For months, I’ve been thinking about writing a piece about the traditional blessing of gratitude that we say in Judaism after surviving a life-threatening situation. And then, during our daf yomi siyum recently, marking the completion of Masechet Menachot, someone spoke about her recent near-death experience and how they thanked Hashem afterwards for saving her… Read More Birkat HaGomel in Times of War
Last week, we went to Har Herzl, Israel’s national military cemetery, to pay our respect to those who have fallen so that we may live here. Each year, there is an official ceremony there on the morning of Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day), and the location is overrun with thousands upon thousands of people. We discovered… Read More Those Left Behind
It’s very unusual for me to be without words, but I have found myself in this state for a number of months. I’ve been battling with debilitating physical vertigo at the same time that our beautiful, tiny country has been battling with the existential vertigo of war. I’ve turned to myself over and over again… Read More Still Standing: Finding My Voice Among the Flags
Guest blog by Josh Sussman Last month one of our kids made the pilgrimage to Holocaust sites in Poland, a trip that hundreds of thousands of Israelis have made over the past few decades. This trip allows high school students to learn more about the tragedy that befell the Jewish people only 80-85 years ago.… Read More Journeying South Through Our Soldier’s Eyes
Yesterday, we were at Har Herzl for the two-year azkara (memorial) for Shiloh Rauchberger, who fell on the 7th while fighting off dozens of terrorists on his base and saving so many people that day. The memorial brought me back to his funeral, to that terrible first week of the war. Then, as we arrived… Read More Two Years Later
Two years ago, I was standing in a small vineyard in the hills of eastern Gush Etzion enjoying a beautiful pre-holiday event. We heard from the owners about the wine harvest and the incredibly industrious work a few families had accomplished with their winery. They explained how tricky it would be with the upcoming holiday;… Read More May All The Grapes Be Harvested On Time
I have cried so many more tears than I have put words to paper in the past two years. Where is my voice? The letters have been replaced by wet, silent tears; the words replaced by sobs. Sometimes, particularly when I am at shul silently crying, I wonder how we are all standing; how we… Read More Finding the Space for Words in the Year Ahead
Last week, Josh and I headed out at 5:30am to Tzomet Golani to participate in the Tekes Kumpta. This is a ceremony that takes place at the end of an army unit’s training, when they receive their beret and are ready for active duty. Two years ago on this exact date, we gathered in the… Read More Unity in Uniform
Perhaps I’m tired because we were woken, again, this morning by missiles sent to kill us in our homes. Or perhaps it’s because I didn’t sleep well, thinking about Master Sergeant (Res) Avraham Azulay who was murdered in Gaza yesterday; who was murdered by three terrorists who tried to kidnap him. Or perhaps I had… Read More Perhaps
We’ve now reached the one-week mark of the latest phase of the ongoing war with Iran. It feels like a lifetime. One week ago, I was sitting at my favorite nail salon, getting cute little turtles and waves drawn onto my nails for my upcoming family reunion in San Diego. And then everything changed. I… Read More Gratitude Amid the Sirens
