The Good Life

Facing Facts

2007-02-07T09:41:00.000-08:00

I heard on the Tamar Yonah Show, that Israel has given land to Americans for weapons storage, and G-d know what else. A friend was involved in its building and planning. I pass this facility (looks more like a small town) daily to and from work.

Also, didn't C.Rice say last week(?) that both leaders of Israel and the PA are to weak to attain peace? By weakening the Israeli Gov't in the world's eyes, I think they are setting up a foreign governance. I thing it's not the EU- but the UN... Led by a Korean Diplomat, who's majority is Arab.

IF this does not fit into nevuah- please provide clarity, if you can. I think that we Jews better start thinking with a "yiddishe kuppe" and getting with Torah and HaShem. Because we here in all of Israel have only one choice. Let's face facts.

A Simple Jewish woman

2007-02-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

Emunah - Faith.

When the Avot and Imahot follwed HaShem, that was emunah.

I am only a simple Jewish woman, but if anyone tells me that my devotion is based only on what I know- what I learned- they are wrong. My very secular sibling wrote that we should all be living in Israel. That is her expression of emunah. Emunah lives in all of us. We only have to quite the voice of the yetzer harah, long enough to hear it.

Didn't Rambam give us the 13 principles of faith? Wasn't one to desire the coming of Moshiach, daily? Well isn't that an act of emunah?

Emunah is my constant companion, it is my best friend and my greatest comfort.

You see, I am a very simple woman.

Women's Voices!

2007-02-04T23:46:00.000-08:00

Last night, at a women's only performance of Naomi& Ruth, the light was there. A whole auditorium of women who are awake. The women of Yesha are alive.

If you heard us -all 200!- sing Ani Ma'amin, the emet was bouncing off the walls. I thought as we sang- Do you hear us HaShem? Do you hear us? We are waiting. Let us see you now. For these women, for our children. For our nation.

The life we experienced before is gone. We have one single purpose. Our geula depends on those of us who are awake. I slept soundly for the first time in months. These are the women who are working with me to have bitachon, emunah, emet, and torah in our world, I am in very good company.

Now, Nava is living here too. I understand. I came on the same route. It had to be now. It had to be.

Our House is a very, very, very fine house!

2007-01-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

First, I apologize for the long time between posts. My family has been sick with the flu for over a month. No time for the mom to sit and blog! My time was filled with pots of soup, and tlc galore!

My family live in the "west bank". We live in the Benjamin region on a not so small yishuv -"settlement". Funny, this place has been in existence for thirty years. But a Yishuv it is.

Strategically, we are able to see Ben Gurion airport, Tel Aviv, Petach Tikva, Shoham.

We live in the most beautiful surroundings, the hills of Shomron are surrounding our mountain. We have a forest, and beautiful vegetation surrounds us.

Our son attends the elementary school here, walks to and from by himself. We shop at the market, attend the library, the synagogue and have been making friends.

What's the point?

The inmates running the asylum are willing to give this area away to the terrorists who will undoubtedly be shooting kassams at Israel. The EU, who can't control their own population, are offered the opportunity to gain control of this area. nuts. absolutely nuts.

My house is lovely, we have what we need here. Space, a garden, friends to fill our Shabbat table.

We have to travel twenty minutes to get to any main city center- which is no bother at all. It's 35 minutes to Jerusalem and 45 minutes to Tel Aviv. What's the rush? I love our idyllic life. We are happy here.

Now talk has turned to evil. To give this place away is a crime. If they have no place for those from Gush Katif? Where are we 200,000 Yesha residents supposed to go?

Hope

2006-12-26T01:02:00.000-08:00

News reports state that Olmert will be dismantling check points in Yehuda and Shomron. He's willing to release prisoners. He's ready to release 100 million dollars to the PA for "humanitarian" needs.

I said it before, I'll say it again- Olmert must be removed from office as should all his cabinet.

