Another amazing Shabbat in Tel Aviv. On Friday, a couple friends and I rode the 25 bus to Neve Tzedek, an artsy town near Jaffa. After checking out some of the shops (since winter is approaching my friend was looking for a blanket), we stopped at an outdoor cafe for Espresso. It felt very European. Our plan was to walk back to Broshim dorms along the coast (about 7 kilometers). As the sun began to set, we made our way to the beach. We stumbled upon a group of drummers that apparently has gotten together to play in the same spot every Friday for over 5 years. They play until sundown to usher in Shabbat. A group was dancing on the "dance floor" in front of the drummers. Shortly after I took this video, I joined in as well. We sat on the rocks watching the sun set, a truly magical experience. As we made our way up the coast, I saw people playing volleyball and even a football (European version)/volleyball hybrid where it's set up as volleyball, but you cannot use your hands to get the ball over the net. There were also a ton of beach restaurants open, but we ultimately decided to make our own dinner. We returned to campus around 19:30 and went to the only grocery store that is open on Shabbat, AM:PM. We bought a glass of Israeli red wine (Israelis really know how to make wine), cheese, crackers, and almonds. We sat on the lawn in Broshim, enjoying good food and conversation. Such a memorable night. The tradition of Shabbat is one of my favorite parts about living in Israel. There are so many ways to celebrate it. Many people have potluck dinners at their house, others have parties, while others take in the natural beauty of Mother Earth, as I did. I've learned in Israel there are no shortages of new experiences or friendly hosts welcoming you into their homes on Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom from Tel Aviv. |
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