I am on a journey, to make Aliyah, and want to share my journey with my family, friends and anyone that is interested. I made the decision to make Aliyah in December 2002 and now I am actually doing it. This blog will chronicle my story and adventures leading up to getting on the plane and then the continuing story of the beginning of my new life in Israel and what I experience once there. ___________________________________________
Monday, July 13, 2009
1st Shabbat
My cousin Susan picked me up on Friday mid-day and I met two of her kids and another. We went to the local bagel shop for lunch and I must say it was pretty good. We then went next door for ice cream. I had pistachio and it tasted so fresh, just like pistachios, what a concept huh? We then loaded up the van and headed for the hills, not beverly, but in the Shomron. I was mistaken we didn't go to Ariel, but towards Ariel (about half-way). Susan lives in Gnot Shomron and being in the West Bank was nothing like I expected. Yes I saw a checkpoint and a guard station at the entrance to the community, but other than that it looks just like a normal place where people live. Here are a few pics and a video of where I stayed:
Up the street
Down the Street
Park across the street
Video from the porch of Susan and Tsvi's house.
Susan and Tsvi were such wonderful hosts. Susan is a wonderful cook too. She loaded me up with various meat choices over Shabbat. We had ribs, steak, deli rolls, meatballs, taco salad and many side dishes. I didn't go away hungry or bored with the food choices.
This Shabbat was most welcome and needed after my first few days of running around. After Shabbat I returned home as Sunday morning I needed to travel to Jerusalem and I didn't want to drag my bag around.
So, thank you to Susan and Tsvi for a most wonderful first Shabbat in Israel.
I am your typical (whatever that is) guy originating from Columbia, SC. I grew up next to my synagogue. This afforded me many opportunities to be involved. I re-formed our USY chapter and served as president. I graduated high school, got married and planned to be a Rabbi. Life has twists and rather than becoming a rabbi, became disconnected uninvolved for many years. I had kids, moved to Utah and the Mormon missionaries pushed me back into the Synagogue. (I guess they lost points on me) Somewhere in there I had also moved to Atlanta and found lots of Jewish things to be involved in. I became involved in Mosaic (Jewish Outdoor Club) and eventually was President of the local club and on the national board. On a hike, I heard about a volunteer program, Sar-El, and thought it sounded cool, so I went to Israel and volunteered in the army. At my shul, I helped re-start our Men's club, then became regional VP and then President of the Region. I have moved back to SC. This year is full of changes for me and my family: I have a college graduate, a new son-in-law, a grad student and two high school seniors, oh yeah how could I forget my grandbaby (Jessica and Tyler's cat...) and my aliyah
Mazal Tov On Our Bar Mitzvah!
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Today is our Bar Mitzvah Aliyahversary. Nefesh B'Nefesh asked me to share a
few words about what our Aliyah means to us 13 years later. Here is what I
had ...
FOOD MUSINGS - Did you know that........
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CINNAMON: Have you ever eaten cinnamon? Don't say "yes" too quickly; you
may be wrong. Cinnamon-snobs (and yes there are such people) say that only
Ceylon ...
AN END... AND A BEGINNING
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“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” - Mark Twain
As yet, there have been no such reports - exaggerated or not - at least as
far as my own de...
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