Every week the Yeshiva organizes Shabbat hospitality, placing any student who needs a place for Shabbat dinner on Friday or lunch on Saturday with students or faculty of the program who are able to host others. Jessica and I did not have plans this week for Shabbat dinner, so we asked to be a part of the hospitality program.
We received an email that we were placed with Rabbi Jerome Epstein, USCJ Chief Israel Affairs Officer. Rabbi Epstein was the the chief executive officer of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism since 1986, as well as the executive vice president since 1989. He recently stepped down from those positions, but is still working for USCJ as the Chief Israel Affairs Officer. That's who hosted us for dinner.
We were joined by another yeshiva student (who happens to also be in my ulpan), that worked for Rabbi Epstein 30 years ago (Rabbi Epstein also officiated at his wedding, so you could say they had a bit of a history). Rabbi Epstein and his wife Jane we incredibly gracious hosts. Dinner was lovely, and the five of us had an extremely relaxed evening together. It was a very pleasant way to spend our Shabbat evening.
On Saturday afternoon Jessica and I made a picnic Shabbat lunch. We walked down to enjoy it on the Jerusalem Haas Promenade. The Promenade offers a fantastic view of the Jerusalem landscape, the Old City and its walls atop the hills, and the new city below. It is a common area for tour groups to visit upon entering Jerusalem for it's amazing view. While were were there it was much dirtier (litter ridden) than I remember it being on my previous trips to Israel, but the view was just as amazing.
After finishing or lunch we walked along the promenade, which was mostly uneventful, save for our trip being interrupted by a herd of goats which crossed our pass as they climbed up the hill. I have yet to have a herd of goats cause me any delays when traveling in Ann Arbor.
what, no goat pix?
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