Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, Yom HaAtzmaut

This is my first year being in Israel as an Olah, and as such, these 'national' holidays somehow take on more significance. I had a draft on Yom HaShoah, but as it has gone by, and we are on to the next national holiday, I figured my thoughts could go all together.

Yom HaShoah per say is one of those holidays that the religious public and the secular tend to disagree on. Rabbis have ruled that mourning is not such a good thing during the time of Nissan, and as such, we should have mourning for those victims of the Holocaust during other days set aside for mourning already, like the 10th of Tevet, and Tisha B'Av. There are Kinos and other liturgies written specifically commemorating those Kedoshim to be said on those days.

None the less, I still had something very positive to say on Yom HaShoah. In my workplace, they
had a gathering for all the students and employees, and presented a presentation on the Holocaust and its victims. Now, usually, these presentations take on a very secular perspective, as that is what resonates with most- not the religious stories most who live in the charedi world grow up hearing.

But the one thing that really did resonate with me was that despite being in an entirely secular environment, the first thing they did after the siren and moments of silence, was to read a Yizkor memorial prayer, commemorating those who died Al Kiddush Hashem, and to hope that their neshamos have an aliyah.

Now, that was something special that I noticed- an entirely secular group of people, recognizing that those who died because they were Jews died Al Kiddush Hashem- they actually mentioned G-d. And G-d in the Jewish sense- unlike many American gatherings where other religions might play a role, or no religion at all. Many Holocaust gatherings in America stress the genocide aspect, the killing of many different people, such as gypsies or the handicapped. Very few secular gatherings in America take any time to mention G-d at all, or that the souls of these people have not died in vain, for we remember them, and say a prayer for their memory.

When I came home, and remarked as such to Mr. NMF- he reminded me that the Teshuva movement in Israel is always growing. He believes it is much more prevalent than it was in times gone by.

As for Yom HaZikaron, another sad day here in Israel- I actually did not have a memorial service to attend, but most of my workplace did. I looked up how Yom HaZikaron started, and I found out that originally, the politicians (typically Jewish) couldn't agree on a date, so they lumped it together with Yom HaAtzmaut- which was hard for the people actually mourning to concentrate on the happiness of Independence. So, they moved it to one day earlier, the reason being to remind us all what the cost of independence truly is. Somber thought, but something worth remembering.

And today? I'm celebrating the independence day by being off from work, and enjoying the day with my daughter. That's true independence for me.

Pesach Part 1

I'm busier than ever these days, especially with the inevitable Pesach cleaning. I'm also insanely jealous. Why?

Well, I'm making Pesach- the seders, the cooking, the cleaning- you name it, I'm doing it. And throughout the last couple of weeks, the common refrain from the young couples in the neighborhood has been something like this.

Me: How are you doing?
Neighbor: I'm busy packing. Gosh, it takes a long time.
Me: Really? Going to the US for Yom Tov?
Neighbor: Yes, and you wouldn't believe how much work it is. Packing, then taking a __ hour flight- it's just too much. You're so lucky you get to stay here.
Me: _______

If they think a 15 hour flight is hard, even with several children, try making Pesach anytime.
But anyway, enough with the griping. (Sorry! It's practically Erev Pesach! Hard to remain cheerful.)
Good news is that I get the amazing experience of being here in Israel for Pesach. Last year I got the pleasure of hosting a 2nd Seder, even though we had already moved here permenantly, and so I got to take pictures, relax, and enjoy the Seder in an entirely different way than I normally do. This year I plan to do the same, with even more guests.

It's a totally different feeling to know that you aren't obligated to start measuring your matzah out- and instead, you can just focus on the meaning of the Seder, the Divrei Torah, the essence of real freedom. I think it would be fun to continue hosting a second Seder, for fun, even when I don't have guests from America.

And now, for your viewing enjoyment, a short clip from the Robotics team in Rishon L'Tzion.



More on Pesach will be coming later. Stay tuned!

Happy Purim!

A Freilichen Purim to all! As you know, I'm in Yerushalayim, so my day of festivity and simcha is just starting. My shalach manos are laying on my dining room table, NBD is dressing up as a ladybug, and I'm looking forward to the rain, rain, and more rain, that is supposed to hit us full blast, much like it did today.

I'm linking back to my post last year about why Yerushalyaim celebrates a day later, and which other cities do the same. Enjoy!

To all those who are celebrating now, and to those who are ending soon- I hope it will be/was a day filled with much simcha and freilichen Purim spirit.

Happy Purim to ALL!!

