Politically Incorrect

I am a bit sad that the Holidays are already over. That is not a normal reaction for me. Normally I am filled with mixed feelings of relief and guilt over that relief. But somehow the holiday season here in Israel feels completely different. Less tiring, less stressful. First of all, almost no-one, except those in the service industry (grocery stores, etc.) works all through the holidays. Almost the entire country takes a holiday. Everyone goes on Teulim (tours, day trips). We ourselves went to Neot Kedumim twice, Bet Guvrin, and of course, the beach in Tel Aviv. The weather was glorious, and there are lots an lots of things to do & see, even for people who have lived here for years. Our Sabra (native Israeli) friends, the Skuri family, stopped in from Haifa to see us and told tales of their wonderful holiday adventures. It is a cultural thing. Most of the tours are relatively inexpensive, kid-friendly, fun and informative. But that is only the background. The real event is the holiday itself.

Our first Succah in the land turned out really lovely, despite the fact that our lift has not yet arrived and I was without all my carefully collected and treasured Succah decorations. We had many friends in for meals, and were invited over to other friends Succot. The food was wonderful, the friends even more so, and an overall festive atmosphere filled the days. It rained a little during Succot. But now that the holiday is over it has really started raining. It rains almost every night, sometimes during the day for an hour or two. (Keep praying for rain - we need lots lots more!) But the sun still breaks through, and the temperature still lingers in the 60's & 70's (Fahrenheit).

We took advantage of a dry afternoon & took down the Succah. Carefully packed away all the little decorations. Swept off the mirpeset & washed up the piling mound of dishes. I spent a day catching up on the laundry & cleaning the house. Now everything is back on schedule. We are back in Ulpan 4 days a week (Sun - Thur) and they boys are back in school 5 days a week. Maybe I'm a little sad because it's time to get focused on the normal mundane things life brings, which we have managed to sidestep until now. We need to get our Israeli drivers licenses. I need to get my American Passport renewed. We need to try to sort through all the confusing mess of the Israeli school system. Trying to communicate with the boys teachers, who speak only Hebrew, has been challenging. I confess I have not put forth the necessary effort to find out what they need, what they need to be doing, and how I can help them get it all done. We need to learn to speak Hebrew. We desperately need to get jobs. I'm not sure how we're going to juggle all of this as yet.

I wouldn't say that the honeymoon is over. I still have to pause each time I walk out my front door and look at that incredible view. I still find a feeling of awe each night when I put Ari to bed. We look out his bedroom window and see headlights on the highways to the west going to and from Tel Aviv. We see the lights of the neighboring Moshav. There is a rhythm, a melody to the way of life here.
We just need to take a moment to write the notes for our particular instrument into the overall symphony.

We've started watching the news again. Our TV has rarely been on in the past 3 months. But JDC turned it on yesterday. Big news in America and here in Israel. On the local front, yesterday night an arab broke into a home in the Ben Shemen Moshav. He had a knife and there was an altercation with the homeowner. The arab was shot and died later at the hospital. We don't know if he was a terrorist, or simply a thief. When we first heard I was worried that the Moshav was actually Gimzo, where our dear friends, the Goldrings, lived. We rushed to call them and were greatly relieved to learn it was not even in their Moshav & they are all well and safe. Not that the whole situation isn't upsetting. Sadly, I reflected that in America we were so numbed by the high level of crime, that a single break-in 10 miles away wasn't even news there!

Currently the big news is the American Presidential election. We are less than a week away from election day & the race is very close. My kids have asked me who I support and why. Of course, the issue for me is who is going to make the right choices politically for Israel. I have made my choice & already emailed in my absentee ballot. I do have an observation to share. Antisemitism is growing world wide. The level of tolerance, of that growing antisemitism, evident in the American political arena, is alarming. I suspect it is all in the guise of "political correctness". Such was the case as Hitler was coming to power in the late 20's & early 30's. When I contemplate that Iran's leader claims that the holocaust never happened, and publicly calls for the destruction of Israel http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/03/AR2006080300629.html , additionally that he is implementing a nuclear weapons program that will probably produce a nuclear bomb within the next 12 months http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/123037 , and then I learn that the arabs in Gaza are supporting a certain presidential Candidate. The Syrians are also backing the same man. This candidate of choice has advised, as part of his campaign platform, that America should sit down at the negotiating table and talk with Iran. Now that is truly frightening. But I believe that HaShem has a plan. No matter who wins in America. No matter who wins in our general elections here in Israel in February, HaShem will have his way. That gives me comfort. I may not know or understand that plan, that's OK. I don't need to. It is enough for me that we are here, that we can participate in the politics of the day, and try to live in such a way that fulfills our moral and religious obligations.

