Israeli Independence Day, 5778, 2018, Tremping Saga

Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day is a very big national holiday here. Not only are schools and government offices closed, it's almost impossible to find an open grocer or supermarket. Some supermarkets opened in the afternoon yesterday, since they figured there would be customers who needed to restock for Shabbat. Also public transportation is seriously reduced frequency-wise in order to allow the bus drivers to celebrate with their families. As many of you probably know by now, we don't have a car. Generally we manage pretty well by taking buses. We even pay for a monthly bus/lightrail pass that gives us unlimited rides to and from Jerusalem, which is generally all we need. That didn't help me yesterday.

Our family Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day custom is to spend the afternoon at my cousin in Hod Hasharon with all the family and close friends. They make a humongous barbecue, supplemented by salads and other side-dishes brought by the rest of us. By car Hod Hasharon is about the same travel time as Jerusalem, but it's a bit more complicated by public transportation. On Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, there isn't a bus to Ariel in order to go in that direction. Our daughter passes Shiloh on her way, but she only has room for one extra passenger. Since I'm the fearless trampistit, (hitchhiker,) the seat goes to my husband.

I don't take anything for granted, and I firmly believe that we must make an effort for Gd to pitch in and help us. Traveling by tremping is very much a method which needs Gd's help. So, I sent out an email in Hebrew and English to the neighbors on three lists, including Shvut Rachel, that I needed a ride, at least to Ariel. Nobody replied with a ride late morning. So, at 11:15, which would give me almost two hours for the forty minute drive, I left my house and walked down to the main Shiloh bus stop.

After a short wait, I got a ride to Shvut Rachel-Shiloh stop which offers more than twice the amount of potential rides, since anyone leaving Shvut Rachel and all of the small communities to the east will pass it on the way to Highway 60. After another reasonably short wait, I got a ride to someone going to the Shomron via Tapuach. I took that ride only to the exit/Junction of Eli, which is a good place to wait. It's not far from their security gate, and you can see that there are security cameras.

 Again, I didn't wait all that long when a car pulled up. There were four young men in it who were going to be passing through Ariel. The front seat passenger was a real gentleman, and he offered to squeeze in the back with his friends to give me the seat. The dropped me off at the Ariel exit bus stop. And I was overjoyed to see that there would be a bus in eight minutes. The Efo bus app confirmed it.

I calmly waited for the bus to arrive and messaged my cousin that I had made progress in my travels.

There wasn't much traffic, and I didn't even attempt to get a ride, because I knew that the bus would take me to the Yarkon Junction, where someone from the family would be waiting to pick me up. I was very comfortably ahead of schedule at that point.

I got the seat right behind the driver and messaged my cousin with estimated time of arrival. She replied that I'd be picked up no problem. Thank Gd I got there with time to spare.

Getting home I had to reverse the trip. Friends dropped me off at Ariel, that same bus stop you can see in the picture on the right, above this. I was hoping for either a ride or a bus to the Ariel University stop, near where I could get a ride home. Seconds after I got out of their car, I saw neighbors drive by. I waved but could see that their car was pretty full. Imagine my surprise when a few minutes later they pulled up to take me home. The wife squeezed in the back with her two sons to give me the roomier front seat, and they took me straight to my door, B"H.

I never know exactly how it will work out, but thank Gd I do manage to get to where I need to be.

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach

May You Have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat

Celebrating 70 Israeli Independence

We went to Ofra for the celebrations last night, since one of our grandchildren was among the performers. It was very enjoyable for sure, especially when I discovered old friends in the audience who were there for the very same reason. It is especially nice when landsmen have children and grandchildren living in the same town, and our kids are friends, too.  

Chag Atzma'ut Sameach!

70

Joyful Independence Day!

New Discovery in Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh

On Rosh Chodesh, when my friends and I were walking from the entrance, coffee/souvenir shop to the site of the Mishkan, Tabernacle for prayers, we noticed a new, active section being dug by archaeologists.  We stopped by to chat with the archaeologist in charge, and he pointed to a stunning piece they had just dug up, the base of a pillar, with exquisitely detailed carvings. I tried hard to photograph it, but then was told that it wasn't to be publicized yet.

Then we continued on our way, prayed together, and then each of us continued our day.

Imagine my surprise when just a few hours later, Shiloh Hakeduma, Ancient Shiloh, the administrators of Tel Shiloh davka publicized the discovery:

photo by Batya Medad

photo by Batya Medad

To summarize:

It's believed that the pillar was part of a Byzantine church, the 6th discovered at Tel Shiloh. And one must remember that many holy sites to Judaism, like the Biblical Shiloh, were later adopted by other religions. We, the Jewish People, were in Shiloh before them and after them, too.

This is the perfect message and reminder as we Israelis and Jews celebrate seventy 70 years of modern statehood. We have returned to our Ancestral Homeland, the Land of Israel, the Land of the Bible, our Jewish Bible, the Tanach.

