Having just written about Israelis on the trail, I feel I have to include this incredible tale of valor and kindness. On May 19, an Israeli was approaching the summit of Mount Everest. So close to scaling the world's tallest mountain, he was just 250 metres from the peak. He climbed along the icy ridge… Continue reading As If He Saved An Entire World
Author: Nicole Nathan Bem
I am a writer and editor. When I moved to Israel with my family in 2005, I decided to create this blog, wanting to capture the intensity of living in this land. Days are never static; they are vibrant and there is a depth of emotion here that I feel nowhere else. These pages are my honest reflection and observations of life in Israel as an Anglo immigrant.
Where Prayer Is Clear
“Where are you from?” Relieved to take a break from hiking up switchbacks, I shifted the heavy pack on my back, then answered, “Israel.” Silence. I looked into his eyes and saw tears. He had been hiking the Sierra Nevada for six weeks. He started the Pacific Crest Trail in Mexico and would finish in… Continue reading Where Prayer Is Clear
Flight
A crowd gathers. Chatting, joking, milling, shifting on their feet. They are waiting for something. A crowd thickens. Little boys chase each other, spinning imaginary circles around their dads. Women hover on the hillside. They look down at the men, a sea of black and white with wide brimmed hats bobbing in the evening breeze.… Continue reading Flight
Forget It!
“Forget it.” Forget it. These words still sting. They are akin to saying ‘give up.’ Throw in the towel. Laisse pisser. Sayonara. One morning last week, I was on the phone with my son’s yeshiva. I was trying to sort out a simple tuition issue. But before I could even address my matter, I had… Continue reading Forget It!
Snow, sandals and sandwich bags
“I found a carrot for my snowman’s nose." Talya plodded though the snow, crouching down to perfect her masterpiece. I leaned forward, curious. How could she produce a carrot on this frozen mountaintop? Was it some kid’s leftovers from last summer’s picnic? I examine it closely and see she has found an orange water bottle… Continue reading Snow, sandals and sandwich bags
Baruch Dayan Emet
Baruch Dayan Emet. Just yesterday, we lost my Auntie Diane. She died of cancer and at 76, she was a young and vibrant woman. She was a dear mother, a loving sister, and a wonderful aunt. Just yesterday, we stood in silence as the siren wailed in memory of our fallen soldiers and victims of… Continue reading Baruch Dayan Emet
A Moment of Silence
10 am. Thursday, April 19, 2012. A siren wails. We stop and stand in silence. Children close their math books, their small chairs scraping the floor as they stand. Doctors put down their stethoscopes and pause. Cab drivers stop on the highways. Busses screech to a halt, passengers put down their Sudoku, fold their newspapers,… Continue reading A Moment of Silence
And then we dance
The chuppa’s soft, white sides shimmer in the night breeze, creamy gladioli and sweet roses a fragrant lintel. The bride is a stranger to me, glowing and beautiful. The groom? I have met him once at his parents’ home and tonight I see happiness beaming from his eyes. Everyone is overjoyed. As so they should… Continue reading And then we dance
Good News of Tolerance
I live in the middle east in a tiny country the size of New Jersey. I live in a country that is hated by most countries in the world. Perhaps it is because many people are ignorant about the history of Israel What is surprising is that the academia and the educated, those who should… Continue reading Good News of Tolerance
A Return to Within
Today I had a pure, clean run. Usually I am all wired up, ipod strapped to my arm, a cord snaking up my sleeve to headphones which perch uncomfortably behind my baseball cap. And with every stride, the ipod case slowly slips down my arm and the ear buds pop out. And if I… Continue reading A Return to Within
Life in Israel 