Dan Brown is the founder of eJewish Philanthropy. Moving to Jerusalem three years ago, these are (mostly) excerpts from early emails to colleagues, family and friends.

June, 2005 (ten months after the last visit)

Jerusalem is alive with color, not only because of tonight’s gay pride parade and the opposing demonstrations. It is abundant with the colors of summer so beautifully interspersed among the sounds of overbooked hotels and overflowing restaurants. Yoel Salomon and Nachlalat Shiva are crowded into the wee hours as recently empty storefronts are filled with merchandise and newly smiling merchants. Table space without waiting is an absolute rarity, even on weekday nights. “Cream and Dream”, a newly opened ice cream emporium off Ben Yehuda, is a non-stop hit with the Anglo crowd. What a wonderful change from not so long ago.

To mention the colors of Jerusalem today, you must not neglect “orange”. I refer to neither the cell phone company, nor the GAP’s unmistakable fashion trend this spring. It appears everywhere. People are so cognizant of the implication, except for the party-happy Birthright crowd, that a Federation executive from New Jersey needed to explain his orange file folder was not a political statement, but rather a closeout from Staples.

December, 2005

I cannot believe it is already here; and how wonderful, not a Christmas tree to be seen, nor carol to be heard! The fringe benefits of living in Jerusalem.

Today, the ‘caretaker’ government officially begins; I wonder what surprises Sharon has for us over the near term.

(this refers to a student led Shabbat morning Te’filah) Back to the service, I also found the D’var Torah moving in a very personal way as it spoke to finding ‘ones place’ here in Israel, the mixing of various cultures, peoples and backgrounds as we all come to live with “the hope” as expressed in Hatikva while leaving friends, family and that which was familiar in a distant place. As I listened to both the words, and the images of our next generation during worship, at different times, I found my mind traveling west to distant locales.

Traditions: Ha-sivivon, so small and seemingly insignificant and yet conveys such an important message.

January, 2006

We never know what we are able to achieve until we try.

March, 2006

Election Day: 11 am and the city is unusually quiet. Almost like most of the country decided today was a holiday to sleep in before off to the “program de jour”.

10 minutes. Total time elapsed from the time I left my apartment, walked 5 blocks, voted and returned home.

Kadima’s large Hebrew letters at the top of the ballot for the envelope, marked with the Hebrew word “yes”.

Voting was a bit like the CNN reports on voting in the 3rd world; or in the US south when I was a kid. An empty room with a little cardboard partition on a school desk.

(later that evening): Maybe it’s my imagination, but I think not. Jerusalem has been relatively quiet all day. It’s a bit after 10, I just got home and the city is silent. Despite the record low turnout, maybe everyone realizes some history was being made today as future borders may be set.

Not sure if the bigger surprise was (and take your pick) Kadima’s apparent weakness, Labor’s strength or Likud’s utter destruction. At this point of the evening there appears little doubt that Kadima and Labor need to work together to form the next government. Guess the interesting two things will be, who gets what and second if they can actually govern. Though today’s papers gave the center / center-left block over 90 Kenesset seats. In theory, they can do whatever they choose. Reality will likely be much different.

April, 2006

Jerusalem: Most of what I expected and then some. Without any doubt the right decision at the right time in my life. It was before I came, and still is in hindsight. There is a certain emotional and spiritual high to this City I have never experienced elsewhere in the world; and remember I am a 3rd generation (somewhat classical) Reform Jew, here a minority of minorities. It is very difficult to explain, but it follows every move one makes. Every moment of the day. There is a certain calm and serenity to life, and Shabbat (as the only real day of no work) is really that. A day of rest, relaxation, reflection and friends.

March, 2008

Murder in Jerusalem: The City is unusually still this morning; especially for a Friday. Despite the glorious early summer weather, the normal hustle and bustle of pre-Shabbat is missing. Almost like Jerusalem woke-up today wrapped in a cocoon.

The loss of life, and injuries, was not even close to the worst of the past. But we are in a war of terror. Whether we agree, or disagree, with government policy, last night’s escalation into the heart of Jerusalem, on top of the ever increasing upswing in rocket attacks on Sderot, will dramatically reduce the choices, margin of error and survival likelihood of the status-quo.

Chol HaMoed Pesach, 2008

I haven’t read the above posts since they were originally written; I find them all particularly interesting in hindsight.

May we learn to see life as it truly is. May we find a way to envision all the many blessings that are and can be ours. Most important, may we find this insight earlier so as to enjoy all the many blessings that surround us each and every day.

Chag Pesach Se-meach from Jerusalem.

The 60 Bloggers project is co-production of Jewlicious.com and the Let My People Sing Festival. It is published daily for 60 days to celebrate Israel’s 60 birthday.