Life in Eretz Israel...for us!

This morning, I'm looking out at the rain soaked plains of the Ramat Golan (upper Golan, near Mt. Hermon).  The earth is a deep reddish brown color, the area smells of moisture, eucalyptus, fresh apple scents, and occasionally a lavender smell.  Herds of cattle are bellowing and the birds are singing, many birds are singing, seemingly thousands of them.  Israel is on a migratory path between Europe and Africa, so the varieties of birds here are amazing.  We are truly enjoying the peaceful environs of our Kibbutz.  It really is like living in the countryside in other nations.

The eastern sky is just beginning to light up and bathe the tops of the trees in a beautiful orange light, beckoning life to begin again.  And so it does for us too.  I'm up having coffee, my wife is showering, and then I'll say my morning prayers.    We will head off to Ulpan, which consumes most of our days now, with classes, homework, and studying.  The closest supermarket is about 15 minutes from our home, in Katzrin, so we tend to buy provisions after class.  The Kibbutz has a 7-11 style store, but with a very limited selection of goods, so we limit our shopping there.

It would be very difficult not to have a car in the Golan, as everything "is spread out so far and wide" to borrow a "Green Acres" theme line.  We feel fortunate to have a car, so we pick up as many hitchhiking soldiers and locals as we can to share our good fortune.  Yesterday, we picked up a soldier on the way home from class, and it was lightly raining.  We drove him up a steep road to his IDF base situated atop a hill that overlooks the border with Syria.  It was quite fascinating to see, up close, the array of electronic equipment that the IDF deploys on these installations.  There is a similar installation on a very high hill right behind our home, but it is difficult to see much, because it is so high up.  Anyway, we thanked the soldier for his service and wished him  Shana Tova.  As we drove away, we were left with a comforting feeling that G_d provides such young people with the fortitude to protect their fellow Jews from harm's way.

We  feel G_d's hand on all things here, and we are adjusting to that realization, accordingly.  We miss our families in the States, but we also know that we are of benefit to them, here.  Prayer is a powerful tool, when we turn and face G_d.  We wish you all a happy and safe New Year and may you all be inscribed in the Book of Life for the coming year.  Shalom!