Posts
We have just completed the time of year that strikes fear into the hearts and minds of teenagers all over Israel. June brings the bagrut examinations and sets off a frenzy of studying and worrying. As this was the first year we experienced bagrut, it was a strange and new experience for us.
The bagrut standard tests are the method by which the Israeli ministry of education certifies that students have achieved the appropriate level of proficiency in a specific subject. Similarly to Regents examinations in New York, the student’s high school graduation/diploma is based upon successful completion of a minimum number of bagrut examinations. The comparison ends there.
Israeli students pick a major course of study in high school, and each course of study has certain core requirements. In all other subjects (similar to the U.S.) there are minimum core requirements that must be taken for each student to get a state-issued diploma. Beyond the core requirements, each school has elective courses (but not for the student) that bring each student’s total bagrut credit level to the minimum required to graduate. The scope of courses is totally dependent on the size of the school as well as the interest expressed by the students.
Students take these exams in grades 10 through 12, in all subjects (religious and secular). The grade they get is not based solely upon the standardized tests; their coursework throughout the year as well as a series of final exams that they take in the weeks approaching the bagrut are also average in. So the kids run around really pressured for the last couple of months of school.
Chaya took her first bagruyot this year and it was fascinating to see how she totally stopped her social life in order to study. On Yom HaAtzma’ut, Yom Yerushalayim, and Lag BaOmer, she decided not to go out with friends, in order to study. It was nice to see, since we entered the year concerned about her ability to study and pass the tests in Hebrew, but she really showed tremendous growth in the way she prepared.
The best news came when they announced a change in testing for new olim. Starting this year, olim can choose to take their bagruyot in their native tongue, which really makes it easier for them. Surprisingly, Chaya took the history and math exams in Hebrew. She was concerned that otherwise she would not understand all the terms—which she had learned throughout the year in Hebrew—and decided to stick with what was familiar. She thinks she did well (as do her teachers and principal), and we are quite proud of her progress.
The other kids all seem to be continuing their good adjustment to the Israeli education system, as well. Aliza had a rough go while adjusting to junior high in the beginning of the year, but we got an excellent letter from her teacher complimenting her progress. As one of only four English speakers in her class, she uses Hebrew all the time. Batya goes to a special enrichment course (using art to introduce concepts in Jewish identity), but the real “wow” achievement of the year belongs to Mordechai.
Mordechai completed first grade early last week. If you remember, Mordechai had a very tough adjustment to Israel and Hebrew in our first few months. Just a year and a half ago, he would regularly come home to tell us, “If I hear another word of Hebrew, I am going to throw up!” He adjusted and really gets along quite well in school now—so well, that on the last day of school, he was one of two boys in his class to be called up on stage in front of the whole school to receive a special award of excellence that is awarded to two students from each class at the end of the term.
I am constantly amazed at the resiliency of the kids and overwhelmed that they really can get it. Their strength and the way they have truly acclimated to our new country has definitely encouraged and supported Goldie and me in facing the various struggles we have gone through.
Last month, Goldie’s nephew Avrohom Dovid became a bar mitzvah. The timing (and airfares) weren’t optimum and we could not attend. I know that Goldie was disappointed in not being able to join her sister and brother in law, Esther and Daniel Yormark and the rest of her family as they gathered to share a major milestone. I think (and have previously written) that not being able to experience a family or friend’s simcha is one of the hardest adjustments we have to make.
As the member of our family who does travel regularly to the USA, I certainly get more opportunity to share in these events than Goldie (even though I missed this one). It is definitely harder on her and I know the distance from her siblings wears on her, especially since mine are so close by. It helps that her brother David comes to Israel several times a year and that his family comes for Sukkot.
We also missed my parents being co honorees at their shul dinner in Chicago with my brother Ozer and his wife Jenny (or at least most of us did – Chaim attended as the Israeli representative). My parents were recognized for many years of service to KINS while my brother’s honor was partly a thank you for service to the shul as a leader of the young adults minyan – but also a sort of farewell as their family makes Aliyah.
Since we were not going to be there, we made a small 3 minute video of some of the children and all of the grandchildren wishing a mazal tov. With the wonders of email and technology, I was able to get the video footage, edit it and send it out all at the last minute; it wasn’t perfect and not everyone had a chance to really get recorded – but I think it went over pretty well and was a chance for us to “be there” even if not physically.
We did however, finally have a chance to participate in a family simcha here this week. While it was the bar mitzvah of my cousins Tzvi and Tybi Ray’s son Binyomin and not from Goldie’s side, it was still nice to be a part of the celebration that would normally have taken place in the US (I think there will still be an event this fall). I am close with several of my cousins and we try to be a part of each other’s lives, so it was nice to see them and their families and for my kids to be a part of it as well.
The highlight of any bar mitzvah for me is davening together and sharing in the actual first shachrit of the bar mitzvah boy. This time it was a 7 AM minyan at the Kotel, which meant a 5:40 departure by bus from Bet Shemesh – but I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Yes, the party the night before was lovely and he really delivered the goods in making his speech, but being there for the first time Binyomin was called to the Torah – and doing it at the holiest site on earth is an experience that cannot be duplicated. That is the real milestone and that is what the celebration was all about (and the fact that it was only a bus ride and not a plane ride away makes a whole world of difference as well).
We have several friends making their own simcha this year; we will surely miss most – if not all of them. While it is disappointing not to be there and we wish we could be, we are grateful for the times we do get to be with you here and look forward to the time when all of our family is here and we no longer have to miss anything.
We are also looking forward to July 22, the day when my brother Ozer and his wife Jenny bring their family to join us (literally) here in Israel. We are at less than two weeks to go and the excitement in our household is building every day (special thanks to Mordechai who asks us at least three times daily how many days are left until they get here).
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Spying Out The Land (Article# 86) 6/19/08
It has been a couple of weeks since I had a chance to sit down and gather my thoughts. Although I could write about Yom Yerushalayim and Shavuot, both of which we enjoyed for the first time in Israel (having been in America last year at those times), this week Nefesh B'nefesh sent an email out to all of their olim with a specific request that is very time sensitive.
This week's parsha teaches us about the meraglim (spies) who were sent to spy out by the Jewish people from the desert into the land of Israel to reconnoiter and gather information to be used for tactical purposes in the conquering of the land. As we all know, they came back with a glowing report about the land itself and concluded their report with the very telling word, “BUT.....” and dissuaded the Jews from wanting to enter the land based on the difficulties they perceived in being able to conquer and occupy the land. Because of their sin, our people waited a generation before finally gaining entrance to our land.
When talking about the Katz family and our personal assent to Israel as a home, there is no question that we too have faced incredible hardships and challenges in coming to Israel. Lest anyone err and feel dissuaded from coming to live here by hearing our story, I decided to give you the top ten reasons you should come join us in Israel – one for each of the meraglim who stood in our collective way all those years ago.
10. Medical Coverage. Prescription drugs cost us around $4 each prescription. Our HMO has three pharmacies in town, so we get (literally) the best possible pricing they can offer. This is part of the universal medical coverage that is available to every citizen and even non citizens who pay for coverage (like we do for Chaim) at a very low cost per month. Have a fever and need to see the doctor? Just pop in, they will squeeze you in (to the chagrin of the people waiting for regular appointments). Need to see a specialist? That is around $7 – the same goes for an MRI or other diagnostic scan. Did I mention that the basic premiums are covered in your payroll taxes?
Of course, there are extra premiums for more comprehensive plans (we have it) as well as additional insurance that allows for coverage for treatment out of the country for serious illnesses if desired (we are trying to get it). For very sick people, all the waiting for appointments and bureaucracy can be a challenge. But, all in all, for basic medical needs and regular day to day living – you can't beat universal coverage.
9. Climate. Come to Bet Shemesh and snow will be a thing of your past. Yes, it definitely does get hot here and some days are really scorching – but the worst of the weather is usually a bunch of rain or a very cold wind. Pack your sunscreen and come get a really nice tan.
8. One Day of Yom Tov/More Chol Hamoed. Hey – this one is a no brainer. The only chance we have for a 3 day Yom Tov is Rosh Hashana, everything else is almost always a one day affair. It definitely took some getting used to the first few chagim, but I cannot imagine ever going back to having 2 seders or Shmini Atzeret and THEN Simchat Torah on separate days. The only drawback in having the extra day of chol hamoed is having to plan an additional day trip to keep the kids busy (and pay for it too). We also get to count the omer the way it is supposed to be counted, from the first night of chol hamoed.
Another great part of Yom Tov is the fact that EVERYONE is celebrating with you. Instead of the kids asking to see the x-mas light lawn displays, we walk around and admire chanukiyot (Menoras). The storekeeper will wish you chag sameach before a Yom Tov and you never have to figure out how many vacation days you lose because of Yom Tov.
7. The Food Court at Many Malls. I know it sounds funny, but think about being able to shop in the mall and then walk into the food court and grab a nice lunch or dinner. The Malha Mall has so many Kosher restaurants that we just pick a side (meat or dairy) and let the kids choose which meal from which restaurant. It isn't just the mall. Last year Goldie and I were walking around Manhattan and could only find one kosher bagel shop within a 7 block area. Kosher food is everywhere here – especially in the supermarkets. Speaking about the supermarkets, that leads me to...
6. No Price Gouging for Pesach/Holidays. You know what I mean. The amazing ability of all of the grocery stores to suddenly raise their prices for meats, dairy products and just about everything else to jump as soon as they convert to Pesach. I understand how they have to pass some of the costs of kashering for Pesach to the consumer. I also get the fact that the sheer volume of business being done here makes it cheaper to do per customer. But, the prices here don't rise at all for Pesach. I think some of it is because the major meat/poultry/dairy producers make sure that their products are Kosher for Pesach year round – but why can't they do that at the mall.
