US Dentists Take Licensing Exam For Aliyah

A record number of dentists from all around the US gathered in New Jersey on Monday to take the Israeli Dentistry Licensing Exam, in preparation for their aliyah (immigration) to Israel.

The 20 dentists were the largest number ever to take the test outside of Israel; their testing was held by the organization Nefesh B'Nefesh in an initiative to ease the transition to life in Israel. The organization has worked to increase aliyah from English-speaking countries.Read more at: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177856#.Uw-_jvl_shE

So You Want to Move to Israel?

When I told people that my husband and I, with our five kids in tow, were moving to Israel, they thought I was crazy. At some level, I wondered the same thing By Sarah Azulay

I remember the first time I publicly revealed my plans to make Aliyah to Israel. I had telephoned the president of our local Jewish day school to tell him that I could not serve on the board for the upcoming year because my husband and I, with five little ones in tow, were moving to the land of milk and honey. In the midst of the Intifada.

"You are moving to Israel," he said slowly, as if I must have undergone a lobotomy.

"Yes," I replied, feeling like I was having an outer body experience.

"And this is something you want to do," he said, indicating his further confirmation of my temporary mental imbalance.

At some level, I wondered the same thing. Even a cursory inventory of the muster it takes to move to Israel is enough to make the most desirous of Zionist dreamers wither in their tracks, and I have to admit, at the time I was no Zionist dreamer. Initially, we had simply wanted to live closer to my husband's family who all live in Israel. Read more at: http://www.aish.com/h/iid/48901372.html?s=mpw

10 Tips to Successful Aliyah

• Practical advice from people who made the monumental move to Israel

Uprooting your life, leaving behind friends, family, and familiarity to build a new life in Israel isn't easy. Here are ten important tips from people have successfully made the monumental move.

1. Keep an Open Mind

Elad Gefen, 27, who works in film and journalism and currently lives in Tel Aviv, highlights open-mindedness and lack of expectations as the number one ingredient for Aliyah success. Read more at http://www.aish.com/h/iid/10-Tips-to-Successful-Aliyah.html

Aliyah processing at the airport

Making aliyah is easy, as this helpful video shows (sent to me by Stuart - thanks). This is precisely what happened when we made aliyah, although it took a little longer than the 1 minute 43 seconds featured here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CItFE4nS3Q

Recycling at its worst

The recycling industry in Israel is not as well-developed as the UK's. Nevertheless, since the recent election is soon to be recycled, I am doing the same for this post from "way back then."

Did you ever stop to think what became of that tree you planted in Israel all those years ago? You know, the one you paid the Jewish National Fund to plant? Well, the good news is (if it hasn't already been burned down by arsonists) is that I have found it!!! It's on my Door of Peace!

Timberrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Name droppers

Name droppers are the dullest of people. I heard Prince Charles say that in 1998 at a Gala Fundraising dinner for one of Sting's "save the Indians and the forests" projects. I was wedged between Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Alan Sugar at the time and I remember a very fascinating conversation that I had with the Dalai Lama, who was sitting opposite. It went like this:

DL: Please can you pass me the salt.

Zvi: In what way?

DL: What?

Zvi: What?

DL: Please pass me the salt.

Zvi: Is that a metaphor for something?

DL: No. It's for my soup.

Zvi: Ah! Amazing!

At which point the Dalai Lama tapped Cher on the shoulder and asked her to pass him the salt!

HRH Prince Charles, the Dalai Lama and me (out of picture, left)

100% true!

Speaking (sic) of conversations, I also remember something that Shlomo Carlebach ztl once said to me (he once performed an incredible kindness for me and my wife - maybe for another time), "Sometimes when you walk into a shul people look at you as if they wish you were dead." That comment made a deep impression on me and affected the way that I treat visitors to my shul. I was reminded of this because of something rather special that happened today - I received a "Welcome Pack"!!

Contents of Welcome Pack (in order of importance)

• Bar of chocolate wrapped in gold paper
• Bag of sweeties
• Vessel for washing before eating bread
• Embroidered towel for drying hands prior to partaking of bread
• Laminated decorative bentscher
• List of members of the shul - phone numbers and addresses
• Telephone directory for Beit Shemesh

I was overwhelmed by this most surprising and thoughtfully constructed gift! And I am certain that my good friend, Kirk Douglas, would be too.

