Observations about life in Israel from a Canadian immigrant's perspective.
“It had nothing to do with getting from point A to point B. It had to do with how it felt to be in the wild. With what it was like to walk for miles with no reason other than to witness the accumulation of trees and meadows, mountains and deserts, streams and rocks, rivers and… Continue reading Out in the Wild (part 2)
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.” John Muir, 1923. Our desert adventure of three weeks past was calling to us. We just had to go back. We have been hiking the Israel Trail (the Shvil Israel) in small… Continue reading Wildness in the Negev
Lighting the eighth and last candle of Chanukah, Jews are bringing more light to the world. Here in Israel, this Chanukah holiday has been filled with light in the form of inspiration and togetherness, a sure sign that Israelis are united and strong. It started at the hairdresser when my daughter donated her long locks… Continue reading Chanukah adventure
Perhaps you heard about the terror attack at a bus stop last Friday? Or maybe, if you live outside Israel, you did not even hear about this attack. So much horror and terror happen in the world daily, especially in the Middle East, that not all stories are reported. During this attack, two soldiers were… Continue reading 'Lightly' Injured. Indefinable.
Sarah Techiya and Ariel under the chuppa tonight. Here in Israel, there is tragedy almost every day. I do not need to echo the news stories, the deep sorrow, the intense loss of beautiful lives and the insanity. We are living through horrific times and there is no solution in sight. We are glued to… Continue reading We will bring the joy back
V’shavu banim l’gvulam….and the sons have returned home. We must have belted out this song dozens of times in the last few months when we hosted my daughter’s newest ‘family’ for meals. Shlomo Katz singing this song. Our rendition is more boisterous and involves lots of clapping and cheering! In August, Aviva left her beloved… Continue reading A Family for Life
Anyone have a snorkel mask? My street after the storm. It’s been one of those days when I am reminded that I live in the Middle East, or perhaps some third-world country. It all starts with wind and rain. In fact, it always starts with wind and rain. Every winter, there is wind, rain, often… Continue reading Middle East or Middle Ages?
Israelis are resilient. The day after the terror attacks, flags were draped on the two sites of the stabbings in Ra’anana. The colorful Na Nachs' truck rolled along the main street, its enthusiastic passengers jumping out to sing and twirl. My son’s school walked over to the nearby beit café where three people were stabbed. … Continue reading Strength in Compassion
Terror hit Ra’anana yesterday. At nine in the morning, a man was stabbed while waiting for a bus on Ahuza, the city’s main street. Within minutes, ambulance sirens were wailing, cell phones ringing, our concerned kids calling to check if we were ok. Helicopters hovered just above the palms. We did not yet have the… Continue reading Resilience in Ra'anana
“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth.” Devarim (Deuteronomy) 32:1 Erev Yom Kippur. It is now late morning as I sit in my garden to reflect. There is a waft of sweet guava. A bird sings. A gate creaks. The roads are sleepy quiet… Continue reading Simply Being
Life in Israel 