I was struck this morning by the most ubiquitous expression. While dropping my kids off at school, I said, “Boker Tov” to someone walking by. This means “Good Morning” in Hebrew and is offered anytime that you see someone during the morning hours. In response, he said, “Boker Or.” “Boker Or” is the typical response… Read More Boker Or

I love sharing experiences like the one that I had today. Bedrooms in Israel don’t have built in closets the way that most do in the States. Instead, we purchase standing closets. We’ve purchased all of our children’s beds and closets from one store in Talpiot and have been very happy with the quality and… Read More I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

There are times when I hear Hashem talking to me very clearly, and I have to admire his handy work. It’s been a very difficult two weeks – to say the least – while Josh has been traveling. The baby is…well, a baby…with all of the needs that entails. Sleep is a thing of the… Read More Hashem’s Little Reminders

There are two main things that I absolutely love about the first Shabbat after my sons have been born. First is the bracha that fathers (and sometimes mothers) give to their children on Friday night. This blessing allows us to follow in Yaakov Avinu’s footsteps. In the Torah, before he died, Yaakov (Jacob) blessed his… Read More The Spark of Their Lives

While taking my first real walk this morning since the birth, I realized that there are a few interesting observations from Yakir’s birth that I haven’t shared yet. While I was in labor, an Arab woman walked into the delivery room. I was pretty far along already, and was using all of my energy to… Read More Witness to a Birth

The Brit of Yakir Yaakov ben Yehoshua Raion v’Reuma Michal Sussman As many of you know, and have been reminding me for four years now, at Eliav’s brit in 2006 Josh closed by inviting you to the britot that we would be having in 2008 and 2010. While I hate to admit that the man… Read More Welcome Yakir Yaakov: In Memory of Papa Jerry

It’s over. Thank Gd. And at the same time, I know it’s just begun. It’s hard, with the fear of the birth looming over your head, to think about too much else. And so, I was hoping that when I got to the other side of that fear and that reality, that I’d have a… Read More Learning Through the Fear

It’s over. Thank Gd. And at the same time, I know it’s just begun. It’s hard, with the fear of the birth looming over your head, to think about too much else. And so, I was hoping that when I got to the other side of that fear and that reality, that I’d have a… Read More Learning Through the Fear

Many things about this pregnancy and eventual (Gd willing!) birth have made me feel like I’ve come full circle. Most of these thoughts will be shared after the baby is born. There is one, however, that struck me recently and that I wanted to share. When we first arrived in Israel 6 years ago, I… Read More Coming Full Circle

Someone said to me recently, “I can’t believe you are having your sixth kid!” And it made me stop to think for a minute as well. Wow – that’s a lot of children. It’s a lot of seats at the dinner table (or at a restaurant). It’s a lot of laundry to do each day,… Read More Raising Little Individuals