Chanukah in the City

I’ve taken a break from all the bad news lately. It seems never-ending. We’ve opted to focus on Chanukah. To light the lights in resolve and rededication to shine forth brightly as the world seems to be getting darker.

This past week, John and I decided to spend an evening in Jerusalem. I’d always wanted to see the Chanukah decorations and lights and experience streets and windows bathed by the glow of Hanukkiyahs (menorahs). The spelling always looks wrong on that one. But we did get to Jerusalem by sunset and it did not disappoint. We first drove around to see some of the decorations, and the walls of the Old City were lit up with special light projections.

And yes, there were all sorts of individual Chanukah oil lamps in glass boxes along the streets. Many people in Israel put their lights out at street level so passers by can enjoy the flames. Most are lit with pure olive oil.

As is our tradition, coming from Souther California where Mexican street food is prevalent, we stopped at one of the three authentic Mexican restaurants in Israel. Two weeks ago, we visited HaTaco in the Shuk haCarmel, Tel Aviv. The tacos were really tasty, but the margarita was bland and for street food, we wound up paying almost $60 for 3 beef tacos and 2 drinks.

In Jerusalem, we go to Tacos Luis, an amazing Kosher restaurant that has authentic Mexican food and lines out the door. We usually wait 30-45 minutes just to place our order, but it is more than worth it. The food is fantastic. The margaritas strong, served with Tajin and a lime on the salt-rimmed glass. Corn or flour tortillas and rice bowls with vegetarian options as well as beef and fish. They had tamales, both chicken and beef, but had run out. Luis is always behind the counter serving up smiles and conversations in Spanish, English and Hebrew. Plus you can now buy jars of salsa verde, salsa roja, mango salsa and pico de gallo. The prices are more than reasonable. And the beef taco had cubes of steak that were tender and juicy. A must try in Ylem. Our 3 tacos, 2 margaritas, and 2 jars of salsa verde cost about $35.

I’d bought tickets to Winter Dreams at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens weeks ago. This light show spanning over a mile has visited London, Paris, Berlin and Vienna. All I can say is “Wow! Am so glad we went!” It’s a bit hard to explain, but the entire botanical garden was awash in light sculptures, walkways, interactive displays. All themed to different music. It was spectacular!

The night in Yerushalayim get really chilly in winter, so there were stands with hot sangria, sachlav, a Middle Eastern favorite drink. It’s rich and hot and made from orchid tubers, creamy with coconut, pistachios and cinnamon sprinkled on top. Pure heaven. Hot roasted chestnuts, hot cider and hot chocolate… and of course jelly filled doughnuts, called sufganiot.

There were so many families. Lots of small children. Older people. Religious Jews. Secular folk. Arabic women in their hijabs. Groups of priests. It was wonderful to see the diversity. Israel is such a mix of cultures and when everyone can be peaceable, it’s perfection.

Afterwards we stopped by the First Station for some shopping and doughnuts. Dreidels (the Ashkenaz Yiddish word) or in Hebrew, Sevivonim are spinning tops. Traditionally in Hebrew, the four sides are marked with Hebrew letters which stand for the words ‘A Great Miracle Happened Here.’ There are games that center around the children playing with the tops and collecting prizes of candy and coins. One shop had hand made, carved and painted sevivonim, the likes of which I had never seen. The prices were more than reasonable, so I bought one for each of my grandchildren. They are nothing short of magnificent!

And the sufganiot!! Many have little plastic syringes filled with flavored jellies and creams that you inject into the puffy fried doughnut. All were very fancy. I don’t think you can find them anywhere except in Israel at Chanukah!

We left J-town around 11pm, exhausted, but happy and with sugar highs. There’s really nothing like celebrating Chanukah in the city.

Shabbat shalom and happy Chanukah!

What’s Cookin’? 15 November, 2025

Our continued heat wave broke last night. Temporarily. It finally feels like autumn, at least for the time being. The thermometer is supposed to climb back up later this week, which is such a metaphor for life here. Despite talks of peace, rockets are still being fired from Gaza into Israel; Hamas is completely refusing to disarm; a giant U.S. military base is being built here on Israeli soil just outside the Gaza Envelope; Hizbulla will not disarm, but seems to be doubling down in its attempt to stage a Northern October 7; and Iran is planning to send over 2000 missiles in its next attack. The heat never seems to abate.

Things are always on simmer at best here. And in my own kitchen, I’m always cooking something. Trying to use the freshest seasonal produce here, I think I’ve developed a California-Israeli fusion. So what was being prepared over the past week here?

Cucumber Radish Citrus Salad serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 large English cucumber
  • 6 large radishes
  • 1 Cara Cara (or Valencia) Orange
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp fresh mint, chopped

Wash, trim ends off and slice the radishes and the cucumber. Peel and segment the orange, trying to avoid the pith or seeds. Squeeze as much orange juice onto the salad. Add the olive oil and chopped mint. Mix and serve cold as an appetizer or side, for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Mediterranean Torta serves 6. Dairy

A friend of mine just came home from the hospital this week, so I made her (and myself) this fantastic dish that can be served hot or cold for any meal. It’s absolutely delicious!

Ingredients :

  • 1 pre-made pie crust dough
  • 1 large zucchini
  • 1/2 cup roasted red bell pepper (can use from a jar)
  • 1/2 cup sun dried tomato pieces in oil
  • 1 can artichoke hearts
  • 1 cup fresh mushrooms
  • 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup cream (9-15%)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Italian seasoning: oregano, rosemary, parsley, basil, chile flakes(optional)
  • Trader Joe’s Pizza Season blend (optional)

Heat oven to 350*/170*. Place pie crust dough into a greased, deep dish pie dish. Bake crust until golden brown, about 16-20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Slice zucchini and mushrooms into thin slices. Drain can of artichoke hearts and slice the artichokes fairly thin. Arrange a layer of zucchini in concentric circles on the bottom of the pie crust. Next add strips of roasted red pepper. Now sprinkle the mushrooms across the top. Dot with chunks of sun-dried tomato in olive oil. Sprinkle the Italian herbs (dried) over the top of this layer. Now layer the artichokes on top. And sprinkle the spinach evenly over the top of the pie. In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs and cream until thoroughly incorporated. Pour over the pie. Sprinkle with more Italian herbs and last, the grated mozzarella. Sprinkle liberally with the Trader Joe’s pizza seasoning, if you have access to this fantastic product. Bake in 350*/170* oven for 45-55 minutes, or until fragrant and golden brown on top. Test with a toothpick or cake tester to see if inside comes out clean.

Swiss Chard in Bechamel Sauce. serves 6. Dairy

We visited my daughter in the UK and she made this for us. It was so delicious, that I had to go home and try it. It gets better after a day or two, so reheats well. This is just so tasty! True comfort food and that kick of Stilton just puts it way over the creamy top!

This was the photo I snapped just before it went into the oven….

Ingredients:

  • 2 large bunches/ 6 packed cups Swiss Chard (mangold)
  • 1 white onion
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • 1/2 cup flour (50 grams)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup Stilton (or blue) cheese
  • Salt, pepper
  • Freshly grated nutmeg
  • Fried onions (Durkee, IKEA, etc.)

Preheat oven to 350*/170*. Wash and chop the chard or mangold and set aside to drain. Rough chop the onion. In a large skillet melt the butter and sauté the onion until soft. Add the flour and stir until thickened. Pour in the milk, stirring continually. Mix in salt and pepper to taste. In a greased casserole dish, place the chopped chard. Pour the bechamel sauce over the top. Mix together with crumbled Stilton or Blue Cheese. Grate fresh nutmeg very liberally over the top of the casserole and bake for about 30-40 minutes, until nice and bubbly on top. Remove from oven and sprinkle fried onions over the top.

Corn and Romano Bean Salad. serves 4. Pareve (vegetarian)

So I had end of the season sweet corn and fresh Romano beans (the really flat, wide, buttery green beans) from our local produce delivery. Along with so many other tasty veg…. That I had to use it all up before it went off. So…..this salad is out of this world amazing! One of the best recipes to date! John and I could just east this by the bowls full all day long, it’s that great. If you try no other recipe, do this one. You won’t regret it.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ears of super sweet white corn, fresh
  • 3 cups fresh cut up Roman beans
  • Olive oil
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Sea salt, pepper
  • 1 can white beans, drained and rinsed

Preheat oven to 400*F/200*C. Using a sharp knife, strip the raw corn off of the cob and reserve to a bowl. On a foil-lined baking sheet, lay flat the washed and trimmed Romano beans, cut into 2 inch pieces. Toss with olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle about 2 TBSP balsamic vinegar over top. Roast in oven about 5 minutes, then shake the pan or stir the beans and roast again another 5-10 minutes keeping an eye on them so they do not burn. Remove from oven and let cool. Drain the can of white beans and add to the bowl with the corn. Toss in the cooled Romano beans. Dress with the vinaigrette -recipe below – mix well to incorporate and serve cold.