We have a problem. Liberal thing Jews have been commandeered by pacifists with suicidal tendencies. If WE cannot live as a secular Jewish country, we must bring G-d back into our thinking.

This will be a very difficult leap for many. Impossible for most.

Tell me, who in the world would have believed that all those prophesies we read about as students in modern orthodox day schools around the US, would be actually happening in our day? Not I, to be sure!

I have no hope in man, or leaders today. Many of the organized rabbinical leadership groups are thinking- what? They don't really care for anything but themselves and their pocetbooks. Have they dealt with Agunot? Have they stood up against government leadership tho prevent the expelling of Jews, orthodox!- from their homes in the land of Israel? No. They stand up for them, in honor.

I have no faith in anything but G-d. I fear Him, I love Him. Living here, in His home, I am home.

I just want it said for the record. I know that we will be okay, because Hashem would not have anything bad happen to us. If all the other prophesies came true, so will the one that He will redeem us, once and for all.

My Son

2006-12-24T00:51:00.000-08:00

My son is 17 years old. In six months we will be receiving a letter stating the time and place for him to report to the local IDF recruiting office with all necessary documents. He will be given a physical, and psychometric testing. He will be interviewed and put into the system.

My precious boy is idealistic, kind and believes that it is his duty to serve in G-d army.

Therein lies the problem. The IDF is not G-d's army.

My worry grows because my son is young, naive, idealistic and ripe for the picking. I worry that they'll take his great and enthusiastic attitude and abuse it by making him do things that -he will obey- are not according to proper ethics or right on the front lines and G-d forbid, in immediate danger. I want him to make a smart and educated decision. He wants to believe I am being an overprotective, overbearing mother. If he chooses this path, well, I support him as long as I know he made this decision willingly.

How can I give him what he needs? He's getting older. He's coming to the time where I can't fix it for him any more. Scary? You bet.

What can I do? I am registering my plea that we have new leadership that is focused on G-d being our strength. I beg G-d to watch over our boys-like my son, and give him the strength that equals his courage and idealism. I pray that whatever road he goes on, it its the road that G-d has chosen for him. After all, a blessed okay road surpasses a brilliant road that is not blessed!

Hopefully, my son will research, listen and make some good choices. Because this is one problem I won't be able to fix. May G-d watch over us all, and answer our prayers

Hellenism = Assimilation and Intermarriage today

2006-12-21T09:40:00.000-08:00

Today is the sixth day of Hanukkah. I live in the land of Maccabees, the holy temple- the Beit Hamikdosh... may we have it rebuilt in our days-now.

Hellenists were jews who decided to go along with the popular culture of the Greeks. They willingly gave up practice of Judaism and service of G-d. They embraced the popular culture and in doing so became enemies to those righteous Jews who continued to embrace the practice of mitzvot, torah and service of G-d. The subjugated the religious, caused them massive loss and sadness. Pikuach nefesh, guarding a life meant nothing to the Hellenists.

Today, we have a crisis in the world. Jews are intermarrying and assimilating in the numbers of 50%. Serious business. I know. Members of my family have intermarried. Their children are given Judaism lite. What guarantee do we have that any child will hold onto their religion? None- but far more so when two parents adhere to the tenets of the same faith. Judaism is a living and breathing religion. If mom or dad are not jewish, then why shouldn't they marry a non jew? The chances of having a jewish grandchild from an intermarriage are terribly small.
Do I love the members of my family who have married non- jews? Yes, very much- without a doubt. But I do not agree with the choices they have made. A person is not born a Jew by accident.

The culture of the other nations, and secular culture is far more free and open than Judaism. I know. This pull is terribly hard to avoid. Yet the nature of who a Jew is, cannot be denied. They will forever search for truth and be lead down many roads. Until they embrace the teachings and practices of the Torah- their souls will be restless.

I know. I have returned to the mitzvot. I am finally calm- but now there is so much work to do!

The world is changing. The truth is scary, but who does it serve to not speak? I am not a useful idiot. Truth can hurt. But who says we just have sit and allow things to spiral? Who says that the naked emperor is not wearing robes? Who says that we are sleeping through serious and dangerous times?