5. Tuition? HAHAHAHAHA. How much do you pay for High School? I am paying something like $175 a month AND THAT IS FULL TUITION! We have to pay more for tutors because our kids have some catching up to do still, but even if you double it – we are still way ahead of the game. Did I mention that we are going to pay something like $400 for a FULL YEAR of preschool for Moshe next year? It is less than a block away and a huge bargain.
4. Living in the Land of the Tanach. Wherever we go we pass something that has a deep connection to Jewish history. Day trips are full of fascinating historical information and it is even engaging to the kids, who are much more versed in Tanach than their American counterparts. Why? Simple. The Tanach is in their native tongue and therefore requires much less translation and/or explanation than has to be given to an English speaking student. Our Yeshiva has a requirement that students bring a tanach with them on most tiyulim because there is so much to learn and relate to here.
3. Being a Jew in the Land of the Jews. We have Birchat Kohanim every day. This year we observe Shemitta. The list has no end. The simplest of mitzvot takes on extra meaning when you do it here in Israel. You also feel like you belong here, since people are all like you. You know what I mean, you feel it whenever you are here.
2. The Freedom and Independence the Children Enjoy. We had heard about it, but there is no way to truly understand what I am talking about until you are here and experiencing it. The children are so free and independent. They do so much on their own and for themselves. Shabbat Chevron? Chaya and her friends made their own arrangements to go. Yom Yerushalayim or Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations in Yerushalayim? Chaim just grabbed a bus for an all night great time. Lag B'Omer? All the kids went to their own bonfires and had a great time.
They wander the block playing with friends and we feel totally safe even though we have no idea where they are. They are also quite responsible for one another and everyone makes sure to watch over kids – even when they aren't their own.
1. Yerushalayim and Other Holy Places. I was in a cab last week and glanced out the window and HOLY COW – there was the Kotel. It never ceases to amaze me how the sites holiest to us are a car/bus/taxi ride away from the house. Not a plane ride. When we feel the whim, we just head down to the Kotel for a more meaningful davening. Last Tisha B'Av, as I headed to shul for davening, a neighbor pulled up and offered me to join him forming a minyan to daven at the kotel. How cool is that?
The sunrise minyan at the Kotel is unbelievable. As the sun rises and everyone gets to Shemona Esreh, a sudden silence descends upon the plaza and it is very moving. You can literally hear the birds chirp. Although I don't go as often as I should, the fact that I CAN go whenever I want is one of the highlights of being here.
Also, even though we miss many simchas being here, the fact that we get to join many friends who make their simcha here at places like the Kotel or Maarat HaMachpela is truly astounding. These holy places are so linked to who we are and what we live for that there is no substitute
This week's parsha teaches us about the meraglim (spies) who were sent to spy out by the Jewish people from the desert into the land of Israel to reconnoiter and gather information to be used for tactical purposes in the conquering of the land. As we all know, they came back with a glowing report about the land itself and concluded their report with the very telling word, “BUT.....” and dissuaded the Jews from wanting to enter the land based on the difficulties they perceived in being able to conquer and occupy the land. Because of their sin, our people waited a generation before finally gaining entrance to our land.
When talking about the Katz family and our personal assent to Israel as a home, there is no question that we too have faced incredible hardships and challenges in coming to Israel. Lest anyone err and feel dissuaded from coming to live here by hearing our story, I decided to give you the top ten reasons you should come join us in Israel – one for each of the meraglim who stood in our collective way all those years ago.
10. Medical Coverage. Prescription drugs cost us around $4 each prescription. Our HMO has three pharmacies in town, so we get (literally) the best possible pricing they can offer. This is part of the universal medical coverage that is available to every citizen and even non citizens who pay for coverage (like we do for Chaim) at a very low cost per month. Have a fever and need to see the doctor? Just pop in, they will squeeze you in (to the chagrin of the people waiting for regular appointments). Need to see a specialist? That is around $7 – the same goes for an MRI or other diagnostic scan. Did I mention that the basic premiums are covered in your payroll taxes?
Of course, there are extra premiums for more comprehensive plans (we have it) as well as additional insurance that allows for coverage for treatment out of the country for serious illnesses if desired (we are trying to get it). For very sick people, all the waiting for appointments and bureaucracy can be a challenge. But, all in all, for basic medical needs and regular day to day living – you can't beat universal coverage.
9. Climate. Come to Bet Shemesh and snow will be a thing of your past. Yes, it definitely does get hot here and some days are really scorching – but the worst of the weather is usually a bunch of rain or a very cold wind. Pack your sunscreen and come get a really nice tan.
8. One Day of Yom Tov/More Chol Hamoed. Hey – this one is a no brainer. The only chance we have for a 3 day Yom Tov is Rosh Hashana, everything else is almost always a one day affair. It definitely took some getting used to the first few chagim, but I cannot imagine ever going back to having 2 seders or Shmini Atzeret and THEN Simchat Torah on separate days. The only drawback in having the extra day of chol hamoed is having to plan an additional day trip to keep the kids busy (and pay for it too). We also get to count the omer the way it is supposed to be counted, from the first night of chol hamoed.
Another great part of Yom Tov is the fact that EVERYONE is celebrating with you. Instead of the kids asking to see the x-mas light lawn displays, we walk around and admire chanukiyot (Menoras). The storekeeper will wish you chag sameach before a Yom Tov and you never have to figure out how many vacation days you lose because of Yom Tov.
7. The Food Court at Many Malls. I know it sounds funny, but think about being able to shop in the mall and then walk into the food court and grab a nice lunch or dinner. The Malha Mall has so many Kosher restaurants that we just pick a side (meat or dairy) and let the kids choose which meal from which restaurant. It isn't just the mall. Last year Goldie and I were walking around Manhattan and could only find one kosher bagel shop within a 7 block area. Kosher food is everywhere here – especially in the supermarkets. Speaking about the supermarkets, that leads me to...
6. No Price Gouging for Pesach/Holidays. You know what I mean. The amazing ability of all of the grocery stores to suddenly raise their prices for meats, dairy products and just about everything else to jump as soon as they convert to Pesach. I understand how they have to pass some of the costs of kashering for Pesach to the consumer. I also get the fact that the sheer volume of business being done here makes it cheaper to do per customer. But, the prices here don't rise at all for Pesach. I think some of it is because the major meat/poultry/dairy producers make sure that their products are Kosher for Pesach year round – but why can't they do that at the mall.
5. Tuition? HAHAHAHAHA. How much do you pay for High School? I am paying something like $175 a month AND THAT IS FULL TUITION! We have to pay more for tutors because our kids have some catching up to do still, but even if you double it – we are still way ahead of the game. Did I mention that we are going to pay something like $400 for a FULL YEAR of preschool for Moshe next year? It is less than a block away and a huge bargain.
4. Living in the Land of the Tanach. Wherever we go we pass something that has a deep connection to Jewish history. Day trips are full of fascinating historical information and it is even engaging to the kids, who are much more versed in Tanach than their American counterparts. Why? Simple. The Tanach is in their native tongue and therefore requires much less translation and/or explanation than has to be given to an English speaking student. Our Yeshiva has a requirement that students bring a tanach with them on most tiyulim because there is so much to learn and relate to here.
3. Being a Jew in the Land of the Jews. We have Birchat Kohanim every day. This year we observe Shemitta. The list has no end. The simplest of mitzvot takes on extra meaning when you do it here in Israel. You also feel like you belong here, since people are all like you. You know what I mean, you feel it whenever you are here.
2. The Freedom and Independence the Children Enjoy. We had heard about it, but there is no way to truly understand what I am talking about until you are here and experiencing it. The children are so free and independent. They do so much on their own and for themselves. Shabbat Chevron? Chaya and her friends made their own arrangements to go. Yom Yerushalayim or Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations in Yerushalayim? Chaim just grabbed a bus for an all night great time. Lag B'Omer? All the kids went to their own bonfires and had a great time.
They wander the block playing with friends and we feel totally safe even though we have no idea where they are. They are also quite responsible for one another and everyone makes sure to watch over kids – even when they aren't their own.
1. Yerushalayim and Other Holy Places. I was in a cab last week and glanced out the window and HOLY COW – there was the Kotel. It never ceases to amaze me how the sites holiest to us are a car/bus/taxi ride away from the house. Not a plane ride. When we feel the whim, we just head down to the Kotel for a more meaningful davening. Last Tisha B'Av, as I headed to shul for davening, a neighbor pulled up and offered me to join him forming a minyan to daven at the kotel. How cool is that?
The sunrise minyan at the Kotel is unbelievable. As the sun rises and everyone gets to Shemona Esreh, a sudden silence descends upon the plaza and it is very moving. You can literally hear the birds chirp. Although I don't go as often as I should, the fact that I CAN go whenever I want is one of the highlights of being here.
Also, even though we miss many simchas being here, the fact that we get to join many friends who make their simcha here at places like the Kotel or Maarat HaMachpela is truly astounding. These holy places are so linked to who we are and what we live for that there is no substitute
Bonfires (Article# 85) 6/5/08
Lag B’omer is a big deal here in Israel. The entire country becomes a huge bonfire with almost everyone participating, religious and non-religious alike. That is part of the thrill of living here, knowing that almost the entire country has a similar heritage and, believers or not, they identify with that heritage in significant ways.
