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Month of Tevet 5767 - חודש טבת תשס"ז (December 22, 2006 - January 19, 2007)
בס"ד

Wow, busy busy. It's been a while since the last update and I'm starting to fall behind again, but now that I have finally handed in my final project report, and there's a break in the Parshah Sheet, I seem to have a find a little time for a journal post. IY"H I hope to catch up by Pesach. So here goes...

**Note that when you see 2 asterisks (**) it means that I'm adding comments based on the fact that today is March 18 - כ"ח אדר and a lot happens in 2-3 months, some of which applies to stuff written in this journal.

Month of Tevet 5767 - חודש טבת תשס"ז (December 22, 2006 - January 19, 2007)

Shabbat, December 22-23 - i_i_i_i_I_i_i_i_i - ב' טבת:
Shabbat, last day of Chanukah, and Festivus - what a weekend!
Shabbat was very nice. We lit 8 Chanukah candles (I lit at the hotel with my parents), then went to an awesome Carlebach and Chanukah Kabbalat Shabbat davening at Kol Rinah (Nachlaot bomb shelter Shul) with, among others, Senator Joseph Lieberman. I had dinner with my parents at their hotel. Shabbat morning we were back at Kol Rinah, followed by lunch with my parents again. We davened at the early Minchah, followed by a nap, and then a really nice communal Seudah Shlishit at Kol Rinah, featuring, among other things, a Dvar Torah comparing Santa Claus to Edom. Good home cooked food too that different people brought.
Tonight we went with Unc to Mom's friends in Ramat Gan (Sterns). They are a nice family, and it's always nice to get together, plus some good food for Melaveh Malkah.
Tonight I got a scare - my landlord told me he had sold our apartment so it appeared that we'd have to find a new place much sooner than the middle of the summer when our lease was supposed to expire. **It turns out that this deal fell through, but we did end up having to move out at the end of February, long story so see later entries, but this is my first entry from the new apartment.

Sunday, December 24 - ג' טבת:
I was out all day today with my parents - we drove around in a southern semicircle. We started out toward the Dead Sea, stopped at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, then continued past Ein Gedi to end of Dead Sea, where we turned right and drove through the Judean Mountains, to and through Arad and Be'er Sheva, until Netivot. We drove around for a while until we found the Kever of the Baba Sali, the great Sefardi Kabbalistic Rabbi. We davened Minchah there and said some Tehillim. We then drove by Sderot (where yet another 2 Kassams landed earlier in the morning), past Ashkelon, then back to Yerushalayim.
After a nice dinner at Village Green, we went to new family friends - a couple that was on my Nefesh B'Nefesh flight who we met on the NBN tiyul last week (see last entry) - in Nachlaot for dessert and tea. That was pleasant, then we walked through Nachlaot a little on our way back.
I was supposed to have a meeting with my landlord tonight about the news from yesterday, but he cancelled it.

Monday, December 25 - ד' טבת:
After an early morning Absorption Ministry appointment, I went to the mall with my parents and Unc. We ate at the Omelet Bar and did some shopping. Then I had some stuff to do this afternoon and my parents and Unc had to pack. Tonight we met up again and had an amazing dinner as their trip came to an end. We ate at an all-you-can-eat Brazilian place, Vaqueiro, that served 10 different types of meat. Wow! Mmm...
It's been a fun 2.5 weeks with my parents and Unc, but now I'm left with a lot of stuff to do and a lot hanging over my head - it's gonna be a busy next month at least, probably 2 or 3. **Wow that was more accurate than I thought at the time. Indeed it has been a very busy last 3 months and that's why you've only seen 1 journal entry in that time (and I don't even know how I found time for that)...

Tuesday, December 26 - ה' טבת:
I spent today relaxing after my parents left this morning - did some shopping, organizing, and ate some good leftovers. Night seder tonight.
For the last 2 weeks, everyone has been saying a special additional prayer for rain in the Shema Koleinu paragraph of the Amidah because Israel has been in a drought, but today the rain finally started coming. Tonight there were strong rains and wind, lots of lightning and thunder, and predictions are it will get even colder and turn into light snow over the mountains, including Yerushalayim, tomorrow!

