Shachar

Dateline Jerusalem – My father, may he rest in peace, was a mathematician. His high school year book said, "Even the waves in his hair are arranged mathematically." His classmates referred to him as "genius" and "Mr. Einstein." Not only did he have a genius IQ, but he had common sense, a trait that does not always go hand-in-hand with intelligence. He never was arrogant about his brilliance. His analysis of current events, politics and life in general was thought out methodically and logically. Although we did not always agree politically, I admired him for his insight.

Dateline Jerusalem – I love the end of the week, as Shabbat is welcomed in Israel. Here, strangers greet you on the street, wishing you a "Shabbat Shalom," a peaceful Shabbat (Sabbath). It is not unusual for people making announcements in synagogues, inviting friends, and strangers, to join them for a Shabbat dinner or lunch. No one should spend Shabbat without family and friends. It is the perfect time for complete strangers to meet, to become lifetime friends.

Dateline Jerusalem – The often hot, arid and dry Israel whose water level is so dangerously low as to necessitate water rationing, artificial dams and desalination plants has become a cold, rainy and wet Israel this past week.

Dateline Jerusalem – I am enraged when I hear or read that Israel is an apartheid state.

Dateline Jerusalem – Only in Israel. Whenever I go supermarket shopping, I have my purchases delivered because I do not own a car. One of the deliverymen realized I was in the process of moving. He offered to take my boxes from the old apartment to the new because he owned a van.

Dateline Jerusalem – My sinuses work overtime when the barometric pressure changes. I seem to know a day or two in advance of an upcoming rainstorm.

Dateline Jerusalem – "Chanukah, oh Hanukkah, come light the menorah (candelabra), let's have a party, we'll all dance the hora, gather 'round the table, we'll all have a treat, sivivon (Hebrew for dreidels or spinning tops in English) to play with, and latkes (fried potato pancakes, but the Israeli tradition is sufganiot, deep-fried jelly donuts) to eat, and while we are playing/dancing, the candles are burning bright/low (depending on the version), one for each night, they shed a sweet light, to remind us of days long ago." Chanukkah or Hanukah (so far I have spelled it four different ways) is a Hebrew word meaning "dedication." Because the Hebrew alphabet is unlike English, the transliteration into English letters can result in several ways of spelling a word. This is why it is not unusual to observe different spellings of a street name on the signs of all four corners of an Israeli intersection.

Dateline Jerusalem – I am exhausted trying to pack and get myself ready for next week's move to a new apartment.

Dateline Jerusalem – Hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day. Every day is Thanksgiving Day in Israel. We might not celebrate with turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie, but we say blessings and prayers. We thank G-d for our very existence, especially because we are surrounded by enemies.