The Macabees were the truth sayers, the activists of their time. "Who ever is with Hashem- stand on this side!"

Who do you choose to be? Which side are you on?

An Engraved Invitation

2006-12-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

So, Mr. Ayalon says that American Aliyah can wait.

Okay, American Jewry can wait, but the writing is on the wall. Don't say you weren't warned. The few Europeans who read the signs before the shoah got out. Their grandchildren are now ostriches.

Baker is the guy creating foreign policy- no matter what they tell us. Carter is glorified as a visionary... Yet people still can't believe that America won't betray Israel.

It's beginning. Enough is enough. Consider this an engraved invitation.

So when are you coming?

okay the gloves are off

2006-12-06T22:36:00.000-08:00

Look, I have been posting and not posting for a while. Until now, my posts have been "safe" and generic. I have been working to keep it easy, yet thoughtful. Done with that...

The world is just gone nuts. Baker tells Israel to give more land so that America can get out of Iraq, which will then go to the Iranians. Yep. Fools.

The world is screaming that Judea and Samaria should go to the "Palestinians" so that the can be happy and peaceful- oh! and don't mind those kassam rockets.

Monkey-man -Achmenidenihjad (or however you spell it!) says Israel should be wiped off the map. The US says, no my friend - Israel- they don't really mean that!

Is everyone out of their minds?! The US, my home town- they are rooting for the bad guys, and becoming themselves as bad as the others because of complacency and capitulation.

Then, to top it all off, Olmert and his crew are cowards and steal land from jews to give to the paliban.... Genius.

You have got to be kidding me. This is nuts. I was never a moshiach, moshiach kind of person. But if there was ever a time for Moshiach to be revealed, it is coming soon.

Up is down, down is up. Tohu va'vohu. That's what we live in!

I am not just flying into this rant... I have been simmering for a while. I read other bloggers and see that my views are mirrored by many.

I just think that the world has gone screwy. And here I sit, in the southern Shomron and wait for that letter of expulsion.... I believe that I will live to see the Moshiach- very, very soon. B"H.

I left America. I left the gashmiut. I left the "almighty dollar". I left the assimilation, the intermarriage... I left the place where a parent could buy the best of everything and give their children nothing of substance and character. I left the place where more and most is the best, where hypocrisies thrive.

I am here in the holiest place on earth and I am surrounded by a gov't which is the erev rav. Ayalon, says to the masses in America- stay where you are, you don't have to make Aliyah... he's gone loopy! America is good for now, but it cannot be a permanent home for Jews. Boy, the "leaders" are going out of their way to look like fools. Chelm.

Wow... now I get why there were sages who didn't want to live in these time preceding Moshiach. This is crazy.

Get ready, I'm only warming up!

2006-08-14T03:21:00.000-07:00

This is a post without focus. I can't sleep. I am over eating. This country - Israel- is weakened. By the agreement of Olmert and his yes-men... we are so demoralized.

I trust in Hashem. Shema Yisrael! Pray, hard. How can we live without Him? How can eretz HaKadosh be holy with secular"leaders". How can this be?

Hashem , please help us.

Vey is Mere! Cowards All!

2006-08-13T05:25:00.000-07:00

Woe unto Israel! Woe unto us! We are loosing to the terrorists! The cabinet now approved the cease fire.

Hashem Save us! Hashem Answer us!

We need torah in Israel. We need G-d in charge.

Olmert needs to go

2006-08-13T03:01:00.000-07:00

Never in my life would I imagine that I would live to see the day an Israeli prime minister weaken the country. Never. What is he doing to us? What is he doing to our beautiful home? He has no right- to take our children and get them killed! For what? We have never entered a war and been weaker in the end! My son will serve in the IDF in a few years... I was not afraid until today.

