Observations about life in Israel from a Canadian immigrant's perspective.
Their lives are too hard. They are so sweet and know so little. They’re like my children. Learning how to tell time. These are the words of my 19-year-old daughter, Aviva, who is talking about the Ethiopian soldiers she supervises. All are all new immigrants to Israel. Aviva started working as a mefakadet (sergeant) in… Continue reading Our mosaic, Eretz Israel
It is Wednesday afternoon and we are at the tekes siyum (graduation ceremony) of our son Ariel’s 32 soldiers. This exciting moment marks the end of their six months’ basic training. Proud parents, grandparents, siblings and cousins come out. Some hold up large signs, others wear matching T-shirts printed with their soldier’s picture on them. Everyone… Continue reading An Officer (and a Gentleman)
They hate us. Again. Israel and the Jews are equally despised and blamed for world calamity, tragedy, economic downturn and political unrest. I am so accustomed to Israel bashing, Jew hating and anti-semitic lies, I am no longer surprised when we get blamed. When something terrible happens and we first hear about it on the… Continue reading Israel's Good News
“Chik chak.” That’s what he said when he left the Misrad Hap'nim, the Ministry of the Interior. Black Israeli humor at its finest; there is no chik chak in government offices. Here we were sitting, standing, fidgeting, playing with smart phones, hemming and hawing, checking our watches…all waiting to receive our new identity cards, the… Continue reading Chik Chak
Tonight, as darkness cloaked Eretz Israel, we lit the first candle of Chanukah. The wicks, floating in vials of olive oil, flickered as they brought light into the night. This is symbolic of the Jewish people; our mission is to light up a dark world. Our contemporary world is cloaked in a very thick black… Continue reading Swords Into Plowshares
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Canada, once described by a historian as a “peaceable kingdom,” has been struck in the heart. To their horror, Canadians experienced two terror attacks this week. In the first, a soldier was killed in a hit and run. In the second, a lone gunman killed a solider guarding the War Memorial in Ottawa, then fled… Continue reading Show and Tell
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Beach near Rosh HaNikra Life in Israel seems to be back to routine, whatever that means around here. My son’s best friends are safely back from Gaza for now. The parents of his friend Gedaliah held a beautiful Kiddush after shul a week ago to celebrate their oldest son’s safe return. With so many young… Continue reading Nurturing Nature
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Life in Israel 