Vinaigrette ingredients:

  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 TBSP strong Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup avocado (or seed/canola) oil
  • Pinch sea salt, pepper

With an immersion blender, blend together all the above ingredients until smooth. If it seems too thick, add 1/4 cup water to thin out a bit. It should be the consistency of regular salad dressing.

The Music That Carried Us. 26 October, 2025

This is a longer, but hopefully, vey enjoyable post that you can do at your leisure. Over the past two years I’ve been adding to my playlist of songs that were written and became popular since 7 October, 2025. There are many different genres and I have included as many translations as possible.

For us, 7 October, which should have been the most joyous religious and family holiday turned into a surreal nightmare. We were all shocked to the core, frightened at the possibilities of what would come next as our men and women were called up to defend our country. Would there be more attacks from other borders? We kept hearing of the atrocities and the body count kept climbing. 253 people had been brutally taken hostage into Gaza, the oldest was 86 years old and the youngest only 7 months. We were like zombies those first few weeks, but those that stayed behind sprang into action, gathering supplies, cooking meals and doing everything we knew how to help the troops.

The Jewish people throughout history have been a musical people. Our prayers all have chants and melodies that reflect the places we’ve wandered. We sang at the crossing of the Red Sea (Miriam, who led us in praise and worship was over 90 years old at the time!!!). Young David calmed the frayed nerves of King Saul with the music of the harp. The Levites sang at the Temple. And David the King, composed and sang many of the Tehillim, the Psalms.

Music has sustained us through all of our troubles. Through our joys as well. The melodies carry us through tears and laughter, through death and life. We sing at funerals. We sing at weddings. And we sing and dance before battle.

The songs that have come out of the massacre and subsequent war are songs of hope and longing for better days. Many are patriotic, rallying the troops and lifting the country. Some are therapeutic. They comfort those who mourn and those with survivor’s guilt and PTSD. There are songs of anger and defiance and always songs that call upon G-d. For help, for strength, for protection.

The entire country, just weeks before the war started, split into fighting factions calling for a civil war, was now completely united. One soul, one spirit, one body. We were all brothers, all family. And the song “Acheinu” came to the forefront. Everyone was singing it.

As for our brothers and sisters, the whole house of Israel, who are given over to trouble or captivity, whether they abide on the sea or on dry land: May the All-present have mercy upon them, and bring them forth from trouble to relief,from darkness to light, and from subjugation to redemption, now, speedily and at a near time. Now let us say, Amen.

https://youtu.be/q5DmDnTSMKI?si=rxdH76Z5tn-WqUY7

Hanan Ben Ari’s song from 2020, Shevori Lev….”My Heart is Broken” became a national hymn. We heard it on the radio, on loudspeakers in the malls, and on social media.

Who knows every pain? Who repairs every broken heart? Creates light and darkness? Makes peace and war? Who sits in judgement? Covers in mercy? Pardons and forgives? Sees no knows all? And who will heal my heart? For whom am I longing….like the sea that has no shore. Just tell me who will embrace me and ensure that I will not give up in the end…. Who was, is no will be. Who takes and gives. Renewed life. Opens arms. Grows wings. And who will heal my heart? For whom am I longing….like the sea that has no shore. Just tell me who will embrace me and ensure that I will not give up in the end-

https://youtu.be/z27MZP_4P_U?si=6Hw1hHD2rTpz9dD1

My favorite Israeli artist, Idan Raichel, composed the most gorgeous (they are all gorgeous) and poignant (they are all heart-wrenching) song and melody that became a sudden hit. All of Israel’s artists seemed to be expressing the heart and soul of the nation in their compositions. This one is Tachzor, “Return” sung by Roni Dalumi. It was released just 3 weeks after the attacks.

Return. Return today. I wish you would just come (show up) without any advance notice. Return.

A simple song. A haunting melody. The anguish and longing of a people.

https://youtu.be/sTXAA96W1Ww?si=gAL8cKWB4xo7eaSL

There were songs that were prayers for our military. The prayer John and I pray daily over those defending our country wherever they may be…from distress, sickness, friendly fire, booby traps, kidnapping attempt. Please G-d, keep them safe. Go before them and lead them to victory.

The first video is the traditional version is usually by the IDF choir and cantor. This clip s by the Maccabeats, a male a capella group. I chose this version because it includes the English translation.

The next (video clip) version which starts off with footage of the Six Day War, then the traditional prayer as interpreted by Subliminal went viral. The first is a prayer. The second a rally cry of war and defiance for the strength of G-d to be with the troops in victory and in battle.

https://youtu.be/fvOYgHCihIU?si=D8nRRtSE6rZatkfU

https://youtu.be/efHekdRUOJs?si=-gFrO-i9kPJx8sU4

The men were being called up. All divisions. It was, at first thought, that less than 50% of reservists would answer the call. Instead it was over 100%. People of all ages were volunteering and those that had moved to other countries were flying back home to join. Lone soldiers, kids who leave their homes and families in other countries flew to Israel to enlist. It was incredible.

Here are three of the most popular tunes. There are many more. The first extols the virtues and strength of the Golani Brigade, true infantrymen and women. True fighters. The first lines of defense. “Golani Shell,” “My Golani Unit” is sung by Raviv Coner

https://youtu.be/LRN6QrVuR3E?si=diYqLpOq5UdHOP-d

Israeli national treasure, composer and singer, Yehuda Gaon is still going strong at age 85. I listened to his songs as a teenager. He’s amazing. I’ve seen him perform live several times. This time he filmed himself with the young men and women of the different branches of the IDF. They sing an old song of his: “LoT’nats’chu Oti” – “You Will Not Defeat Me” It is a song of unity, patriotism and strength. And now it has new verses and a new look. It was recorded a mere month after 7 October.

https://youtu.be/7yMw3vG4_kU?si=1UJOLK3mMfmzwveB

We have a saying here in Israel, that during wartime, the kindergarten teacher has a secret identity -she’s really a paramedic. And the lawyer at his desk is a rooftop sniper. My dentist, well, he drives a tank. And the construction worker – he saps (undetonates) bombs. The university student now carries a gun again and my aunt is a radio control tower engineer. Together they are superheroes. The song is done by Hatikvah 6, a very popular group.

(If you have ever watched Fauda, you will see in this video, the Israeli actor, singer and pop superstar, Idan Amedeo. He served in Gaza on the front lines, was injured severely at the beginning of the war, recovered and went back to his unit. Then he was crirtoically injured when an IED exploded. Burned almost beyond recognition, they didn’t know if he’d make it. He had shrapnel throughout his body. After months of rehab, determination,faith and hard work, the entire state of Israel celebrated when he left the hospital, walking on his own).

https://youtu.be/CUaDobraZ1k?si=LXMcgUp7FRJuB2ed

Another by Hatikvah 6 is a rally cry for the IDF….a family of fighters. Again, this one is a roll call for all the different units of the army. “Proudly protecting the Land and its people without fear…and a little crazy, a little fun. Whether with a cannon or a stretcher on my shoulder. We are here for one another. Don’t mess with us. We are the IDF family.” Each unit has its own cheer and this song celebrates that. It is the “Hymn to the Army”

https://youtu.be/V5SpIgH7VHI?si=3uF-0otHhUuBclun

My absolute favorite raw, angry, “Go get ‘em” anthem is “Harbu Darbu.” It was a number one radio hit for a couple months. The Hebrew stand kind of translates into “Swords and Strikes.” Basically

A “don’t mess with us. This time you chose the wrong fight. We are coming after you. And we are never backing down” anthem. It’s really angry, but so were we. In this rap-style song by the duo, Nes and Stilla, every army unit is called up roll call style.

