As we read Parashat Noah last week, I thought about Hashem giving Noah specific instructions for building the ark. Hashem commanded Noah to construct the ark to protect his family and the living beings. Forty days and nights later, once the flood subsided, Noah and his sons left the ark, given a fresh start to build their new homes.
 
When we made aliyah, we also had a fresh start. We crea...

It’s been 19 years since my husband and I made Aliyah from Toronto with our 6 children. Building a new life for us and our family in a new country had its ups and downs, but choosing Israel as our home has been a decision filled with joy and gratitude. With the rich spirit of the Jewish people, the delight of celebrating our holidays, and a deep love for the land of Israel, our journey ha...

Imagine standing at the door of your beautiful new home in Israel, receiving the keys, ready to open the lock. You have flutterings in your stomach with all the anticipation built up over the past months.  Will your home in Eretz Yisrael have all the comfort and elegance you envision? Perhaps it’s similar to our ancestors' feeling, standing at the foot of Mt. Sinai waiting to r...

This year, Israel’s Independence Day will be different. It will be more subdued without the complete festivities that we’ve seen in the past. However, we will still mark the occasion. We will reach inside ourselves and express our joy, knowing that we have a Jewish state—our homeland, which Hashem has given us. Our birthright of Israel was reinforced when we witnessed a mirac...

The uniqueness of Jerusalem is captured in it's beauty. A beauty that is seen through different eyes, felt through different hearts and internalized through different souls with so many commonalities that inspire us all. Jerusalem is the the heart of the world.  The city pulses with life, vitality and a fiery and beautiful energy. At times feeling intense and at times so deeply q...