Observations about life in Israel from a Canadian immigrant's perspective.
Sarona, Tel Aviv There are seconds between a beautiful moment, one of casual conversation, of laughs and connections with people you care for. And a second later, it falls apart. A gunman on a spree. Or a knife in the back of a simple bystander who is in the wrong place at the wrong second.… Continue reading Seconds
Yesterday we mourned, united. Today we celebrate our independence, united. We made the switch from Memorial Day to Independence Day last night as the shofar blasted in synagogue and people burst into dance and song: "Ani ma'amin b'emunah shleimah beviat haMashiach, v'af al pi sheyitmameiha, im kol zeh achakeh lo b'chol yom sheyavo." "I believe… Continue reading You're invited…
Remembrance Day for the Fallen Soldiers is one of the hardest days here in Israel. Every town and city, moshav and kibbutz has a gathering the evening before. When the siren wails across the country at 8pm sharp, every adult and child stands still and quiet. I am always saddened to see that even very… Continue reading No better place to be
Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be this hard… This is the headline of a blog posting I recently read. It appeared on April 5 in the Times of Israel and was written by a woman who is 20 years old and who recently made aliyah all by herself. She writes about… Continue reading Nobody said it was easy
We all have our wish lists: places we want to see and things we want to do. Being part of an archaeological dig is on my list. Maybe it’s my passion for history, my penchant for digging around in the garden and getting my hands dirty. Or maybe it’s my love for being outdoors. Did… Continue reading A Drop in the Bucket
From mefakedet (sergeant) to a twentysomething... Last week, my daughter finished her army service. She arrived at base in uniform, then changed into civilian clothes and walked out the front gate. Just like that. (Of course there were many offices she had to visit and lots of paperwork involved…bureaucracy and the IDF are solid roommates!)… Continue reading From Army Boots to Naots
Happy Purim! Living in Israel, everyone knows about this holiday. Hamentashen (oznei Haman) seem to appear on bakery shelves right after the Chanukah donuts (sufganiot) disappear. Do you like white chocolate filling, strawberry jam or the traditional poppy seed variety? The toy stores start displaying costumes in February, with princess dresses buffeting in the fresh… Continue reading Happy Hipster Purim
Friday was the sixth annual Jerusalem marathon. It was a chilly, bright morning and we were there to run the 10-kilometre race. (My son Shaya had been training to run the half marathon but had a bicycle accident three days before and was unable to participate. He calculated that he'd run the distance from home… Continue reading Running for Jerusalem
IDF uniform, Druze flag. The IDF base of Michve Alon is home to soldiers from all over the world. On base, soldiers from over 40 countries are integrated into the army. They learn Hebrew, get basic training and help with army placements. There are also many Israelis on this base, including Druze soldiers, who are… Continue reading Dedicated Druze
Field of lupines near my house. The longer I live here in Israel, the harder it is for me to leave, even for a few days. I am not sure why this is, but after I return from being abroad, I am always struck as to how deeply tied I am to this land. Perhaps… Continue reading Here Comes the Sun
Life in Israel 