Wood, a precious commodity even during the year, becomes a highly sought after item in the weeks following Pesach. Since the teens and pre-teens all want their own Medura (bonfire) for their group of twelve to thirty (sometimes more) participants, they all go rampaging for any scrap of wood that they can find. Piles of wood begin to appear in backyards and driveways (in some houses more than one pile appears – depending on how many kids they have and how they split the booty).
Unfortunately, they are sometimes a little too zealous in their search and take things like succa panels or tabletops that had been stored outside without realizing that those items were actually someone’s property. The mall and supermarket garbage areas are also regularly raided for the wooden pallets that are used in the shipping of goods. A quick fourteen year old can reduce a wooden pallet to a nice pile of firewood in about 5 minutes with a sharp hatchet. Some people go to the woods (which surround Bet Shemesh on all sides) looking for fallen trees or deadwood to use.
Two or three days before Lag B’omer the chareidim begin to build their bonfires. This is one area in which they are expert. Most of our bonfires are pretty small, with an occasional group looking to show how “cool” they are by making a larger tepee style bonfire. Not for the chareidim.
They make HUGE bonfires. They use logs and set up very impressive wood tepees that are placed in very open areas. They need to be in open areas, since the resulting fire is incredible. I am talking about flames shooting higher than the roof of five story apartment buildings, fire so hot and intense that anyone closer than twenty or twenty five feet away can get burned by the heat. They also have special tefillot that they say at the bonfires – for them Lag B’omer is a major event.
Although we did not go to Meiron, the celebrations at Meiron are a top attraction, with over 200,000 people attending this year. This year, with Lag B’omer coming on Friday, the celebration stretched through Shabbat as Meiron and neighboring Tzfat were filled with people taking advantage of the long weekend. It was (reportedly) a highly uplifting experience, one that I know many of our students truly enjoyed.
Our personal Lag B’omer celebration was also a lot of fun. Last year, Lag B’omer came out on Saturday night – the week before Goldie’s surgery. Having not seen the kids for three weeks, and knowing that it would be another few weeks before I had the opportunity to see them again, I decided to fly to Israel for the weekend to visit them and thus had the chance to experience Lag B’omer personally and enjoy the kids. I sent Goldie pictures of them – but it wasn’t the same and she was very excited to be here in person this year.
Our block has a special kids’ medura which is organized by Yossi Bienenstock and Jon Duker, a couple of our neighbors. This year, with the completion of the construction across the block from us and the removal of all the building materials from the street in front of our house, we were asked if it could be held at the dead end right in front of our house and we readily agreed.
The bonfire (as always) was a huge hit. Having the kids enjoy it together as a group really enhanced the experience for them. With over 100 kids joining in, it was an active, cheerful, excited and awestruck group. There were marshmallows on skewers to be toasted on the fire, hot dogs for grilling, s’mores being made – one family even brought and baked their own potatoes! It was heartwarming to see so many mothers and fathers bring and share the treats so freely with all the kids. Batya, Mordechai and Moshe were enthralled, and it was more special to them because they were with their friends. Of course the marshmallows and hot dogs helped (Moshe must have eaten 50 marshmallows).
The demographics of our block are very interesting. Most of the families are very young, with a bunch of little kids. I would say that 70% of the children who live on our block are grade 4 or lower. There is also, like us, a group of middle aged parents with older kids and teens – but we are definitely the significant minority. At times, and this was one of them, we feel like we (the minority group) could be the grandparents of these kids (in one case this actually applies). I guess we all grow up some time.
Our older kids each did their own thing. Chaim decided (for some unknown reason) that Efrat was the place to be and went with a friend to Yerushalayim and then Efrat for an all night medura there. He came home early the next morning, tired but telling us he had a great time.
Chaya has Bargruyot exams coming up. These are similar to regents exams and she needs to pass them in order to qualify for a diploma. She has worked very hard this year, focusing all her efforts to being successful within the Israeli educational system in her school so that she can stay in the school she is currently attending rather than have to go to a GED school. She really loves the school and her friends there.
With the exams only a couple weeks away, she decided to skip the bonfires altogether in favor of studying and spent the night babysitting one of our neighbor’s children and studying. We tried to push her to go to a bonfire for the sake of the experience, but she stuck to her decision and we appreciated the maturity it took for her to remain so committed to her academics, coming out to the little kids’ bonfire for only 5 minutes just to say hi – and help roast a couple marshmallows.
Aliza was invited to join a group a couple of blocks from our house. I’m not sure just how many kids were there, but what made our minds rest easier was that several parents rotated supervision of the group, making sure things did not get out of hand (a group of twelve and thirteen year olds with fire – scary).
The firetrucks are out in full force all night, putting out the fires that were set in the middle of dry grass and spread too far or had just simply gotten out of hand. I am sure that the firemen are the one group who aren’t really thrilled on Lag B’omer here, having to run around all night, but I haven’t heard of any major incidents which is a good thing.
By Friday, the whole country smells like smoke. In fact, all the community email lists were filled (pre Lag B’omer) with reminders to KEEP YOUR WINDOWS CLOSED. I can tell you first hand that an open window makes for a smelly house. Last year, we missed one bathroom window and the fire smell lasted for a week or so. We were therefore very careful this year to make sure all the windows were closed.
As a child, Lag B’omer was always the bow and arrow holiday; I am not sure why. Here, I didn’t notice even the slightest allusion to them. Yet another difference from our old culture to our new one.
Wood, a precious commodity even during the year, becomes a highly sought after item in the weeks following Pesach. Since the teens and pre-teens all want their own Medura (bonfire) for their group of twelve to thirty (sometimes more) participants, they all go rampaging for any scrap of wood that they can find. Piles of wood begin to appear in backyards and driveways (in some houses more than one pile appears – depending on how many kids they have and how they split the booty).
Unfortunately, they are sometimes a little too zealous in their search and take things like succa panels or tabletops that had been stored outside without realizing that those items were actually someone’s property. The mall and supermarket garbage areas are also regularly raided for the wooden pallets that are used in the shipping of goods. A quick fourteen year old can reduce a wooden pallet to a nice pile of firewood in about 5 minutes with a sharp hatchet. Some people go to the woods (which surround Bet Shemesh on all sides) looking for fallen trees or deadwood to use.
Two or three days before Lag B’omer the chareidim begin to build their bonfires. This is one area in which they are expert. Most of our bonfires are pretty small, with an occasional group looking to show how “cool” they are by making a larger tepee style bonfire. Not for the chareidim.
They make HUGE bonfires. They use logs and set up very impressive wood tepees that are placed in very open areas. They need to be in open areas, since the resulting fire is incredible. I am talking about flames shooting higher than the roof of five story apartment buildings, fire so hot and intense that anyone closer than twenty or twenty five feet away can get burned by the heat. They also have special tefillot that they say at the bonfires – for them Lag B’omer is a major event.
Although we did not go to Meiron, the celebrations at Meiron are a top attraction, with over 200,000 people attending this year. This year, with Lag B’omer coming on Friday, the celebration stretched through Shabbat as Meiron and neighboring Tzfat were filled with people taking advantage of the long weekend. It was (reportedly) a highly uplifting experience, one that I know many of our students truly enjoyed.
Our personal Lag B’omer celebration was also a lot of fun. Last year, Lag B’omer came out on Saturday night – the week before Goldie’s surgery. Having not seen the kids for three weeks, and knowing that it would be another few weeks before I had the opportunity to see them again, I decided to fly to Israel for the weekend to visit them and thus had the chance to experience Lag B’omer personally and enjoy the kids. I sent Goldie pictures of them – but it wasn’t the same and she was very excited to be here in person this year.
Our block has a special kids’ medura which is organized by Yossi Bienenstock and Jon Duker, a couple of our neighbors. This year, with the completion of the construction across the block from us and the removal of all the building materials from the street in front of our house, we were asked if it could be held at the dead end right in front of our house and we readily agreed.
The bonfire (as always) was a huge hit. Having the kids enjoy it together as a group really enhanced the experience for them. With over 100 kids joining in, it was an active, cheerful, excited and awestruck group. There were marshmallows on skewers to be toasted on the fire, hot dogs for grilling, s’mores being made – one family even brought and baked their own potatoes! It was heartwarming to see so many mothers and fathers bring and share the treats so freely with all the kids. Batya, Mordechai and Moshe were enthralled, and it was more special to them because they were with their friends. Of course the marshmallows and hot dogs helped (Moshe must have eaten 50 marshmallows).
The demographics of our block are very interesting. Most of the families are very young, with a bunch of little kids. I would say that 70% of the children who live on our block are grade 4 or lower. There is also, like us, a group of middle aged parents with older kids and teens – but we are definitely the significant minority. At times, and this was one of them, we feel like we (the minority group) could be the grandparents of these kids (in one case this actually applies). I guess we all grow up some time.
Our older kids each did their own thing. Chaim decided (for some unknown reason) that Efrat was the place to be and went with a friend to Yerushalayim and then Efrat for an all night medura there. He came home early the next morning, tired but telling us he had a great time.
Chaya has Bargruyot exams coming up. These are similar to regents exams and she needs to pass them in order to qualify for a diploma. She has worked very hard this year, focusing all her efforts to being successful within the Israeli educational system in her school so that she can stay in the school she is currently attending rather than have to go to a GED school. She really loves the school and her friends there.