He doesn't love our children. He doesn't. This war is ours to win- if he only had faith, he is not fearless. He fears other leaders but not our G-d! Olmert- Resign, preserve some of your dignity. You have no right calling yourself a leader. Shame on you. Our children are dying, being maimed and wounded in every way. Our captured soldiers are being tortured- and You are abandoning them! How could you do this to them, to us?!

Hashem Yismar Aleinu! Hashem Yishmar Aleinu! G-d Help Us!

Olmert has failed us.

Life in Paradise

2006-08-07T03:45:00.000-07:00

Life here is rather quiet, yet so productively busy- we are preparing our garden. We are very happy with the beautiful space we are so gratefuly enjoying. The DH and sons are weeding, fertilizing and getting the ground ready for the beautiful plants we plan on putting in the earth.

We are adopting a puppy - a black lab mix- she's going to be huge... an outdoor dog. Her name is Gingi... she has red in her fur. A sweet dog. Needs to be spayed. I asked Alan if we were ready to take on a twelve to fourteen year commitment. We do have kids already- a lifelong commitment. Little guy has been begging for a dog for ages, can't wait to see his face when we bring Gingi home today. Big guy too- better than any girl. Requires time, patience, love and devotion. This is a good answer for the family.

We have to buy a car. I pray that it won't take Hashem too much to provide this for us- after all the war in Israel now is not a natural war- it is Hashem's war.

Israel is a nation of Jews but not a jewish nation... if it were truely a jewish nation, we would be living with the torah and questions that riddle the leaders would be answered quite easily. The leaders today have no faith. They are so bent upon proving that they control - not Hashem- this country, that they are going to be cutting their noses off to spite their faces. All rabbis and spiritual leaders at this time agree that this is Hashem's war. People are just the tools. Olmert is a poor wartime leader. But the blame for all this flip-flopping lies in lack of faith. He places a Kippah on his head and says a bracha- good!- but if the next minute you eat "traif" the bracha becomes a chillul Hashem.

Paradise. Israel. When will we be the Jewish nation? Sh'ma Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu, Hsahem Echad. Did you hear that?

smart consumers

2006-08-06T02:38:00.000-07:00

the news. what kind of "news" is being reported? does anyone look really critically at the way world -Israel- events are being presented?

Check out Little Green Footballs dot com / weblog great stuff.

truth. can you handle the truth?

An Open letter

2006-08-03T00:55:00.000-07:00

Today is the 9th of Av- a terrible day for Jews historically. Both temples were destroyed on this day. The epulsion of Jews from spain occured on this day, the beginging of WW1 and many other tragedies occured on this day. Just last year Jews were expelled from their homes in the Gaza, so that there would be peace... yeah right- let's not hold our breaths. Kassams are falling on Ashkelon now.

I am writing to you today to let you know that I have figured it out - we are all one. It's as if we are on a boat, and one person begins to bang a hole in the boat. All others ask what are you doing, the response is, what do you care, this is my portion of the boat. all say- we'll all drown!...

This is our reality as Jews. We think our actions are individual but the effect is on all. Look at this PM Olmert- what a stupid thing to say, we'll go forward with the "disengagement". The expulsion, he means. Are there not enough Jews wandering homeless from the north now? there are still many from Gaza left without permanent housing. Now he talks about more land giving away to the people who want to drive us into the ocean?! To the kidnappers and the war mongers.

Yes, there was intant uproar- as well there should have been- and backing off the statement. But the reasoning behind the statement was faulty. Dangerous and suicidal- is he wanting to destroy this beautiful place I now call home? He is making a hole in the boat! But he says that it's his buisness to do such things. No, it isn't.

I am living in the Shomron, what others have decided to be the "west bank". I didn't think that I was going to join the ranks of the settlers, divine providence was responsible for this. Initially I was worried to be here, I listened to people saying we were going to be expelled with little notice, and that we would recieve no compensation as we are not long term residents. (indeed the gaza residents are still waiting for compensation) I worried what to do? I asked my father- what should I do? I love this place after only a few weeks. This is just right for my family. He asked others and the concensus was stay. It won't happen, this expulsion. I thought okay, now I can unpack. And I did. But I should have just realized that I am here for a reason and even though I don't know what it its yet, this is where I should stay.

