[img]96|left|||no_popup[/img] Dateline Jerusalem — I am blessed with a wonderful family and terrific friends. I grew up in the U.S. and now live in Israel, the two greatest countries in the world. Again, my life has been blessed. And although it may sometimes seem like I complain in my writings, I am only describing life as I see it. In my eyes it is a wondrous, glorious life that is not perfect, but as close to heaven as it can be for me.

Everything is a matter of perception. Often I receive comments about my writings, and I am totally amazed how one person's perception can be 180 degrees divergent from the perception of another for the same writing. Sometimes I am told I am such an optimist and the next comment tells me I am such a pessimist. Is my writing so confusing that there is such a broad spectrum of interpretation? Therefore, I have decided to set the record straight, from my point of view, of what life is like here in Israel. Heavenly!

Although Israel is in a constant state of alert, surrounded by enemies, I often feel safer here than I do in the U.S. I can walk home alone in the middle of the night and not be afraid of rape, murder or great bodily injury. My friends allow their children to walk alone to the park, the market, and school without worry of kidnapping or molestation. In the States I was afraid of my shadow, and I used to be a cop! Although there are burglaries, no one ever hears of home invasion robberies or car-jackings here. Usually crime is not of the violent type, unless perpetrated by terrorists.

The “land of milk and honey” is just that, a desert transformed into a land of agricultural abundance. But the honey referred to in the Bible comes from the sweet dripping sap of ripening dates growing in giant clusters hanging from date palm trees and from the sweetness seeping out of overripe figs, not from bees. The milk referred to was the milk dripping from goats grazing under the shade of those fruit trees.

Although Israel is a desert, it often looks like a tropical isle with a variety of species of palm trees swaying in the breeze and the clear turquoise and aqua water of the Mediterranean Sea lapping the pristine white beaches along Israel's shoreline with sand so fine it looks like powder. Even inland, there are a myriad of palm and date palm trees gracing the landscape of the county. There are almost 3,000 known species of plants, flowers and trees endemic to Israel. Another bit of trivia: Israel supplies most of the flowers imported by Europe.

Israel's beauty is more than just scenery. The history of the land bares itself in all its glory as past and present come together when ancient artifacts are found in the soil next to modern buildings. When I travel the country visiting famous religious and archaeological sites, I feel as though I am living history. All the while, my imagination runs wild. It is as though I am in a time warp, traveling from one century to another, experiencing things as did my ancestors. It is an indescribable feeling.

Being in Israel gives me goosebumps, shivers, tears in my eyes. I feel as though I have come home, home to the land promised to my people by Hashem (G-d). There is a calm, a stillness in the air, the sensation of being in G-d's presence at all times. Despite the hardships of living here, I cannot help but feel my soul is at peace in Israel. That is worth everything I have experienced that might be perceived by some as a complaint.

I wish to make this perfectly clear: I am very happy living in Israel.

L'Shana tova — wishing everyone a sweet, safe, happy, healthy, and wonderful year.

L'hitraot. Shachar.