahrzeits (1 was last Shabbat, the other was 2 days ago). We walked back and had a good dinner and oneg. I davened in the neighborhood in the morning with 2 friends (Moshe, Amichai) and bumped into another (Avromi) walking out. For Shabbat lunch, I went to a different neighborhood friend (Chami Cohen) and his wife and 5 kids. I love my neighborhood. Seudah Shlishit was back at the apartment.
Tonight I was at the OU Israel Center for some Kosher comedy. I finally went to 1 of the "Off The Wall Comedy Empire" shows, performed by recent English speaking olim, who we can all relate to. It was a very funny show. Go to www.israelcomedy.com for more details.

Sunday, November 5 - י"ד מרחשון:
I missed a Ministry of Absorption appointment this morning, and napped in the afternoon as I felt a little under the weather. I didn't feel up to softball on a cold night tonight, but when I went to Ma'ariv and saw hundreds of Yeshivat Chevron (1 of the biggest Charedi Yeshivot, across the street from my apartment) students starting a protest against the world gay pride parade (that's scheduled to disgrace the streets of the Holy city of Jerusalem this Friday) I grabbed my camera and watched and photographed much of the next hour and a half. I missed some of the action because of a fear of police brutality (I consider my body and camera precious). There were road blockings with overturned dumpsters set on fire (they know how to protest!), rock throwing, police beat up a few. At some point you start wondering if what they did was a Chilul Hashem (disgrace of G-d's Name), but in this country, where democracy doesn't work well, this is what you have to do to stop what is probably even a bigger Chilul Hashem - the parade, disgrace of the Holy city, and blatant disregard and disrespect for what the residents of the city (Jews and Arabs) desire.

Monday, November 6 - ט"ו מרחשון:
I relaxed and caught up on some stuff around the apartment today. Then tonight I had a wedding as a guest - Rabbi Nachum Danzig's wedding! The Machon Lev English Speaker's Program computer programming teacher since it's inception, and 1 time night seder rabbi, as well an Israeli teacher in computers and 1 of the Machon Lev computer center administrators, finally got married (in his mid 30s, to a girl 10-15 years younger from Machon Tal - our girls school)! It was a really nice wedding. Everyone was so happy for him. A lot of dancing and fun left me exhausted, but it was all worth it.

Tuesday, November 7 - ט"ז מרחשון:
I was out most of the day and night, working at another Belz wedding in Yerushalayim, 4th wedding in 9 days (3 jobs, 1 invited so really 4 jobs, 3 paid). This time it was 12 hours of work, a nice wedding.

Wednesday, November 8 - י"ז מרחשון:
Our pipes were leaking water and the neighbors under us complained, (it was costing us money so I'm glad they did,) so today we had a guy over to fix it. He installed 3 new pipes and now we have holes in the wall and some missing tiles. If everything holds up for a few days, they'll come back and fill stuff in next week. **Or in 3-4 weeks as it turned out to be.
Then a friend's wife came over to look at some of my pictures for a company she wants to start. It would be a production company to sell posters, postcards, calendars, and more, both in America and Israel, to tourists and Israelis. She was impressed at my archives.
Tonight I was at Machon Lev for a siyum for Peretz's sister's and fathers's Shloshim. This Shloshim was a siyum on 1 Masechet of Mishnayot that all of ESP split between them. It was nice, but the tragedy still hurts. In the meantime, I finished learning Masechet Ketubot for the worldwide Mishnayot Siyum in Houston by their shul.

Thursday, November 9 - י"ח מרחשון:
I caught up on some sleep this morning, fun little league baseball coaching this afternoon, Shmuel came over for a bit tonight (we thought we were going to rally against the parade, but those were called off because the parade was changed to a stadium event as a result of a terror warning), then we had a late night apartment meeting and Settlers game and movie.

