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4 items tagged "Aliya and Shabbat"

August 18, 2008
11:10
The Night before Aliya
» ‎ The Muqata

This coming Monday morning, at 10:30 AM, another few hundred North American Jews will arrive at the JFK airport in preparation for their flight home.

Its now slightly after 1 AM in NY, and I'm honestly very excited for the privilege to join this flight. I recall almost 18 years ago, the night before I moved to Israel. I couldn't sleep. Tossing and turning with anticipation, excitement, and a bit of trepidation, I could barely squash the jumble of thoughts which prevented me from sleeping.

Songs danced around in my head. Homeward Bound, ושבו בנים, Take me home, אם אשכח ירושלים, and so many others.

In the end, I didn't sleep. It was too much. I didn't sleep on the plane either...all the way home to Israel -- It was far too exhilarating.

But that was almost 18 years ago.

I spoke to one of the families tonight that I will be escorting home on tomorrow's flight. They had already put their kids to sleep, and were very excited about the flight...the culmination of their planning, hopes and dreams to return home.

Please join me over the next few days as I blog about 2 families and their journey home.

My thanks to Nefesh b'Nefesh and Webads for arranging this special trip.

--Jameel

PS; And special, special thanks to my wife and children, for their understanding -- while I "disappeared" for a few days to accompany this special flight.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
July 28, 2008
16:27
Reserved for Family: Shabbat
» ‎ The Muqata

Kudos to blog-friend Jacob Richman for scanning-in this newspaper-giveaway from this past Friday's Yediot Achronot newspaper, sponsored by the supermarket chain SuperSol and the Yediot newspaper.

The message: Shabbat is Reserved for family.

Talk, Laugh and Eat together. The one day of the week that you can sit with the family and reconnect. Friday Night: Reserved for the Family.

On the flip side of the flier is Friday Night's kiddush, including a small footnote to "please treat this flier with the necessary respect" (as it has kiddush printed on it, and they even ensured that G-d's name isn't spelled out on it).

Jacob wrote to me saying,
"On Friday afternoons, I buy several newspapers including Hebrew ones. Every so often, the Hebrew newspapers include a special insert.

If we get a new Israeli president there will be a picture of him; if a sports team or sports individual wins a championship there may be a picture of him / her; before Passover you can find a free Hagaddah; and before Israel Independence Day there is a large flag folded inside the paper.

This past Friday (July 25), there was a small glossy, two-sided flyer in the Yediot Achronot newspaper.

After close to 24 years in Israel, I still find nice surprises in the most unexpected places."

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
July 21, 2008
17:38
Muqata RoundTripping: Israel, NYC, Israel
» ‎ The Muqata

A few years back I had some cool ideas for livening up the JBlogosphere. I managed to implement a few; the Purim parody carnival or the Purim collaborative Purim Podcast, yet others never got off the drawing board (like the JBlogosphere Game Show idea, which I think is still a great idea, but don't have the time or advertising cash to make it happen yet).

And then...this opportunity drops into my lap. Not only is it completely in tandem with my blog's goals and aspirations of promoting the good things about Israel, love for the land, and a general feeling of connection -- but the idea spans many blogs and bloggers.

Nefesh b'Nefesh has offered to send me and other JBloggers to the US (and return back) on one of their aliya flights -- to accompany an oleh family and blog their experience before leaving, during the flight, and at the welcome-home reception at Ben-Gurion airport. In addition to helping share their personal aliya, there will be a JBlogger conference in Yerushalayim the next day.

I'm not listed yet on any conference panels...because I haven't yet figured out how to keep the yellow smiley face on my head for so long...

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
July 10, 2008
15:33
Hosting Guests for Shabbat in Israel
» ‎ The Muqata

Way back when I was learning in Yeshiva in Israel, one of the most memorable experiences was going to different families for Shabbat -- to meet "real" Israeli families.

I had a list from my parents of their friends that had moved to Israel and of Israeli relatives that I was told I could try and invite myself over to them for Shabbat. Some were easier and more receptive than others. I recall one particular family that spoke on and on about their love of Israel, and spoke to me often about why the most correct place for a Jew to live, is in Israel.

Yet the actual number of places I ended up spending Shabbat was rather limited, since it was hard to find families all over the place that I could "invite myself over to" for Shabbat.

Today, it's a different story.

The "Anywhere in Israel" program allows intrepid yeshiva or Sem students to chose places that interest THEM; the students can pick from a wide range of communities and locations and the "Anywhere in Israel" program takes care of the rest. Personally, I wish such a program existed when I was studying here.

Does it work? As hosts, we've had mixed experiences. Some of those who came were very well mannered, were very inquisitive about living here, and we had a wonderful time hosting them. Some times were very disappointing; we had Sem students stay by us who spent the entire Shabbat in their room, emerging from hibernation only for meals -- and then they were extremely introverted. While I don't define myself as being overly garrulous, I can usually put most people at ease and have a discussion with them about close to anything. Not with some of these people. The "Anywhere in Israel" hosts are not really interested in just being a Shabbat hotel, but are interested in interacting with their guests!

Helpful Tips for "Anywhere in Israel" guests:

- Don't hibernate away in your PJs all Shabbat. If you don't know your hosts, it's rather rude to treat people's hospitality as if their home is a hotel.

- It's polite behavior to offer to help with things before Shabbat. Even if your help isn't needed, the offer is polite and a nice gesture on your part.

- If you can, shower before you arrive; not everyone has around the clock hot-water.

Overall, we had very nice experiences with the program. I highly advise it for Israeli families as well as for Yeshiva/Sem students if you want to get out and tour the land, learn about the people here and see what it's such a great place.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

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4 items tagged "Aliya and Shabbat"

The Night before Aliya

Reserved for Family: Shabbat

Muqata RoundTripping: Israel, NYC, Israel

Hosting Guests for Shabbat in Israel