Finally, a Reply From the Prime Minister's Office.....

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As many people know, in June, I posted a blog called Still Waiting for an Answer to Prime Minister Netanyahu, telling him that I live in the South with my family and that we the residents of the Negev and South are being held hostage by Hamas, never knowing when the next Grad missile will be fired at us.

I asked him what he is going to do to stop this insane situation.

 http://miriamswords.blogspot.co.il/2012_06_24_archive.html

In my original blog posting, I said that if I received a reply I would post the letter.

Yesterday, I received a reply from a Mira Cohen of the Public Affairs Department of the Prime Minister’s office.

The gist of the letter was that she was writing to me on behalf of the Prime Minister. That the P.M. knows that the lives of people of the Negev and South are difficult and that he is determined to improve our lives and the security situation.

She thanked me for writing……just another standard political letter…..

I will post the letter at the end of this blog.

Truth be told, this reply was all I was expecting. When I wrote the original letter, Hamas was firing Grad missiles and Kassams into the South, one after another.

Children were terrified, the elderly were petrified, the security situation was totally out of control. I wanted to sound off and let the P.M. know that his inactions and the attitude and actions of Defense Minister Ehud Barak were making our lives unbearable. 

 

Seven of my grandchildren live in the Negev, have never lived a day without the fear of terror striking. My youngest grandson was born at Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva eleven months ago.  During my daughter’s delivery, the in-coming missile warning siren was ringing and Hamas was firing Grad missiles at Beer Sheva. This was Yair’s introduction to the world.  Some welcome!

The government was treating over a million residents like second class citizens.  We just didn’t count.  

 

Presently, it is relatively quiet. Two weeks ago, Hamas fired five grad missiles at the same time at Netivot. Two were downed by the iron dome and two were found in a field. The fifth rocket which did not explode, was found by children five days later. Baruch Hashem they were not hurt.

Army sappers safely detonated the rocket.

 

My family and I love living in the Negev. This area is a wonderful part of our country to live in and raise a family. Residents are warm and inviting. The scenery is breathtaking. Beer Sheva, known as the capital of the Negev is a bustling city with great places to visit and shop.

Netivot, five minutes from where I live is growing so quickly. Apartments are going up everywhere, malls are opening and the streets are busy with shoppers and business people. There isn’t anything you can’t find or buy in Netivot. The quality of life is wonderful.

The land in my area, Netivot, Ma’agalim and the moshavim was called Gerar Gen. 20:1, in the time of the bible. Our forefather, Avraham Avinu spent much time walking this land. We today have the privilege to walk and live on the same land.

The Negev has so much history. What a pity it has been hijacked by terrorists who want nothing more than to see our destruction.

Until next time…. Please feel free to comment and share

Miriam

Yerushalayim ours FOREVER!

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Last week, a friend of mine, Tamar Yonah, posted an excellent blog called The Appetite For Jerusalem. Her first line says...WE JUST CAN'T BE LEFT ALONE. HOW MANY WAYS CAN THEY TRY TO SPLIT JERUSALEM? Tamar, an excellent question.

 

For the past 3,500 years, since King David proclaimed Yerushalayim the capital of Israel, Jerusalem has been our capital city. Since 1967, Jerusalem has been our undivided capital city and shall remain so forever!

 

So why does the world scream, Jerusalem is disputed land, divide Jerusalem, make the eastern part of the city the capital of the state the Palestinians want.

 

Well world…here is a newsflash for you…there isn’t anything to dispute about Jerusalem. Jerusalem is not for sale, not going to be divided and will remain our undivided capital city..period! 

 

As far as I am concerned, any country that considers Tel Aviv the capital of Israel and chooses to open their embassy there, instead of in our capital Jerusalem, can close down, pack up and leave. What chutzpah!

 

Back to Tamar’s blog.. The question I see is why do they want to split Jerusalem. And the answer is because our government is not forceful enough in stating the fact Jerusalem is ours… They pussyfoot instead of stating “no negotiations on Jerusalem”. The left of our country agrees with the world, “let the Pals have the eastern part”, they say… they just don’t understand how precious this city is to us.

