After living here for a number of years, you tend to forget about the unique nature of this country and the originality of our interactions. We had a great day with the kids today. We took them to go bowling in Jerusalem and out to lunch. They had a great time bowling. Amichai has never… Read More What a Country…
Things are going very well in the Sussman house right now, Thank Gd. I spent a lot of May and June wondering how I was going to juggle the four kids, the heat, the summer, and the coming baby during July and August. August in Israel is a very rough time for working moms because… Read More Sometimes Things Work Out…
Matan finally – and I mean FINALLY – got his yellow belt in karate yesterday. He’s been working on this belt all year and has had trouble when he’s tested for it in the past. The teacher has taught him to try to make his moves more methodical and slower – at the same time… Read More Matan, the Karate Kid
I don’t know if we’ve written about Israeli weddings before – I’d be surprised if we hadn’t. There is simply nothing like them in the world. I really think that they are the number one example of the Israeli way of life. We went to a wedding this week of two people in the yishuv.… Read More Wedding, Israel Style
With the end of the school year upon us we have been spending a lot of time at the requisite end-of-the-year programs for the kids. On Sunday, it was Yehuda’s Mesibat Siddur (when the kids receive their first Siddur/prayer book) and last night was Matan’s end of the year Siyum (literally ‘completion’, the Jewish ceremony… Read More Plenty of Parties…
It is Erev Shavuot. Tonight we begin the celebration of Shavuot commemorating the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai (Mt. Sinai). Shavuot is one of the Shalosh Regalim (pilgrimage festivals), along with Pesach and Sukkot, when we are commanded to go to Beit HaMikdash (the Holy Temple) in Jerusalem to bring sacrifices to HaShem.… Read More Aliyah b’Regel the Old Fashioned Way (well, almost)
In the last few weeks, we have been privileged to be at some amazing events. I find our friends are constantly teaching us about parenting, about friendship and about strength. These few weeks have really been an example of that. Two years ago, as I’ve written many times, a four year old boy in the… Read More Amazing Role Models
I’m a complete sucker when it comes to Yom Ha’Atzmaut here in Israel. I always – and I mean always – cry at these performances. If you were here, you’d understand how out of place crying is – but I just don’t seem to be able to help it. Israel has an amazing tradition for… Read More When Fireworks Make You Cry
This small country of ours truly never stops amazing me. I knew that it was Yom HaShoah today – I sent one of my kids to school in blue and white with a yellow Jewish star that he’s going to put on later for a performance they are doing. And obviously it’s all over the… Read More Yom HaShoah 2008
For the last week, we’ve been waiting for Wednesday, Yom Yerushalayim, with a mixture of anticipation and sadness. The yishuv has been busy preparing a beautiful new park right by our son, Yehuda’s gan. This, however, is not just any park. It is a park being built to remember Yehuda’s best friend, Chanan Sivan who… Read More Gan Chanan – A Beautiful Park
