In the 38 years we're here, I've considered the Shemitta years the worst, not to be sacrilegious, of course. But they have caused stress bein adam l'chavero, between man and his fellow man.

"I won't eat at your house, because..."

"And I won't eat at your house either!"

This year, signs of the Moshiach!, people have been more laid back about the different rabbinic opinions, Baruch Hashem.

The other evening there was a knock on the door. I saw one of the younger neighbors, whom I didn't really know. He asked me if he could pick some of our grapes.

"Of course you can. It's Shemitta year and everything is hefker, ownerless. Take as much as you need. Let me give you a bag."

Finally, something good about Shemitta.

We're now in the Jewish Month of Ellul, the time for reflections, as it precedes Rosh Hashannah, the Jewish New Year.  We are to search our heart and find whatever sins we may have done, between ourselves and G-d and ourselves and our fellow man.  All sins, whether intended or totally accidental.
May G-d give us the strength and good judgment.

Jewish prayers are written in the plural, "our," "we."  Yes, we're all in this together.

When I look at the news headlines, I feel sick; I worry.  They don't look good.  If this little HolyLand boat sinks, G-d forbid, it bodes bad news for all.  Nobody is immune.

We all must take the initiative, the responsibility to correct things. That doesn't mean telling others what to do.  We must all "do."

Otherwise, history will judge us as harshly as G-d will.

May G-d give us the strength and good judgment needed.

Shiloh, where Chana

Tel Shiloh and

The Tabernacle Gallery & Coffee Shop

Open every day,

even if you can't join us on Sunday.

Call 02-994-4019

One of the great myths weakening aliyah for decades has been:

"It's better to get your education and some professional experience and save money abroad, first."

Chutz L'Aretz, Not-Israel, Jewish Communities are full of good Jews who listened to their parents, teachers and rabbis, too. Most gave up their youthful, naive, idealistic dreams of aliyah. A few even tried and ended up coming back.
Make aliyah now!

For various reasons, we were in a rush to get to Israel, right after our 1970 wedding. We didn't buy any American furniture, didn't even use our entire "shipping allowance." We brought some books, clothes, non-electric kitchen supplies--like pots, dishes and cutlery, sheets, towels and that was it. My husband was a recent college graduate and I was a dropout.

Within a year of docking at Haifa Port, we were apartment owners. A simple apartment was within the budget of our immigrant mortgage and the wedding gifts, my mother told everybody to give us checks--"No tshatshkes, they're moving to Israel." We were also parents; I went straight from the hospital to our apartment with our firstborn.

We were lucky that our parents covered whatever loans we had for our education. In those days they were in the parents' names.

We became Israeli, picking up Hebrew and only knowing the Israeli ways of doing things.

Yes it was as easy as it sounds.

Friends who stayed abroad found their expenses competing with their savings, while inflation here in Israel made mockery of the little they could squirrel away. It's not all that cheap to live in America (or wherever), and you get used to "the American way."

Doctors, lawyers, dentists, accountants and nurses etc who are trained abroad still have to pass various exams here in Israel, learn Hebrew terminology and the language itself. Studying in Israel may be a little harder in the beginning, but once you get over the hump, it's lots easier than aliyah ten years or more later when you're dealing with a spouse and kids, who have their own problems.

And what about the great money myth? Today's American university students frequently finish their education owing tens of thousands of dollars. It used to be that banks were very tight with their money, only lending it to those with sufficient collateral. Now, lending is a business, big business, one of the causes for the present American recession. Telemarketers encourage loans to anyone. Credit cards offer lots of credit. Many college graduates need years to pay it all back, and some even find themselves bankrupt, because a college diploma doesn't guarantee prosperity.

If you really dream of living here in the Holy Land. If you're willing to be frugal, you can have an easier time in Israel. You'll learn Hebrew, get relevant training. You'll be part of society. Check it out!

Make aliyah now! 

I was one of the two hundred Jewish Bloggers, known as jbloggers, who met last Wednesday, August 20, at the First Annual Jewish Bloggers Convention, in the Nefesh B'Nefesh offices in Jerusalem.  It was a very enjoyable experience meeting virtual friends, acquaintances and celebrities f2f, face to face.

Yes, that's me with the creator of Dry Bones.

And Bibi is also a blogger.

I

But there's no such thing as a free lunch, and besides the aliyah agenda, which most of us are at home with, they had a spokesperson from the Foreign Ministry who spoke about "ReBranding."  In simple words, it means image-changing.  The results of recent research had them astounded.  We are perceived abroad as a dangerous, unfriendly country.

Kadima's forward-thinking Foreign Minister, Tsippi Livni, decided that what's needed is an advertising campaign. 
the more we try to please the world and imitate it, the less they like us. And they certainly don't respect us
The idea is to promote Israel as an "attractive place."  

Look closely, here's what you see to combat negative stereotypes and create the future brand and marketing image of Israel:

1. Tel Aviv Fashion Brands
2. Tel Aviv Modern Dance Troupes
3. Tel Aviv Beach Life
4. Israeli High Technology Developments
5. Tel Aviv Night Life
6. Israeli High Technology Medical Developments
7. Israeli Wine

Those are the images that Israel is going to use to sell Israel's uniqueness and specialness to the world. The campaign is being prepared and the Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is expected to sign off on the budget next month. (picture plus list and explanation from Akiva.)  Akiva left out the Foreign Ministry's aim to stress that we're the home of the three main religions.

An ad campaign won't solve our problems.  People aren't so dumb, except maybe Israeli politicians.  Few people will ever see the ads, no matter how much money is invested.  So, here are some of my suggestions, which won't cost us all that money and will probably save some.  Of course, you're invited to add your in the comments:

1. No more visits to Yad Veshem or Massada for foreign office-holders and diplomats.  Let's show a vibrant Israel, not dead Jews.
2. No more closing off streets when foreign visitors come, like Bush.  It just reinforces the "Israel isn't safe" image.  If they don't agree, so they shouldn't come.
3. Take foreign visitors to see our farms and innovative techniques.  Travel by car to stress how small the country is.
4. Israel must stop asking advice and permission from foreigners about defense.  We don't need their help.  We did better defending ourselves before America interfered.  The Six Days War, 1967, was our victory alone, plus the prayers of Jews all over the world.  Six years later, the Yom Kippur War was more difficult, because America was "helping," and things have gone downhill ever since.  A country that begs for help is weak.

Israelis once had a great reputation as strong, daring, chutzpadik!

Now, the more we try to please the world and imitate it, the less they like us.  And they certainly don't respect us.

None of these expensive ad campaigns will do the trick.  One reason is because they're "phony," and the other bigger reason is that they're lacking passion, passion for an ideal.  In advertising there's the principle that you must create passion for your product, and none of that exists in the "Rebranding of Israel."