Yom Kippur:

As Yossi Gar said, "Prepare to see this country shut down like you've never seen a country shut down before." He was right. It is a custom in Jerusalem for even non-religious people not to drive during the Hag. It is also customary to walk in the streets due to an extreme lack of cars. It's very surreal to walk down Emek Refa'im and see thousands of people all walking back from services in one of the busiest streets in Jerusalem. Some even stop to talk in the middle of the road.

Yes, services were long. But Simchat Torah is even longer.

Finals:

I had two. And an 8-page paper. That's why this update is so late. Everything ended with a wrap-up lecture of the Jerusalem history course. That night, about 8 of us went to a jazz bar near Ben Yehuda street to listen to a 10-year-old jazz piano prodigy (who sounded like a professional. Imagine seeing a cute 10-year-old playing the piano on any jazz song you've listened to. That's what it was like.) 

Sukkot

Due to a lack of people on my floor, I slept out in the Sukkah. Anyone who tells you that Jerusalem does not have a night life is either lying or ignorant. Even at 1:00 in the morning, there's still a lot of traffic. Then I went to the quickest 3.5-hour service I've ever been to at Shira Hadasha.

Tonight

Two people have birthdays at the same time, so we're going out.

Shabbat

I'm open, so if you want to see me and live in the Jerusalem area, then call or e-mail me (before shabbat).