Clocks, Watches and Email

Sometime in the summer of 2005, I got a brainstorm. I decided that I wanted a two-faced watch so I could always know what time it is in Israel. While we were in Israel that summer, I dragged my husband and kids to the Adi Watch Factory in Kvutzat Yavne, near Yeshivat Kerem b’Yavneh. Let’s just say it’s off the beaten track. Back then, we hadn’t yet rented a car so we had to take buses. Despite the fact that Hebrew is my husband’s first language, we misunderstood the bus driver’s instructions and missed our stop. We ended up at a mall in Ashkelon. So we took a cab which drove us to the Adi Watch Factory, hidden in the midst of Kibbutz Yavne.

Into the factory store, in pursuit of a two-faced watch we went. They had one. It cost hundreds of dollars. An Israeli soldier drove us from the watch factory store to the main road so we could get the bus back to Jerusalem. A typical adventure in Israel, but no watch.

Back in America, I bought one on eBay for 13 bucks.

It gets a lot of attention. I love telling people why I have a two-faced watch. Some Jews think I’m nuts to care so much about what time it is in Israel.

But some get it.

About a year later, my husband went into RiteAid and bought himself one for $29.95. They are real conversation starters and highly recommended as an inexpensive, everyday way to stay connected to the Holy Land.

In a related way, I just figured out how to add a clock to my blog page. Considering I’m completely self-taught when it comes to computers, I get such delight when I figure out such a thing. The clock is set for Israel time. So if you’re not going to buy yourself a two-faced watch, at least you can think about Israel time each time you visit this blog page.

I also added another new feature in response to your inquiries. You can now sign up to get an email whenever I update the Bat Aliyah blog. At least that’s what I think will happen. Sign up now and we’ll find out together if it works.