With the exams only a couple weeks away, she decided to skip the bonfires altogether in favor of studying and spent the night babysitting one of our neighbor’s children and studying. We tried to push her to go to a bonfire for the sake of the experience, but she stuck to her decision and we appreciated the maturity it took for her to remain so committed to her academics, coming out to the little kids’ bonfire for only 5 minutes just to say hi – and help roast a couple marshmallows.
Aliza was invited to join a group a couple of blocks from our house. I’m not sure just how many kids were there, but what made our minds rest easier was that several parents rotated supervision of the group, making sure things did not get out of hand (a group of twelve and thirteen year olds with fire – scary).
The firetrucks are out in full force all night, putting out the fires that were set in the middle of dry grass and spread too far or had just simply gotten out of hand. I am sure that the firemen are the one group who aren’t really thrilled on Lag B’omer here, having to run around all night, but I haven’t heard of any major incidents which is a good thing.
By Friday, the whole country smells like smoke. In fact, all the community email lists were filled (pre Lag B’omer) with reminders to KEEP YOUR WINDOWS CLOSED. I can tell you first hand that an open window makes for a smelly house. Last year, we missed one bathroom window and the fire smell lasted for a week or so. We were therefore very careful this year to make sure all the windows were closed.
As a child, Lag B’omer was always the bow and arrow holiday; I am not sure why. Here, I didn’t notice even the slightest allusion to them. Yet another difference from our old culture to our new one.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Odds and Ends (Article# 84) 5/22/2008
Last Friday morning, Goldie and I went on our semi regular double date for breakfast with Donny and Tzippy Lieberman. They last appeared in these pages almost two years ago, having made Aliyah on our flight and moved to Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph. A few months ago, Goldie got a call from Tzippy inviting us to join them for Friday breakfast at a local café. That invitation turned into a regular outing, whenever both Donny and I are in town (he travels much more than I do for work purposes).
A couple of weeks ago we were driving into Yerushalayim for a breakfast on Ben Yehuda with his parents who had been in for Pesach and were due to return to the USA the following week. I was telling them about our chol hamoed trip with my in laws to Sderot and how great it felt to help support the people there and provide them with income.
Donny and Tzippy had never been to Sderot, and we agreed that the next Friday outing (upon Donny’s return from overseas) would be breakfast and shopping in Sderot. On Tuesday there was a rocket that landed in Ashkelon and with reports of other rockets in the area, Goldie and Tzippy both expressed their concern about heading there at this time and the initial plans were cancelled.
On Friday morning, we were ready to head to Modiin when we all decided to just go to Sderot and let H-shem take care of the details. On our way there, when Donny mentioned that seven rockets had fallen in Sderot the day before, Goldie began to get apprehensive.
Driving through Sderot is difficult. There are concrete bunkers every few blocks, bus stops have been converted to bomb shelters and the construction of the ganim (preschool) is clearly different than the rest of the country in the way they are reinforced. When you think that Sderot is less than an hour’s drive from our home, it is also somewhat unsettling.
We found a café and enjoyed a nice quiet breakfast (although Donny visibly jumped at any loud noise that occurred) and then started to browse the shops for some shopping. The first store keeper mentioned how crazy the day before had been, asked us where we were from and then effusively gushed his thanks to us for coming to his store, saying that we were his first customers of the day. The entire morning was like that and we really took pride in being there and helping support the people without their having to take a handout.
My sister called to wish me Shabbat Shalom while we were there and after her initial shock that we were actually in Sderot asked me to look for a certain store in Sderot. It turns out that her boss, wanting to help support the merchants of Sderot asked her to start buying office supplies from a store there and she wanted to see if we could find it (we did). Goldie mentioned that our Yeshiva’s maintenance head also started buying all of our disposables from a vendor in Sderot as well, for the same reason.
As we begin to enter the doldrum days of the summer, where very little happens, I thought I would write about some of the odds and ends that didn’t merit a special article in and of themselves, but definitely are a part of our Israel experience.
Let’s talk little league. Having coached little league in the USA for seven years (out of the eight years Chaim played in the league), I have become used to the 5 Towns version of the season. Just after Purim the season starts, it runs through June and if you were lucky enough to have no rain outs, you end up with two weeks of playoffs. Most teams play ten or eleven games in a season and it is essentially a spring event.
This year I was drafted (by Goldie) to resume coaching (or maybe I should say co-coaching). Since the weather by us is so nice year round, the season began some time after sukkot and will end in the middle of June. That’s right, the season runs for something like eight months! Since Friday is the only free day we have, it becomes an incredible inconvenience. Additionally, with a game each week (after the first month of practices), we play something like twenty five to thirty games a year, which is a lot when the team is mostly second and third graders.
For the little league coach (and/or parent), the rainy season becomes very important. I think we had three rainouts this year, and it was like getting paroled from a prison sentence. This week they sent an email that there was going to be little league on Lag B’omer, and I know that all the coaches collectively groaned. It just never ends.
On the positive note, the length of the season gives us an opportunity to work on the kids skills a lot and help them develop. We get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each player and the team jells a lot better since they have been together for so long. Also, even though Mordechai was officially not in the league (he was a few months too young to sign up), he came to practices and the kids saw that he was a good player and agreed with us (the coaches) when we snuck him into the lineup on the days we were shorthanded. So he had a chance to play as well (don’t tell the commish).
Another thing – Shabbat meals out. It seems like there isn’t a Shabbat that goes by where we do not either have company or are company for at least one meal. With thousands of students and tourists visiting the country for a week to a year, there are a lot of people to visit with. Another factor is the fact that the community is constantly growing and changing as new people move in, and we all are trying to get to know one another. We do a lot less going out during the week than we did, but our Shabbatot are much more active.
One thing I did get this week was some feedback. I get a few emails each month from someone commenting on an article I wrote or point I made. Most of the emails are critical; people who agree with me have no need to tell me so, but the detractors want to make their point in return.
This person was concerned that I was giving Chareidim a bad rap and that most of you might get the wrong impression about them from my articles. So, I wanted to reiterate two points.
The first is that the chareidim I write about are a small segment of the chareidi community. Most of them are not violent, nor do they participate in the rock throwing or harassing that does, unfortunately happen. They don’t do anything to stop it, and I personally believe that deep in their hearts they truly support these people – but the real crazies are definitely only a minority. They are just more visible because of their actions.
Secondly, when I embarked upon this weekly journey with you, the goal was to write a diary of sorts and try to have you feel as if you were standing next to me as events unfolded. It is a very personal description of things that happen to me and my family, here in Bet Shemesh. In Bet Shemesh (as in some other places as well), there is a very vocal minority group of chareidim that have an affect upon our lives. As such, I write about it. I am sure that if I lived in Ranaana, Efrat or Chashmonaim, I would write a lot less about chareidim and a lot more about concerns specific to those areas.
A couple of weeks ago we were driving into Yerushalayim for a breakfast on Ben Yehuda with his parents who had been in for Pesach and were due to return to the USA the following week. I was telling them about our chol hamoed trip with my in laws to Sderot and how great it felt to help support the people there and provide them with income.
Donny and Tzippy had never been to Sderot, and we agreed that the next Friday outing (upon Donny’s return from overseas) would be breakfast and shopping in Sderot. On Tuesday there was a rocket that landed in Ashkelon and with reports of other rockets in the area, Goldie and Tzippy both expressed their concern about heading there at this time and the initial plans were cancelled.
On Friday morning, we were ready to head to Modiin when we all decided to just go to Sderot and let H-shem take care of the details. On our way there, when Donny mentioned that seven rockets had fallen in Sderot the day before, Goldie began to get apprehensive.
Driving through Sderot is difficult. There are concrete bunkers every few blocks, bus stops have been converted to bomb shelters and the construction of the ganim (preschool) is clearly different than the rest of the country in the way they are reinforced. When you think that Sderot is less than an hour’s drive from our home, it is also somewhat unsettling.
We found a café and enjoyed a nice quiet breakfast (although Donny visibly jumped at any loud noise that occurred) and then started to browse the shops for some shopping. The first store keeper mentioned how crazy the day before had been, asked us where we were from and then effusively gushed his thanks to us for coming to his store, saying that we were his first customers of the day. The entire morning was like that and we really took pride in being there and helping support the people without their having to take a handout.
My sister called to wish me Shabbat Shalom while we were there and after her initial shock that we were actually in Sderot asked me to look for a certain store in Sderot. It turns out that her boss, wanting to help support the merchants of Sderot asked her to start buying office supplies from a store there and she wanted to see if we could find it (we did). Goldie mentioned that our Yeshiva’s maintenance head also started buying all of our disposables from a vendor in Sderot as well, for the same reason.
As we begin to enter the doldrum days of the summer, where very little happens, I thought I would write about some of the odds and ends that didn’t merit a special article in and of themselves, but definitely are a part of our Israel experience.
Let’s talk little league. Having coached little league in the USA for seven years (out of the eight years Chaim played in the league), I have become used to the 5 Towns version of the season. Just after Purim the season starts, it runs through June and if you were lucky enough to have no rain outs, you end up with two weeks of playoffs. Most teams play ten or eleven games in a season and it is essentially a spring event.
This year I was drafted (by Goldie) to resume coaching (or maybe I should say co-coaching). Since the weather by us is so nice year round, the season began some time after sukkot and will end in the middle of June. That’s right, the season runs for something like eight months! Since Friday is the only free day we have, it becomes an incredible inconvenience. Additionally, with a game each week (after the first month of practices), we play something like twenty five to thirty games a year, which is a lot when the team is mostly second and third graders.
For the little league coach (and/or parent), the rainy season becomes very important. I think we had three rainouts this year, and it was like getting paroled from a prison sentence. This week they sent an email that there was going to be little league on Lag B’omer, and I know that all the coaches collectively groaned. It just never ends.
