A Bit About...

 

Caspari is located in the 100 yr old C&MA Ministry
center in downtown Jerusalem.

Caspari Center for Biblical and Jewish Studies – I found Caspari Center via Google. Knowing I could not get a working visa I began to look for an opportunity to volunteer.  I found many organizations, but really wanted to volunteer somewhere where I could contribute to something I felt was worthwhile and lined up with my own values and beliefs. When I found Caspari Center and connected with them I was immediately excited about their vision to train up leaders and provide support to Messianic congregations in Israel via seminars, events, education, publications, etc.  To date I can say Caspari has been a great environment and I feel like I am able to contribute from my bank of skills and abilities.  My day generally consists of hosting events & visitors, office work, web work, tech support, writing, librarian and many other tasks. I’m even able to use my counselling skills in a variety of ways, including some one on one support, planning a workshop for teen girls on self-esteem and preparing a singles seminar session on Love Languages. The people I work with are a combination of Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Russian and Israeli staff and volunteers.  I should add that being at Caspari has exposed me to many scholars and academics, leaders of non-profit organizations, other volunteers, and tourists from all over the world. I’m feeling very globally well-connected!

Produce vendors in the Old City

Shopping in Jerusalem – This is something I am slowly growing accustomed to, but I can’t say I look forward to it!  I'm still uncomfortable with the idea of hauling a shopping trolly around (something I never pictured myself doing - don't laugh!) Whether it’s grocery shopping or looking for miscellaneous other needs, I find shops in Jerusalem generally disorganized, chaotic, either over or under-stocked and customer service fairly poor. It is not unusual to hear clerk and customer having it out in a yelling match.  Hanna, of my local supermarket wins the ‘cashier of the year award’ in my books.  The first time we met it was with a genuine smile and excellent service, and it stood out as exceptional in my mind.  Many of the shops do not mark prices on items, so as a foreigner you are never sure whether you are going to get an inflated price quote.
  

Arab Quarter of the Old City

In the old city you need to bargain for everything and ensure that you don’t pay more than 30% of the original price quote.  Jews are generally too proud to move on prices in their stores, but Arabs expect to negotiate on everything.  There is an art to shopping in the old city, so I avoid it, it’s exhausting.  I’m good with window shopping. Products that are imported are priced very high, so many of the brands I’m used to buying, if available, aren’t worth it.  Israel encourages keeping it local and that helps the strengthen the economy.  One thing I am enjoying right now is the juicy strawberries…. in winter!  Local fruits and vegetables are available all year round.  Everything tastes so fresh and flavourful, picked ripe and locally grown at Kibbutz’s all over Israel.  Thing I really don't like...people handle everything.  They squeeze all the bread (not wrapped).  They pick up pieces of pizza from display trays and put them back, they run their hands through the sacks of dry goods in bulk stores.  I am always wary of buying from open produce vendors - I've watched them tip goods (like baking) off of their carts and then pick them up off the filthy ground and put them back.  Yuk!

Weather - The weather is mostly pleasant, sunny and the weatherman is usually right in his predictions.  Winter is short, rainy and windy at times, but mild compared to home.  Because it seldom dips below freezing, snow is rare – but we finally had a snowstorm, short-lived, but for a few hours we were able to experience snow in Jerusalem. Most fun was to watch Israeli excitement from our deck!

First perhaps only snowstorm in Jerusalem this year

When people say it is cold in winter, it simply means that they can’t get warmed up because the heating in most buildings is absent and so the chill you feel doesn’t leave until you crawl into your comfy bed at night.  Steve is always cold. Since insulated windows with argon gas and spacers are unheard of in the majority of homes, I suggested to a colleague perhaps weather-stripping would help, or maybe some plastic shrink film over the windows to keep draft out.  They’ve never heard of it.  Just to make sure, I did go to the largest hardware store I knew about and ….no luck.  A franchise could do well here!!  Thankfully winter is a short season. 

