Tel Aviv Nights
Tel Aviv, at night I finished my final paper for my autumn courses at the University of Edinburgh at 5 a.m. on December 18. With my backpack packed, and fridge cleaned out, I hit the dark streets of Edinburgh running toward Waverly train station. My breath was visible in the arctic air. Luckily, I found a cab after about a half mile of running. I made my 5:36 a.m. train at Waverly. I arrived at Manchester Airport around 9:20 a.m. And I easily spotted what line to stand in for check in. Many Jewish people were lined up, dressed traditionally in black pants and jackets, black hats with the brims and long beards. I stood next to a guy who certifies the kosher slaughter of cows and sheep for most of London's Jewish population. He said that he goes into the fields early on freezing mornings with English farmers, and his crew oversees the slaughter of about 200 slaughters cows a week, to make sure they are done according to Jewish law. We talked a bit about food politics and Jewish tradi...