I am just one woman in the entire Jewish Nation. I am repairing a hole. In a year and a half, my eldest son will be going into the IDF. This sacrifice is to much for me to think about. As you know, I love my son with every fiber of my being. This boy has been so much of my life. But he also has a job to do. He also has to repair a hole in the boat. We are just one family.

We all need to stop putting holes in the boat. We are entering very rough waters and we must be strong, united and sure about staying on course.

I think if each person repaired something, did acts of kindness towards others; or gave charity- our boat would become more ready to withstand the rough waters ahead. If we all actually believed that G-d wants us to return to him - in this boat- we would be on the right course. Loving each other enough to be kind and generous to all, that would be the best thing in the world. King Solomon says in proverbs "when a man's ways please G-d, even his enemies will make peace with him" a lot of tiny hole repair can really strengthen this boat we're in. And boy, could we use peace now.

I know that this all seems far too "religious" for many out there. I don't mean this to be a "telling you what to do" thing. But you are on the boat with me and I want us all to get to the port, not sink at sea. You are important to me. You matter. The Jewish Nation matters.

This Tisha b"Av should be our last fast. Here in Israel, I recognize the loss of the Holy Temple very accutely. Here the mourning and the sadness is palpable. We feel the loss.

There is an army base in our Yishuv. Reservists are coming in and relieving the guys on the front lines from 21 days of battle. The helecopters are bringing in the weary and taking the stronger to the front lines- May G-d protect them. Here, this battle is not news, it's real. Last night there were many soldiers in synagogue. Our boys and men know where there strength comes from. They know that we are part of the same boat and they are protecting us bravely.

We are Jews, chosen by G-d to be His nation. He chose for us to live in this land. All of it. Just take a minute out and think about it. What would our world be like if we Jews weren't persecuted but recognized as the conduits for light and peace and goodness in the world? That is what the Temple is to the world - it is a Lighthouse. and we don't have it and we need it to find our way home. but it's gone. and the storm is raging. and we have holes.

If you fast, have an easy one. Love you.

I've come a Long way, baby!

2006-07-28T00:50:00.000-07:00

20 years ago, if you asked me if I believed in the coming of Moshiach (the Massiah) i'd have said yes of course! when? maybe my grandchildren's time.

Today, well, I believe in the coming of Moshiach now. Oh my goodness, when we went to make changes to our lives, to do more mitzvot- wow, i couldn't have predicted the times. I couldn't.

Then the dreams came. Lots of them. All having to do with the Geula... huh? I am most certainly not a chabbadnick- i didn't understand it at leat. But today, I believe that we are at the dawn of redemption. I take on more and more mitzvot. My Husband sets time each day to learn, and my eldest is in yeshivah as I am writing.

Wow. The thought that I will see the Beit Hamikdosh and the Moshiach- that is completely mindblowing.

So we are a nation who will be redeemed, but when? How? from what I hear- soon, and who knows how? Just do teshuvah, mitzvot, give tzedakah, observe the shabbat, observe kashrut.

This is what the rabbis are saying. Geula is coming, be steadfast and pray, look to Hashem and pray. Be strong. Chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek. Teshuva. Tzedakah. Tefilla.

What Israel Must Do.

2006-07-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

I am watching my country being attacked from the north and the south. Our boys are being cut away from this world, struck down before they've had a chance to enjoyed their lives. There are so many civilians killled and injured. War.

We are a country of people who are ever hated. Why? Because we are moral, because we are the people G-d gave the torah to. It is, along with this land, our inheritance.

My whole life, I prayed to the east, I imagined the kotel in front of my face. I imagined that the temple was rebuilt. I prayed that I would be among the numbers who would see the Beit Hamikdosh, that I would be in Israel when we hear those great shofar blasts declaring the Moshiach has been revealed. Now, I want to hear those blasts with all my heart. I want the world to quiver when they hear that Hashem has brought the great redemption of His people.

