October 18-25

Weeks in Israel are always great, with a lot of diversity and many ways to amuse yourself. This week there were lots of highlights in many realms of interest.

Politics: On Tuesday, municipal elections happened all over Israel. The last time there were municipal elections, we were on Sabbatical in Jerusalem and really followed the battles there. Indeed, the 2008 election was very entertaining; remembering back to then one of the mayoral candidates was wanted for Arms Smuggling into Angola, another who was to represent the religious faction fell out of favor with the other faction and finally, Nir Barakat won the election in Jerusalem. Since then he has done a credible job, completing the light rail in the city center and bringing festivals and even F-1 to Jerusalem (your need special tires for the cobblestones of the Old City!) This year the main opponent for Mr. Barakat has a local Montreal connection; Moshe Lion is the brother of our Consul General, Joel Lion. It was a very close race, but the incumbent won by almost 6%. In Netanya, where we have had the same Mayor for 15 years, Miriam Fierberg won once again. She has really improved the city; just take a look at the bright, new city center with huge screens, fountains and even an ice skating rink! One more mayoral connection: the Novosellers purchased the home of the current mayor of Efrat, Oded Revivi.

Entertainment: Last night, we went to a movie at the Globus Max (not Gluteus Max) theater in Netanya. If you are waiting for a movie review, forget it! The movie (Prisoners) was fine, but the entertainment was the goings on in movie theaters in Israel! First, Israeli theaters give out tickets with assigned seats. This is a great thing, as it means you don’t have to rush in to make sure you have a good seat.  Of course, the polite Canadians came on time for the movie; we and 2 other couples who obviously did not know better. Seeing an empty theater, the others took better seats than they were assigned. However, AFTER the commercials, the previews and the other annoying stuff, the theatre filled up quickly, and of course there was a lot of “Excuse me, you’re in my seat….!” Also right in the middle of a crucial part of the 2 hour movie was…Intermission! Why? Because!

Diversity: It is hard to walk around the larger cities in Israel and not be struck by the sheer diversity of population. The Old City of Jerusalem of course has 4 sections, the Jewish, Muslim, Armenian and Christian Quarters. However, even a medium sized city like Netanya is extremely heterogeneous. Walking through the streets you see a tremendous variety of religious and secular Jews, Muslims and Christians. We shop in the same shops, frequent restaurants and the kids play the same parks. Looking at the array of kipot, hijabs, other head coverings and crosses makes one think that this enriches a society, rather than diminishes it. Maybe we should invite Mme Marois for Shabbat?

Ikea and Co: What would a trip to Israel be without some shopping at Ikea? It is really a magnet for most of Central Israel, to browse, shop, play and eat. One thing that is really striking is that people follow the paths and signs and stand in orderly lines to look at items, get their merchandise, go to the restaurant, etc. If Israeli’s can be so orderly in Ikea, why can’t they apply this to the roads and bus stops?   

Visiting Friends: After our first week of catching up with the time zones, we decided to catch up with friends. As mentioned last week, we picked up Gila and Ariel and were off to Jerusalem on Friday morning, and had brunch with Bilha and Orly Fruchter at Café Rimon. From there, we went to the Gush Etzyon area south of Jerusalem to Nevei Daniel, where Gila’s parents Geula and Itzhak Twersky live and visited with them (and the Ami-Kodesh’s Pirate Ship!) From there, we crossed the highway and went to Efrat to the home of Carol and David Novoseller who have lived there for just over 2 years. Avi and Yael Miller and 2 of their children were there as well, as they are moving to Israel next summer. Carol and David are doing really well, as are all their girls. Saturday night we returned to Jerusalem for tea with Ann and Jonathan Homa, ex-Montrealers who arrived in Israel 2 months ago after living in New Jersey.  They are living in a great apartment and it looks like they are well settled in. 

Tuesday, we were joined by Nomi’s parents Karen and Robert Goldberger and went to Ramat HaNadiv near Zichron Yaakov. This is where Baron Edmond Rothschild is buried; it was his concept to build an experimental agricultural area there to determine what plants would grow best in hot, arid Israel. It is now has beautiful gardens, including roses, palms and fragrant plants, huge parkland for hiking and a nature sanctuary with indigenous animals in the wild. Thanks to Daniella for the great tip to go there. 

Wednesday we met Ariel and Gila for lunch near Bar Ilan and then visited the Shomron Community of Ma-alei Shomron, where Michal and Rav Ronen Sela have moved. They have built an amazing home there plus married off two daughters Moria and Meytal in the past 6 months. Many may remember the Selas from their two years in Montreal at Hebrew Academy.  Thursday PM we picked up Ariel and Gila as well as our niece Jenna (the birthday girl) from Givat Shmuel and then met the Homas at one of our favorite restaurants in Netanya (Gehalim). In between we assembled some Ikea furniture, bought a sofa and otherwise tried to be both on holiday and domesticated at the same time!

