Jerusalem -"You can check out but you can never leave"

Last week this time Layah and I were in Israel,walking through the Machane Yehuda "shuk" open marketplace. The vendors with their fresh challah,the chassid with the six overfilled plastic bags digging into his fingers,the elderly woman with her wobbly two wheeled cart,the screaming out of the different wares,the jostling mass of human energy,the smell of fresh chocolate babka,pulls one into Shabbat,regardless of whatever else is happening in ones life.This is only Erev Shabbat. The magic of Shabbat in jerusalem can only be described as a journey to the heart of Shabbat itself, upwards into the womb of our souls.As the holy lights are kindled,we get entirely "checked into" Shabbat. Swaying and singing in the balmy Jerusalem twilight ,eyes closed,we lose ourselves in ecstatic prayer.

As Shabbat approaches here in Boston I am upbeat.Tonight @6 is the Friday project.The vibe of our spiritual singing community brings me right back to Jerusalem!

The Eagles said it best

"..Last thing I remember, I wasRunning for the doorI had to find the passage backTo the place I was before"Relax, " said the night man,"We are programmed to receive.You can check-out any time you like,But you can never leave! "

Shabbat Shalom

Yossi