Honoring the Torah

Yesterday, I attended the most wonderful event. The children in my neighborhood have been talking about it for weeks, eagerly anticipating the fun and excitement that they would have. The parents were just as ebullient, reminiscing about other experiences, exclaiming on the fixer-upper work done to the shul, and remarking on how special this event was.

What happened? It's quite simple. My next door neighbor, unbeknownst to most, quietly worked on a Sefer Torah himself. And, he finished it, just in time for Shavuos. Yesterday was the Hachnosat Sefer Torah.

And what a beautiful event it was. The 7-9 year olds, despite the fire hazard, carried torches that were almost as tall as they were. There was a truck with lights and sirens, men selling popcorn and cotton candy, and for those deemed too young (well, really young this time) to hold a torch, they received glowing light sticks to wave proudly.

Everyone gathered, whether they were from the shul or not, and came to honor the Torah and bring it to its new home. First, they had the writing of the last few letters of the Torah, which I was privileged to witness from my next-door apartment. And then, the Torah came out, to dancing and clapping.

We walked around the neighborhood, music blaring, and escorted the Torah to the caravan shul where it would rest proudly. NBD slept through some of it, although she woke up at the end, in time to see the other Torah scrolls come out proudly to greet their new counterpart.

My neighbor is not in Kollel (and that's not a bad thing)- but his Chashivus HaTorah- respect of the Torah- drove him to spend his time in a labor of love, writing a beautiful Torah in honor of Shavuos. It was such a special event- everyone gathering together, to show their honor and love.
And how unique is it- that this is what the children were getting excited about- a gathering to honor the Torah. This is excitement for them.

And truthfully, there couldn't be anything more exciting in the world.
Chag Sameach!

Meduros and More

Last night, Mr. NMF and I took NBD 'medurah hopping'. For all those who are so inclined, medurah hopping means traveling from one bonfire to the next, to see 'all you can see, see, see." (It's also one of my favorite days, due to the fact that it's my birthday!)

We live in a wonderful neighborhood, and as such, there are meduros everywhere one can look. The yeshiva for the young boys in the neighborhood had a special medura just for the boys. Seeing all the young ones dancing in a circle while their tattys, abbas, and daddys danced in another one was a beautiful sight to behold. Here's a picture for your viewing pleasure.


I didn't see any violations of basic fire safety, which was good to see- and I saw plenty of kids roasting marshmallows, but only after the fire had died down to glowing embers.

Everywhere I turned, there was a small medurah, built with love by the kids of the neighborhood. They take such pride in it- it's stunning to see how much they care about it.

Rabbi Chaim Walder, author of the Kids Speak series, actually has a story about how rival meduros actually led to ostracizing one kid, until both decided to join their wood and forces for the sake of peace.

For kids, medurah building, and the national Israeli pastime- ajuim/gogo collecting, are serious business, not to be taken lightly.

For those who don't know, ajuim (as they are known in Yerushalayim)/gogos (as they are known in Bnai Brak) are the pits of apricots, used in a popular Israeli game of sharpshooting. They treat the ajuim like money- and as Chaim Walder says in one of his books, how a kid uses his gogos is representative of how he will use his money later in life. The same goes for medurah building.

These games and pastimes of kids are representative of how they will act in older years, with more complicated situations.

So, encourage your kids and neighbor children to build their meduros with pride, and to share them with all. After all- they are built in R' Shimon bar Yochai's honor- and he would want all those celebrating to come and go in peace.

Belated Mother's Day Post

"Do they have Mother's Day in Israel, " my grandmother inquired. I answered, "I'm not sure, seeing as it is a holiday promoted by the greeting card industry, but I'll celebrate it anyway if you'd like."

This was my first Mom's Day, and I did the dutiful daughter thing and called all the moms to wish them a happy day.

And then I watched my daughter play on the floor of the kitchen while I washed dishes- and I remarked to myself, "Life can't get better than this."

Happy Mom's Day to moms everywhere!

And the Pile Grows...

It's the wonderful time of year again- spring is here, and with that comes the Omer, and every little Israeli boy's favorite- the medura building. Bonfire building is an art here, something that starts as soon as Pesach is over, and doesn't finish till the last bonfire burns to ash.
(Yes- there is no avoiding it. We let small boys play with matches, lighter fluid, wood, and fire. Try stopping it- I dare you. The only thing we can do is make sure an adult supervises.)
There actually is a street in Yerushalayim that has to get permission from the city to build their bonfire- as it gets so big that it melts the street, and they have to pay to reconcrete it!