Wednesday, December 27 - ו' טבת:
YAY FOR SNOW, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND OLIM!!!
I was out for about 19 hrs from 11 am - 6 am: a lot of photography, a lot of excitement, a lot of fun!!!
It all started with Nefesh B'Nefesh's 23rd flight welcome ceremony, greeting their 10,000th Oleh, and bringing this year's total to over 3,500 Olim with NBN, including me! If you're still not in Israel, there's always time to join the Aliyah Revolution! I saw a some friends at the ceremony. This flight truly had all ages - there were 8 people that came who needed a special lift with wheelchair / cane all the way down to a few month olds, proving there's no right or wrong age to make aliyah and it's never too early or late. I cried a little, but that'll happen when you see Jews coming home - the ingathering of the exiles - prophecies coming true, etc... And the Olim brought the blessing of rain with them, that Israel has been waiting 2 months for!
From there, the photographer picked me up and we went to a wedding in Ramat Gan. I found out along the way that it was snowing in Jerusalem, but I had to work for 12 hours. I got to take a few pictures with his awesome 70-200 lens during the mitzvah tanz this time, which is a lot of fun! It was a nice wedding.
We were both upset about missing the snow, but as we were getting back, we saw there was still quite a bit on the ground. When we got back to jerusalem, we decided to go to the Tayelet Promenade to take pictures. We used his professional tripod and took some gorgeous night time snow pictures for over an hour - what fun!!! He taught me some things too.
When I came back, I took more snow pictures in my neighborhood before and after vatikin! Finally a long day and night, filled with lots of pictures and fun, was over.

Thursday, December 28 - ז' טבת:
I slept a little today after being up all night last night having fun.
I posted the snow pictures - check them out (worth your while!):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=542&l=5050c&id=501014124
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=543&l=d7841&id=501014124

Friday, December 29 - ח' טבת:
This morning I was on an interesting Yavneh Olami tiyul to the Erez and Carni checkpoints on the Gaza border. We saw and learned about different security measures, how things are imported and exported, and saw the destroyed city of Nisanit (1 of the cities Jews were expelled from a year and half ago) from over the security wall.
Pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=596&l=f085c&id=501014124
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=597&l=106c4&id=501014124

Shabbat, December 29-30 - ט' טבת:
I had a fun Shabbat all around the neighborhood - Friday night I ate with Dov by British friends in the neighborhood (Cohens), then came back and joined my 3 apartment-mates and Dan's 2 guests for the end of dinner. Then we went to the Sladowsky's for dessert and singing, then to the Strasberg's for more dessert and hanging out.
This morning I davened by Gruss, ate 2nd - 3rd shabbat meals by Rabbi Eliav and Adi (Bitter) Silverman, and their 2 really cute kids, because my good friend Eitan Bitter is in and staying by them (and so are his parents). The 2nd Shabbat meal was breakfast as we waited for Eliav and Mr. Bitter to come back from an Auf Ruf in Romema, lunch was Seudah Shlishit (after early Minchah) and it was awesome. I joined the guys at the apartment for their Seudah Shlishit as well.
Tonight we had a L'chayim and made some phone calls to friends to celebrate the death of Saddam Hussein! May many more evil people die immediately! Then Dov came over and we continued celebrating by installing and playing Madden '07 on the projector and eating leftover cholent.

Sunday, December 31 - י' טבת:
More rain today! And the Giants and Jets clinched! And Saddam is dead! Now if only all the other terrorists in the world would die, or at least stop killing Jews! Did you know that there have been on average over 2 rockets shot at Israel every day of the "ceasefire"?!? But yet we're giving more money and weapons to the Palestinian Arabs?!?!?!?!?
Anyway, I went to the municipality this morning to try to get a larger discount on my municipal property tax but we're in disagreement about whether it should go by whose name is on the contract or how many people live in the apartment. So basically I wasted time.
I helped a friend (Asher) with some homework at Machon so I broke my fast 45 minutes late. It was an easy fast.
I followed the Jets and other NFL games pertaining to the Giants clinching tonight, and talked to 2 old friends.

Monday, January 1 - י"א טבת:
Happy 11 Tevet, 5767! In Israel, New Year's is known as Sylvester because he is the saint of December 31 and was viciously anti-semitic (makes you wonder why he was made a saint). New Years Day in 1577-1581 was a day Christians persecuted and killed Jews. So subdue your New Years party or refrain from it.
I procrastinated, then did some work on my final project today.
Night seder tonight, then shopping, finally came home, opened my gamepad, and cleaned the connectors on the button that wasn't working so I could play a simulated Giants playoff game on Madden '07. I [the Giants] won. We'll see what happens next week.
Funny 2006 Israel recap flash video - it's in Hebrew, but the pictures are pretty self explanatory - http://www.mesiba.net/funn.asp - laugh and enjoy!

Tuesday, January 2 - י"ב טבת:
My cold is mostly gone. I did some work on my project amidst more procrastination today. Then night seder.

Wednesday, January 3 - י"ג טבת:
I attended an interesting Nefesh B'Nefesh seminar on self employment this morning.
Tonight I was out with Shmuel and Ariel for last time before Ariel goes back to America for college. That included a Kahanist party to thank G-d for the death of Saddam at Kalba Savua (yes that means "satiated dog" in Hebrew/Aramaic), featuring Dov Shurin (of Zochreini Na fame), followed by a walk around town via Galpaz (which of course meant buying new CDs: Blue Fringe, Mendy Wald, Ari Boaingiu, and A Chasuna in Yerushalayim (inspired by the Chassidic weddings I've worked at with the photographer)).
Another late night Yavneh Olami website update.

