Observations about life in Israel from a Canadian immigrant's perspective.
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
Jerusalem, Sep 8, 2015 Soupy, moldy, thick, brooding, dark, moist, dank. This is our weather and the forecast calls for more of the same. I walk outside and feel as if I am entering a wet sauna. I try to breathe deeply, but there is little oxygen to enter my lungs. Is that the sun… Continue reading Dispirited Dust
The airplane’s landing was bumpier than I thought. In more than one way. I was returning to Toronto for the first time since my mom’s passing. Living in a far away country had somehow made my loss less real. When I got up from the shiva in Canada last November and flew back to Israel… Continue reading A Bumpy Landing
“Why is a Shabbat table behind glass?” My daughter looks at me in shock, confused. “How come Shabbat is a museum exhibit?’ my son asks. My kids are peering at a table adorned with a white tablecloth and two silver candlesticks. Two plastic braided challahs peek out from an embroidered cloth. We are visiting The… Continue reading Exhibit A: Jewish Florence
I am crying inside. I cry over the tragic deaths of the Palestinian children who were murdered last night. Babies, they died in a fire set by Jews. These so-called 'Jews' actually painted the word 'Messiah' on the wall of the house, then let the occupants be engulfed in flames. I am so upset by… Continue reading I am crying inside
Words at IDF Officers' Training school "Look on me, and then do likewise." (Judges Ch. 7. v 17) Last week marked ten years of living in Israel. We made aliya on July 13, 2005, landing at Ben Gurion Airport with slight trepidation, crazed looks and four children aged 12, 10, 6 and 4. What has happened… Continue reading Tenth aliya anniversary
We are a tight nation. The more fiercely we are attacked, the closer we become; the more we are threatened, the stronger we grow. On June 11, Ayala Shapira celebrated her bat mitzvah. Seems like a wonderful simcha for any 12-year-old girl. But Ayala is not a regular 12 year old. She is a hero,… Continue reading United We Grow
I recently read an article in ynetnews.com entitled “Tourists have stopped coming to Israel.” It reported that tourism to Israel has seen a 28% drop in the first quarter. I was a little shocked. To date, there is no war like there was last summer. I actually feel as if it is peaceful here these… Continue reading The Evil Spies
Life in Israel 