Archives for September, 2007

Hold up, Everybody Stop. YouTube is a college course

by: Rebecca

I wonder if Misrad HaStudentim would pay for you to get a degree in YouTube. Probably not, but Pitzer college in California is offering a course called “Learning from YouTube“. Is it me or has the world gone crrrazy. I mean, theater appreciation was one thing, even Yiddish was acceptable, but YouTube? Although I graduated from college, I am tempted to start all over again and apply to Pitzer just for this course.

Take a look at the syllabus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WEI9JS0zLc

September 18, 2007 | Easily Amused, Videos | Leave a Comment

Movie theaters in Israel = oy vey

by: Rebecca

Seret.co.il has been scouted. The movie’s been selected. The time’s been arranged. The friend’s are notified. And now your off to… weeee… the movies. And then as soon as you get there, it hits you, in the form of a spiked blond-streaked, tight-jeaned, no deodarant-ed 12 year old male pushing his way in front of you along with the rest of his posse, that this fun night might turn out otherwise. The most ironic part among all this mayhem are the assigned seats. So even if the whole theater is empty, you must (and they check) sit in your assigned seat in the back row.

Once you get your ticket, you figure, I’ll go into the theater and have a little snack before the movie starts. Ha! The ticket-tearer looks at your ticket, then looks at you, and then says, Mah Pitom (What are you thinking!) Your movie doesn’t start for another 3 minutes, you can’t come in early! Continue »

September 17, 2007 | The fights | Leave a Comment

Misrad HaKlita and Misrad HaStudentim duke it out

by: Rebecca

VS.

Think the logos and websites are confusing? Just wait till you start talking to the offices.

Someone requested that I cover this topic so here’s all I know on the subject of Misrad HaKlita(absorption) vs. Misrad HaStudentim (student authority) . Please verify the information with the right office, as the info changes all the time (naturally).

Misrad HaKlita - course route
You need to be:

  • under 30
  • made aliyah less than 3 years ago
  • they’ll give you up to 10,000 shekels of the cost of your course. (I’m currently taking a graphic design course at John Bryce, and this is how much they gave me)

Phone: The main number is 02-621-4555. More specifically, I spoke to Ina, who was nice and patient: 02-624-9398.
Address: 15 Hillel St, Downtown Jerusalem. You should call the main line to make an appointment.
Website

Misrad HaStudentim - University route
I am not as familiar with their terms, but it is also under 30 to start. I think it’s mostly for Hebrew programs, but you’d have to check.
Phone: 02-621-4538 or 02-621-4543
Address: 15 Hillel St, Downtown Jerusalem.
Website

Good luck with your studies.

September 16, 2007 | Essentials, Wisdom Gained | Leave a Comment

Michelle Citrin’s Rosh Hashanah video

by: Rebecca

Cute R”H video, thanks to Michelle Citrin, a Rutgers University and birthright israel alumnae!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOTOdBzSpYc

September 12, 2007 | Videos | Leave a Comment

Sweet Rosh Hashana Videos

by: Rebecca

Two of the top 10 Rosh Hashana videos on YouTube were created by the big felafel’s very own writer and movie-maker extraordinaire - Molly. These videos were created during that fuzzy, strange period when we were working for Oleh! (the exclamation was part of the name) and SinaiMail.

In short, Molly makes some amazing videos. Just wait for the Sukkot and Pesach ones!

Shana Tova!

Sweet and Sticky New Year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1s4iwrc2Rw

Sounds of the New Year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csrp9EMdLTc

September 11, 2007 | Videos | Leave a Comment

Tricky clocks

by: Rebecca

Oh, clocks, why can’t the summer just last forever.
Here’s what to do: In Israel, on Saturday night, September 16, stay up until 2am and change your clock so the time says 1am.

I hope my cell phone will do it automatically so I can go to bed before 2.