Sorry I wax politic.

New subject:
JDC and I have always been interested in alternative energy. Earlier this year we heard about a man in India that had manufactured a car that runs on air. We were fascinated and I started an Internet search to learn about whether such a thing could be true. I have attached a new link in the upper corner of the blog about a company I found that is actually beginning to mass produce and mass market an air car. Please take a moment to check it out. I believe it is the way of the future. I believe that one of the reasons this attempt may succeed when others could not, is because this company is not operating inside the U.S. The Oil and Automobile PACS that wield so much power in the U.S. have no clout at all in France. Plus the car is being marketed at less than $20,000, a very competitive price in the American market. It appears that there are no legal obstacles to importing such a vehicle, and the company is currently taking orders for cars to be delivered in America in 2009 & 2010. I have signed onto the mailing list & hope to obtain one for us here in Israel. Imagine, not having to pay for gas!

As I watch the news today I see that the Stock Market has rallied. The Federal Reserve has announced another drop in the prime rate, and I see that in some areas gas prices in the U.S. has dropped to around $2.00 a gallon (something I never thought I'd see again!) I hear that there are things in the works to create an assistance package with mortgage payments for those hard hit by the recent financial shenanigans. I can only hope all this will create a turn around in the housing market which I suspect in turn will stabilize the overall American economy. HaShem will have His way.

I wish you comfort and prosperity in the coming year. May your life be sweet!
Rivka

Morid Ha Geshem - Who Makes the Rain Descend

At last the High Holidays are upon us. Rosh Hashanah has truly marked a change in the weather. Most days are cooler now. But everything is still green and warm enough to be pleasant. Some mornings the skies are a bit overcast - the sunrise a brilliant gash of orange and gold peeking through. The color of dvash (honey) in the land of chalav v' dvash (milk & honey). I love this time of year best. We eat our Challah with honey, we dip our apples in honey. We are reminded that God intends our lives to be sweet. Honey is a real miracle. Our Rabbi's wife reminded us that honey is the only food that is kosher which comes from a non-kosher animal. It is a mystery to understand how a bee and a flower can make something so sweet, so pure. Honey never spoils or gets rancid. Honey contains natural antibiotics. It is pleasant to eat & good for us! May our lives be just like honey, never rancid, always sweet and good, clean in the midst of the unclean, adding sweetness and health to others around us.

Just before Rosh Hashanah our neighbors, Ari & Leah Cutler delivered a beautiful Baby Boy! (Mazel Tov!) His Bris was the Shabbat immediately preceding the Hag (holiday) & we were invited to the Shalom Zachar (festivities on the night before - happened to fall on a Friday) and the Bris (after services on Shabbat). It was a wonderful occasion. Much singing and dancing. Many friends stopping in, laughter, making much over the new addition, etc., a little shot, a glass of wine, some sweets to nibble, a little miracle to wonder over. Friday night we stayed for the Brachot (blessings) and festivities, then eventually made our way back across the courtyard to our own place. I went out on our rear mirpeset (from which I can see the Cutler's gan) to enjoy the wonderful evening, listen to the continued singing next door, and take a moment to commune with HaShem about how much I loved life in Israel and how grateful I am that we are living here. While I was sitting there I felt a small raindrop on my arm. It was almost a confirmation that HaShem had heard my prayers. Then came another, and another. I looked up at the sky & saw mostly stars, with a little cloud cover coming in from the west. Sure enough soon we had a downpour. It was one of those wonderful times when the rain is gentle and the weather just warm enough that you want to stand outside and dance in it. Soon all our neighbors were either outside or looking out their doors & windows at the miracle of the early rain. In Israel we pray for rain, we plead for rain! It is one of the prayers that we say during Succot. No-one here really expects rain before then.


The rain lasted for about 45 minutes. Then, as quickly as it appeared, all the clouds blew over & the sky was all stars again. It rained again later that night, and again once or twice in the next few days. It is a good omen (not that I am much for omens). But everyone agrees it was a miracle, a special blessing from HaShem, and hopefully a promise of more to come. Did I mention it has not rained, since we arrived, not a drop until that night?


Rosh HaShanah itself was a wonderful experience for me. Though I did not have the proper holiday Machsur (prayer book), that did not prohibit me from entering in, singing the songs I remembered, humming those I did not, reciting what prayers I knew, and making up new ones for myself in places in the service where I was lost.

