Today's blog will not cover as much what I've done but things I've learned about the amazing culture of Israel. The Jews are unlike any other people when you consider their history. They have been taken captive by the Babylonians, Persians, Assyrians, Egyptians and the worst and most recent was Nazi Germany. Yet the Jews today survive as a thriving nation in spite of its many enemies all around!
Religion: Separation from church and state? HAH! Good one! Really funny! Welcome to the Middle East. Much of the Government's influence comes from the Ortodox Jews. They try as hard as possible to kick Christians and specifically missionaries out of the country. Pray that God might soften the heart of Government officials to let us continue coming to Israel.
Shabbat: HUH? Shabbat is the Hebrew word for Sabbath, or God's instituted day for rest. Shabbat begins Friday afternoon when the sun drops (and yes, that alters with the seasons) and ends Saturday evening. All the shops (in the Jewish quarters) close during this time including all transportation. It has been very nice because even though it is inconvenient to have everything closed, it makes you rest! I really think it would do the American culture a lot of good to institute something like this. Less stress, more rest, less money spent on pills :-)
Driving: HOLY SMOKES! Drivers here are NUTZ. Southern California drivers don't even come close to Israeli drivers! I wasn't really afraid of suicide bombers and shootings when i came, however, my new fear is being hit by a car! I was walking across the street with my fellow classmates, and instead of the car slowing down to let me FINISH getting across the street, the driver laid on his horn and made me run! I've had a couple experiences like that!
Bus Transportation: That was just as exciting as the Driving paragraph. When getting on the bus, you pay the driver just under 7 shekels (just over 2 U.S dollars) and he begins to drive while taking the money. The buses are just as crazy as the rest of the civilians. He'll drive in the wrong lane to pass cars waiting for a parking spot (for a 70 ft bus, that's scary) and continue to lay on his horn for cars or pedestrians until they move! Very aggressive!
Finances: If you ever come to Israel, be ready to give up your first born child because everything here is WICKED expensive! I did my laundry this week. It costed 40 shekels to wash and dry my clothes which is 10.57 U.S Dollars!!! I was looking for a beard trimmer at a drug store, and it was 500 shekels which is 132.14 U.S Dollars!!! It was a nice beard trimmer, but not THAT NICE! I've mailed a letter from America to Iraq which costed the regular 43 cents. When i mailed a post card to a friend FROM Israel to America, that costed 6.40 shekels which is 1.69 U.S Dollars.
Food: I've never seen so much bread in my entire life! Carb galore! Walking through the old city is awesome when you look in a little shop and see guys making fresh warm Pita bread! This is the cheapest way to go (as many of us students do). It only costs about half a shekel for a nice size Pita bread which is about 17 cents (give or take some). The other "Big Israeli Food Item" is a "Filophal." A Filophal is Pita bread with the inside stuffed with meatballs, spreads (of your choice) and other little things like onions, lettuce, tomato, whatever you want on there!
People: People here are (in my opinion much nicer than your average American). I get in conversations with random people all the time! I love it. My friend went into the post office to send some mail, and when she got out, i was talking to three random strangers telling them about the park i play basketball at. When i bought a (girls) basketball at the Nike store, i asked the guy behind the counter if he wanted to play ball with us sometime, and he was super excited. People here just love to talk. The big social thing here to do is smoke and drink coffee. Lot of places like bar restaurants will have hookah. Hookah is big here! When in starbucks in America, many times you see one guy on his laptop, another lady reading the newspaper, and another a couple on a date. At the coffee shop next to my hotel, there are NO outlets to plug in your laptop because people come simply to enjoy each others company and talk. I haven't seen anyone sit at a table alone.
Now you do have some of the Orthodox Jews who are a little extreme in my opinion. They do walk around with (Ya-mi-chas) and the long hair twirled down on the side of their heads! Its funny to see the little orthodox Jewish Children whose heads are shaved except for the long section of hair that drops from the temple of their head below their chin! I'm not sure I've seen any hair dew like it before! They also have 4 stands of hemp rope hanging from their waists. I asked a Jewish man what that was for, and he said from the 4 strands, there are 613 knots which represent the 613 Levitical Mosaic laws!
Now we do live in the Christian section of Jerusalem which makes things nicer and safer. Don't tell my sister, but i accidentally caught myself walking into the Muslim section of the city! I rounded a corner and when i noticed NO JEWS and Arabs only, i got a little concerned! When i saw two armed guards with M16's and the Muslim moon on their hats, i decided to cross the street and head back the Jewish part of Jerusalem. Live and learn, Die and your done! :-) I lived, so i learned not to do that again!
Sharing your faith: When sharing your faith, you never use the Words (around Jews) "Christian, Jesus, or Christ." To the Jews, that is western influence. You use the words "believer, Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew) and Meshiach (which is Messiah). Sharing Yeshua (Jesus) can be very offensive to people here. Many people will tell you to shut up or be in disgust that you would mention "that name." It's so sad knowing that no much has changed from Jesus' day until now. They rejected Jesus then, and they reject Him today. Know that the Jews did not "kill Jesus." Jesus said, "It's not they who kill me, but I who lay down my life.....!"
Please pray for the Jewish people! God is not mad with them, but LONG SUFFERING, not willing that any should perish, but that all might come to repentance.
Conclusion
If you have any questions that i may not have answered, please feel free to email me at "FreedByTruth832@gmail.com." In the next few days, I should be posting another blog about some of my tours (which have been A-MA-ZING). I love and miss you guys so much, and please email me and let me know how life has been for you. I'm having the time of my life here, but it is nice every once in a blue moon to hear from friends in the states.
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