Each picture speaks a thousand words

http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/culture.php?Itemid=11598

Soup, anyone?

The yishuvim in Yehuda and the Shomron take a lot of flak.  Literally.  The people there are targets for terrorists, with no walls to keep out the murderers from Shechem, Jenin etc.   There have been carjackings, as well as shooting as cars and lethal "stone-throwing", with "stones" large enough to crack bullet-proof bus windows.  In the name of "human rights," neighbours and relatives of the butchers who massacred the Fogel family are still allowed into Itamar to pick olives (and thereby allowed to check out the yishuv, as their cousins had done in preparation).   And world pressure, even within-Israel pressure, always blames the "settlers" for the fact that the Arab world is determined to destroy the Jewish State.  As if the PLO was created after the yishuv movement.  As if the Jewish presence hurt the Arabs in the area.  Perhaps they resent having better health , jobs and a 20-year increase in life expectancy?)

Being high in the mountains is what makes the Jewish presence there so important from a security standpoint. But it also makes it harder to live there.  Walking to shul is harder.   200 metres to a friend's house is always uphill, as is the way home.   The winter winds are strong.  And when it snows...

In my 27 winters here, there was never this much snow south of the Hermon.   Over two feet in Gush Etzion, 3 feet, almost a metre, in Har Beracha.  The roads were closed , leaving hundreds of  families under a "natural" siege.  Army half-tracks (and even helicopters) took out those who lives were at risk.   Power was for days.   Water mains burst,  so that, by the fourth day, those who were stuck at home had to melt snow to drink.

But as soon as the roads to the worst-hit yishuvim were partially cleared and passable, people came from other yishuvim with portable gas cookers, and served hot soup to those who could finally get out of their homes to wait out the electric and water repairs.  

A nation of care-, er, hair-givers.....

May we, as a nation, always be on the giving end.  May the recipients have complete, speedy recoveries...

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=13253&r=1

The Daily Crossword

It started with my son taking the Egged bus to and from Yerushalaim everyday in grade 7.   

A neighbour told me that she sees him solving a crossword puzzle with the bus driver on the way home.  

Then he started to bring the crossword puzzle home with im , to show me what they had solved, and maybe even see if I can fill in any gaps.

Sinec then, I am addicted.  I must have my fix of Yisrael haYom - Hebrew version - crossword puzzles every day.  When someone comes home with the paper,w e all grab pens and write on top of each other - a real family sport.  

I am learnign a bit of Hebrew vocabulary, but I also know a lot of the answers  because every puzzle, in this regular, ordinary, not-religious newspaper, has questions that are part of the lifeblood of Torah Jews.

And i don't mean the simple ones like  "gadol baTorah" is "rav."  Today there were two clues that were "one of the Trei Assar neviim"; "Yishamel's mother"; "one of the ten plagues"; "month in the Hebrew calendar". Yesterday there was "the Rmabam " (answer : "haNesher haGadol"), "parshan" of the Tanach (Rashi), son fof Avinoam ("Barak")  There are often clues such as "Talmudic scholar" or "Mishnaic scholar", "date in the Omer", "father of David Hamelech"

While Jews in golus have to specifically look for Jewish content games to show that Torah isn't just in the shul or school, BH here Torah is just a part of EVERYTHING, even the silly things like a free newspaper's crossword puzzle; and in way this shows that every citizen is  "expected" to know some basic Torah facts and personalities.

Hillel's partner, anyone?

In The Jewish Country...

...Tefilla is a legitimate reason to start your workday half an hour late.

And so, the new minister of economics, head of the National Religious Party - renamed the Jewish Home - has made this legally binding.  Workplaces will be compensated for allowing employees to shift their workday in order to daven after daybreak during the winter months (the recent extension of daylight savings time to some time in Heshvan makes sunrise later than ever before experienced in Israel).

How cool is that???

http://www.themarker.com/career/1.2116518

Photos From Our Army's Magazine

Coincidentally, both of these photos were printed in BaMahane Magazine on Sept 2, the English date on which I was born and on which , seventeen years later, I first arrived in Eretz Yisrael.  

Cuz there is no such thing as a coincidence.

The first picture is of the Rav of the Human Resources department of the army - every unit has a Rav (or two or ten).

The second picture is of the most recent graduates of the IDF Volunteers' Basic Training.  Our army is there not only to protect our Holy Land and protect Jews around the world.  Our Army is also our melting pot, integration into Israeli society and in many cases, an introduction to Jewish identity (eg. Nativ Course for Olim, more on that BEH another time).  It is also a very important part of an Israeli young adult's sense of self.   Many a high school drop out has discovered his good qualities in his army placement.  The "kids" in this volunteer training course include a girl in a wheelchair, several young adults with cochlear implants, and others with varying levels of hearing impairment, a bunch of kids with Celiac disease who became each other's support group, and some young folk with other physical differences, chronic illnesses or limitations.   

When a child is born in Israel, the parents always have this hope that by the time he or she turns 18, there will be peace, and the child won't have to pledge allegiance to the nation with a rifle under her Tanach.  But when a child cannot walk or talk, the parents can only dream what when he turns 18, he will get his chance to put on that olive-green outfit, hold his Tanach and rifle in one hand and salute his Commanding Officer with the other hand.   That he will learn to sign-sing haTikva.   That the army kitchens will be able to provide the food that he can eat (yum, gluten-free corn schnitzel!)   And when those 150 soldiers with interesting medical and developmental histories screamed and signed "אני נשבע אני נשבע אני נשבע" you know that they had the choice, that they have enough challenges, and yet they want to give to the nation as much or more than the rest of us do.  

So, here they are, posing for their group picture, with every right on earth to be proud of themselves for getting to where they are.

 

26 Years, Another Milestone

26 years ago today, I arrived in Eretz Yisrael for the first time, with the plan to stay for good.

HaShem has been kind to me, and although i have made many visits to my family in golus, Israel has been my home since that day.

26 is the gematria of HaShem's Shem Havaya - the recognition that HaShem is was and always will be.   Without complete acceptance of that aspect of HaShem, everything is meaningless.   Only when we know that the Torah and Eretz Yisrael are based on Eternal Omniscience do we know what is truly moral, good and right.

Today, 26 years later , my husband and I took our son to Giv'at HaTahmoshet in Yerushalaim, where he was officially signed in to our army.     

As he was going to the bus, he received his Sefer v'Saifa - a Sefer Tehillim and a lollipop.  They will receive a Tanach and a weapon at the end of their basic training.

May his, and all the other soldiers', service in the army be a Kiddush HaShem, with much Siyayta DiShemaya.  And may it be sweet for all of them.

I am anti-religious, she says

And in the same sentence, the woman who claims to be "anti-religious" posts to the Hareidi Hayalim facebook page, "HaShem should watch over you."

 אני נגד החרדים באופן כללי ונגד הדת ...אך אני מעריכה ומוקירה אותכם ושאני שומעת על חרדים שמכים אותכם אני מזדעזעת ישר כוח . גם אני אמא לחייל שהשם ישמור אותכם .

https://www.facebook.com/GmnyHrdqGh?hc_location=stream

I love Israelis!!!

