Shanna Tova (aka Happy New Year in the Jewish calendar)
It seems as if the summer just came to a close yesterday as I was sitting on the porch with good friends eating a delicious Rosh HaShanna meal when all of a sudden a dark cloud passed over and rain began to pour down in Israel. It was a Rosh HaShanna miracle for us because we have not seen rain in 5 months and we need all the rain we can get to fill up the drying out Kinneret (one of Israel’s main water sources).
As some of you have seen from facebook, life at the Tishbi Winery is going very well for me. I was promoted to co-managing the Visitors Center and Restaurant, my Hebrew has improved immensely, although I still find myself nodding, smiling and saying “ken, ken, b-seder!” (yes, yes, okay) when I do not understand what an Israeli has said to me which makes me think I’ve agreed to do some illegal things. My biggest improvements in Hebrew are understanding the Pilates instructor, going to the government offices and explaining to them what I need and getting it done efficiantly in Hebrew and the hardest thing of all in my opinion is understanding Hebew over the phone, which I am beginning to feel comfortable with doing.
As of right now, I do not know where this job is going to lead to but the Israeli wine industry is developing rapidly and I want to stay in this business for a while. I still get a feeling of excitement when I tour people around the winery and educate them about the history, progress, and advancements in Israeli wine. It makes me feel like I am a part of a long tradition of Jews cultivating the lands and developing new ideas for the Jewish people and Land of Israel.
I’ve realized my ideas of religion have shifted and I am becoming “more Israeli” in how I feel about the organized Jewish religion. Last year I was living in Jerusalem so I went to the Kotel for the High Holidays, which was an extraordinary experience. However, this year I did not go to synagogue because I feel that I do not need to sit in services and sing songs to feel connected to God or be thankful for a New Year. I believe my daily life in Israel is all about leading a Jewish lifestyle and I do not have to think to be Jewish, I just am in my daily life. Also, this past week, every morning over-looking the Carmel Mountains I heard the Shofar being blown from the religious men who work at the winery, which was an indescribable feeling for me.
On that note, I wish you all a Healthy and Happy New Year!
The pictures attached on this email are of Carignon grapes being processed at the winery and the one with friends is a Shabbat in Abu Gosh last weekend.
I will be in Boston visiting November 20th to December 4th so I look forward to meeting up with most of you.
Lots of love,
Esther