 

And this ramble opens the door for the world to step in…Our government needs to shut the door tightly for once and for all.

 

Education is the key here. Our school children must learn the beauty of Jerusalem, the why and how this great city became our capital.

 

Jerusalem must be a mandatory field trip every year for all grades. Holy sites must be visited, especially the Kotel. Our children have to develop a love and respect for our undivided city.

 

The IDF now brings every chayal and chayalet during basic training to Jerusalem. They visit the kotel. It is a beautiful sight to see these young chayalim and chayalot standing in front of the wall. For many it is their first visit.

 

Did you know that the Midrash teaches us that Jerusalem is known by seventy names? Some of the names are: Shalem, Moriah, Ariel, Zion and of course Yerushalayim the most common name of the city in the Chumash [five books of Moses]. The Midrash says the word derives from yireh (see), the name Avraham used  – G-d sees – and salem, which means whole, or peace. 

 

The first archaeological find of the name Yerushalayim written in Hebrew was discovered near the town of Lachish in a burial cave dating from the 6th century BCE.

 

I fear for my precious city. I fear that there will be a war of words. May Hashem guide and give our government leaders the ability to stay strong and never allow our city to be divided.

 

Until next time…feel free to comment and share. 

Miriam  

Still Waiting for an Answer......

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Shavua Tov.

I am posting a letter that I sent to our Prime Minister this morning. I am so fed up with the attitude of this government regarding the terror in the South.

June 24/ 2012

Shalom Mr. Netanyahu, Shavua Tov

My name is Miriam Goodman and my family and I live in Ma’agalim, 10 kms from Gaza. We, who live in the South are always under the threat of a barrage of missile being fired at us from Gaza.

Would you or anyone else in The Prime Minister's Office, please explain why I have not received as much as an acknowledgement that the two letters I sent to you on March 11, 2012 and April 17, 2012 via this link have been received.

http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng
 

I am so fed up with the in action of you and your government.

I feel that the government considers the residents of the South second class citizens and not worthy of immediate attention. Forget the cease fire, it is just a ploy. Send the IDF in to clean up Gaza. Enough already! School is out in a couple of days and our children and grandchildren won’t be able to play outside, have fun in an outdoor pool or behave like normal children on vacation. They have to be always on alert for a siren.

Our children and elderly are suffering. It is time for you to end our nightmare….

 

I am sending you a copy of my April 17^th and original letter dated March 11th.

Miriam Goodman

Ma’agalim
saftala@gmail.com 

April 17, 2012

Shalom Mr. Netanyahu

On March 11/ 2012 via this link http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng  I sent you a letter regarding the rocket attacks in the South. My family and I live in the Negev and have been on the receiving end of grad missiles for years.

As of today, I have not received as much as an acknowledgement that you received my letter. I understand that you are a very busy man but I sure you have a secretary that answers your mail. I would hate to think that you have chosen to ignore e-mail that comes from citizens of the South.

Just in case you did not receive my original letter I am resending it to you.

Miriam Goodman

 

March 11/ 2012

Shalom Mr. Netanyahu

I am writing to you as a resident of the south, my family lives in Ma’agalim. We, the residents are being held hostage by the kassamim and grad missile barrage that is presently being carried out by the Palestinian terrorists who live in Gaza.

As a tax paying Israeli citizen, Mr. Prime Minister, I would like to know what you and your government are doing to put a stop to this terror for once and for all.

We have had enough lip service from you…time for real action. We have the best army in the world. Our chayalim and chayalot are very dedicated young men and women. Time to show the arabs what dedicated chayalim who love our country can do.

Know one likes or wants war but sometimes this is the only answer. To the Palestinians, dialogue is considered as weakness, they only understand brute force.

You must order Barak to give the order to the IDF to clean up Gaza and not leave until the job is totally finished.  If Barak refuses to send in the troops, fire him! You are the prime minister and not him. The buck stops at your desk.

