Observations about life in Israel from a Canadian immigrant's perspective.
I take a break to sit outside on this brilliant November afternoon. Feeling the warm sun tickle my face, I look way up to a cloudless, deep blue sky. Birds perch in treetops and sing. It all feels so tranquil - idyllic for a former Canadian who knows about November sleet and snow all too… Continue reading What's Next?
It could have been any bus station on a sunny morning. A fresh spring day. A Thursday. Guys came in jeans with duffel bags slung over their shoulders. Families arrived: mothers, fathers, little brothers and sisters, girlfriends and grandparents. They joked and chatted and took pictures and ate. Ethiopian families, Anglos and Sephardim all stood… Continue reading Trading in a role for a mission
When we get together over Shabbat dinner, we often ask everyone at the table to share a meaningful moment. Last Friday, the topic was gratitude: specifically, an event from the week for which we were thankful. Everyone had a beautiful story to share, be it an encounter at school or at work. When it came… Continue reading Peace Summit on Bus 486
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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.
Life in Israel 