Friday, November 10 - י"ט מרחשון:
Israel Baseball League tryouts in Israel were this morning! It was held at the Yarkon Sports Complex in the Baptists' Village by Petach Tikvah, Israel's best (and only real) baseball field. I didn't make it, but it was an experience, fun and exciting! Dan Duquette was in attendance and watching and judging players. He even invited a Yankees team doctor, among other trainers and coaches. Only those who made the first cut from running and fielding were invited to hit, and I was not amongst them, but 2 of my friends from Sunday night softball were. I got a ride there in a van with some others, including Larry Baras, the guy who started the league. I got a ride back with another Sunday night softball friend.
Check out my pictures - http://eyeinzion.blogspot.com/2006/11/inaugural-israel-baseball-league.html
Read about it: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1162378367925&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and http://wcbstv.com/watercooler/watercooler_story_314234958.html

Shabbat, November 10-11 - כ' מרחשון:
I had a really nice, quiet, peaceful Shabbat in Kidmat Tziyon in the middle of Arab areas of East Jerusalem (1 of the areas that Jews reacquired), with 6 idealistic families in 2 buildings. Every week they need to have people come over to help make a minyan, so this week 8 Machon Lev guys (5 from the English Speakers' Program) went to help them make the minyan. Different families had us over for the different meals. All of them are young couples with cute kids. These people need a special escort to get to and from their apartments from Ir David (right outside the Old City) and are surrounding by lots of Arabs and a big wall on 1 side (security fence), but they are true Zionist with unwavering idealism and faith. One thing they do have is a great view! You really see how Har HaBayit (Temple Mount) resides on a small mountain between larger mountains, as the Torah says, "בין כתפיו שכן - reside between shoulders". The story about how Arabs left the area vacant was interesting - apparently it was known as Jewish land and the 1 Arab that tried to build there had his roof collapse on him during a snow storm his first winter. We actually got stuck on our way there because there was a חפץ חשוד - suspicious object by the Kotel and we were walking through the Old City to get to Ir David for our escort. We missed our escort and had to wait for another, but we made it in time for Shabbat. In other words, I didn't need to rush like crazy after IBL tryouts, but everything worked out. We made it there, had a special Shabbat, and made it back...
... And Thank G-d we made it back because after Shabbat I went with a friend to the annual Carlebach memorial concert (his 12th yahrzeit was last week). It was awesome as always, great music from a bunch of singers, including my friend Naftali Abramson. I saw a bunch of friends there as well. It was a great end to a great weekend!

Sunday, November 12 - כ"א מרחשון:
I finally made it to the Ministry of Absorption this morning, then went to Meah Shearim for some new apartment stuff. I thought I was going to Sheva Brachot tonight, but instead I ended up at a friend's Chanukat HaBayit (Karas) in Nachlaot, followed by softball (1-5 with 1 RBI and tag at the plate in an ~8-3 win).

Monday, November 13 - כ"ב מרחשון:
I did lots of apartment organizing today, errands at Machon Lev for a bit, night seder tonight, and then Shmuel came over to work on some stuff for a new weekly parshah sheet that he wants to start and I'm working with him on it.

Tuesday, November 14 - כ"ג מרחשון:
I picked up my camera lens from the repair shop today. They fixed it - it works like new.
I was out late tonight at a Young Olim United bowling night. It was the first time I've ever gone bowling in Jerusalem and it was with a bunch of friends. I think I got the 4th highest score out of the ~20 people - 122. I got 93 in my other game.

Wednesday, November 15 - כ"ד מרחשון:
I was in court with a friend who I was in a minor car accident with a few months ago and is now being sued by the other guy. It ended up getting postponed because of a technicality issue on their side. More apartment organizing and errands at Machon Lev again this afternoon.
Sometimes the hardest jobs ending up being shorter and paying less than the easier jobs. But it was still a fun and interesting night working for the photographer at a Chabad Hachnasat Sefer Torah. We were on our feet for over 5.5 consecutive hours, often having to run around and get trampled to get good pictures, but we got to stuff ourselves with all 3 different main courses at the late night dinner - that was a reward.

Thursday, November 16 - כ"ה מרחשון:
Another fun afternoon assistant coaching for little league baseball. Shmuel came over tonight for a bit after I made an important phone call - set up a first date for Sunday. It was a late night tonight watching Scary Movie 4 while trying to fix a friend's (from my Nefesh B'Nefesh flight) laptop.

