Call Me Toll Free!!!

This is my International Toll-Free number, that allows family members and friends overseas to dial my mobile phone in Israel is 1-866-717-0250 PIN number 029187#

Here's my phone number in Israel
011 972 52 602 9187

You can go here to see what time it is now in Haifa http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/personal.html

Yom Kippur in Petach Tikva

I had a great Yom Tov. I spent it in Petach Tikva with my friend Jodi that I met at orientation. We went to a Modern Orthodox Temple that is literally right next to her apartment. Its amazing here. Nobody drives. All the kids were riding bikes in the street. Jodi and I walked right in the middle of the main road going in the wrong way.

Petah Tikva, north-east of Tel Aviv, has the second largest industrial sector in Israel (after Haifa), divided into three industrial zones - Kiryat Arye, Kiryat Matalon, and Segula. Industries include textiles, metalwork, carpentry, plastics, processed foods, tires and other rubber products, and soap. In the last few years many high-tech enterprises and start-ups have moved into the Petah Tikva industrial zone, including the Israeli headquarters for the Oracle Corporation, IBM, Intel, SanDisk, ECI Telecom, and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals.

Also, Osem, one of Israel's leading food processing corporations is headquartered there. They make vegetarian chicken soup powdered broth that my mother makes with matzah balls so my brother will have it!

Kibbutz Art Exhibit

I was taken to an art exhibition on a kibbutz. The stuff was beautiful!

There is a picture of the artist with Yuval- they have been friends since they were 5 years old.

It was the most relaxing vacation and incredible way to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

Meeting in a Bomb Shelter

I made it back perfectly!

I went to the best meeting this morning. It was in the bomb shelter in Tel Aviv. It was in English and just a discussion meeting. So many people had great things to say about the holidays and family, etc.

Rosh Hoshana Dinner

Here are some pictures from my Rosh Hashanah dinner, including the family I'm staying with and of course, a picture of some food! I'm sitting next to Adam at the table. Susan has the short hair.

The cat's name is Lucky.

Happy New Year! May it be the best one yet!

Love and kisses and lots of hugs

from Raanana

Always,

Joy

Raanana

I am staying in Raanana now. I got here Tuesday. I went to a party with the other YJers in Tel Aviv which is about an hour away. I stayed the night in Ramat Gan and made it back to Raanana by lunch. All this by bus. I'm crazy, but my higher power is with me always.

It's so beautiful around here, I can't put it into words. It looks beautiful, smells beautiful and tastes amazing! I hope I can share it all with you one day.

If this is what the new year will bring I'm in for something beyond my wildest dreams! I love you so much and wish the same kind of year for you!

Love always and forever, Joy

September 10

We did our volunteer work for the first time today. I'm working with severely physically disabled kids. I kind of feel out of place because I know so little Hebrew, but I'm starting to pick up words. This one kid with severe cerebral palsy needs a book of pictures and words to communicate. She is helping me learn Hebrew through that book. It's the sweetest thing!

All the girls in the apartment and I are going to Tel Aviv tomorrow for Rosh Hashanah.

Love you, lots of hugs and kisses always,
Joy

Countdown

Two days until take off, too much to take.

I've put off unpacking and packing again as I want to take everything. I wish I had room to stick my younger brother and sister into my luggage also, not to mention my cat and one of our dogs...

I have a good bye book that I've been having people sign. Today I saw Michael, one of my best friends from high school and beyond. His mother and grandmother love me and don't understand how I can go so far away for so long. I had Michael sign my book and I have to go over to his house to say goodbye to his mom and grandmom.

My brother Stu started "college" at San Francisco State College of Extended Learning on Monday. My sister Tov started 8th grade at Albany Middle School on Wednesday. I live right between the high school and middle school and its weird to drive by them. I keep thinking I should be in school myself.

