BH. Electric is 220 volts in Israel and the plugs/outlets look like this

Bh Mega tired at Mega Supermarket in Talpiot

BH. It rained the day before Sukkot...but not on Sukkot. Thanks Hashem.

BH. Etrog Examining

These gentleman are examining an etrog with a diamond loop magnifyer.
Many men could be seen patiently spending time making sure their
etrogim were just right. Shops and tables and markets were full of
inventory for sukkot. Look above their head and you'll see a Chosid
crossing/yield sign, top hat and all.

BH. Super Sukkahs in the Sky

In Israel many of the balconies are built staggered so all of the
apartments can have open-air above for sukkahs. Other times where the
balconies are not staggered, you'll see magical metal extender poles
reaching beyond the porch and a sukkah built there. Takes a lot of
faith to sit in some of the sukkahs I've seen. These sukkas are in
Mea Shearim.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mea_Shearim

BH. Lunar light for the sukkah tonight

BH. Late night snack

BH. Our communal roof-top sukkah courtesy of the Cantorman family.

BH. Inside the corridor on the side of the Kotel today.

B"H A Big Supermarket, actually "Mega" sized

Recently we found a full sized supermarket that also delivers.  We haven't used the delivery/online ordering yet, but I feel compelled to make such info known because the prices were good and it was the size of a Walmart (kind of).  Most o fthe other stores that were supermarketish were mch smaller and quite expensive.  Mega sells clothes, dishwashers and other appliances, as well as general supermarket items.  Mega Supermarket in Talpiot 

BH. Our Family Etrog. A gift from our neighbors Rabbi and Mrs. Canterman

Chag Sameach from Yerushaliem

BH. Mail from America

My parents (they should be well) sent us a letter from the US on the
14th of September. We got it in Jerusalem on the 20th or 21st (we
think). Bottom line is that mail gets here in about a week.

B"H. Choosing the right myrtle from a Jerusalem sidewalk sale

U'lekachtem lachem ba'yom ha'rishon pri eitz hadar, kappot t'marim, ve'anaf
eitz avot, v'arvei nachal

"You shall take for yourselves on the first day (of Sukkot) the magnificent
fruit of a tree, the leaf of a date-palm, boughs from the plaited tree, and
willows of the brook." (Leviticus, 23:40) From the Chabad.org site - article
by By Shimona Tzukernik

BH. Shackshuka Lunch.

Right near the ulpan I often visit Yossi's falafel and shackshuka
place. The latter is a salsa with eggs, served with all of the falafel
items in a baguette or pita. Come and get it.

BH. A trip to a park

Parks with ice cream shops attached.

BH. House of Laws of Peace

A city courthouse that's open to the public, just around the corner
from my Ulpan. G-d willing I'll check out some hearings soon.

BH. Free Gilad Shalit

Everyday a group of activists station themselves at the front of a
government building urging that more be done to free Gilad and other
POW's. A flourescent yellow ribbon/symbol is given to all who desire
to support this Torah Mitzvah cause...freeing Jewish captives

B"H Busses can be fun

Thank G-d Rabbi Eliyahu Rutman was available to be our interpreter for our visit to Bais Chana.  He is truly a mensch.  As you can seee, the busses are comfy and crowded only at specific times.   People are quite friendly on the b usses and at times, they have gotten up to make room for our kids to sit.

B"H Chabad Elementary School for Girls

Our youber daughter Rosaleah has finally begun school.  We paid approximately $170.00 Dollars for her schooling for the first year, and a uniform.  As we are new immigrants and we have many benefts, this being one of them.  The School is called Bais Chana and the administrator is Rivka Bloi.  Their email is bet-hana@zahav.net.il  You should have an interpreter with you on your first trip/interview, as the principal speaks limited English.   The school is beautiful and the kids take a chartered public bus to get there.   This means they pay approximaetly a dollar or less for the bus, and it is only girls from her school that ride it. Armed guards at the front gate...priceless.  Phone: 02-532-4069

B"H Schools and Other Institutions not near your home

There are tons of different schools in Israel and most are free, i.e. part of your taxes.  A school we picked for our oldest boys, aged 5 and 3, is a Chabad School.  The school costs about 200 shekels a month for the older and 95 shecks for the younger.  (295 divided by 3.72 [rate of exchange] = $80.00 a month)  We haven't figured out transportation yet, so in the meantime, we (my wife) gets on a bus in front of our home near 8:00am to get them to their school at or near 8:30am.  She may have gone on the wrong bus, but we'll let you know soon, G-d willing, if this can be done quicker or by alternative means.  We do know that we could pay a driver 450 shekles per kid a month for door-to-door service (900 divided by 3.72 = $242.00) but it hurts my head too much to pay nearly three times the price for school, solely for transportation.   Nonetheless, the photo below is a photo of the front of the school.  There is an armed guard at the front (not the Rabbinic looking guy).  The school is also known as as a "Cheder" (Room) and is called Torah Emes (Torah of Truth) Rabbi Friedman (Who speaks English) and Rabbi Kut

B"H Kosher Symbols

A listing of Kosher Symbols from the Newcomersguideisrael.com

Below is one of the myriad of different Kosher symbols that are prominently posted in various restaurants.  To date, I do not understand much about them other than to say they are extremely hard to interpret.  This one states that it is covered by the Rabbinate of Jerusalem, which I have been told is a good beginning.  This one also says Cholvi, which means its a dairy restaurant.   Lemahadrin is the word I've been told to look for to make sure that the hecksher is to the level I want...and this one does not have such.  Sorry for explaining so little...but more to come.  In the meantime, I'll likely eat at home.

B"H A Chabad House in Our Building

In Jerusalem there are many communities, and many Chabad Shluchim or Emissaries.   We have a Shliach and his family living in our building.  This means we can daven in our building, learn Torah, have a meeting with the Rabbi, etc. just steps away.  Chabad-Center-of-Talbiyeh

BH. Sign right outside our apartment