Thanks to all who read and commented on our post last week. As you would imagine from reading it, it was not easy to write, and we hope it conveyed some of the mood of those days in October and how people are faring now.
We left off just before Shabbat with our friend Nina Glick who had led a solidarity mission from New Jersey. We had not had any guests for Shabbat since we fixed up the apartment, so it was extra fun to prepare things in our updated kitchen! Of course, the company was great, and it was really good to catch up with Nina and hear how she and her family were doing. As most of you know, Nina’s late husband, Rabbi Mordechai Glick Z’L was really our Rabbi and confidante for many years. As a couple they truly embodied the Jewish home. So, being able to host Nina and chat for hours was great.
On Sunday we had a day of somewhat roller coaster emotions. We drove to Tel Aviv to celebrate Barbara’s birthday with dinner and a show (more in a minute). But first we went to Hostage Square as we had not visited it yet since our arrival. We described Hostage Square in depth last week, but it’s impactful to visit even if you pass by many times. I think that one cannot or should not become immune to the plight of others in distress. It’s really a key part of being a compassionate human.
Following that we checked into a hotel where we would spend the night, and then went out to Meatos for dinner (highly recommended). This was followed by Comedy for Koby; the Koby Mandell Foundation’s biannual fund raiser. Koby Mandell at age 12 was brutally murdered while he was on a hike with a friend. His family has turned the tragedy into an organization that provides support for bereaved families. The concept of Comedy for Koby is that stand-up comics from the US come to Israel for shows all over the country. So, considering what is going on here at the moment, who could not use a good laugh? So, we joined a group at a packed theatre in downtown Tel Aviv and enjoyed 4 great stand-up comics. In fact, this week as an encore, Toronto’s own Elon Gold is playing 3 shows in Jerusalem for the Koby Mandell Foundation. So, if you are here, check out the Foundation web site for shows!
Monday AM, we wandered over to the complex where Ariel works and got our first ride on the brand-new Tel Aviv light rail. It’s really well designed and high tech, and in the main part of Tel Aviv is very much like the Montreal Metro (I hope the air conditioning works well in the summer!) The light rail is part underground and part on tracks at street level and hopefully will help the horrible traffic that snarls Tel Aviv at all hours. So far, we did not see that, but one can hope, no?
Later that afternoon Bruce flew back to Montreal to see his Mother and her sister Sandra at Uncle Paul’s Shiva. Barbara spent the week alternating between going to Gila’s and Ariel’s house and Netanya, and then on Thursday drove to Efrat to spend Shabbat with Nomi and Elan and family. Friday morning was Grandparents Day at Shlomo and Nadav’s school, aptly named “Yom Sababa”; Saba and Savta are the Hebrew words for grandfather and grandmother, and Sababa means “Great/Awesome!” in the Israeli vernacular. (I will admit Barbara and I are Awesome grandparents- because we have awesome grandchildren😊). The school prepared a superb program: The entire school and grandparent group were taught the prayer for the welfare of IDF soldiers and sang it together in harmony. There is a very moving video which I will share at the bottom of the page. In fact, Shoshana’s High School, Horev, originated this idea in November; that video is very touching as well.
On Monday, Barbara visited the Alyn Medical Centre which is an excellent pediatric rehabilitation hospital. They have amazing technology and are highly innovative. While we are here, Barbara will be participating in a project with a former McGill colleague, Tamar Weiss, who was a professor at Haifa University for many years and is now the Executive Research Advisor at Alyn, and Naomi Gefen, the Deputy Director General. Meanwhile Bruce flew back to Israel with his sister Roanne, who is now here visiting her daughter Jenna. It’s great to have her here!
The rest of the last week of January included the Mizrachi Mission which was the subject of last week’s blog and then a lovely Shabbat with Roanne, Jenna, Gila, Ariel, Elisha, Ora and Adi. We had 16 straight days of rain in the last weeks, which is the most consecutive days of rain in the past 30 years. However, there was a bit of a sunny break on Friday, so we were able to get out to the town square for an airing and some pizza for the kids. Shabbat did rain most of the day, including a huge downpour while Ariel and Elisha were walking to synagogue! Otherwise, we stayed close to home, but there was lots of good food, drink, and games to keep everyone pretty busy.
Ora and Adi then had a sleepover on Saturday night and a “Yom-Kef” (Fun Day) on Sunday. This included their favorite breakfast foods, art projects, trampolining and smoothies at the Mall! As a bonus we got to see Ora’s gymnastics exhibition! Everyone went home tired (maybe us more than them!)
This week was fairly calm, for a change…but we have a great visitor for Shabbat, Shoshana, who travelled with a friend from Efrat to Netanya just to hang out! She came Thursday evening and we are looking forward to spending time and enjoying her company.
We wish you and yours a wonderful Shabbat Shalom!
Barbara and Bruce
Link to Horev Girls Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UXoLHjlPxc
Link to Orot Etzyon Boys School Youtube
Happy Birthday to Monty!
Happy Birthday to Jacob!
Happy Birthday Rivi!
Happy Birthday Michelle!
Happy Birthday Estie!
Refuah Shlema to Shmuel Zev ben Rachel Eta
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