Dateline Jerusalem – I am home in Israel at last, having traveled more than 8,000 miles over the Polar Route from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv. Much to my surprise, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) did not perform its usual invasive physical search of my body this time.

As my trip to the U.S. is coming to an end, I have mixed emotions. I am anxious to return to my home in Israel next week to celebrate my fifth anniversary as a new immigrant in the country of my ancestors. On the other hand, I am saddened that I must do so alone since my family lives over 7500 miles away from me, 15 1/2 hours via a non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv.

Dateline Jerusalem — It has been a week since I arrived back in California to go to a wedding and to visit family and friends. As a shopaholic, the only thing that prevents me from buying out a department store is that I have gotten so fat nothing fits. The sales and bargain racks tease me.

Dateline Jerusalem — After an uneventful 15½-hour non-stop flight from Tel Aviv, thank G-d, I have arrived back in California in time for an earthquake off the coast of Malibu. I must admit I was so exhausted by the time I landed in Los Angeles I did not even feel the quake.

Dateline Jerusalem — I was once asked if every week there is a holiday in Israel. It seems as though I am always writing about celebrations and holidays. But it is hard to avoid because so much of Israeli life is associated with Jewish religious observances, events related to Israel's existence and the Jewish people.

Dateline Jerusalem — It is 1:30 a.m. as I write this, and the aroma of exotic spices and fragrant dishes permeate the air while I sit in my apartment adjusting to the heat of the soon-to-be summer.

Dateline Jerusalem — Sometimes I am frustrated by the 10-hour time difference between Israel and Los Angeles. It always seems that in order for family and friends to contact me when they are not at work or when I am not sleeping or I am at home, I am not permitted a good night's sleep. When I get calls at 4 a.m. in Israel, it is 6 p.m. in L.A., and I am told “But we knew you would be awake.”

Dateline Jerusalem — The last time I visited Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem was several years ago for a ceremony honoring Israeli paratroopers who had just finished a grueling 90K two-day run in full gear carrying heavy equipment. The location was significant for two reasons. It was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Six-Day War in 1967 and because a small brigade of paratroopers – the majority were “grunts,” of insignificant rank, whose commanders were first to be slain – managed against all odds to conquer the Ammunition Hill stronghold from the Jordanian Bedouin Army, enabling Israel to liberate the divided city of Jerusalem.

Dateline Jerusalem — This week,
immediately after 24 hours of sadness during
Remembrance Day, Israel experienced 24
hours of joy in the celebration of Israeli
Independence Day. Similar to last week's
observance of Yom HaShoah, the entire
country came to a standstill again when
sirens screamed Tuesday night and
Wednesday morning and pedestrians stood
at attention while vehicles and trains came to
an abrupt halt to honor 23,000 civilian victims
of terror and soldiers who lost their lives
defending the State of Israel. Unfortunately,
another 126 victims were added to the list
since last year.

Dateline Jerusalem — Sundown Wednesday to sundown Thursday was Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Day, the shortened name version of Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Day in Israel.