Finding a Home in Jerusalem

After a pretty intense chag of eating, sleeping and praying, I started my apartment search. I saw a few apartments on Monday but they were not right for me. One was so strange: it was like a hotel room with a kitchenette. Nope! Then I saw one for $750 in a great location, just up the street from where I am now in Katamon, but there was no fridge or oven and the landlord would furnish the place for me sort of rag tag with furniture from another apartment. Plus, the heat was controlled by another apartment which is weird. So that one was out....

I spent two hours yesterday morning scouring websites and making calls. But I had an appointment with an American woman at a place in Rechavia at 6 pm, not far from Azza street which is pretty close to Schechter (my school this year) and downtown area, as well as being a hop skip from HaPalmach, the cute area near where I live now with cute shops and the grocery store.

As soon as I entered the place yesterday, I knew it was perfect for me. I just loved it but I tried to keep my enthusiasm down as I asked the perfunctory questions. The truth is, the place is her mother's who spend a lot of time and money making it nice and comfortable. Unbelievably, the place is fully furnished with sheets, towels, bookshelves, tv, couch, bed, desk. It has a bedroom and a small room off the bedroom that can be an office. It has a nice living and kitchen area. The kitchen has a stove with four gas burners and an oven, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer! I was going crazy inside looking at the place. No balcony (balconies are very common in Jerusalem apartments), but that's ok. Two of my classmates live across the street. And, the rent is $675 a month. not including utilities and city tax and upkeep tax. Still, so great.

I told her I wanted it but she was hesistant because it is technically not available until Nov. 1 and I need to leave at some point this summer. So, she wanted to discuss it with her mother. A couple things that I used in the negotiation: I can help her find someone to take the apartment next year since there are a ton of students coming from HUC, Ziegler and JTS every year. I am in rabbinical school (something that could be seen as a minus in this country!) and the implication is that I am a responsible and upright person and that I will be thirty this year (!), also implying my maturity. She was nervous about the upkeep and I said I would get a housekeeper every so often. She wanted to discuss it with her mother so I made sure she had my phone number and email and then left. I just had to get this apartment!!

I was so wound up about it that I tossed and turned. Then, this morning on my way to the internet cafe to check more apartment listings, she called and said her mother wanted me to have it considering I am a rab student! Yay!!! Love her mother! So now, we just need to work out the details. She asked if I could pay up front and I declined. I would be willing to pay a couple months at a time but that's it.

I am so happy! What a day so far: making breafast then writing in my journal at my local coffee breakfast place and then getting the call. Whoo hoo!

Now, onto my next project: getting a Hebrew tutor!