One year and one day ago we made aliyah on NBN’s Chanuka 5766 flight (lit candles for the third day of Chanuka in Kennedy Aiport, for the fourth day in Kochav Yaakov). Though I am too busy to write anything substantial in commemoration, I did put together a little list of every-day things for which I am appreciative that I live in Israel (in addition to the mitzva of living here, yishuv ha’aretz, etc).
- Mincha in the Supermarket
- No one knows about Christmas or “New Years”
- Frum morning talk radio (Yedidya Me’ir on Radio Kol Chai)
- On vacation or in town I don’t have to plan every meal in advance (or just eat tuna), since there will be some kosher restaurant near wherever I am going
- I called up my land-lord (who is also a rabbi, talmud-torah, principle, shochet, sofer, etc) to ask a halachic question, and he in turned called up Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (shlit”a, former Sefardic chief rabbi of Israel) while I waited on the other line, to ask him my question
- The selection at the bakery in Adam on Friday mornings (gotta love that honey challah!)
- When it is a holiday or erev Shabbat, everyone (regardless of presence of kippah or pants/skirt) wishes you a happy holiday or Shabbat Shalom
- Driving down the highway the other day, the signs on the side of the road said “Happy Chanuka from Kvish Shesh (highway six)”
- When I go to the supermarket, every food item there is kosher. I do not have to go to the small Empire-only section of the refrigerated aisle to get my meat. I just go up the the main butcher counter.
- Massov Shawara
- I drive past Jaffa Gate on my morning commute a few times a week
- Friday morning Shabbat Halacha call-in hour on Radio Kol Chai with Rav Avraham Yosef, Rav of Holon (and son of Rav Ovadia)
- When I buy something in the makolet after Wednesday, R’ David who at the register always says “lechavod Shabbat Kodesh” (in honor of Shabbat)
- The official opening time of the makolet every morning is אחר תפילת הנץ (after the dawn-prayer service)
- When I face Yerushalayim, I am facing South.
That’s all for now. Have anything to add Shoshana, Yael, WestBankMama, Pinchas, Jameel, Joe, Ze’ev or Beth?
December 19th, 2006 at 14:23
Please explain #15
December 19th, 2006 at 14:32
Not that there is anything wrong with facing East if you happen to be West of Yerushalayim. It is just that you get so used to certain things in life (facing East when praying, for example), that it is easy to forget what is important (facing Yerushalayim, the Beit haMikdash), and focus more on the means (facing East) as an end unto itself. I feel this more now that Yerushalayim is located to the South of me.
December 19th, 2006 at 17:19
According to Bava Batra 25b, one who desires wisdom should pray towards the south. I wondered if you were referring to that.