Ushpezin Challenges

So we were in the Sukkah last night (the kids and I slept there). We have pre-printed walls made of fabric and on them are the names of 7 Ushpezin (guests) - the traditional men. So Gabi is asking me what the symbols are - why does Aaron have a breastplate as a symbol, etc. And then she sees Yitzchak (Isaac) has a fire and wants to know why. So I kind of gulp and then explain about the binding of Isaac and how G-d told Abraham to kill his son and then told him not to, all the while thinking, "should I be telling my kids about this?" And Gabi thinks it's pretty weird, especially that G-d changed his mind, and then Sasha says in Hebrew: "G-d told him to kill his son and then told him not to? G-d is confused." And then they start singing about Yuval Hamebulbal.

Has anyone else told your kids about this? It made me pretty uncomfortable.

Shanah Tovah!!!!

To all our family, friends and loved ones, and to my readers near and far -

I hope that this blog has in some way touched your hearts this year. At this season, I feel the many blessings of so much love all around and the ways that we can connect and inspire each other. I hope that the coming year brings you all that you dream of, with many opportunities for service and for giving back. Thank you for connecting with me in some way - great or small. May you go from strength to strength.

Much love to everyone,

Gail

Driving questions again

Mom, don't read this post.

So now the question is which way to drive. There have been shootings on West Bank roads the past three nights. So it seems that if I drive to or from Jerusalem at night, I'd best be taking the other route, a scary windy road through a deserted forest. Gee, that sounds great. But what about the days? Alen drives the forest route all the time. I'm not so used to it, but took it yesterday. It got me to work about 10 minutes later, through an area I'm completely unfamiliar with. I don't like the sense that my part of Jerusalem (Baka, Talpiot, Gilo) will be cut off from me if I drive the other way. But on the other hand...

I can't change whether people are shooting on the roads, I can't change what's going on in Washington (the proximate cause of the shootings) but I can change my driving route. So I may be saying goodbye to checkpoints for awhile. Husan, Wadi Fukin, Beit Lehem and the separation wall will be hidden from my sight, as they are from so many Israelis.

What about my friends in Tekoa, Efrat and Kiryat Arba? They can't choose the safe road.

It's complicated.