Observations about life in Israel from a Canadian immigrant's perspective.
“This is the place. Time to get out.” I looked out the window of the jeep. Craggy rocks, red, towering mountains. I opened the door and hopped out. Rocks crackled as the car pulled away, disappearing in a cloud of dust. And here I was. Alone. Utterly alone in a vast, silent desert. My only… Continue reading This is the place
Facing each other and clutching a plate between our hands, we hold our arms out, lift gently, then lower. I take a deep breath. My partner lets go and I hold on firmly, lowering the china plate to the floor. “You have to let go,” she says gently. “Let’s try again.” I take another deep… Continue reading Letting Go
Boca Raton? Nope. Ra'anana. (photo credit:Brauner Properties) People in Israel tend to be polarized, be it religiously, politically, socially or culturally. So here we are, a Canadian family living in Ra’anana, a suburban town that resembles Boca Raton more than Israel. We have limited exposure to Hebrew media and thus live in a ‘bubble.’ People… Continue reading Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
Haifa on fire (AFP) You can call it a fire intifada, an arson intifada or random fires. The truth is that Israel is on fire. Literally. Some 80,000 Israelis have been evacuated from their homes in the last week. There have been 220 separate fires burning in northern and central Israel leaving many families homeless,… Continue reading Israel on Fire
“Make sure you’re there for sunset.” That’s what we were told as we made our way to the Agamon Nature Reserve in the Hula Valley. Fall and spring are prime time for viewing the incredible bird migration that passes through Israel. Some 500 million birds pass through Israel from Europe and Asia to Africa and… Continue reading Birds Know No Borders
‘After the chagim’ is the Jewish form of ‘mañana.’ When we are busied with the holidays – Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah – not much else gets done. Business meetings? After the chagim. Looking for a handyman? After the chagim? Need something at the health food store? Wait till it opens after… Continue reading After the Chagim
On Wednesday evening, my older son officially became a Captain in the Israeli Army. He had just completed a rigorous, three-month course with 90 other soldiers becoming, in Israeli terms, a mefaked pluga. His previous rank was lieutenant. Now, he will supervise the officers, managing a company of up to 150 soldiers. It has been… Continue reading Not your regular graduation
“My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow It was time to leave the familiar black line at the bottom of the pool and face the deep sea. Or was it? I recently went for… Continue reading A Gift From the Sea
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. Plutarch I just read an article about the cost of giving a child a Jewish education. I read over the chart listing the tuition of Jewish day schools and then multiplied these enormous sums by the number of children born to families… Continue reading Lighting a Fire
Tzfat during the Klezmer Festival. Summertime in Israel….the living may not be ‘easy’ but it’s sure packed with fun. The summer cycle in Israel is unique, especially from a religious perspective. For most, summertime conjures up exploring exotic destinations, water skiing across pristine, sparkling lakes, canoe trips and cranking up the barbecue. For the religious… Continue reading Summertime….
Life in Israel 