The begining of the 9 days has begun. I pray that we celebrate rather than cry. I am afraid that the pain I felt last year won't be enough to bring the redemption, not I , alone. Wake up, Jewish People! Wake up! Do something, one mitzvah. Please. Just do it.

Hear, Oh Israel, Hashem is our G-d! Hashem is ONE.

We did it!

2006-07-20T21:20:00.000-07:00

We are here, in Halamish- Neve Tzuf - Israel. The road was bumpy, to be sure. We sold a lot of stuff, packed a lot of boxes, and said Le'hitraot to our families and friends.

What a gorgeous place we live in! A forrest, to be exact. My family has the incredible good luck to have stepped up due to our move to Israel, our Aliya. We have a lovely house with a grden that requires planting before weeds begin to grow.

My children are happy. They love it here. Freedom to play with friends whenever, because they aren't locked inside all day long. That is wonderful for them.

A few days after we arrived here, the war in the Hizbollah in theNorth and palestinians in the Gaza began. Initially we worried for our safety. Then we understood that we are safer here than in the major cities. So we stayed put.

Do we have regret about being here? Not one. Are we worried? Yes, just like every other Jewish family in the world, we worry... for the soldiers, the families, the nation.

We are happy here. Thank G-d.

Time marches on...

2006-04-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

So, time is quickly approaching for our departure from So Cal... two months. Change - even positive - can be hard. We're selling our stuff, large furniture we can't take with us. We started packing and feeling the crunch. Saying goodbye to some people will be hard. I hope that people will be gentle with us, but i worry that a lot of pent up frustration will come bubbling over. not everyone is thrilled about this.

All we can do is to let people know that we love them, no matter where we live.

where do i start?

2006-03-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

i need boxes, and packing supplies. remember those chances i told you i was taking? well we are moving- to Israel. home.

where do i start? what will I need? what is stupid to bring?

i think i'm just going to have to jump in- like getting into the pool... just jump!

planning, lists and stuff- too much stuff. getting rid of stuff.

no matter what, we are packing up our lives and going. i sure am going to miss everyone here. but soon, hopefully- they'll be in israel too.

shiny things are good

2006-03-21T12:47:00.000-08:00

nothing says "i love you" like a shiny thing... we are not rich, in fact our not richnes was downright poor. so now, things are a little different. my husband, after years of no money for gifts-by agreement- has bought me a shiny, gorgeous something. i cant get over how much i am so happy with this! i am not a materialistic person. how can this shiny be so important?

well, after thought, i have come up with an answer.

it was a meaningful gift from the man i love, have chosen to live my life with, have his children and take care of.

it is a gift from his heart and that is priceless.

thank G-d.

choices

2006-03-20T08:15:00.000-08:00

how many different opportunities have presented themselves and we have been so distracted by minutiae to recognize them?

when the window opens are we closing them or going to the open window, looking at the beauty, and deciding to talk a nice long walk?

my husband frequently talks walks, long thinking, and planning walks. we are moving soon, because we no longer want to exist, we want to live.

we will be leaving our family and friends and moving to the place where our souls live. we are moving not because of the leaving, but for the going.

fear is a crippling, horrible inclination. it prevents growth and change. it prevents success and get a person cought up in the fear of failure. fear produces stagnation.

rise above the fear, lift yourself up. live your life. from one who is fearful, who recognizes it's mechanisms, I know it's scary.

as the ad says: just do it!

welcome

2006-03-19T16:21:00.000-08:00

i am just an average person who is looking to live the above average life. with many options open to me, i am deciding ot choose the best of the opportunities that life has to offer.

i am a religious person, who is so by choice. observance of faith has grown in my life, and it has now caused me to be a bit more modest in dress, careful in speech, diligent in deed.

all good things- leads me to living the good life...