Adventures of the last 2 months
Visitors, films, Purim, visiting 3 cities and 2 forests and a retreat centre
For the past few months, I’ve given an update with stories and insights into my life. Yesterday was Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the new month (of the first month of the year!), and the time for a monthly update. We’ve had two months of Adar (awesome way to have a Leap Year!), and for the first month I missed a few important stories, so I will write some of those here.
At the beginning of the first month of Adar, my Playback Theatre troup (Act Out Change) was invited to perform up north at a women’s retreat. This is a dream that the troupe has had for many years. And it was lovely — we got to use a hot tub, sauna, and got massages. The snag was that though we had use of a car, nobody else could drive. I hadn’t driven in a year and a half, and I had never driven outside of Canada, so this seemed terrifying. I had heard that Israeli driving is scary. But it was the only way we could go, so… why not let my first driving experience in Israel be 2.5 hours each way, mostly on highways? I guess that’s a good idea!
Two things calmed me down. One is that it was the same brand of car that I used to drive (and yes, automatic — thank Gd.) And the other is that the couple who owns the car is Canadian, and my teammate’s husband said to me, “You’ve driven on the 401, right? This isn’t any worse than that.” And he was right. Driving up and down Israel’s main highway was significantly easier than driving on the 401. And it turns out I’m a pretty good driver, when conditions are good.
Another thing I did is host a few support groups for Jews dealing with the psychological warfare directed against us. One in an Indian restaurant (“They’re trying to kill us, they’re failing, let’s eat!”) and two online. I also managed to snag an invite to Shabbat dinner with Rav Doniel Katz, a kabbalist who is a celebrity in my mind.
I got to see (and host) a number of visitors, which was amazing! As I keep saying — please come and visit! It’s awesome here!
First was Shoshana Jedwab, a founder of the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute where I got ordained. She was on a jam-packed four-day mission for Jewish Educators, which was full of amazing workshops and amazing food. She got to meet one of the creators of Eretz Nehederet, one of Israel’s funniest TV shows. I hosted her for Shabbat and for meals here.
At the same time, my cousins Jay and Shayla from California came. Jay took Shayla around the country to do a million things, including help at a barbecue for soldiers. In Jerusalem, we went out for dinner, and the next day I joined their tour of the Old City and showed them Mamilla Mall.
In the second month of Adar, just in time for Purim, during the Jerusalem Biennale, we had a screening at the Bible Lands Museum of a video I was in about Queen Esther. This was shot during Sukkot and was meant to happen months ago, but because of the war it was postponed. Which worked out eerily well, because a movie about Queen Esther that was filmed and scheduled for the wrong time of year, ended up being screened at exactly the right time of year. There goes Purim, flipping the world upside-down and righting mistakes!
For several months, I have been taking a course of learning Hebrew through theatre. In our final showcase, we had a screening of a film I co-wrote and starred in (in Hebrew!) We also performed scenes from movies (mine was an Israeli dark comedy) and improvised in Hebrew. Our scene took place at an aquarium, where I found my math teacher in the water. If you’d like to see videos of any of these, ask me.
Next came… Purim! The most joy-filled holiday of the year. Even though we are living through a dark moment in Jewish history (but when haven’t we?), it is incumbent upon us to enjoy the moments that we are able to enjoy. (And if we couldn’t — then Jewish holidays would have been ignored, or dimmed, for most of our history. But they haven’t.) On Ta’anit Esther, I fasted, for perhaps the first time in my life for the occasion, and prayed that on Purim the world would turn right side-up, just like in the story of Esther.
In Jerusalem, Purim is celebrated on Shushan Purim, the day after it is in most places. But of course I would want two days of holiday! So for the first day I went to Efrat, where I was invited by my chavruta (my Partners in Protection study partner), who I had never met in person, to join her family for a festive meal. At night I came back to Jerusalem for the Megila reading followed by a Bibliodrama workshop with Nava Tehila, and Yael Unterman. One of many things I did on Purim day was attend a Disney-themed lunch, where each of the courses and dishes were based on Disney references. (While you drink your Mulan tea, try the grey stuff, it’s delicious!) Costumes and decor also matched the theme. It was impressive, and I am grateful to have musical theatre friends. One of them performed the song “American Pie” with his original lyrics, retelling the Megilat Esther.
Another visitor we had this month, named Karen, came without an itinerary and found places to volunteer. We hosted her for a Shabbat and for meals. On her travels, she wanted to visit Pardes Hannah, which is a place I have been wanting to go. So I got to join her!
The first thing we noticed is that up north, it’s common for GPS to get jammed. So we couldn’t figure out how to get to where we wanted. We went to a nearby municipal building to ask. “Are you in Lebanon, too?” asked a local. “I’m at the airport.” “How’s the weather?” I asked her. “The weather is terrible, but the view is lovely!” Sometimes in Jerusalem I’ll be walking around, and check my map app, only to be informed that I am in Egypt. Oh, thank you for showing me how close I am to the Suez Canal! Maybe this jamming explains why I’ve been on a dating app and been shown singles living in Arab countries. But, I digress…
We got to attend my friend’s parsha-dance-and-arts workshop. And I got to meet (again) a famous matchmaker who has a show on Netflix. We visited the Art Stables, which is an area of semi-outdoors artsy stores that were really fun to explore.
Afterwards, I returned to Crossroads for the film viewing party of our theatre festival. And now, you can watch the show! If you don’t want to see the entire thing, highlights I recommend are Guys With Hats On, which I consider one of the funniest plays ever written; the amazing dance at 1:26:25; and the two songs that start at 1:11:10. The first one is about that moment you meet a cute guy and your inner voice is like, “We are going to get married!!” and your other inner voice is like, “Calm down, he just said ‘Hi’.” And at the end of your inner debate, you rationally decide, “Let’s go with crazy voice! We’re getting married!!” Obviously, this song is more relatable for some than for others.
More events include a foraging hike where I was introduced to nature’s “grocery store.” (Wild asparagus is my favourite!) I also joined a friends’ hike in Eshtaol Forest. And I spent a Shabbat in Efrat, and another in Bat Yam by the beach.
I finally watched the cartoon Prince of Egypt! Now I am ready for Passover. For some, that is an annual tradition. It’s impressive how they were able to find so many non-Jews to play Jewish characters. (Exceptions being Ofra Haza and Jeff Goldblum.) They changed a few things, like making Moses young and attractive instead of 80 and with a speech impediment. And changing the entire story, making it about a brother Moses didn’t have, while Moses’ actual brother watched from the sidelines with no role in bringing down the plagues. Which were glossed over in a plague montage. My comment? “You yadda-yadda-yadda’d the best part!” (Your response: “I mentioned the sea splitting!”)
In lesser news, this month I’ve been in my apartment one year! That’s great, because in the twelve months before, I moved several times, including three of those times to a different city.
In exciting news, from a Shabbat dinner that we hosted in October, a group of friends were formed, and now two of them are getting married! This is at least the second time I have brought people together who end up getting married. This makes me want to host more big meals!
Here’s to Nisan, a month of revealed miracles, of freedom and redemption, and of course, Passover! It’s already made a huge difference in my life that right after Purim, the weather got better. The world looks more alive! I already feel more free!
Sending blessings and love and more revealed truths to you.