Year: 2014

Of Ceasefires and Cinnamon

Nicole Nathan Bem

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Nurturing Nature

Nicole Nathan Bem

Beach near Rosh HaNikra Life in Israel seems to be back to routine, whatever that means around here.  My son’s best friends are safely back from Gaza for now. The parents of his friend Gedaliah held a beautiful Kiddush after shul a week ago to celebrate their oldest son’s safe return. With so many young… Continue reading Nurturing Nature

A Haunted Dream

Nicole Nathan Bem

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A Nation Weeps

Nicole Nathan Bem

Soldiers bearing Oded's casket in Nir Etzion's military cemetery. When a soldier dies, the entire country mourns. On Monday night at 11 pm, lone soldier Sgt. Sean Carmeli was buried in Haifa’s military cemetery. Some 20,000 people flocked from all parts of Israel, standing united in the dark night to mourn a solider from Texas… Continue reading A Nation Weeps

Miracles

Nicole Nathan Bem

Marriage proposal on the Gazan border. Hamas has been firing rockets at the Israeli civilian population for eleven days now. Over 1,000 rockets have been launched into Israel to date. The sirens blare and people run for their lives. Sderot, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Be'er Sheva and many other communities in southern Israel are on constant alert… Continue reading Miracles

Boom

Nicole Nathan Bem

Life in Israel is surreal now. Hundreds of rockets are being blasted from Gaza into Israel daily. Reaching as far north as Haifa,  these rockets are threatening a huge percentage of the Israeli population. Israel’s largest, most densely populated cities, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, are under threat. But not under siege.  Everyone outside… Continue reading Boom

You Will Bring Comfort

Nicole Nathan Bem

In the last few weeks, Am Israel has been hoping, praying and mourning.  There have been countless articles and blogs about the senseless deaths of Gil-Ad, Naftali and Eyal z'l, three young boys on their way home from school, Torah books in their backpacks; in their hearts, a natural yearning to be back home in… Continue reading You Will Bring Comfort

Bring Back Our Boys

Nicole Nathan Bem

After last Thursday’s kidnapping of three Israeli teens, the country has become gripped by tension, heaviness, worry and sorrow. It is as if the nation has been stabbed in the heart. And as the days go on with no new discovery, the knife twists, deepening our anguish. The TV, radio, Internet, Twitter, and Facebook beep… Continue reading Bring Back Our Boys

Forget G.I. Joe

Nicole Nathan Bem

With two children serving in the IDF, the theme these days is the army. When the children were little, we talked with friends about diapers, preschools and family vacations. We then moved onto driving schools and tutors. And now, with children serving as soldiers, one  may think the conversations would focus on G.I. Joe stuff. … Continue reading Forget G.I. Joe