Tuesday, August 30, 2011

This and That Around Town

Seems like every place in Israel is UP! And this is the half-way mark!



Fire on the hill behind our daughter's house! That night Pesach started and she had quite the mess to clean up. In putting the fire out the firemen sprayed the house (open windows) Everything smelled burnt for quite some time.
Two streets honoring two great US Presidents.
Think we'll see Obama Lane anytime soon??




Milk sold in 1 liter bags. Imagine having 5 teenagers and buying enough milk!  We had to shop every day when we first made Aliyah in '89. We were used to buying in gallons...!!

The famous 'Son-in-Laws-Wings' on our teeny-tiny Israeli grill


Sheep outside our village
The Bedouin Shepherds who wanted 4 shekels for taking their photo (they got ice cream instead and a copy of the picture)

Haven't we seen this little guy in the States dressed in red sometime in December?

Our Favorite 'Beggar'

Rolos in Israel means we get a great snack! Place one Rolo on each pretzel. Warm a few seconds in the oven. Press one pecan on each and 'squish'. Let cool and ENJOY!


Girls scores~ won't show the Boys scores since they lost :-) Did I mention is was bumper bowling?
Fabric from a friend to make linens for the orphans. Don't forget to make your donation!~ Help them keep their home!                                                                                                           http://www.rootfunding.com/campaign/1526


A Safe Place

The anti-Israel, anti-Jewish outcry is getting louder and more insistent. Governments are being shaken and foundations are shifting. Most of what we have depended on and taken for granted is falling away. The positive side of this?  Many Jewish people are considering making Aliyah. Because of this The 2 Spies is reposting this article from last November. Be encouarged~ you are moving into G-d's best for you!


 Back when I was a child, which was some time ago, we lived in neighborhoods that were quite safe. I actually lived in a house very much like this one.... including the color! Everyone knew each other. We could walk to the local park alone and play all day with our friends, coming home when the noon whistle sounded for lunch. We stayed out with our friends playing 'until the streetlights came on' -- our signal it was time to go home. We walked each other  to and from school each day.  In the unforeseen circumstance that a child got sick or hurt, or another child was picking a fight;  there were 'safe places' sprinkled throughout the area. These were homes had been approved by the police and had a sign in the window signaling to us children that they were a 'safe place' should we need help. Inside, we would find someone, usually a mother, who would give us the needed band-aid, drink of water or use of the toilet. If necessary, she would call our house and let our mother know that we were there. It was very reassuring as a child to know that these 'safe places' were there for me should I get hurt or worse, should a bully bother me.

Usually, our lives roll along without too many bumps on our journey. We can handle most of the problems that come our way. If the situation in our country stays relatively 'sane', we are able to go with the flow. For many, however, the 'climate' in our countries is changing. There is an increase in anti-Jewish sentiment to the point of becoming dangerous. The new antisemitism is being voiced as anti-Israel. There has been an upswing in violent anti-Israel (re: anti-Jewish) out-lash that it is almost frightening. BUT, like when we were children, in the back of our minds there is the 'safe place' to where we can run for help if needed ~ Israel. We tough it out in our home countries, not really wanting to believe that things are as bad as they are BUT if it is THAT bad, we reason,  there is always Israel.

The 2 Spies would like to challenge this line of thinking:

G-d never intended for Israel to be our 'fall-back' plan~ the just in case we lose it all, if it gets too uncomfortable, should we lose everything, run to the 'safe place' plan. This thinking makes a judgment that the nations have more to offer us from the get-go than G-d's promise of Israel. Israel is G-d's first best. It is His only 'best'. If you are Jewish, there is a destiny waiting to be fulfilled for you that will not happen any place else other than in Israel. Israel is a 'safe place' because that is where your future is written.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Gilad Shalit

This day in History:28 August 1986-Gilad Schalit
(גלעד שליט),was born. 
He is an IDF soldier who was kidnapped from Israel by Hamas.
Gilad is held in Gaza Strip since 25 June 2006.
We pray that you will be free soon!



Gilad in Captivity




When Gilad was 11 years old he wrote a story about a shark and a fish.  8 Years later he was captured by Palestinian terrorists. Below, listen to children reading Gilad's story and his heart for peace.