Friday, 19 June 2015

I slept very well last night but didn't feel like getting up early and so didn't go out for a walk other than the short trip to recycle cardboard and buy challah for Shabbat.

I taught 3 units of Berlitz lessons this morning: 9:00-9:45 and 9:45-11:15.

For lunch I had my traditional whole-wheat spaghetti with Palermo sauce at Il Pentolino.

I mostly just relaxed during the afternoon, but I did get a load of laundry done. I hung it out on the mirpeset (balcony) to dry instead of using the dryer, to save electricity.

In the evening, I lit candles, sipped a bit of sweet red wine, and ate a little challah to welcome the Shabbat queen.

ברוך אתה, יי אלהינו, מלך העולם,

אשר בדברו מעריב ערבים.

בחכמה פותח שערים,

ובתבונה משנה עתים,

ומחליף את-הזמנים,

ומסדר את-הכוכבים

במשמרותיהם ברגיע כרצונו.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, ruler of all,

Who by your Word brings the dusk.

In wisdom You open gates,

And with understanding change parts of the day,

And interchange the times of year,

And order the stars,

In their watches in the sky according to Your will.

[from the Ma'ariv Prayer, a key part of every Jewish evening service]