— Batman, Incredible Hulk, Ironman, joy, Neve Daniel, Ninja Turtle, Purim, Purim fun, Spiderman, superheroes, Superman, Wolverine, Wonder Woman —

Sussman Superheroes & A Day of Simcha

March 5, 2015

We love Purim. It’s so much fun to think of a family costume and to get everyone involved. This year, when we came up with the idea of being footie-pajama’d superheroes, we got very excited. Of course, no one realized just how much work it was going to be to find 8 different character footie-pajamas… Read More Sussman Superheroes & A Day of Simcha

— Bar Mitzvah, bar mitzvah party, lessons learned, love, parenting, stress —

I Should Have Known…The Joys of the Unknown

March 1, 2015

I should have known that the bar mitzvah wouldn’t look exactly as we had envisioned, and that I would be tested in all sorts of ways. I should have known. It’s surprising that, after 13 years with this glorious child, I haven’t yet learned my lessons. On the day that Yehuda was born, we woke… Read More I Should Have Known…The Joys of the Unknown

— Bar Mitzvah, bar mitzvah party, fun, snow mitzvah —

A Glimpse of the Snow-Mitzvah Fun!

February 23, 2015

It’s the morning after the party and we are all still on a high. Pictures coming soon. But here is my speech from last night. I would share Yehuda’s speech, but it’s in Hebrew! Enjoy mine… We feel very fortunate to find ourselves, ten and a half years after Aliyah, in a place filled with… Read More A Glimpse of the Snow-Mitzvah Fun!

— Uncategorized —

A Glimpse of the Snow-Mitzvah Fun!

February 23, 2015

— air conditioning, history, Holocaust, Israel, Zionism —

Unexpected Inspiration on a Cold Winter Night

January 19, 2015

It’s not often that you get a history lesson and a story of hope and perseverance from your air conditioning installation guy. But when you live in Israel, that’s par for the course. Last night, our air conditioning specialist, Eliyahu, was over to give us a quote and we got to talking. He mentioned that… Read More Unexpected Inspiration on a Cold Winter Night

— Bar Mitzvah, birthday, Chanuchat Tefillin, Kiryat Arba, Neve Daniel, tefillin —

Celebrations in the Snow

January 12, 2015

In February of 2003 I was all set for Yehuda’s first birthday. I had bought oodles of art projects for the little kids to do. I had a cake with a picture of Yehuda swinging with glee. I had Winnie the Pooh decorations and more. We were set. Until the snow wouldn’t stop. And so, since… Read More Celebrations in the Snow

— acts of giving, chesed, friends, Israel, Neve Daniel —

The Giants Among Us

December 31, 2014

Yesterday, I was at the park with a friend. She mentioned that her daughter is part of a rotating group on Shabbat that babysits for a disabled child. In order to help the parents to get a break, they have set up a rotation and various 13 year old girls come by to babysit each… Read More The Giants Among Us

— Antelope Ranch, Arava, Arava vacation, Chanukah vacation, Hanukah, Hatzeva, Moshav Hatzeva, Vidor Center —

An Oasis in the Arava

December 24, 2014

You know when you drive to Eilat by way Rt. 90 and you pass what feels like hours of rocky terrain? Barrenness? Mountain after mountain after mountain? Yeah, we chose to spend our Chanukah vacation among that barren terrain. And what fun it was. Most people who travel through the Arava (the area of land… Read More An Oasis in the Arava

— celebration, Hanukah, Orot Etzion, school competition —

Putting Our Best Foot (Hand) Forward for Hanukah

December 14, 2014

Hanukah is almost here. And that means that it’s time for a crazy and creative art project. At the grade school where all of the boys go/have gone, they do a competition each year for the most creative Hanukiot (candle holders for Hanukah). I don’t actually know if there are prizes, or if they just… Read More Putting Our Best Foot (Hand) Forward for Hanukah

— celebration, Eliyeshiv Lubitch, life, mourning, Neve Daniel, Shem Tov Levi —

In Celebration of a Musical Life

December 7, 2014

A little over two years ago Neve Daniel lost one of its youth. Eliyashiv was out for a run on an ordinary night when he died, suddenly, at the age of 18. Josh and I were taking a walk that night, when a man we know came running up, out of breath and shaken. He… Read More In Celebration of a Musical Life