So, for this Shabbat we are having Gila, Ariel, and Jenna in Netanya; it should be a lot of fun. Next week we wind down this trip and will be anticipating the return to chilly Montreal. We’ll try to get in a couple more walks in the sunshine to fortify ourselves!

We wish everyone a very joyous Shabbat Shalom!

Happy Birthday to our daughter in law Daniella!

Happy Birthday to Jenna!

A belated Happy Birthday to Haim Fruchter (last Shabbat)!

May all our friends and indeed all who are currently suffering from illness have a Refuah Shelema, a very speedy and complete recovery.

October 10-18, 2013

We decided to do something a little crazy this year…take a holiday in October! There are some practical reasons, really, such as Barbara is teaching starting in November, and we had the great pleasure of sharing the recent Jewish Holidays with our children and grandchildren in Montreal. That, and the fact we had not been back to Israel since Monty’s graduation in June. The summer was great with our kids relocating. Monty is now in Buffalo, NY doing a pediatric residency at Buffalo Women’s and Children’s and he, Daniella and Tali have settled in very well, in spite of a very busy work schedule. Elan is in Toronto as a Shaliach of the Israeli government, that is an educational emissary representing Israel. He is teaching at Yeshivat Or Chayim, a boy’s high school and at Ulpana, a girl’s school. So far it’s going very well, and Nomi, Shoshana and Shlomo have also acclimatized to the new surroundings. Nomi, being from Toronto, knows the lay of the land pretty well, her father works there (commuting from Israel!) and 3 of her grandparents are also there. So far so good for everyone. Ariel and Gila visited us for the month of September and spent most of the holidays with us. So, that leads us to the present and the current trip…

We left Montreal last Thursday night, and arrived in Zurich at 6:15 AM. Not having much sleep, we stumbled around and found our train to Luzern, where we would be spending Shabbat. We have to thank Raffi Faust for this idea; he really mapped out this trip for us. Luzern is a beautiful, small city on the banks of Lake Luzern. The city is very compact; no important point is more than 15-20 minutes from the city center, and the city is built on both sides of the Reusse River. We stayed at the Renaissance Hotel, which was two blocks from the train station and city center and 5-7 minute walk to the synagogue in Luzern. After a bit of a nap (having not gotten much sleep on the plane) we wandered around the old town, saw the famous Lion monument carved out of a mountainside, crossed the Kapelbruche or Chapel Bridge, a covered bridge across the river which dates back to the 14^th century (1333) and still has some of the original paintings that decorate the cross beams. Many paintings unfortunately were destroyed in a fire in 1993. The city also has a fortified wall with towers that you can walk along, and of course many ubiquitous shops and even 2 Starbucks! I noticed that even in Switzerland, Starbucks stores say “Starbucks Coffee”. We also learned that Schmuck (see picture) means decoration or jewelry in German and Swiss-German. That was a relief….so many stores were selling schmucks it got us worried….

Shabbat was really lovely. The Jewish community in Switzerland is under 20,000, with the majority in larger cities such as Zurich and Geneva. The community in Luzern was once several thousand, and in 1912 they built a beautiful 3 story synagogue with a large sanctuary, ornate painted walls and a balcony. At one time, it was difficult to find a seat on Saturday in the synagogue. Unfortunately the community is now very small, and there are usually not more than a handful of people attending services. There was a celebration this past weekend, a young man from Luzern was getting married (this week here in Israel) and his family celebrated his “Aufruf”. Even with that there were only 16 men in shul and about a dozen women. However, they were extremely spirited and vibrant and very friendly. Several people asked if we had meals (thanks to Avi Brook, we certainly did!) and one family told me on Shabbat Morning “We’ve set places for you for lunch.” Everyone was extremely kind and I would recommend anyone who would like a very nice place in Switzerland to visit to check out Luzern. (Ask for Ruben Ehrlangen or Rabbi Rabinovich).

The highlight of being in Switzerland of course is the Alps. Luzern is right in the foothills of the mountains, very close to several very high peaks, including Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus. We chose to visit Mount Pilatus, being the highest peak in the area. The mountain gets its name from Pontius Pilate, who legend has it was buried in the lake near the mountain. Must have taken a bit of time to get there from Jerusalem in those days. The Swiss 

have, typically, a super organized schedule that allows one to see the mountain in a compact package that takes 4-5 hours! We took a boat from Luzern to the base of Pilatus (you can also take a train) and then we took the world’s steepest cogwheel railway up the mountain at a 48% angle much of the way! We then hiked around the top with breaks in the hotel built on top, seeing a couple of the steeper peaks. Although it was 15 degrees in Luzern that day, it was -4 on top with snow and ice. Good thing we were bringing Ariel’s winter coat to Israel for him. After the hiking and the amazing scenery of snow-capped mountains, green valleys and lakes we took two cable cars down to the village of Kriens, and then a bus (perfectly timed, of course and fastidiously mapped out) back to Luzern. After a quick trip to the Impressionist museum and a special Picasso exhibit across the street from our hotel, we took a train back to Zurich for our late night flight to Israel.

