WOW...what a long day today has been! It seems like "this morning" was about a week ago with all that we did today. The first part of the day was spent getting some pointers from my uncle and then going to various places in the center of the city. It was a beautiful day as far as the weather was concerned which made our long walks all over the area SO enjoyable. (We could take busses but why go on busses when you can breathe the air and get exercise at the same time?!)
After arriving back at "base camp" for a much needed rest, we were off again... this time back to Talpiot. In Talpiot, our goals were to look at pricing on various small electrical appliances, closets (again!??!!), light fixtures and a host of other items. Most of this leg work was to help us make our decisions a little easier when we land after Aliya.
While it was yet another grueling, long and busy day, it was an accomplishing one, as well. I feel very good about what we were able to accomplish today.
And now, it is time to get a little rest before we head to the airport (at 1:45am!!) for a 5:30am flight. It is a very tough time to fly but we had no choice but to be on the flight at that time of day.
It is very hard to believe that we are about to return, but this return flight to Chicago is different from all of the last 20 return flights. In the past, going on to the plane to return to Chicago was VERY, VERY difficult for me. However, this time I know that not only am I returning B"H in 43 days (the day we LAND in Israel is 42 days away but the day we begin the journey is 40 days away), but I will be returning with my family as ISRAELI CITIZENS! Getting on this plane, in a sense, is one of the last steps in the long journey of Aliya.
I can not fully express my gratitude to so many people who made this trip the succesful one that it was:
To all of those in Mitzpe Nevo who were so generous with their hospitality, ideas, information, housing, chairs, food and most of all their friendship and warmth. We are SO looking forward to being a part of your community, IY"H.
To all of those who helped our Aliya process vis-a-vis the house, including our lawyer, our engineer, our builder (he should keep building!), our security professional, our resident experts in the buildings already finished in our complex, our shipper and everyone whom I have not listed.
A special thank you to my uncle and aunt for hosting us in Yerushalayim and to Dov and Shoshana Frankel for hosting us in Mitzpe Nevo. May Hashem repay your kindness one-hundredfold, and may He shine His blessings on all who helped and offered their help.
So, this is it...next stop into town will be on the Nefesh B'Nefesh flight (B'ezrat Hashem) on July 7, 2009 (the 15th of Tammuz)...until then, I will keep writing a record of our adventures and hope you will join me (both by reading the blog and--maybe??--by making aliya as well!)
Uh, oh...look at the clock...40 days less 6 hours until we board the plane for JFK! It really is getting close. Tick...tick...tick...
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
"Im Eshka'chaych Yerushalayim..."
"If I Forget Thee O, Jerusalem..."
While it is late (at least by MY standards) I feel a need to put some thoughts down before going to sleep. As mentioned earlier, tonight I attended my very first wedding in Israel. The wedding was for the son of friends of our's (Roz Goldberg and Aaron Goldberg) and was held in Ramat Rachel in Yerushalayim. The ruach (spirit) of the wedding was magnificent. BUT, there was a singular moment that I will never forget as long as I live...the Chatan and Kallah (bride and groom) were standing outside, under the Chuppah canopy with the beautiful hills of Jerusalem in the background. During the ceremony, the band played the song of "Im Eshkachaych..." and here I was LOOKING at this beautiful city while singing it, and I became very emotional. While I have heard and sung the song hundreds of times over the years, hearing it and singing it at that moment was surreal. I will not...I can not--with G-d's help--ever forget that enchanting moment.
Tomorrow (Monday) is our last day here on this trip...Lots to do still...hope we can accomplish a little more before boarding that plane back to Chicago.
(One final note...we are staying at my Uncle Morty's home while we are in J'lem. His wife, Julie has owned a dog named Tikva for 19 years. We came home from this wedding on a high with visions of our future still in our heads, to hear the sad news of the death of her beloved pet. While the life of HER Tikvah ended, the life of our Tikvah, our Hope begins.)