I don't have too many reservations about going to Israel, I've been trying to get there for so many years. This year, graduating, working, completing my high school education and experiences, has been all consuming. It has been easy to keep so busy and too distracted to feel other than excitement and anticipation. Certainly I'm sad to leave my familiar surroundings, the friends I've made, the routine I've become accustomed to, the roots I've worked on planting. I am used to things changing fairly often in our family living situation for various reasons. I was just talking with my mom about how this is the longest we've lived in one house since we moved to California 10 years ago - 4 years. My mother promised my youngest sister that she wouldn't move out of Albany until she graduates high school in 5 years. I wonder if she'll stay put in the same house, the one we consider home.

My brother is sad that he can't participate in the high school theater ensemble. Its a student run organization after school that most of his friends participate in. Since he's taking a full time course this semester at SFSU instead of attending 11th grade, its against the rules. I'm very proud of him. He's the youngest student ever taking this Digital Video Intensive. He's so awesome - I don't want to think of how much I'll miss him. He was gone for a month on a teen trip to Israel in July, but I was busy working and it went by so fast. We've gotten really close this year and I've tried to spend as much time with him as possible.

I'll miss my sister also. We've been sharing a room for the past couple of years. She is sooo funny and amazing for 13 years old. I'm already missing her changes...

I'm not going to miss my mom...NOT!!! We both agree we are looking forward to having space away from each other, but she's admitted to not wanting me to go at the same time it was her idea I choose this program over others. She's had a really hard time this year with everything going on with us kids, but I know she's going to pull through as soon as I step foot on the plane!

I'm flying down to LA by myself to meet with the group to fly to Israel. I've flown by myself to LA before, and to Seattle, and to Florida. I flew to Australia with a group after 6th grade. So I have no fears about getting myself around the airport. As a family we went to Florida almost every year and to New York.

I spoke at my meeting Monday night. I spent 2 hours talking with Jeremy and his sister last night after the meeting. Their mother died a couple of months ago and I know what its like to lose a parent...

Packing for Israel Young Judaea Year Course

I'm limited in what I can bring on El Al to Israel for 9 months. Out goes the special green rolling bag my Grandma Corinne sent from Florida and the large black rolling bag my mom bought in a tourist shop on the waterfront when we were spending quality time together in San Francisco. Both have dimensions too large for the restrictions. Ugh!!

I'm so glad I didn't wait to the last minute to pack. I've spent the last month organizing my things, purchasing items, deciding what I can bring and could lose, what I can't live without, what I don't care about, what I'm giving away. It's emotional, exciting and exhausting.

Here's the official limitations:
two pieces of checked luggage. The permitted total dimensions of the two pieces of luggage are 107 inches, with no one bag exceeding 62 inches. This total is calculated by adding the length, width and height of each bag. Thus, if one bag measures 62 total inches, the other cannot exceed 45 inches. The weight per bag is limited to 50 lbs.

Instead I'm taking the red rolling bag Grandma bought for my brother to take to Israel for 1 month in July and a rolling bag with organized compartments mom had in the garage.

Here's my inventory:
Red Roller
13
14
28

55

Compartment Roller
15
14
30

59

outer tops:
1 Eyor fleece pullover
1 fleece
1 short sleeve Blue sweater
1 long sleeve pullover
1 blue/grey fleece zipper jacket
1 black rain jacket
1 white jean jacket
2 sweat shirts
1 shrug
1 browh jacket

Bath:
1 yellow towel

Pants:
3 jeans
1 grey sweats
1 green sweats
2 black sweats

Dress up:
4 peasant skirts
1 plaid short skirt
1 jean long skirt
1 black short skirt
1 black short jacket
1 blue short skirt
1 blue short jacket
2 pairs black dress pants
1 blue peasant skirt


Underwear:
1 black underwear
3 short under
2 thermal tops
5 bras
12 panties


Other tops:
10 tank tops
14 tshirt
8 dress shirt
1 long tshirt

Bathing:
1 white skirt
2 bathing tops
3 bathing bottoms

Other:
17 pr socks
1 pr white shoes
1 black warm scarf


104 total inches