Just a Note to Say...

That Haveil Havalim #204 (0r, as Ben-Yehudah would say, "the real #204") is UP at Leora's.
Yes, Jack; it's #204. Let's continue on from there. . .

Hesped* for Shira. . .

I have not been blogging, as it has been a difficult week.

This past Tuesday, I suddenly received an Instant Message while at work, from my son in Jerusalem, savying that a friend's daughter, who had battled Hodgkin's Disease on and off for several years (it had just recurred, after having been in remission), had just died that day. She left a bereft young husband, and a toddler son who will now grow up without a mother.

I had known her and her family since way before they made aliyah, over twelve years ago. Our kids grew up together in the same community, attended the same schools. It is a terrible loss to me--I burst into tears and was unable to concentrate on work that day--and to our whole community.

I know nothing about Hodgekin's Lymphoma, except that I thought this was a more treatable type of cancer. I am devastated; I cannot fathom what her wonderful parents-my friends, who raised all their children to be good human beings and good Jews (Shira's brother and my younger son are friends as well)-are going through. I am afraid to think about it.

And I am angry at G-d, for not creating a miracle and arresting this horrible disease in its tracks, to save this wonderful young mother from this horrible illness (and her parents from an unspeakable anguish), this young mother who (as was written in an email I received from Tsfat) at least, had the zchut to make Aliyah, find and marry her basherte, and have a child.

Two of my children managed to get to the levaya (funeral) in Efrat. They had to tramp (hitch a ride) and wait half an hour for a bus, but they made it. My daughter told me there were 600 people there; it was officiated by our former Rabbi, Rav Twersky, who was able to fly into the country in time. My daughter also said it seemed as if our whole community was in attendance...

The week has left me emotionally exhausted and drained. If any of my readers would like to learn Torah, or give extra tzedakah*, or help someone in need, or do any extra mitzvah, you can dedicate it in Shira's memory. I made the announcement at my intermediate Hebrew class, that all future classes will be dedicated to the memory of sweet Shira Rachma Batzion bat Alter Natan Neta.

May her neshama have an aliyah.


*neshama - soul
*aliyah - ascend (determined by context, either to Israel, or to the higher levels of Heaven)
*hesped - eulogy
*tzedakah - commonly translated as "charity." Really comes from the shoresh (root) meaning "righteousness."

Haveil Havalim #203

(ha-I was right!) Is UP! Go to Ya'akov's blog here to see the wonderful entries.
I have got to go to work, so "in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!" (The Truman Show was a great movie.)

Oh, and Tu b'Shevat Sameach!

The BIBI Rap

I saw this first on Rafi's blog, and it cracked me up. Nothing like rap to get out the popular vote, eh? Especially since nothing rhymes with "FEIGLIN."



Vote BIBIBI for PM (what's his middle name again?).

From Time Immemorial #3, continued (and the Latest Haveil Havalim of course)

For your edification, Haveil Havalim #203 (I still say we're one ahead of ourselves numerically, but...) is UP, at Ima on (and off) the Bima.

And here is a continuation of Joan Peters' interview on the writing of her book From Time Immemorial, published in 1984 which is--because of the deteriorating situation with Hamas in Gaza, Muslim riots and violence all over the world, and the increase in world Antisemitism--even more critical and valid today. Realize that the Saudis may not be our friends. . . (!)

LIBI Supports Our Kids--We Should Support LIBI

I was asked by a representative of LIBI (as was Jameel, and probably other bloggers as well) last week to write about the organization on my blog. After my last post about my kids having served and one currently serving in the IDF, I think it is appropriate to write about LIBI now.
LIBI is an acronym which stands for למען בטחון ישראל , "For the Sake of Israel's Security." It was founded in 1980 (at the very time that we lived in Israel) by then-Prime Minister Menahem Begin.

