Hebrew in Hodu ( India )

Just wrapped the first Hebrew language class of a course I will be co-teaching here in Mumbai. There are 12 students in this class, mainly adults with different hebrew-speaking abilties, including my landlady, who isnot Jewish but has a rather strong passion for Israel. The class was fun and easy-going, and I am looking forward to upcoming sessions.

I have a few more Educational items on my plate. Tomorrow I will be talking informally about the upcoming fast day of Tisha B'Av at an open house here at the JCC, and later on in the day I will be visiting and assisting in the Jewish afterschool program at the Jacob Sasoon High School. Today I also will be standing in as a substitute teacher in a Torah study class here at the JCC, while the regular teacher helps in Kasher-ing the kitchen upstairs.

Outside the walls of the JCC, students of Ruparell college (where the JCC is located) are preparing for India's Independece Day, which is this Sunday, August 15. Different groups are organized all along the walkway, marching back and forth with batons and rather realistic-looking rifles ( "And why should they not be real, Gila?" My coworker here asked me as I mentioned this to her.) According to my coworker, India's independece will be celebrated with flag- raisings, parades, and patriotic movies on TV. On the surface this seems very much like the 4th of July, but something tells me it could be a tad different...