While it is late (at least by MY standards) I feel a need to put some thoughts down before going to sleep. As mentioned earlier, tonight I attended my very first wedding in Israel. The wedding was for the son of friends of our's (Roz Goldberg and Aaron Goldberg) and was held in Ramat Rachel in Yerushalayim. The ruach (spirit) of the wedding was magnificent. BUT, there was a singular moment that I will never forget as long as I live...the Chatan and Kallah (bride and groom) were standing outside, under the Chuppah canopy with the beautiful hills of Jerusalem in the background. During the ceremony, the band played the song of "Im Eshkachaych..." and here I was LOOKING at this beautiful city while singing it, and I became very emotional. While I have heard and sung the song hundreds of times over the years, hearing it and singing it at that moment was surreal. I will not...I can not--with G-d's help--ever forget that enchanting moment.
Tomorrow (Monday) is our last day here on this trip...Lots to do still...hope we can accomplish a little more before boarding that plane back to Chicago.
(One final note...we are staying at my Uncle Morty's home while we are in J'lem. His wife, Julie has owned a dog named Tikva for 19 years. We came home from this wedding on a high with visions of our future still in our heads, to hear the sad news of the death of her beloved pet. While the life of HER Tikvah ended, the life of our Tikvah, our Hope begins.)
My Money Talks...
...and it keeps saying "Good-Bye" !!! We spent a good chunk of time today in Talpiot looking at many items for the house. In VERY short order, we settled on and bought a stove, a cooktop, a washer, a dryer, a refrigerator, a crock pot and a hot pot. Boy, did our money talk there at the store. But, I must say it was all in all a VERY pleasant experience thanks to Ruby Karzen, who helped us through the entire "event." What could have taken us days was boiled down to an hour and a half!
We also spent time looking for "Aronot"/closets. As many of you know, homes in Israel (in general) are built with no closets so it is up to us to locate and purchase them. It is fairly easy since there are only about 54,985,443 different choices, so it is pretty quick to narrow things down. I figure by the time I am 433 years old we should have it all figured out! We will wait until our arrival to take care of this. Too much to handle on this trip.
One more thing that happened today from the category of "ONLY IN ISRAEL." We went into a money changer to change some dollars for Shkalim. I walked in and the person manning the store motioned to me to wait a minute. I stood there and waited for a couple of minutes and realized why he had asked me to wait...he had just finished eating and he was saying Birkat HaMazon! I love this country...
We also spent time looking for "Aronot"/closets. As many of you know, homes in Israel (in general) are built with no closets so it is up to us to locate and purchase them. It is fairly easy since there are only about 54,985,443 different choices, so it is pretty quick to narrow things down. I figure by the time I am 433 years old we should have it all figured out! We will wait until our arrival to take care of this. Too much to handle on this trip.
One more thing that happened today from the category of "ONLY IN ISRAEL." We went into a money changer to change some dollars for Shkalim. I walked in and the person manning the store motioned to me to wait a minute. I stood there and waited for a couple of minutes and realized why he had asked me to wait...he had just finished eating and he was saying Birkat HaMazon! I love this country...
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Erev Shabbat and Shabbat in Jerusalem
Andy and I arrived in Yerushalayim 9:30am and by 10:30am we were already in a meeting. However, while we were indeed meeting with our engineer (who had surveyed our home) it was in a relaxed atmosphere in an outdoor cafe off of Emek Refaim. The temperature was about 24 (gotta start thinking metric!), there was a beautiful light breeze and the aroma of a nearby tree was intoxicating. Not a bad way to hold a meeting! We were very gratified to find that there was not a single "major" issue with our home from the view of the engineer (Chaim). While there are issues that need to be addressed (some more critical than others) none were "deal-breaker" type of issues...Baruch Hashem.
After meeting with Chaim, we took a nice stroll from Emek Refaim towards the center of town, stopping along the way at a few small shops. We also had the opportunity to meet up with a delightful couple living currently in Yerushalayim, who will be living in the same building that we will be living. It is amazing to me how nice all of the people are who will be living with us in the same building.
(By the way, we actually have an address now! We will be living at Rehov Mitzpe Nevo 114/1, Maale Adumim. When I saw the address, it felt sort of like a baby-naming, as it became OUR identifier here in Israel as to where we will be located)
Shabbat...in Yerushalayim...need I say more? What a glorious, restful and spritual day it was! Between the three different places we davened (no, not because, "I would never walk into that shul" kind of attitue!) and the company, the food, and the aroma of Shabbat in Yerushalayim...all of that added up to a picture perfect 25 hours.
