When chutzpah is a good thing

Yom revi'i, 10 Av 5770.

Arthur Rosenberg, 83 in 2004

"Nachamu, nachamu Ami."  (Isaiah 40:1)  "Console, console My people." To help to ease ourselves out of the sadness of Tisha B'Av, I want to share this video with you.  You will still cry -- but at least some of the tears will be for good things, such as the courage of these elderly people, the kindness and efficiency of the staff, the fact that these dear people are alive to walk in the Holy Land even though some of their parents were brutally murdered during the Shoah.  My "good tears" were for these things -- and for the way Israel greeted them warmly and with the great kavod (respect) they have earned.  It is just a small part of the tikkun (repair) we must do, if we are to witness the rebuilding of our Holy Temple.


Hat tip: Rebecca Chesner

May we share the day when the elderly will walk freely about Israel, and the children will play in the streets, in freedom and peace.

"Never again with there come from [Jerusalem] a young child or an old man who will not fill his days..." (Isaiah 65:20)

"Thus said Hashem, Master of legions: Old men and old women will once again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with his staff in his hand...and the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing..." (Zechariah 8:4-5)

Jerusalem Prepares for Tisha B'Av

Yom sheni, 8 Av 5770, Erev Tisha B'Av.

"Tonight no learning Torah."

The Dearly Beloved and I were walking down the street in Talpiot (a neighborhood in Jerusalem) when we were confronted by this initially-shocking sign.  After a few minutes of deciphering, we figured out the real message of the sign: It was an invitation to join a congregation in Baka (an adjacent neighborhood) for the observance of the reading of Eicha (Lamentations), which traditionally begins the 25-hour fast of the Ninth of Av, the commemoration of the destruction of both Temples.  It reminds us that one of the things we deprive ourselves of during the fast is the learning of any portions of our Holy Torah that might bring joy.

 One of my sons has been struggling with what is the connection between depriving oneself of food, and remembering the destruction of our Holy Temple, nearly 2,000 years ago.  "Ema, honestly, when I go without food, all I think about is how hungry I am.  I can't connect it to the Temple's destruction.  I just get grouchy, and start counting the hours until the fast ends."

He studied and wrestled with his questions, reading and asking his chavruta's opinion, and the opinions of friends and family.

Finally, he answered his own question -- more or less -- by reminding me of a story I had told him years ago.  I had forgotten the story; and I now cannot remember the rabbi about whom it is told.

A couple of young men went to their rabbi, asking for advice about how to get through the upcoming Tisha B'Av fast.  The rabbi apologized to them.  "I wish I could give you advice," he said, "but I've never fasted a day in my life."

The young men were shocked.  But they had been taught to reason, and to give the benefit of the doubt.  Surely this holy man kept the Laws, handed down for generations!  Finally, one of them responded to the rabbi's statement.  "It is possible that the Rav found leniencies, for reasons of health, for not fasting on the minor fasts," he said.  "But surely the Rav has fasted on Yom Kippur!"

"I can honestly say that I never fasted on Yom Kippur, bochrim," he answered.

Now the second boy was emboldened to respond.  "I cannot believe the Rav didn't fast on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year!"

The rabbi smiled at his talmid.  "You are right.  Yom Kippur is the holiest day.  I am always so overwhelmed by the opportunity for such closeness to my Father in Heaven, so excited by the knowledge that He will forgive all of my sins, that I cannot even think of food.  It happens that from Kol Nidre until Neilah, I am so overcome with joy, food is the very last thing on my mind."

"And Tisha B'Av?" asked the first boy.  "The Rav also never fasted on Tisha B'Av, the saddest day of the year for a Jew?"

The rabbi's face clouded over, as he glanced at the calendar on the wall.  Tisha B'Av would begin that very night.  "On Tisha B'Av --" the rabbi's voice become choked, "I am so very distraught at what we have lost, and what we have suffered ever since that loss...  that I cannot bear the sight of food."

The young men left their rabbi's presence, clear now in the approach they would take to surviving the next several hours.

