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{{bheadernew|Oct 14th|http://ronware.org/devar/sukkot5772.pdf}}


Hi, again!

This week saw the commencement of the "pilgrimage holiday" of ''Sukkot'', a potential deal to release the Israeli captive Gilʿad Shalit, excellent weather, and major changes in my work situation.

''Sukkot'', as I mentioned, is one of the three "pilgrimage holidays" where we are supposed to "go up" to Jerusalem and celebrate in the Temple.  Since we don't currently have a Temple, we "make do" with the other obligations of the holiday.  In the case of ''Sukkot'', the demands are pretty simple: build and live in a ''sukkah'' (a booth-like temporary dwelling), acquire the "four species" (palm branch, myrtle, river willow and citron) and wave them during the thanksgiving prayer, and rejoice.  The ultimate expression of "rejoicing" is consuming the festival sacrifices; but absent the Temple we can't do that, so we enjoy festive meals and visit friends.  

The Israeli government apparently reached a deal with Hamas (the terrorists in charge of Gaza) to [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/148713#.TpUxhoaAu00 release Gilʿad Shalit], the Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by Hamas and then held in contravention of the accepted "Geneva Convention" for the past five years.  In exchange for this one soldier, Israel has agreed to free more than a thousand terrorists -- many with blood on their hands.  We don't even know for sure that Gilʿad is actually alive (and in previous exchanges we freed terrorists and received corpses).  While I will be happy for the Shalit family should their son return home alive and well, I mourn for the citizens of Israel who will have to pay the butcher's bill as the released murderers return to their vocation.

The weather has been absolutely fantastic.  We had a short heat-wave on Sunday and Monday, but by the time the holiday came we were hitting cooler than usual weather -- but without rain.  So even though it is a bit warm right now in the ''sukkah'', it is not hot and in the evening it will be chilly.  Perfect weather for the holiday, may it continue  this way!

As far as work goes, you all know how I've been extremely stressed for quite a long time.  Just before ''rosh hashana'' I made the resolution to seek other employment; the situation had simply become too untenable for me to continue.  So I went online to "linked in", and searched "jobs in jerusalem", and found one that looked like a possibility.  Sent them my resume, assuming I would never hear back (since that's the usual response) -- but B"H, I got a call back the next day, asking me to come interview.

I interviewed, taking a written test (!) and thinking that I did quite poorly at it, then I was interviewed by the CEO and another person.  I went home thinking, "well, that was an interesting experience, I'll never hear from them again".  After a couple days, they said they wanted me to come in so they could "explain the business" -- and I figured, ok, they want to give me a further interview (which is very common practice here).  So I went in, and they made me an offer (!).  Apparently I did better than I had thought ...

So I sat on it a few days, considering whether I really wanted to change jobs, whether or not this new place would be right for me, what if, what if ... and decided I would tell my current company that I am leaving because of the stress and that I have an offer outstanding.  This I did on Tuesday this week, once I had made up my mind.  My company responded that they were sad to see me go, but they made no sort of counter-offer of any kind -- so I suppose that means they think they can do just as well without me.  I wish them luck finding someone with my qualifications (or two people combined, with my qualifications) who will work for what I was being paid.  I do wish them luck, but I am also excited to change gears and do work that is more technically challenging.

An interesting bit of information for you Israel-dwellers: employment law in Israel stipulates that an employer must give a minimum "notice" to an employee he decides to let go -- the precise amount of notice depends on how long the employee has been employed, and what category of employee he is.  But it ''also'' stipulates that the employee must give the same amount of notice to the employer before leaving!  So if you're thinking of leaving a job in Israel, do be careful lest you be liable for fines.

This ''shabbat'' is also one of the "intermediate days of the festival", and we will be having dinner at our neighbor's house.  It is possible we'll have guests for lunch, but we don't know yet.  The menu includes:
homemade ''ḥalla'' (as it does usually),
chicken-in-a-pot,
stuffed vegetables,
''salatim'',
lots of good wine,
tons of good cheer!


Until next week,<br>
shabbat shalom,
and ''mo`adim lesimeḥa''!

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