Tonight We Don't Learn Torah

Geula is a slow process.   They said it would be so,  in the Gemara.  Many Tannaim said they'd rather not live to see it - it would be too painful.

Slowly we are rebuilding our nation, taking millions of Jews from thousands of years of torture, pogroms, assimilation, distrust of authority (expressed by some as anti-government, some as anti-religion, etc), and trying to figure out howto bring it all together, in this challenging time in world history, and create a model nation.

Tish'a B'av is not during the school year.  Unlike all other significant days on the Jewish calendar, this date isn't on the non-religious school curriculum.

About 15 years ago, Rav Malchior, Major General (res.) Uzi Dayan and others decided that Tish'a B'av cannot be simply a day in which restaurants and theatres are closed.  It has to be made meaningful to everyone.  It is the day to try to correct what we as a nation do wrong; to connect  to our roots and to each other.  They created the הלילה לא לומדים תורה programme.  A late night discussion , after readign Megillat Eicha, in groups that are intentionally composed of Jews with very different perspectives.

Over these past 15 years, "הלילה אל לומדים תורה" programmes have been getting Jews from different backgrounds together in cities across the country.  The agenda is how to become a better nation.  How to be more moral, more equal, more fair.  How to educate the next generation to achieve a higher moral standard.

On TV tonight there was an "open studio"of  "Halayla lo lomdim Torah".  There were several hours of movies and discussions dedicated to correcting and connecting. The first hour  presented movies made by a group of Beit Shemesh women - Hareidi, Religious, traditional and "secular" - as a cooperative , get-to-know-the-other-side project.  

It's a slow process.  I daven each day  to see the "end" of the process - to see Israel as an international leader in justice and fairness, alongside our Gd-given world-leadership in technology and the Special Olympics.  That we should deserve the geula by correcting all the ills that led to the many hurbanot in our history - including the one we brought upon ourselves in Gush Katif and the Shomron 8 years ago) 

As Israeli society as a whole is learning to use Tish'a B'av to address the problems in society, in groups that are intentionally heterogeneous, it is obvious that we are headed in the right direction, and we are working with HaShem to fulfill the "good part" of last Shabbat's Haftara:

ואשיבה שופטייך כבראשונה ויועצייך כבתחילה, אחרי כן יקרא לך: עיר הצדק, קריה נאמנה

I think the next passuk describes a PRE-CONDITION for full redemption: JUSTICE

ציון במשפט תפדה, ושביה בצדקה

Living at a time that so much injustice and corruption among Jewish leaders worldwide is being exposed is hard on the nerves.  But with the exposure comes the willingness to fight against it, to end it, to create a nation that is based on Justice -  a Goy Kadosh in the full meaning of Parashat Kedoshim - including the mitzvot of social justice, which can only be implemented in a sovereign Jewish State.

Kim'a kim'a....

I am grateful that I am living through it (but please pass me the valium, well, after the fast...)

May we all have an easy and meaningful fast, and next year we should celebrate 9th Av in Yerushalaim Habenuya, because:

 כה אמר יהוה צבאות צום הרביעי וצום החמישי וצום השביעי וצום העשירי יהיה לבית יהודה לששון ולשמחה ולמעדים טובים והאמת והשלום אהבו

In Today's Newspaper - 17th Tammuz

My favourite newspaper is Yisrael Hayom.   Maybe because its political agenda is as vague as the PM that it supports.   In any  case, it doesn't scream politics.   It presents news from all over the country, and , the crossword puzzles are fun to do with my kids.  My Hebrew vocabulary has improved temendously since my son started bringing the paper hoem most days.

Today's paper has an article (by Elad Jana) for Shiva Asar bTammuz that reminds us that we are not mourning the stones as much as we are mourning the lack of justice in Jewish society that led to the destruction of Yerushalaim and the Mikdash.

The article ends with:

"In order to rebuild Yerushalaim from her ruins and end the terrible exile, we have to first restore the walls and protection that lead to love and unity.  To always remember that we can be silent instead ogettign all worked up; compromise instead of fighting,; fidn that which we have in common instead of building emotional walls between us and our brothers who might be slightly different than ourselves.  Thsoe walls are the barriers that must be torn down quickly to bring us to complete unity."

(any errors in the translation are mine)

התיצבו וראו את ישועת ה'

That is a quote from Ari S. (okay, not originally...) , who spoke this evening at the Lemaan Achai dinner, while showing a clip of Iron Dome "taking out" 14 out of 15 missiles shot from Azza in the space of half a minute.

The video was filmed by guests at a wedding in Be'er Sheva durign Operation Pillar of Defense - who ran for their video cameras (rather than shelter) when the siren went.

When you think about it, the system is the large-scale equivalent of a a bullet taking down another bullet.  The concept sounded impossible to knowledgeable scientists, but impossible is normal in Israel.  In fact,  HaShem helps our army and defense systems so much, that it seems totally NATURAL that Iron Dome woudl work, and so the wedding guests didn't run for shelter, rather they pulled out their video cameras.

No, this is not a call to rely on miracles.

But it is a call to appreciate them when they happen.

(PS - yes, some American politicos said that we are gonna keep losing the propaganda wars as long as we keep defending our citizens at the same time as the Other Side ties their civilians to the rooftops of buildings that house missile launchers.   In repsonse to this reminder that "the world loves dead Jews,"  Ari got the coordinates of where the missiles WOULD HAVE landed but for HaShem's Iron Dome, and made a slide of photos of the hospitals, university campus, apartment buildings, that would have buried hundreds of Israelis.    I will try to get some of those and post them.)

one thing at a time....

In the past few weeks, I have had many posts in my head - so many things have come up that I want to share about the beauty of Eretz Yisrael, its people and public.

But BH life has also been so busy with those items, that I have not had time to type.

And today si Yom SHihrur Yerushalaim, about which I coudl write a book or two...

But I will write one at a time, starting with something I am seeing now:

An ad for a Yom Limud v'Iyun on the subject of police service on Shabbat.

This past year, graduated the first class of a new program, trainign religious Jews to serve in the Police.  The program is called Ma-aminim ba'mishtara, which translates to both "Believers in the Police" and "believing in the police".   Love lashon hakodesh!!!

The Yom Limud v'Iyun is being coordinated jointly by Mechinat Elisha which runs the course, and an organization called Torah Acharei haTzava.   Yes, there is life, and Torah, during one's army service, thanks to the mechinot, yeshivot hesder adn rabbanut tzvait, and there is Torah after the army, informally and with the help of a wonderful group of people who describe their mission as "to integrate Torah in real life."

