Sunday, July 5 Jerusalem

It was 10 am, the curtains drawn in the room, and the girls were still sound asleep. A quick call downstairs to learn that breakfast goes until 10:30 am. Open the drapes, time to wake up! "But you said we could sleep until we woke up." "But, I didn't think that would be 10 am"

Good call to call off Camp for the day.

After breakfast, the three of us headed to the HUC library (part of the deal of not going to camp!). Paul Lipz had given me a number of leads on books detailing American olim in the 1960s and 1970s. Within just a few minutes, I had more than a dozen titles. With the girls at their own study carrels studying (or playing video games or watching episodes of the first season of I Love Lucy on the video player), I reviewed the books; took some citations to buy the books in release, and bought up a 100 copy card to make copies of the literature that I knew I couldn't get elsewhere. In a great detective story, I

-put the word out to friends to introduce me to people who immigrated to Israel in the 1960s and 1970s

-got the contact info for Paul from Heather Erez (and I also met Paul when we taught this year at Rodef Sholom)

-met with Paul to get the citations for the HUC library

-went to the HUC library (which was not on my original study plan) to find many many more good titles

-found an autobiography published by a guy who lives in Judea (West Bank) but couldn't find a copy on the internet to purchase

-googled the guy to find his website and email

-got an email reply within hours

-called him on his cel to learn that, while I don't have time to meet him, he was JUST interviewed by a Ph.D. candidate at U. of Chicago writing a dissertation on American olim in Israel.

-he gave me her cel phone here in Jerusalem.

-I called her and we chatted about her research.

-Had Gadya. Had Gadya.

In fact, now that I've discovered two Ph.D. dissertations in progress, I will have more than enough material for one section of one chapter in my book.

From HUC, we took a walk to the Dan Panorama Hotel, where we stayed the first week, to see if they had the beloved blanket of our friend Sophie. While I did get several blankets that were left in rooms, we don't think we have Sophie's. Sorry Sophie.

Having experimented, and failed, with the strategy , "let's just walk and find a place to eat lunch," we opted instead, at 2 pm, to go to Olive and Fish, a local restaurant near our old hotel where we have eaten many times. Good choice!

We made our way back to the David Citadel and got ready for our excursion to Tel Aviv, all on public transport.

We walked up King David St. to get the #18 bus which took us across town to the rarely-used Jerusalem train station. From there, we took the excruciating long train trip to Jerusalem which was just fabulous. The train still follows the path created during the mandate period, weaving through the mountains, before arriving in Tel Aviv 90 minutes later. We also love the train and its FAR less crowded and hassled than the buses.

Our cousin Mira met us at the Tel Aviv train station and we went together to D'lal restaurant in Neve Tzedek. We met Marci there, enjoyed a great dinner, and hopped on the Wexner shuttle bus at 10 pm to get back to Jerusalem.

Lailah tov.