I celebrated Hanukkah for only two nights, in comparison to at home, where I am accustomed to celebrating all eight nights.
I had an amazing Hanukkah experience when my friend Shari and I decided to venture to the religious neighborhood of Bene Beraq outside of Tel Aviv. Here we had to make sure we were dressed appropriately in long skirts and shirts that covered our entire arms. We tried the chocolate-filled sufganiyot here, and they were heavenly. We also were able to wander the streets and see all the beautiful menorahs in the windows everywhere. It was a truly incredible experience.
During my time in Israel, I have also encountered some Jewish traditions that I was not previously familiar with. One of those traditions was Tu B'shevat. I was lucky enough to be able to celebrate this tradition with both the Americans I live with and Israelis here in Israel.
I learned about Tu B'shevat, which is celebrated as an ecological (environmental) awareness day here in Israel. To celebrate, I did two things. First, I had a seder with the Americans I live with and with Doron, the local Israeli who helps with our adjustment here. Later on in this field note you will learn all about the seder.
Second, I went to a base in the West Bank of Israel, which is a base of the Magav. The Magav are a mix of the police and the military and are in charge of protecting Israel's borders. In Israel, every citizen has to join a unit of the army. When the citizens turn 18, after high school, they serve in the military before going to college. Women have to serve for at least two years, whereas men have to serve for at least three years.