The learning  will take place BEH tomorrow, Thursday, 29 Iyar at the yeshivat Hesder in Modiin, Rehov Emek Beit She'an 53.   The program is as follows (yes, in Hebrew):

3:30 Rav Asher Melamed , Rav of the Police Mercaz District, "the value of integrating Shomrei Torah uMitzvot into the Israeli police"

4:00 Aluf Mishne (res.) Rav Eliezer Shenwald, Rosh Yeshivat Hesder Modiin, "Faith and Internal Security"

4:30 Rav Yaacov Ariel, Rav of Ramat Gan, "Halachic Challenges in the Security Services of the State of Israel"

5:15 Rav rami Rahamim Berachyahu, Rosh Beit Midrash "ma'aminim BaMmishtara", "Returning on Shabbat after a Rescue Mission"

5:50 tefillat minha

6:00 Rav Eyal Krimm, Head of the Rabbanut Division in the IDF, "Characteristics of Security Activity on Shabbat"

7:00 Rav Haim Drukman, Chairman of Yeshivot Benei Akiva, "Maamad Har Sinai, the Basis of Faith and Security"

admission is free

for more information call Penina at 08-9241167

www.elishapolice.pws.co.il

Yesterday in the Yerushalaim Mall

Yesterday, my sister and I went out for lunch to celebrate our father's 70th birthday.  (It's not OUR fault that he didn't come in from Canada to join us!!)

Before eating, I popped into a store to price an item.  After the salesguy told me the price, he told me which other store in the mall has a similar item, and that I should price their item and then see which is more worthwhile for me.

THEN, at the cafe, I was nervous that the sauce on a certain dish would be too sharp / spice/ harif for me, so I asked for the sauce to be on the side.   After placing our order, the waitress returned with a member of the kitchen staff , who felt he MUST tell us that, "the dish will lose its taste if it isn't cooked with the sauce, and don't worry, he'll make sure it is mild, not too much sauce....."   And he did.   Salmon Pad Thai at Greg - excellent!!!

Yes, Israeli culture encourages the busybodies, and that can be very helpful.

Remember When... there were Refuseniks?

When I was in high school, we said that when the Refuseniks get to go to Israel, Mashiah will have come.

And here we sit watching the Speaker of Knesset (yuli Yoel Edelstein) say Sheheheyanu, as Yom HaAtzmaut is also his personal Yom Ness, the date he was released from Soviet Prison 27 years ago, after being sentenced for teaching Hebrew.

Has Mashiah come? Are we living the Geula?

When I was a kid, Olomeinu magazine published futuristic stories of Mashiah coming that were all supernatural, with shuls and school buildings flying in the air and landing in a rebuilt Yerushalaim, with a complete Beit HaMikdash ready and waiting.
From that perspective, Mashiah might never come.

But from the perspective of the Gemara, of the Rambam, Mashiah / Geula is here - in the form of a bit more light shining from Yerushalaim, a few more Jews coming Home, a few more Jews taking on a few more mitzvot, a few more organizations being started to improve the country according to Torah values in different areas of life. And at the same time, some truly supernatural events that we don't appreciate because we are living through them, and as the Gemara says אין בעל הנס מכיר בנסו (נידה לא א). Do we recognize the miracle in the USSR opening the Iron Curtain and letting the Jews leave? It happened almost overnight - Gorbachev , who rose through the ranks of the Red Party, and should have been as Commie as the next guy, opted for Glasnost and ended 70 years of decrees against the Jews. 70 years, the length of Galut Bavel, long enough for a new generation (people my age) to grow through teenage-hood knowing nothing about being Jewish except that it was a reason others could beat you up.

It seems so natural to us that 600,000 Jews, with few weapons, no real army, very few adults, many young holocaust survivors, should be able to stave off 11,000,000 arab soldiers - and go on to conquer territory!!

It seems so natural to us that with an enormous defense budget, we should have a government that provides free education to a population that is 25% schoolchildren, It seems natural to us that Israelis, after losing three years between high school and university to the army, and then a month a year to reserve duty, should win more Nobel prizes per capita than the US, Canada, France, Germany, Australia.... than 60 out of 71 countries that have laureates.

It seems so natural to us that children should play in the streets of Yerushalaim, that the elderly should sit and watch the children play, with their walking sticks , as they live to a ripe old age. (1)

It seems so natural to us that the land which lay barren for almost two millenia, should suddenly, when the Jews plant, bear fruit - fruit that is exported all over the world, winning awards for its wines and other products. (2)

It seems so natural to us that Torah learning in Israel should flower - that Torah learning should be part of "secular" radio and tv programs, and get high ratings, week after week, year after year. It seems natural to us that Jewish holidays are official days off work, that the school year, including college, are almost entirely set by the Hebrew calendar. (actually, college school years ARE entirely set by the Hebrew calendar). It seems natural to us that every mall and public building has a beautiful shul. It seems so natural to us that kids from all over the world should learn Torah and enter an international contest on the Tanach, and just hop on a plane to Yerushalaim to compete with other Jews from other places around the world, compliments of the Israeli government.

It seems so natural to us that a State should pay for this competition, dedicate resources from both civilian offices and the army , to support the learning of Torah. It even seems natural to us that there should be an army unit called the Army Rabbincal Choir.

It all seems so natural to us because we are going through it. Just as Yetziat Mitzrayim looked natural to anyone who didn't want to see HaShem's Hand. Paroah's magicians could copy some of the plagues. Some came about, probably, through earthquakes and volcanoes. So natural. (Forgetting, of course, that HaShem created Nature too.)

But if we look at the broader picture, take a step back and look at the headlines of the last century and a half of Jewish history - the Geula / Mashiah is making his slow and steady entrance, קמעא קמעא, as the Gemara says. (3) In order not to blind us with his light. In order to give us chances to improve - as individuals and as a nation- from the sins that lead to the exile, and deserve a Beit HaMikdash which will stand forever.

(1) "כה אמר ה' צ-באות: עֹד ישבו זקנים וזקנות ברחֹבות ירושלִָם, ואיש משענתו בידו מרֹב ימים. ורחֹבות העיר ימלאו ילדים וילדות משחקים ברחֹבֹתֶיהָ" (זכריה ח', ד-ה).

(2) "ומנין שכעת התחילה הגאולה האחרונה? זה מפורש בגמרא במסכת סנהדרין (דף צח.): "אמר ר' אבא: אין לך קץ מגולה מזה שנאמר 'ואתם הרי ישראל ענפיכם תתנו ופריכם תשאו לעמי ישראל כי קרבו לבוא'". ומפרש רש"י: "'מגולה מזה' - כשתתן ארץ-ישראל פריה בעין יפה אז יקרב הקץ ואין לך קץ מגולה יותר".

(3) תלמוד ירושלמי, ברכות, פרק א, הלכה א :

רבי חייא רבא ורבי שמעון בן חלפתא הוו מהלכין בהדא בקעת ארבל בקריצתה, וראו איילת השחר שבקע אורה. אמר רבי חייא רבה לרבי שמעון בן חלפתא בירבי: כך היא גאולתן של ישראל, בתחילה קמעא קמעא, כל מה שהיא הולכת היא רבה והולכת

Here in Ramat Beit Shemesh, a greater miracle than lag ba'omer

That's right - no one even really knows WHAT the miracle of lag ba'omer was.
Was it a plague that stopped?
Was it one day off from a plague?
Was it a major battle that was won, in the midst of an unsuccessful rebellion against the Romans?

