Breaking My Blogger's Block

Is it really eight months since I last posted to this blog? Where's the time gone? I do have a metaphysical explanation for my unplanned and unexpected hiatus. Drop me a line for the full explanation - or just to say hello.

Now that I'm back, I'd actually like to change the slant of this blog just a bit. Rather than continuing to reminisce about the six years that we lived in Israel, I want to make Remember Jerusalem more current and interactive. I can be "current" for a while because I'm still savoring the memories of a wonderful one-week visit to the holy Land at the end of March. The "excuse" was to visit our son, the yeshiva bachur (young man), who has been studying there for the past three years. We arrived just in time to take him out for his birthday. His restaurant recommendation (and his appetite) was excellent: Entrecote. Their website says that their focus is on the meat but the numerous dips and salatim (salads) that came with the pitot (pita bread) were so delicious that Bill and I were full by the time the steak arrived. (Yeshiva Bachur still had plenty of room.)

The apartment we rented in Har Nof was amazing - for its panoramic view of the surrounding hills (see photo above) and every comfortable, convenient amenity within. If you need a place for your next visit, email me for the owner's contact information. And please tell her that I sent you.

We stayed mostly in Jerusalem for the week - except for a one-day tiyul (excursion) to the lower Galil (Galilee). We drove along the West Bank of the Jordan River on the way there and down Israel's ultra-modern Highway #6 on the way back with stops in Yavne'el and Tiveria (Tiberias) and an almost aerial overlook of the stunning-but-still-not-full-enough Yam Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).

We spent as much time as we could at the Kotel (Western Wall) and in the Old City of Jerusalem where we toured the nearly-new Aish Hatorah building with its spectacular Chihuly glass sculpture and totally awesome views from the roof.

Everywhere I went, I took pictures with this blog in mind. Unlike our last trip to Israel, this time my camera returned safely with us, thank G-d. But my photos will only get me through another two or three blogposts. That's where the "interactive" idea comes in. Won't you please share your favorite photos of Jerusalem with me and the readers of my blog? It's a win-win situation. You'll be famous (Ha! I wish my blog was that popular!) while the rest of us will be able to Remember Jerusalem from perspectives other than my own. Send your photo to sharon@rememberjerusalem.com with a short description of it and why it is special to you. May our shared photos tide us over until we can all be there in person (and may they remind those who are already there how blessed they are).

Ahhhhh. It feels so good to be blogging again. But it feels even better to Remember Jerusalem.