January 30-February 6

As we wind down this incredible experience, the weather begins to be more spring like. After all, next week is Tu-B’Shevat, the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat. This is the New Year for the trees. It has important religious significance, in terms of the timing of certain agricultural obligations, but for most people it is a time to celebrate the beauty and wonder of this oasis in the desert, to partake in its fruits and thank G-d for the kind gifts He has given us. Now, for many of us who live outside of Israel, Tu B-Shevat conjures up memories of eating inedible boxer fruit (or was it carob?) and singing about almonds flowering and olive trees standing (Atzei Zeitim Omdim! Atzei Zeitim Omdim!)
This year, I can see almond trees in bloom, cherry blossoms, and other flowers popping up. Walking to the bus, I saw people were busy planting flowers (sounds a bit strange in February, no?) All appreciating the beauty of this very special place.

Last Shabbat was spent in Neve Daniel, at the home of Reuven and Chani Or. The Or’s were the first of consecutive Israeli neighborhs we had on Cedar Ave in Denver. They had 4 children including two teenage daughters who were great baby sitters. Now, 20 years later, there are 10 Or grandchildren (9 years to 3 months) and Reuven takes great pleasure in conducting the singing at the Shabbat table. Neve Daniel is 10 minutes south of Jerusalem, yet because it is over the “green line” it is considered “West Bank”. Sorry, no water or river banks in view. Again, like Talmon, it is near a major center, this time Bethlehem. Everyone looks as much like a “settler” as people in Cedarhurst, Dollard or Aurora Colorado (less stores). It is a beautiful residential suburb of 300 families. On Shabbat however, I went to shul with Meir Or (the youngest of Reuven and Chani’s kids) to Sdei Boaz, which is a new “outpost” on the next hill top, 20 minutes from the house. The walk and scenery was spectacular, and we ended up at a village of trailers, and makeshift dwellings. It is a strategic hilltop, and this is why people have come to live there. We arrived early, as Meir likes to set up the shul, but first we stopped to feed the horse. You got that right…sometimes I wish I had a Shabbat camera!

The week flew by, as it was punctuated by a conference at Tel Aviv University on Tuesday. To not have to get up at the crack of dawn, I went to Ruth and Itamar Maliach’s in Givat Shmuel on Monday night. We had a lovely dinner and in the morning I was able to take one bus directly to the TAU to attend the Israeli Immunology Society annual meeting. The meeting was very good, and the weather in TA spectacular. We had our usual dinner at Elan’s house after (I was a bit late but had prepared before) and everyone enjoyed honey chili Oriental chicken. The only down side was that most everyone was under the weather, with a bad flu going around the Yeshiva. Only Shoshana (and me) seemed to be in good health…Shoshana scurrying around the floor after everything. She’s really bouncing around these days!

Wednesday night I was privileged to hear Profesor Abraham Steinberg, a well known expert in Jewish Medical Ethics. He spoke about the challenges of defining human beings, mothers and fathers in light of the new advances in fertility. Pretty challenging questions.

And there happens to be a little election coming up on Tuesday. Nothing special, just the future of the country for the next 4 years. Israeli’s have a very different attitude than North American’s to voting. They believe that their candidate has to most closely mirror all of their values. That is why there are so many splinter parties that do so well. As we know, the net effect is chaos, with coalitions that are unwieldy. Independently in multiple discussions with people, Elan and I arrived at the same conclusion…as Elan put it, they think it’s like voting for class president…they guy you like gets your vote. It doesn’t matter if there is paralysis in the government!
Interestingly, it will be a very right wing government, since if the polls mean anything the only politician who has gained over the campaign in the Avigdor Lieberman, the head of Israel our Home (Yisrael Beitenu). Tuesday is a day off for everyone on election day, so it should be an interesting one!

Today I have the pleasure of preparing Shabbat for our children…Ariel’s flu became a sinusitis, and he needed some time off, and Elan and Nomi and Shoshana are joining us for lunch tomorrow. During my shopping I bumped into Bilha Fruchter, here for a visit. She looks great and will join us for desert tomorrow.

Please wish Monty a very Happy Birthday (even if he is in New York this week!)
Please Wish Jacob Mazer a super happy 17th!

Please pray for Refuah Shlema for Gilad Hillel ben Brach Mirel, Naama Bracha bat Devorah and Tamar Dian bat Smadar.

Wishing you all a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat Shalom.