And now that Shabbat is over, the business of business is starting again! We are off to the stores tomorrow to explore various models of appliances that we will need to purchase (after returning on Aliya, so we can take advantage of the Rights of the Olim). A lot of thought needs to go into this step! We will end our day at a wedding here in Yerushalayim for the son of a friend of our's from Chicago. (I can not believe that in all the years I have been coming and going here I have NEVER been to a wedding here!).
Well, best be going now to rest up before the next two days of intensive "work." (While I term it as work...it is a TRUE labor of love!)
Oh, one last thing..over Shabbat, when we met any people whom we did not know, and they were told that we were making Aliya soon, they all were SO happy to hear this and gave us both tremendous "chizuk."
Hard to believe that we get on the plane to go to JFK 42 days from tomorrow. The tick...tick...tick...is getting louder and louder.
After meeting with Chaim, we took a nice stroll from Emek Refaim towards the center of town, stopping along the way at a few small shops. We also had the opportunity to meet up with a delightful couple living currently in Yerushalayim, who will be living in the same building that we will be living. It is amazing to me how nice all of the people are who will be living with us in the same building.
(By the way, we actually have an address now! We will be living at Rehov Mitzpe Nevo 114/1, Maale Adumim. When I saw the address, it felt sort of like a baby-naming, as it became OUR identifier here in Israel as to where we will be located)
Shabbat...in Yerushalayim...need I say more? What a glorious, restful and spritual day it was! Between the three different places we davened (no, not because, "I would never walk into that shul" kind of attitue!) and the company, the food, and the aroma of Shabbat in Yerushalayim...all of that added up to a picture perfect 25 hours.
And now that Shabbat is over, the business of business is starting again! We are off to the stores tomorrow to explore various models of appliances that we will need to purchase (after returning on Aliya, so we can take advantage of the Rights of the Olim). A lot of thought needs to go into this step! We will end our day at a wedding here in Yerushalayim for the son of a friend of our's from Chicago. (I can not believe that in all the years I have been coming and going here I have NEVER been to a wedding here!).
Well, best be going now to rest up before the next two days of intensive "work." (While I term it as work...it is a TRUE labor of love!)
Oh, one last thing..over Shabbat, when we met any people whom we did not know, and they were told that we were making Aliya soon, they all were SO happy to hear this and gave us both tremendous "chizuk."
Hard to believe that we get on the plane to go to JFK 42 days from tomorrow. The tick...tick...tick...is getting louder and louder.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Details, Details...
Thursday was spent dealing with a lot of minutea realtive to the house. While we continued laying out furniture and other items in the home (using newpapers and imagination) we also had to determine placement of bookcases, cabinets and other items...some small and some not so small. We also met with a man who will install screens and security bars in our place (NOT CHEAP!!). A VERY detailed walk-through of the place discussing security needs and comfort needs proved to be VERY educational and helpful! In addition, he is somewhat of an expert in the area of healthful eating (something I VERY much am "into") so we were able to glean pointers from him on that, as well. I don't know why, but it still thrills me that when I deal with someone like him or other people in trades that i am dealing with a fellow Jew who is also my neighbor. What a comfortable feeling...
We had one small humorous incident last evening...after visiting my in-laws in Neve Yaakov, we took a bus back to Ramat Eshkol to catch a bus back to Maale Adumim. We stood for 45 minutes until we saw our bus turn down the street JUSt before our's. After this happened TWICE, someone pointed out a sign to us (which was small enough that it might have well been in Braille) that the bus route for the evening changes after 9pm...Thank you very much....ok, a small frustration in the grand scheme!
This morning, Yom Yerushalayim, tefilla was extremely nice! In the middle of Chazarat haShatz, everyone sang V'lirooshalayim Ircha..." It was quite moving to see 100 people singing this in unison and LOOKING at the area of Midbar Yehuda and KNOWING I would be IN Yerushalayim in a couple of hours. It all comes together.
