Observations about life in Israel from a Canadian immigrant's perspective.
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….
It is Perseid season, a time when the night skies transform into a spectacular light show. Up to 200 meteors an hour can be seen zipping across the heavens during the month of August. Doubling the regular rates, in astronomical terms, this huge display is called an ‘outburst.’ After eagerly following this story, we discovered… Continue reading Outburst
As yesterday marked my 11th-year anniversary of making aliyah to Israel, here's 11 observations about life here. 1. The weather is amazing. Day in. Day out. Pure sunshine and heat. Ahhh. For a former sun-deprived Canadian, I just can’t get enough. Ever. It is so bright here, I feel the urge to put on sunglasses… Continue reading 11 things I learned after 11 years in Israel
Yesterday we mourned, united. Today we celebrate our independence, united. We made the switch from Memorial Day to Independence Day last night as the shofar blasted in synagogue and people burst into dance and song: "Ani ma'amin b'emunah shleimah beviat haMashiach, v'af al pi sheyitmameiha, im kol zeh achakeh lo b'chol yom sheyavo." "I believe… Continue reading You're invited…
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
We all have our wish lists: places we want to see and things we want to do. Being part of an archaeological dig is on my list. Maybe it’s my passion for history, my penchant for digging around in the garden and getting my hands dirty. Or maybe it’s my love for being outdoors. Did… Continue reading A Drop in the Bucket
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
Happy Purim! Living in Israel, everyone knows about this holiday. Hamentashen (oznei Haman) seem to appear on bakery shelves right after the Chanukah donuts (sufganiot) disappear. Do you like white chocolate filling, strawberry jam or the traditional poppy seed variety? The toy stores start displaying costumes in February, with princess dresses buffeting in the fresh… Continue reading Happy Hipster Purim
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
Life in Israel 