Last year in early October, Yarden said to Josh and me, with a twinkle in his eye, “I have an idea.” And when those four words come out of his mouth, you know you’re about to be in for an experience. And he started telling us about how he was going to ride – really… Read More The Dawning of a New Ride
I had to laugh when I came out of the grocery store yesterday. This was the “car” that was parked next to me. Now, I’ve been in Israel for long enough that this shouldn’t even make me bat an eye. There is nothing unusual about seeing a major military vehicle on our streets, in our… Read More Musings from the Grocery Store Parking Lot
While lounging on a bean bag on Friday, I was trying to ignore the voice in my head that said to clean! cook! do laundry! get things done! rather than reading, as I was. And then I heard, “Can I cuddle wiff you mommy?” And it was chicken-pox boy, Zeli, looking for something to do.… Read More Creating the Space for Beauty
It’s official. We are now Israeli. And we’ve got the biscuit (ביסקויט) cheesecake to prove it. One of the many interesting things that we’ve learned about Israeli life and culture is that the country is very small. It’s not just geographically tiny, but culturally close-knit and insular. And we aren’t always on script. The first… Read More The Makings of a True Israeli
It’s not easy to describe to someone who doesn’t live here what life is like. Today, I had one of those moments that helps to illuminate what is hard to put into words. The same woman worked at the check-out counter at our grocery store for years. About a year ago, the store changed ownership… Read More The Check-Out Lady Checks In
Rosh Hashanah is right around the corner, and I always start to feel like I haven’t prepared myself for the holiday ahead. I don’t go to shul in the morning every day like Josh does; I don’t say slichot; I don’t learn every day like many people I know; I don’t have (or make?) the… Read More Cultivating the Spirit
I remember exactly where I was when I learned that the first plane had hit the Twin Towers. I was a teacher at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland and I was on a break during second period. When I walked into the English department office, someone was talking about what had happened and… Read More 11 Years Later
I just love the first day of school; it’s filled with promise and excitement – new starts and eager beginnings. Every time we arrive at the first day of school, I have the same memory that comes flooding back. Eight years ago today, as we prepared to get our two little guys ready for their… Read More New Beginnings
I love that we were given the opportunity to do a mitzvah (good deed) within five minutes of landing back on Israeli soil. As we dragged ourselves off of the plane, I stood around waiting for my stroller to unload while Josh went ahead a few feet with the other kids. As I was standing… Read More Welcoming Them Home
It is hysterical watching the kids enjoying their time in the States. There have been so many funny moments – but I’ve been too busy running after the baby to write about them. Here’s just a quick glimpse. As we drove to the store the other day, Yehuda remarked about something that I had been… Read More A Day in the Life…