Who are you rats crawling out of the effing tunnels and you people shouting at us ‘Free Palestine? who do you think you are, you children of Amalek? We brought the whole army out to meet you: all in uniforms, men, women, young and old. This time there will be no stopping us….. roll call”

https://youtu.be/1rk3n9V-aQs?si=sWNCFfRtiGXzfZwO

We were angry, but we were also hurting and missing our loved ones. Several songs came out in the memory of a particular person who was killed. And there was survivors’ guilt. This song affirms that it is ok not to be ok. It is ok to be alone. It is ok to want to be with people. It is ok to cry, but it is ok to laugh with friends. It is ok to not want to get up in the morning. It is fine to talks a walk in the forest. It is ok to move on, and it is ok not to. It is ok to not be ok….” The song was done by survivors of the Nova Music Festival and the attacks on the kibbutzim.

https://youtu.be/WlBWOrLqErI?si=fNcpmdbPp1298W6o

We wear a wounded people, and yet this upbeat sounding song tells of the waitinumg. Waiting for the soldiers to come home on leave…please G-d. For the hostages to walk through the door. Come home!! Every Thursday and Friday I had to hold back tears watching video clips of soldiers returning home after weeks of battle…to the arms of their little children. The screams of the wives and the tears of the parents.

https://youtu.be/2p3rtnQ_7y4?si=HLtek-vJuzU741Bx

The following by Ishay Ribo became a number one hit. A song of faith. And of return…of a different kind. A return to G-d. And the country answered with a resounding call to faith that has lasted even until today.

https://youtu.be/Y30pfWIQfoo?si=6jxYL8dVenM3ylU_

And another by Ishay Ribo, “HaLev Sheli“.

My Heart 

My heart is split in

My heart is split in two

What the maidservant could not see by the water

Like a storm from the sea, it pounds

Like Miriam’s timbrel, it beats

And there is no cure in the world

My heart surrenders

https://youtu.be/6U_5KhaH6IM?si=yVGrwLmqvzk2yXi_

For two years, Israel’s entries into the Eurovision international song competition carried the nation and showed our hearts. They were ridiculed and rejected, scoring very low with the judges, but winning the votes of the people. This year, the competition hosts vowed to cancel if Israel was a participant, but after weeks of protests, we were allowed back into the show.

The first song, October Rain, was disqualified. It caused quite a stir as the lyrics were “too political”. They ere not. So the writers got together and worked out new lyrics and the song, still full of emotion, still waiting for the captives to return, with us on the other side in the middle of a hurricane…. Hence, “Hurricane”.

https://youtu.be/lJYn09tuPw4?si=5CeaJhC5OJguRz97

The next song, actually an homage to the Bibas family (the mom, Sheri, the dad and two babies…red headed Ariel and Kfir….stole our hearts. They loved to watch Batman cartoons together. Notice the costume worn by singer, Yuval Rafael….This is a song of hope, strength and optimism. “A New Day Will Rise.”

Note: There is a backstory behind the singer, Yuval Raphael. She attended the Nova Festival with friends. When they realized they were under a severe attack, many of the young people ran to the bomb shelters across the highway. Shelters that were meant for 20 people were packed with 60. Terrorists were shooting and throwing grenades into the concrete bunkers. Many were killed that way. Yuval was in the back of a shelter texting her dad the entire time. He told her to play dead. Her friends were killed next to her and on top of her and she lay wounded and bleeding until being rescued 16 hours later. Yuval would go on to star in and win the Israeli version of The Voice. She was chosen to represent Israel in Eurovision 2025.

https://youtu.be/_7zHp51j2WM?si=fGYrHl7esjinE59Z

I believe it was around the holiday of Purim last year (Queen Esther and Mordechai against Haman and the evil decree to genocide the Jews) that a young soldier in the IDF (he’d only been in service a couple weeks) shot Yahya Sinwar, military commander of Hamas. The evil Hamas was eliminated. And of course, within 24 hours, there was a song-

https://youtu.be/huQxm8YmUPM?si=H0i8I3294a-xshn8

Here are some many more songs. A simple young fellow wrote a simple song about G-do’s love for each and every one of us. The chorus goes- We are loved unconditionally by Him and only good and blessings are bestowed upon us. It will only. Get better and better. This song is played absolutely everywhere all the time. At weddings and funeral, pro Israel rallies and in the army. It is our theme. ״Tamid Ohev Oti” “He Always Loves Me (and blesses me)” Get ready to dance!

https://youtu.be/_7zHp51j2WM?si=eRaTrU9hTcWcBF3W

I know I am leaving out so many. I especially love seeing the Ruach ha Kodesh, the spirit of HaShem, rush mightily upon our soldiers. They sing of G-des protection and blessing. “No fear for He is with us. The people of Israel live. In the spirit of David against the enemies, the Philistines, we also have the victory. The Holy One, Blessed be He is King. there is no other. We pray for all our children. We protect our country. We pray for G-do’s blessings. We are not afraid. Who is meshuggeh/crazy (the rally. Cry of the Golani Brigade) We are crazy and We are not afraid. G-d is king now, then and forever and we give Him thanks and praise…..”

https://youtu.be/5eJqw0t3e9c?si=lOSKSAAjvc99a-CJ

And of course…no list would be complete without the song “ Am Yisrael Chai” – The People of Israel live!! By Eyal Golan

https://youtu.be/1HgKB4-kQdA?si=ORbI-xLQnN5tbGnOhttps://youtu.be/1HgKB4-kQdA?si=ORbI-xLQnN5tbGnO

On. A Positive Note. War Stories. Day 695. 31 August, 2025

I thought I’d leave things on a positive note. This will be my last post for awhile (unless something major happens, which I pray it does not) as we will be leaving for 6 weeks in the UK and Netherlands visiting family and friends.

Israel sends humanitarian aid to Sudan. Israel has been sending humanitarian aid to Sudan as they face a severe shortage of resources needed to combat the cholera epidemic they are experiencing. Included in the pallets of aid are gloves, masks, sanitizing liquid, water purification systems, medicine, hygiene kits and food.

Israeli resilience. A fighter in the Netzach Yehuda battalion, Sagi D., had his leg ripped off when 3 RPGs were fired at his unit. His best friend was killed. Sagi was medivac’ed to Sheba Medical Center in critical condition where he was placed in a temporary coma. He survived his injury. He survived the coma and sedation. He survived the deadly infection that attacked his body. Yet he never broke. At Sheba’s shikum (rehab center) he continues to train…with one leg and the heart of a lion. He won’t give up. He never stops. He is the Israeli definition of a hero.

Answered prayers. Exactly one year ago, at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul, Agam Berger’s mother and sister (Agam was one of the 7 female soldiers abducted by Hamas terrorists into Gaza) prayed at the tomb of a famous rabbi for her release. Last Tuesday, Agam, her sister and her mother all gathered together at that same place to give thanks to G-d for her homecoming. They prayed for the safety and quick release of the remaining 50 hostages.

A True Nes/Neis (a nes is a miracle in Hebrew.

Another nes. Soldiers escape kidnapping attempt. A couple weeks ago, a squad of Hamas terrorists surfaced from two separate terror tunnels. They were dressed as civilians but carried guns and a portable missile launcher. It was all captured by Israeli drone footage. They were attempting to surprise and kidnap 15 IDF soldiers, but the group was alerted by intelligence and managed to to stave off their attackers. 12 terrorists were killed. 3 managed to run back to their tunnel. The plan to kidnap was foiled. One IDF soldier was lightly wounded.

Innovations in Medicine. There was a medical breakthrough at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. On 21 July, surgeons performed the first ever minimally invasive brain surgery through the eye socket. They removed a rare skull base tumor without opening the skull. Thanks to the teamwork of neurosurgery, oculoplastics and ENT specialists, the young patient regained her health with minimal disruption to vision and appearance. (Credits, Jonny Daniel’s) It was a milestone in patient centered neurosurgery.

Prayerful and Powerful Beginning. Elul is the month where Jewish people examine their consciences and repent of their sins before the L-rd as a way to prepare for the upcoming High Holy Days. Israeli super superstar Omer Adam held a sold out concert last Wednesday. He began the concert by leading the entire audience in the Slichot prayers of repentance. That’s my country for you. Welcome to Israel. Absolutely everyone joined in.

Amazing announcement from an Israeli kid…. Get the hankies out. So eloquent!!!!

Long Awaited Wedding! American-Israeli citizens living on Kibbutz Kfar Aza were kidnapped on 7 October, 2023. Aviva was returned in December of 2023, but Keith lingered in the terror tunnels until this past April. Their daughter, Shifa, who was engaged at the time, vowed not to get married until both parents could be there to celebrate by her side. Last Monday, her dream was realized.

