Shachar

Dateline Jerusalem — Although to most people this year is 2009, the year is 5769 according to the Hebrew calendar.

The Hebrew calendar is measured from the time the universe was created.

Also, the first 12 months from the time of Creation was considered Year 1 because there was no such thing as Year 0. And, although to most people a day begins after midnight, according to Jewish law, a day spans from sundown to sundown.

Dateline Jerusalem — It is that time of year again when preparing for Passover (not quite 2 weeks away) takes spring cleaning to the nth degree.

Everything must be washed, boiled, vacuumed, steam cleaned. The whole house becomes "kosher for Passover."

The shelves in my refrigerator and my kitchen counter tops are covered in aluminum foil. Even my faucets have special sleeves covering them. There are a lot more products here in Israel than in the U.S. to prepare for the holiday. I think I have bought them all.

Dateline Jerusalem — When I moved to Israel, I was told I probably never would be proficient in the Hebrew language. In fact, statistics show that 75 percent of the people over 40 who go to a language school (ulpan) 5hours a day, 5 days a week, for 5 months, will be illiterate after their graduation.

I am learning the language on my own. What is lower than illiteracy? Idiocy. That is my level.

Dateline Jerusalem — This is a week for celebration.

It is the anniversary of my weekly Friday column of "Our Eyes in Israel."

I want to thank the editor for his constant encouragement and praise, and for giving me the opportunity to relate my experiences living in Israel.

And, I wish to thank you, my readers, as well.

This week Israelis, and Jews throughout the world, celebrated Purim.

Dateline Jerusalem — B"H (Be'ezrat HaShem, which means "With G-d's help").

Shalom (Hello, and also "goodbye," which literally means "peace").

Often I write about my inability to learn Ivrit (Hebrew) although I have lived in Israel for 1 1/2 years. I have written about a friend who, after 30 years, still can only speak Anglit (English), and about other friends who also have problems with the language.

However, they blame it on having learning disabilities. So they claim. What is my excuse? I always have been the person whom people would come to when they wanted to know something that happened years ago, something that was said, something that was written.

Dateline Jerusalem — I love living in Israel.

Despite constant security measures wherever you go and rocket fire from Gaza, my blood pressure never has been lower. Believe it or not, there is something very calming about living here.

Dateline Jerusalem — Israel is so beautiful.

The beaches along the Mediterranean Sea are clean and the water is a clear blue.

In Tel Aviv, hotels line the streets with views of the sparkling sea.

In Ashdod, magnificent high-rise apartments overlook the water.

Dateline Jerusalem — I walked a little over a mile in each direction in order to exercise my freedom to vote on Tuesday in one of Israel's most important elections.

Election Day in Israel is a national holiday. People either get the day off or get paid overtime if they have to work. I am salaried, so there is no such thing as overtime for me. And it was not a day off.

Dateline Jerusalem — It is election time again for Israel on Tuesday.

This time it is for Prime Minister, which is equivalent to the President in the U.S. But there is also a President of Israel, which is sort of a figurehead position with some powers.

Dateline Jerusalem — It is 3:30 a.m. in Israel, and I cannot get to sleep.

I should be over my jet lag since I have been back here for three weeks, especially because the change in time zones was a gradual one on the way home.