Almond tree blossoms

We are beginning to see signs of spring here. The almond trees have bloomed as Israel celebrated the Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day). With the amount of rain we have had (a blessing) and will probably still have, the desert will soon be covered in greenery and colour as the land comes into bloom.  By the way we’ve enjoyed flowers all winter long even in the cooler weather, the honeysuckle bush along our apartment fence gave off such a sweet scent recently, an unexpected winter treat.

Day of Rest – Friday sundown to Saturday sundown the light rail, Egged bus system and Jewish driven taxis shut ‘er down.  Many people do not drive, so the traffic is minimal and the ultra-orthodox communities put up gates to keep drivers off their streets.  Most store and restaurants in the Jewish areas of the city are closed. I’m all for a day of rest and I think, as hard as most Israelis work, the day off is well-earned.  On Friday morning the shuk is busy and everyone wishes everyone a “Shabbat Shalom” and quickly finishes their errands to get home before the sun sets.  Shabbat makes for great family times, afternoon naps, visits with neighbours and family gatherings, lots of food, as well as worship at the synagogue/church.  The women frantically prepare food & clean house ahead of time, so there is no working during Shabbat.  I think this is a wonderful concept.  A little R & R never hurt anyone. 

Steve drooling

Last Friday we celebrated Steve's birthday on Shabbat.  Traditionally, red wine, challah bread, candlelight - are all part of bringing in Sabbath.  On Feb 24th I added coconut cream pie to the menu, Steve's favourite and according to Steve any woman who bakes him homemade coconut cream pie (I hate coconut) is considered promoted to sainthood. Up til now only one woman had reached this status and it wasn't me. I've changed that.  This will go down in history, I'm sure.

Even though, I can appreciate the Shabbat shutdown, it makes life a bit restrictive.  If we want to go anywhere, we either walk, take an Arab bus to the Damascus Gate at the Arab Quarter of the Old City or an Arab taxi at inflated prices.  Not complaining, we’ve adjusted and work around the lack of transportation, but boy do I miss my own wheels!  If we need any supplies we have to find an Arab shop in a nearby Arab community or in the Old City where business is as usual.  Many Muslims only stop work for a couple of hours on Friday to attend the Mosque and then back to work.  I don’t think they take a day off at all.  I think I would hate life.

Jerusalem Light Rail

The Light Rail – In August when we first arrived, Jerusalem launched its long-awaited Light Rail service taking passengers from one end of Jerusalem to another converging at main bus routes with the hopes of reducing traffic congestions.  Don’t know if the latter has actually changed, because traffic is still a nightmare on most days.  I’ve been taking the train most week days and what I’m enjoying is seeing Arabs, Jews, foreigners and everyone else actually squeeze into a sometimes overcrowded space and showing some amount of tolerance, courtesy and even outright kindness. It is hard not to stare when there are so many interesting people who take the train.  When people actually figured out the logical concept of letting people get off the train, before trying to board it, you actually had more room to board the train, things got a bit more civil.  At first I wondered if any manners existed, then finally I saw a young boy give his seat up for an elderly person and then another followed his suit.  Whew!  Israelis had me worried for a bit.  I’ve seen my share of pushing, shoving, budding and downright rudeness. Thankfully, I’ve also seen the opposite.

I sat down beside an orthodox Jewish woman who had a newborn baby in her arms and suddenly in Hebrew asked me to hold the infant as she plopped it in my arms, so she could adjust herself after nursing the infant.  Wow, trusting!  I have had many great conversations with strangers about their life and culture.  Many seem open to talk about their experiences in Israel and to hear what brought me here.  

Religious reading psalms on train

In the mornings religious Jews read their Psalm books, moving their mouths as they read, some standing and bending and bowing, giving no thought to what others may think. 



Plugged in Israelis

I’ve counted 8 out of 10 people on the train either talking or texting on their cells phones or connected to earplugs and iPods.  Israelis are definitely plugged in.  Did you know we owe cell phone technology to Israel?

Well, since I couldn't organize myself to only one thought, you got a bit about this and that.  Hope it gives you a little glimpse of the daily life of Israelis and the Maskells in Israel.