On the positive note, the length of the season gives us an opportunity to work on the kids skills a lot and help them develop. We get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each player and the team jells a lot better since they have been together for so long. Also, even though Mordechai was officially not in the league (he was a few months too young to sign up), he came to practices and the kids saw that he was a good player and agreed with us (the coaches) when we snuck him into the lineup on the days we were shorthanded. So he had a chance to play as well (don’t tell the commish).
Another thing – Shabbat meals out. It seems like there isn’t a Shabbat that goes by where we do not either have company or are company for at least one meal. With thousands of students and tourists visiting the country for a week to a year, there are a lot of people to visit with. Another factor is the fact that the community is constantly growing and changing as new people move in, and we all are trying to get to know one another. We do a lot less going out during the week than we did, but our Shabbatot are much more active.
One thing I did get this week was some feedback. I get a few emails each month from someone commenting on an article I wrote or point I made. Most of the emails are critical; people who agree with me have no need to tell me so, but the detractors want to make their point in return.
This person was concerned that I was giving Chareidim a bad rap and that most of you might get the wrong impression about them from my articles. So, I wanted to reiterate two points.
The first is that the chareidim I write about are a small segment of the chareidi community. Most of them are not violent, nor do they participate in the rock throwing or harassing that does, unfortunately happen. They don’t do anything to stop it, and I personally believe that deep in their hearts they truly support these people – but the real crazies are definitely only a minority. They are just more visible because of their actions.
Secondly, when I embarked upon this weekly journey with you, the goal was to write a diary of sorts and try to have you feel as if you were standing next to me as events unfolded. It is a very personal description of things that happen to me and my family, here in Bet Shemesh. In Bet Shemesh (as in some other places as well), there is a very vocal minority group of chareidim that have an affect upon our lives. As such, I write about it. I am sure that if I lived in Ranaana, Efrat or Chashmonaim, I would write a lot less about chareidim and a lot more about concerns specific to those areas.
Milestones (Article# 83) 5/15/2008
Last week was one of many milestones here, both nationally and personally. The national holidays reminded us, once again, just how young a country Israel is and how differently the people of Israel show their pride, concern, honor, and (in some cases) disrespect for the country in which we now live.
We celebrated 60 years of Israel’s existence last week. Immediately following Purim, the beginning preparations for the celebration could already be seen in the approach to Yerushalayim with the construction of a large “60–Israel” sign on the major Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway. Flags went up all over the roads, as the highway crews spent countless hours adorning the light poles with our national flag.
Once Pesach concluded, the signs really came out. Office buildings and yeshivot unfurled huge flags that draped over the sides of their buildings. Different celebrations were announced and flags began to sprout from car windows throughout the country. Schools, shuls, and other groups sent out notices for their specific events and the excitement began to build. Early in the week, Bank Hapoalim distributed a free flag with the morning newspaper and there were suddenly flags waving all over the country.
Of course, hand in hand with Yom HaAtzma’ut is Yom HaZikaron, the Israeli Memorial Day. In an incredibly fitting touch, each year Israel refuses to celebrate its existence until it pays high honors to the people who made the ultimate sacrifice so that first we could exist, and then we could continue to exist. The air raid sirens go off twice and the nation pauses in reflection not once but twice, as each person is reminded to think of these heroes.
It was an opportunity to really talk with our kids and highlight how miraculous our existence is here. Even the younger ones can definitely relate to the chayalim that they see every day and understand how 22,437 of them have perished since 1948. It was sad to note that almost everyone knows someone who had a friend or relative who was killed in defense of Israel.
At night, after the first siren and minute of silence, there was a special memorial ceremony at the Kotel, which was televised, along with various speeches. The audience was comprised totally of the families of the fallen, and as the speakers spoke to them, the rest of us were just witnessing the tributes. Interestingly, the Israeli television channels (even the satellite channels) broadcast either nothing or special programming appropriate to the day. Entertainment was a no-no.
Yom HaZikaron is taken very seriously here. All restaurants, supermarkets, and stores close early out of respect (similar to Yom HaShoah). People consciously take steps to increase their thoughts and (in some cases) tefillah in memory of the dead.
Imagine if the U.S. acted in the same manner. I don’t just mean the waving/hanging of the flag. I mean taking time to actually reflect on the losses of generations of youth and future generations in defense of the country and in safekeeping our right to exist and our way of life. Picture this—moving Memorial Day to July 3 and making it a real day of remembrance. Not just parades and barbecues, but spending time actually reflecting on the service and dedication of those in the armed forces and the sacrifices they often make. Imagine how much more patriotic Americans would be.
Unfortunately, not everyone here in Israel feels the same way. We expect the Arabs to feel somewhat less than patriotic, but the vitriol that comes from some elements in the chareidi community is in some ways worse. I find it interesting that the chareidim are insistent that we accept their right to hang their “tzeniut dress only” signs from the walls of their houses yet they object to and interfere with our hanging the flag of our nation.
One of our neighbors has been very involved with setting up lines of dialogue between our neighbors. He got a call last week from a member of the vehement group of chareidim. The caller was registering his concern over the proliferation of flags on the balconies and windows facing the chareidi side of the street (and you would be 1,000 percent correct in assuming I had a lot to do with encouraging my neighbors to hang these flags—there are two of them hanging from the windows of our house as well) and wanted to have arrangements made for the removal of the flags.
The response? “Not only am I doing nothing about it, I am offended that you would even think to make such a call!” Of course, within a day the predictable response was the hanging of even more of the tzeniut patrol’s signs across the way. *Sigh*
Perhaps they have forgotten what it is like to be a Jew in a land where you are not allowed to practice freely. Perhaps they take the protection offered to them by our servicemen and women for granted, forgetting that it is this blanket of protection that allows them the freedom to live here and to harass those they feel do not adhere to their interpretations of what our obligations are. I cannot figure out what these people are actually doing in Israel. Perhaps they would be better off in another country, where they can deride the existence of the state from afar rather than use it as the base for their activities.
Mordechai came home from school telling us about one of his teachers, who is also the assistant principal of his campus, leading an outdoor assembly and sharing stories with the first and second grades about a very close friend of his who he grew up with and how he was killed in action. Similar programs went on throughout the country.
By the time the day was over, I know that internally I felt much more positive about the country as a whole and its people. This is probably one of the reasons it is linked with Yom HaAtzma’ut, because I certainly felt more appreciation that Israel is here for 60 years than I thought I would and that feeling was definitely enhanced by Yom HaZikaron.
Yom HaAtzma’ut is a big party. Having been here only once before on Yom HaAtzma’ut (our pilot trip’s final day was Yom HaAtzma’ut 2006—see the archives), we really did not know what to expect. There were celebrations everywhere, and each person in our family did something different from the others.
I went to Efrat to be with the yeshiva at the Efrat communal celebration culminating in a fireworks show, followed by a special Maariv and a barbecue at the Rosh Yeshiva’s house. Goldie stayed at home with Mordechai and watched fireworks from our window. Chaim went to Yerushalayim to enjoy the celebrations there with a bunch of his friends. Chaya went to a special memorial service and then had a big party with many of her classmates. Aliza went to a different memorial service and then went to a sleepover party with several friends. And Batya went to a memorial service, went to watch the movie Exodus at a friend’s house, and then watched fireworks from our house with Goldie.
The next morning I rushed off to yeshiva. I loaded the car with students and at 6:30 in the morning we headed off to deliver rugelach, chocolate milk, and goodie bags to soldiers at various checkpoints and an army base. What a well-received gesture. There is nothing quite like seeing the interaction of our students with chayalim and chayalot only a couple of years older than them (if that much). It just feels great to say thanks.
After a special davening at yeshiva I quickly rushed home to get the kids together (minus Chaim, whose yeshiva had its own event that day—a barbecue to which they invited their entire moshav to come and enjoy) and start our own celebratory day.
Having no experience in what is appropriate, we made things up and arranged to meet my brother and his family at a local pool for an afternoon of swimming. There was almost no one there and it was quite nice to have a quiet afternoon, when we were expecting the place to be totally crowded. After the swim, we drove into a local national park, found ourselves a couple of picnic tables, and proceeded to light up my newly bought mini-grill and enjoy a barbecue together.
Since we got a late start to the day, most of the people who had gone to this park were either finishing up or had departed, and within an hour we had the entire area to ourselves, until a shul group from the North pulled in and set up their barbecue next to us. You know you are in Israel when you are in the middle of a national park, a bus pulls up and disgorges its passengers, who immediately form a Minchah minyan, and you join them for davening. We all enjoyed the day, and by the time we got home we were exhausted and ready for a good night’s sleep.
Friday was a day of personal milestones as well, marking the first anniversary of Goldie’s surgery in the U.S. It has been a time of upheaval for us, and although I generally do not mention it much here in this space, it has been a trying time for us as well. Hopefully she will continue her recovery.
This column’s focus is supposed to be on aliyah and the experiences of our family as we moved from Woodmere in the Five Towns to Bet Shemesh. Clearly, our tale is not the typical one. Yet, I must pause to point out that every one of our peers has had their own personal issues that were, to them at least, extremely critical and difficult. So I wanted to take this minute to thank all of you who have been so supportive of our family this past year and to look forward to sharing many more successes than failures in the future.
On another personal note, Goldie and I want to wish a special mazal tov to our former neighbors Rabbi Mordechai and Sora Kamenetzky on the engagement of their daughter Bashy.