I guess I should tell you a little about the shul where we daven (pray). Even though our grand and wonderful city of 72,000 people is inhabited by 90% plus Jews, we only have 8 actual synagogue buildings in the entire city. Most of those buildings are used by two or more congregations. I believe there are currently 72 or 73 congregations functioning in the city, so obviously not all of them meet in a building dedicated solely to prayer and Torah study. Most meet in school buildings or house to house, some even meet outside, in a park, or on someones mirpeset.

As an aside I will mention this is a sore spot for the constituents in our city, and certainly an important and hotly debated issue as relates to this falls' Mayoral race.

The Shul we attend (we recently applied for membership & acquired assigned seats for the Holidays), meets in an elementary school which has a large, open, oval shaped central hallway. Every week volunteers go & hang a curtain for the Mechitsa (the divider between the men's & women's sections), set out plastic chairs, roll out the Aron (or Ark - the cabinet where the Torah Scrolls are held), set out the siddurim (prayer books) and in general make sure everything is ready for services on Friday night & Saturday. After Shabbat is over everything is carefully picked up & packed up because there is school bright & early Sunday Morning. It is a labor of love & one in which JDC participates as often as possible. The school we meet in is not air conditioned - which makes for a dewy experience at times - though there are oscillating fans placed strategically around the room, it's wise to come early for a cool seat!

The building itself is not fancy, and often not even very clean. But there are touches to it that I really love. There is a balcony circling (actually "ovaling") above us which leads to upper level classrooms. The central hall therefore has a high ceiling & is open to the second floor - makes for great acoustics when singing, but also carries the echos of children crying or laughing (as is often the case - there are lots of children in our congregation). Along the balcony wall, on the east (the direction we face), the school has installed mosaics depicting the 12 tribes of Israel. Judah is a lion, Asher a gazelle, etc. They are lovely & I never tire of looking at all of them. The Mechitsa is made of a silky golden, translucent, ethereal fabric on the upper half with an almost matching opaque version of the same material on the lower half. The light from the windows and doors that circle the hallway glimmers through it as it wafts in the breeze. During services the hallway is filled with wonderful voices singing and praying. The melodies are familiar, and the atmosphere is filled with Kavanah. (This is a harder word to define - religious passion, prayer with intent, people seeking a sincere and meaningful connection with God, more than just reciting memorized prayers - deliberately focusing on supplication - whew!)

We chose this Shul because it met specific criteria. Ashkenaz (eastern European) in style. It is a predominantly Anglo shul - most everyone who attends speaks English. The services are all in Hebrew (including the Rabbi's teaching & the announcements afterwards), there are about 150 families in attendance, most with at least 3 or 4 children. There are always pregnant mothers to be seen - always. (Did I mention in a previous blog that Modiin currently has the highest birth rate in all Israel?! & that those who contribute to this high birth rate are predominantly Modern Orthodox in persuasion?!!! this is an awesome and wonderful thing - if only I were 20 years younger!?!?)

In America the Shul is the center of the Observant Jewish community for the most part. The social circle you participate in centers around Shul related activities and the close friends you make are mostly those you go to shul with. But in Israel this is not the case. Shul starts at 8:00 ends at 11:30, Many women with little ones don't show up until around 10:ish (that is like in the states! LOL) There is usually no kiddush (blessings and a small meal) after services, like we were used to in the states. Even with a Bar Mitzvah services don't last until 1:00 pm, which is pretty normal time for the states. If someone has you over for Shabbat lunch you may walk home and change your clothes, and have a cup of coffee, before you head to their house. Here the community is wider & you make friends with the parents of the kids that your kids attend school with, or those you meet in your Ulpan, or your neighbors - who may not attend the same shul you do, all in addition to those you go to shul with.

We ourselves are making many new acquaintances, and hopefully many of those will grow into some real earnest friendships.

Next Wednesday / Thursday is Yom Kippur. It is a day of fasting & prayer. In the US one would normally be in Shul all day with seemingly only a couple of 20 minute breaks. I am told here we will be there less, and I admit, about 2:00 I usually hit a wall where my feet hurt and my stomach begins an assault, I feel I just need to sit down and rest. But then I know that is the time I really need to pray in earnest, when my soul is laid bare and my most basic needs are set aside for some serious spiritual introspection. I sense that opportunity will avail itself to me again this year, and I will find HaShem as readily available in a sultry school building in Modiin as I ever did in a comfortable Synagogue in America.

