Let it Go



It has been a busy week, and it is only Wednesday! With work starting here on Sundays, the rhythm is different and it takes a special shift of mindset. There's more excitement and anticipation leading towards Shabbat awaiting those days of rest. 

We pre-ordered chopped liver that will be shipped to our house and learned of really helpful services that do not exist in Massachusetts. For example, other than what was just noted, there is a truck box of sorts that opens on Thursday and Friday. It is called...wait for it..."The Shabbos Store" where you can buy fresh kugels, chicken, chumus and herring with different flavors. The pizza store down the block from us we also learned offers free delivery and purchase of dough (this we plan to purchase in order to help reduce waste! Recycling is different here). Real kishke is also available in Israel and that no doubt will be a part of our chulent recipe come the winter (of the places we ate so far on Shabbat, chulent was available. The four shuls around here also serve kugel and chulent as their 'basic' level). 

This Friday we anticipate making and eating dinner in the home we are renting for the year. Lunch we are invited out and will make our way down the hill of Beit Shemesh and then back up. People (like us - or maybe it is just us) don't realize that Beit Shemesh is a mountain. Early in the morning and late at night there is a wonderful breeze. Our children started calling sunset here "the rainbow sky."

On Sunday we reached a new milestone that is common to Israeli lifestyle - we let our older two walk down a long downhill street to their camp. In Israel, many children walk to destinations on their own or with supervision from older children. This was a huge shift for us. We only cried a little bit by the fact that we are letting our kids get a larger taste of freedom. It was also a moment that we realized just how much this wouldn't happen in the states. 

At a playdate yesterday, I witnessed 5 year old twins being watched by their 16 year old twin siblings (yes, a family of 6 children and two sets are twins). As the older taught the younger piano, I caught myself smiling. 

The reason for the new camp walk-without-mommy routine is because I am three days away from starting a new job as Digital Marketing Manager for Israel365. The opportunity to work there I very much hope will align my marketing skills and interest to make impact for the land of Israel and all of its people. I'm excited and feel very fortunate to have found something 2.5 weeks into our move. We have been craving routine, stability and putting the pieces of our new life together. And nothing is without guidance from up above -- read below. 

How did I find the job?

Pre-aliyah I saw the position posted on the Nefesh b' Nefesh job board but nothing came of it. When we arrived, I saw it was still open and a head hunter reached out to me. After speaking with her, she told me they'd contact me if interested. It turned that a good friend knows the mastermind of Israel365 and contacted him. 

Here's divine intervention in a creepy way. When I received the call to schedule the interview, we were just about to enter the cemetery where my father is buried. I discussed this experience at the interview when asked why we decided to move to Israel.

The baby, almost being 4 months old, is one lucky duck. Of the three children, he's been the longest with me and finally yesterday took to a new bottle. In our quick run around to find care for him, the first mishpachton (family/private daycare centers) was way too Israeli for our taste (the ratio here is 1:5 or 1:6). The ganenet (teacher) was super sweet but we were both overwhelmed. We agreed to try to find a nanny for August and my hours to start at work were shifted. Come September, we found a lovely place that's calm, clean and on the way to dropping off one child at Gan Chova (the older child, I believe we identified a walking group). Without a car, this new route will call for a baby carrier since the stroller is hard to move around and there aren't many ramps or even soft landings on/off cross walks.  

Someone read my post on a WhatsApp group and made a connection for a potential nanny. Meeting with her and some small chit chat, it was discovered that she is neighbors with my future boss. I found this very comforting. 

It doesn't get more meant to be and closer to home than that.

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