One thing passed through my mind when I saw that sign.  I realized how very sweet it is to suffer this supreme sadness with my people in our Land.

Sitting shiva is always easier when surrounded by family.

May we see an end to our suffering, individual and collective, and rejoice together this year in the complete and total Geula.

This post dedicated to two dear Rebbetzins who have recently lost their beloved fathers.  May their sweetness and love of their fellow Jews continue to accrue to their dear fathers' accounts in Shemayim.

Glossary:
Chavruta: Torah study partner
Bochrim: young men
Talmid: student
Kol Nidre and Neilah: opening and closing prayers of Tisha B'Av services
Shiva: the seven-day mourning period after the death of a close relative
Geula: the Final Redemption
Shemayim: Heaven

Turnabout's Fair Play: Israel Interviews France

Yom shishi, 5 Av 5770.

Photographed by Ilana-Davita in Sweden "in September, and whose serenity I really like."

One of the best things about the blogging world is that I am privileged to meet such interesting people.  True -- we sometimes don't meet in person (at least not right away).  But as I have mentioned before, bloggers are real people, with interesting stories.  And sometimes we get to know one another as well through our writing as we get to know the "flesh-and-blood" people in our lives.

"Ilana-Davita" started an interesting feature I have been following, in which she interviews fellow bloggers.  She recently interviewed me -- and I thought my readers might like to get to know her.  Here is our conversation.

Can you introduce yourself in a few words?

I am a 46-year-old woman who teaches English in a French high school.

What caused you to pursue the English language as a course of study?

I loved English from my first English lesson wen I was ten. After high school and before college, I spent a year in England in a school, and then it seemed natural to go on with English.

What is your religious background (if any)?

I was raised Catholic by practicing parents. Until about ten years ago, I did not know much about Judaism as a religion, although I had always had a keen interest in Jewish history and culture. I didn’t know, however, that one could convert to Judaism.

This all changed when I borrowed a book by Rabbi Telushkin – I am still a faithful fan of his – and started reading it. I almost instantly had the feeling that what I had always believed was Judaism. Believe me, it was both a bit scary and comforting. Scary to be shaken off base when I least expected it and comforting to find I had a spiritual home – by then I had stopped going to church for a long time. The book also mentioned conversion.

It became clear that I had come across this book for a purpose. I then found a rabbi with whom I could study, went to Paris regularly for classes and started learning Hebrew. I converted almost six years ago.

What are your feelings about aliyah?

I admire the people who make aliyah and sometimes wish I had their courage. You have to be very brave to leave behind your friends and relatives, your job, your home.

I think I’d find it difficult to move to Israel while not knowing whether I’d find a reasonably well-paying job in an environment where I would know so little of the language.

In addition at present there are other issues which would make aliyah difficult (aging parents being one of them) but I don’t totally rule it out either.

You mentioned the very difficult problem of making aliyah when aging parents need care. Are both of your parents still in the world? How did they feel about your conversion?

My parents are 76 and 73. I think they were a bit perplexed when I announced my desire to convert but said they were glad I had found a spiritual home. They love Israel and have been there three times – although they visited some places I probably wouldn't care to see myself.

Where in France do you live and is there a special reason you live there? 

I live in a middle-sized town (about 60,000 inhabitants) in Northern France. I ended up here because of my job. I started teaching in a junior high and then, after seven years, looked for something more challenging, and it so happens that my current school had vacancies. I applied through a complex system of points that is particular to France and got the job.

What would you like to share about your daily life in France that might be interesting to those of us outside France?

France is not the monolithic country portrayed in the media. Something Jewish people who are used to a stereotyped picture of Israel can understand.

For instance France went through a spate of anti-Semitic incidents a few years ago, but a lot of places are very quiet; and I know some people who always wear a kippah in Paris and who do not feel threatened. A number of Jews are university lecturers, film directors, actors or politicians here. It doesn’t seem to be a problem.

Some French journalists have pointed out that is difficult to teach about the Holocaust in some suburbs, which it shouldn’t be of course, but this is not the case everywhere. A young friend who teaches History was telling me the other day that in his classes the students were attentive and curious.

