Purim in Arad

A few nights ago, I put on a fake beard and eyepatch, picked up a plastic sword, and went downstairs to join my fellow WUJies for our official Purim auction. Yes, an auction. We fulfilled the mitzvah of giving to the poor on Purim by selling things that nobody else would ever buy.

I bought several things, including dinner at our director's house, Brandon (I'm not sure what I'm doing with him yet) and Rivka's dryer-babysitting services (she'll sit and watch my laundry, and pop it in the dryer before any Russians or Ethiopians can steal my turn). I sold a half-hour long private concert (Rivka bought it and intends to have me perform for her adoptive family) and four violin lessons (Mike is looking forward to learning how to play "twinkle"). All in all, it was a good night. We made over $600 for the new children't library at the other merkaz klitah in town, which means a lot of little Ethiopian children will get to read.

I'm staying in Arad for Purim, and only heading to Jerusalem after the excitement of Shushan Purim is over. For those who don't know, Shushan Purim is a special second day of the holiday that is only celebrated in cities that are surrounded by ancient walls, such as Jerusalem. Luckily, although I opted to stay in Arad, my ulpan class has been cancelled for Monday. As a result, I have basically no classes until next Sunday. If I wasn't going so crazy over my audition/interview, this would be a very nice break.

I'm counting down the days until: 1. my audition, and 2. I get to come home. The audition is in a nerve-wrackingly close five days, and I'll be back in Milwaukee in 27 days from now.