To me, part of the thrill of living in Israel is the language. Until I moved here, Hebrew was the language of my prayer book, the language in which the Torah Portion of the Week was read aloud in synagogue, the language of the Bible. Granted, when I went to Bible classes, as a … Read more
It’s hard to believe that it’s been only three days since the High Holy Days passed… Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and ten days later, Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. In just two days the Feast of Tabernacles begins and we make a mood switch from … Read more
I hosted a crowd at my home for the Rosh Hashanah holidays. Add that to me, my husband, kids and grandkids, and we were quite a house full. Lots of people to house, feed, and keep happy. The basement was set up with guest beds and a crib. My daughter offered to move out of … Read more
I just dropped my son Avraham off at the main entrance to our community. He groaned when he saw the crowds standing near the guard booth, knowing he had a wait ahead of him for a ride. He was on his way back up north to his Israeli yeshiva program combining military service with Torah … Read more
I’m happy that my children are busy with day camps, National service, schoolwork and part time jobs, but I’m frustrated. I have not found one day this summer that everyone is available for a family vacation. My husband Kuti and I finally decided this past Thursday that everyone will make themselves available and we’re going away.
I was sitting at work in the CFOIC Heartland office a few weeks ago, when I heard the rumbling of thunder. Within seconds it started raining. I grabbed my car keys and ran out to get home, a minute drive away, to pull in my freshly laundered clothing, hanging on the line. Only minutes later, … Read more
Sarah loves a stage and the stage loves Sarah. I can’t imagine a situation where there’s an available microphone in the vicinity and Sarah’s not reaching for it! And it doesn’t matter how large or intimate the setting is. Our Karnei Shomron Cultural Center arranges parties, performances and activities for the community at … Read more
She always looks just right with her perfect poise, her slim figure, her coordinated hat, shoes and clothing. She walks into our synagogue, her almost regal stature tempered by her warm smile and that special sparkle in the eye, as she greets everyone. Truth is, even when she’s dressed in a denim skirt and a … Read more
Up until 20 years ago, I lived in America, a country which preaches, rigorously, a separation of church and state. Prayers are kept out of public school classrooms and synagogues and religious education are funded privately, by those who are interested… those who find these things important. When I moved to Israel, one of the … Read more
It was a little difficult to write about Celia Ulanovsky. I knew her as a neighbor—as a lovely, modest, always pleasant, incredibly kind woman. But when I spoke to her, to get a bit of background, a little more of who she was, I was met with “Oh, there’s really nothing to say about me. Me? I … Read more