While being here has been an exhausting trip (with a few more days to go), it has been a welcome break from the packing up the house in Chicago. However, I have a sneaking feeling that when we return, we will NOT find that the rest of the house packed itself. oh, well...!
Now, it is off to J'lem for a restful Shabbat, before we being our last few days in Israel as non-Israelis!! Then, back to the "real world" and all that comes with it for the final prep in Chicago.
Shabbat Shalom from the City of Peace on the day that the City was Re-unified,
44 days....tick...tick...tick...
We had one small humorous incident last evening...after visiting my in-laws in Neve Yaakov, we took a bus back to Ramat Eshkol to catch a bus back to Maale Adumim. We stood for 45 minutes until we saw our bus turn down the street JUSt before our's. After this happened TWICE, someone pointed out a sign to us (which was small enough that it might have well been in Braille) that the bus route for the evening changes after 9pm...Thank you very much....ok, a small frustration in the grand scheme!
This morning, Yom Yerushalayim, tefilla was extremely nice! In the middle of Chazarat haShatz, everyone sang V'lirooshalayim Ircha..." It was quite moving to see 100 people singing this in unison and LOOKING at the area of Midbar Yehuda and KNOWING I would be IN Yerushalayim in a couple of hours. It all comes together.
While being here has been an exhausting trip (with a few more days to go), it has been a welcome break from the packing up the house in Chicago. However, I have a sneaking feeling that when we return, we will NOT find that the rest of the house packed itself. oh, well...!
Now, it is off to J'lem for a restful Shabbat, before we being our last few days in Israel as non-Israelis!! Then, back to the "real world" and all that comes with it for the final prep in Chicago.
Shabbat Shalom from the City of Peace on the day that the City was Re-unified,
44 days....tick...tick...tick...
Thursday, May 21, 2009
We Had Our first "Guests"!
On Wednesday morning, we were about to go into our house to continue doing what we needed to do when suddenly, we saw a couple we knew who were in the process of checking out Maale Adumim! We invited them in to see our place to get an idea of what was available. When they entered the home, it occurred to me that they were our first "house guests" ever! We would have offered them food, but there is no fridge or food. Water? No running water yet. A place to sit? Nope, not just yet. But, DUST? You can have all that you want, and no extra charge! It was really nice to show someone around albeit with no amenities to share.
We also had another "bashert" moment when our immediate neighbor happened to stop by to do some things in his place. So nice to meet all of those with whom we will be living soon! In between wining and dining all of these "guests" we managed to get a lot done. I had to give in to Andy on certain items that we decided to bring based on placement and measurements and she had to give in to ME on a couple. So, all in all it was a productive day as we were able to make many decisions in various departments, so to speak. In the middle of it all, we borrowed a couple of chairs from a neighbor on which to sit while we discussed certain things. At one point, we took the chairs outside to sit on the patio of our "geena"/yard to talk. It was then, as I sat outside our home, gazing upon the beautiful mountains, homes and sky that it hit me...THIS is home. THIS is what my life will soon become. What a change and what a difference this will all mean, and I am certain it will in no way be easy. BUT, it will all be for the best IYH!
Last night, we were invited over to some (new) friends where we picked their brains and ate pizza (hmmm...what a combination). On the way home, we bumped into former Chicagoans (the Hirsch family) who invited us over to see their place here in Maale Adumim as well. Beautiful place and warm hosiptality...
One humorous note...this morning at Tefillah, at one point I could not hear the Torah reading...not because people were talking or because he was reading too softly. The reason? There seems to be some exercise going on in the IAF (Israel Air Force) and a number of fighter jets flew overhead and obscured the sounds of the Torah reading! Can't say that this has happened to me too often in Chicago :)
Ok, off to the house for more work and decisions including meeting someone to order screens, security bars and other fun stuff!
We also had another "bashert" moment when our immediate neighbor happened to stop by to do some things in his place. So nice to meet all of those with whom we will be living soon! In between wining and dining all of these "guests" we managed to get a lot done. I had to give in to Andy on certain items that we decided to bring based on placement and measurements and she had to give in to ME on a couple. So, all in all it was a productive day as we were able to make many decisions in various departments, so to speak. In the middle of it all, we borrowed a couple of chairs from a neighbor on which to sit while we discussed certain things. At one point, we took the chairs outside to sit on the patio of our "geena"/yard to talk. It was then, as I sat outside our home, gazing upon the beautiful mountains, homes and sky that it hit me...THIS is home. THIS is what my life will soon become. What a change and what a difference this will all mean, and I am certain it will in no way be easy. BUT, it will all be for the best IYH!