I also agree that the portrayal of Israel in the media is often biased and simplistic.

France’s main problem concerning Judaism – and other religions too – is that it is a very secular country. Secularism is practically the official religion in France.

There are some advantages; one being that religion isn’t pushed down people’s throats at school or elsewhere. But there is also one big drawback: ignorance. People know next to nothing about religions in general and Judaism in particular. As you know, ignorance can lead to misunderstandings and misunderstandings to disasters.

When and why did you start blogging?

I had been reading a few blogs for some months and felt I wanted to have a go. So I started blogging in January 2007. I was at LiveJournal then. I had a very small following at the time. But as I found their options and settings too limited and limiting, I switched to Wordpress in June 2007. The rest is history.

Where did you get the name for your blog?

It comes from Chaim Potok's novel. He is one of my favorite writers. I also chose it since I felt it pointed to the fact that it was a blog written by a woman.

Have you been surprised by the way your blogging activity has evolved over the years?

Very surprised. I never imagined I would meet so many fantastic people through my blog. I suppose that since I live in a town with such a tiny Jewish community, I need the feeling that I belong to something broader, and blogging fills part of this void.

What post(s) are you most proud of?

I feel proud when a post gets a lot of comments or when I have done a lot of research and feel the end product is not too bad. Here are two posts for which I worked hard:
- Survey: Morning Blessings (birkat ha-shachar)
- Organ donation
I am also delighted that so many people seem to enjoy my interview series.

Would you care to share a blog or two you enjoy?

More than one or two in fact. I’ll probably forget some. I hope no one feels offended.

- Treppenwitz whose prose led me to start my own blog
- Here in HP - Leora is a great blogger and she has taught me more than a thing or two in layout as well as careful and caring commenting. She is someone I really consider a friend, which may seem strange since we’ve never met.
- I just love the subtle humor displayed by Mrs.S. at Our Shiputzim and hope that when we meet in person we can share good moments.
-  Mom in Israel, another of my mentors. Guess where I got the idea of interviewing people from?
- Jew Wishes whose book reviews and vast knowledge of Jewish History and culture never ceases to astonish me
- I’ll Call Baila for her honest way of talking about her everyday life.
- Shavua Tov with whom I share many experiences.

There are also Shimshonit, Mimi and lots of others.

I also like the fact that these people are very different and that regularly I “meet” or get to know more new wonderful people – you for instance.

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, Ilana-Davita.  I appreciate getting to know you better.  And thank you for introducing me to some of your favorite bloggers.  I am definitely going to check out Mimi's Israeli Kitchen: Food, Wine and Bread from the Heart of Israel!

Don't you just want to have a cup of tea with this elegant person?   I do.

When you love somebody this much, you just have to say hello.

Yom chamishi, 4 Av 5770.

 Rabbi Elan Adler and Rebbetzin Dr. (I love saying that) Rivkah Lambert Adler are two of the nicest and funniest people you will ever meet.

They have touched thousands of lives in very positive ways.  Rabbi Adler is a sought-after speaker, and was a dynamic and well-loved congregational rabbi in the United States.  Besides giving over wonderful Torah in an inspirational manner, Rabbi Adler is arguably the Jewish nation's nearest equivalent to Jonathan Winters.  (For the younger crowd, Winters was Robin Williams' comedic mentor.)  A punnier fellow you'll never know.

Okay, Rabbi...  now that I've mentioned you first, I want to talk about my dear friend, Rivkah.

 I know that Rabbi Adler will agree with me that one of the best things he ever did in his life was to marry Rivkah.  (She and I agreed years ago during a shiur we both took that if we had gone to school together, the teacher would have had to separate us.)

"Rivkah" and "love of Eretz Yisrael" mean the same thing.

Rivkah has wanted to make Israel her home for many years.  During the time that this desire could not be fulfilled, she channeled it by helping hundreds of other people make aliyah, or at least keep the "bren" for aliyah alive in their hearts, through the Baltimore Chug Aliyah.  She educated and sympathized, strengthened and empathized -- and wept copiously when she sent her "chicks" out of the nest.  She admitted that it was because she was happy for them, and also that she was sad for herself.  As she used to say, "Every time I send one of you to Israel, there is one less person here who can understand me."  She expected that it would be well into the decade before she would have the chance to make aliyah.