A Prayer for the Children. Some pop stars in other countries sing about breakups. About body shaming. About fast cars and drug use. There are cute songs and dance songs. In some cultures, they sing of war and death. But in Israel it’s quite different, poignant and refreshing, in fact. We went to a concert a couple weeks ago. Hanan Ben Ari. I wish I had recorded it, but I was able to find this piece with English subtitles. This YouTube upload is 3 years old, but Amen – For the Children remains a popular song today.

https://youtu.be/gkmUhUw30Yg?si=oO0ef7uhRBV0179Dw

Two beautiful videos. Every Friday, Israeli singer, Omri Goren, sings with his little nine year old daughter. The first song in Hebrew is about waiting for (the hostages) to return home to their loved ones and the waiting arms

https://youtube.com/shorts/Dbd_xrybLg4?si=YEhzsl8gAfRTzDjs

Here, Omri (also an IDF reservist) sings to his newborn son before the Shabbat starts. He sings Psalm , my favorite…I look towards the mountains from whence comes my help….

https://youtube.com/shorts/RVQGGXuKAGU?si=_4bChWfcsfWwsnIN

And one last absolutely adorable video. I just can’t stop watching it. It’s sooooo cute. My grandson was playing in my daughter’s garden. He took one of the mesh vegetable protectors as a knight’s helmet. He’s 16 months and trying so hard to speak. Enjoy…

Weimar 1935. War Stories. Day 689. 25 August, 2025.

These next two features will be my last postings for the next couple months…unless something happens, which I pray it does not. John and I are going to England to be with our son as he graduates (I’ve never been to London!!). Then the three of us will head up to the beautiful English countryside to spend time with our daughter, son-in-law and their two little ones. We shall make day trips, a weekend in the Netherlands and an excursion to the Peak District in England. It should be fun. I can’t wait. Castles. Manor homes. Antique stores, charity shops, local farms. potteries and museums, tiny villages and giggling children whose tiny little hands fit into yours. And British accents. And afternoon tea. Hopefully, it will be a peaceful and welcomed respite from the troubles of the world.

For me and for my fellow Jews, it’s beginning to feel like history is in repeat mode. It’s 1935/36 Weimar (Germany) all over again. We have all heard the slogan, “Never again.” Never again to the antisemitism. To the exclusion from restaurants, hotels, shops. Never again will our jobs be restricted. Will our properties be defaced. Will our children and our own bodies be beaten up. Will we be hunted down. But it is happening all over again. Friends from California, New York and New Jersey and Boston are writing me that they no longer feel safe. My neighbor’s family has just made Aliyah to Israel from South Africa. Even in Praetoria they were beginning to feel the unsettling. The storm clouds are gathering. And history seems to be repeating itself with very few people standing up for the Jews.

Antisemitism is reaching a point of no return. Hundreds of thousands of haters are marching through the streets of Sydney, Melbourne, Berlin, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Vienna, Malmo, Bruges, Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester, Leicester, Dublin, Montreal, Los Angeles, New York, Minneapolis and Detroit…disguising themselves as human rights activists who just care about the plight of the poor Palestinians in Gaza. It seems to be becoming a daily occurrence.

In the grandest of all ironies, the media is pushing the line that the Jews have become the modern day Nazis. They feed the world lines about how Israel intentionally starves little children and drops 2000 pound bombs on the oldest church in existence. The IDF shoots civilians lined up for aid indiscriminately, as for sport. They burn down churches. The Jews target Christians.

They are all pedophiles. Like Epstein and Weinstein. As the Rothschilds, they control the world’s banks and they run Hollywood. It was the Jews that were responsible for 9/11….and they control your life. The Jews are behind the random canceling of certain news pundits, musicians and artists.

Netanyahu is Hitler. He is a Fascistic dictator who is prolonging the war. He does not seek compromise or negotiation. He just wants to hold onto power. He dictates to Washington. He will lead us into World War III. The Jews are bent on taking over the world in a grand cabal. Just look at their flag. The Jewish star is actually a satanic hexagram and it was invented in 1886.

Israel is merely a political state founded in 1948 by the British with no actual legitimacy. It has no right to exist. Israel is a colonial and apartheid state. The Jews claim Biblical basis for settling in ‘Isreal’, but actually the Church holds the claim since Christianity replaced Judaism when the Jews rejected and killed the Messiah. They lost their claim to land or people. They are the perfidious synagogue of satan.

These are all 100% claims I’ve been keeping track of. I seriously have them in files. Written files and video files. The articles and voices come from high up government and church officials. Prime Ministers. Ambassadors. Patriarchs and priests. World renowned pastors and evangelists. Pundits and news commentators. Rock stars and celebrities. Authors. Mayors. And then comments from the masses. I have thousands of them. Literally. It’s a documentation of history.

I spend a lot of my time paying close attention to politics and what is being said. I’m a watcher. Things are reaching a critical point. Jews are being openly assaulted with impunity in the streets. New York, London, Los Angeles, and throughout Europe. What we are seeing now is Germany, 1937. From Palestinians supporters. The pro-Gaza people. Not just Muslims and Islamist fanatics but progressively woke Europeans and Americans. Regular folk. University professors. School teachers. Even the LGBT2spirit+ crowd.

Last week, in Paris, an olive tree planted to commemorate the life of Ilan Halimi, was cut down. It was planted 14 years ago to remind the world of the Jewish man, kidnapped and tortured for 24 days in Paris. He was found naked, handcuffed to a railroad track and died on the way to the hospital. His body gave out. Now his tree is no longer.

Also, just this past week, the Jewish Community Center, Temple, and walls just off the Woodland Hills/Reseda, California (my old neighborhood!!!!) were spray-painted with swastikas, anti Israel and anti Jewish graffiti. Parents are afraid to walk their children to school. It’s in the Wilbur area, for those of you who are familiar…also, in Seattle, a synagogue was vandalized with swastikas and the word ‘gas’ in red spray paint.

Earlier this month, 50 Jewish children coming home from two weeks at summer camp were kicked off a Veuling Airlines plane for quietly singing. Their 22 year old counselor was handcuffed, thrown to the ground, kicked and arrested.

In Chatel, France, vacationing Jewish families awoke to find their cars graffitied with the words “Free Palestine” and other slurs painted across their vehicles. When the person who rented the 4 families their vacation homes found out that a Jewish group was “congregating” in one of the homes (there were 9 adults and 13 children having a Shabbat service), she evicted them all from the properties immediately, refusing a refund.

Just this week, a woman in Leeds, England was accused of striking a Jewish man with a metal pole and throwing hot coffee in his face. “This is because you killed babies in Gaza,” she was heard screaming.

My son was going to take his girlfriend to Athens in two weeks to propose to her. They have, thankfully, cancelled that trip. You see, in just the past weeks Israeli families have been forced out of their hotels for being Israeli. Young Jewish men wearing kippas (yarmulkes) have been severely beaten. Greece is no longer a safe vacation spot for Israelis or Jews. In several countries, soldiers who served in the IDF are being doxxed and ejected. A couple of former soldiers on vacation have been arrested for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Greece, Brazil and Malaysia.

So long as the Free Palestine movement refuses to denounce their violent tactics, and so long as government officials and peoples of the world stay silent, Jews will continue to be open targets of violence and hatred. Hamas, Hizbulla, ISIS and others are truly terrorist organizations. Praising these groups incites more violence against Jewish people.

This past Saturday, a Jewish man and his friend sat in a local pub in Manchester, England. discussing politics. The man was not visibly a Jewish, but was overheard defending Israel. Another man came up and spat on him. He then proceeded to punch the Jewish man in the face, leaving him with a black eye and two broken teeth. Also in Manchester, two men drove around “shooting” visibly Jewish families with a water gun. This is not just playful sport. It is targeting people because of their religion. The videos went viral online. Authorities interviewed the two and called it a “harmless joke.”

Six days ago, a London hospital was plastered with posters reading “Zionism is Poison.” They were only removed after one patient’s complaint. This was at University Hospital, and spokespeople say they acted quickly to dismantle the inflammatory protests in order to ensure the safety and feelings of well being for all patients. UK Lawyers for Israel are demanding a full investigation. UCLH Chief Executive, David Probert issued a swift apology, reaffirming the hospital’s dedication to inclusivity for all. Security personnel were instructed to remain vigilant in order to provide a safe atmosphere.