We arrived here early Monday AM, and honestly, we are still in a time warp! However, the jet-lag was not enough to keep us from some great walks on the beach here in Netanya, a real nice dinner with Ariel and Gila, and of course some shopping. As fall moves on slowly in Canada (the great stretch of weather from Mid-September has continued) we are enjoying sunny skies, 28 degrees and minimal chance of rain. A great setting for a holiday. We will be in Jerusalem on Friday, hopefully to see Orly and Bilha Fruchter and Chai, and then on Shabbat we will be in Efrat at the home of Carol and David Novoseller, ex of Montreal. The next week promises to be one where we will visit with other friends and do a bit more travelling than usual, so stay tuned!

We wish everyone a spectacular Shabbat Shalom!

We wish our daughter in law Nomi a very Happy Birthday!

We wish our sister in law Mara a very Happy Birthday! 

Dvar Torah in honor of the Yahrtzeit of Mark Samuel Z”L

Parashat Lech Lecha

Dvar Torah in honor of the Yahrtzeit of Mark Samuel Z”L

Parashat Lech Lecha introduces us to the life of Avraham Avinu, whose name is changed from Avram towards the end of the parasha. The parasha is a collection of important events in Avraham’s life, interspersed with very poignant communications with G-d. There are several themes in the parasha, but central to the story is the balance between bold action, and compelling faith. Avraham takes bold action in his decision to leave his ancestral homeland at age 75, to move to Canaan. He is the man of conviction when he sets out to Egypt during a famine, countering the Egyptians lack of morality to save himself and Sarah, both escaping unharmed and amassing riches. He was a man of action in challenging the 4 Kings who attacked the 5 kings around Sodom, rushing to the rescue of his nephew Lot. In all of these things, the subtext was clearly the prophetic interactions that he had with G-d. He was told to go to Canaan which he would inherit for all generations of his children. He was told he would be protected, that his offspring would be numerous. Yet, here he was 99 years old at the end of the Parasha, and having had a child (Yishmael) with Sarah’s handmaiden, not knowing if he would actually have any offspring to allow the prophecies to be fulfilled. And despite this, he remarkably soldiers on. His life is famous for having at least 10 tests, which begin in our parasha and culminate with the binding of Isaac in next week’s parasha. The ability to maintain his faith in the light of these tremendous challenges, whether it was as large scale as the military battle with the 5 kings, or as intimate and human as his discussion with Sarah about having a child via Hagar. You would almost expect, as we see in next weeks’ parasha, that he would argue with G-d; that he would at least say “G-d, you’ve made all these promises about creating a great nation, about having countless offspring, how do I know they will come true? I still don’t have a child!”  Towards the culmination of the parasha, Avraham is told that in the year to come, he will have a child with Sarah who he will call Yitzhak; he breaks down and laughs (the root of Yitzhak, is Tzahak, to laugh). That is as close as he comes to showing a bit of shaken faith; however immediately after, he, at age 99, brings together his son Ishmael, age 13, and all the men of his household, and they undergo circumcision, no small feat considering his age! 

The lives of our forefathers are given to us is great detail in order to provide examples of how to conduct ourselves.  On one hand we can marvel at Avraham, a prophet, a visionary who realized that there was a G-d in this world who was not some inanimate object, and who was the true moving force in history. None of us are at the level of spiritual grandeur that Avraham reached. However, all of our lives are defined by a series of challenges and tests, as we read in the parasha. The magnitude may be different, but they are no less challenging and no less important to any of us. They give us plenty of reason to doubt, to be frustrated, to give up. This is where faith must come in. Avraham carried on, had faith, despite not knowing if the outcome would match the prophesies. He remained true to his vision and soldiered on, even when it appeared illogical, even when it looked like the natural order was against him. This is a lesson we can take to heart with our own struggles.

Going against the so-called natural order is one of the hallmarks of humans, and is what makes science and the pursuit of new knowledge so rewarding and ultimately, so amazing. In a recent lab meeting, my students and I were discussing a new paradigm that one of our studies appeared to reveal. This is, to our knowledge, extremely novel, and hopefully will change how other scientists look at the particular issue we are studying. However, breaking new ground is not easy. It takes conviction and lots of faith to challenge established principles and put your ideas out on the line.  I learned a lot from Mark in this regard. He was a brilliant, cutting edge scientist, who had no qualms about challenging existing knowledge and trying to create new paradigms. He also championed new applications of older, less understood methodologies. He created a stir, perhaps not as earth shaking as founding the first monotheistic religion, but in context, his work, his attitude, confidence and faith in what he believed in led to great things.

These are the lessons of parashat Lech Lecha, which spawned a whole new way of thinking about G-d and the world. In the parasha, King Malchi-Zedek of Shalem (“the righteous king”, king of “Shalem” which means wholeness or peace) is also called the priest to Kel Elyon (the G-d on high). He blesses Abraham in the name of Kel Elyon, the Owner/Master of Earth and Heaven. On this day of Mark’s Yahrzeit, let us remember a father, brother and dear friend who through his courage and faith, also tried to unify the physical and fundamental nature of the Earth and Heavens. May his memory be a blessing for us all.  

