Blog #12 sacrifices

When you make a sacrifice do you usually feel good or bad about the choice you just made? Most people usually feel good about the sacrifices they made ....otherwise they wouldn't have made it... Right?  After meeting a good portion of the people on my block I realized that I was definitely NOT the only one who left alot behind. Ie houses, cars, live in help, nicer cars, etc. Yet most of these people seem happy. Although I really didn't ask them if they are presently happy, nor did I ask them how long it took to feel that the sacrifice they made to come here was the right one. However, I know that after speaking to a handful of people... they all left behind an easier way of living.  A way of living that if you want...(which most people who left America want...) can only be done  if one is receiving income from an American company. Which then requires you to work American hours or travel frequently back and forth. Of course there maybe other exceptions... Cough cough;-) but again you see the sacrifices people make to be in the holy land and maintain the lifestyle one is accustomed too...
So let The truth be told the sacrifice of leaving the Golden America is definitely not an easy one. After just one month of being here I am realizing that ....what in the world did I just do....hmm I left behind my house that I loved and basically completely redesigned to my taste....including a "functional kitchen" yes the one here is very dysfunctional. My car ( OK it was a leased Volvo.. But it had a gear for parking!!$%%), supermarkets that carry products I am used too... and a country full of people that speak and understand my language.. Not to mention all the little things that made me happy there. (Refer to previous blog..on things I'll miss) So as of right now... I can not say that the sacrifice that I made was the right one. However what can be said is that at least the sacrifice was made..now I just have to realize somehow, and someway, that it was the right one...

Blog#11 bigger picture

Living in america as an observant Jew you really never get to feel that you are part of a something big. You actually always feel like you are the minority. That's because we really are... I know i felt like that living in.. yes ny. However living in Israel for about a month now and being around lots of Israelis all the time now... I am starting to notice how everyone is celebrating the same holidays as I. I am starting to realize that I am no longer a minority. That I am a part of something a lot bigger rather than just being another randomite.. And I am not just referring to the religious people living in my hood ...obviously I'm specifically referring to the secular Israel's. Going to the mall, going to the beach, shopping in all types of stores ie linens, kitchen ware, going to the grocery store, getting manicure  eating in diff restaurants,  getting gas, yes the kotel etc... you see all different types of Israelis and when they wish you a Shana Tova or chag sameach you start to realize .. hey this is strange I'm part of these people. I belong to them and they belong with me. I may not literally understand them :-) but I am starting to understand that I am part of them and that theres a bigger picture here. There's a country ( six million ..i think)full of people that share the same religion / customs as me. You may not think that's wild but what really blows me away is that these people not only share my religion but they literally put there life on the line to protect me and everyone else living in this country. So the next time I/you feel that.. hey we are just another dot in this world think of all the people living in this country there's plenty of them just like you. To be in line with the holiday we are in ...I bring to the light that us Jews consists of many different types ...just like the arba minim. Enjoy your chag and know you are not the minority.... at least not in the Holy Land!

Blog#10 adjusting?!#$@

When people ask me how I am adjusting to my aliyah I just say OK. I don't think they really want to know all my gripes and complaints. Additionally I don't think my fellow blog readers either want to know. In general I don't think most people really care about other peoples issues when inquiring about people's state of mind. However I do think that it is good for people who are having a rough time to vent. Tonight I went to a nefesh bnefesh event for new olim for parents with kids in school. What adjustment they are going through and what parents can do to help. Personally I thought it was an AA meeting ..you know..small room with handful of parents. In turned out to be quite comical. The topics in my mind always concluded with how Israel has its own culture and how different Americans are. For example the lecturer mentioned how Israeli s don't have boundaries. My son told me one of the first days of school how when he put his water bottle down at the lunch table everyone started taking and drinking from it. As if it was for everyone. His expression when he told me was complete shock I reacted the same way. A lady mentioned similar story where her kid brought doritos and everyone dug their hands into her bag too. Trying to Look at that with a positive eye i guess i can tell my son that it's nice to share but we can still maintain our boundaries..Lecturer also mentioned how Israelis teachers are more emotional. Another incident where my son came home and said."mom right its not good middos to get angry and yell" I answered yes. He said well my Mora screamed at me for no reason. I did land up speaking to the teacher and clarify what may have happened. The point I'm trying to bring out is that while I am an American/Canadian and living in Israel there are challenges that I am faced with aside from the biggie of not speaking Hebrew. There are lots of cultural changes that need to be learned like why do stores close at 11and reopen at 5? Why does my car not have a gear for park? Why did the warranty guy sound like he was breaking my oven instead of connecting it? Why didnt any of the delivery guys or handy man clean up the mess they made? Why are there stores in the underground parking lots? Why does everything seem so small in this country? (Including the kitchen)
Why did I only pay 60 shekels to fix two blown out tires?

Why do I keep reaching left to turn on the light in my bedroom.??? (That's only bec I had my light switch on the left in Monsey...I wonder when my brain will stop doing that)

I have tons more Q's on the differences. But the bottom line is we are different culturally and that's something I personally wont change but can try to live with.
So when asked how i am adjusting I think the correct answer would be... yeah...adjusting.