Observations about life in Israel from a Canadian immigrant's perspective.
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
The flower that smiles to-day To-morrow dies; All that we wish to stay Tempts and then flies. What is this world’s delight? Lightning that mocks the night, Brief even as bright. Percy Shelley Israel has been blessed by an abundance of rain this winter. There has been so much precipitation, the desert hugging the Dead… Continue reading We are ephemeral
The sun dips behind the trees casting shadows across a green lawn. Students mill about, some sitting on the grass chatting, others studying, heads crouched over laptops. A Jewish student stands with her prayer book, facing south towards Jerusalem. She sways as she mouths the words. Beside her, a Muslim student unfurls her prayer… Continue reading Milk and Honey
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
Haifa on fire (AFP) You can call it a fire intifada, an arson intifada or random fires. The truth is that Israel is on fire. Literally. Some 80,000 Israelis have been evacuated from their homes in the last week. There have been 220 separate fires burning in northern and central Israel leaving many families homeless,… Continue reading Israel on 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….
Friday was the sixth annual Jerusalem marathon. It was a chilly, bright morning and we were there to run the 10-kilometre race. (My son Shaya had been training to run the half marathon but had a bicycle accident three days before and was unable to participate. He calculated that he'd run the distance from home… Continue reading Running for Jerusalem
"It's us or them," says Netanyahu. Election fever is at a pitch here in Israel. Enormous photos of candidates’ faces stare us down from billboards at every intersection. The highway is lined with their messages, some threatening doom and gloom, others insulting competing candidates. For me, the polls predict a grim, terrifying future. Since Israel… Continue reading Jews wandering the desert
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
Marriage proposal on the Gazan border. Hamas has been firing rockets at the Israeli civilian population for eleven days now. Over 1,000 rockets have been launched into Israel to date. The sirens blare and people run for their lives. Sderot, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Be'er Sheva and many other communities in southern Israel are on constant alert… Continue reading Miracles
Life in Israel 