בנשמה

This will be an interesting Passover. The kind where worldwide, everyone will be making lemonade from lemons. But we've been through trying times before. Walking around the kitchen today, it dawned on us that in 2008 we witnessed similar stresses with a market crash thanks to Bear Stearns. Going to work at the time in New York City was uncertain if you'd come back home employed. Although no one was dying, employment was shaky. It took well over a year to feel in the clear. And when we moved to Israel, we dealt with the measles outbreak, unsure how to care for our then 3-month-old on the aircraft. It was a risk that we took, and thankfully, we made it to the other side. The Coronavirus has added unexpected challenges, especially in Israel. Eggs are not found now at stores (it is unclear as to why). A carton with 30 will cost us a whopping 35 shekel. Disinfectant wipes are also missing in action (welcome back paper towels and spray). We've decided not to rent cars for

Husband here. Yes, I have a public health degree; yes, I was once an epidemiologist, no, I never dealt with infectious diseases. But people still like to ask me my opinion since you know, all public health people are the same, just like you would want to ask a dermatologist about your heart condition, so I guess I’ll give my opinion anyway though don’t take it for anything. First of all, there were so many ingredients that came together to make this the world pandemic that it is, and many of those same reasons are why we are managing so well in the face of it. The main factor is of course large-scale globalization and intertwined economies. We can get around faster than ever before, and with a highly-contagious disease with a long lag-time, that is a recipe for disaster. Politically, it is also a strange time (though is it ever not), being that many world leaders, even of democratic societies are interested in consolidating power and are afraid of giving in to human or non-human

Halloween on steroids. This is the only way we can best describe Purim in Israel.  Festivities are loud. Firecrackers heard in the sky. Mangals (any excuse for Israelis to barbecue).  What was fascinating was how the whole country is on the same page. That said, it does not make sense that schools outside of walled cities still have off on Shushan Purim. Unclear if parents need to take forced vacation.  Purim also was the first that we had so many ultra religious beggers approach us after services, at our front door and into our garage. We did not know this was so customary and did not have change on us. Offering food was not the same.  The local store called Max had a whole section of Purim costumes and the day right before the holiday started to unpackage Passover supplies.  It will be interesting to see if the kids learn anything in school.  We had fun continuing yearly Purim costume themes. With new food in Israel, it took some time to find matching items to the poem. W