We celebrated 60 years of Israel’s existence last week. Immediately following Purim, the beginning preparations for the celebration could already be seen in the approach to Yerushalayim with the construction of a large “60–Israel” sign on the major Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway. Flags went up all over the roads, as the highway crews spent countless hours adorning the light poles with our national flag.
Once Pesach concluded, the signs really came out. Office buildings and yeshivot unfurled huge flags that draped over the sides of their buildings. Different celebrations were announced and flags began to sprout from car windows throughout the country. Schools, shuls, and other groups sent out notices for their specific events and the excitement began to build. Early in the week, Bank Hapoalim distributed a free flag with the morning newspaper and there were suddenly flags waving all over the country.
Of course, hand in hand with Yom HaAtzma’ut is Yom HaZikaron, the Israeli Memorial Day. In an incredibly fitting touch, each year Israel refuses to celebrate its existence until it pays high honors to the people who made the ultimate sacrifice so that first we could exist, and then we could continue to exist. The air raid sirens go off twice and the nation pauses in reflection not once but twice, as each person is reminded to think of these heroes.
It was an opportunity to really talk with our kids and highlight how miraculous our existence is here. Even the younger ones can definitely relate to the chayalim that they see every day and understand how 22,437 of them have perished since 1948. It was sad to note that almost everyone knows someone who had a friend or relative who was killed in defense of Israel.
At night, after the first siren and minute of silence, there was a special memorial ceremony at the Kotel, which was televised, along with various speeches. The audience was comprised totally of the families of the fallen, and as the speakers spoke to them, the rest of us were just witnessing the tributes. Interestingly, the Israeli television channels (even the satellite channels) broadcast either nothing or special programming appropriate to the day. Entertainment was a no-no.
Yom HaZikaron is taken very seriously here. All restaurants, supermarkets, and stores close early out of respect (similar to Yom HaShoah). People consciously take steps to increase their thoughts and (in some cases) tefillah in memory of the dead.
Imagine if the U.S. acted in the same manner. I don’t just mean the waving/hanging of the flag. I mean taking time to actually reflect on the losses of generations of youth and future generations in defense of the country and in safekeeping our right to exist and our way of life. Picture this—moving Memorial Day to July 3 and making it a real day of remembrance. Not just parades and barbecues, but spending time actually reflecting on the service and dedication of those in the armed forces and the sacrifices they often make. Imagine how much more patriotic Americans would be.
Unfortunately, not everyone here in Israel feels the same way. We expect the Arabs to feel somewhat less than patriotic, but the vitriol that comes from some elements in the chareidi community is in some ways worse. I find it interesting that the chareidim are insistent that we accept their right to hang their “tzeniut dress only” signs from the walls of their houses yet they object to and interfere with our hanging the flag of our nation.
One of our neighbors has been very involved with setting up lines of dialogue between our neighbors. He got a call last week from a member of the vehement group of chareidim. The caller was registering his concern over the proliferation of flags on the balconies and windows facing the chareidi side of the street (and you would be 1,000 percent correct in assuming I had a lot to do with encouraging my neighbors to hang these flags—there are two of them hanging from the windows of our house as well) and wanted to have arrangements made for the removal of the flags.
The response? “Not only am I doing nothing about it, I am offended that you would even think to make such a call!” Of course, within a day the predictable response was the hanging of even more of the tzeniut patrol’s signs across the way. *Sigh*
Perhaps they have forgotten what it is like to be a Jew in a land where you are not allowed to practice freely. Perhaps they take the protection offered to them by our servicemen and women for granted, forgetting that it is this blanket of protection that allows them the freedom to live here and to harass those they feel do not adhere to their interpretations of what our obligations are. I cannot figure out what these people are actually doing in Israel. Perhaps they would be better off in another country, where they can deride the existence of the state from afar rather than use it as the base for their activities.
Mordechai came home from school telling us about one of his teachers, who is also the assistant principal of his campus, leading an outdoor assembly and sharing stories with the first and second grades about a very close friend of his who he grew up with and how he was killed in action. Similar programs went on throughout the country.
By the time the day was over, I know that internally I felt much more positive about the country as a whole and its people. This is probably one of the reasons it is linked with Yom HaAtzma’ut, because I certainly felt more appreciation that Israel is here for 60 years than I thought I would and that feeling was definitely enhanced by Yom HaZikaron.
Yom HaAtzma’ut is a big party. Having been here only once before on Yom HaAtzma’ut (our pilot trip’s final day was Yom HaAtzma’ut 2006—see the archives), we really did not know what to expect. There were celebrations everywhere, and each person in our family did something different from the others.
I went to Efrat to be with the yeshiva at the Efrat communal celebration culminating in a fireworks show, followed by a special Maariv and a barbecue at the Rosh Yeshiva’s house. Goldie stayed at home with Mordechai and watched fireworks from our window. Chaim went to Yerushalayim to enjoy the celebrations there with a bunch of his friends. Chaya went to a special memorial service and then had a big party with many of her classmates. Aliza went to a different memorial service and then went to a sleepover party with several friends. And Batya went to a memorial service, went to watch the movie Exodus at a friend’s house, and then watched fireworks from our house with Goldie.
The next morning I rushed off to yeshiva. I loaded the car with students and at 6:30 in the morning we headed off to deliver rugelach, chocolate milk, and goodie bags to soldiers at various checkpoints and an army base. What a well-received gesture. There is nothing quite like seeing the interaction of our students with chayalim and chayalot only a couple of years older than them (if that much). It just feels great to say thanks.
After a special davening at yeshiva I quickly rushed home to get the kids together (minus Chaim, whose yeshiva had its own event that day—a barbecue to which they invited their entire moshav to come and enjoy) and start our own celebratory day.
Having no experience in what is appropriate, we made things up and arranged to meet my brother and his family at a local pool for an afternoon of swimming. There was almost no one there and it was quite nice to have a quiet afternoon, when we were expecting the place to be totally crowded. After the swim, we drove into a local national park, found ourselves a couple of picnic tables, and proceeded to light up my newly bought mini-grill and enjoy a barbecue together.
Since we got a late start to the day, most of the people who had gone to this park were either finishing up or had departed, and within an hour we had the entire area to ourselves, until a shul group from the North pulled in and set up their barbecue next to us. You know you are in Israel when you are in the middle of a national park, a bus pulls up and disgorges its passengers, who immediately form a Minchah minyan, and you join them for davening. We all enjoyed the day, and by the time we got home we were exhausted and ready for a good night’s sleep.
Friday was a day of personal milestones as well, marking the first anniversary of Goldie’s surgery in the U.S. It has been a time of upheaval for us, and although I generally do not mention it much here in this space, it has been a trying time for us as well. Hopefully she will continue her recovery.
This column’s focus is supposed to be on aliyah and the experiences of our family as we moved from Woodmere in the Five Towns to Bet Shemesh. Clearly, our tale is not the typical one. Yet, I must pause to point out that every one of our peers has had their own personal issues that were, to them at least, extremely critical and difficult. So I wanted to take this minute to thank all of you who have been so supportive of our family this past year and to look forward to sharing many more successes than failures in the future.
On another personal note, Goldie and I want to wish a special mazal tov to our former neighbors Rabbi Mordechai and Sora Kamenetzky on the engagement of their daughter Bashy.
Saba Shmu (Article# 82) 5/8/2008
One of the Pesach “traditions” we had developed in Woodmere was the habit of converting our kitchen back to chametz as quickly as possible and then getting our annual pizza delivery from one of the Eisen boys from across the street (who probably brought back pizza for everyone on our end of the block each year). This year (and maybe last – I really don’t remember, and I didn’t write last year about doing so), we continued this tradition, sending Zaidy and Chaim out for a couple of pies to “ring in the chometz”.
It was my last pizza for a while. With all the different changes and stresses we went through since making Aliyah, I put on fifty unneeded pounds. According to an informal poll of Bet Shemesh residents, this is actually unusual, as most of those I spoke with talked about losing weight in the move. In any case, I decided to make a real drive to lose the weight starting the day after Pesach and hope to have it off by Channuka.
On Sunday, the last day all the kids would be able to be with Bubbee and Zaidy for the entire day, we took almost (no Chaim) everyone to Yerushalayim for a little shopping (and for me to spend some time in the office trying to begin to get back up to speed). Shopping in the mall in Yerushalayim is an experience in itself; the Malcha mall is NEVER empty – the crowds there resemble walking down a Manhattan sidewalk at lunch time. However, as I regularly say, there is nothing quite like being able to eat at most of the restaurants in the food court.
Thankfully, the elementary schools only took one day of additional vacation after Pesach and by Thursday – even Chaim was back in Yeshiva. School started on Monday for most of the kids and after Bubby and Zaidy left on Monday night (after a too short 11 day stay), we made our way back to a somewhat normal routine by the end of the week.
Getting back to routine from any long break is always an experience. In the Yeshiva, it means greeting the talmidim as they return from their chag experience (some of them in Israel and others who returned home to be with their families). After Pesach we also get an inclination of which of them will be coming back to the Yeshiva for a second year, which adds a little excitement to their arrival as well.
Although most Yeshivot (post HS) in the USA begin on the first day of Iyar, in Israel there are many Yeshivot who started a few days earlier in order to have their students back for Yom Hashoa. We started on the day before Yom Hashoa in order to give some special shiurim on the day and to prepare everyone for the day.
This was our second Yom Hashoa in Israel. When I was here as a teen, I left for Pesach and never returned and missed it. Last year, we were a few days post-diagnosis and Goldie and I were at a doctor’s office in the basement of a hospital. We didn’t hear the siren and with all the things we were dealing with at the time, the truth is that we really weren’t able to focus on the day.