Let me tell you what it is like to live in the south…we are always waiting for the other shoe to drop…. seven of my grandchildren, also live in Ma’agalim have known so much terror in their young lives.

I couldn’t care less what Obama, Clinton, the U.N. or any other world leader has to say and you shouldn’t either. It is your job to keep us safe. The pals don’t want peace, you know that…they want every piece of Israel with all of us floating in the sea. Time to standup and show them who is boss.

Trusting you will do the right thing and clean up Gaza.

Sincerely yours

Miriam Goodman

Ma’agalim 

A Different Direction

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Since the early 1970’s, I have been working and teaching young children. When we made Aliyah in 1994, I continued for several years to work with children in a moan [day care]. Today, I feel I am burnt out.

 

Twelve years ago, we moved to Modi’in. There was a new language school that had just opened, offering a course for native speakers on how to teach English as a second language to Israeli children. The one requirement other than being a native speaker was that you have five years previous experience teaching or working with children. I had many more years than five.

After completing the course and working for the school for six months [their requirement, as they offered an after school English chug for children], I decided that I needed to be my own boss and set my work hours and days. I advertised English lessons from my home and when I got my first student I was just thrilled.

 

Over the years I have been teaching and tutoring English as a second language and have designed an enrichment program for native English speaker so that they would not loose their language and reading skills. Each of my students has a personal program that suits their needs.

The last few months have been a real drag and the fun is over. It is time for me to take a break and try a different direction. I believe that a good teacher has to know when she is not doing a good job.

 

I have always admired handmade jewelry. The other day, a dear friend sent me a beautiful handmade necklace. She has become my mentor. I tried my hand once and made a necklace that looks like a five year old made it.  But I am creative and have made beautiful wall hangings that I have hanging in our home.

I am going to take a professional jewelry course given by a very talented lady who comes highly recommended. She will teach me the art of using stones and beads. I’m excited and hope I will be successful.  When I make some nice pieces, I will post them on a blog. 

 

Until next time…feel free to comment and share.

Miriam  

Mazal-Tov To Us..........

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Tonight and tomorrow on the Hebrew calendar, 17th of Sivan is Avraham and my forty-fifth wedding anniversary.

The secular date is later this month, June 25th. We were married at the Young Israel of Chomedey, just outside of Montreal, on a warm Sunday evening. During the day it rained and rained. My aunt told me the rain was showering us with Brachot.

By the time my parents and I left our house to go to the shul, the rain stopped and the sun came peeking through.

We had a beautiful, fairytale wedding with no detail left out. The shul was decorated with flowers, ribbons and candles. We were the first wedding in the shul’s new sanctuary.

I would like to share some pictures with you.

After the chuppah
Sheva Brachot
Yummy sweet table
Our entire mishpacha today.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Thinking back over the years I wonder………………. 

Who would have thought forty-five years ago, that Avraham and I would grow from the two of us to Baruch Hashem a family of 20? Who would have thought forty-five years ago, that six of our thirteen grandchildren are tenth generation Israeli? Who would have thought forty-five years ago that our entire family would be settled in Israel? Certainly not me!

I like to take pictures and sometimes I can ‘over do’ it and be a pain. But when anyone complains that I know what they look like, I always tell them the pictures are not for today but for tomorrow for the future generation.


This morning, I was looking though our wedding album for a couple of pictures to include with this posting. There were so many pictures of family members and family friends who have passed away. Our dear parents a”h are gone. Looking at my pictures, remembering and smiling, I realize how true my belief of pictures for tomorrow really is.


Over the years we certainly had our ups and downs. But truthfully, we have been truly blessed.

May Hashem continue to bless and watch over our family.

Until next time...please feel free to comment and share.
Miriam

Grandparents are Special Invitation.................

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There are many articles and poems written about
grandparents who have many special names. Bubby and Zeidi,
Grandma and Grandpa, Saba and Safta and so the list goes on.

If you look up the word grandparent in the dictionary, the definition is ‘one who has a grandchild’. ‘The parent of the mother or father.'

