Hello,

It's been almost three weeks since my last post, and that time has actually been quite eventful - so, here's a bit about it:

Strangely, while everyone back home is already having mid-terms, my semester is just beginning . . .
I finally have my full school schedule together (well, everything except composition lessons . . . ?) and it is really great, and for once pretty light too. I only have class Monday through Thursday, only have one morning class, and Monday is the only day on which I have more than one class. So, I have actually committed to a plan of going to the gym five mornings a week [three days swimming, two days weights]. It's really nice to actually be able to do that. And I have time to keep exploring Israel, make some weekend trips, and work on all that composing.
I'm also loving the courses that I get to take, which are:

From Jewish Jesus to Christianity   (which has the potential to be my favorite class ever)

Intermediate Biblical Hebrew   (technically my first graduate course!)

Israeli Music   (which is just for the four of us Jerusalem Sounds students)

Jewish Music   (a regular Academy course, in Hebrew!)


I have gotten to go to a few more concerts as well:

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Zubin Mehta himself)
- Josef Bardanashvili (who is actually on the JAMD faculty)  "A Journey to the End of the Millennium"
- Schuman   Piano Concerto in A minor
- Beethoven   Symphony no. 9
This was an amazing performance in an amazing space. It was very moving to hear "HaTikvah" (with which, as the national anthem, they opened) performed by the orchestra, and this was also my first time hearing a full Beethoven Symphony live.

Got a front-row balcony seat with a superb view.

Matisyahu with Idan Reichel, opened by "Nechi Nech" and "Strong Black Coffee" (which sounds way better in Hebrew).
This is the only real, big, rock concert I've ever been too. It was a cool, outdoor venue built in an ancient water-storage pool just outside the Old City. Musically wasn't exactly my thing, and Matisyahu's lyrics painful closeness to the truth was difficult, but I'm very glad I went.

The real, big deal.

Terrible picture, but this is how close it is to the Old City.

Young Philharmonic Orchestra Jerusalem Weimar
- Ziv Cojocaru   "Links.Metamorphosis"
- Kurt Weill   Symphony no. 2
- Schostakovitch   Cello concerto in Eb Major
- Tschaikovsky   Romeo and Juliette overture
This orchestra is comprised of students from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and Music Academy Franz Liszt in Weimar (Germany) and is dedicated to performing "works reflecting the historical connections and ruptures between the two countries." To say their performance was top-notch would be a severe understatement.

We also got to go on a really nice, school-organized hike at Yad Kennedy, which is a nature park and monument in honor of JFK. It was great to spend the day outdoors, out of the city area, and get to know people some more (and some more people).

The monument is structured like a tree trunk, symbolizing JFK's life being cut short.

It has 53 columns, one for each US state, one for DC, and two with plaques identifying the monument itself.

There is a group of students (of which I am now a part) who all live in building 7 in the Student Village and regularly gather for Erev Shabat dinner. We are an interesting mix of Christians and very diverse Jews, and we always end up having great theological, philosophical, or otherwise somewhat deep discussions - when we aren't playing card games, that is. It has been very special to have a kind of family-like group of fellow students, and some fellow believers and Jews, with which to celebrate Shabat. And, of course, going to the Kehilah on Saturdays to observe Shabat with fellow Messianics is always a blessing, a privilege, and a high-point in the week. In a truly amazing and wonderful way, every single Shabat here has somehow been special for one (or more) particular reason(s) or other.


Thursday was Israeli National Cinema Day, so I got a cheep ticket to see "Inside Out" in Hebrew. It was a great movie, and a really nice theater. It seems that they actually produced a full Israeli release of the film as the characters mouths were re-animated to match the Hebrew dubbing, and so was some on-screen text changed to Hebrew. I think I got about 85% of the dialogue. And, yes, I cried.

The Hebrew title is a clever pun.
It means "The Voice in the Head" but is a homophone of "Everything's in the Head."

Since some of you who did not see my Facebook post about the recent surge of tensions and violence here in Israel, and may be curious about my thoughts, I will re-post it here as well:

"I feel that, in some ways, it may be wrong for me not to comment on everything going on in Israel at this time. So, I will do so briefly and with the hope of not causing unnecessary offense to anyone. [For any friends back home wondering about me: I am fine, and do not feel that I am in any particular danger. I am exercising caution, but not worrying.] I am not an Israeli and do not feel that I have the knowledge or the right to make many judgements, but I am a Jew, and I am a human being who cares.

The recent outburst of random, disorganized, savage attacks (the media wants to call it a "wave of terror," and I do not want to get into politics here, but it simply isn't) is incredibly tragic. It is important to remember, though, that tragic things are happening all around the whole world, and also that the problem (and its solution) is not merely political, cultural, ethical, economical, but lies primarily in a spiritual battle which no human can hope to fully understand. However, there is a God who does understand it all, and loves humanity so deeply that no human could fully understand that love either. Forgetting that, or never seeing it at all, is exactly what the Enemy would like us all to do.
I am impressed by the resilience and courage of the Israeli people. The citizens who confidently carry guns though hoping never to need them, not out of fear but rather an understanding of their right to defend themselves and their duty to protect human life. The IDF and police who daily risk their lives and make very difficult, often quick out of necessity, and lifesaving decisions. The medical personnel treating wounded on "both sides" of these clashes. The security guards, from schools to concert halls to grocery stores, who gently and politely do their jobs and do them well. All the people who continue to live their daily lives in prayer rather than fear, because that is the only viable response. I am not one of them, but it is an honor to be among them.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. - Psalm 125:2

But overhearing what they said, Yeshua said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe. - Mark 5:36

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. - Matthew 10:2

. . .for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. - 2 Timothy 1:10

May God's light shine through all of this, and may true peace come to Jerusalem and the world."



In the words of Bugs Bunny, "That's all folks."

L'Shalom,
Noach