Thoughts from the recesses of my mind...

ChossidMom

Wed, Jan 16 2008, 5:29 am

I don't know if this is the place to post this, but I just wanted to tell you about what I did yesterday.

In the morning I told my husband "Today is the day for Parshas Hamon". A little while later he comes in and says to me, "What do you say - we take the kids up to Meron to daven?".

So, we put the 2 little ones at a babysitter and took our 3 big ones up to Meron to daven by the Kever of the Rashbi.

As we approaced the building, I heard a darbuka being played and also the ululululululululu sound Sfardis make. Obviously there was a chalakeh taking place (upsherin by some...). We came in and there were tables laid out with food and the cutest little 3 year old sitting in the Kisei shel Eliyahu that they use for Britot. They were singing and throwing candies. I went over and sat down and started to daven. The whole time there were the sounds of the chalakes that kept happening. Different songs, same sentiment. Sfardim, Ashkenazim, one Chassidish family. It was so beautiful and inspiring to say Tehillim with that in the background.
There were women milling around - some in pants, some frum ones, one who looked like a tourist from Boro Park with her blond shaitel and Burberry scarf. I love watching all the different kinds of Jews who come to places like Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai's grave. Am echad.

Then I heard the sfardim singing "Bar Yochai", which is one of my all time favorites. And I just sat there and kept saying Tehillim.

It was a very inspirational evening (albeit a freezing cold one) and I realized that I am one lucky person to have the zchus to live in E"Y and be able to just hop in the car and go daven in a place like that, where so many Yeshuos are said to happen.

Thanks for listening and may all our prayers be answered!!!

HooRYou

Wed, Jan 16 2008, 5:39 am

That was really beautiful. Thank you for sharing. The only thing I want to say is next time please take me with you!

BeershevaBubby

Wed, Jan 16 2008, 5:49 am

I so love this about the country...

When my DH had a car through work, Fridays became our 'get into the car and drive' day. We'd pick a general direction, pack our cameras, some nosh and some drinks and off we'd go with the caveat we'd be home by 2... which really meant 2:30 most of the time.

I made a couple slide shows of photos I took. One is heading north along Route 90 (Jordan Vally) from Maale Ephraim to Tiberias.

The other slide show features some photos taken from my porch, then photos of the Old City, various people from the Sukkot Kite festival in Pnei Kedem, the Shuk, my cousins and other kids from the Yishuv and then more scenic photos from the Yishuv.

Lechatchila Ariber

Wed, Jan 16 2008, 6:16 am

wow, you have some pretty amazing photos there.
Do you ever blow them up and frame them? Some of them look like paintings. That photo of the blossom tree with the two women or girls standing under it would go well printed on canvas.

mali

Wed, Jan 16 2008, 6:17 am

Kmelion, these are gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing Smile

frayda

Wed, Jan 16 2008, 12:48 pm

Wow Kmelion, those were beautiful slide shows! I can just imagine the drive!

About Meron, I feel fortunate that I live only a short drive away from there. When we made our son's upsherin, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when all I brought there was a small Tzizit cake I made and some cupcakes. It seems like every other person that was there wanted to take part in it - and the whole cake ended up being devoured! My poor son didn't even get a piece. Every time my husband would give him one, someone else would take it! Luckily, he was too busy to notice.

greenfire

Wed, Jan 16 2008, 1:09 pm

thanks for recess Wink

... while I've never been to eretz yisroel ... it does sound amazing !!!

Squash

Wed, Jan 16 2008, 1:50 pm

Thanks for sharing that chosidmom. May all your tefilos be answered l'tovah.

You really are lucky to be able to do that. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed with longing to be able to go to the kosel and pour out my heart........ may we all be zoche to greet moshiach very soon.