Who knows?

But here in Ramat Beit Shemesh, as well as everywhere in Israel, every child will mark that day, because - now hear this - because of a MUCH GREATER MIRACLE

drum roll.....
THE MIRACLE OF JEWISH REVIVAL

As we sit at our locally-designed computers, on land that 65 years ago was barren AND off limits to Jews, it behooves us to think...

outside of Israel, how many Jews have heard of lag ba'omer? 10% , maybe 20%?

Sad to say, but more than 50% of Jews outside of Israel don't even know about Purim.

Here in Israel, like it or not, the Jewish government gives every Jewish child a day off school for lag ba'omer.
and every Jewish child will be doing the exact same thing on lag ba'omer.
(how's that for ahdut?)

Come thank HaShem for This Great Miracle
tomorrow night
daven Arvit with Pirkei Hodaia
join the "music-march" to the Ulam Sport at 8:30pm,
listen to the Ahavat Yisrael Boys' choir,
and
dance to the Bubba Maises puppet band
not for anyone's personal glory, but for HaShem's

that the world should see that Am Yisrael can be united not only in mourning
but also, and BEH mainly, in our appreciation for LIFE

Flying The Israeli Flag - It's An Attitude of Gratitude

   The Israeli flag was developed in many places at many different times.  Somehow, Jews everywhere have felt that the Magen David symbolizes Jewish Strength.   And drawing the Magen David onto a Tallit , to show that our strength is rooted in our connection to HaShem, happened so often that it seems to be in our genes.

   There is an excellent book for children, HaDegel by Uri Ophir, which explains the sources of each aspect of our flag - the meaning behind the colour techelet, the connection between the Magen David and the Menora in the Mishkan, etc.   

   The act of flying the flag, in and of itself, is also significant.  Obviously there is the "small" matter of pirsum ha'ness.   The day the British left Israel, 7 Arab armies, numbering approximately 11,000,000 soldiers, attacked Israel, with the realistic goal of finishing what Hitler missed.   There were onyl 600,000 Jews in Eretz Yisrael at the time, many of whom were holocaust survivors themselves.    Over the previous 12 years, the British mandatory Government had done their best to ensure that the Jews would be left defenseless, having killed many Jewish military leaders and confiscated any Jewish weapons they could.   They also handed over strategic posts and weapons to the Arabs.

    But HaShem had other plans, and the flag of  the Jewish State, declared less than 12 hours before the attack, represents the national victory.  

    Flying our flag is saying, "They tried to wipe us out, but HaShem saved us, not just as individuals, but as a Nation."

Flying the flag also says Thank You to many people, who risked and gave their lives as HaShem's messengers in creating the Jewish State.   We say thank you to the soldiers and the civilians, who settled the land in hardship. so that we can live here in comfort.   We thank the military leaders, who used their talents for the benefit of Am Yisrael.   And we even thank the politicians, whether we agree with them entirely or not, developed a country with plenty of bureaucracy, plenty of overhead, and even so, plenty of material benefits for Jews living in Eretz Yisrael.    

   I must share the fact that it does not bother me that some people fly the flag without putting all this thought into it.  First of all, as Hazal taught us, מתוך שלא לשמה, בא לשמה.    As the years go by, there is more and more demand for Torah in all circles.  There are learning group in many places of work and community centres, initiated by people with no religious background.  They know that it isn't just the laws of nature that keep us here and make us special.   

   Also, showing appreciation for  the people and the institutions of the army and government is a very important Jewish value.   If the frogs who went into the ovens in Egypt deserved special mention for their unconscious self-sacrifice, how much more so do the men and women who knowingly risk their lives to protect each of us.  So too we must show gratitude to the people in power, (for example, people such as Stanley Fisher) who changed their entire life plans, gave up on honour, comfort and more,  in order to benefit Am Yisrael.

יום השואה והגבורה - העיסוק במרי ובלחימה פיזית בנאצים

מכתב שלי לראש הממשלה ול"יד ושם":

שלום וברכה

השנה התחדד עניין שעולה אצלינו בכל שנה ביום השואה

סבתי היא היחידה ששרדה ממשפחתה מהונגריה.   סבא שלי ואביו היו היחידים ששרדו ממשפחתם בפולין.

הגבורה שלהם לא היתה בלחימה נגד הנאצים - לא עלה בדעתם, במצבם כדור מי-יודע-מה להשפלות אנטי-שמיות, שאפשר אחרת.

אנחנו חווים את יום השואה קצת כביקורת אם לא סלידה מהיהודי החלש , שאכן היהודים היו עם שלא ידע להתגונן, ולא יכול היה להתגונן.

הגבורה של סבתא שלי היתה באופטימיזם שלה, שבכל שעה באושוויץ, היא חשבה שאולי בשעה הבאה יהיה יותר טוב.

הגבורה של אבא שלה היה במסר שהוא אמר לה, כאדם דתי מאד, שהיא חייבת לאכול מה שהיא מוצאת, ולא לשאול אם זה כשר או לא, כי היא חייבת עכשיו לחיות.

 ומצד שני, היא צמה ביום כיפור באושוויץ.   וסבא שלי, גבורתו היתה באמונתו באלוקים, שהוא לא נטש לרגע , לא באושוויץ ולא אחר כך.

הדגש ששמים ביום השואה על הלחימה הפיזית נגד הנאצים פוגעת מאד בנו, ועוד יותר בזיכרון של אלו שנהרגו, כאילו שהמדינה והיהודי-הישראלי-החדש לא יכול לסבול או לזכור או לכבד את מי ש"נתן לעצמו" להיהרג על היותו יהודי.

זה סוג של האשמת הקרבן, דבר שכולנו עושים, אבל עלינו להיות מודעים לזה ולא לחזק את התופעה.

ההרוגים על שהם יהודים הם לא פחות חשובים מאשר אלו שנלחמו.

ואין לנו שום אפשרות - גם לא לראש הממשלה ולרמטכ"ל - להבטיח שזה לא יקרה שוב.   כי זה עדיין קורה.  עובדה שיהודים נהרגים כאן, ועוד נענשים או עומדים למשפט כאשר מתגוננים.

כואב לי מאד הדגש הזה על אלו שנלחמו.   נכון שאלו שנלחמו מלמדים אותנו לקח, ועלינו להנחיל את המורשת הזאת לכל יהודי, ולאפשר ולעודד כל יהודי להתגונן מפגיעה נגדו על היותו יהודי.   יחד עם זאת, עלינו להיזהר מאד שלא נבדיל בין זיכרון לזיכרון ובין דם לדם.   היהודים שהלכו כצאן לטבח מתו על קידוש ה', ועלינו להוקיר אותן, לכבד את זכרם, ואפילו להעלותם על נס, ולזכור שזה בעצם העבר שלנו כעם נרדף, עם שלא יכול היה להגן על עצמו , ושרד בדרכים לא דרכים כי כך הקב"ה רצה.

בכבוד רב,

חנה 

נכדה למיכאל ז"ל וגולדי תיבדל לחיים ארוכים (פרל) קליינר

שהביאו לעולם לאחר השואה ב"ה 3 ילידם, 20 נכדים , וכ-80 נינים, בין הגדולים כבר בוגר צבא ובוגרת השירות הלאומי, עוד חייל בדרך והיד עוד נטויה

The New Housing Minister's Plans

Today, all the new ministers took their positions in their ministries.

At the "changing of the guard" ceremony in the Housing Ministry, incoming Minister Uri Ariel (HaBayit HaYehudi) asked outgoing minister Ariel Atias (Shas) if the Housing Ministry is responsible for preparing  plans for the construction of the Beit Hamikdash.  Atias answered , "That would require Obama's permission."

Uri Ariel responded immediately, "The only One whose permission we need is HaKadosh Baruch Hu."

I sure am glad I voted for this man!!!

Everyone's a rabbi

My son described the following from his bus ride to Yeshiva:

Bus driver and passenger are discussing water filters and bottled water.  Passenger says that she uses bottled water, as she cannot use the Tami 4 system on Shabbat.  She explains why she thinks there is a problem.  Bus driver explains how to get around it.  Woman and bus driver engage in long argument over whether his solution is halachically acceptable.

Woman was not specifically dressed "frum".

Bus driver was Arab.

love it love it love it

Birkat Ha'ilanot

Today is Rosh Hodesh Nissan.   

Every Rosh Hodesh, I love seeing thousands of kids (and teachers and even some regular parents) dressed in Shabbat Clothing, as we are all One Nation, marking the Same Calendar.  Rosh Hodesh Nissan IS the Mitzva of using Our Calnedar, so it is that much more special today.

Additionally, on Rosh Hodesh Nissan, we see those thousands of students out there - walking down the street - all morning, as classes and preschools go for a walk to find a fruit tree in bloom.  (PS - we have here in our garden, the pear tree has flowers, as does the grapefruit tree.)

The text of the beracha is 

"ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם שלא חיסר בעולמו כלום, וברא בו בריות טובות ואילנות טובות ליהנות בהן בני אדם"

The Daat website has a page with information about the beracha and pirkei tehillim and other tefillot that people say at the same time:

http://www.daat.ac.il/encyclopedia/value.asp?id1=3133

הלוואי והיו מלמדים על ספירת העומר....

לקראת פסח, ילדינו זוכים לחופשה ארוכה מ-9 ימי לימוד לפני החג.   

המציאות הזאת מרגיזה אותי מהרבה סיכות, וכאן אציין רק אחת מהן.

ביום השני של חג הפסח, מתחילים אנו לספור את ספירת העומר.  תקופה זו, שהיתה פעם "תקופת זיו" וחגיגה ארוכה של הכרת הטוב על תחילת הקציר, הפכה בעת חורבן בית המקדש השני לתקופהת אבלות.   

אבלות אצל יהודים מורגשת בשללל של מצוות ומנהגים, שהם חשובים כדי שלא נשכח את האבלות.

אבל המהות של האבלות אינה מסתכמת בערימת "לא תעשה"ים, אלא הנמהגים הללו באים לפתוח את עניינו למהות האמיתית, מין "כדי שהילדים ישאלו".

ואם הילד ישאל, וגם אם לא - "את תפתח לו", "מדוע אין אנו מסתפרים או מתחתנים בימי האביב היפים?", התשובה היא לא רק  "להזכירנו כי לא נהגו כבוד זה לזה".   

התשובה לא נגמרת שם.  כתוב בתלמוד: "כל דור שאינו נבנה בימיו מעלין עליו כאילו הוא החריבו" (ירושלמי יומא א, א). אנחנו מתאבלים כי, בעצם, אילו היה בית המקדש נבנה אתמול, לדור שלנו היום, מגיע שיוחרב.

ולמה?

אולי מפני שאנחנו עדיין לא יודעים לכבד נכון אחד את השני?

אולי בגלל שאנחנו , בהתלהבות של הכנות לחגים, לוקחים עגלות מהסופר לבית שלנו, בי רשות ובלי להחזיר?   

אולי מפני שבהתלהבות של הכנות לחג, אנחנו לא מספיק סבלניים בעמידה בתור בחנות ומלחיצים קונים אחרים או מבישים את המוכרים?

אני לא נביאה, ואני בטוחה כי יש לי אישית הרבה ענייני כבוד להשתפר בהם.   אבל הייתי מאד רוצה לראות, בתקופה שלפני ספירת העומר, וכמובן עוד יותר בתקופה, שלימודי התקופה יתמקדו בהלכות הקשורות לכבוד לאחר ולממונו.   במקום שנקבור את עצמינו במנהגי האבלות, נתעמק ואח"כ נתעלה בתיקון שיוביל לבניין.

מבחינת כבוד למורה, נראה לי כי אפשר לכבד אותם בדרכים אחרות, ולא בימי חופשה מיותרים ומטריחים כל-כך, שגורמים להורים רבים לקלל את הסתדרות המורים.....

Eilat

Vacation town.  

Yeshivat Hesder.  Huge , fancy Beit Knesset.

Beaches.

Separate beaches.

Shopping.

Long skirts, long-sleeved shirts.  Saleswomen showing off all the "tzanua" fashions.

Music on the beach.

מי שמאמין לא מפחד.  And no, that wasn't at the separate beach.

Designer traffic circles / roundabouts.

Decorated with pesukim.

Restaurants.

More types of kosher restaurants than we had time to try.

Hotels.

Beautifully done-up Batei Knesset in each hotel.

Had a great vacation, BH.

In answer to a comment

For some reason, I don't seem to be able to reply to the comments a the end of my previous post.  So, I will respond here.

My grandmother lost her entire family to The Selektzia - the one which a certain "few crazies" have decided to compare the Israeli Draft to.  

My grandmother proudly displays a photograph of her oldest great-grandson in kipa, tzitzit and IDF uniform, as her personal answer to that Selektzia.

DB pointed out  that one cannot draw conclusions about the entire hareidi community based oan poster put up by a "few crazies".  That is true.  But one CAN AND  MUST draw conclusions based on what an entire community will not remove from its midst.

In neighbourhoods in which an Israeli car-flag is removed from parked cars within minutes, it is a strong statement when no one ever tears down posters comparing the Israeli Draft to Selektzia , as well as posters in three languages stating "Jews hate Zionists" and other love letters.  The tolerance of this hatred, when tearing the posters down is so easy and natural, is a statement made by the general hareidi population. 

Sometimes I want to scream

I love living in Israel.  But I want Israel to be perfect.

So does everyone.

And everyone's idea of perfect is different.

But some people's idea of "perfect" makes me want to scream.

Today, when I read the front page of the Hebrew Mishpaha newspaper, that gets thrown at my door without my permission every Monday, I wanted to bop someone on the head with said newspaper.   "Risuk haTorah" - the cult leaders (aka the hareidi press) have decided that the goal of integrating Hareidi families into workplaces and the army is no less than a total "crushing of Torah".  To their mind, the Israeli army, which provides a framework for boys to learn in Yehsiva for 3 1/2 years and serve as a religious unit for 16 months,  which provides Sifrei Torah, siddurim, shofarot, arba minim; which provides not only "regular" kosher meals to all soldiers, but even "glatt kosher"; which never has training exercises on Shabbat or Yom Tov; which has an entire unit called the Rabbanut Tzvait with soldiers whose entire task is to learn Torah sources in order to give opinions to the army leadership, in additional to having a Rav for each unit and battalion; to their minds this Holy (if imperfect) Army is as destructive to Judasim as the Cossack army.  

And working for a living?  According to the many hareidi newspapers we receive, only the Satan himself would propose such a thing to a nice Hareidi boy.

So, Hadash calls out proudly, "our political leaders will agree to negotiations with Arabs over Eretz Yisrael" = they will sell out the country's security and other people's homes and lives (again! don't forget Gush Katif), will join as left-wing of a government as anyone can contrive, to maintain full-funding for the Hareidi lifestyle that is decried in Pirkei Avot, Rmabam and any Torah source older than Israeli politics.

I grew up on the edge of the Canadian Aguda world.  We davened at Aguda shuls, I attended an Aguda elementary school, and all my (BH many) siblings went to Aguda high schools.  The obsession with judging other people's level of religious observance by external criteria always bothered me.  The lack of recognition and thanks to both Hashem and His messengers for the blessing that our great-grandparents could never have dreamt of seeing always irritated me.  And being in Israel, I am pained when I see the attitude that accompanies thousands of families enjoying tax breaks, practically free education (yeah, they pay 400 sheq a month for elementary school - and the government pitches in 5 times that per kid - and Hareidi special ed is free!), security (you won't see Kiryat Sefer, Immanuel or Beitar refusing to have non-Hareidi soldiers patrol their yishuvim), health services, streets, sidewalks, parks, etc - and then saying "we won't pay taxes.  we won't serve in the army".  
No, I take it back.  
If they just said "we won't pay taxes and we won't serve in the army" it wouldn't be as bad.  
But they actually tear down Israeli flags, and leave up posters that say in three languages "Jews hate Zionists".  And they label the expectation of that quarter of Israeli population to pull their own weight in terms of security and taxes - no less than "risuk haTorah".

When I read there things, I want to scream.   I want to take away all tax-funded services from the people who create these newspapers.  Let them move to places in Eretz Yisrael that are NOT under the Zionist regime, and see how it goes.

But it isn't in my control.

The rebuilding of a nation that has been spread to all corners of the earth is a process.  Just two days ago we read in the Haftara that Shlomo built the mikdash 480 years after Yetziat MItzrayim.  It took four hundred and eighty years until the Jews who had only been in Galut for 400 years (at most), had Neviim and had  experienced all the makkot-miracles and Matan Torah, were united enough to build HaShem's house.  So, who can expect it to take less time in our generation, more than 2000 years since the first of Benei Yisrael were exiled from Mamlechet Yisrael.  BEH, we will slowly bridge these gaps too, and slowly but surely, see more of the light of the final geula במהרה בימינו.

The Beauty of the "Ugly Side" of Israelis

This past semester, I took an Introduction to Psychology course.

We learnt about studies that were done in response to some of the worst evils that man has produced - the Holocaust and the murder of Kitty Genovese in front of tens of neighbours.

We learnt about the Milgram experiment - in which decent, sensitive people listened to the authority figure and , as far as the good people knew, administered dangerous electric shocks to "students".

We watched videos of polite, privacy-respecting passersby, who walked within a foot of a staged abduction, and continued to walk by.

The ugly side of Israelis is that we are busybodies and we have no respect for authority.

I am sure that there is a golden mean, but today, when I was among more than ten people who came out of their cars in the pouring rain to help a woman injured in a car accident, and when one of the passersby took advantage of his Mishmar Ezrahi uniform to direct traffic, I was very proud of our stereotypical busybody nature as well as our stereotypical ability to take charge without waiting for orders.   

The famous quote that describes the Holocaust to my mind is "all it takes for evil to succeed is for a few good men to do nothing."

I am glad that the Israeli mindset in general is to Step In, even when you are not asked, and I pray that we never become too "polite" or "disciplined" to interfere.

Postscript - the first person to get to the woman in the car was a hareidi-dressed man, who also used his own mind, ignored "authority", and held the woman's hand in order to help her calm down.

הציבור חכם יותר מהפאשקווילים

אני באה לנפץ סטיגמה.
פאשקווילים, וגם שו"ת סמס, נותנים רושם כאילוש אנשים הם טיפשיים, ולא יודעים להבחין בין עיקר לטפל בהלכה ובהליכות.
אז היום ראיתי (שוב) שזה לא נכון.   אנשים יודעים לחשוב, ויודעים להחליט מה נכון לעשות לפי השכל הישר.

היום עצרנו ליד אוטו שנפגע בתאונת דרכים.  בתוך האוטו ישבה נערה, לא פצועה, אבל בהלם.   הראשון שהגיע למקום להגיש עזרה (לפני שאנחנו הגענו) היה בחור חרדי.    והוא עמד שם ליד הבחורה, והחזיק לה את היד והרגיע אותה.  בלי היסוסים וגימגמים, בלי תירוצים.  הוא עשה את הדבר האנושי ומחויב המציאות.

הבקשות שלי מהכנסת הנכנסת

נבחרים יקרים, מזל טוב בהגיעכם לנועם עול שירות הציבור.
כאדם פשוט, יש לי כמה בקשות פשוטות מכם לקדנציה הקרובה.  אודה לכם אם תקראו ותגיבו.  כמו  כן, כאחת שעובדת במשרות של עזרה להורים וילדים, אשמח מאד לשמוע מהורים אחרים דעתם על בקשותיי אלו.

1.   אני מבקשת מכל אחד ואחת שנבחר לבית הנבחרים שלנו, שיבין ותבין כי הבחירות לכנסת אינן תחרות שבה זכיתם בפרס של אוטו, משרד ומשרה.   הפקדנו בידיכם את ההווה שלנו ואת העתיד של כל עם ישראל.   תסתכלו על המזוזה בכניסתכם למשרד, וזכרו את העצה במשנה הראשונה בפרק שני של מסכת אבות:
רבי אומר, איזוהי דרך ישרה שיבור לו האדם, כל שהיא תפארת לעושיה ותפארת לו מן האדם.
הקפידו שכל צעד ואמירה שלכם יהיה נעים לציבור וישרים בעיני ה'.

2.  הציבור מבקש חינוך ערכי לילדיו.   הגיע הזמן להוסיף מועצה התנדבותית לכל עיר ומקום יישוב, מועצה חינוכית, שתמנף עשייה ותיקח כסיסמא "שום ילד לא יישאר מאחור".   תנו להורים, למועצות ולמנהלי בתי הספר הממלכתיים וממ"דים יותר אוטונומיה בבניית תוכניות והעסקת מורים בהתאם לצרכי הילדים ולשיתוף פעולה של ציבור הבוגרים במקום.   תנו אפשרות לילדים המתקשים לקבל יותר שעות הוראה מתקנת, איבחונים ושעות פרטניות במסגרת של שיתוף הורים עם בית הספר.   המחיר עכשיו הוא זניח יחסית למחיר של שיקום ילד אחד שלא מקבל מענה בגיל צעיר.

3.  תכירו את החיילים ומשרתי השירות הלאומי בצורה משמעותית.   ה"נטל" שנמאס ממנו אינו עצם השירות אלא תחושת הניצול- כאשר אתם לא מעדיפים בוגרי השירות הצבאי או הלאומי לתפקידים, להנחות במיסים וכדומה.   יחד עם זאת, הגיע הזמן לקצר את שירות הסדיר.  ב"ה, יש פי עשר כוח אדם, פי אלף כוח טכנולוגי, ממה שהיה כשאנחנו שירתנו.  שוב, הקיצור יוריד את תחושת הניצול.

4.   תקפידו על אכיפת החוק.  רצח הוא רצח גם אם מדובר ברצח אופי , גם אם מדובר בנהיגה בשכרות, וגם אם מדובר באונס ופדופיליה.  כל אלו הורגים את הקרבנות, והענישה חייבת להיות בהתאם.   גם הסחבת בבתי הדין הורגת, ביקר היא הורגת את הנאשמים.  תדאגו להפוך את בתי המשפט ובתי הדין שלנו להיות "אור לגויים", כי זה מהות הדרישה האלוקית.

5.  תעדיפו את שלנו.   המדינה הזאת לא קמה לתחייה כדי להיות המדינה הכי אובייקטיבית בעולם, אלא להיות הבית של היהודים.   תעדיפו עבודה עברית וייצור כחול-לבן במכרזים ובהעסקה.   התיקון שלנו לאפליה העולמית נגד יהודים צריכה להילקח מהתורה.  מצד אחד, לא לענות את הגר הגר בתוכנו, ומצד שני, העדפה - אפליה מתקנת- דווקא ליהודים.

6.   תשרתו באמונה.   מי שלא מאמין בחובת היהודים להקים מדינה בארץ ההיסטורית שלנו, שלא ישרת בה ולא ייקח ממנה.  ומי שלא מאמין ברבנות כסמכות דתית מכרעת, שלא יעבוד עלינו ולא יעבוד ברבנות.   מי שלא מאמין שהצבא שלנו צריך לנצח בכל מערכה, שלא יתקרב לחיילים שלנו.

7.   תעזרו לנו להיגמל מהתלות בכם.   יש שירותים שמדינה חייבת לספק.  אבל מה שאנשים יכולים לעשות לבד, תנו לעשות לבד.   תנו לכל אחד נחלה בארץ ישראל עם זכות ההתחלה מחדש בשנת היובל, ואל תשמרו את אדמת ארץ ישראל לעצמכם.   תנו לעיירות לנהל תקציבים, ואל תרוצו להשלים חסרים שנוצרו בכוונה תחילה.   תנו להורים להקים מסגרות לילדים שלהם.  עודדו את עמותות השיקום וקהילות הרווחה במקום מדינת הרווחה.   דאגו שלא יהיה מקרה של רווחה שאינו קשור לאירגון רווחה.   תעבירו בהקדם את המושכות והכפסים שהמדינה קיבלה עבור ניצולי השואה ובעבור אותם יהודים שברחו מפני הנאצים ואיבדו בכך את כל רכושם.

8.   והכי חשוב, דברו בנימוס.   תשתדלו כל אחד ואחת מכם להוות דוגמה אישית של צניעות, של יושר, של כבוד לזולת ושל הקשבה.  יש לנו מספיק שונאים מבחוץ.   אנחנו ממש לא זקוקים להרגיש שיש לכל "קבוצה" אויבים מבית.  על מקומכם לכנסת ה-20 תתמודדו על סמך ההישגים שלכם, ולא הנפילות של האחרים.

בצפייה להתקדמות לקראת הגאולה השלמה,
חנה

Thank Gd For Election Day

The Satmar "fest" in which a "rav" called on Jews to not particpate in the Israeli electiosn is a prime example of Kefiut Tova - biting the hand which feeds you.   Entering the Holy Land with an ease that was beyodn teh wildest dreams of millenia of Jews, landing in an airport which was designed, built and is secured thanks to the Israeli governement, the satmar rav was expressing his lack of thanks to both HaShem and His mssengers, for all the good that HaShem has provided and for the risks that Jews undertook and continue to undertake in order to develop the mosquito-swarmed marshes and the deserts; to fight enemies from without and within.

For 3 (yes, three) millenia, most Jews have been under rulers that, for the most part, were not very sympathetic to Torah lifestyles.  Yeravam forbade aliya la'regel to Yerushalaim.  Ahav killed almost all the neviim. The Hashmonean dynasty became Tzedukim.   The peritzim in Europe did not build shuls and schools.  Queen Isabella did not build mikvaot.  The cossack army did not provide times for Tefilla, nor did it have an entire system of Rabbanim to answer any halachic questions that would arise during a soldier's service.

Today we have the opportunity to write Jewish history.  By voting for a party whose platform calls for the integration of Torah values in all areas of national life, we are choosing to be HaShem's messengers in His fulfilling our request:

ותחזינה עינינו בשובך לציון

חלומות על חופש

אני אוהבת לחלום.   זה הרבה יותר כיף מאשר להתמודד עם המציאות.

היום אני חולמת על חופשות.   הבן שלי בחופש מהלימודים עקב השלג בירושלים - הוא לומד בירושלים.   וזה מזכיר לי את כל החופשים שיש מהלימודים, וכיצד החופשים האלו כל כך לא מתאימות ללוח החופשות של הורים עובדים.  וגם, יש חופשים שפוגעים בחינוך של הילדים עצמם.