It's purpose was to strengthen the defense of Israel by educating its soldiers in Zionism and their mission, and by providing them with extra equipment and supplies in addition to what they get from the army, such as thermal gloves or underwear, special food, care packages, etc. Their general purpose is according to what Ben-Gurion said:

"Our soldiers prevail not by the strength of their weapons but by their sense of mission; by their consciousness of the justness of their cause, by a deep love for their country, and by their understanding of the heavy task laid upon them: to ensure the existence of our people in their homeland and to affirm, even at the cost of their lives, the right of the Jewish people to live their lives in their own state, free, independent and in peace."

I'm sure my sons and now my daughter have received supplies from LIBI (I'm going to ask my daughter next time I speak to her, bli neder).

LIBI also means, "my heart." As their motto states, the soldiers are there for us--they are 'our hearts.' We need to be there for them.
Please support LIBI, the Fund to Help IDF Soldiers. Here is a link to their Hebrew site.

My Kids in the IDF , and Thoughts on the War

My feelings about the last three weeks are tied in to my feelings about my kids having made Aliyah on their own and with their intention of joining the IDF, so a little background is in order.

We raised our kids to be Zionists and love Judaism. From in the womb I spoke to them (!) in Ivrit, sang Hebrew songs, played Hebrew music; I had such a love of Judaism and Hebrew, having been raised similarly, that I wanted to impart to my kids the same understanding, feeling and pride in their history, religion and heritage, and in leshon hakodesh.

My husband and I years ago, with two children, had made aliyah, but after four years returned to the States. Never did I think that my kids would leave on their own for a brand-new life in a strange (but somehow, also familiar) land.

But leave they did, one after the other: in 2003, our two sons left with basically 'the shirts on their backs' (no help from Nefesh b'Nefesh) and a slight connection with their uncle, knowing no one else in Israel. My older son was 26 years old at the time. His younger brother was19.

They joined the army and had very different experiences, although both were considered 'commander quality.' They are now both finished with active duty, but were not called up for the Gaza war (my younger son just became a father, so I'm very glad he was not called). However, they are reservists and could be called up at any time. I worry. And I pray.

All in all, I was very proud of them, and missed them terribly: they were chayalim bodedim, or "lone soldiers," whose parents are not in the country. That was in 2003.

In 2004 our youngest daughter was the next to leave, at age fifteen! We accidentally (nothing is 'accidental,' right?) found out about a program called "Na'aleh," or 'Elite Academy' as it was dubbed for Americans. This program was to encourage kids of 15 to continue their high school in Israel, after having completed 1 year of high school in the States.

Next, in 2005, my middle daughter (Toodles) left as well--for year course at Hebrew University, and then continued on at the IDC in Herzliyah, where she is currently finishing up her last year at the college.

Fast forward to the present for my youngest daughter: after having completed three years of and graduated high school in Israel, she chose, tried out for and was accepted to be in an elite unit in Combat Engineering. Sherut le'umi (national service for religious girls) was not for her. She is currently in Commander's Course and she might go to Officer's Training. I am very proud of her, but I worry (I found out later that she was in Gaza for a week; it would have been two, but she became sick and was sent home) I pray a lot.

The war was not our choice, but a necessity, because we (Israel. I still speak as if I am there...) are surrounded by enemies who constantly provoke us. We have no choice but to defend ourselves and stop their aggression. We are the victim, not the perpetrator!

In this light, my daughter loves what she is doing, and doesn't entertain any questions I may have about her choice of how to serve her country.

In summation, I am very, very proud of their self-sacrifice and service to our Jewish homeland. And I miss them terribly. . .

It is high-time that the world understood that Israel is the only country in the Middle East which really wants peace, and which does not want to send its young men and women to war. It is twisted that the world blames Israel for every thing under the sun in that region--so-called Arab refugees, "settlers" 'undermining the peace process,' 'genocide' in Gaza, etc.--all of which the Arabs are really responsible for.

May G-d protect Israel, all the soldiers, and all of Am Yisrael.

It is high-time that GOOD and TRUTH prevailed over evil.