The long hours spent sitting in jail were over. Yes, yes, a jail. Let's make a few comparisons between spending time in jail, and sitting in an airplane: In both places, you are forced to spend your time in the company of other people. In both places, other people decide for you what and when you will eat. In both places, you are told when to turn off the lights, and you are forced to sit for hours with nothing productive or entertaining to do. There are more similarities…

Since my plane took off late, I arrived in Bejing just two hours before Shabbos began. I jumped into the first taxi I saw, and quickly told the driver the address of my destination, " 18 Xiao Yun Road!" The driver, with his typical Chinese relaxed attitude, drove very slowly. I understood at some point that we had arrived at the correct street, but that the driver couldn't find the address I had specified. I called the Bejing Chabad shaliach, Rabbi Shimon Freundlich, and he gave the driver exact directions.

See Chapter 1 for the beginning story.

My original plan had been to spend Shabbos in Shanghai, but my flight had landed too late for me to go anywhere, and I ended up staying in Bejing for Shabbos, with Hashem's help, in the local Chabad house. As someone who has been to China many times in the past, I am very familiar with and greatly appreciate everything Chabad does in China, whether spiritual or material in nature. But every time I meet new people, or meet them under different circumstances, or in a new place, I am newly impressed by the idea behind "shaluchim" – the emissaries.

Rabbi Shimon was preparing the Beit Chabad sanctuary for Shabbos services, the kitchen was quiet, and everything was ready. As he greeted me, Rabbi Shimon understood that I would rather spend Shabbos in the vicinity of the beis knesses, as opposed to in a hotel, and he immediately invited me to stay at his home for Shabbos.

Here are pictures that I took as soon as I landed in China, and on Motzei Shabbos I will describe for you my Shabbos experience, which I am sure will be wonderful. Shabbat Shalom (now it is actually Motzei Shabbos, because I wasn't able to upload this entry to my computer on Erev Shabbos , so I am uploading it now, and will upload the next diary entry tomorrow.)

Not only Israelis are stressed. The sign in the picture tells people: "Relax. Another train will be here in 3 minutes."	צלם

A policeman stands guard at the entrance to the train tracks, perhaps in case that passengers don't follow the rules appearing on signs. As you can see, the guard is still taking precautions against the Mexican flu, as did all the employees in the airport. Everyone was wearing a face mask.	צלם

When they built the roads in China, they didn’t take into account the fact that a Jew would one day arrive in a very anxious state, just two hours before Shabbos. In the photograph: Every driver must pay upon leaving the airport. In Israel, we are familiar with one toll road, but in China, all the roads are toll roads. From personal experience, I do not recommend traveling through rural villages in an effort to avoid paying the tolls.

צלם

Here is photograph for anyone who thought that China is outdated. This is a typical sight in the large cities, such as Bejing and Shanghai. A multi-leveled road. Sometimes there are as many as 5 overpasses.	צלם

On roads that are so crowded, it is important to consider the bike riders. The sign in the photograph tells bike riders to ride on the path designated especially for them. It is much more pleasant, and much safer.	צלם

Guards at the entrance to the neighborhood where the Chabad House is located. The guard on the right is smiling. He came over to me smiling, and by the way I looked could already guess where I was headed. He only said, "Chabad" and smiled again.	צלם

This photograph needs no explanation. The simple sign reveals everything there is to know about acts of kindness that cannot adequately be described with words. Rabbi Shimon Freundlich received me warmly, and invited me to be his guest for Shabbos, unperturbed by the late hour of my arrival.	צלם

Rabbi Shimon is busy, setting up the beis knesses for the many worshipers expected to show up for services.	צלם

The aron kodesh. The top of the aron seems to have been constructed with Chinese style in mind.	צלם

How can we write about Erev Shabbos without photographing the candles?	צלם

This is the first photograph in the album I will upload tomorrow, im yirtze Hashem	צלם