When our plane landed in Eretz Yisrael five months ago, it was my first time ever being physically in this land. But it was a homecoming for my soul. My grandparents, Adeline and William, visited here a few decades ago. Each week I use the green-glass Shabbat candlesticks they bought in Jerusalem, along with the silver … Continue reading Our Jewish Mission
Fake it till you make it. It’s now Adar on the Jewish calendar, which our sages say is a month inherently infused with increased joy. But each year at this time, I reflect on why I don’t necessarily feel a spike of simcha. Now that we have made Aliyah, evidence of Adar and the upcoming … Continue reading The Power of a Smile
I am so grateful to be growing my business from here in the Holy Land. Five months ago I made Aliyah with my family. It’s been a monumental adventure—setting up our home, getting our children in the right schools, learning Hebrew, and exploring this amazing land. During my 25 years as an independent Jewish journalist, … Continue reading Continuing My Mission in the Holy Land
I went to Tel Aviv to take my final exam for Ulpan, and my family and I did a bit of exploring there. It’s a relatively big and modern city, much different from where we live here in the pastoral hills of the north. Six months ago today, my family and I made Aliyah. And … Continue reading Seek and Find Your Hidden Gifts
I was born with severe strabismus and astigmatism in both eyes. By age three, I had two surgeries and wore very thick glasses. Because of the bullying, at age nine, I got hard contact lenses. The eye doctor said I was his youngest patient ever. I was so grateful for those contact lenses, even though … Continue reading Darkness to Light: Poor Vision and Trauma Lead to Spiritual Insights
Today we visited the village of Beit Lechem HaGalilit, or Bethlehem of Galilee, a moshav in northern Israel 10 minutes from our home. The name Bethlehem, or Beit Lechem, is Hebrew for ‘House of Bread.’ (Another town of the same name is located in Judea.) The area we visited is mentioned in the Tanach as … Continue reading Holy Donkey!
Yesterday we went on a Chanukah hike and picnic in the woods behind our house. At this spot, we were high enough to see the moshav and kibbutz nearby. Putting my bare feet in the dirt and grass, sitting on the ground, feeling the warm sun on my face, and watching my kids run free … Continue reading The Eyes of G-d Are Always Upon It
Dreidels in galus, outside of Eretz Yisrael, have a Nun, Gimel, Hey, Shin. It’s an acronym for Nes, Gadol, Haya, Sham. A great miracle happened THERE. But now that my family and I made Aliyah, we are living where the actual miracle occurred nearly two millennia ago, in the year 3622 (139 B.C.E.). For many … Continue reading A great miracle happened HERE!
I cried this morning after walking our son to school. It has been exciting building a new life in the Holy Land, and it’s all starting to come together. And for the first time in my four decades here on Earth—as I walked from his school back home, amidst the buzzing cars and blooming bougainvilleas—I … Continue reading Passing the Torch, One Step at a Time
I recently picked out some fresh Israeli olives from a makolet here in the north. In the Torah, the olive is a symbol of holiness, beauty, rejuvenation and peace. The olive is also one of the seven sacred species (shivat minim) of Eretz Yisrael. It’s been 10 weeks since my family and I crossed the … Continue reading Israeli Olives
Morasha 