Thursday, January 4 - י"ד טבת:
Many errands in town this morning including getting medical insurance for the 1st time in 2.5 years. Some work on the project this afternoon. I had my Halachah chevruta after Minchah instead of Shacharit.
I did some c++ tutoring in Machon Lev tonight, followed by a movie and some phone calls.

Shabbat, January 5-6 - ט"ז טבת:
Israel's 3rd rain storm in the last 2 weeks, after a 2 month drought, made Shabbat awesome. I started in the rain in talpiot, ate by my old madrich (Issac) and his wife and cute 1.5 year old kid, walked back (45 min) during a break between periods of heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. On and off rain all day today as I ate by a friend (Shraga) in the neighborhood and his wife and cute 1.5 year old kid, and Seudah Shlishit with apartment-mate (and old roommate).
I went to the Sephardi shul in my neighborhood to hear a Hebrew stand-up comedian tonight. It was a Moroccan Chasid who became a Ba'al Tshuvah 6 yrs ago after years of entertaining and even being on Israeli TV a few times. Then I came back and watched the 2nd half of Colts-Chiefs in Chinese because TVUPlayer didn't have NBC, but did have Shanghai Sports.

Sunday, January 7 - י"ז טבת:
More rain today! Israel is really getting some nice blessings this weekend.
I fixed some computer problems nicely this morning. Then finally got some final project work done - B"H I got into a groove that will continue the rest of the week.
Then came football night - 1st I played Madden '07 over the net with Aaron in NY, then came the Giants and Jets playoff games - TVUPlayer had CBS and Fox tonight and we set up the projector... and watched the New York (New Jersey) teams get swept. Darn!

Monday, January 8 - י"ח טבת:
I did lots of final project stuff today.
The landlord finally came over this afternoon and we discussed details - he's looking to sell our place but he promised that we will have at least 2-3 months from when he sells it to move out and at the rate he's going, we'll have at least until after Pesach, probably even until summer, and maybe even until end of our lease, if not more. **That promise never came to fruition as you will read. But at least everything worked out.
I did some C++ tutoring, followed by night seder tonight.

Tuesday, January 9 - י"ט טבת:
I was in court this morning as a witness to a friend who was in a minor car accident while I was in the passenger seat about 6 months ago. He was sued by the other guy for 12,000 NIS in damages. The decision was to split it 50-50 and his insurance company will cover it.
Gershon came to visit today! He's in Israel on vacation and stopped by my apartment to hang out for a while.
More final project work this afternoon. It's official - we're handing it in this sunday IY"H.
Pizza at night seder tonight.

Wednesday, January 10 - כ' טבת:
I went to the Ministry of Absorption this morning to tell them I'm still unemployed, then came back and davened in the late minyan and had my Halachah Chevrusa.
Another day full of work on my final project.
I took a break from my project after Minchah to see Comet McNaught - I watched it set over Bayit VeGan from the top of the Givat Mordechai summit park. It was very pretty - the brightest comet in half a decade! It's just a shame that this hemisphere didn't get it overnight when it is dark and you can see the full effect of it. It's also a shame that I didn't get a chance to go to a place like Har HaZeitim (Mt. of Olives) so I could have watched the comet set behind a view of Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount), but I had too much work to do on the project.
After night seder, I came back and reviewed an article my apartment-mate wrote for my Parshah Sheet and went over some stuff with him about the Parshah Sheet and project. **See next entry for more about the Parshah Sheet.

Thursday, January 11 - כ"א טבת:
I finally did what had to be done at the municipality with my roommates this morning. Then I came back and installed some stuff for Moshe. Just before minchah I was starting to nap when Shmuel called to tell me his wife's water broke. I learned with Moshe after Minchah, then did some more work on my project.
Tonight I went to bring snacks and a change of clothes to Shmuel and Chava at the hospital, then walked back with Mike who got off the bus when he saw me as Moshe and Shani, who I was talking to at the bus stop, got on.
When I got back tonight, I finished the red eye algorithm for my project - I'm proud of myself and it's really cool! Then Shmuel came to sleep over when his wife got transferred to a different room, and we were talking to Nachman (1 of my apartment-mates) for a long time.