In Vienna, Austria, an Uber driver attacked a Jewish family last week. The occupants were the two parents and their children, ages 10 and 13, and their 76 year old grandparents. They were en route to a birthday party. When the driver heard their Israeli accents and found out they were, in fact, visiting from Israel, he began shouting “murderers” and “child killers!” He refused on the spot “to transport child killers,” forced the family out and physically beat the father. Uber temporarily suspended the driver and the family is filing criminal charges. “ If decisive action is not taken against this, by politicians and the rule of law, as well as by civil society, by individual activists on the streets or in social media, in editorial offices and by cultural workers, by teachers and others in our society, then there will soon be no place left for Jews in Europe,” Oskar Deutsch, president of the Jewish Community of Vienna wrote on Facebook.

On 8 August (this video has gone viral), Montreal multiple onlookers stood idle and filmed the incident as a Jewish man was severely beaten in broad daylight in front of his children. He was pushed into a fountain and his kippa kicked beyond reach. Antisemitism in Canada is out of control. For some, the anti Israel, anti Zionist rhetoric has spilled over into anti Jewish vitriol. In Canada, even the very conservative, Catholic author and podcaster, Mark Mallet, has fallen into this. I will address this particular case later in the week.

Three firebombs were thrown at a synagogue in Obninsk, Russia, just over a year after it was targeted in another arson attack. That was 12 August. Last month, a Melbourne, Australia synagogue was firebombed with 22 .families inside. Thank goodness the fire was contained at the door. It could easily have become deadly. Only over a mile away, that same evening, an Israeli restaurant was attacked as protestors stormed in, overturning tables and shouting “Death, death, to the IDF.”

Saturday, a 65 year old man wearing a kippa was brutally beaten by three men in Paris. He was on his was to synagogue at 10am when a car stopped in front of him. Two passengers got out pretending to ask for directions and began brutally beating him with kicks and punches and metal rods. His Star of David necklace was torn off his neck and he was doubled up on the sidewalk. The attackers are still at large.

Two months ago in Alexandria Egypt, a Canadian/Israeli dual citizen was gunned down as he was touring the land. Egyptian authorities claim it was a robbery gone wrong, but a militant group claimed responsibility. They claimed they “killed the Jewish man in retaliation for Gaza” and posted images of the shooting as proof (way too graphic to display here).

Yesterday, German activists were doused with red paint as they held up posters of Israeli hostages in a Frankfurt park. Sasha Stawski, a 55 year old real estate agent, and president of the antisemitism league was hosting a public demonstration to raise awareness of the 50 captives still being held by Hamas. 20-30 people, some wearing Friedrich Merz masks over their faces, pushed the germ up aside violently. Anti Jew and anti Israel chants erupted and four women doused the activists with cans of red paint. Frankfurt police were called in to disassemble the crowds. They said they would be increasing their presence in the area. No arrests were made. The Jewish community in Frankfurt and throughout Germany has been seeing an uptick in anti Jewish violence since 7 October.

Last Saturday in Cologne, Germany the wheel chair basketball championship was underway. The team from Great Britain all turned their wheelchairs around in protest of the Israeli team. One of the Israeli players stated, “It felt like they were humiliating us and bringing unrelated issues onto the sport court.” Antisemitic slurs are being hurled at football games across Europe. German Düsseldorf football league unsigned Jewish athlete Shon Weissman after fan backlash over his hiring. That was August 9 of this year.

These are merely a few of the hundreds of reports I’ve been keeping track of. All are downloaded or perinted out and filed away for safekeeping and documentation.

Qatar is funding the educational systems and universities (yes, along with China) in the U.S., across Europe, Canada, and the Middle East. Mufti Hamid Patel, head of the Office for Standards is the Chief Education Minister in Great Britain.

In New York, a new police patrol system has gone into effect complete with official squad cars and uniformed officers. It is the Salaam Aleikum Patrol of Muslim police. Mamdani, an anti Israel, anti Jewish, Communist Islamist is in the lead for New York mayor. Most of the mayors and regional council officials in England, France, Belgium and Sweden are Islamists. In the Belgian city of Antwerp, 26 Jewish homes were marked with red paint, red handprints and triangles. Just last week, a Muslim woman went out in the hot weather with her shoulders uncovered. A group of ‘Muslim brothers’ passing by, surrounded and brutally beat her. Many parts of London and Paris are now “no-go zones.” Enter at your own risk. Sharia laws strictly enforced. And it is coming to cities like Dearborn, Michigan.

So few people throughout the world are taking this seriously. Jews are being targeted globally. it is being proclaimed by protestors, political figures, pastors and pundits that Jews are genocidal thriving colonizing pedos with no claim to a homeland or history, who are hell bent on controlling the world. Then people cannot seem to figure out why in the world Jewish property is being defaced and Jews are being beaten and disembarked and refused service on the streets of Europe and America? The crimes are being ignored and normalized and the Jewish people are downright scared.

In my next posting on Wednesday or Thursday, I will be discussing modern day blood libels. These are actual complete fabrications, made-up stories against Jews in order to promote violence and eventual extermination of that ‘pernicious race.’ It is an article that traces the history from the early 400’s to modern times. It has resurfaced today through modern outlets and is a warning sign of things to come-

Tomorrow we are traveling down to the Gaza Envelope for a story I’ve been commissioned to write on the 3rd anniversary of 7 October. I will be also visiting one of the kibbutzim that was attacked as well as shelters and the Nova Festival site. We will conclude the trip by spending time at “Hostage Square” in Tel Aviv. I have four interviews set up and will do one special remembrance blog post on this. I will interview a member of the regional council, an IDF soldier in the reserves who has served five tours in Gaza, a resident of Nahal Oz Kibbutz, and a paramedic.

We Do Have a Life…

So yes. To answer several of your many questions: I am seeking counsel. I am seeking a trustworthy confidential, nonbiased clergy in the U.S. to speak with about touches of PTSD and to discuss information I have uncovered (to publish or keep hidden? That is the dilemma).

And yes. John and I do have lives. Besides researching and writing (news and features articles as well as articles on religion for other media outlets), we do have other things we do. I love to garden and grow my own heirloom, organic vegetables. We both try to spend at least an hour a day keeping up with the yard and garden.

Also, I study both Tanya and Scripture with the wife of the chief rebbe of Tsfat every Monday and Thursday morning. It gives me perspective on life, and I love to study. I lead a Torah study on Thursday nights through Partners in Torah. It deepens my faith and I love to share all the interesting and relevant tidbits from the Hebrew. My partner is amazing and she challenges me to do better in my life as well. John and I have another group on Tuesday evenings and once a month we facilitate a couples group (international group). This next meeting we will be discussing combatting antisemitism. So that takes care of some of our spiritual life.

Every Monday-Thursday I try to spend 60-90 minutes in the pool to keep mobile and flexible. Every community in Israel has its own community swimming pool. Most have Olympic sized swimming pools. Because we live in a larger city, the municipality has built the “Country Club” (Jews allowed) with tennis courts, workout/fitness rooms, sauna, steam room, indoor Olympic pool, huge outdoor pool, jacuzzis, spa/massage rooms and classroom for Pilates, Yoga, Feldencrais, Karate, Spinning, and other classes. Classes are offered throughout the day and evening. Membership is a nominal fee. All classes included. Lockers and spa treatments are extra.

We just ended the worst heat wave of the year (I hope), so our activities were quite limited all last week-

But when the weather is good, we like to go for hikes in nature. Another great thing about living in Israel is the appreciation and love for nature. The JNF has planted so many forests, which are always within a few minutes drive. There are hiking trails everywhere. Mountains, gentle hills, forests, lake trails, beach trails and trails that follow wadis (canyons), streams and rivers. We have our favorite places, and love to find new trails close by where we can walk the dog. We especially love the trails leading to spectacular views! And those are abundant!!

Our latest project has been another fun one. Back in the States, I had an antiques shop for over 25 years. I sold mostly China, crystal, silver, jewelry and smalls, but also had furniture and art. It was a fun and productive outlet. I would occasionally find or buy old furniture, refinish and then resell it. Just a couple weeks ago, John found a mid century modern china cabinet on the side of the street. People throw away some amazing things here. He rescued it and shlepped it home. Nice piece, but it had a huge and ugly bright orange base that had to go. We decided to paint the entire piece white and replace the door knobs. I’ve ordered some gorgeous blue and white toile wallpaper to go on the back wall. Can’t wait for it to arrive!