September 11, 2007 | Wisdom Gained | Leave a Comment

Witty Rosh Hashana seat auction for $1.8 million on Ebay

by: Rebecca

Brilliant synagogue marketing landed a conservative shul in Miami, Florida as the hot topic of discussion this week. They wanted to get attention for the upcoming high holy days and what better way to do it than to cause a stir within the comunnity in the form of an Ebay auction for Rosh Hashana seats. Everyone knows that the more you donate, the better seat you get. To turn that on its head, the synagogue put up front row seats for, hold on to your seats, 1.8 million dollars on Ebay. They even used the standard increment of $18, Chai, for an extra ironic twist. Good thing I live in Israel where the holiday services are still free because there just isn’t an extra 1.8 Mil in my budget.

High Five, Temple Emanu-El. You’ve really taken it to the extreme, and I like it. More here, from Ynet News.

September 10, 2007 | Easily Amused | 4 Comments

Jerusalem stone meets M.A.C., Tommy, and Billabong. But where?

by: Rebecca

After seeing many signs on King David St for the new Mamilla Mall, my interest was piqued, and I wanted to explore what looked like a mall with prices way out of my league. But where was it? For all the ‘now open’ signs, I didn’t see any arrows, or any indication that there was life behind the huge blockade of construction. But, thanks to my cousin who’s living in the old city, I was pointed in the right direction.

It reminded me of high-scale malls in America with a slight Israeli twist - the Jerusalem Stone. Although this mall clearly appeals to tourists, it seems strange that Americans would come all the way to Israel to buy a Tommy Hilfiger shirt. Nothing says souvenir more than MAC lipstick for your friends back in America.

All cynicism aside, it is a beautiful outdoor strip mall and has a MANGO store coming soon. I am a girl, after all.

How to get there: Take the 18, 13, or 21 bus and get off at the David Citadel Hotel. Walk toward the old city and you will see a guard and a set of stairs to your left, about halfway down the block.

Rumor has it that Israel’s biggest movie theater is coming to this mall soon. This has yet to be verified.. if you have any details, please share.

September 9, 2007 | Jerusalem Scene | Leave a Comment

Ulpan…c’mon everybody’s doing it.

by: Rebecca

Ulpan in Israel is all the rage when you first move here. ‘Which ulpan are you at?’ is one of the first questions we ask each other so we know we’re not alone in our craving to master the Hebrew language.

My ulpan of choice was Ulpan Milah, since I moved to Israel before making Aliyah. I did Milah from Level Bet all the way through Vav, which took me less than two years, with breaks to America during the summers. The hours were really flexible, the price fair, the teachers excellent, and the 2 shekel coffee machine unbeatable.

They are located in downtown Jerusalem, and you can find more about Ulpan Milah by calling them: 02- 623-3164 or visiting their website.

When you finish the ulpan circuit, you feel more or less prepared to explore the language. It is then that you truly enter the unpredictable world of Hebrew words such as pateti for pathetic, or autenti for authentic, or siluetta for silhouette. And then you wonder, why did I need Ulpan in the first place?

Fantasti.

September 8, 2007 | Essentials, Wisdom Gained | Leave a Comment

Bargaining - no one wants to be a sucker

by: Rebecca

In Israel, there is a very strong mentality not to be a sucker (friar). Tangent: When I first got to Israel I thought the word friar meant the religious guys in robes that I saw in Italy, but really it means sucker here. No connection that I’m aware of.

In Israel, every minute of every day people are trying not to be a sucker.

So they bargain. Bargain, yell, curse, growl, and make ‘yo mama’ jokes. And then they bargain some more. Until neither side feels like a sucker. Or until one’s body odor overpowers the other’s.

Apparently, every single purchase (maybe with the exception of the supermarket) is subject to bargaining. As Baka Diary points out, everything from kitchen tiles to a scoop of ice cream don’t have fixed prices.

Is it wrong to disagree with the whole bargaining culture? Is this something that we’re proud of? Is this exciting for people?

Making a new purchase can be stressful enough without thinking that someone is trying to rip you off. Not everyone can have a smooth talking Israeli by their side.

Lightbulb.

For every frustration, there is an entrepreneurial idea. Someone should offer their skills as a professional bargainer. Especially for homes, appliances, furniture, and cars. They make a little money, and you pay less.

Or, alternatively, let’s abolish the whole bargaining business and just sell things at normal prices. Yeah right.

September 7, 2007 | The fights, Tips on saving NIS, Trying to fit in | 1 Comment