I've finally moved into my new apartment!!!  I hope to post pictures soon!  It's beautiful and so much nicer than most of the other apartments that I've seen here.  AND... we have air conditioning!  My roommates and I are doing quite well here.  It's actually kind of strange that I feel like I've been here for much longer than a month!  I guess having an everyday routine helps...

So, I thought I should give you all a little idea of what I do here in Jerusalem every day.  Right now, I'm about half-way through my summer ulpan (intensive Hebrew language study).  Sunday through Wednesday, we study Hebrew from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  On Monday afternoons, the High Holy Day choir practices, and on Tuesday afternoons, the cantorial students have ear training and music theory classes.  Wednesday evenings, the whole class meets for a Biblical history lecture.  Then, on Thursdays, we go on a "tiyul," a trip, through various areas in and around Jerusalem as part of the Biblical history class.  We have Fridays and Saturdays off and we are usually free to attend services either at HUC or at any other synagogue in the area.

Just this past Friday night, I went with a small group of HUC students to a growing Reform Jewish community in a suburb just outside of Tel Aviv called Ramat HaSharon.  We attended services and then split into groups for home hospitality.  Along with two Rabbinical students, I had dinner with a very nice family.  The parents had lived in Boston for some time and spoke very good English.  The youngest girl (who was 5 yrs old) was upset that she couldn't speak English!  They were so nice and interesting!  

I miss you all!  And I'm especially sad that I missed Kayitz this summer.  I heard a little bit about it from some of my Junior Youth groupers who email me!  I love hearing from all of you, so please, please, please feel free to comment or email me anytime!!!  amandalwinter@yahoo.com