First Day

I am in my new apartment, in the Katamon area of Jerusalem. It’s perfect — everything I imagined. A small patio, living-dining area, compact but complete kitchen, tiny guest bedroom (if you want to come visit!), bathroom with little washing machine included, and bedroom. (Oops –I brought sheets, but it looks as though I will have to purchase blankets. Oh well — at this time of year I do not need them.)

The windows look out at some flowering plants, and beyond them the neighboring Beit Knesset (synagogue). Everything here is built of the famous golden Jerusalem stone. From my patio I look up at the bright red geraniums in the window boxes of the apartment above. Today is hot and bright — summer in Jerusalem –but a nice breeze blows through the apartment from the open french doors to the patio.

It’s quiet here on this little back street. I hear occasional voices or a song on someone’s radio, a scooter passes, birds squawk in the trees. The traffic is distant, a faint hum. I’m told that in the mornings I’ll hear the happy sound of children’s voices, because the Beit Knesset is also a Beit Sefer (school). For city living, this seems very peaceful.

The landlady comes originally from Australia, although her grandfather hailed from Tzat (sometimes spelled Safad). Apparently Jewish families sent their boys far away for fear of being conscripted into the Turkish army at the time of WW I. I thought the Brits already had Israel at that time — I can see I need to refresh my Israeli history. Anyhow, Jill, the landlady, lived in this apartment for twenty years, and says she has many happy memories. She was apologetic about it being small, but I cannot imagine why it would need to be any larger for one person.

For today I’ll settle in, unpack my many bags, visit the makolet (grocery market) down the street and buy some staples. My grandson, who kindly picked me up at my hotel near the airport this morning and drove me over here, will join me for dinner at some point. I expect I’ll succumb to a jet-lag recovery nap…And so, my days in Israel begin.