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
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!
I awoke at 5:30 am today to the sound of Bedouin men in the neighboring village chanting their prayers (Usually I wake up at 6:30 to the songs of busy yellow-beaked Eurasian blackbirds outside my window and on the roof.). Their chanting was so hauntingly mesmerizing that it gently carried me from asleep to awake… … Continue reading Birthday Blessings
Six weeks ago we made Aliyah. There are ups and downs, mundane and transcendent moments sometimes all mixed up together. Here, in Eretz Yisrael, I can see and feel the glory of G-d with more depth, but I’m still human. There are times when G-d feels hidden, and, during those difficult moments, I am learning … Continue reading Tree, My Teacher
Why can't I just feel "good"? I keep resisting whatever this is inside. The uneasiness is hard to explain. Like I'm uncomfortable within my body, here in this place. What is this place? It's not where I'm meant to be. Not really, anyway. My soul knows; it's not natural. But I -- like other souls … Continue reading Full Moon Feelings in Eretz Yisrael
I spent part of the morning studying a map of Israel. While I've never stepped foot in/on the Holy Land, my son is in high school there this year. Each time I thought I would get to travel there, G-d decided it wasn't the right time yet. My heart and soul often feel oddly disconnected … Continue reading My heart and soul long for closeness with G-d, my true self, my people and our land
And the children of Israel did according to Moses' order, and they borrowed from the Egyptians silver objects, golden objects, and garments. -Exodus 12:29-51 (Parsha Bo) להוּבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל עָשׂ֖וּ כִּדְבַ֣ר משֶׁ֑ה וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם כְּלֵי־כֶ֛סֶף וּכְלֵ֥י זָהָ֖ב וּשְׂמָלֹֽת By bringing tambourines into the dessert as they fled Egypt, the women showed their unwavering faith and trust in … Continue reading Surrender and Celebrate!
Morasha 