So those are just a few of the things we do. There’s lots more. There are always new things to see and new places to discover here. Especially in the archaeological community. We try to keep abreast of the new digs with exciting findings in our area. The locations are usually within an hour drive. We have nearby wineries and local farms where we can get honey and produce. Artisanal dairies are a popular place to visit here for different cheeses, yogurts and other dairy products.

Plus cooking. Unlike in America, where there is plenty of pre-prepared food (everything from elaborate salad mixes to side dishes and entrees), in Israel – at least up here in the periphery- it’s much harder to find. There are a couple places that offer pre-cooked meals to pick up on Friday morning for the Shabbat. That’s about it. So I do all my cooking from scratch, which takes longer, but is fresher and healthier.

I’m always learning new ethnic recipes from the many cultures that are here. The Israeli palate is entirely different that the Western palate, the spices are very different. It took me awhile to get used to cinnamon andcloves to be used with meat; turmeric in everything; pickled everything; sumac and zata’ar. But I’ve learned to incorporate flavors of the Middle East into much of my cooking. I’m really hoping to get some Ethiopian recipes in the near future, as I’ve just made friends with some lovely Ethiopian women.

Another benefit of living here is that it has proven to be the perfect launch for trips to Europe. For us, flying to Europe from Los Angeles was cost prohibitive. In Israel there are flights and cruises across the Mediterranean. Since moving here, we have traveled to Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, England and Scotland. We try to get to the U.S. once a year to visit family. In September we are going to England, Amsterdam and maybe a stopover in Italy before we return. Our son in London graduates and we have that adorable new grandbaby to visit with our daughter’s family in the Midlands. We will be gone for almost two months.

So for the curious, and for those who have urged me to “get a life,” we have one here. Whether getting together with friends or volunteering to pick vegetables and fruits or just driving to discover new places, it’s all been part of this wonderful adventure.

And Now for Some Diversity. 1 August, 2025

In Israel, many people who are elderly, infirm or recovering from severe illness or surgery have a live-in mittapellet, a care giver. Trained and certified caregivers come here from India and the Philippines. These lovely, self-sacrificing women leave behind families for a period of 1 to 5 years for gainful employment here. Most of them have very small children back home.

Here, they take care of their patient, do housekeeping and shopping and learn to cook in a kosher home. Many learn to speak Hebrew as well. All of the ladies were fluent in English. It is so interesting, and they are all the most amazing women. They are vetted, hired and placed through an agency. All that I’ve met are very loyal to the family they care for. They get paid well and all room and board is included. They have days off and also get a two-week leave to visit family back in India.

On October, 2023, many communities along the Northern border were evacuated due to the threat of Hizbulla invasion. And the fact hat Hizbulla were making sniper shots and RPG attacks made these kibbutzim and border towns completely unsafe for habitation. So they moved with their patients or host families, kit and kaboodle, to safer communities. They stayed in hotels and other kibbutzim that took them in. And that is where I got to meet a charming group of Indian women and we became fast friends.

Janesha, Sumita, Steffi, me and Mary

Last April, as some of them were preparing to leave, we decided to get together in their dining hall and have an Indian feast. It was amazing as authentic and delicious Indian food is hard to find here. And feast it was!!!! I’ve been preparing daal (yellow split peas) and aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower), curries, chutney and many other dishes. But now I got to watch as naan and biryani and other amazing foods were prepared. Just as I bring ethnic foods (corn tortillas, salsa verde, flavored coffees and cans of mandarins and albacore) with me to Israel, these ladies brought lovely containers of Indian spice with them.

The kitchen was kosher and because meat and dairy products don’t mix, the chicken was bathed in coconut milk and exotic spices. We listened to and danced to Indian music. It was basically Bollywood on the kibbutz.

John has a friend, too, Rathin, who was here on his residency/internship. Rathin and Steffi both live in Tamilnadu province in the very southern tip of India. John, who always admired Rathin’s clothes, was gifted two gorgeous silk shirts. And I received the most beautiful sari. In turn, the Indians do lots of shopping for religious and holy objects, dates and dried fruit, techineh and MiddleEastern spices and trinkets to take back home with them.

In India, there is much hatred and persecution between the Hindus and the Christians. We’ve heard some incredible stories of the pogroms that happen to the Christian communities. But here in Israel, something magical happens, and everyone seems to get along splendidly.

In the previous generation, it was not uncommon for women to have five and six children. That is now frowned upon by the Indian government/health authority. Two of the women were forcibly sterilized after the birth of their second child. It’s just the way things are there. And there is so much poverty that they come to Israel and send the money back to their families. Thank goodness for modern technology, that we all share something in common – longing for our families (children and grandchildren) and the ability to reach them frequently by FaceTime and WhatsApp.

I asked the ladies what their favorite thing that they’ve seen or done here was. Resoundingly, the Catholic ladies all chimed in that to be living in the Holy Land and getting to see the many Biblical sites enriched their faith. All thought it excellent that so many people here do yoga and meditation. India is a popular spot for Israeli tourists and for kids to go after their army service. It seems there is quite the lively exchange.

John and I love the diversity here…being able to learn about and share in the different cultures. We have both been invited on a trip to India next year. It’s a huge country, so besides Kerala/ Tamil we hope to go to Bangalore and Mumbai. I don’t know if we can even get to the Taj Mahal, but at least we can experience the country authentically and first hand. I am so hoping this trip will come to fruition. Until then, I shall enjoy a few new “pen-pals.”

A short, but uplifting post as I must now prepare for the Shabbat. May the coming week bring peace and joy to all-

A Night of Inspiration. War Stories. Day 664. 31 July, 2025

Yesterday, John and I made a lovely day trip to Yerushalayim. We spent some quality time with friends in the Judaean Hills we don’t often see and I had an interview for a story I’ll be writing later. But the main reason we were there was for the Pulse of Israel Conference at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center.

We absolutely love Avi Abelow (founder of the Pulse and of 12 Tribes Films) for his straightforward and honest reporting of current events. Avi is a man of integrity and moral clarity, and is more than well informed and well connected than many. I can find background and details on the news that I don’t hear reported elsewhere. They are all very well verified and well backed up. A dual U.S./Israeli citizen, he has spoken both in Knesset as well as in the U.S. Congress.

Yearly, Abelow holds a panel discussion with such notables as Caroline Glick, President Isaac Herzog, Melanie Phillips, and members of Knesset and Ministers in Israeli government. This year, we were excited to hear the Ambassador from Panama, Ezra Cohen; social media influencer, Lizzy Savetsky; Knesset member, Amit HaLevi; MidEast scholar and professor, Mordechai Kedar; Rawan Osman and Ambassador Mike Huckabee. The line-up did not disappoint.

One of the panelists, Rawan Osman, a beautiful Syrian Muslim woman, raised in Lebanon, gave a short testimony of her awakening to the truth. She grew up under the specter of war and as a young adult, was a vehement hater of Zionists and Jews. Unfortunately, I did not video her talk, but I found her story on Prager U. So here it is for your viewing:

https://youtu.be/DruzFM253KA?si=yFpiA2FqpxbopBuN

Rather than bore you with commentary, I will share my video highlights. At 8:32 pm, in the very middle of the evening’s program, everyone’s phones started ‘screeching’ with the Red Alert siren. The bombs were aimed at Jerusalem. Thankfully, the auditorium was also a protected area. Only in Israel! We sit calmly and make jokes as a Houthi missile is hopefully intercepted overhead.

The forum continued without a hitch- Lizzie Savetsky, advocate for Israel, now residing in NYC, is originally from Texas. She got her start as a country western singer, so Ambassador Huckabee insisted she do her cowboy yodeling song for the audience.

Now, without any further ado, I present Ambassador Mike Huckabee :

In addition to these speakers, the two ending addresses that were delivered were filled with optimism and gave such hope. A little over two years ago, a British Israeli family of 6 was traveling from their home in Judaea for a Passover vacation on the Kinneret/ Sea of Galilee. They took two cars. One held Rabbi Leo Dee and two younger children. The other held the mother, Lucy Dee and their two older daughters, Maya,20 and Rina,15.

Lucy, Rina and Maia Dee of blessed memory

Swiftly an ambush happened and the women’s car was sprayed with bullets by Palestinian terrorists lying in wait for passing cars. It forced the women to crash the car off the side of the road where the terrorists opened the doors, shooting the three. The two girls died before help came. Lucy, was medivac’ed to a nearby hospital where she succumbed to her wounds a few days later. It was horrific.

