Dear friends and family,
Happy New Year! I can’t believe we’ve started 2009. There was no evidence of the new year here. People know the secular calendar, but because we have our own Jewish calendar, the new secular year isn’t such a big deal here. So for my New Year’s Eve, I read and fell asleep well before midnight (hey, don’t make fun—I have 8:30 class everyday!)

The change in the political climate hasn’t been so much fun. Last Shabbat, I was sitting at the Shabbos table and the windows kept shaking. The family explained that the windows shake like that when planes fly by—which kept happening—because the planes were heading over to Gaza to bomb there. Creepy. I promise that I do feel safe here, but even so—the war here is scary and sad.

I don’t have so much exciting news to report. This Shabbat was really lovely. I spent it with three of my friends and we ate our meals at the homes of really wonderful families. The only slightly sad thing is that it’s gotten colder here in Yerushayim. It gets down even to the 30s at night, and between the forties and fifties during the day! Yikes! Ok, I know you all want to make fun of me now, but in my defense, we only have heat in our dorms for two hours a day. That leaves 22 hours of one very cold room! Hopefully, when I return home, I’ll just appreciate all the luxuries that much more.

Lots of love,
Rachel