Hello you all. Hope your holidays (Jewish), and Indian summer is treating you well. This week in Israel has been bitter sweet. Many of my friends are from Chicago and it has I am sure saddened many to once again see the Cubs fall in humiliation. This week the entire country minus gov't employees are on vacation so that means no ulpan for me. Yea!!! First day was great, had some good eats, and good nap. Slept in the sukkah. Monday night I went to Beit Shemesh and saw a bunch of Jewish bands, including Soulfarm , and Reva L'Sheva. It was free and that made it all the better. Bumped into Jessica Glaser, Bruce, who would have thought that?! Also met up with all the men who had attended WITS, high school in Milwaukee. Got back to Jerusalem early Tuesday and basically passed out. Got up mid-day and wandered around the city, looking for something I have not seen or done yet. To be continued. Then back to town with Ammnon. I then met up t\with Nashi Teller, to play once again some more backgammon. Towards the end of the games my Dad called me. Had a conversation with him, and then headed over to the Poupkos' for a nice salmon dinner. Since today is Thursday I once again helped out with bagging food for terrorist victims. Going to try and do this every week. Tomorrow I head to Otniel for Simchas torah. Man, I love Otniel. It's so chilled out there.. Have a great weekend you all and take care!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Strength & Blessing

Yaakov S. Y. Cohen

Sorry about that last email you just received. Apparently I have to rewrite this. Briefly, Yom Kippur I spent in Otniel, near Hebron, which is becoming my favorite place outside of Jerusalem. I prayed at a hesder yeshiva, which means students go and learn for 1 1/2 years, serve in the army for 2 years, and then another year and a half of learning. It has some pretty zealots there. I prayed between an Uzi and an M-16 (on the floor), because everyone there does a watch during services because of where we are. Services were very good and meaningful and the fast flew by. At the end of Neilah, during next Year in Jerusalem, I was saying I am in Jerusalem.
An interesting view was that Mars was directly above the moon that night, coincidence?
Jerusalem is now crazy with shoppers getting ready for Shabbos. Lots of great bargains going on. Played a lot of shesh besh (backgammon) the last couple of days with people. Have a great holiday you all. And ha ha hahaha to all you 2 day Yom Tov holders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning you alls: A couple things, first welcome to all the newcomers on my list. I hope I can keep everyone informed of my activities and those in Israel. Second of all Bruce G, thanks for the call; I only wish I would have been able to talk to you.

I have now been in Israel for a little over two weeks and I am coming up on my third Shabbat here. Currently I am in Beit Shemesh which is 20 minutes south to southwest of Jerusalem. Fridays I do not have ulpan (Hebrew language class), so I thought I would come out Thu afternoon. My schedule pretty much is this. Wake up at sun rise or around that time, do a little stretching and walk up this huge hill to a Sephardi shul, which I am really liking. Some guy brings in various herbs and spices and it really wakes me up taking a good whiff of it. Not as good as some other stuff I have had in the past but it will do. Ulpan is from 8 am till 1 pm with two breaks in it. My three teachers are Yedida, the director, Linda, and Chaya, which I am biased towards. Each teaches in a slight different style, but each good in its own way. I have Chaya Tue-Thu so I have her the most often. She speaks Hebrew, English and Russian, and a little French, Portuguese and Spanish. Being that I am the only true American in the class
Went to Machene Yehuda, which is the big market in Jerusalem to do some shopping. Since produce is so cheap I have decided to try to stick to the basics and become a vegetarian during the week. I ended up paying 2 shekels for 4 large red peppers. I believe that comes to a little under 50 cents. A loaf of the gov't subsidized bread is 75 cents , but my new roommate works at a bakery and brings home a loaf of bread every morning (he works the graveyard shift). Got tomatoes, pecans, walnuts, apples, peaches, star fruit, mangos, and some spices. Next week I think I will get some fish and cook it up.
I am going to try and not make this email a political one as there are always two pints to a view and I do not want to preach to such a diverse crowd. But I am not sure if those in the US heard about a husband and seven month baby who were murdered in Friday night in a settlement near Hebron. This was a horrible atrocity and I hope that somehow the gov't of Israel can find a peaceful way to keep all Israelis safe and secure.
One of the guys who is living in Beit Canada with me is Ammnon Kaufman, a nice guy from Wilmette, IL who went to Brandeis University. We are running partners every night, but since he ran for school, and I ate and drank, he is months ahead of my endurance. On top of that, when we start running we go up this huge hill. But its good for me and I enjoy the challenge. Less than three miles from us is a promenade overlooking East Jerusalem, the old City and the Center of the City. What a view!!! I can describe it as it is one of such awe, the rolling hills and lights (at night) You can see the gold shimmer of the Dome of the Rock, and then can navigate around the old city. In the morning the sunrise is magnificent, and gives me strength to run back to Beit Canada. The other night when we got to the promenade, I usually run down all the steps and then back up but it was being used for a wedding so I just stood there and watched to happiness and celebrating and then went home and passed out.
In the afternoons, I do a variety of things. Up till yesterday I was taking a class with Rabbi Hartman of Ohr Sameach on the 13 attributes of G-d, something which at this time of the year has much pertinence. After that I have put upon myself to take another Hebrew learning class which is a at much higher level than I am at but I am being challenged and that is the point.
After that which is now 6:30 pm I do various things. Go to classes, walk around Jerusalem, read, all sorts of other stuff. Anything to keep myself busy. With the holidays coming up and the country on holiday I am hoping to go up to Kfar Yehoushua, and visit my relatives, who I dearly miss. Perhaps a tiyul (trip) or two. Well you all have a good Shabbos and be well. Packers rule!!! Bears suck!

Strength & Blessing

Yaakov S. Y. Cohen