School

The much awaited school year has begun. Summer buses ran late, children served as crossing gaurds with parent volunteers supervising. Children with new backpacks running around the streets. It's a unique, happy scene.

And then there was our stomach and eyes. While in the states $22,500/child in tuition (pre financial aid) gives somewhat of a structure and sense of calm, in Israel, you get what you pay for - - but it's beautiful and somehow the system works.

Both children returned from their days excited. One affirming that he will go back the next day and the other stating that it was awesome and that she just need to learn more Hebrew.

One thing for sure, children acclimate and find new friends faster than adults. Those at camp found one another back at school and brought smiles to their faces.

Today's success was the best anniversary gift ever, followed by laffa schwarma, dry apricots for the hubby and myself a pending gift currently being shipped by eBay from Tel Aviv to the United States to come back here. Kind of backwards, but desperate times call for desperate measures. We are learning more than ever that it's the little things.

This past week we also identified a shul that works very nicely for us all as a family. Friendly to children, inclusive to women to observe the service (as in, see what's going on, good acoustics and not shush), approachable community members, diverse than other shuls we've seen in the Beit Shemesh area, we look forward to supporting the shul for the next year. While Beit Shemesh is lovely and most definately a soft landing, we've found other couples, like us, craving more space, acclimation to Israeli life and culture. This is all certainly a process and an observation. Whereas in the States, an observant Jew is limited to where there is an established community, in Israel you can live pretty much anywhere. It is just moshavim and kibbutzim that may have a reputation to being all chiloni (non observant). As new Olim, it was wise that we rented before buying and taking time to research various options. For example, do we move near family? Friends? Plung and be near absolutely no one? The third likely won't happen, given our needs and personalities.

While everyone in the USA enjoyed their Sunday and soon Labor day, we certainly are full steam ahead here in Israel. The holidays are not exactly yet in motion. It will be fascinating to see how that transpires here in the Holy Land.

Cheers and hatzlacha to all sending their cuties to school or going through life transitions.

חזק. 💪

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