The joys of being sick

Yom Kippur has come and gone, and another new year is upon us. I managed to get to services on erev Yom Kippur, but had to leave early because baby wasnt feeling well. She had been running a slight fever from her shots on Friday, and while the fever had pretty much gone, she was still cranky. During the day on Yom Kippur we stayed at home mostly. Baby decided she didnt want a bottle, and only wanted to breastfeed, which made fasting hard... but still a billion times easier than last year!

I thought I was in the clear at the end of the fast, it seemed so easy in comparison to others. That night I got a headache that wouldn't go away... and didn't for two days. It all came to a head last night when I started running a 101 degree fever, aches, chills the whole 9 yards. Managed to suffer through the night and go to the doctor today- turns out I have some sort of throat infection. Who knows where it started, I just hope it leaves soon. Its really hard to be sick with a baby. I dont have the strength to lull her to sleep or the patience to help her sooth herself. Its been a real wake up call for me.

Besides the whole being sick thing, we are getting ready for Sukkot. Not long after sukkot is Yehis brothers wedding, so things are kind of in a mad dash already. Ive got some friends from college coming by in a week or so, who are here studying for the year. I am taking things step by step... being sick in a foreign country is hard, but if I can get through this, everything will be easier!

Yom Kippur

In the five years since I started coming to Israel, I have had the pleasure of experiencing every Jewish holiday here in the holy land, with the exception of two- Lag Baomer and Yom Kippur. When I was studying abroad here, I had an amazing Rosh Hashana in Jerusalem, but flew to meet my parents in Germany for Yom Kippur, only to return in the middle days of sukkot.

I dont like fasting, in fact I hate it. Last year I was pregnant... I got very sick and ended up eating and drinking in small amounts before the fast was over. This year I am breastfeeding, but only about half of the time, so I am hoping it will be easier. Everyone always tells stories of how amazing Yom Kippur is here, and I am excited about it. Its also exciting that for the first time I dont have to argue about taking a day off so close to the start of the school year- here it is a national holiday!

In Ulpan this week we talked about Yom Kippur. Sadly enough, I was the only person in the class (besides the teacher) who knew what Kol Nidre was. Tonight we will hearKol Nidre, which I have always thought is the most moving prayer. Until Monday at midnight we will dwell upon our transgressions in the last year, and how we can better ourselves in the year to come. I hope those of you fasting have an easy fast and

גמר חתימה טובה