Rabbi Leo Dee

Rabbi Dee gave a wonderfully positive message about moving forward with the help of G-d. About overcoming. The fact that we are here in the Land of Promise, defeating our enemies around us, prospering and proud is a testimony to the Israeli spirit.

The last speech of the evening was by Avi Abelow. Also incredibly hopeful, he spoke about the open miracles that we have witnessed since the tragic day or 7 October, 2023. The fact that a country so divided and almost on the brink of civil war is now United and strong is a complete miracle. The fact that we are defeating our enemies and have relatively few casualties considering the length of the war and our opponents is miraculous. Despite the fact that we are in the middle of the war our economy is incredibly booming and our shekel is stable and strong is incredible. As antisemitism has reared its monstrous head and the persecution against Jews rages throughout the world, more Jewish people are deciding to make Israel their home. Aliyah is on the rise. This is an open miracle….along with all the Israelis living or vacationing abroad when the war started immediately deciding to return home. Who runs TO a war?? It’s the indomitable spirit of the Israeli people. This and countless other things points to G-d’s hand in all this. And we thank and praise and bless the Holy One, blessed be He.

Pulse of Israel CEO and friend, Avi Abelow

Parting shots of Yerushalayim, the walls of the Old City at night-

Addendum: I strongly recommend Pulse of Israel for correct reporting on current events in Israel. Clearly. Unapologetically and not at all worried about being politically correct, Pulse tells it like it is. Not only do they react to the darkeness, they shine a. Spotlight on it and are truly Lights of the World. In the chaos and through the pain, Avi Abelow is a witness to redemption and victory. Because he sees that through it all, a better world is being born through the hand of the Almighty.

His videos can be found on all social media, on YouTube and through Twelve Tribe Films.

Very Israeli: Shavuot

An Incredible Experience!

The religious Jewish people count the days between Passover and Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. It’s a Biblical mandate in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Seven weeks of seven days of the Children of Israel traveling from Egyptian liberation under Pharaoh until the entire entourage arrived at the foot of Mt. Sinai. There, on Day Fifty, Moses received the Ten Commandments from G-d.

Every evening after sunset the count is called out. A blessing is said. Each day there is a meditation on a virtue like kindness or patience or wisdom. During the time of the counting of the Omer (a measurement of barley), there are no marriages. It is a time of seriousness, like the Christian Lenten season, in a way. No parties. No haircuts. No frivolity.

In Israel, for Shavuot, the more Orthodox visit the Kotel, the Western Wall in Jerusalem. A visit to the tomb of King David is part of the tradition. People stay up all night (Jewish people all over the world) studying Scripture. The reading of the book of Ruth is a custom as it takes place during the barley harvest. And in synagogue, the Ten Commandments are read. Oh, and people gorgeous themselves on dairy products.

Yes. Dairy. For the observant Jews, the Bible or the Torah is compared with dairy or milk which nourishes infants. Also Israel is the Land of Milk and Honey. For the more secular, Shavuot is the beginning of summer. The farm animals have had their baby lambs and kids and calves and the milk is literally flowing. And the harvest has just come in. Barley. Fruits. Vegetables. In Biblical times, Shavuot was a mandatory pilgrimage holiday when all the people were required to bring in their tithes to the Temple in Jerusalem. This is a huge agricultural festival, the First Fruits, or Bikkurim.

I am currently studying Scripture each week through Partners in Torah. Can’t speak highly enough about this organization. My partner, Shari, and I meet weekly by FaceTime. She’s in New York City, and I like her so so much. She challenges me often. And I rose to her Shavuot challenge. I’d always wanted to spend Shavuot at an agricultural kibbutz. It’s one of the most incredible truly Israeli experiences, or so we had heard. So I did something quite presumptuous.

Sunday morning, I called up a friend from Kibbutz Ginosar (Genesseret) on Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) and asked her what she was doing; the kibbutz activities; and swiftly inserted myself into the middle of her family. In other words, I invited myself and John at the very last minute. Complete Chutzpah for this reserved American. “Evelyn, I’ll even bring a huge dairy savory cheesecake with vegetables. Anything.”

We drove down to the lake Sunday afternoon. It was absolutely gorgeous and very peaceful, as usual. Ginosar is one of the older kibbutzim, celebrating 88 years this year. It’s moderately sized, mostly agricultural, but they also run a large resort hotel on the side. The families are all very close and everyone knows everybody else.

Evelyn greeted us at the entry gate. Her father-in-law knew we were coming and made me this gorgeous harvest bouquet of barley and wheat stalks, figs, pomegranates and lavender- all grown on the kibbutz. It was the most welcoming introduction. As is traditional, everyone wears white, and as it is a harvest festival, it is customary for people – young, old, male, female – to wear a lovely floral wreath on their head.

We arrived shortly before the festivities. Many of the kibbutz folk, mostly the older people, gathered on the main square to watch the tractor parade. Tractors pulling carts filled with hay bales and families.

And the celebration began, first with the presentation of all the babies that were born on the kibbutz in the past year, 38 in all, a new record! So cute to see all the families. It is such a healthy thing to see a vibrant, happy, growing population. This was followed by a dance put on by some of the moms with babies on their front packs (or twins on front and back). It was adorable. The song, in Hebrew, was about how the mom can get no more sleep as the baby keeps her up all night and all day.

Notice the mom in the green shorts with twins!

The little children of three age groups all put on song and dance routines and little skits. The all the three year old boys were brought up for their first haircuts. It’s a very big, and very fun, deal here. There was a lot of remembrance of the war, those lost in battle, friends still in captivity. It was an incredibly hard year for all the kibbutzim. Many of the men between 18-50 have been doing military service. Pensioners took up the slack and planted and harvested all the crops.

Kibbutz Ginosar is a tremendously large and productive agricultural kibbutz. They own hundreds of acres along the Kinneret. The number of dunams (acreage) of each crop, and tonnage brought in was read aloud. I was stunned. Mangoes, bananas, pomegranates, wheat, barley, dates, apricots, peaches, avocados, almonds. Phenomenal.

I was even more surprised to see the teen involvement. They worked as ushers, MCs, and organizers. And several groups of teens put on choral and folk dance numbers. Did I mention wholesome yet???? This was followed by folk dancing, first by the women, the couples and finally, the plastic chairs were taken away and the entire field turned into one big folk dance fest as the sun began to set.

Rows and rows of tables and chairs had been set out for the communal kibbutz Shavuot dinner. Candles lit. Blessings set. There was a booth for Israeli wine and tables groaning under the weight of food. Quiches, salads of all kinds, vegetable dishes beyond belief. Hummus and techineh, and every kind of cheese and dairy one could imagine. It was super abundant and glorious! Folk dancing lasted until late in the evening. And there were small groups of instrumentalists. The wine flowed freely.

Evelyn, originally from Argentina, met her husband when he traveled to South America after his army service. She followed him back to Israel where they married. Yoav’s grandparents were some of the original residents of Ginosar, and her father-in-law was the one to find the famed sunken “Jesus boat,” a 2000 year old fishing boat. Evelyn is an ElAl flight attendant and Yoav is a farmer. They’ve lived at Ginosar for 19 years.

I tell you all this because Evelyn and her family took us in like we were one of the family. After living ‘in the city’ for ten years, I’d totally forgotten and missed that amazing aspect of Israeli life. Everyone is “mishpocha.” We met the brothers, the in-laws, the kids, and cousins. Young couples had driven up from Tel Aviv and central Israel to be with their family. And somehow there was room for all.

It was not extremely religious. In the morning some of the older folk went to the community synagogue. Children, with bathing suits on since 8am were eager to swim in the Kinneret. Others went sailing and jet skiing. The morning breakfast on the kibbutz dining room offered myriad dairy from cheese-filled bourekas and blintzes to fish. Fish is very typical for breakfast in Israel. There were fruit salads and vegetable salads over the top and freshly baked breads, homemade jams and freshly squeezed juices.

I must say, last year e spent Shavuot praying in Jerusalem. Most years, we spent at home very low key. Not particularly Israeli. This year, the Zionistic and patriotic spirit, albeit a bit subdued from what I was told (due to the fact we are still at war), was one of the most incredible experiences John and I have had here. Thank you, Evelyn!!! We had a blast!