Today we started setting up our Succah (Succot begins a week from today). Succot is my most favorite Holiday. Our lift with all our personal posessions will not even leave the states until October 22nd. So all the beautiful decorations that I have lovingly collected and saved for my Succah are far away. Normally we build our Succah out of nursery fabric (you know, that green mesh fabric one commonly sees as the "roofing" over a commercial greenhouse). It is lightweight, light and air pass through it, but it also helps block out most of the heat from the sun. I also have all kinds of garland (grapevine and leaves in fall motif colors) that I normally drape around the upper walls of the Succah, plus twinkly lights, so the evening meals have a subdued atmosphere, and the decorations still show in the luminous cast even after sundown. Usually I have lots of candles scattered around, plus there was always the sound of the waterfall from the adjacent pond. So this year, sigh, not as nice. I can't afford to buy all new decorations, plus I haven't even seen garland anywhere! Candles are more expensive too. I did break down & buy one strand of twinkly lights (have only seen them in one place), plus we do have the trickle sounds from the mini pond. Also, a first for us, this year we can use palm branches for our skach (covering over the top - you have to be able to see the stars through it). I have always had a particular affinity for palm trees (being a west coast transplant) - but was never able to incorporate any into my Succah. This year, what a special treat for me, everytime I look up at the stars I'll be able to look through palm fronds! Yes, We will make do. I have plans already to have lots of people over. We managed to put together a Succah that will probably seat about 15 - 20 (if we squeeze) on the front mirpeset. If you're going to be in Israel, drop me a line.....

I am told it will rain. I hope so. I look forward to it. In the states I always asked HaShem to send the rain to Israel and not to let it rain on my Succah. I hope all of my friends in the states are praying the same - HaShem, who makes the rain descend, please send the rain to Israel & water our thirsty nefesh (soul, spirit, quintessence)!

Till next time!

The First Year is the Hardest

I hope everyone is enjoying my new site. All the previous posts were copies of my journal published previously through email.

I'm sure everyone is eager for new information, so I am sitting down on a Thursday afternoon to write a new post.

The boys have been in school/Ulpan since the 1st of September. John David & I started Ulpan a week later. For those of you new to the subject, Ulpan is Hebrew Language classes offered free of charge to all new Olim (immigrants). It is a benefit paid for by the state of Israel. Here they are serious about the language. In the US we had as many Spanish speakers as we did English speakers. There were English classes available to foreign immigrants, however I never had the impression there was a big push to get people enrolled. Here in Israel you are asked in the first week to enroll in Ulpan. You are told when, where, and how often to attend. Of course there are many, many English speakers in Israel. One could live in Israel without speaking Hebrew, but it would be difficult. All the government forms are in Hebrew, the utility bills are in Hebrew, your banks statement is in Hebrew, even school is taught in Hebrew, (unless you enroll - and pay! - for your children to attend a special English speaking school. I know of one in Jerusalem, it is rather expensive.) Here it is expected that you should learn the language of the land. (I hear and see my Hebrew teacher, Shulamit, saying that in my head!) It does not have to be your primary language, and there are many many Israeli's who will want to practice their English with you, but you should be able to at least speak and read the basics.

John David and I are very fortunate. We have a fabulous Hebrew teacher, and a great class. There are 4 other Americans in the class, one couple from Russia, one couple from Brazil, 2 people from Holland (not a couple), one gal from Argentina (she is a diplomat by trade - impressive), one couple from England, and 2 couples from Durban, South Africa.

Let me add a side bar here: We have met a lot of people from South Africa. They are Anglos, like us, and we find we have a lot in common with them. Many of them are here, not only as a matter of religious choice, but also because South Africa has become a very dangerous place to live. In my isolated, comfortable life in the States, I never knew or thought about the plight of white Jews in Africa. It appears that since the overthrow of Apartheid (not that I, nor anyone I know personally, supported it), the incidence of random violence against white (simply because they are white) in especially South Africa has skyrocketed. Our friends liken it to a frog in a pot of cold water. Put it on the stove and slowly increase the heat. The frog will not notice it is being cooked until it is too late. Violence against whites has grown in like measure there. Not only can you not let your children outside to play, you must have a large defensible wall around your property to keep safe inside your own home!

Back to Israel.
Despite my fears that I would not be able to learn Hebrew - I am. It is wonderful. I think even John David is surprised with my progress. Whereas, he has been working hard & teaching himself to speak it for years now, I have always put him off. I've told him, truthfully, how hard it was for me to retain the material if I only had instruction for an hour or so each week. I really needed a setting where I was able to focus most of my time and energy on the language. My theory has proven itself to be true. We are in class from 8:30 till 12 or 12:45 each day, Sunday through Thursday. There is no class on Friday so that we can prepare for Shabbat, and of course no class on Shabbat itself. Most afternoons when we get home we spend a minimum of another hour or two on homework. And I am getting it, I am reading, and writing, and speaking it. I probably sound like a 2 year old, but I am getting there!