For my husband and I, being Saba and Safta is more than just a matter of fact. We could hardly wait for our new precious life to be born. A continuation of our family.

A grandparent is one who gives their grandchildren unconditional love, who is ready with open arms and a soft shoulder to console tears and any other problems.

A grandparent shouldn’t give unsolicited advice or criticism to the grandchild or the parents. Grandparents need to always remember that they raised their children and now that they are parents they must be allowed to raise their children.

A grandparent sits on the floor with the baby and play with rattles and soft toys. A grandparent will build magnificent buildings with a toddler, share an imaginary cup of tea, play the same game or read the same story over and over again. And in the case of an emergency a grandparent will volunteer to baby-sit.

 

A grandparent has to know that when the parents says ‘no’ it means ‘no’.

We are filled with joy when the grandchildren come to visit. We save and hang up all those special drawings for everyone to see. I have a wall in my computer room that I display all those special drawings. 

We enjoy every special milestone and a see each grandchild as a special blessing.

My husband and I have been blessed and granted thirteen precious Sabra grandchildren. I feel truly sorry for grandparents who are so busy with themselves that they deny themselves the true joy of being a grandparent. These grandparents also deny their grandchildren the pleasure of having grandparents.

Back in 2003, I started a Yahoo group called Grandparents are Special.

I wanted to keep my group private and so I opted out from the Yahoo directory. The membership list is moderated by me. This way I can keep advertisers and those who want to send spam away.

Since 2003, our group has had good months with high traffic and not so good months. I must admit that over the past few months I have really neglected the group.

Today, I sent out postings saying that I wanted to revive our group and increase the membership.

We have members from Israel, America, Canada and the UK.

I invite all grandparents to join and for mothers and fathers to tell their parents about our group.     

The group’s description on the front page is:

 

Our grandchildren are the jewels of our lives. If you are a long time grandparent or a grandparent in waiting, this is the group for you!

Grandchildren call their grandparents Saba and Safta, Bubby and Zeidi, Grandma and Grandpa, and many other special names. In this group we can have discussions, tell anecdotes, polls, give grand parenting tips, trade recipes, or discuss what is on your mind.

Have a problem, bring it to the list and get it off your chest. So JOIN today and let's get this list going. No advertising or foul language will be allowed.

The groups address is:  

sabasaftabubbyzeidi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Until next time....feel free to join my group, comment and please do share.

Safta Miriam       

Our Chai Aliyah Anniversary

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Today is the 1^st of May and at the end of this month, my husband, son and I will celebrate our 18^th year of Aliyah. Our Chai anniversary.

Chai (חי) is a Hebrew word and symbol that means “life.” It is spelled with the Hebrew letters chet (ח) and yud (י). Because it means “life,” the Chai is consequently a symbol that captures an important aspect of Judaism.

According to the gematria, which is a mystical tradition that assigns a numerological value to Hebrew letters, the letters chet (ח) and yud (י) add up to the number 18. The chet has a value of 8 and the yud has a value of 10.  

Chai is a popular root word in Hebrew names. Chaya, derived from chai is a popular female name in Hebrew, and Chaim is the male version. The biblical Eve's name is חַוָּה Chava in Hebrew, also derived from the same root chai.

Eighteen years ago on May 29, 1994 we boarded EL AL at Toronto International Airport, with 12 pieces of luggage, mostly boxes to come home. In those days you were allowed three pieces of luggage plus one carry on.

As EL AL was approaching Ben Gurion Airport, the loud speaker went on and music filled the plane. Ha’venu Shalom Aleichem was playing over and over and I was crying, so happy to be home and to be reunited with the rest of our family, our two married daughters and three little Sabra grandchildren. Baruch Hashem today we have been blessed with thirteen grandchildren. Our oldest grandson is a chayal in the IDF.

Our daughters had come to Israel a year and a half apart, as seminary students, fell in love with the country, and decided to remain and make Israel their home. 

The girls met their Israeli husbands and settled down. Both only wanted to get married in Israel and so we made two Israeli weddings.

