The pictures I was witnessing was not my Israel, it was not the country so many have given the utmost sacrifice for. The first steps to converting Israel from a Jewish democratic state to a dictatorship passed in the Knesset on Monday night. The following day, tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets. At the airport and corners of every kind to let their voices of disapproval be heard. I knew my fellow Israelis would not stay quiet,... Read more
How could I write about peace and love, as the winds of war and terror fill the streets of Israel and the west bank? I began to write this column a few days ago. With excitement to share with you how peace has connected me to my heritage’s blessings and prayers. There was going to be praise Shir Lashalom, “Song for Peace”, one of the most known Israeli songs for peace. One I have sung since I was a young... Read more
Why do I light Shabbat candles every Friday night? I have always found a candle to be quite spiritual, or even magical. In Judaism, almost every holiday begins the night before with the lighting of a candle. On each holiday eve, and on Chanukah for eight nights, there is an opportunity to experience the preciousness of a newly lit flame. But my favorite candle lighting is the one I do every Friday night, Shabbat candles. I didn’t grow up in... Read more
How does one find a new way of being after a loved one has died? Grief and loss are part of the human condition. Both will eventually be a chapter in the storybook of our lives. Most of us will grieve for someone we loved; we will experience the heartache of loss. The progression of age prepares us that our time here in this world is not infinite. It is expected that one life just as it is brought... Read more
Chilling sounds of warning sirens. I wake up at 6:00 A.M., I turn on Israeli news before I get my feet on the ground. I put my eyes and ears on full alert, did a siren go off and where? I can hear the reporters try and talk over the loud and chilling sounds of warning sirens. I jump out of bed and immediately begin texting my family members and friends. A routine that my heart has not adapted to.... Read more
This May is Jewish Heritage Month, it is my personal heritage, one I continue to learn about Heritage is a word that invites curiosity within me. I enjoy following the roads of different cultures to learn about the various wonders of people. I am fascinated by the treasures found in heritage. It seems to me that they can be a good source of keeping people connected. Sometimes, the wisdom heritage offers can be a valuable factor in unity. We... Read more
Could my newly found practice of meditation be a type of prayer? I was turning 40 years old the first time I had an intimate meeting with prayer. I had begun a new soul journey, one that involved meditation. Beforehand, prayer seemed like a distant language, one I couldn’t understand. Having been brought up in a secular society, I believed prayer only belonged to those that followed religious rules. I associated it with ways to ask for something, repeat what... Read more
For Me the Holocaust Would be present. My dear friend of over 40 years lives in Vienna. She has lived there for over 30. After falling in love with an Austrian volunteer on her Kibbutz (Israeli communal farm community) they relocated to Vienna. We have remained in close contact, meeting up mostly in Israel and even in Santorini. But never in Austria. I have always been afraid to visit Austria, a country that carried echoes of Naziism. For me the... Read more
How did a flag that had been kidnapped by extremists in Israel, return to be a symbol of democracy and hope? I was walking down the streets of Tel-Aviv, as they were slowly filling up with Israeli flags. White and blue colors could be seen from afar covering the city’s landscape. My husband wearing the flag proudly on his back, others carrying it on poles. Children sharing the flag, this very essential symbol on their caps and backpacks. Drummers were... Read more
How is Freedom Connected to Passover Passover is one of my favorite holidays. It holds space for tradition as well as individuality. No 2 Seders (the traditional holiday meal and storytelling) are exactly alike. Each Seder brings the flavor of those around the table, while holding the rainbow of traditions to choose from. All the time using the word FREEDOM as a guide. How is FREEDOM connected to Passover? The Jewish people escaped slavery from Egypt with a passion to... Read more
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