Dateline Jerusalem — “Summertime, and the livin' is easy” — the George Gershwin music from “Porgy and Bess” — was the lullaby that I sang to my children and then to my granddaughter to “hush” and soothe them when they were babies.
War in Israel Looks Imminent, and No One Will Help Us
Dateline Jerusalem — Today the siren went off, and my entire office in Jerusalem had to scramble to “safety” — to the bomb shelter in the building. Problem was that no one heard the siren but me. I only heard it because I sit by an outer window, which was open, and I knew when the siren was supposed to go off.
The shelter turned out to be a “safe” room across the hall.
Almost Two Years on, Still Plenty of New Customs to Get Used to
Dateline Jerusalem — To describe a supermarket in Israel, one must put emphasis on the “super.”
It is sort of a Costco without the need to buy in quantities.
There are always sales. Other than a few items, the prices are comparable to the U.S. or less expensive. They are located inside the mall or in large shopping centers.
The Uniquely Vivid Beauty of an Early Morning Ride to Work
Dateline Jerusalem — It is 7 a.m., and I left my home 15 minutes ago.
My job does not start until 9.
I am on my way to work via a comfortable, air conditioned “tour” bus with brightly colored corduroy velvet padded seats.
The trip to Jerusalem in the morning has views of orange groves (Rehovot is the citrus capitol of Israel), grapevines, olive trees, acres of land planted with rows of corn and onions, tomatoes grown above ground in greenhouses, sunflowers, and beautiful flowers the names of which are unknown to me.
How to Make a Holiday Colorfully Come Alive Through Blazing Fires
Dateline Jerusalem — As Israel's Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) often is referred to as “BBQ Day,” Lag B'Omer is “Bonfire and BBQ Day.”
One Place Where the Sight of Gun-Toting Soldiers Is Welcome
[Editor’s Note: Due to technical difficulties, “Our Eyes in Israel” did not appear in last Friday’s edition. Ms. Shachar will resume her regular schedule in tomorrow’s edition.]
One More War and Further Losses to Mourn on Memorial Day
Dateline Jerusalem — Last week was Holocaust Memorial and Remembrance Day.
This week, Israel's Memorial Day also was observed with blaring sirens and
traffic at a standstill to honor those who lost their lives during the 8 “official” wars Israel
experienced during its short existence of 61 years, and to pay their respects to
the victims of terrorism.
Memorial Day in Israel Means Every Person Comes to a Stop and Reflects, Deeply
Dateline Jerusalem — I write this Monday night, on the eve of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance and Memorial Day.
Next week Israel will celebrate its 61st anniversary as the State of Israel, and the day before will observe Israel's Memorial Day, commemorating those who lost their lives in Israel's continual fight for its existence and for the victims of terrorism.
Very few survivors of the Holocaust, where over six million Jewish men, women and children were murdered, are still alive today.
Let Me Tell You About My Life in a Highly Desirable Community
Dateline Jerusalem — I am often asked why I travel four hours a day by buses to and
from work five days a week.
It is exhausting. By the time I arrive home, everything is closed. Friday and
Saturday (my only days off) are not conducive to getting anything done because
everything is closed on Saturday, government offices are closed Friday, and
most businesses are shut down between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
The Many Underappreciated Freedoms That Flourish in My Adopted Country
Dateline Jerusalem — This is the season of freedom.
As I contemplate the significance of the exodus from Egypt, receiving the Torah and the responsibilities that go along with it, and the ultimate destination of the land of Israel, I am thankful for all the freedoms I have been blessed with in my lifetime.