Living in Israel is not easy. It takes time to adjust to the Israeli way of life. Most things you need to do, medical appointments…you are invited to see the doctor, banking, shopping etc. are not done the way they are done in your old country. Food is different. Your eating habits will change. Red tape is unbelievable. Patience is the rule of thumb.

Israel is rich in Jewish history.  You can tour and visit the many places that are mentioned in the Torah. Israel has the bluest sky and its national flower, Callanit is a beautiful red wild flower.

Israelis love to drink mud Turkish coffee, our favorite expression, no matter the situation is “yehieh beseder” [it will be okay].

Politics is the most popular discussion, every citizen and non citizen has an opinion how to run the government and army. And of course all kids play soccer or football as it is known here and basketball. 

Israel is in the news everyday. We are just a small country surrounded by enemies who want to see our destruction. I fear for my country. Our precious homeland has known many wars in our short 64 years of Independence. Israel must double its population. We must always be the majority. We have room for every Jew. Aliyah is the only answer.

Making Aliyah is a major decision, one that can not be made on ‘one leg’. It affects the entire family young and old.

For our family, living in Israel is an honor and privilege. We are living in our Jewish homeland and full filling our dreams. This is truly ‘life’. May we celebrate many more ‘Chai’ anniversaries.

Until next time…...feel free to comment and share.

Miriam   

Please have a look at my recipe blog 'From Miriam's Kitchen'

http://miriamsrecipes.blogspot.com/                 

A Strange Feeling...............

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Living in the Israel’s South, we hear booms and aircraft on a daily bases. Some booms are from the IDF practicing at a base near by, some booms are the grad missiles that the terrorist from Gaza aim at us to main and kill and other booms are from the IDF defending us.

One day last week……………………

While sitting in my kitchen

Waiting for my student to arrive

A very strange feeling

Came over me.

 

Can’t really describe it

Sort of felt like

Butterflies.

 

The sun was shining

The sky was as blue as blue can get

Not a cloud to be seen

And gently the wind blew.

Then it happened again

Those butterflies

Floating around

And around and around.

Is there a message

To be told?

Is the siren about to wail?

The unusual quiet was deafening.

My front door vibrated

A great big rattle

No jets in the sky

What can it be?

Is my imagination

Running away

With me?

 

Now two minutes later

The quiet is broken

Boom!

 

So goes life

For us citizens

Who live

In Israel’s South.

Until nest time. Feel free to comment and share..............

Miriam
Personal Note:   Please have a look at my blog Oh, Those Golden Years. Are They Really Golden? in The Times of Israel  
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/oh-those-golden-years-are-they-really-golden/      

Words of Wisdom……….

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Several years ago when I lived in Modi’in, I belong to a weekly ladies group from Project Seed [for Torah learning]. My chavruta,[learning partner], a young woman from Kiryat Sefer and I studied the Tehillim. I always had a fascination with its powerful words and after learning it’s deep message, my Tehillim came alive.

 

At one session, the organizer of our group gave us an inspirational, self help book called Keep Smiling by Avraham Tzvi Schwartz.

When I have more on my plate or just feeling down, together with my Tehillim, this book gives me a real pick-up. I have read and reread its words many times, and each time I come away with something else. 

In the introduction the first line says so much. We all have difficult things to do everyday. The common advice in such situations is ‘grit your teeth’ but, there is a better way to handle disturbing and difficult situation. Smile.

 

The introduction goes on to say that Hashem wants our lives to be pleasurable and it is up to us to make it happen. If we think, this situation is a test for me and it will eventually enrich me materially, physically and make me a better person. With this thought it is easier to keep smiling.

 

Smiling is very contagious. A good morning or boker tov with a warm smile can make your family members, co-workers or neighbors start their day by returning the smile and saying "same to you".

For years the discussion of how many muscles does it take to smile or do we use more or less muscles smiling than frowning has made the rounds. The consensus is that the experts agree to disagree.

