Month: April 2013

By Adar

This past trip I, somewhat unfortunately, got fairly intimate with the healthcare systems of both Turkey and Bulgaria, directly and through the misfortune of one of my friends.

We all got minor bites by some sort of bug or spider during the first few days in Turkey. I had three on my right hand, and it wasn’t a big deal until on my overnight bus to Bulgaria, my hand became a little irritated and swollen. When we got to Sofia, we stopped at a Pharmacy, and I showed the pharmacist my hand. One of the awesome things about pharmacies in Europe is that the pharmacist has the ability to give prescription medicines, unlike in the US where you have to go through a doctor first. She gave me some anti-allergy cream, which I started applying right away. It didn’t help. My hand continued to swell and became quite hot and itchy. We went through the sites in Sofia, enjoying our time in the beautiful capital of Bulgaria, and in the late afternoon I stopped at a pharmacy again, because my hand had only been getting worse. This pharmacy gave me an anti-allergy pill, which I hoped would kick in soon because my hand at this point was about twice its normal size.

It didn’t. ...continue reading "Becoming a Medic in Turkey"

By Adar

Standing at the top of Galata Tower in the middle of Istanbul, you think you should see everything, though of course, you really only see a fraction of the city. But at sunset you can hear the calls to prayer, loud and overlapping, over a hundred voices chorusing out into the city from the mosques that dot it chanting in different variations from imams. It’s incredible, and such a perfect moment. The gold tops of minarets glisten in the waning sun and for several minutes it looks as if the whole city is made of gold. Turkey was the first Muslim country I’ve spent time in, and the first mosque I’d gone into was the day before, the Suleymane mosque, which was incredible. Unlike churches or synagogues, mosques do not have pews or seats. There is no physical separation between people, they can just stand in the next available space close to the altar. The floors are carpeted and the chandeliers are low, creating a warm light that reflects off of the domes. We went into the mosque in the mid-morning, and sat down on our feet, listening. After just a few minutes, the call to prayer started outside, and over the next fifteen minutes the mosque filled up with men who scrambled to come in, take their shoes off, and find a space behind those already there. Arabic is a beautiful language, and I very much enjoyed watching the mid-day prayer, where everyone knew when to stand up and sit down, when to bow and when to turn. ...continue reading "One Temple to Another"

By Adar

Istanbul is a messy, sticky place that never ends. With a listed population of 14 million and a reality far beyond that, it’s difficult to fathom just how expansive it is. Even so, I\ve found that there is something distinctly Istanbul-y about every street | have been on. For starters, it is very upfront and personal. There is no chance of walking down the street without bumping into someone passing. And the tourist-reliant businesses do not count on your patronage based on calm encounters. They will very readily walk up to you and try to win your wallet. They’ll even come up to you and offer you something at someone’s store that is two blocks away. As in Israeli touristy areas, there are many places that sell the exact same wares, all in the same area. The Grand Bazaar, for instance, has 4,000 store fronts and about 4 kinds of stores: jewellry. scarves amd rugs, ceramics and housewares, and American brand sneakers. They are all very beautiful and exciting, but there are really only so many you can see before calling it a day. The same can be said for the spice and tea bazaar, which houses dozens of stands with dozens of spices, all potentially owned by the same people. And restaurants have a very bizarre setup where an entire street will use the same kitchen facilities, and you’ll get your food carried in from a block away. The Sultanhamet neighborhood is really one of the most incredible centers I’ve seen. Moque after mosque, built with the grandeur of monarchies, stud the neighborhood. Streets and massive walls are finely decorated, brick and red stone are hallmarks of this area. We stayed for the majority of our time in Istanbul at a hostel right in the heart of Sultanahmet, behind the Aya Sofia, on a street filled with restaurant-cafes with terraces and outdoor seating. It was a very cool place to be, just to absorb the amazing influence of the ottomans. ...continue reading "Spring Break: Istanbul Edition"

By Adar

Passover is a holiday that is celebrated differently in every Jewish family. It can be a fun, lighthearted night of celebration focusing on songs and entertaining kids; it can be a night of remembrance and thought-provoking conversation. It can be a big production with tons of family or a small seder just for the immediate one. It can take one hour or seven. But every Passover seder follows the same structure or order to the night, with specific rituals and symbols on the table; and every passover has the same words at the very end. And Next Year In Jerusalem.

The story of Passover talks about a piece of Jewish history when the nation was enslaved in Egypt, and later escaped to freedom. It’s often used as a metaphor or anecdote to relate to modern-day issues that deal with freedom of all sorts, and so many people can connect with the story on different levels. I think that that is the reason it is such a persevering holiday that is celebrated not only by religious families but by completely secular families as well (such as my own).  ...continue reading "This Year in Jerusalem"