Observations about life in Israel from a Canadian immigrant's perspective.
A flatbed truck offloaded a hydraulic drill behind our property. It shuffled into position, cranked its beak high, then pounded the rocky ground with force, shattering boulders and all else that had sat silently beneath the earth’s crust for millennia. Boom. Boom. Then boom. Deep holes were dug and metal foundations were inserted, man marking… Continue reading “Grow, Grow”
November is normally my favorite month in Israel. It is a time of cooling, of nourishing showers accompanied by rainbows crowning sparkling skies. And finally, tiny green newborn growth pokes up beside its parched yellow elders. In contrast, November was my cruelest month in Canada with its retinue of dead fallen leaves, killer frost, and dreary skies. To… Continue reading War Day 54 and Life Still Surreal
Dawn breaks. Birds sing their morning praise and crickets keep a steady song. The fall air is crisp like fresh mint, offering welcome relief from a blazing hot summer. Yet fighter jets fly non-stop overhead, a constant rumble above. It has been a week since the massacre of my people, an atrocity the Jewish people have… Continue reading Garden Therapy
Come September, the Israeli landscape is parched, crunchy, yellowed, and prickly. It is as if nature is spent and experiencing symptoms of advanced old age; plants are skeletal, withered, grey, their stems fractured bones. They are exhausted, save for seeds that many will spread to ensure a future generation. For the next big event in… Continue reading Weed Whacking
If one were to name the most common feature of Israel’s topography, 'rocks' would most certainly tumble to the top of the list. The rugged and stark Negev, Judean, and Arava Deserts are pure rock, sculpted over millennia into steep cliffs, gorges and dry, sandy wadis. Be it amber, brown, or white, the dominant feature… Continue reading Unmoving Rocks
This was attempt number two. Last April, I found myself hiking in the Meiron Mountains, searching for a flower. It was a different sort of walk as I usually focus on the trees and the views when I walk, not on my toes. We were looking for a pink flower. “Admonit,” my friend called out, scouring… Continue reading Intrepid flower chasers
Photo by Giorgio Trovato on UnsplashIsrael, congratulations!You are number one in the world – and this is no small feat for a small country. But you tried so hard, and now you are the number one in Corona infections in the world! All of those va((ines you delivered. The government was so efficient, Israel soon become the number one… Continue reading Congratulations Israel for Being Number One!
The lower Galilee floats in a sea of cloud As I open the front door, a cloud drifts inside, flutters and dissolves. Curious, I step out into wafting, billowing clouds. Fog veils the oaks and flutters, revealing mossy, bare branches – nature’s playful version of peek-a-boo. Light playfully pierces the fog, opening it like a… Continue reading In The Clouds
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
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
Life in Israel 