A Star Rising. Day 584. 8 May, 2025

Starting off with accentuating the positive. I’ve lived in Israel for a decade now. Hard to believe how fast it’s gone by. There are LOTS of things we can criticize and find fault with, but today I’d like to start off by accentuating the positive. Things I’ve come to love or find really amusing.

I love flying on ElAl with a bunch of Israelis. Seriously. Besides good food (they feed you like a Jewish momma and you’ll never leave the flight hungry), at the end of the flight, just as the plane touches down, everyone breaks into thunderous applause. It’s a tradition and a way of saying thank you to the pilot and crew. Also a way of being thankful for a safe trip. It’s amazing!!!

Now, the pre-flight fun – or any time Israelis are asked to queue up. They have absolutely no concept of how to form a line. Our last flight we passed the counters and check ins for Singapore, Netherlands, American, Italy…. All super straight, super organized, well-formed lines. Israel?

Inability to form straight lines

And don’t get us started about the lines at the grocery store or the inability to have personal space when you use the Cespomat (ATM). It’s totally hysterical.

I love eating seasonally. In America, we always had everything produce wise all season long. I could find peaches in November and grapes in January. Brussels sprouts and gourds could be bought all year long. Oooo, I have a hankering for blueberries. No problem. Here, I’ve come to savor strawberry season from Chanukah to Passover. And then the stone fruits. After what seemed like forever, they finally come out early summer….peaches, nectarines, cherries. Then,they are gone until next summer. In the winter, I look forward to the delicious Jaffa oranges, and the CaraCara and blood oranges, which are available for about a month. Limes can be found late, late summer. So I buy 40 to freeze for use throughout the year. But in general, I’ve learned to miss the transience of some things, while I anticipate the coming of others.

I love that, for the most part, we are all one big family here. Sure, we disagree about everything, but when someone is in need, there is always a stranger or five who step in to help. Great examples of this happened just this week. For the first… on Sunday morning there was a red alert signal throughout central Israel. When the siren goes off, you pull over and take cover the best you can. A young father jumped out of the car, unstrapped his 5 week old baby and rushed to the side of the road seeking shelter beside a wall. A stranger crouched in front of him, wrapping his arms around both the father and child, shielding them with his own body from any falling shrapnel. We look out for each other.

Yesterday, a friend down in the center of Israel called. Her husband had just been called back to reserve duty in Gaza. He left Or behind with a three year old and a 4 month old. Tomer, the husband, is the kind of guy who fills his wife’s gas tank, brings her coffee every morning, takes care of much business so she can care for her children and run her own small business (Or has an Etsy shop). Or’s neighbor knew how overwhelmed she was with a teething baby and absent husband, so she made her a week’s worth of hot meals. Just because. We take care of each other.

I really find it amusing at how superstitious many Israelis are. G-d forbid you should say anything negative about yourself or your family – you wouldn’t want to tempt trouble. My husband often expresses in public how stupid he is (joking), and it flips these people out. You never say anything bad about yourself. And if there’s talk of impending danger be it health or wealth or other, then khas v’halillah, don’t tempt the evil eye, tfu, tfu, tfu. So I cracked up last week when John spit through his fingers and said tfu, tfu, tfu. He’s really becoming one of them.

I love how connected most Israelis are to nature. Planting trees, Going for hikes. Concerned about sustainability in a good way. How every Jewish neighborhood is mandated to have a park within walking distance.

And how family oriented people are. It is not at all uncommon for couples to marry early and have a large family of 4 or more children. There are little kids running everywhere. It’s really healthy to see. Or how the families come together every weekend for Friday night dinners. And just Fridays in general when the busyness of the week slows down. The DJs on the radio play much more relaxed and mellow music and the noise of the city dissolves away. To wake up every Saturday morning to birds chirping. No leaf blowers. No garbage trucks. No motorcycles or blaring music. Just quiet. I love it. “And what did you do all Shabbat?” “I just rested. Betten gahv.” I love this idiom!!!! It translates ‘stomach back,’ but just means to be a slug. Flip over from one side to the other. Just resting from stomach to back. I did nothing. Betten gahv.

I love making an appointment at the clinic and being seen by a doctor in less than 15 minutes. No waiting in a treatment room for hours. The doctor is right there. You go into the room and sit down and your appointment starts. When I go to my regular doctor in California, I make my appointment months ahead of time, sit in the waiting room for a good hour, and then the treatment room for at least another hour. It’s maddening. It would never be stood for here.

Last week, we discovered a small family of mice who had taken up residence in our larder (downstairs pantry). John went to the hardware store to buy some mousetraps, only to find out that they don’t sell the kind that kill or harm the animals here in Israel. The country is so darned humane and has such a respect for life that the only traps available are catch and release cages. So….John set the bait in the cages and within four days had caught all the mice and released them into far away olive groves. So much for a country bent on ‘genocide-‘

When I lived in the United States I had never heard of Eurovision. It’s a very big deal in Europe and Eurasia. An international pop music contest that has taken place for almost 60 years, it has launched careers of Abba and Celine Dion. Israel has been a participant since its inception.

I got in on the craze for the first time last year with the song “Hurricane” (fantastic) sung by Eden Golan. It was a highly contested entry because the original song, “October Rain” was deemed too controversial. The organizers had complaints that the original song was too political, so it was slightly modified. Eden Golan participated in the contest under heavy protection. She had received numerous death threats and had to be escorted by bodyguards wherever she went. Her song was booed when done live, but the performance (song, voice, set, dancers) was so wonderful, she got fourth place (out of 36 entries). It was the number one song in Israel all last year.

https://youtu.be/lJYn09tuPw4?si=CpOmftp-aE2AKKO5

This year, the story gets even better. Yuval Raphael attended the Nova Music Festival with her friends that fated October morning in 2023. When the shelling started and the Hamas terrorists invaded the Israeli border communities, Yuval took shelter in one of the concrete bunkers on the side of the road. Normal capacity is about 20 people, but over 50 young concert goers crowded into the bomb shelter. Yuval was texting her parents through the whole ordeal.

The terrorists came around and started sending volleys of bullets from their machine guns right into the shelters, killing and wounding several kids. One Gazan threw a grenade into the shelter. It was tossed back by a young IDF soldier inside. Then another. He threw the grenade out. Seven times. Over and over. The brave soldier kept catching and throwing the grenade outside where it exploded. Then on the eight time, the grenade exploders inside the shelter killing scores. Yuval and her friend were at the back. Dead bodies piled on top of them.

Her father told her “Play dead. Don’t move. Don’t make a noise.” Hamas kept coming back, shooting into the shelter. It was a living nightmare that lasted for over 8 hours. Finally her father, defying all roadblocks and odds came to rescue her. She survived the Nova massacre, albeit wounded. Now she’s facing hate at Eurovision. Over 70 past Eurovision stars as well as present entries are calling for Miss Raphael to be banned because of her ethnicity/nationality. (Her family has Kurdish, Iraqi, Persian and French roots).

Yuval never sang professionally, but decided to enter into Israel’s version of The Voice, The Next Star, last January. It was part of her healing process. Her performance was so shattering, that she not only won that competition, but was immediately chosen to be Israel’s representative for Eurovision. “I’m coming to Eurovision to sing for all the angels who can’t be here. I survived, I have to make the most out of my life to honor them.” Have we talked of Israeli resilience before???? This is Yuval giving her story and her song on The Next Star. It’s a MUST WATCH AND SHARE! Get your tissues out. Seriously. You’ll cry- (close caption translations…)

https://youtu.be/OUeejYiU8LA?si=K8LJMyVN7NBSBZXj

Is she not poised, beautiful, amazing, brave?? You can see more, full interviews with her testimony on YouTube. Fluent in Hebrew, English and French (her family lived in Switzerland and now she returns to Switzerland for the competition). Such a talent! Such a person to represent our country. This is the music video that was made for her entry into Eurovision.

https://youtu.be/Q3BELu4z6-U?si=8ElYEXRj0S-H4xIw

The semifinal round is coming up this weekend. Yuval has already had to face threats and is heavily guarded. Wherever she is escorted in Switzerland, this 24 year old has had to face massive anti-Israel/pro-Gaza protests and demonstrations. With the backlash against Israel in the world, it’s pretty much a surety that she will not win. Still- we shall see how it shakes out.

You can follow (and vote for your favorite contestant) the Eurovision contest live. It’s being live-streamed across the internet. Most of the groups and performers are pretty sleezy to say the least. It’s known for its wackiness for the most part. I shall report back on how Yuval Raphael placed.