Category Archives: Jerusalem Letters

Cultural, religious, and other perspectives during three years living in Jerusalem.

Suicide Bomb

Posted on October 7, 2022 by literarylee

(One project I am working on is editing and compiling 40-45 letters and partial letters, nearly 45,000 words worth, I wrote while living and working in Jerusalem 18 years ago. I edited and posted 16 of the letters to this … Continue reading →

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Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

Posted on December 25, 2011 by literarylee

(December 2004) Hello from Jerusalem, Oh little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie, Actually the whole adventure started with me.  Early in December I was chatting with the number-two person in our office here, lamenting that we … Continue reading →

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Oktoberfest in Palestine

Posted on October 19, 2011 by literarylee

October, 2005 Hello from Jerusalem, I went to an Oktoberfest celebration last Saturday.  It had everything you would have expected: good ethnic food, colorful garb, music, dancing, and of course there was plenty of beer from the local brewery.  The … Continue reading →

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Saturday Night After Rosh Hashanah

Posted on October 1, 2011 by literarylee

October 2004 Hello from Jerusalem, My daughter called it outrageous.  I felt a little intimidated.  We  were both amazed and delighted by what we had, serendipitously, seen on the Saturday night after Rosh Hashanah at the end of Sabbath. We … Continue reading →

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Buying Meat: From Hebrew Burbs to Old City Meat Alley

Posted on September 10, 2011 by literarylee

June, 2006 Hello from Jerusalem! Buying good meat here has been a challenge and I’m not just talking pork which is very tricky to obtain though I’ve found ways.  We’re not huge meat eaters but when we do partake we … Continue reading →

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The Accidental Pilgrim, Part 2

Posted on August 14, 2011 by literarylee

(The Accidental Pilgrim, Part 1) Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Jordan River, Hippo/Susita Hello from Jerusalem, The night’s “rest” at the monastery re-emphasized for me just how rural Galilee is.  Roosters crowing even before the crack of dawn (not polite, pious … Continue reading →

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The Accidental Pilgrim, part 1

Posted on July 31, 2011 by literarylee

The Accidental Pilgrim, Part 1: Nazareth, Cana, Mt. Tabor, Capernaum November 2005 Hello from Jerusalem, We were thrilled when they offered to take us to Galilee.  It was absurd that we’d been in Israel for over a year and hadn’t … Continue reading →

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Jerusalem on Foot

Posted on June 12, 2011 by literarylee

October, 2005 Hello from Jerusalem, During the month of October we had an unusual number of holidays including our own Columbus Day and a series of four Israeli holidays.  We took advantage of this time to explore parts of Israel … Continue reading →

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From Tomb to Tomb

Posted on May 22, 2011 by literarylee

Late Spring – 2006 Hello from Jerusalem, Yesterday, Saturday, my wife and I took an afternoon walk to the Old City.  It was surprisingly busy, with Jewish people going to the Western Wall for Sabbath prayers and tourists thronging shops … Continue reading →

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Among the Ultra Orthodox

Posted on April 29, 2011 by literarylee

Hello from Jerusalem, Surrounded by waves of fervor, I stood amazed and delighted at the 450 gold robed, fur-hatted, side-curled Hasidic men and boys welcoming in and relishing their Queen: lovely, precious Shabbos. On a Friday night not long ago … Continue reading →

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