Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah in Jerusalem is different then anything I have ever experienced before in my life. The entire country celebrates the Jewish New Year. Everywhere I go people wish me Shannah Tova, it makes me feel so good to be part of this giant Jewish Community. One of the synagogues I attended during Rosh Hashanah was located within this old bomb shelter. The tunes and melodies of the prayers that were chanted really touched me. It truly was a very special prayer experience for me. The following day I walked to a synagogue that was 45 minutes away from my dorms. The walk was great and refreshing but what made this service so special for me was its location and hearing the Shofar. The synagogue was located on an overlook on which you could see the entire city of Jerusalem. I spent a small part of the service outside, praying and looking over our Jewish homeland. I then returned to the service in time to hear the Shofar. This Shofar was so clear and each note seemed to take a life if its own. You could feel the energy in the room changing and becoming more uplifting with each blow. After the service, a Jewish family that lived in the area hosted me and two of my friends for lunch. They made us a delicious meal and the conversation that flowed between them and us was interesting. Their apartment was covered with the most beautiful Jewish paintings I had ever seen. I asked him about them and he told me he had been painting for over 55 years. His attention to detail and brush work was incredible. By the end of the meal, we did not want to leave. It was my first true experience with the people who live and work in Israel and I look forward to meeting others and hearing their stories.