This past shabbat for the first time I decided to scout out the “street minyan” they were having at our shul. We used to daven (pray) inside the small shul in the Open University campus (a small college in Ra’anana) located just down the street from where we live. Its a very nice campus on…
Read moreOpening back up
Today was the first day they opened up the shopping malls. Most of the stores in the mall were open even though the mall itself was not crowded. Many of the stores had signs saying how many people could be admitted at a time, and that masks are required. Many of them had a large…
Read moreMy Zoom Minyan Ended
Three days ago I got out of bed around 7:30AM as has become my COVID routine, got dressed, made coffee, put on my talit and t’fillin and then logged in to the zoom minyan I’ve been “using” (attending?) for the past month. There were only exactly 10 people logged on – the leader said that…
Read moreFriday Afternoon
Friday Afternoon. Things are starting to open up here a little bit. I dropped Val off today to get a pedicure, which she hasn’t had in several months, since the shops just reopened up, much less busy than usual, etc, fewer people allowed in the shop, masks, alcohol sanitiser, etc, and while she was there…
Read moreיום הזיכרון – יום העצמאות – Memorial Day – Independence Day
יום הזיכרון – יום העצמאות – Memorial Day – Independence Day Today is Memorial Day here in Israel. They had a siren sound last night at 8PM, just like on Yom Hashoa, and a ceremony at the Western Wall. This year the ceremony was held without any audience and was just broadcast on the news…
Read moreThe New Normal
The New Normal This is the first full week back to virtual school for the kids since Passover break. They are all on their various virtual programs, using zoom, WhatsApp video chat, email, google classrooms, and a few other electronic formats. They manage to keep busy most of the day, and I help them often…
Read moreSeder on Lockdown
Seder on Lockdown I guess this was our second seder on lockdown, if you include the very first passover in Egypt when we, the Israelites, had to “shelter in place” in our homes during the long hours of the final plague, the death of the first born, just before we left as a free people….
Read moreMade It Home
Made It Home I arrived home yesterday. The flights themselves were uneventful. But the trip was empty and weird. First of all, the shuttle bus from the rental car return in Phoenix was literally completely empty. And the driver had a barricade of crime-scene tape to prevent anyone from getting to close to…
Read moreAlmost Stuck
Almost Stuck I’ve been here for two weeks in the US now while my family has been in Israel. After a few rebookings, I was scheduled to leave today, connecting through JFK. Then Thursday morning while I was at work just preparing to start an angiogram I received the following text message: Unbelievable! I mean,…
Read moreWorking In The US During Corona Lockdown
Working In The US During Corona Lockdown I’m here in the US working for two weeks now, going back to Israel next week. My original return flight was connecting through San Francisco but El Al cancelled all flights from the West coast last week as they’ve been scaling back on flights. My I had…
Read moreCOVID-19 here in Israel
COVID-19 here in Israel Everyone in the world is dealing with the virus now. The US just blocked all flights from Europe and Israel is quarantining for 14 days every single person arriving in the country. I know several families here who had European vacations planned who had to cancel. Going to Europe from Israel…
Read moreDay Before Purim- CUTEST DAY EVER
Day Before Purim- CUTEST DAY EVER This year’s Purim break is monday-tuesday-wednesday of this week. So the kids all had school today, sunday. It was just a half day – they had Purim parties at school, Megillah readings, exchanged mishloach manot, and most importantly, everyone came to school in costume! And since most kids walk…
Read moreMa Tovu
Ma Tovu I’ve been trying to do shacharit (morning prayers) for the past few years now each morning. One of the first prayers we say is called Ma Tovu. Its most commonly translated as: How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel. The story of that prayer is that once when…
Read moreHermon
Hermon Last weekend we went skiing on Mt. Hermon in the Golan Heights. It was my first time being up there. The scenery is beautiful as you drive up the mountain and look down on the valley below. The next day while skiing the mountain itself was in the clouds, making for some interesting ski…
Read moreLower-Middle School Traffic Duty
Lower-Middle School Traffic Duty Most people who attend public school here live within walking distance of the school. Every morning the town is flooded with little school children walking to school. They have volunteers at many of the larger intersections with portable stop signs on long sticks with which they stop traffic to let the…
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