Having completed some errands in the center of town, Goldie and I headed for a major seforim sale run each year by the Mossad HaRav Kook publishing company (right behind the Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva). We had a list of gifts to buy and the sale could not have come at a better time. The doors were scheduled to open at 10 AM, the same time as the Yom Hashoa siren and minute of silence.
Wanting to really experience the moment, Goldie and I headed for a major intersection two blocks away, literally at the entrance to Yerushalayim. Within minutes the siren sounded and life literally ground to a halt. Busses and taxis stopped in the middle of the road and their drivers stood outside their vehicles in respect. All pedestrian traffic froze. My sister told me she was once on the expressway and it was unbelievable to watch all the traffic instantly freeze.
I know that the USA has Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day and these are recognized as honoring those who have served their country. However, with Yom Hashoa and Yom Hazikaron (coming up in a couple days), Israel’s observances pack much more power and really focus on memorializing those who have been lost. Although it is only for a matter of seconds, the entire country focuses on honoring and remembering those who were killed at the same time and in a somber and respectful fashion. Yes, we also have parades and services, but there is nothing quite like that minute.
Of course, it goes without saying that Goldie cried. I turned to her as the sirens ended and there she was, wiping away the tears. While seeing her cry was not surprising, her explanation was. She said that it was the first time that she really took a minute to think about all the people lost in her mother’s side of the family and to consider how our lives would have been different, if only…
When we got home, each kid had a different story of what they were doing and how they reacted to the sirens. Chaim and Chaya were home (Chaya was laying in bed doing homework and she jumped up when she heard the siren – in the privacy of her bedroom). Aliza was in the middle of an assembly at school where the twelfth graders were reading very emotional compositions on the holocaust. As she put it, the whole room was swimming from the tears. Batya and Mordechai were in special assemblies in their schools, and Mordechai told us that on his own, he decided to say some tehillim to himself while the siren was ringing.
We have a friend who assists in Mordechai’s first grade classroom. She told us a bit about the special lessons they teach in the first grade here and we were overwhelmed. In order to relate the day to their level, the teacher described some of the hardships the little kids went through, talking about children leaving the ghetto through the sewers to go search for food for their families. She also got some fascinating questions from the boys. One of the most interesting ones to us was……
“Why didn’t they just come to Israel when it was so bad there?”
Sometimes we take what we have for granted.
On Shabbat, Chaia Broderick joined Goldie, me and Moshe for a walk to the park. At the park, Moshe found one of his three year old friends from his playgroup and was busy playing together with him and his father (who was clearly much younger than us) while we sat and schmoozed on a park bench. About a half hour passed when Moshe tried to climb on a specific riding toy at the park and couldn’t get it right, so I got up to help him.
“Look Moshe,” said his friend’s father, “your grandfather is coming to show you how!” “His FATHER!” I yelled, to the delight of Goldie and Chaia, who were laughing uncontrollably. Even though it didn’t make a difference to this guy, I made sure to explain that Moshe was my youngest child while his son was clearly the oldest, leading to the difference in their fathers’ ages.
I think it was the hair. The gray has come out again in a big way (especially the sefira beard). Maybe I need to color it again.
It was my last pizza for a while. With all the different changes and stresses we went through since making Aliyah, I put on fifty unneeded pounds. According to an informal poll of Bet Shemesh residents, this is actually unusual, as most of those I spoke with talked about losing weight in the move. In any case, I decided to make a real drive to lose the weight starting the day after Pesach and hope to have it off by Channuka.
On Sunday, the last day all the kids would be able to be with Bubbee and Zaidy for the entire day, we took almost (no Chaim) everyone to Yerushalayim for a little shopping (and for me to spend some time in the office trying to begin to get back up to speed). Shopping in the mall in Yerushalayim is an experience in itself; the Malcha mall is NEVER empty – the crowds there resemble walking down a Manhattan sidewalk at lunch time. However, as I regularly say, there is nothing quite like being able to eat at most of the restaurants in the food court.
Thankfully, the elementary schools only took one day of additional vacation after Pesach and by Thursday – even Chaim was back in Yeshiva. School started on Monday for most of the kids and after Bubby and Zaidy left on Monday night (after a too short 11 day stay), we made our way back to a somewhat normal routine by the end of the week.
Getting back to routine from any long break is always an experience. In the Yeshiva, it means greeting the talmidim as they return from their chag experience (some of them in Israel and others who returned home to be with their families). After Pesach we also get an inclination of which of them will be coming back to the Yeshiva for a second year, which adds a little excitement to their arrival as well.
Although most Yeshivot (post HS) in the USA begin on the first day of Iyar, in Israel there are many Yeshivot who started a few days earlier in order to have their students back for Yom Hashoa. We started on the day before Yom Hashoa in order to give some special shiurim on the day and to prepare everyone for the day.
This was our second Yom Hashoa in Israel. When I was here as a teen, I left for Pesach and never returned and missed it. Last year, we were a few days post-diagnosis and Goldie and I were at a doctor’s office in the basement of a hospital. We didn’t hear the siren and with all the things we were dealing with at the time, the truth is that we really weren’t able to focus on the day.
Having completed some errands in the center of town, Goldie and I headed for a major seforim sale run each year by the Mossad HaRav Kook publishing company (right behind the Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva). We had a list of gifts to buy and the sale could not have come at a better time. The doors were scheduled to open at 10 AM, the same time as the Yom Hashoa siren and minute of silence.
Wanting to really experience the moment, Goldie and I headed for a major intersection two blocks away, literally at the entrance to Yerushalayim. Within minutes the siren sounded and life literally ground to a halt. Busses and taxis stopped in the middle of the road and their drivers stood outside their vehicles in respect. All pedestrian traffic froze. My sister told me she was once on the expressway and it was unbelievable to watch all the traffic instantly freeze.
I know that the USA has Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day and these are recognized as honoring those who have served their country. However, with Yom Hashoa and Yom Hazikaron (coming up in a couple days), Israel’s observances pack much more power and really focus on memorializing those who have been lost. Although it is only for a matter of seconds, the entire country focuses on honoring and remembering those who were killed at the same time and in a somber and respectful fashion. Yes, we also have parades and services, but there is nothing quite like that minute.
Of course, it goes without saying that Goldie cried. I turned to her as the sirens ended and there she was, wiping away the tears. While seeing her cry was not surprising, her explanation was. She said that it was the first time that she really took a minute to think about all the people lost in her mother’s side of the family and to consider how our lives would have been different, if only…
When we got home, each kid had a different story of what they were doing and how they reacted to the sirens. Chaim and Chaya were home (Chaya was laying in bed doing homework and she jumped up when she heard the siren – in the privacy of her bedroom). Aliza was in the middle of an assembly at school where the twelfth graders were reading very emotional compositions on the holocaust. As she put it, the whole room was swimming from the tears. Batya and Mordechai were in special assemblies in their schools, and Mordechai told us that on his own, he decided to say some tehillim to himself while the siren was ringing.
We have a friend who assists in Mordechai’s first grade classroom. She told us a bit about the special lessons they teach in the first grade here and we were overwhelmed. In order to relate the day to their level, the teacher described some of the hardships the little kids went through, talking about children leaving the ghetto through the sewers to go search for food for their families. She also got some fascinating questions from the boys. One of the most interesting ones to us was……
“Why didn’t they just come to Israel when it was so bad there?”
Sometimes we take what we have for granted.
On Shabbat, Chaia Broderick joined Goldie, me and Moshe for a walk to the park. At the park, Moshe found one of his three year old friends from his playgroup and was busy playing together with him and his father (who was clearly much younger than us) while we sat and schmoozed on a park bench. About a half hour passed when Moshe tried to climb on a specific riding toy at the park and couldn’t get it right, so I got up to help him.
“Look Moshe,” said his friend’s father, “your grandfather is coming to show you how!” “His FATHER!” I yelled, to the delight of Goldie and Chaia, who were laughing uncontrollably. Even though it didn’t make a difference to this guy, I made sure to explain that Moshe was my youngest child while his son was clearly the oldest, leading to the difference in their fathers’ ages.
I think it was the hair. The gray has come out again in a big way (especially the sefira beard). Maybe I need to color it again.
Pesach and Tiyulim (The Unprinted Article) 5/1/2008
This article was written after Pesach but submitted after deadline and never ran in the paper.
I got a call in the middle of chol hamoed from the guy whose family had baked matzot with us. He called to see how “we liked the cardboard” and to tell me that they would not be baking next year since they didn’t like the taste. I was surprised. My matzot were also thick and had less flavor than the “matzo bakery” matzot, but we all enjoyed them because we made them with our own hands.
There is no question that our family wants to make the “matzo bake” an annual tradition. I can even see doing it with my grandchildren way down the road. To each his own.
Having done all our shopping the week earlier, we (ok – so Goldie, Chaya & Aliza) spent the week before Pesach cooking, baking and filling the freezer so that Goldie would be able to enjoy the visit with her parents (who joined us for chag). With four less major seudot to plan and cook for, this was not as tough as it used to be back in the USA.
The Tuesday night before Yom Tov I broke my left pinkie playing in the inter-shul basketball league. The next morning, I went to get an x-ray and the technician asked me if I was injured while Pesach cleaning. Then he read the report and said, “I guess not.”