Shabbat, November 17-18 - כ"ז מרחשון:
Shabbat Chayei Sarah = Shabbat Chevron!!! It was an awesome Shabbat, 1 of the best of my 6 straight years spending the Shabbat that we read about Avraham's purchase of Me'arat HaMachpelah (close to 3,700 years ago) in the Torah portion at that very place. I took 9 guys with me from Machon Lev this year, 7 who slept and ate with me over Shabbat. We joined about 20,000 others, including many more of my friends, for a special Shabbat davening in the Me'arat HaMachpelah where Adam and Chava, Avraham and Sarah, Yitzchak and Rivkah, and Ya'akov and Leah, our patriarchs and 3/4 of our matriarchs are buried. Friday afternoon we did a little shopping and had some pizza with other friends that we bumped into. Shabbos started on a high note with a holy Carlebach Kabalat Shabbat in the Me'arah, dinner next door with lots of Americans and even more singing, back to Kiryat Arba for some L'chaims, stopped by a friend (Odelya) and met a different old friend there (Sarah and husband) - that was weird(!), then back to Chevron for some Oneg Shabbat with Rabbi Hochbaum, then another 2 friends, sang through the crowded streets of Kiryat Arba, slept on the floor of a classroom, Shacharit in the Me'arah, more singing during lunch, I gave a tour to my friends in the afternoon, I saw Ma'ayan Avraham (possibly the oldest Mikveh in the world) for the first time, tried to be "Mekarev" (bring people close to Judasim, but in this case our side of the situation in Israel) AP photographers and TIPH observers, Minchah at Kever Ruth and Yishai, more singing during Seudah Shlishit in Chevron, followed by Havdalah, Ma'ariv outside the Me'arah. Then we packed up and headed back to Jerusalem.
I got back just in time to help Tzvi man the Machon Lev booth at Yavneh Olami's Aliyah fair at the OU Israel Center. There are a few people interested for next year. I also picked up a bumper sticker from Arutz-Sheva's booth.

Sunday, November 19 - כ"ח מרחשון:
This morning after the last minyan (just in time for Sof Zman Tefilah - the end of 1/3 of daylight when you're supposed to have finished the Amidah) at the local Shacharit minyan factory (we call it Chanichei, I think it's actually name is Ohel David), 2 friends (Moshe and Avromi) and I decided to learn a little Halachah for a few minutes. IY"H we'll keep this up for as long as we all daven in the same late minyan. Who said davening at the late minyan was a bad thing? We're starting from the laws of Tefillin.
I guess you could say I had what some would consider a perfect night out for a guy - a first date with a nice girl followed by an awesome softball win, in which I went 3-7 with a run scored, RBI, and a diving catch, nice stop, and assist on a grounder among other plays.

Monday, November 20 - כ"ט מרחשון:
Last Shacharit minyan halachah chevrusa day 2 was good.
I was at a Save Darfur rally in Kikar Tziyon tonight organized by some yeshivah and seminary students and madrichim (including my last girlfriend who spoke during the rally). It was an interesting rally, as I'm not used to non-Israel rallies here. There were probably 500 people and I was the only real photographer there when I left so we'll see if any of my pictures make the press. **None did as far as I know. But if you wanna see them, click here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=285&l=89a6d&id=501014124 or for a brief photo essay: http://eyeinzion.blogspot.com/2006/11/save-darfur-rally-in-jerusalem.html
Then I came back to night seder and pizza for Rosh Chodesh.

Tuesday, November 21 - ל' מרחשון:
I spent much of the day getting my Darfur rally pictures around.
I spent the afternoon with Shmuel getting price quotes from printing places in Givat Shaul for our new parshah sheet - pretty successful. We celebrated with a nice Rosh Chodesh dinner nearby. There was night seder tonight, followed by lots of people at my apartment. After I walked Shmuel out, I went over to Amichai's for late night cookies and cholent - leftovers from Shabbat, but still great! I spent a while there. Fun night of Rosh Chodesh!