August 13, 2013

A D’var Torah in honor of the Yarhtzeit of Shlomo Henoch ben Mordechai Chaim

This week’s parasha is Ki Tezey, which covers a tremendous number of mitzvot. They almost seem to be random, with topics covered from ethics in war time to the infamous Ben Sorer U Moreh (A wild and unruly son, which apparently never happened in real life). As we go through the parasha, we find a very interesting and in some ways strange mitzvah, known as “Shiluach HaKen”:  

If you come across a birds's nest on any tree or on the ground, and it contains baby birds or eggs, then, if the mother is sitting on the chicks or eggs, you must not take the mother along with her young. Ki yikare kan-tsipor lefaneycha baderech bechol-ets o al-ha'arets efrochim o veytsim veha'em rovetset al-ha'efrochim o al-habeytsim lo-tikach ha'em al-habanim.
22:7 You must first chase away the mother, and only then may you take the young. [If you do this] you will have it good, and will live long. Shale'ach teshalach et-ha'em ve'et-habanim tikach-lach lema'an yitav lach veha'arachta yamim.

On surface this looks very straightforward; if you see a birds nest, don’t take the chicks in front of the mother. The reason is, why? If we are allowed to use the chicks or the eggs for food, then why is does G-d care whether we take the chicks in front of the Mother Bird? What does this teach us? There are a large number of commentaries on this; Rashi says that this mitzvah, which seems simple, teaches us that there is as much value to performing a minor act as performing a larger or more difficult mitzvah (more on this later). Ramban comments that there is a tremendous value in this action; it teaches us not to be ruthless, rather to have compassion, to be understanding and to think of others, even if the other seems as small and insignificant as a bird. The Netziv quotes another source that stresses that this mitzvah teaches the aspect of mercy, which is important to apply to creatures as well as to people.

The most striking part of this mitzvah is the fact that there it ends with a potential reward: Arichat Yamim or Long life. This is very curious, as so few mitzvoth actually are accompanied by a proviso, an explanation or a reward. What is even more curious is that this same reward comes up in another place: in the mitzvah of Kibbud Av Va’Em, or honoring parents, found in the 10 Commandments in Parashat V’etchanan (and in a similar text in Yitro). This makes the entire construct very puzzling. How could the same reward be given for Shiluach HaKen, chasing a mother bird away as you take her eggs, as for honoring one’s parents, who gave life to you? This is why Rashi makes the statement that it is beyond our understanding as to which mitzvah is important in the eyes of G-d; the simplest or the most complex can have the same level, thus we should be attentive to all the mitzvoth.

Honoring parents is not a simple commandment. It is easy, just due to familiarity, to have a very casual attitude about this important commandment. In fact, if it was self-evident, it may not have even been important enough to include in the 10 commandments. Yet not only is it there, it is in the first 5, which are otherwise commandments between Man and G-d. This makes a fundamental principal for living a proper life. Clearly, the importance one gives to Kibbud Av V’Em is truly a reflection of how one views his relationship with his creator, since parents are those who have brought us to the world. Respect for parents mirrors respect for G-d, for the process of creation, and for the time and effort that has been put into bringing up children.

Dad/Zeida was an amazing role model for this. I remember to my early childhood, every evening at 7 PM there was a phone call to Bubbie Jennie (“Halo; Hawarya?”; I am not sure why he needed to use her accent!) Dad would also be there Tuesday nights to drive his father to the Hebrew Free Loan, where Zeida Max was an integral member of this important community organization for years. He took care of his parents when they were older, taking turns with Uncle Peter for feeding and visiting when their mother was in Villa Mount Royal. This also translated to how he treated his in-laws as well. Respecting parents was clearly a given, almost as natural as breathing for Sid. Perhaps this is why we were able to witness a true miracle; a man with a good heart being given a second chance, and having Arichat Yamim long beyond what was predicted for someone with the similar medical condition.

As we approach his third Yarhtzeit, let us use these opportunities to focus on Mitzvot and especially on our relationships with others, especially our parents should we be blessed to have this opportunity. May the memory of Shlomo Henoch Ben Mordechai Chaim be a blessing for all and may we always learn from his wisdom and deeds.