A moving story

This is a moving story that I have wanted to share for some time. If you are a regular follower of this blog (i.e. you visit once in a blue moon), then you would have noticed a couple of plugs being given to people who have outdone themselves with their kindness towards us.You simply can't beat a good friend - and you can't beat a good wife either, or you'll go to jail for a very long time. However, you can show your appreciation by giving them a mention on what is fast becoming the most popular and well read blog on t'internet (shurely, shome mishtake. Ed). So, if you are contemplating making aliyah and you'd like to know how to go about choosing a shipper - most likely the single largest expense you'll make, stay tuned.

Oh no!

High Court to Reject Beit Shemesh Elections Appeal

On Wednesday night, the High Court for Justice is set to reject the appeal filed by mayor Moshe Abutbul (Shas) against the Jerusalem District Court's ruling to hold new mayoral elections in Beit Shemesh Read more: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177137#.UvK2_vmSwhE

Who are you?

If you scroll down slightly on the right side you will notice a "Total Pageviews" counter. When I opened my blog this morning it was on 253. It's now 262... 9 visits today and at least 4 of them were mine, two were Jeremy's, one was my wife's and one was my daughter's. So, would the person who visited my blog today make yourself known and claim your £500.00 prize?

Now hear this!

One of the more confusing aspects of life in Israel is the mobile megaphone. Simply take one car, add a couple of 100dB speakers and mix in a monotonous, droning voice delivering a repetitive soliloquy as it weaves its way around the neighbourhood. Think Bob Dylan  reading the phone directory with his fingers caught in the door.  Due to my poor Ivrit I am unable to work out what's going on - is it good news or bad? Has someone famous died, G-d forbid, or is it warning me to stay indoors because Madonna is paying a visit?

Well, as it happens, I was enjoying a peaceful moment over a cup of tea this morning while engaged in a confrontation with the deadliest biscuits known to man. (The biscuits won, I regret to say). Suddenly, the peace was disturbed by 'that sound'. So, I emailed my friend, Jeremy (that's him in the banner picture at the top of this blog) because he knows everything that's worth knowing (and some things that aren't). Apart from being a very good friend, he is also a highly talented media guy http://www.staimanmedia.com/. (My other friend is a surgeon - you really don't want to see his website.) Jeremy created some terrific marketing stuff in the recent elections and stands to benefit at our expense if the Supreme Court nixes the results due to significant vote rigging. (Why shouldn't the dead be able to vote? We are the Eternal People, aren't we?) Anyhow, I asked him what all the kerfuffle was about and he replied with this helpful insight, which is worth sharing: "One tip that only a veteran oleh would know: if there's music, it's usually not a funeral announcement." 

If only our leaders spoke like this...

Seldom is the expression "preaching to the converted" observed more clearly than on the letters page of a newspaper. I often wonder why the people bother to write in and share their views with like-minded people who... share their views. This Post is a case in point. It's from Times of Israel and sums up what - probably - most Israeli's know and feel, but, sadly we say it to each other rather than the people it is aimed at. I guess it just makes us feel a bit better... like screaming into a paper bag.

Greater Men have Tried

Dear Secretary of State John Kerry:

Because of my respect for the United States, I will attempt to afford you the honor you think you so richly deserve. It’s hard to speak to you with anything but anger, hard to feel the need, again, to start from the beginning because you clearly choose to ignore history in your quest for glory. It is a quest destined to fail but its outcome, even, or more accurately especially, in failure, will hurt Israel.

Greater men than you have tried to make, to force, peace on the Middle East. I promise you, you will fail too. You will fail because you are not addressing the root cause of the problem. You, like so many before you, take the easy way out. Blame Israel. It is so easy to do, and so stupid. Read more: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/greater-men-have-tried/

Welcome to our world!

I found this excellent video on YouThingy showing our home town, Ramat Beit Shemesh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PalZ2VwAno8 Please ignore the spontaneous requests (ad nauseum) to "Buy in Beit Shemesh" - it will only make demand outstrip supply and put the prices up... and we're looking to buy. Thank you for your understanding.