Monday --thats the Second day of the week. Get used to it!

Ulpan is getting a little harder. We are spending lots of time on grammar. Our teacher offered us the opportunity to go to level 2 where there is more basic conversation. I decided to stick with it at level 3.
I had my first Supersal experience today. It is a beautiful supermarket with legendary high prices. No worse, though, than the makolet around the corner from my apartment.
I also found a falafel stand across the street and enjoyed a pretty good lunch.
In the afternoon, Rabbi Goldfarb taught a class on tefillah. He started with the birchat hamazon. We learned that the opening paragraphs are attributed to different people. The second one, about the Exodus to Moshe, the third, about the land of Israel to Joshua, and the third, about the Temple (you know the one that was right down the street from us) to David and Solomon. Also, the original bracha ended with “Yerushalayim, Amen.” Did you ever wonder why the Amen? The next paragraph which is about rejoicing even when times are bad was added later and is halachikly the end of the bracha and all one needs to say.
In our last class today, Rabbi Shlomo Zacharow taught modern halacha. We discussed the mitzvah of redeeming prisoners especially in light of the prisoner trading that Israel does with Hamas. While Jewish law requires redemption of prisoners, many insist that an exorbitant ransom is prohibited because it puts an unfair burden on the community and also encourages more kidnapping. It is stated that the ransom must match the value of the person. You can see how that opens a can of gefilte fish.
At 5:30 we had a meeting of the Legacy Grant students. We will be attempting to maximize the value of out experience by working together in small groups to discuss ways to accomplish our goals with what we gain from the program. The group is very impressive with much experience. We have a number of foreign students including ones from Germany and the Chech Republic.
After the meeting, I decided to attend a Rotary meeting at the Dan Panorama. I walked out to the road and stopped a cab. I think I got the most honest driver in Jerusalem. He refused to take me to the hotel. Pointing behind him he told me just walk that way, in two minutes you will be there. Sure enough I was. The Dan is what used to be the Moriah where I stayed with Roz in 1977 and again with Uncle Sonny in 2000. The West Jerusalem Rotary club has only 19 members. There were about 11 people there but only because the Rotarians bring their wives. They do allow women but have only one as a member. Most of the members are older and the membership has declined severely in the past few years. Cost of the meeting was 60 NIS ($20) for fruit, cheese, crackers, juice, coffee, and cake. There was no lack of warmth and fellowship and I was invited to present my banner and tell about the Norwich Rotary. There was no singing but when I told them about Norwich they invited me to sing. I plan to go back next week and maybe lead them in Yom Huledet Sameach.
So today noticed that my phone did not work. I borrowed one and called Cellcom who offered to deliver one tomorrow or replace it at their offices which were open until midnight. My plan was to take a cab there after Rotary. Rotarians being what they are everywhere, a ride was arranged for me and I was brought to the office in Givat Shaul. On the way I got a great view of the new “string bridge” which was illuminated. It seems a little out of place and dwarfs the Jerusalem stone buildings beside it. The bridge will eliminate congested city traffic and also carry the new light rail.
Cellcom is in a very nice office on the -3 floor. It is run by kippah and tzitzit wearing young men. They handled my problem with efficiency and surprising courtesy and friendliness.
On my trip home I got a Hebrew lesson from my singing cabdriver who just seemed to be so happy to be driving a cab in Jerusalem –as I was to be his passenger. I gave him a 10 shekel tip for the 40 shekel ride –not required but worth it for the education and entertainment.