A d’var Torah in memory of Mike Samuel, Michael ben Mordechai Z”L

The week of Tish B’Av, we always begin the book of Deuteronomy, Sefer D’varim.  This is not a coincidence. In fact, the juxtaposition of Sefer D’varim with the onset of Tisha B’av, is extremely meaningful and provides valuable insights into our how we should conduct ourselves over the next several weeks. Indeed, the period that begins with Shiva-Assar B’Tamuz, continuing with Rosh Chodesh Av, and culminating with Tisha B’Av, is a period that is ideal for introspection. The lack of public celebrations, the focus on the destruction of Bet Hamikdash and the reminders of the causation of the temple’s destruction were rooted in Sinat Hinam (baseless hatred) should make us reflect on where we are, what we are doing and how we relate to others. This does not really stop with Tisha B’Av, although following the fast we eliminate the rituals of mourning. The period of introspection broadens as we head into Elul, the month preceding Rosh Ha-Shana and Yom Kippur. This time is meant for us to sharpen our focus on our deeds and actions and especially our relations to others.

What is the connection between Tisha B’Av, and starting Sefer D’varim?  Why could this period not  just be in the middle of BaMidbar ,the book of Numbers, with its many tragedies? Why did our Rabbis double parshiot to ensure that the onset of Shavua Sh-Chal bo (the week in which Tisha B’av falls) always corresponds to the first parasha in D’varim? The answer is most likely found in the unique character of this book. Its sub-title is Mishneh Torah, loosely translated as the second or the additional Torah, in which we find many concepts introduced in the first 4 books of Moses repeated. We re-read the 10 commandments next Shabbat, we re-learn the laws of kashrut, and see repetition of many laws in the text. The uniqueness of this Sefer is in its tone. The focal point of Sefer D’varim is in how Moshe speaks to the nation. He goes beyond the role of teacher more so than almost any other place, he becomes the leader, the moral compass, the master who verbalizes for the people what their place is, the errors they have made, and they can use Torah and Mitzvot to correct these failings.

The Netziv points out, in his superb introduction to D’varim, that of all the books of the Torah, this is the one that most embodies words of Musar, ethical behavior. He highlights that although the Musar is being spoken to Bnei Yisrael through Moshe, is it truly with Ruach HaKodesh, Divine inspiration, that this is being taught. That is to say, this is not just admonishments, or the railing of a leader who will not enter the land; this is the true word of G-d and a clear path for how we are to live. If you are able to follow these words, writes the Netziv, you will be able to achieve a life of success and sweetness, and life of milk and honey.

A very concrete and wonderful example of how we should conduct ourselves is given in the Haftorah that accompanies Parashat D’varim. The first chapter of Isaiah sets the stage for the destruction of Jerusalem, speaking about corruption and the emptiness of worship at that time. It appears, unfortunately, that not much has changed in 2000 years. However, there is a clear message of how to transcend this and rebuild society. “Limdu Hetev, Dirshu Mishpat” (Isaiah 1, verse 17) “Learn to do good, seek justice, strengthen the victim, do justice for the orphan, take up the cause of the widow”. Focus your energies on the weak, the downtrodden, those less fortunate, and you build a just and loving society. This is what G-d through the prophet asks of us. Paying attention to those less fortunate was one of Mike’s most important legacies. Papa was generous with his time, for kids at the Douglas Hospital, through his work with the Knights of Pythians, in building the Shul in Val Royal, and in taking care of family and friends who were in need. Whether it was just to give sage advice or a more material helping hand, there was never a question; if there was something to be done to help someone, Mike was there. He certainly passed this concept on to his children; to Mark (Z”L), Len and Barbara who all carry on this generous nature.

We do not need a revolution to change society. We need to listen carefully to the needs of people, have the presence to be sensitive and listen to the cues. The messages of Sefer D’varim, of Isaiah speak clearly to us. The Netziv concludes his introduction by affirming that every man carries out the word of G-d according to his strengths to the capacities that he is given. Let us work together to preserve the important messages of this time of year, to improve ourselves and how we treat others, and set an example for others to follow to build a better world.

The Nishmato z’ror b’tzror Ha-hayim

May Michael ben Mordechai’s memory always be a blessing and a shining example for his entire family. 

May 24-June 2 Graduation Week

I wrote back in February 2009 that there was a sign on a restaurant that was closing. It was in Hebrew and roughly translated, it said “This is not the end, it is just finished.” I thought that was a very poignant statement which highlights that we are constantly in flux, where things come to a close and new beginnings are initiated. Although people approach new beginnings with a bit of trepidation, they are awesome opportunities. That same week, we congratulated Monty on his acceptance to Med School. This week we celebrated a very wonderful and auspicious occasion, when Monty graduated Medical School from Technion University in Haifa. This is the completion of 4 years of intense study and clinical rotations, culminating in his being awarded an MD degree. He and Daniella and Tali will be moving to Buffalo, New York where he will take up a position as a resident in Pediatrics. However, this is not the only transition in our family. After 6 years of similarly intense study at Yeshivat HaKotel, Elan will be taking a position in Toronto at the Or HaHayim and Ulpana high schools, teaching senior Judaic study and doing community programming through the school. Elan, Nomi, Shoshana and Shlomo will be off to Toronto later this summer for a 3 year period. We are super proud of everyone, for their hard work, dedication and perseverance. More details to follow, as we chronicle the past week and a half!

