Waiting...

The real-estate market in Israel is boiling. There are not enough apartments to suit everyone and rent fees rise. I see American immigrants asking for apartments to rent in double their market price, which of course causes the rent prices to increase. I want to pray about it, but I feel uncomfortable praying about something like this. It is something material, and I feel embarrassed to pray about something material. However, it is also something basic. Having a decent place to live is very basic. My landlords increased my rent last year. Last week they called me and told me they are going to increase it again this year. And I already know that they will increase it again and again in ever growing numbers. I like the apartment that I live in, it is small and sweet. It is old, not renovated, but it has its own charm. I hear the sounds of prayer from the nearby synagogue, which is charming. I've never felt totally at home here, not sure why. When I lived in my previous neighborhood near the city center, I loved my apartment, I really felt at home there, even though it was less special and beautiful than this apartment. But on my last year there, I felt it was time to leave, I felt my heart was yearning to move closer to Mt. Scopus, and G-d made me do so, by making the landlord increase the rent in that apartment dramatically, suddenly. I'm glad the landlord did it, as it forced me to leave and move here. I like my current neighborhood and I want to continue living here.

The Gemara in the tractate of Sota says that before the anointed king will come, the prices will soar high. As a parable, it says that the wine will be very expensive even though there will be plenty of grapes. Meaning, the reason for the high prices is not shortages of any kind. It will be an unnatural rising of prices, and we already see it here in everything. Everything costs more and more, while salaries remain the same. 

We're waiting for the king, a descendant of King David (from the father side, of course, as this is how kingly and priestly dynasties work in Israel). May He come soon!