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Hi again!

What a week!  I was in India on business from Sunday until Friday.  Sarah returned from her trip to the US.  Esther and Daniela went to [http://www.ikea.com/ IKEA] and the beach.  [http://jewschool.com/2008/07/22/13916/baruch-obama/ Obama changed his name] from "Barak" to "Baruch".

The ladies went to IKEA to correct a problem we've been dealing with poorly for a year: no place to put our plates.  Shabbat plates, that is -- and glassware.  We used to have a china cabinet, but that got sold when we made aliyah.  So our fragile glassware and shabbat china have been precariously perched on (IKEA) bookshelves.  No longer!  After correcting this problem (or perhaps it was before, I wasn't there) they went to the separated beach in Netanya.  Not separated by race, but by gender.  They enjoyed the scenery and the sun and surf, and then came home and assembled their purchase.

Sarah finally got home yesterday, after having been delayed in New Jersey for a couple hours.  We are happy to report, however, she made it home fine and is over her flu.  Glad she wasn't here to give it to us!

India ... what a place!  Huge, densely populated, diverse, developing and an assault on the olfactory senses.  This business trip took me to five cities over five days (Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai), so I can say I've been all over India -- but haven't really seen India.  Certainly it wasn't an enjoyable trip, as I was working long days and getting no sleep.  Ah, yes, and not eating anything since nothing in India is kosher (more or less).  But it was successful from a business standpoint, and that is really important (and the reason I was sent in the first place).

From a Jewish perspective, India was fascinating. I felt completely safe though I wore my kippa all the time.  In fact, the only comments I got were from Israelophiles who went on and on about how much they enjoyed their trips to Israel.  Even in the Muslim majority areas, I felt safe.  The people were very nice and polite everywhere I went.  However ...

...however, as a religious Jew you can't help but notice the real, Biblical-level idol-worship going on almost everywhere.  Hindus aren't content with a trinity -- they have tens of thousands of gods.  I heard an explanation that the various divinities are different 'aspects' of some over-god.  But then there was the temple to the sun (where the sun itself is worshipped).  And the cows (which are also worshipped) allowed to take over the streets because they are holy.  The list is endless... 

However, as I wasn't staying in anyone's house, nor purchasing anything from anyone, I didn't have too many problems.  Except that (as in most cultures) food is important, and hospitality is paramount -- and my refusal to eat anything but a plate of fruit caused a great deal of frustration to my Indian contacts.  Oh well, they got over it and I'm back in my Land, thank God!  Now that I've experienced India, I will probably more tolerant of Israeli "balagan".  India wins, hands down.

And as a final note: praying outside the Land, where you have to kind of guess what direction to pray, cannot be compared to looking out your window at the site where the Holy Temple will be rebuilt, and praying.  No comparison at all.  

More next week, B"H ...

Shabbat shalom!

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