Last night, we were invited over to some (new) friends where we picked their brains and ate pizza (hmmm...what a combination). On the way home, we bumped into former Chicagoans (the Hirsch family) who invited us over to see their place here in Maale Adumim as well. Beautiful place and warm hosiptality...
One humorous note...this morning at Tefillah, at one point I could not hear the Torah reading...not because people were talking or because he was reading too softly. The reason? There seems to be some exercise going on in the IAF (Israel Air Force) and a number of fighter jets flew overhead and obscured the sounds of the Torah reading! Can't say that this has happened to me too often in Chicago :)
Ok, off to the house for more work and decisions including meeting someone to order screens, security bars and other fun stuff!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
It's Been a LONG Day!
After an eight hour layover in Warsaw, we finally arrived in Israel at 5am today (Tuesday...I think). It was great to finally be back and to hear Ivrit instead of Polish! After a ride in a Nesher Taxi for a while through Yerushalayim, we arrived in Maale Adumim by 7:30...just in time for me to daven Shacharit at an 8:00am Minyan. My body was telling me to daven Maariv, but the clock on the wall disagreed.
Since we shlepped four FULL suitcases of stuff to leave in Maale Adumim until we move, my arms began to protest that idea by the time I was eating breakfast. The fatigue of the travel, the moving of all the bags and the heat of the day made our STARTING our day a bit challenging, but start it we did!
Straight away to our new home to check out how things were moving along. One thing is quite certain: no two tradesmen respect the workmanship of the other. So grouting belongs on the counter and the paint obviously is supposed to be on the inside of the cabinets...but, welcome to Israel!
We did a run through our place to help us determine what we CAN bring and would have a home for here and things we would need to leave behind in the "Old Country." In spite of the heat, the house itself is quite cool and pleasant. I keep looking out the window and saying, 'This is our's and we are going to live here B'erat Hashem," but the words do not sink in...they hang out there like a fog.
And speaking of fog, we are both IN a fog so a well deserved rest was followed by planning out our next few days and what needs to be done. Lists of lists and lists of other lists. I must say that so many people have been so wonderfully helpful with everything and encourage our questions and investigations. Walking to Maariv tonight under the starlit night, the cool breeze and the smells of living near Midbar Yehuda all combined to tell me that we have made the right decision.
Off to bed in order to begin another day IYH tomorrow. Strength, patience and fortitude with a sprinkling of good humor...all that will help us get through the next few days.
Layla tov from Maale Adumim!
Since we shlepped four FULL suitcases of stuff to leave in Maale Adumim until we move, my arms began to protest that idea by the time I was eating breakfast. The fatigue of the travel, the moving of all the bags and the heat of the day made our STARTING our day a bit challenging, but start it we did!
Straight away to our new home to check out how things were moving along. One thing is quite certain: no two tradesmen respect the workmanship of the other. So grouting belongs on the counter and the paint obviously is supposed to be on the inside of the cabinets...but, welcome to Israel!
We did a run through our place to help us determine what we CAN bring and would have a home for here and things we would need to leave behind in the "Old Country." In spite of the heat, the house itself is quite cool and pleasant. I keep looking out the window and saying, 'This is our's and we are going to live here B'erat Hashem," but the words do not sink in...they hang out there like a fog.
And speaking of fog, we are both IN a fog so a well deserved rest was followed by planning out our next few days and what needs to be done. Lists of lists and lists of other lists. I must say that so many people have been so wonderfully helpful with everything and encourage our questions and investigations. Walking to Maariv tonight under the starlit night, the cool breeze and the smells of living near Midbar Yehuda all combined to tell me that we have made the right decision.
Off to bed in order to begin another day IYH tomorrow. Strength, patience and fortitude with a sprinkling of good humor...all that will help us get through the next few days.
Layla tov from Maale Adumim!
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