Shabbat, January 12-13 - כ"ג טבת:
Shmuel's wife didn't give birth yet - they ended up going home for Shabbat because her water didn't actually break, just some came out, and she started dilating and contractions, but they slowed and stopped and I don't really understand all these things so I'm going to stop talking about them, but the point is that there is still no baby and Shmuel was not with me for Shabbat.
I had a great shabbat. Nice dinner last night at Dov's place with his dad and daughters. It's the first time he's gotten the girls for Shabbat since the separation. They are so adorable and fun! I came back, had a L'chaim with the guys at my apartment, then slept for 10 hrs - the most I've slept for a while, and after 3.5 hours of sleep Thursday night, I needed it so badly! It felt good!
Today I had an awesome lunch at Moshe and Shani Sladowsky's with Amichai and Adina Strasberg and 2 of Ami's Flatbush friends who I was also friends with back in the day.
Tonight I spent the night working on the project.

Sunday, January 14 - כ"ד טבת:
Today was the big day - 2 years and 8 months since (Yoav and) I got my final project topic, and (Yoav and) I finally handed it in!!! After 55 minutes of 2 project department heads grilling us with questions, some more intelligent than others (and some much less intelligent than others), apparently we impressed them with what we did - depending on our report, which I need to hand in soon - we will get between 85-90, maybe even over 90 if the report is exceptional and shows some original functions and algorithms. We are very satisfied. After so much hard work, it feels great to finally hand it in and receive a good grade. Especially after all that questioning and grilling. It's incredible hwo stupid professors can be sometimes. Some questions were good questions, but others were off topic and didn't reflect too well on the professor's knowledge. Let's just say that the part of the eye that is affected by red eye has to do with biology, not photo editing!
Nachman and I (with Dan) celebrated by ordering New Deli (corned beef and pastrami) and I opened my bottle of Gewurztraminer 2003 from the Golan Heights Winery with my parents. A fun celebration that I deserved!
Finally, I relaxed and watched the bears win in OT with 2 friends from Chicago on the projector through TVUPlayer - I was too tired and worn out to do any work on the report.

Monday, January 15 - כ"ה טבת:
I worked on my final project report today then night seder tonight. I was hoping to hand in the report tomorrow, but it doesn't look like I will be done in time - I'm trying to do a good job to get my grade over 90. My problem is that my adviser who grades the report doesn't come in again until Monday, the day I potentially get fined for handing it in late. We'll see what happens. **I took the fine and handed it in last week, but I have some editing to do this weekend and I have to hand it in again on Sunday so I should be doing it now, but I'm too tired. I can't wait for Shabbat!

Tuesday, January 16 - כ"ו טבת:
I was paid to take pictures at a Brit Milah of the son of a friend of mine in Beit Shemesh this morning. The funny thing is that I know him through a friend whose wife is family of his wife's (Yoav and Rachell), but it turns out that his uncle works with my dad in Manhattan. What a small world! It was a nice Bris, I saw some friends, took over 400 pictures, lots of cute kids, and Thomas the Train running around the food - very cool (creative caterers came up with that idea to keep the kids occupied).
I came back, took a nap which lasted longer than expected, did a little work, then went to night seder.

Wednesday, January 17 - כ"ז טבת:
After talking to my rabbi for half an hour after minyan, I went to Shmuel and Chava's in Ramat Beit Shemesh and spent about 10 hours there working on getting advertisements and organizing stuff for our new Parshah Sheet - www.torahfromzion.com. That time included lunch with Shmuel and Chava and dinner with them and their mothers (who both came in expecting a granddaughter).
And coming soon - the new Kumah Neo-Zionist Megablog, featuring much of the Arutz-Sheva and Kumah staff - I've been invited to be 1 of the lead photographers. That is due to start IY"H the same weekend as our parsha sheet. **It did. Check it out: www.kumah.org

Thursday, January 18 - כ"ח טבת:
I walked around town with Amichai this morning. We were at the Rabanut being witnesses that Chaya and Yisroel are married, among other places and errands. It was actually at the Beit Din, not the regular Rabanut (that's the building that used to house the Knesset from 1949-1960). They had to take my camera for security purposes, then the rabbis gave me a Torah test about where it says you're not allowed to be a false witness before even asking me a single question about Chaya and Yisroel. It was quite an experience!
Fun night bowling tonight with Young Olim United.

Friday, January 19 - כ"ט טבת:
I had a fun day Friday - I took a dip in Machon Lev's Mikveh, and bumped into a few friends going and returning.
Then I decided that it was such a beautiful Erev Shabbos Rosh Chodesh - why not take my bike for a ride - a pre-Shabbos bike ride over to the Kotel! That was very meaningful and enjoyable. Then I rode back via the Shuk as it was closing - that was an experience! Chasidim blowing a shofar-like horn and trying to close stores, fruit vendors selling their last fresh fruits at very low prices to get rid of them before they'd go bad over the weekend, and the hustle and bustle of pre-Shabbos preparations - I love jerusalem! It was a great bike ride especially since I'm now using my good bike from America - my 1st real ride on it in Israel.