Wedding Luncheon

Arab weddings include a lunch one or two days beforehand. There are separate lunches held for men and women. The standard lunch consists of goat, served over yellow rice and almonds. Inside the huge 50 gallon cooking pots above, goats are prepared in a liquid sauce. The medium size bowls below contain a kind of seed mixed with a musty tasting homemade yogurt. The small dishes below) contain meat with tomato sauce and spices.


Tonight, there will be a large (gender separated) party where people will dance. Tomorrow is the big day, where the entire wedding party will caravan from the groom's house to the bride's house to pick her up - a very festive event! Then, at the hotel, there will be other (gender separated) parties with more dancing and cake. There is no formal ceremony for the exchanging of vows. The religious leader gives a paper to the groom legally marrying the couple to culminate the celebration.

Ultra Orthodox

Married, ultra orthodox (very religious), Jewish women are required to cover their heads in public either by wearing a hat or by wearing a wig. They also cover their arms with long sleeves, wear long skirts and wear nylons, even in summer.

Ultra orthodox, Jewish men wear black hats, long black coats, white button down shirts, black pants, knickers or tights, and black shoes.

The curls on the sides of their head are called payot (also peyot, payos, and peyes). The Hebrew word in English translates as corners, sides, or edges. They leave the sides of their hair alone in deference to a Torah portion, Lev 19:27, which says, " do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard".

From Head to Toe

In Israel, 95% of Muslim women have their head, neck, and entire body covered, even when it is really hot outside. Additionally, a few women have their entire face covered with a mesh veil. The husband (or father for unmarried girls) determines whether or not the woman must cover.

The picture below of my landlord was taken inside the housing compound, where
dress requirements are different. When there are no male, non-relatives present in the housing compound, Muslim women can have their heads uncovered or partially uncovered.

Dress for Arab men usually includes jeans or slacks and a tee-shirt or long sleeved shirt. Children wear similar clothes to kids in the US.

What's This?

What's this?

You guessed it - my landlord sewing rice and chick peas into sheep stomachs...a tasty treat for the family get together this weekend.

Yum Yum!

Home Sweet Home

To my great pleasure, I am now living in my new house in the City of David! It's a month earlier than projected, and a much welcome transition after several unexpected moves. :) The City of David [Silwan] is comprised of 5,000 Muslim households, 36 Jewish households and 4 other households.

I'm learning the ropes here slowly but surely and it feels like home already. (More details on that to come!) I must confess, there is a bit of culture shock - the heat and noise here are unparalleled. The minarets broadcast quite loudly from every 15 minutes to every 4 or 5 hours day and night. There are 9 minarets within ear shot and sometimes they all air simultaneously. Needless to say, I'm not in Kansas anymore. ;) Shutting the windows is not an option due to the heat. The good news is I am finally able to sleep through some of it and have begun to experience peace and joy here. Thank you very much for all your support which makes this possible!