ניתחתי את אי-ההתאמה כדלהלן:

- כל החופשים הם על פי לוח השנה היהודי.  מעולה.  אבל, יש חריגה אחת- החופש הגדול בקיץ.   צריך גם אותה לקבוע לפי התאריך העברי, כדדי שהילדים יספיקו להתרגל לשנת הלימודים וגם ללמוד משהו לפני שיוצאים לחופש של חגי תשרי.  לכן, אני מציעה שהחופש הגדול יתחיל על-פי תאריך עברי (עליו נדון אח"כ), ויסתיים בר"ח אלול (או ב' או ג' , למה לקלקל ראש חודש)

- ערבי שבת.    מסתבר שמבוגרים עובדים רק 5 ימים בשבוע.  מדוע ילדינו צריכים לעבוד 6 ימים?   לילד ששומר שבת, מתפלל במניין, לומד עם אמא שלו פרשת השבוע , עוזר לאבא עם שטיפת הכלים, ואולי אפילו מגיע לתנועת נוער, מתי הוא אמור לנוח קצת?   רוב ההורים העובדים הינם מורים, קרי יהיו מעט מאד הורים שייתקעו בלי בייביסיטר אם יבטלו לימודים ביום ששי.   אבל מאחר וישנם הורים כאלו, אני מציעה שיום ששי יהיה יום של העשרה , למידה חווייתית, אומנויות, קבלת שבת, חברתאות, התנדבויות וכו', שיאפשרו לילדים להינות מאותו יום, אבל להבריז לפעמים מבלי לחשוש. תיכוניסטים יכולים להפעיל את ילדי הגנים ולעזור בבית הספר היסודיים בתורנות - דבר שיעצים את כולם.
- ערבי חג ואסרו חג, חנוכה, ושני ימי הפורים.   משום מה, אין לימודים בימים אלו, למרות שכל הורה עובד שאינו מורה כן חייב להגיע לעבודה.   ראש הממשלה מנסה לראות כיצד יוכל להוריד כמה ימי עבודה כדי לתת סופשבוע ארוך גם לשומרי השבת, ובכך להעצים את התא המשפחתי, לאחד את הציבורים השונים, ובכלל להעלות את רמת החיים של כולנו.  אני מציעה שימים אלו יהיו ייחשבו כמו חולו של מועד - קרי על חשבון חצי יום חופש.  הדבר יאפשר להורים להינות עם ילדיהם, למשפחות מורחבות להיפגש, ובכלל להוריד את הלחץ.

- החופש הגדול וימי ראשון חופשיים.   אוקיי, אני מודה.  דלתי בארץ רווחה, שם היו "חגים ציבוריים" ב-4 או 5 ימי שני (המקביל ליום ראשון שלנו) בשנה, בקיץ.   כל יהודי ניצל את ימים אלו, כולל הדוסים הכי דוסיים. (כן, התכוונתי לך, אבא!)  אני מציעה שימי הראשון בשבוע של חודש אב יוכרזו כימי "חג ציבורי".   - ואם חלילה בתחילת חודש אב הבא עלינו לטובה נהיה עדיין באבלות (איך אפשר אפילו לחשוב ככה???), אז אני חושבת שיום הראשון באותו שבוע יהיה יום מעולה ללימוד מעמיק הורים וילדים כיצד אנחנו יכולים ליצור חברה צודקת יותר, על פי מצוות התורה, כדי לזכות בגאולה.

- ערב-ערב-ערב-ערב-ערב-פסח.   לא נעים לי כלפי ציבור המורים בישראל אבלאני חייבת לומר - מדובר כאן בעבירה של ממש.   ילדינו זכאים ללמוד יותר על תקופת העומר מאשר "אסור לשמוע מוזיקה".  מגיע להם ללמוד עד יומיים-שלושה לפני ערב החג, כדי להבין לעומק את אווירת החג שצריך להיות בין פסח לעצרת, וכן את הקשר בין "לא נהגו כבוד זה לזה" לבין הכנות לל"ג בעומר - לפני שמתחילים לגנוב עגלות מהסופר כי הילדים בחופש כבר ואין מי שמשגיח עליהם.   שוב, אפשר לעשות יום-יומיים של פעילות התנדבותית ולנצל את התלמידים הבוגרים לעזור עם הקטנים.  אבל לשלוח ילדים ל-10 ימים בלי השגחת מבוגרים, דווקא בימים הכי לחוצים עבור הוריהם שצריכים גם לעבוד וגם להתכונן לחג וגם לנקות את הבית , האוטו, בית הכנסת והדירה של סבתא-רבא, זה פשע.    אותו דבר נכון לגבי הימים שבין כיפור לסוכות.  לילדים שלנו מגיע ללמוד על החג, לראות כיצד בוחרים 4 מינים, לקשט סוכות של קשישים וחולים וכו'.

אני שוקלת להבטיח את קולי בבחירות הקרובות למפלגה שתציע את השינויים האלו, אבל למדתי כבר שהבטחות לחוד ומעשים לחוד.  

A mitzva that comes your way...

On the Arutz 7 news yesterday was a report that Ezer MiZion was looking for volunteers who drive 4x4 vehicles to help people get to treatments, etc, in snowed-out Yerushalaim.

First thing in the morning, my DH (may he live forever in health and happiness, and with the ability and will to keep giving) called and offered to volunteer.   A few hours later, we got a call.  A kalla in Beit Shemesh needs to get to her wedding in Yerushalaim.   DH came home early from work (let's accept the facts, he is a better, more experienced driver than I am, and had much training and practice driving jeeps in weird situations in the army), and off they go.   

While he was on his way home from work, I picked up the girls to go within order to play in the snow.   Makes me think of

אֵלּוּ דְבָרִים שֶׁאָדָם אוֹכֵל פֵּרוֹתֵיהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה,

וְהַקֶּרֶן קַיֶּמֶת לוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא; וְאֵלּוּ הֵן:

כִּבּוּד אָב וָאֵם, וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים,

וְהַשְׁכָּמַת בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ שַׁחֲרִית וְעַרְבִית,

וְהַכְנָסַת אוֹרְחִים, וּבִקּוּר חוֹלִים,

וְהַכְנָסַת כַּלָּה......

It is wonderful that there are mitzvot that we can do that don't involve anyone being ill or injured.

Thank you , Ezer MiZion , for giving us this opportunity. 

Winter, snow, sleet, hail and ice

I HATE winter.   I can still feel that wind blowing up my skirt and though my tights while walking home from the bus after school.   I can see my father as Frosty the snowman that Friday that he walked home from court, and the ten inches of snow on my in-laws' heads when they walked 5 kilometres for my brother's Bar Mitzva.   bbbbbrrrrrrrrrrr....

But winter in Israel, even when i complain about the cold, is special.

First of all, everyone is grateful for the rain.  Every milimetre added to the Kineret is mentioned on the news. Everyone is grateful for Gishmei Beracha.

The kids like the hail - they play with it, and they find the noise it makes is a good distraction during class.

And when it snows - everyone in the entire country gets so excited.  The newspapers put snowmen onteh front pages.  We can even ignore politics for a few minutes.  And DH is happy to pack the kids into the car to drive ten minutes to higher altitudes to play.  (And they usually let me stay home!)

But most of all, I love the fact that the snow, winds, hail and sleet, are only a few days a year.  Yes, I skipped school  this past Monday to avoid driving in heavy rain.  I can do that, because it was once this year, and probably won't happen more than one more time.   Avoiding winter driving does not require missing many important activities.

BEH,  Today the kids will go to play in snow, and that's it.  After this week, there might be one or two more weeks in which we have to bundle them up in coats AND hats AND scarves (or חמי-צוואר) AND boots AND gloves ...  The rest of the six months from Sukkot till Pessah require a jacket and maybe an umbrella and wellingtons.  And many days we don't need any of the above.