Shalom!

I hope all is well with you all and that you are having a great summer so far.
We have had a mad but great week here at Ulpan. More and more people have called to enquire about, and to reserve their Hebrew course. Among them both Olim Chadashim (new immigrants), and people visiting Israel both to see their families or just as a tourist. Some of our regular students are away for the summer and therefore, they will be continuing their studies with us with our on-line programs and so we’ve happily got a lot on our hands at the moment . It’s great to be able to keep in touch from so far away! Saray (the other teacher in TA) and me went to south Tel Aviv this week to look for some furniture that we needed here at the Ulpan. We had already heard about an area in south Tel Aviv where many stores are located, and so we headed on down there. After a 20 minute journey we found ourselves wandering from one store to another looking at furniture, (and a few items that I would not dare call furniture…). It was tiring and very hot but in the end we found what we had gone for; two nice and comfortable arm chairs, one green and one purple (not as bad as it sounds) to match the ulpan colors. (Have you checked out the new web site yet?)
This week I also finally found the time to organize the book display, which turned out to be real therapy for me; working with tools, measuring and banging holes in the wall. Just what the doctor ordered!
On Thursday I came to the end of an on-line course with a very dear student from England. We have known each other for the past almost 2 years and this was our second course on-line. Graduation days are always a bit bitter-sweet….
Before I finish, I must recommend a documentary that I saw this week. It was directed by a very famous Israeli journalist named Emanuel Rozen. Emanuel had heard that in the newly established state of Southern Sudan, the population is very pro-Israel and keen on having Israel as an ally. Emanuel Rozen went there to research what he had heard. It was so interesting to see and can really recommend that you watch it. (half Hebrew and half English). Here is the link:
http://www.mako.co.il/mako-vod-mako/documentary-s1/VOD-6e79501bf291131006.htm
I wish you all Shabbat Shalom!
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director