There are several fountains around the city that I have feelings of ownership for. According to Jewish law if you a farm a piece of land that was owner-less for 3 years it becomes yours. So I wonder how many times you have to sit by a fountain in order to claim it for yourself? There is something very calming about moving water and I have always loved fountains. In DC, the one in the National Gallery Sculpture Garden was mine. It is really important to take moments to process, and just realize that it is all fluid, connected and transient.
I haven’t written in a while and not for lack of things to write about. I have been a little lazy. Last week, I spent Shabbat in Ranana with some of my boys. While it was wonderful to see them I really just don’t understand why boys feel like they can stop filtering because there is only one girl around. Hello, I am still female even if I am the only one in the crowd. Needless to say it was a very entertaining weekend. 
My friend who I was staying by had asked me if I could set him up a while ago. Inspired by this request I have started setting many of my friends up and it turns out I am pretty good at making matches. If you are looking and want to be set up, please let me know. However, I could have someone for you in a day or never at all. I will only set you up with a good match, not stam date.
On Tuesday I was sitting in Zion Square waiting for a friend when someone sitting next to me asked me “are you in love?” “Excuse me?” I answered. He said “don’t fall in love, it’s terrible.” So, I decided I should make sure he was okay. Turns out he is half Arab, half American. He is in love with an Israeli stripper who he dated for a year and a half. She dumped him because he verbally abused her and he beat up her religious brother. There is a restraining order for him to leave the city. Apparently I have a vibe that says “if you are a crazy person, please talk to me.”
On Wednesday there was a big Nefesh B’ Nefesh flight, like the one I made Aliyah on. I decided to go to greet the plane because my friend Ilana was making Aliyah on it. It was very cool to be on the greeting side of things. Ilana is following in my footsteps doing Ulpan Etzion. I have been answering many of her questions and trying to give her all the warnings and suggestions that I wish I had recieved (number one rule: “don’t date until you are emotionally stable, say 3 months”). I like the mentor role, I love taking care of people so I am having a blast. Also Ilana happens to be an awesome person so it is just fun to hang out with her. In the afternoon I went to the TA Museum of Art which is between special exhibits right now so I was forced to see more of their permanent collection. It was actually really interesting. I saw my first Klimt in person, it was great. In addition, they had an exhibit of old cars and it was really cool. I also saw one contemporary artist I really liked and I am starting to gather a list to run by my artist friend, Shay. Once I get his two cents I hope to do some studio visits. I want to start an art consultant business where I connect artists and patrons. Its gonna take a while to get off the ground but it will be a lot of fun. In the afternoon I had dinner and learned with Kfi. My friend Davida joined us for dinner and it was really great to see her. Kfi and I learned that Caleb Ben Jephuneh had a daughter named Achsah. According to the commentaries, her name comes from the Hebrew word for anger, Ca’as. This is because she was so beautiful that when men saw her they would go home and fight with their wives. Anyways, her beauty really didn’t help her so much. Her father gave her to his half brother as a prize for conquering some land for him. Caleb gave the couple a portion of land as a wedding present but it wasn’t farm-able. In the text it says Achsah went to her dad and begged for better land. Why was she begging? According to the commentaries her husband refused to make a deal among men because he knew that she would get whatever she wanted if she went. So she was reduced to begging from her father because her husband wanted to use her beauty. Men are gross.
On Thursday, I went to drop off the picture of Rav Kook that I drew for Batel in her new place. I am so happy I got to chill with her and Shlomo a bit. After that I went to a place called “The Artist House” with a friend of mine and I found a few more artists that I am interested in. Then it was brunch at the Anna Ticho house for a birthday. There a few girlfriends of mine asked me if they could be on my shidduch list. I already set one up. In the evening, a friend of mine took me into the Gush to a great family owned restaurant on the moshav, Bat Ayin. It is a really cool place, I highly suggest it (vegetarian). It was cool to drive through the mountains with him because he lived there for two years and really knows the history. It is so different to be there with someone who has lived there than to hear about it on the news.
I had a “Shabbaton” with my friend Shoshana in Nachlaot this week. At Friday night dinner I met a photographer/journalist who has been living in Sderot for the past four years. He just moved to a Kibbutz a few miles away because living in Sderot is just too intense. Can you imagine always living in fear of the bombs and taking pictures of the aftermath for four years? That has to mess with your head.
Shabbat with Shosh was lovely. I feel asleep rather early on Friday night but it was a great atmosphere of Torah, singing, chatting and joking. I think that the hostess has a lot to do with the personality of the meal. On Saturday we had Ilana over at lunch and that was really nice. I have a lot a great friends but most of them are in totally different circles. While this is great for setting people up, it can sometimes be frustrating when arranging social events. So any chance I have to connect my friends is great.
I got to see my favorite soldier, Sammy, in the afternoon. When I got to his house he was sleeping so I had to wait a while for him to wake up but it was worth it. He had good stories to share and I met a few of his friends who are cool people. The fun with soldiers continued in the evening after Havadalah when I went to a cookie bake off for lone soldiers. I baked my amazing blondies (Shirah’s favorite cookie) and I won dinner for two at a nice restaurant called “Little Italy.”
The Jerusalem Film Festival started last week and I am going to see a film on Tuesday morning. I love all these festivals that they have here in the summer. Jerusalem is a very cultured city. I really didn’t think I would want to live here after Ulpan but I am enjoying it. One day on my break, I went to daven Mincha at the kotel. I just decided I wanted to and I did. It is awesome that I can do that here.
I finally feel in control of my life. That what happens to me depends on me. That is a pretty scary responsibility but it also makes me powerful. I am calm and at peace. I feel like I have the capacity to make important decisions and do things as slow or fast as I want to. It is a good place to be in.
