Shabbat
In a country where everyone is Jewish, or predominantly so, Shabbat has a different rythm, as does shul. With so many options, it does take time to find what works for you and as a family.
We had decided on Beit Shemesh not just for olim support for our children (which has been amazing - - Orot Banim and Orot Banot has its own liaison that provides ulpan support from within and the city also offers this within Ramat Beit Shemesh but we've opted out of this for a variety of reasons). We've been able to find Wacky Mac (9 shekel a box), Smuckers grape jelly, Duncan Hines (it'll cost 25 shekel a box versus 98 cents in Walmart). Overall, if you miss certain food items in the United States, you can find it here, which is phenomenal.
We also chose Beit Shemesh since we recognized a Rabbi that podcasts, with a great deal of followers within the city. Many couples make aliyah, to his credit. In the end the set up of the shul wasn't optimal for us as a family. We left our membership and High Holiday seat donation as a thank you for the inspiration, Torah and for playing a part as one of the driving factors for soft-landing here.
We tried another shul, but the mechitzah there was so tall, making it hard to follow the service. The third shul, acoustics were awful and lasted 15 minutes. Fourth time, thankfully was a charm and we daven at Etz Chaim. This shul has a diverse congregation, including orthodox Ethiopian Jews, Israelis and long time Americans who have made aliyah. There is also a tefilat yeladim for 45 minutes which joining it this shabbat, made me realize "ah, this is why we are here." Both children held their sidurim with such love and joined other children in unison. I never even realized children could daven for 30 minutes. Shul isn't just about groups, or running around. There was a pure enthusiasm that I've never seen and was able to encourage them both to follow along (even the baby enjoyed himself).
Whereas in the United States, you could go a week without feeling Jewish, it is still important to have a shul that caters to your needs. Often we've heard that in Israel you can be chiloni (non-observant) and still be Jewish, as the land itself provides a framework. Or that, you don't need to socialize in shul, because you have all week to feel Jewish enough. For Olim, and many Israelis that I have met, this is far from true and I wonder why the misconception.
We also chose Beit Shemesh since we recognized a Rabbi that podcasts, with a great deal of followers within the city. Many couples make aliyah, to his credit. In the end the set up of the shul wasn't optimal for us as a family. We left our membership and High Holiday seat donation as a thank you for the inspiration, Torah and for playing a part as one of the driving factors for soft-landing here.
We tried another shul, but the mechitzah there was so tall, making it hard to follow the service. The third shul, acoustics were awful and lasted 15 minutes. Fourth time, thankfully was a charm and we daven at Etz Chaim. This shul has a diverse congregation, including orthodox Ethiopian Jews, Israelis and long time Americans who have made aliyah. There is also a tefilat yeladim for 45 minutes which joining it this shabbat, made me realize "ah, this is why we are here." Both children held their sidurim with such love and joined other children in unison. I never even realized children could daven for 30 minutes. Shul isn't just about groups, or running around. There was a pure enthusiasm that I've never seen and was able to encourage them both to follow along (even the baby enjoyed himself).
Whereas in the United States, you could go a week without feeling Jewish, it is still important to have a shul that caters to your needs. Often we've heard that in Israel you can be chiloni (non-observant) and still be Jewish, as the land itself provides a framework. Or that, you don't need to socialize in shul, because you have all week to feel Jewish enough. For Olim, and many Israelis that I have met, this is far from true and I wonder why the misconception.
We've had some, thank G-d, positive firsts this past week.
Josh washed the hands of the kohen for the first time, as he's a first born (and kohanim in Israel bless every day). He also leined and was asked to lein again this coming week. Hearing him practice this shabbat, he recited כי תבואו אל הארץ, where it discusses returning to the land. This couldn't have been a coincidence, and made us hopeful to the wave of Olim, all over the world, reclaiming the Land of Israel.
Our daughter was also one of Israel's famed "Ima Shel Shabbat," this weekend, carrying a suitcase with puzzles, books about Shabbat, a special siddur and mitpachat. We had to supply on Friday grape juice and small plastic shot glasses. The all-girl, Gan Ariel, is a very sweet program.
Going to the mall the other day, pomegranates, honey jars, were in full swing. At work, we visited a nearby Yeshuv, where one of the preschools were given flowers to plant (funded by Christian-Zionists). The children were elated and sang High Holiday songs. It was truly a beautiful moment.
And then there's that first realization, hearing your son being shouted from a neighbor across the street on Shabbat "hey, Yeled" and the two converse in Hebrew. Where there is a bouncy ball, kids will follow. And till almost the close of Shabbat, one from the street threw it over to our patio. While the conversation itself was semi broken, it was certainly a start and the resilience, learning capacity of children is truly amazing.
Our daughter was also one of Israel's famed "Ima Shel Shabbat," this weekend, carrying a suitcase with puzzles, books about Shabbat, a special siddur and mitpachat. We had to supply on Friday grape juice and small plastic shot glasses. The all-girl, Gan Ariel, is a very sweet program.
Going to the mall the other day, pomegranates, honey jars, were in full swing. At work, we visited a nearby Yeshuv, where one of the preschools were given flowers to plant (funded by Christian-Zionists). The children were elated and sang High Holiday songs. It was truly a beautiful moment.
And then there's that first realization, hearing your son being shouted from a neighbor across the street on Shabbat "hey, Yeled" and the two converse in Hebrew. Where there is a bouncy ball, kids will follow. And till almost the close of Shabbat, one from the street threw it over to our patio. While the conversation itself was semi broken, it was certainly a start and the resilience, learning capacity of children is truly amazing.
The baby also had his first, eating challah with a whole fist and really taking to his mishpachton nicely. It is noticeable that he responds both to Hebrew and English phrases, which is amazing.
Frustrations are really, thankfully, not an issue. There are certainly cultural differences (see previous post about the 14 bus).
Technology has indeed done its part to keep relationships and family close. It's only if you really think about it, that you begin to feel really far. The pros and cons continue to be weighed, but such an extreme move, discussion now turns to, "the next place we move, is it. Just one more (hopefully to a house) and just make it all work."
Technology has indeed done its part to keep relationships and family close. It's only if you really think about it, that you begin to feel really far. The pros and cons continue to be weighed, but such an extreme move, discussion now turns to, "the next place we move, is it. Just one more (hopefully to a house) and just make it all work."
As I'm typing this once again, on the bus, we still have these moments where it's unreal that we aren't just visiting rather living here.
It's hard to find those moments that help you jolt back into that reality.
Until the morning you see the first ever stray Israeli cat as road kill, as you walk your daughter to Gan (training them not to touch Israeli cats) and then you realize, it ain't no US squirrel.
Happy 2 month aliyahversary to us.
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