There are 43 muscles in the face and many say that no one has really come up with a definitive number for how many muscles it takes to smile or frown. Remember one person's smile is another person's smirk. Smiles vary from a wide smile cheek to cheek, a half smile [the smirk] or a short smile to show politeness. And on occasion we even fake a smile.  

And if we use the muscles in our eyes, mouth and forehead to show expression when we smile or frown, once again the number of muscles used changes.

What I really enjoy about my book are the short sayings in a poster form that introduce the chapter or next paragraph. For example in a chapter about taking control of yourself one poster says: To build your personality, you need discipline. Another says: Act with joy and double your strength.

In a chapter about setting goals for yourself one poster says: Give power to your prayers. Have Goals. Another poster suggests having a keyword.

Life is not a bowl of cherries as the saying goes. Everyone has their own package. Trust in Hashem and gain the freedom to love your life is the way my book ends.

Until next time…….feel free to comment and share.

Miriam      

Can You Believe That.............

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Moadim L'Simcha
Can you believe that Pesach is more than half over. Just last Tuesday I was finishing the final jobs to have a kosher for Pesach home. This morning, I started cooking and freezing for the end day and Shabbat.

Seems to me that I am always in the kitchen either cooking, eating [I do a lot of that on Pesach] or washing dishes. The cycle just repeats itself day in and day out.

Now don't get me wrong, I am very thankful that I have who to cook for, but it would be real nice if for just one meal I could sit down, close my eyes, wish for a great meal and viola it appears on my plate.

After I enjoy every mouthful of this delicious meal I clap my hands three times and the dishes wash themselves.

Oh well, It was fun dreaming.....

By the way, dreams sometimes do come true.

Have a great Chag and Shabbat Shalom.

Until next time...feel free to comment and share.
Miriam

P.S. If you are looking for a couple of great non kitniyot recipes, please have a look at my blog 'From Miriam's Kitchen'. I posted recipes for Pesachdik bourkas and chocolate chip cookies.   http://miriamsrecipes.blogspot.com/ 

And What About The Animals.....

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Shavua Tov!

 

Baruch Hashem all day Friday and Shabbat the South was quiet. Residents of the South know this is just a temporary reprieve. How long will it last..a day or two, a week, a month. Who knows…your guess is just as good as my guess.

During this rain of missiles, a segment of Israeli society that the media did not report about are our four legged pets and farm animals.

Living on a Yishuv we have many dogs and cats.  The cats hid under cars and the outside dogs howl. These poor creatures are terrified.

There are residents of the South who have left their homes because of missiles and have unfortunately left their pets behind to fend for themselves.

We have a neighbor who ran away last Moetzie Shabbat and left their beautiful Labrador puppy alone outside.  On Monday, I saw the dog rummaging through the garbage and realized that she had no food.

I brought her a large bowl of dog food and a bowl of water. I never saw a dog eat so quickly.  She was famished. 

My friends who have dogs all say that their pets are suffering and that their behavior during this time is not their norm. Some have stopped eating, they need and want extra attention and others just bark morning, noon and night.

We have a sweet eight month old Beagle mix that lives in the house. Patches is traumatized, suffering from anxiety from all the noise. She is terrified of the sirens, booms and helicopters and barks like crazy whenever there is a siren or boom.

She is so afraid of being alone and doesn’t let us out of her sight to a point that she scratches and bangs on the door when we are in the bathroom or taking a shower. All Patches wants is to be patted and  played with all day long.

During this past week, every morning I have woken up to find Patches sleeping in my bed even though her bed is in my room…  She just doesn’t want to be alone. Last night was the first night she slept all night in her bed.

Down the street from us there is a family who raises chickens and ducks. The roosters ‘cockle do a do’ for hours after a boom. The chickens scurry all around the street ‘like a chicken without a head’ bumping into each other or anything in their way. 

I’m not a vet, but I’m sure they are reacting from fear.

Across the street from us is a Moshav that has farm animals. Usually they are very noisy only in the early morning and at dusk. During the day we rarely hear them. This past week, we heard the sheep, goats and cows all day long. They too are suffering from the terror.

