Here are a couple video's from my time in Istanbul Turkey.
OK... So most everyone knows that I am learning ot speak Hebrew, but did you know that in Hebrew you can add without numbers... Well, that's because each letter corresponds to a number. The name of the LORD is written above, both horizontally from right to left, and vertically from top to bottom (this is known as the Adam Kadmon - because it looks like a human [the LORD created Man in His image in this way too!]). His Name adds up to 26... Yud=10, Heh=5, Vav=6, Heh=5... so you then add those up... 10+5+6+5=26. Thus , the number 26 can be used to represent YHVH. So can the letter Aleph... א. The reason being... Within the Aleph is a 6 or Vav =ו and two 10's or yud's = י. This can be added to 26... 6+10+10=26... So Aleph can represent the LORD.
Taking one step further... the name Adam: אדם... the name of the first human. We have an aleph א which can represent the LORD plus dalet&mem דם which means blood in hebrew.... the LORD + blood = mankind... Kinda cool.
So, naturally, I wanted to see the significance of my name, David or in Hebrew: דוד. I did the math... Dalet =ד is 4, Vav = ו is 6, Dalet = ד is 4 = 14, My lifelong favorite number! CRAZY, huh? That was my soccer number in soccer and it is also the apartment number I live in now! And when you add my name, 14 and 12, one of the most important numbers in the Bible (12 tribes of Israel), you get the number for the LORD. I know this is a stretch, but still it's kind of cool... 14 (David) in 12 (Israel) for 26 (the LORD).
OK, I've been adjusted to life in Israel, but I have never lived with a Sabra until yesterday... My roommate Sachii arrived yesterday, and it has been interesting learning to live in such close proximity with a Sabra (a native Israeli)... Omer is the other roommate and he is Israeli/Latin-American, but Sachii is the poster-child for a native Israeli. He is a very nice guy. He even asked me to join him and his girlfriend for dinner. We were getting along fine, until he informed me, out of the blue, that I am not to flush toilet paper... that there is a waste basket beside the toilet. "MAH (WHAT)!?!!" I proclaimed in Hebrew! I explained to him that toilet paper is designed for flushing and that, as an American, there were some things I wouldn't be able to adjust to doing. THAT IS ONE OF THEM!!!! I don't want to go into detail, but I have used the toilet and flushed paper with NO problems, thus far. I still don't get why he thinks this would be a problem. I understand the physics of overloading a toilet... anyway! Needless to say, I won! I won't be using the waste basket for toilet paper.
I was tired all day Monday but, by grace, I was able to make it through all 3 classes... two, two hour classes: Hebrew at 8:30 and Arabic at 12:15, followed by a four hour seminar in Modern Middle Eastern History taught by the chair of the department - Dr. Rabi (myanien meod = very interesting). I, thankfully, loved all of the classes, despite my exhaustion, and I felt as if I had accomplished something: My first real day of Graduate work!
The LOT flight from Warsaw to Tel Aviv wasn't bad for being so late... I met some young/wide-eyed Christian pilgrims of Indian/Pakistani descent who live in London. They were so excited to hear about my experiences in Israel, and I was happy to answer many of their questions. They were also very intrigued by my heritage and faith.
Within a few hours, I arrived to a rainy Israel early Monday morning and paid alot of money to take a taxi to my apartment in Ramat Gan. I am very thankful that we have an elevator, because I had to pay fees to the airline for having heavy bags, and I certainly didn't want to schlep those heavy bags up the stairs! My roommate Omer was kind enough to let me in at 5 in the morning. Sleep wasn't an option able to sleep because my Hebrew class was in less than 4 hours... But, I was very thankful to be back... back in Israel... my second home!
So... This is the first chance I have had to blog a little since I've been back in Israel. I wanted to tell you all about the wonderful day I spent in Warsaw... Now, one could certainly complain about a 10 hour layover, or if adventurous (even slightly), one could go through customs, hop on a city bus, and enjoy the scenery. I chose the latter, of course! (Thankfully, though it is a hard language to read, Polish is rather easy for us to read).
Until Sunday, I had never been to Poland, and I have to admit that with my WWII -heavy education and Judeo-Christian worldview (like most Americans), I was under the impression that Poland was a depressed country, full of hatred and closed-mindedness. I'm sure that is the case somewhere in Poland, but definitely not in Warsaw. Warsaw was, to my surprise, HAPPY!
The old city, where I spent most of my time, was full of life. Food, Art, Music, Sports... It was all there. The city was vibrant!
One of the things that impressed me the most was the Catholic church in the main square of the city. The bells rang for Sunday-evening mass, and there was a crowd of people surrounding the entrance to the church. They weren't old people either... they were students. The university is nearby and the majority of those that attend the church are christian students. Catholicism seems to be very much alive in Warsaw.
After having a lovely walking tour of the city, I got hungry... I found a fantastic Pirogi place in the old city. I was planning on eating Pirogi's but when I saw that they were served with Pork-fat, I lost my appetite for them, and I ordered a very filling Potato Pancake topped with Goulash. The restaurant, which could only hold about 25 people, was lit by candles and the waitresses were dressed in traditional polish outfits. It reminded me of something in a holiday film.
Once finished, I walked around and it seemed that everywhere I walked were lovers strolling around arm-in-arm. The only adjective I have to describe it is "cute." The people in Warsaw are extremely affectionate - publicly; something else I wasn't expecting.
Warsaw has terrific hot chocolate too, just perfect for a cold October night. So I took the subway to the new part of town, and walked passed the mall, through a little alleyway, and found an amazing hot chocolate place. When it was served to me, I was, again, surprised... It looked like hot chocolate pudding more than hot chocolate. BUT, it was a pleasant surprise... I loved every savory slurp!
I know that Poland has a dark past, but I'm glad I was able to experience the lighter side of the country this visit, because I will certainly get a taste of the other in February when I visit the sites of the Holocaust. But for now, my impression of the country is fantastic... I can't wait to go back for longer.
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