I responded that even though it was not a cleaning related injury, I needed an excuse note to get out of all future cleaning (even though we were all done cleaning by that time). After the x-ray, he came to give me the x-ray disk and said “Yaish Lecha Ishur” (you have a permit). It has been a painful inconvenience, but is getting better.
Once Goldie’s parents arrived the day before Yom Tov, we were all set to go. Thankfully, we will not have to deal with another Sunday Pesach for thirteen more years. All the headache with eating chametz for hamotzi on Shabbat was enough to drive us crazy, and waking up for a 6:40 AM davening did not help things. With the warm weather we were having, we were able to eat the meals (both at night and during the day) outside on the patio, which certainly helped with keeping the interior chametz free.
We almost did not have any bread to use for the Shabbat meals. Goldie and I assumed that the stores would have a fresh supply of challa available on Friday, but all the stores were converted for Pesach and the local bakery was closed. I had to run up to Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph where there was one bakery open. So we ended up with some really fresh challa rolls.
One of our returning students, Daniel Pessar asked me how the sedarim were for the family. I loved responding, “Sedarim? What’s that? Our Seder was very nice". Having one Seder instead of two is really a treat. Last year’s seder was a little overcast with all the medical issues we were dealing with. This year, even though we still have issues to deal with, things are much more settled and we were much more prepared to enjoy ourselves.
Chol Hamoed was really hot. The hottest day reached 105 or so, but the rest of the days were scorchers in their own right. This made planning tiyulim difficult, because with little kids and grandparents, we had to be very cognizant of the “wilting” factor and limit their exposure to the sun and heat. With an additional day of chol hamoed here, we also had to keep everyone occupied and busy.
We spent the first day at the safari in Ramat Gan. I am not sure which was worse, the 45 minute wait to get to the entrance or the traffic jam as cars maneuvered to get better viewing position in the safari. The adjoining zoo was so crowded that it reminded me of the Bronx Zoo on July Fourth.
The next day we drove to Ma’alot in Northern Israel to visit Goldie’s two great-aunts who came here from Russia eighteen years ago. It was nice to visit with them, but the six hours of driving in some awful traffic was tough. While in Ma’alot we also went to a mini fair they had over chol hamoed and went go carting and paddle boating. The highlight of the day was having dinner in a Naharia shawarma restaurant that had gone Kosher for Pesach.
By Wednesday we were all exhausted and with the weather forecast calling for 105+ degree weather, we decided to keep the kids home while Bubee and Zaidy took a day in Yerushalayim to tour and shop. Boy was it hot! I think I might even have traded an extra day of Yom Tov for a little less sun, but we don’t get that kind of choice.
Thursday we decided to go to an archeological dig in the National Park at Beit Guvrin, a twenty minute drive from our house. One of the treats of this tour (which was conducted in English) was getting to actually dig for archeological treasure in the Beit Guvrin caves. Every kid found something, be it a shard of pottery or an animal bone – and they loved getting dirty right under their parents’ noses.
On Friday I took my in-laws to Sderot to go shopping. As you know, I try to participate in many “support the people of Sderot” activites. I really believe that showing up and spending money in their stores in order to earn a living with dignity even when many of their regular customers have moved away is a big mitzva. Unfortunately, not everyone does.
Some guy took out several ads in the Jerusalem Post decrying the “tourism” aspect of going to Sderot. In his opinion, we should show solidarity with the people of Sderot by offering to switch houses with them for several months rather than try to catch a cheap “thrill” by coming by for a few minutes and then leaving after a bomb or two (no bombs landed while we were there).
I disagree but certainly hope he continues with this kind of sentiment. I think every time he gives money for a poor person to buy food that he goes to their home to eat their meal, while offering his meal in his home to their family. Or maybe he should personally open his door to all orphans and the handicapped who do indeed need all of our concern for their housing and shelter. Somehow I don’t see it.
What I do see is that we have a responsibility to care for all those who need our help. And if that means that we sometimes go to an orphanage to help make a simcha there, then that is what we do. Or if it means that we need to drive down to Sderot and buy Yom Tov flowers from THEIR florist instead of in Beit Shemesh so that the florist can make a little money with dignity and not have to ask for a handout – then I am all for that as well.
Oh yeah. My nephew was indeed home for the Seder but had to return to vigorous training during chol hamoed during which he fell and hurt himself. So he had an unscheduled visit home for the last day of chag before returning to the base and a resumption of training.
I got a call in the middle of chol hamoed from the guy whose family had baked matzot with us. He called to see how “we liked the cardboard” and to tell me that they would not be baking next year since they didn’t like the taste. I was surprised. My matzot were also thick and had less flavor than the “matzo bakery” matzot, but we all enjoyed them because we made them with our own hands.
There is no question that our family wants to make the “matzo bake” an annual tradition. I can even see doing it with my grandchildren way down the road. To each his own.
Having done all our shopping the week earlier, we (ok – so Goldie, Chaya & Aliza) spent the week before Pesach cooking, baking and filling the freezer so that Goldie would be able to enjoy the visit with her parents (who joined us for chag). With four less major seudot to plan and cook for, this was not as tough as it used to be back in the USA.
The Tuesday night before Yom Tov I broke my left pinkie playing in the inter-shul basketball league. The next morning, I went to get an x-ray and the technician asked me if I was injured while Pesach cleaning. Then he read the report and said, “I guess not.”
I responded that even though it was not a cleaning related injury, I needed an excuse note to get out of all future cleaning (even though we were all done cleaning by that time). After the x-ray, he came to give me the x-ray disk and said “Yaish Lecha Ishur” (you have a permit). It has been a painful inconvenience, but is getting better.
Once Goldie’s parents arrived the day before Yom Tov, we were all set to go. Thankfully, we will not have to deal with another Sunday Pesach for thirteen more years. All the headache with eating chametz for hamotzi on Shabbat was enough to drive us crazy, and waking up for a 6:40 AM davening did not help things. With the warm weather we were having, we were able to eat the meals (both at night and during the day) outside on the patio, which certainly helped with keeping the interior chametz free.
We almost did not have any bread to use for the Shabbat meals. Goldie and I assumed that the stores would have a fresh supply of challa available on Friday, but all the stores were converted for Pesach and the local bakery was closed. I had to run up to Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph where there was one bakery open. So we ended up with some really fresh challa rolls.
One of our returning students, Daniel Pessar asked me how the sedarim were for the family. I loved responding, “Sedarim? What’s that? Our Seder was very nice". Having one Seder instead of two is really a treat. Last year’s seder was a little overcast with all the medical issues we were dealing with. This year, even though we still have issues to deal with, things are much more settled and we were much more prepared to enjoy ourselves.
Chol Hamoed was really hot. The hottest day reached 105 or so, but the rest of the days were scorchers in their own right. This made planning tiyulim difficult, because with little kids and grandparents, we had to be very cognizant of the “wilting” factor and limit their exposure to the sun and heat. With an additional day of chol hamoed here, we also had to keep everyone occupied and busy.
We spent the first day at the safari in Ramat Gan. I am not sure which was worse, the 45 minute wait to get to the entrance or the traffic jam as cars maneuvered to get better viewing position in the safari. The adjoining zoo was so crowded that it reminded me of the Bronx Zoo on July Fourth.
The next day we drove to Ma’alot in Northern Israel to visit Goldie’s two great-aunts who came here from Russia eighteen years ago. It was nice to visit with them, but the six hours of driving in some awful traffic was tough. While in Ma’alot we also went to a mini fair they had over chol hamoed and went go carting and paddle boating. The highlight of the day was having dinner in a Naharia shawarma restaurant that had gone Kosher for Pesach.
By Wednesday we were all exhausted and with the weather forecast calling for 105+ degree weather, we decided to keep the kids home while Bubee and Zaidy took a day in Yerushalayim to tour and shop. Boy was it hot! I think I might even have traded an extra day of Yom Tov for a little less sun, but we don’t get that kind of choice.
Thursday we decided to go to an archeological dig in the National Park at Beit Guvrin, a twenty minute drive from our house. One of the treats of this tour (which was conducted in English) was getting to actually dig for archeological treasure in the Beit Guvrin caves. Every kid found something, be it a shard of pottery or an animal bone – and they loved getting dirty right under their parents’ noses.
On Friday I took my in-laws to Sderot to go shopping. As you know, I try to participate in many “support the people of Sderot” activites. I really believe that showing up and spending money in their stores in order to earn a living with dignity even when many of their regular customers have moved away is a big mitzva. Unfortunately, not everyone does.
Some guy took out several ads in the Jerusalem Post decrying the “tourism” aspect of going to Sderot. In his opinion, we should show solidarity with the people of Sderot by offering to switch houses with them for several months rather than try to catch a cheap “thrill” by coming by for a few minutes and then leaving after a bomb or two (no bombs landed while we were there).
I disagree but certainly hope he continues with this kind of sentiment. I think every time he gives money for a poor person to buy food that he goes to their home to eat their meal, while offering his meal in his home to their family. Or maybe he should personally open his door to all orphans and the handicapped who do indeed need all of our concern for their housing and shelter. Somehow I don’t see it.
What I do see is that we have a responsibility to care for all those who need our help. And if that means that we sometimes go to an orphanage to help make a simcha there, then that is what we do. Or if it means that we need to drive down to Sderot and buy Yom Tov flowers from THEIR florist instead of in Beit Shemesh so that the florist can make a little money with dignity and not have to ask for a handout – then I am all for that as well.
Oh yeah. My nephew was indeed home for the Seder but had to return to vigorous training during chol hamoed during which he fell and hurt himself. So he had an unscheduled visit home for the last day of chag before returning to the base and a resumption of training.
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