No Photos, Post Office, Seudah Shlishi

I went to the post office today to mail some things home. Mostly gifts and souvenirs but also a few things we could do without lugging around the rest of the trip. When I got to the do'ar (post office) I was told that my package had too much tape on it and that while I could still send it this time I would not be allowed to do this in the future. I thanked the clerk for her willingness to make an exception. She asked me air or sea. Since sea was only 90 shekels and air well over 200 I said, "sea". She told me it should get there in 2.5 months. Also, I had to walk home with my package because I needed my passport for some reason.

When I returned and filled out the proper paperwork another attendant told me I couldn't put a return address in the US as I had done. She crossed it out. I said, "But I have no address here I am a tourist. In 2.5 months I won't be in Israel." Another clerk said it was fine and I could put whatever return address I wished. When it was all done, I was told to put the package in the corner by an unmarked door. All this was in Hebrew and it seemed kind of like a strange place to put a package, so I put it there and asked again if it was safe. Was told "Betach" (of course). We all said polite words and I left to get a great 13 Shekel falafel.

Saturday afternoon we had a great Seudah Shlishi (light 3rd meal served on Shabbat afternoon) at the apartment of my friend Ruth Calderon. Ruth who is the director of a Bet Midrash that hopes to make traditional texts more a part of the national Jewish culture rather than just the religious culture was a great host. The conversation was engaging. The other company was lovely and our kids had a great time. Not only was her 10 yr. old son friendly and attentive to our boys, but Ruth treated them like a grandmother. They each had: 1 chocolate and 1 lemon ice cream cone, 2 pieces of chocolate cake, a bag of chocolate and peanut butter bamba, and a bag of like 12 chocolate chip cookies to share. They were happy. We got to visit.

Like so many great Israeli homes her apartment was modest by US standards but really beautiful. It was the apartment she grew up in and was built along with 22 other buildings as a community mostly for army officers by Ben Gurion. He wanted them close together so they could be gathered easily in case of emergency. After dinner she showed us how these buildings surrounded a beautiful enclosed park, play ground and community garden. She explained that this place attracted Israelies who cared more about quality of life than having a big home. It was really a great feeling of community and you could imagine how pleasant it would be to let your kids play in this safe space or even if you were watching with them to be able to visit your neighbors.

Tomorrow we celebrate Akiva's 7th birthday. It will be a small party, probably at the beach. He still plans on having a celebration back in NJ. This will be one of the more celebrated birthdays in in his life.

Tel Aviv has been amazing and though we couldn't probably spend too much more time here without childcare and a project to justify it, I leave it hesitantly. This is my first time spending a long time in this city and I have decided that I am more a Tel Avivi than a Yerushalmi. I know where I want to land on my next long trip to Israel.