There are indeed stairs and elevators in Israel...

My cousin Sarah from New Jersey asked a very important question of me: are there stairs and elevators in Israel? Sarah, that's an awesome super-duper question. There are definitely stairs and elevators in Israel! My apartment building has both. It's a good thing too - I live on the fifth floor! But - some buildings here also have special elevators. They're called Shabbat elevators! Why do some buildings have them? Here's why:

So, there are all different kinds of Jewish people.Thousands of years ago, we all lived in the same place - here in Israel, where I live now! Then, some mean people kicked us out, and we had to leave Israel and live all over the world. Some Jewish people lived in countries like Poland and Austria (like our family)









Some Jewish people lived in Morrocco

Some Jewish people lived in Russia







Some Jewish people lived in Ethiopia








And some Jewish people - to this day - live in New Jersey!











Some Jewish people follow lots of traditions, other Jewish people learn about all the traditions but choose to follow only some of them, and some decide to follow only a few









One of those traditions is about Shabbat. Some people choose not to use electricity on Shabbat...some people do. For me, at this point in my life, electricity is ok on Shabbat, but I do everything I can to rest, have a good time, and be with family and friends. Maybe someday I'll decide not to use electricity. My views change over time - and that's ok!

But - those people that don't want to use electricity on Shabbat...what do they do if they live high high up in a building? It's too hard to walk up and down the stairs all the time. What they did was to make a 'Shabbat elevator' - it stops automatically on each floor, but just on Shabbat. So - they don't have to press the elevator buttons and use electricity! Not all buildings have Shabbat elevators. My apartment building doesn't, but a lot of them here in Jerusalem do.

The cool thing is, no matter where our families lived or what traditions we all follow, we're all Jewish!

Anyhow - I have got to get to work, but I hope this answers your question.

Miss you,

Cousin Lonny

PS - ask Daddy if he can send me my 1st season of Lost dvds. Also - can he send them with some good ol' Jersey chicken parmesean and cannoli?