Both boys start Ulpan at 8:00, their Ulpan meets in the grade school that Ari is enrolled in (which is just a block from our home). Their Ulpan gets over around noon, and Ari goes downstairs to his regular classroom and has school for another hour or two (depending on the day). Isaac walks next door to the Yeshiva (which is simply what they call the upper school here - he has both religious & secular studies there) and attends class normally until around 4:30. Our Ulpan meets at his school.. so we are all close & can pop in & see each other if the need arises.

The Yeshiva is a raucous and joyous and serious place all at once. The hallways are filled with ping pong tables. Between each class the boys (yes, it's an all boys school) have time to socialize, play ping pong, go to one of the many restaurant style cafeterias within the building, go outside to hang out, play ball, play volleyball (netball here), walk down to the macholet (local grocery shop), etc etc etc. When our class first started there used to be a local radio station broadcasting between classes on the school intercom. However, since our Ulpan started they have turned that off because we don't break at the same time as the boys do, and the office couldn't figure out how to turn off the speakers in our Ulpan classrooms. I am sorry for that - I liked the atmosphere that it presented for the boys. I liked the idea that school was a place for not only some really really serious learning, but also someplace that a teenage boy would like to hang out. I hope that when Ulpan ends (in 4 months) they get the radio back. I also hope that the radio gets turned back on in the afternoons (I don't know as I always have to hurry home to be there for Ari and his friends who often come over) I must remember to ask Isaac.

Isaac, by the way, is having a fabulous time. He is the main reason for our coming to Israel now. He has so many friends, he is very popular, he is learning and growing and loving the whole experience. It confirms that we made the right choice for him and for us. Last week the Yeshiva held a celebration one evening. It turns out that the yeshiva has been in existence for 10 years. It moved into it's current building at the beginning of the 2007 school year. Finally, at the beginning of this school year it was given confirmation that this building was to be it's permanent home (the building itself was new last year). There was a concert, refreshements, and fireworks. JDC & I listened to the music and watched the fireworks from our mirpeset (patio). We imagined Isaac participating, dancing, laughing, hanging out and having a great time. (he confirmed he did). We said to ourselves, "This, afterall, is why we came".

I suppose I have to mention that I believe the secret to our great success in settling in here so well, the comfort level we feel, is because of Modiin itself. It is a beautiful city. It is like Overland Park (our home city) in so many ways. It is clean and modern. The city itself is less than 10 years old, yet already it has a population of 70,000 plus (compared to Overland Park's 150,000 - Modiin feels like a smaller, newer version). There are lots and lots of Anglos here, I encounter them everywhere, share an email service with them (no end to the daily English email interaction!), run into them at the macholet, the mall, the post office. Plus the benefits of not being a minority is amazing. Here kosher food is everywhere, kosher restaurants flourish (in OP we had only 1, a kosher Subway). And unlike other communities of similar size here in Israel, we have 2 movie theatres and a bowling alley, in addition to a new mall comparable to any mall we had in the Midwest. In every neighborhood there is a little shopping area with all kinds of quaint and unique shops.. the only thing I have been hankering for that is not in Modiin is a fabric store. But I know where there are a bunch in Jerusalem (which is only 30 minutes away!), and my lift (with my sewing machine - and all our other worldly goods for that matter) is still in Kansas - so I can't sew anyway. Patience patience - everything has it's season. And, let me add - the beach and Tel-Aviv/Yaffo (Jaffa) are also only 30 minutes away (Modiin is in the middle between the two cities - just like Kansas was in the middle between NY and LA - just less travel time between the two!) One should never, ever discount the proximity of a beach to someone (like myself) from LA. I plan to take a day - during Chol HaMoed (vacation days during the High Holiday season) to spend the whole day at the beach. Did I mention I love the beach?

I so love it here, we all so love it here. People keep telling me the first year is the hardest. I keep thinking - "what's hard?"! I suppose all the stupid little beaurocratic things one has to deal with. But life is like that everywhere, really. So if someone comes to Israel expecting everything to be easy and beautiful all the time then I guess all that stuff would really be a problem. I think we are realists.. sometimes things are hard. Enjoy the good things life has to offer. Looking out my rear patio doors - past my rear mirpeset, I see the sunset. It glows in beautiful hues of purple, pink and orange. A wonderful breeze wafts in through the door bringing with it the frangrance of some lemony bush my neighbor has growing in their gan (garden). I hear some birds in the distance and the trickle of water in our new (tiny - but I couldn't live without it) fish pond (fish in a planter pot really - Okay, I know you are all laughing at me!). Backtrack and close your eyes, imagine it - sunset, breeze, frangrance, melodical sounds - every sense is satisfied, Sigh. Peace, Shalom.

I wish it to all of you..