Help for Immigrant Soldiers
09 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Good Deeds, Good News, Israeli Life, Tzalash l'Tzahal
Every once in a while I go over to the IDF blog, which I find fascinating. Today I found an article about a special liason officer who specializes in helping new immigrants deal with joining the army.
I remember the difficulities of the first year after we made aliyah, and I cannot even imagine going through this transition while serving in the army. Just learning the language is a challenge – and my most stressful time was trying to understand the tellers in the bank or the grocery check-out lady! I don’t know how I would have coped with a drill seargent yelling at me – in a foreign language.
On the other hand, I do understand the motivation of young people who want to serve. One of the many reasons to make aliyah is the bone deep connection that you feel with the other Jews who live in Israel, and the desire to contribute.
Good luck to the new olim out there who are joining Tzahal (the IDF) and don’t be shy about asking for help!
Seeing Clearly
28 Aug 2011 2 Comments
in Good Deeds, Musings
There are some Orthodox Jews who are nervous about the love of Israel expressed by Christians. They fear that there are ulterior motives behind this love, and that they just want to convert us to Christianity.
They do have a point regarding the missionaries – and we should be vigilant against them. But they are wrong to assume that the majority of Christians who love Israel are missionaries, and they are wrong to reject their overtures.
Glenn Beck was here for four days with thousands of Christians who support Israel and literally put their money where their mouth was. You can read a recap and see portions of the presentations from Restoring Courage: Part 1 and 2 from the first night, part 3, and part 4.
Carolyn Glick sums up her opinion of Glenn Beck and his courage to tell the truth. Yoel Meltzer expresses his opinion and contrasts Beck’s clear vision with Larry Derfner’s blindness.
We need to accept the help and support of those who stand for Israel, even if they are different than we are.
Good People, Doing What They Can For Israel
17 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Good Deeds, Good News, Righteous Women
Glenn Beck is already here in Israel and has visited Itamar already. There are lots of people who will join him too, including 92 year old Helen McDaniel.
Thank G-d for good people who are doing what they can for Israel. In case you haven’t heard it enough, we thank you.
Light On Our Feet
21 Mar 2011 1 Comment
in Good Deeds, Israel Pride Week
Israel is the first (outside) country to set up a field hospital in Japan to help with the thousands of injured from the earthquake and tsunami. In addition we are providing aid in the form of mattresses, blankets, coats, gloves and chemical toilets – very practical assistance in light of the fact that thousands are now homeless.
At first I was very puzzled about this. Surely other countries are just as prepared for emergencies as we are, and can offer the same help! So why are we the first?
I think it is a cultural thing. Israelis are sometimes terrible at planning ahead, and we can fight each other about small details when there is no emergency. But when there is an emergency, we are light on our feet. The red tape is cut and things get done. Individuals take the initiative, and they leave the accounting for later.
Please Help A Good Cause
14 Dec 2010 1 Comment
in Good Deeds
Bank Leumi has announced that they will donate a million shekels to a good cause – and we can choose which one. Various charities have entered the competition, and one of them is run by one of the members of my yishuv. It is called Tal Chaim, and they not only provide food for the needy, but they provide ways for these people to get out of the cycle of poverty. They provide tutoring and homework help for those who need it, and run projects that raise money for the charity and employ some of those who receive donations.
Please click on this link to see their video, and vote for Tal Chaim. You can vote once a day from each computer from now until December 27th.
Thoughts on Saying Tehillim
01 Nov 2010 6 Comments
in Good Deeds, Musings
Rutimizrachi wrote a moving post about RivkA, and she mentions her feelings at being included in the circle of people who were asked to say Tehillim (Psalms) on her behalf. “How do I get past this feeling that I am sitting on yet another death watch?” Ruti asks a friend.
This sentence got me to thinking about my own feelings about saying Tehillim. About ten years ago a boy on our yishuv had a serious accident, and the women divided up the book of Tehillim for him. I remember thinking to myself – “why do we wait for an emergency to do this, we should be saying Tehillim all of the time!” I decided then and there to say Tehillim every day. I try to finish the book once a month (and I catch up on Shabbat if I don’t get to it during the weekdays).
Which doesn’t mean that I don’t have mixed feelings about it. The intellectual side of me scoffs a bit – equating (l’havdil) saying Tehillim with other actions people do to ward off bad things – a sort of “superstition lite”. On the other hand I argue with myself that I am connecting to one of the greats in the Jewish world (for those of you who don’t know, King David was the author of the Psalms). David HaMelech knew what it meant to suffer, and shares his words with us. If others can quote great poets when in times of pain, why shouldn’t I read the words of one of my “great poets”?
I am hooked on this book emotionally too. Just a few years ago it occurred to me to ask our Rav if it was permissable to say Tehillim on Tisha B’av. I was devastated when he told me no. He had taken away my greatest comfort on this awful day!
In any case, taking a sick person off my list of who to pray for has less of a sting – because I say the Tehillim anyway every day (and yes, Ruti, there have been times where I have taken the sick person off the list because they are not sick anymore!! Saying Tehillim is not always a last resort).
Let’s See How the Media Reacts to This Story
13 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Good Deeds, Israel Update, Media matters
An Arab from Rantis (coincidentally about a ten minute drive from my house) was bitten by a snake, and was rushed to the nearest IDF checkpoint. The soldiers called over a medic who treated him, an ambulance was called and he was taken to Sheba Medical Center (Tel HaShomer) and successfully treated and cured.
I saw this on the Jerusalem Post (1). Where else will this news item be carried? Let’s keep a list….
(Readers are requested to let me know if I miss any – my email is westbankmama at fastmail dot fm).
Please Pray…
08 Feb 2010 2 Comments
in Good Deeds
Josh Williams, Sarah’s son (aka Aliyah06 from the Baka Diary blog) is at Shaarei Tzedek hospital. The doctors have induced a coma in order to control the siezures he has been having.
Please keep him in your prayers.
Man’s Best Friend Wears Combat Boots
10 Jan 2009 1 Comment
(Before I continue, I would like to express my thanks to both the American Senate and House of Representatives for passing resolutions in support of Israel and it’s fight against Hamas in Gaza.)
The IDF has restricted access to Gaza by reporters, and is censoring the information that does come out, but here and there some interesting details come out.
One of these details is the fact that the IDF is using their K9 unit to help check the houses for bombs. The bomb sniffing dogs are sent in first to make sure that the house is not booby-trapped. They are equipped with special cameras (according to one report), and even wear special coverings on their paws to protect them from broken glass and shrapnel that may be on the floor.
Can animals do mitzvot? I am not sure, but in my opinion these dogs certainly come close.
For Those of You Who Want To Help…
05 Jan 2009 Leave a Comment
I just read this on Rafi’s blog, Life in Israel. There is a project out where people can get a specific soldier’s name and dedicate his Torah learning, prayers, and good deeds for his protection.
Kol HaKavod to Rav Kook and to the Bostonner Rebbe for organizing this.