Our courtyard is littered with tens of piles of wood: trees, branches, 2x4's, and other assorted wood products. One of my neighbors has been roped into storing hundreds of cardboard boxes in her husband's office- she is one brave lady!

Yet, some dislike the medura craziness. Several neighbors complained that the trees were taking over the courtyard, and that the boys had to get rid of them. That's why my neighbor took pity on her poor sons and their friends, and allowed them to store these precious items (read boxes taking up tons of room) in her home.

One enterprising young man even labeled his gigantic tree branch, so that whoever dared to throw it out would know that it is "Prati"- someone's personal belonging, and use the phone number written on it to return it.

I personally don't think it is fair to make the cute little ones clean up and stop them from amassing more wood. It's one of those things that you can't really stop, and if you try to- it won't help all that much. It's just one of those things you have to take in stride, if you live in Israel.

Hey, I even wouldn't mind helping to collect!
It's a fun time here in Israel- and we just have to go with the flow.
Happy collecting, everyone!

The Countdown Commences

The 'P' word. Yes, I know BOSD, fear of the name increases fear of the thing itself, according to Professor Albus Dumbledore, at least. But, it makes me feel better, 'kay?

This year will be my first year doing it by myself. I'm an only girl, so at home, I did it as well, just, together with my mother. Now, I'm on my own. And, with a little one to boot. So, I'm allowed to be scared of it, okay?

Here goes. Deep breath, "Pesach." Rosh Chodesh is in 2 weeks, that means Pesach is in a little less than a month. And my countdown commences. 3 bedrooms to do. Kitchen to clean and kasher. Pesach stuff to unload. Cooking to start. Help my neighbor with her house. And somehow, do this all before Seder night. Can I start freaking out now, or would it be preferable to wait till later?

I know, tackle it a bit at a time. But according to this article on MII, I'm already behind. Yikes.
I prefer not to think about it, and then panic later.

ProfK describes the syndrome and it's consequences. Ima on the Bima is actually excited for cleaning.

How do you handle Pesach Panic?
Edit: I totally subscribe to Mrs. S's version of Pesach cleaning system!

Respond in comments please- as I'm a member of the I love comments club :)

A Freilichen Purim!

For all those outside of Yerushalayim, a Freilichen Purim! For all those joining me here in Ir HaKodesh- wishing you one last slightly relaxing day before Purim Fever starts.
Interestingly, did you know there are places that celebrate 2 days of Purim according to Halacha? Places like Yaffo or Tiveria (Jaffa and Tiberias) celebrate 2 days, as there is some discussion about whether they were walled or not in Yehoshua's times, and whether the ancient cities by those names are in the same places now. Also, a really cool article about different "Purims" throughout the ages. Enjoy!

Tis the Season- or NOT

Welcome to Israel- land of Jewish people all over.

Want to know what's in my local grocery store? Not red and green plates celebrating the seasonal holiday in the West, or a 7 branched candelabra for Kwanzaa, or even a turkey for the good old fashioned American holiday of Thanksgiving.

Nope, in my grocery store- we've got pure Shemen Zayit Zach- olive oil-, matches, candles, and wicks- all the accoutrements for Chanukah. (Yep, coming up in about 2 weeks!)

See? It's a Jewish country! Chag HaOrim- the festival of lights- is starting to take full swing.

With the glass sliding 'fish-tank' reminiscent boxes being sold in all major stores, (used to store the Menorah/Chanukiah so it can be lit outside) and the books on our holiday season being sold at half price, I feel quite at home.

I barely registered that in the US, major sales are going on for the shopping season. Thanksgiving pretty much passed me by, although I called my family in the US to wish them an enjoyable turkey day.
And the red and green stuff really shows up here in Israel about a year too late- by next year Succos when they'll be used as Succa decorations by unsuspecting Israelis.
(That cracks me up every time- seeing blinking lights spelling out C-H....- and having the unsuspecting Israeli go, "Aren't they pretty? They were on sale!" Or about the guy who hung up a red- suited, bearded guy in his Succa- and when asked- he answered, "It's a rebbe, right?)

Here Sufganiyot (jelly filled fried doughnuts, or caramel filled) are all over every bakery, and it's a temptation to wait till Chanukah. The dreidels (or Sivivon- small tops that children play with) are being brought home already, and the kids are waiting eagerly for the first chance to light a candle.

I'm so glad to be here, to be a part of this country that celebrates my holidays, my Chagim. I feel like I belong- like I never had before, when living in the US, and hoping that my neighbors wouldn't throw stones at my window for lighting my menorah. I feel a freedom I've never quite known. And I'm eternally grateful for it.