Community Magazine November 2009

receive inspiration from their rabbis and teachers to grow spiritually so that they can go on to build families on a strong foundation of Torah and missvot . Daily Life Living in Israel can be a challenge for an American born Jew. Adapting to the Hebrew language and “Sabra” mentality can be more than a little frustrating at times. For example, it takes some time to learn to deal with the excitable personalities of taxi drivers, while enjoying the tidbits of inspiration they can provide. Products and services are also different than what we are used to. Milk cartons haven’t caught on yet here. Instead, milk is sold in bags which must be cut open and placed into a pitcher or transferred into milk jugs. Life here is far less materialistic. Many families live in small apartments with lots of children, and travel only by public transportation. Yet, the happiness emanating from every corner of their small abodes is evident on the children’s bright, jubilant faces, reminding us that true wealth is not measured by the size of one’s car. While many assume that keeping kosher in the Holy Land is easier, that’s not so in many respects. During the Shemita year, extra caution was needed when purchasing fruits and vegetables. Shemita produce must either be grown outside Israel or purchased from Arab land owners. Fruits with kedushat sheviit (containing holiness of the seventh year – grown wild in Jewish owned fields on Shemita ) may be eaten as well. But due to their holy status, no part of the fruit may be discarded while edible. As a result, families all had a special “ Shemita pail” for the leftover remains and peels of these fruit, to be left there until they rot. Some even took extra care when doing sponga (Israeli mopping) during Shemita to use substances in the water that will not benefit the ground outside. ( Sponga is the famous Israeli method of mopping the floor. Buckets of water are spilled all over the tiled floors and “spongaed” out of the house onto the street below.) Keeping Together as a Community Like the communities in New York and New Jersey, the one hundred plus American-Sephardic families around Jerusalem depend on one-another for support. The women of the community try to get together every Rosh Hodesh for a luncheon or post-supper get- together. These events are held in one of our homes and everyone takes part in the preparations. The program usually includes a fun game or panel and a short devar Torah . These get- togethers are a very important means of keeping us in touch with each other and with the community which we so dearly miss. Many families also invite yeshiva or seminary students to join their Shabbat meals. These invitations help us fill the void created by the absence of family, and also provide a “home away from home” for the students. An Atmosphere of Kedusha Last but certainly not least, a most beautiful aspect of living in Israel is the spiritual exhilaration of living in our homeland – and in close proximity to the Kotel and other holy site – which connects us to our heritage in a most profound and meaningful way. Yerushalayim has always been the center of Jewish life, and being part of its rebirth is a very special opportunity and privilege. No experience can possibly compare with these magnificent years spent in Israel. While some families may stay, others hope to return to their families in America with heightened spiritual awareness and carrying with them the special sacred quality of the Land of Israel. Milk in a Bag (served from a pitcher) Luxury Israeli Taxi Cabs Bustling Israeli Public Transportation Syrian pastries are a mainstay women’s evenings like this one at Mrs. Tunie Cohen’s home. The Famous Sponga Fixtures of Israeli Life 42 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE