Im that much closer to being israeli...

No, don't worry, I haven't filed papers with the Israeli government to become a citizen of this crazy place that i love. but i did take a hike on chol hamoed (the time between the first day of pesach and the last day/seventh day of pesach). The problem with hiking in Israel, which is beautiful and has many many trails in any number of different terrains and difficulties - is that most Israelis don't know how to clean up after themselves. at all. it is a painful sight to see anywhere, no less here. but for me there is this level of being baffled that doesn't come on quite so strongly in other places. the people who live in this country finally have a place where they have the ability to build a state of their (our) own and they show that appreciation and love for their country by leaving bags and bags of trash behind them in what would be otherwise totally beautiful trails...it gets me every time...the frustration never lessens....i just can't get used to it. not that i should, but there are many things here that you either have to get used to and accept as part of living here or you are going to go a little nuts. i haven't figured out if Israeli’s lack of recognition of their individual and communal ecological footprint is going to send me out of the country dazed and confused and disillusioned....i hope things change...

anyway...to stop ranting now...i went hiking with two friends from mcgill - marni and liz. we took marni's car and made our way to a trail called mitzpeh modi'in - the high point/peak of modi'in. it is still beautiful and green in the area where in only a few weeks time it will be brown and dry. it was so nice to get out of the city and get lost in the trails...like it always is:) we brought our lunch of peppers, cucumbers, avocados, and watermelon with us and ate in the shade of some trees and then made our way back singing psalms from hallel (a special set of psalms that are said on holidays) and Israeli folk songs...

we made our way to tel aviv dropping liz off to fly back to america before she makes chetzi (half)-aliya (immigration) to canada where she is on her way to establishing permanent residency in that wonderful country i miss (and will be visiting in 5 weeks!). In tel aviv marni and i took a walk on the beach watching the sunset. it was a wonderful conclusion to our action packed day...enjoy the pictures (btw - i have several more posts to let you in on my passover break adventures...they were many and fun...keep a look out:) wink wink

sweet dreams when you get em...thats where i plan to be drifting shortly...

[PS - a comment was made about my last post that i could now invite "more orthofolks over as your guests". I just wanted to say that yes - i do love having people over to my home and feeding them good food. but, just to be clear, keeping my kitchen kosher is not so that more people who are orthodox will feel comfortable eating in my home, but so any person who is guided by traditional halacha (including myself) will feel comfortable eating in my home. they come in all shapes and sizes and by all means are not all orthodox. including myself. i have been Jewish label free for over a year now and I may continue this way - I kinda like the freedom.]