I love it Hi Lisa!
I love Tu Bishvat. As a youngster, in the fifties, I used to go door-to-door selling trees to be planted in Israel.
This was in South Africa.
Rabbi Kunin used to lead the most wonderful Tu Bishvat Seders. If I remember correctly, we ate fruit and drank wine to commemorate each season.
I'm glad you are having such an interesting time. I wish I was with you.
I read these each time and usually do not comment but this week it is so moving and phenomenal !
I hope you have printed copies of each and every one of these to keep for posterity !
You touch on so many issues of importance and meaning and this is an amazing chronicle of your year in Israel
thanks for sharing it with us
Glenda
Love It Lisa, I have enjoyed your writing so much! Wonderful descriptions, and the photographs are great too. The red anemones are permanently in my mind's eye.
Wow, Lisa, I loved your Steinbeck quote. So evocative. And I wish I had stuck around for Purim. Sounds amazing as does the wedding. Am looking forward to hearing about Bethlehem, in fact I always look forward to your blog posts.
So Many Adventures Lisa, it's always great fun reading your reports. This one was so full of contrast -- from Purim madness to serious discussion with your fellow students. Israel is getting a lot of rain and so is San Diego! So we both get to experience a beautiful spring. Shalom, Marjory
appreciating you Hi Lisa, another beautiful description of wonderful and unusual opportunities. I can't imagine Israelis on a silent retreat!!! But I'm glad it was so energizing to you. In this posting, I was particularly struck by your global understanding of what each of us wants - to be loved, appreciated, to make a difference, to transcend our limitations. That is enough to think about for eternity. Thank G-d we each have a lifetime to begin to unravel this truth. When you return, I will miss your postings but I will welcome you back to enrich my life and our community! Enjoy this potential-filled season of approach to Pesach. Lenore
the ocean Lisa - you should have seen the ocean here today! It was wild. There were white caps as far as the eye could see and HUGE waves crashing on the shore. It was so windy. We had guests in from out of town so we were walking along the path above the ocean in p.b. and I had to wear 2 jackets!
Mort Mandel is from my home town - Cleveland. They are to Cleveland as the Jacobs are to San Diego. Terrific philanthropists. It's so great that he gets nachus from his program!!
The half way point is always interesting--I find it gives me renewed vigor for the place I am in. I start to feel as though my time is running out and I really need to make the best of it. It's always good when the halfway point arrives BEFORE you start to get complacent with the place you're in, or before you feel too homesick!
Hi Rabbi Lisa! I have not been following your blog- trying to catch up now. I have never seen almonds growing- that is so cool. We were just talking about Tu B'Shvat at CBI and how the sap is stirring in the almond trees in Israel...
I am very interested in the part about how best to acknowledge and react to resistance! I think it can be applied in so many aspects of life, and it's something I still struggle with. Would love to hear what you have to say!
I am loving the birthday of trees. I can only imagine how lovely a grove of almond trees must be!
I found your experience at the school very surprising--but I guess it sort of mirrors the view of a lot of countries towards Americans. Irish people find it odd that Irish-Americans consider themselves "Irish" and want to connect with their roots. Maybe the teens feel protective and posessive of their country--maybe they feel that Americans are so fortunate already, why should Americans take some part of Israel as well if the Israeli students aren't given the opportunity to get to know Jewish Americans or visit America in the same way? I'm curious to know the details of what they said. But like you said, teens tend to have very strong and fickle opinions--I'll be curious to know whether you hear from Sagiv how their opinions change over the course of the lesson.
My new favorite holiday Lisa--how long have the Israelis been keeping this secret holiday celebrating the eating of fruit from the rest of us? The birthday of trees!?!? I think I definitely belong in Israel. AMAZING. I'm so loving this blog of yours--and I'm so happy that you are really sucking the marrow out of your time there. Every week is a new adventure! Keep up the fantastic work, and please please please eat some extra fruit for me. xoxo
Thanks Lisa! You always know I'm on the lookout for new books. The one you described by Rabbi Jill Jacobs reminds me of the class we did together awhile back. I just ordered it and will report back. Maybe we can do another class next year!! Thanks for your beautiful writing. Your blogs give me a mini-shabbat when I take a deep breath and read about your life in Israel. Love, Marjory
Looking forward to seeing you! Hi Lisa! I just love reading your blog entries. I particularly enjoyed the fruit pics, can't wait to pick some pomelos when I am there next week!!!! Disappointed that warm weather is going away but I rented an apartment with heating so hoping for the best. Otherwise, I have no shortage of gloves, scarves and sweaters! The important thing is I will be in Jerusalem.
Also enjoyed reading about your eclectic reading. Reminded me of my own.
Can't wait to see you!
Another great description of your life there--your walking tours sound excellent! When I eventually make it to Israel, I'm borrowing that book from you. And it sounds like you're reading Wild Swans--no? How did you come across it? A friend of mine recommended it to me several years ago and I loved learning about china through that lens. Eager to hear your final opinion! xoxo
Happy 2010! Lisa, I always love reading your messages. You are such a beautiful writer. Thank you for keeping in touch with us all. I wish you a joyful, happy year! Marjory
Lisa, this is such a beautiful entry to your blog. I hope 2010 brings you even more peace, happiness, and love than 2009--you have an incredible gift of sharing those with others! xoxo
Wow! What an amazing adventure you had. Sounds like your trip was very well-planned. How long were you gone? So excited I will be there in a little over three weeks, G-d willing!
Beautiful Travel Log! Lisa, How wonderful it was to read your about your trip and see all the spectacular photos! Your new trimester is beginning while everyone here is winding down. How interesting. All the very best, Marjory
fabulous photos LOVED these photos - amazing that your parents came and looks like you all had a wonderful time together.
Enjoy it all
Best wishes
Glenda
celia fine
non-member comment
I love it
Hi Lisa! I love Tu Bishvat. As a youngster, in the fifties, I used to go door-to-door selling trees to be planted in Israel. This was in South Africa. Rabbi Kunin used to lead the most wonderful Tu Bishvat Seders. If I remember correctly, we ate fruit and drank wine to commemorate each season. I'm glad you are having such an interesting time. I wish I was with you.