בנשמה

Haters be haters. We went to the US embassy in Jerusalem this morning to get a document notarized. It was amazing.  Proud to be an American AND 100% Israeli.

"You sound like someone who is realizing she's always loved a guy and just didn't know it." Purim is officially approaching. It's a time where we don't necessarily have to get real, rather pretend we are something we are not. As we went to the mall the other day, a cashier at a store chain named Fox wore a Minnie mouse headband. Another store carried hundreds of costumes for sale when we realized this isn't Halloween. Our daughter came back from school today with a wand and a headband of sorts as well. A huge smile on her face, there is a love for Israel that is so innocent and exciting. Now, in regards to the quote. There are many who feel it is important to paint the aliyah story as rosy for fellow Americans. In fact, writing or sharing otherwise is like airing out dirty laundry. That said, not being truthful or putting on a mask, in the end, isn't helpful to anyone. Making aliyah has to be from within your soul and when that alo

Exiting the car from a ride to Jerusalem on a cold, rainy morning, I looked up and saw the blossoming shekediya tree. It was hard not to smile. My new coworker didn't understand what I was looking at, and I had a chance to explain.  Spring in Israel is around the corner.  Walking the baby to his gan today, we passed little children carrying fruit platters.  The caretaker gave me dry fruit (a gift from Eged) which I used in turn to make a meal for someone in need within the Beit Shemesh community.  And our daughter brought home from Gan Chova a flowering plant that we promised her we'd place outside today, after the rain. The ups and downs with aliyah comes and goes in such waves - -  The night before I dreamt we moved back to Sharon, Massachusetts. I woke up missing the United States, what's so comfortable and familiar. The dream itself was uncomfortable. This resulted in a really down morning. Walking through the aisles in the Best Market in Ramat Beit Shemesh

Not really, it is February... but...thank Gd. After 10 years in Boston, this is the life.  Reason number 189000+ to make aliyah.  Tel Aviv baby! Chof Palmachim to be exact.  And a thank you to my friend from seminary (you know who you are) for letting me tag along for a really nice date. LiveLoveIsrael. 

The other day I went with a friend to Ikea. This was very exciting.  The shopping experience in Israel is different in that there isn't one huge chain that will carry everything under one roof - like Walmart or Target. And so, the grocery store is a grocery store. If you are looking for more selection of produce, there are fruit stores. And for clothing, you have to go to the mall. It takes some getting used to. Some love it as it reduces headache and controls spending habits. Others have to plan out their week in advance and hit all the stops.  Ikea, I warned my spouse, would become the next place to Home Depot (not in Israel) to get some semblance of the shopping experience I've been used to. That said, we walked through Ikea and noticed something unique only to here - - Showrooms featured Judaica items and wall art with biblical quotes, amongst other Hebrew sayings.  You just can't help but smile at how very special this is - - yet aga

True to its very name, Ma'aleh Adumim is situated on high mountains, behind Mount Scopus and the hills of Jerusalem. However, one other aestethic of the community are the many stairs that form along the gorgeous hill sides with tiered housing structures. I couldn't help but think of Shir La'Ma'alot. From the park we visited in the afternoon, we could see Jordan from afar and the dead sea (the photo above is that of a police station, facing Jerusalem). The 40,000 inhabited city has a variety of schooling options, stores, malls, terem, a new resident cemetery that opened up two years ago, buses designated with routs to bring kids to school and very good public transportation to Jerusalem where you can get by without owning a car. The nearest hospital is 20 minutes away in Jerusalem. The famed Ma'aleh Adumim hesder, also know as Birkat Moshe is central to the city. There are smaller yeshuvim that were pointed out to us as well (Kfar Adumim among others). Gi