But Hashem makes miracles.  And years ahead of schedule, Rivkah and her dear family are finally Home.

This time, we -- Rivkah's chicks -- were crying as much as she.  First at the NBN Welcome Ceremony, and then at the Baltimore Welcome Party given by those hosts par excellence, the Schamroths.

Below are some photos of that special gathering.  May many more of our friends be inspired to join us very soon.  May those who have been inspired for a long time find the obstacles cleared from their paths, for only the best reasons; and may they gain strength from Hashem if they must continue to wait.  Remember, if you long for Israel with all of your hearts, you are counted as if you already dwell here.

Follow the continuing saga of Rivkah's & Elan's & Ariella's & Shani's Great Aliyah Adventure at Bat Aliyah.

Glossary: 
Torah: The totality of Jewish learning is encompassed by this word.
Shiur: Torah lecture or class
Eretz Yisrael: the land of Israel, special to Jews because it was the land given as an inheritance by G-d
Chug: club, society
Bren: Yiddish for a burning love or desire for something
Aliyah: immigration to Israel
Hashem: G-d

Establishing Facts on the Ground: the Fight for Gush Etzion

Yom shlishi, 2 Av 5770.

Rav Gideon Perl, Regional Rabbi of Gush Etzion, explains why and how to do our part to hold onto our holy land in today's climate of "facts on the ground" warfare.



These days, money's tight all over. Help if you can. If you cannot, your prayers will make me feel just a little safer in my home here in the beautiful Judean Hills.

"Lecha Dodi," by Joshua Eastman

Yom revi'i, 25 Tamuz 5770.  This post dedicated to Chana Alte Eastman, who allowed us to borrow her husband for an adventure-filled two weeks.  Let's just have the whole family next time, and no adventures, okay?

Please forgive me that our recording studio made its own contributions to Josh's song.  The winds of Neve Daniel are very powerful.  And the local kids playing in the backyard pool added their own music.

Get through all that, and the amateur camera work...  and there is a lovely voice singing a sweet Shabbat song here, with an original melody, for your listening pleasure.

If you're not in a position to listen to music just now, please save this somewhere; and listen when you can.

Thank you, and -- if I don't get to speak with you before then -- Shabbat shalom u'mevorach.



Glossary:
Shabbat shalom u'mevorach: A peaceful and blessed Sabbath

"Anachnu lomdim Ivrit b'yachad." *

Yom sheni, 9 Tamuz 5770.

One of the keys to surviving comfortably in Israel is spending time -- for some of us, a LOT of time -- in ulpan.

As in most families, there is a division of labor, to make the household run smoothly.  For instance, I learn Hebrew for us, and the Dearly Beloved earns the money to pay for the classes.  I benefit from his expenditure; and he benefits from the words and grammar I bring home.  Today, we had a real breakthrough, as I was gratified to see that he is grasping some of the lessons I have tried to impart.

I called him from the Tachana Merkazit (Central Bus Station) to explain why I was going to be late coming home.

"Your wife is a moron," I explained.  "I rode all the way to the Tachana Merkazit, forgetting to get off at the Klal Building so I could do our banking.  So I had to walk back."

Ever mindful of shoring up my self-esteem, he chided me.  "This is the second time today you have called yourself a moron," he said.  "You are not a moron."  He paused, to let his words sink in.  "You are a moronah.  In Hebrew, it would be 'moronah.'  Because you're a 'she.'"

As I pointed out in class today, the only way we can make it in Israel is to work as a team.

Thank you, Honey.

Take advantage of the free classes every oleh receives when you make aliyah.  By all means!  But when you are finished with that, and want to really "get" the language, deep in your kishkes, take as much Ulpan La-Inyan as you can afford.  It's more than worth it.  (Check into the options for taking courses before you make aliyah, as well!

* "We are learning Hebrew together."