The trip to Israel was a bit more hectic than usual. Last week began with Bruce going to a conference in San Diego, and Barbara going to a conference in Toronto.  After speaking on Wednesday afternoon, I flew on the ‘red eye’ to meet Barbara at Pearson Airport in Toronto. We had an 11 AM flight to Newark with a 3 hour connection for our flight to Israel. Sounds OK so far? At the gate for the Newark flight, the ground crew were frantically trying to find people for the afternoon Newark flights to put on our plane. Seems that there were a few rain and thunder storms in the Newark area. We took off on time, but circled Newark for an hour before we started to run out of fuel. The plane was diverted to beautiful downtown Albany, where we got fuel for the plane (but none for the passengers), and we took off again after waiting an hour for clearance. Although we were a bit antsy, things looks OK for a 4 PM flight to Israel as we descended and landed at 3:30 (Only 2 and a half hours late…) BUT, with all the chaos, we had no gate, which meant that we had to wait and see when we could dock the plane. Thank G-d for the guy in the next seat who had an iphone allowing us to check the United Airlines web site…our Israel flight was also delayed….! So we got off the plane, and got over to our next gate in plenty of time. In fact, a bit too much. We boarded well after 6 PM, and then they discovered that one of the exit signs in the plane was loose. This didn’t really seem like essential flying equipment, but not according to the ground crew! It took almost 2 hours and up to 6 guys to figure out how to insert a small pin to affix the sign (This is no joke! See the pictures!). It looked like City of Montreal Pot-hole repair crews! (How many United Employees does it take to change a light bulb?). Finally we took off, but instead of a 9:45 arrival, we landed at 3 PM on Friday afternoon!

Fortunately, we were not personally making the preparations for Shabbat. We went directly to Jerusalem, where we were staying in our friend’s the Zeligman’s apartment (thanks Diane and Ed! Great place!) with Ariel and Gilah. Friday night dinner was at the Inbal with the whole Mazer clan and Daniella’s parents Chuck and Rochel, and Shabbat lunch was at Elan and Nomi’s. We had a great time with everyone, especially all the little ones.

Jerusalem has just renovated the area around the old train station in the triangle between Emek Refaim, Derech Bet Lechem and David Remez streets. There is a long bike/walking path, shops, carts with artsy things to buy and of course, restaurants. It is about half way done and promises to be really nice. We passed by there on Saturday night (but the restaurant we wanted to try was packed) and returned Monday for lunch. It’s another really nice touch to a city that is already amazing to walk in. Saturday night we got to “hang out” on Emek Refaim, and have a late night snack with some of our kids as well as Steven Lerner and Dan Illuouz, Montrealers living in Israel. We even bumped into Elie and Joel Moss.

Sunday was spent at the Israel Museum with Monty, Daniella, Tali and the Wagners, then in the later afternoon we went to the old city for another real treat: we baby sat Shoshana and Shlomo! Talk about good times. Barbara got to see Shoshana’s ballet recital practice, and Bruce got to play ball with Shlomo in the central square of the old city (and this is on You Tube!). This was a rare pleasure that we enjoyed so much we “stole” the kids Wednesday night for two days with us in Netanya. However, I am getting ahead of the chronology…..Monday included a trip to the Jerusalem Zoo, lunch at the train station, dinner in the Old City, and finally a trip to our apartment in Netanya to set up shop for a few days.

The pinnacle of the week of course was graduation at Technion, which was the central event that brought us back to Israel. The American program is now 30 years old, but has seen many changes. Monty and a couple of his classmates pushed for
some important changes to bring the schedule to correspond more with US schools, to do better North American Board preparation, and other things to improve the chance of matching. To say that Monty had a positive influence on the program is an understatement. Firstly, he graduated Cum Laude (“With Distinction” for non-Latin speakers). Second, his classmates recognized him for being class rep for all 4 years, and for being the go-to guy if someone had a beef, a problem, or just needed someone to talk to. This, better than anything, shows what kind of physician he will make: positive, helpful, willing to put in the effort to make changes, and having enough insight to deal with individuals to bring everyone together on issues. Really doing great academically is the icing on the cake. Yasher Koach, Monty, we look forward to more of the same in Buffalo and everywhere else you go!!

Wednesday was a catch up day; a trip to Jerusalem, some shopping, a quick visit to Hebrew U and the lab, a visit with cousin Linda, and then a farewell dinner at Herzl in Mamilla Mall with Monty and Clan, Elan and Co and the Wagner’s along with Rochel’s cousin Moti. Monty, Daniella and Tali flew back to Toronto on Thursday AM with the Wagers; all have arrived safe and sound!

We left the restaurant on Wednesday with a very important parcel in tow…Shoshana and Shlomo! They fell asleep in the car and awoke Thursday AM ready to roll. The day was a dream day for an almost 5 year old and a 2 ½ year old: Breakfast, time on the beach to play in the sand and splash in the waves; then Shoshana helped me make eggs for everyone (just like with Abba!), naps, Ice cream at city center, jumping on the inflatable Panda, the playground on the boardwalk and finally Pizza! When we got home, I am not sure who was more tired, them or us, but they did go to bed earlier!