No other people ever had an independent country here, just the Jewish People.

Chag Sameach!

For The First Time...

I've been living in Shiloh for a long time, since September 1, 1981, and in all those years I played no part, even super indirectly, in the Yom Ha'atzma'ut ceremonies. Until very recently, the focus was almost always on parents of relatives who had done amazing things during the War for Independence and early days of the State of Israel. That pretty much left me out, even though one of my uncles was one of the American volunteers in the Palyam who helped on the ships carrying illegal immigrants. But since he went back to New York afterwards, and I had no pictures and stories to contribute, I didn't promote him for honors. 

In recent years, there are more prepared films and less of the live talks from people. This year, we didn't even have torch-lighting. Interviews with honorees were filmed in advance and interspersed in the live play, which starred two adorable precocious boys, davka, both third generation in Shiloh, as their parents all grew up as neighbors. 

A couple of weeks ago, while I was at my Senior Citizens Arts & Crafts, the "Social Director" showed up with a cameraman and filmed us for the movie showing everyday life in Shiloh. When I mentioned something afterwards to the director of our program, she replied that they come every year. And so, if you look at the movie below, you'll see us along with the photogenic preschoolers and energetic school kids. 

I managed to get screenshots of me off of the film. Of course, since I hadn't been warned I don't even have lipstick on. 

Yes, I've finally made it, OK as an extra.

Celebrating Israeli Independence Day, 5777, 2017

This is cross-posted on Israel Bloggers. There may be a slight difference in the photos included on that site.

Here in Israel the entire country manages to transition from the mournful Memorial Day to the exuberant and festive Independence Day. Having them connected helps the bereaved by showing how Israelis appreciate and value the price we pay for our independence and security. They aren’t forced to mourn in a lonely vacuum. And Memorial Day here isn’t a convenient vacation/party day, which was what the American one ended up being for my family.

For those of us who attend the religious prayer services which includes a very enthusiastic and musical Hallel (Praise) Prayer, like we have in the Shiloh Tabernacle Synagogue find that thanking Gd as a community of Jews certainly prepares us for celebrating the miracles Gd has preformed for us.

Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israeli Independence Day is definitely a spiritual holiday, not a simple celebration of a historic event. Recognizing the Hand of Gd in everything that has been happening to the Jewish People makes it easier to go on even when times are difficult. As we left the synagogue, it was easy to put our troubles in the “back pocket” and celebrate together. Following are a number of photos and short videos I took last night here in Shiloh.

Enjoy, Chag Ha’atzma’ut Sameach!

Perfect, Healthy and Easy Salad Mix

Israeli salads have become rather amazing, certainly not the old standard diced tomatoes and cucumbers with a bit of onion, which was once the summer standard. Today, pretty much any fruit, vegetable and nut can be added. So for our annual Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day barbecue and feast at my cousin's I brought a "Modern Israeli Salad" that had almost everything but tomatoes, cucumbers and onion.

Here are the main ingredients:

red cabbage
carrot
apple
celeriac
sunflower seeds
raisins

Please remember that you don't have to use the same exact ingredients. Be creative!!! And please let me know in the comments how you made it, thanks.

I used the food processor to shred the carrots, apple, celeriac and cabbage. 

dressed with olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice

I put all of the ingredients into a very large bowl/pot to mix and toss with the dressing.

Then I packed it tightly into a nice plastic serving/storage container to bring to the party.

This was the perfect addition to the meal, and the bowl/container was part of the gift. There were many other salads, each very different, which made it easy to fill up on healthy dietetic food. Considering that most or at least many of us are at that stage in life where weight piles on much too easily, it was especially nice that almost all of the side dishes were low carb.

Filming the Action During Yom Ha'atzmaut Prayers, 5776

Over the years I've taken some amazing photographs during the Yom  Ha'atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) Prayers in the large Shiloh Mishkan (Tabernacle) Synagogue. Those years I would  make a point of sitting front and center in the Ezrat Nashim (Women's Gallery) where I'd have a bird's eye view of the joyful singing and dancing. But this year for various reasons, I decided to sit a bit further back, though on the aisle so I could easily, at least so I had thought, get to the front to photograph the dancing and shofar blowing.

When the "action" began I didn't rush up. I didn't feel like being pushy, but then all of a sudden I realized that this isn't my year to take all those great pictures. And then I decided that photographing the other women photographing the dancing would be a very good substitute. So, here they are.

Shofar blowing from last Yom Ha'atzmaut, 5775.

Jewish Israeli Holiday Special!

This is a book I won't give away!

I generally give away the books I get to review once I'm finished reading and reviewing them, but my new, beautiful Koren Mahzor for Yom Ha'atzmaut & Yom Yerushalyim is staying with me!

