Tu Bishvat


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 didn't help. Then I missed having a car and wondered if I'd ever learn not to be afraid to drive in a country where often people cut one another off or honk for the sake of honking.

I wrote a friend, feeling incredibly guilty of my feelings - - for we have moved and are living the "dream." Then why was there an opposing dream? "It happens," she replied, having also posted a cozy photo of a snow day due remembered from two years ago. She wondered if I too miss it, and I replied "no, just the first snow." 

It's ok to miss what was. But feeling so blessed, even for just that brief moment to see that tree - - as if it was just for me, in the streets of Jerusalem. 

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