Friday included more quality time with the kids, some Roller blading and time at an air conditioned mall, as well as shopping to prepare for Shabbat. We are now awaiting the arrival of Elan, Nomi, Ariel and Gilah, all coming together. Strange to think that after 4 years, this is the last week we will all be together in Israel for quite a while.

At last Friday night’s dinner, I reflected on the Torah Portion for that week, which begins with the lighting of the Sacred Candelabra (Menorah) in the desert Tabernacle (Mishkan). This task was given to Aaron the Cohen or high priest. The high priest had many important tasks such as sacrifices and other Temple worship. However, most of these tasks were lost following the destruction of the Temple. However, we are taught that lighting of candles will go on forever. Which candles? Chanukka Candles, and Shabbat Candles. We also learn from this that when preparing Shabbat Candles, the responsibility is on the man of the home to prepare for his wife to light. This is a poignant example of how a home should be run: with all important, sacred tasks being shared by husband and wife. As we looked around the table and saw the wonderful families our three sons are building, the wonderful women they married and the way that they interact and share, it is clear that they embody this concept beautifully. It is a sure sign of good things to come, as they continue in life together, through exciting (and maybe stressful) challenges and events. As Barbara and I have learned, as long as you work together good things come of it, and we are super proud that our children appear to be following that lesson and path.

We wish you all an amazing Shabbat Shalom!

We wish a very Happy Birthday to Aviva Weisz and to Gabriel Nisker!

Refuah Shlema to Zisel Bat Bella and To HaRav Reuven David Ben Chana

Shabbat Chol Hamoed March 29, 2013

Passover in Israel is a time to travel, a time to be outdoors, a time to celebrate the beauty of spring. We were no exception. The weather is beautiful, sunny, warm, and very inviting.  We celebrated the Seder Monday night with the entire family and then Wednesday and Thursday we we in the outdoors. Wednesday we went to a place known as Shvil HaTapuzim (thanks to Daniella for finding this!), The orange orchard. It is a young kids paradise; a playground with tons of activities all interwoven into an orange orchard about 20 minutes from Netanya. There were places to climb, ride and jump and even mini-golf. The day culminates in a chance to pick oranges, 6 kg for about 3 dollars. Shoshana, Shlomo and Tali has a super time, as you will see by the pictures. Between the riding toys, the giant slides, and the oranges, I don’t know what the best activity was!

Thursday, Ariel’s in-laws, the Twerskys, joined us for a day at the beach. Gilah has 10 brothers and sisters, and 7 joined us! We went to the park, had lunch, and played in the sand and water. It was great; Shoshana and Shlomo either had a bunch of new siblings or baby sitters!! It was terrific to see how everyone played so well together.

Of course the holiday started off on Monday night with the Seder. The Seder (meaning order) is the ultimate educational experience. It is aimed at educating ourselves and our children about the birth of our nation, the Exodus from Egypt. Actually, this Seder goes beyond educating; we try in many respects to relive the experience. The goal is to build a connection between the past and the present, and carry it to the future. By connecting our families, young and old, to the beginning, we are trying to ensure that that there is a future. The linking of generations to history is a key aspect of the preservation of what is truly important. To watch Shoshana and Shlomo sing the songs, tell the story and identify the key aspects of the Seder ceremony is amazing and very heartening. We can hardly wait to see Tali join in more as well (although she certainly participated a lot!)

I just want to share a short, slightly political story. I was saddened to read that 200 North American universities participated in Israel Apartheid week. This now annual pursuit of Israel bashing is very unfortunate and upsetting, particularly because it is based in a major distortion of the truth. I won’t’ downplay the plight of Palestinians, especially in refugee camps. However, the concept that there are no rights for anyone but Israeli Jews is clearly false. As an example, at The Orange Orchard, on the second day of Passover, the park was packed with hundreds of people. There were Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs, their children playing mini golf side by side, riding toy cars and climbing the same structures. No apartheid, no separation, just children playing together. Same today on the boardwalk; everyone sitting in the same parks, skateboarding along the same paths. This is as it should be, people living together with respect. The annual university hate fests should visit and see the reality and then we can talk.

So, a few more days to go in Israel before we leave! Shabbat will be spent with Daniella, Monty and Tali and special guest Stephen Lerner and Shmulik Rosenberg. Then a couple more days of holiday and back next Wednesday. Hopefully we can update from home next Friday!

We wish everyone an Shabbat Shalom, Chag Sameach and Happy Easter!

We wish Elan a very happy birthday!