The Koren Yom Ha’Atzmaut Mahzor is the first-ever English-Hebrew prayer book for Israel’s national holidays. It includes complete services for Israel’s Independence Day and Jerusalem Day according to the practices established by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. The mahzor features a moving introduction by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, translation by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, commentary by Rabbi Moshe Taragin and Rabbi Binyamin Lau, and a unique collection of essays by other leading scholars in the world of Religious Zionism. Optional prayers such as Hallel and Al-HaNissim are shaded and include extensive notes that explain the halakhic debates surrounding their recitation. 

Not only is this new Koren sensation complete and easy to read, but it's full of fascinating essays including one by my favorite Tanach (Bible) teacher, Dr. Yael Ziegler.

Hallel on Israeli
Independence Day,
Shiloh Mishkan (Tabernacle)
Synagogue, 5775, 2015

In Shiloh we doven the complete Holiday service including the Hallel with a blessing, according the psak, rabbinic decision of the Shiloh Chief Rabbi Elchanan Bin-Nun, whose brother Rav Yoel also has an essay included in the Machzor.

Besides the prayers for Israeli Independence Day and Jerusalem Day, there is also a section for Memorial Day. Yes, this is the complete package and perfect gift for yourself and others.

Even if you don't need this very first bilingual Mahzor for Yom Ha'atzmaut & Yom Yerushalyim for the English when you are praying you will enjoy the essay section. It is a very valuable addition to one's home library. And certainly congregations of English speakers, here in Israel or abroad, that hold Prayers on Israeli Memorial Day, Independence Day and Jerusalem Day should have this Machzor available.

I received it after Independence Day but look forward to praying from it on Jerusalem Day, G-d willing.

ISBN	9789653016651
Author	Jonathan Sacks
Pages	281
Size	Standard 5.3x8.5
Language	Hebrew/English
Binding	Hardcover
Nusach	Ashkenaz

The State of Israel, Celebrating 67 Years, 5775, 2015

Chag Atzma'ut Sameach!!

Have a Wonderful Israeli Independence Day!!

This was cross-posted on Shiloh Musings

Thank G-d, the doomsday predictions which have followed the State of Israel even before David Ben-Gurion made the official Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948, have been proven wrong. The State of Israel may not be perfect, as if there is a country someplace that really is, but it's alive, vibrant, successful, financially stable, the source of innovative technology, medicine and more. Here we are celebrating sixty-seven 67 years of independence, having survived wars and threats, we are one of the most open and democratic countries in the world. We certainly have a lot to be thankful for.

I have been living in Israel since 1970, when my husband and I, newlyweds at the time, docked at Haifa Port on the Queen Anna Maria-Greek Lines, along with about four hundred 400 other olim chadashim, new immigrants. I have seen an enormous amount of changes here in Israel. In 1970, Israelis lived under very difficult conditions compared to the United States, and today Israel is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. Considering that we rather frequently are forced to fight wars for our very existance, survival and security, it's amazing--yes, definitely a sign that G-d is helping us-- that we not only exist, but we have thrived and outpaced most countries in the world.

Following are photos from Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzma'ut Prayers and Celebrations in Shiloh, where we have lived since 1981.

Getting Ready for Israeli Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzma'ut!

Yesterday when I was walking from Emek Refa'im Street to the Jerusalem Municipality to catch the train, I spotted this friendly young man selling Israeli Flags, "just five shekels." 

That's a sign that Israeli Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzma'ut is very soon. He would have been more effective if he had dressed the part in Blue and White.

Actually I had done it in Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin, just the day before.

I'm the unofficial "window dresser." we don't have real windows to dress, but we do have a few manikins who/that got the "Blue and White treatment" to prepare for the upcoming holiday! Israeli Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzma'ut is in just under two weeks, Tuesday, May 6, 2014.

Next week we'll be celebrating Rosh Chodesh Iyyar.

Next month is Iyar, and we have special plans for a brunch after the prayers at the Tel Shiloh, You'll have to reserve for the brunch (email shilohmuse at gmail dot com subject Rosh Chodesh Iyar) so we know for how many to prepare, but the prayers don't need reservations.

Women's Prayers at Tel ShilohRosh Chodesh Iyar
Thursday, May 1, 2014
1st of Iyar 5774, 8:30am
Tour of Tel Shiloh & Dvar Torah, Short Torah Lesson
Please come and invite family, friends and neighbors

תפילת נשיםראש חודש אייר בתל שילה
יום ה' 1-5 א' אייר תשע"ד 8:30
יהיה דבר תורה קצר וסיור בתל
 כדאי לבוא ולהזמין חברות, משפחה ושכנות
Mark your calendar, and join us. 

You're welcome to join our facebook group.

This isn't a "women's minyan," although we do sing the Hallel prayer out-loud together.

Tel Shiloh is open to visitors daily. Tours can be arranged through the Shiloh HaKeduma, Ancient Shiloh office. Email visit@telshilo.org.il  or phone 02-994-4019.