This Year in Jerusalem

     For Passover in the United States, many people say "next year in Jerusalem". This year, I was in Jerusalem. Being in Israel during a major holiday is so much different compared to the United States. Because Israel is a jewish state, most restaurants and stores are not allowed to sell Hametz. Because the US is enveloped in Christian culture, passover, as well as most holidays, excluding Hanukkah, are overlooked. Being in a country where the jewish culture surrounds everyone is not only different, but also invigorating and interesting. To make up for the lack of bread, a large amount of stores also sell "kosher for passover" bread and other foods. Many secular Israelis also ignore the food restrictions for passover and eat what they like. Israeli culture is unlike anything any american can experience in the US.
     I went to a seder at my grandmother's house with a few friends, as well as twenty family members who I was not aware I had. The seder itself was very fast. We started the seder late so everyone speed read at a pace that was almost impossible to follow. People simply wanted to eat. There were also several differences between the seder here and in the US, such as how everyone talked over each other and sang different versions of songs over each other. The Israeli spirit was strong and fun. During class today, someone pointed out how they used lettuce as a bitter herb which was strange for them, however I have always done that in my family and thought that using anything but lettuce would be strange. I was glad that I got this opportunity to spend time in Israel with my family.