March 22, Shabbat Hagadol

Welcome to the latest installment in Passover in Israel series!  We embarked on our visit via Zurich, which is apparently a popular route for Montrealers coming to Israel; we shared the flights with no less than 4-5 other families that we knew, including the Matarassos. Drazins, Zukers and Yampolskys Sr. The advantage of flying through Zurich is that you get a break from sitting on a cramped plane (of course, we were in economy, unlike a few fortunate others); the airport is not huge, and the lounge is great. We are also told that there is a great play room for kids but we haven’t had the pleasure first hand yet!  The disadvantage, of course is that neither flight gives you enough time to really sleep. Since neither of us are great sleepers on planes (I can rarely do more than nap) the break is pretty welcome. In fact we did sleep a bit on the way, which makes the day go much more smoothly!

We arrived in Israel in mid-afternoon and schlepped our usual assortment of bags with personal stuff, stuff for the big kids (like Starbucks coffee and Tasters Choice), stuff for the little kids (clothes, toys), assorted Passover implements, and a few Passover foods you can’t find in Israel, like good mayonnaise, margarine, and a couple of other products that are distinctly North American. We also bring a whole assortment of home-made brownies and cookies, nut-free of course, to be enjoyed by all (allergic or not!). So, we packed a bit heavy, but will bring back less than when we came, so that is OK.

We took off for Netanya and started to set up the apartment. Since our kitchen is smaller and not widely used, kashering for Passover is not as big a chore as at home in Cote St. Luc. However, the annual “Shop for Pesach foods excursion” is never dull! Now, a bit of explanation about Passover customs. On Pesach, we don’t eat any wheat product that is leavened (bread, rolls, etc. ) which includes things with yeast or that have been allowed to rise more than 18 minutes. Eastern European Ashkenazi Jews have an additional stringent custom which avoids legumes and many seeds (called Kitniyot) which may have been grown with wheat in the fields; these can be used by Sephradi Jews from North African or Spanish origin. As we have explained in past years, back home the Passover sections as well marked and clear, and the vast majority of the products can be used by Ashkenazim, or are clearly marked if they contain Kitniyot. In Israel, the Passover products are not always clearly distinct from the regular ones, Kitniyot and Non Kitniyot distinctions are only found in the fine print of the products! So everyone needs to carefully scrutinize everything! Picture dozens of people in every aisle, jostling for position; and pouring over products to see if it fits your custom. Just a little crazy! We survived unscathed, and proudly came home to tell the tale!

Passover is a very special time; it is the holiday that celebrates the birth of the Jewish Nation, as we remember the Exodus from slavery in Egypt to the freedom in ancient times. And although this took place over 3500 years ago, we relive the events annually in the celebration of Passover. We eat Matza, unleavened bread, for 8 days (7 in Israel) to remind us that the Jews left Egypt in haste and did not wait for their dough to rise, we recount the story of the Exodus at the Seder, the festive Passover meal, and we integrate a multitude of symbolic foods and actions into the Seder to underscore the importance of the event. The key is to remember through education, which is the primary theme of the holiday. Next week we’ll actually talk about the Seder and you’ll see how it all comes together.

What’s new in Israel? Well, a visit from the American president seems to be causing a bit of a stir. The roads around Jerusalem are more heavily patrolled, the media is omnipresent, and there is a political buzz in the air. While we were in transit, there was a news bulletin that the Presidential limousine had broken down in Jerusalem. I guess they didn’t make it to Vickers (an in-joke from Denver; Google it!).   So far it has been a positive trip. He was (perhaps uncharacteristically) hard on Hamas, told jokes, was nice to Bibi, and even spoke Hebrew. The new “centrist” government may be more conducive to peace negotiations, but there still remain lots of questions: who do you negotiate with as long as there are two entities running the West Bank and Gaza? Also, although the Israeli government represents more ‘centrist’ leanings, the Bayit Hayehudi Party, which represents a more modern Orthodox Zionist constituency, strongly represents those who live in Judea and Samaria. So, things are complex, as usual. It appears for most to have been a ‘feel-good” visit.

We had a special visit Thursday night, with Monty, Daniella and Tali visiting and joining us for dinner. Tali is a very smiley, chatty 15 month-old, with lots of curls and terrific expressions! It was lots of fun to see them and we look forward to spending more time next week.

Shabbat before Passover is being spent in Netanya in the company of Ariel and Gilah, who have been co-opted to help us do the major preparations of the apartment. By Monday, Elan, Nomi, Shoshana and Shlomo will arrive, as well as Daniella, Monty and Tali! So we will have a full house and the holiday should be tremendous! Stay tuned!

We wish everyone a wonderful Shabbat and Chag Kasher V’Sameach and a Happy Easter!

A special Chag Sameach to our family, Len and Yayi and Co. in Montreal, Andy and Mara and the boys in Toronto, and my Mom visiting Roanne and David and the girls in Edmonton. Enjoy!

We wish a refuah Shlema to Zisle bat Bella

We wish condolences to George Farkas on the loss of his mother, Valerie Farkas.

We wish condolences to Joy Rothenberg on the loss of her mother. Hamakom Yerachem Etchem b’toch sha’ar aveli Tzion v’Yerushalyim. May you be spared further sorrows.