Now I don’t know if the booms are causing the cows to produce less milk or the chickens to have less eggs but it wouldn’t surprise me if it does.

Why did I write this posting? Because I would like you to see that every segment of society, men, women, children, the young, the elderly, our pets, farm animals and strays are suffering one way or another from terror. Enough already….this is not the way for any of us to live.

Our elected government has a duty and responsibility to each and every citizen to keep us safe and not live in fear. The time has come for the government to prove they are worthy of being our government and put a stop to any future terror.

Until next time

Miriam

Enough! An Open Letter to our Prime Minister.......

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For more than ten years terror has been the way of life for the residents of the south. The palestinian terrorists who live in Gaza have been attacking us with their kassam and grad missiles. The terrorists fill the missiles with ball bearings, nuts, bolts, screws, washers and many other sharp metal objects to do the most damage.

You must understand that missiles are not firecrackers that make a loud bang. Missiles are weapons that can and do maim and kill.

Since this past Shabbat, we have been under seige once again. Over 150 missiles have been fired at the south. Today and until it calms down, 250,000 children can not go to school. Families have seconds to get to shelter when the in coming missile air raid siren is sounded. 

I personally have had enough!  I sent this e-mail to our prime minister this evening. If you want to write to Mr. Netanyahu his e-mail address is http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng and click contact us...

Shalom Mr. Netanyahu

I am writing to you as a resident of the south, my family lives in Ma’agalim. We, the residents are being held hostage by the kassam and grad missile barrage that is presently being carried out by the Palestinian terrorists who live in Gaza.

 

As a tax paying Israeli citizen, Mr. Prime Minister, I would like to know what you and your government are doing to put a stop to this terror for once and for all.

We have had enough lip service from you…time for real action. We have the best army in the world. Our chayalim and chayalot are very dedicated young men and women. Time to show the arabs what dedicated chayalim who love our country can do.

Know one likes or wants war but sometimes this is the only answer. To the palestinians, dialogue is considered as weakness, they only understand brute force.

You must order Barak to give the order to the IDF to clean up Gaza and not leave until the job is totally finished.  If Barak refuses to send in the troops, fire him! You are the prime minister and not him. The buck stops at your desk.

 

Let me tell you what it is like to live in the south…we are always waiting for the other shoe to drop…. seven of my grandchildren, who also live in Ma’agalim have known so much terror in their young lives.

I couldn’t care less what Obama, Clinton, the U.N. or any other world leader has to say and you shouldn’t either. It is your job to keep us safe. The pals don’t want peace, you know that…they want every piece of Israel with all of us floating in the sea. Time to standup and show them who is boss.

Trusting you will do the right thing and clean up Gaza.

Sincerely yours

Miriam Goodman

Ma’agalim 

The Continuous Reign of Terror in the South................

בס''ד

       

The rain had stopped for a few minutes and we took advantage to get Patches, our Jac a Bee puppy, out to do her business.

It was 11:30a.m. Shabbat morning, Avraham had just come in, and we were going to sit down for our Shabbat lunch, when the warning grad missile siren blared…we have fifteen seconds to go to our safe spot in the house.

The siren was unseemly long and we suspected it was headed for Beer Sheva. We then heard a loud boom! The grad missile landed in the fields of Moshav Sharsheret. Two more missiles landed outside of Beer Sheva. Hamas had once again disturbed our Shabbat.

In the south we are very fortunate to have a silent Shabbat Station. Radio Darom 101.5 FM. Every Friday at 4:05 the radio announcer says Shabbat Shalom and then the station goes off..complete silence. It goes back on a few minutes after Shabbat, Beer Sheva time.

If there are incoming missiles, the station goes on with a siren and announces where the kassams and grad missiles are headed. This time the announcement was Moshav Sharsheret, Netivot and Beer Sheva.

We live in Ma’agalim, a minute from Moshav Sharsheret and 9 kms. from Gaza. Our yishuv was started by many of the children of the moshav. Many families here have parents who still live on the moshav. 

My son-in-law is from the moshav.

The media reported no damage or injuries but this is not quite true.  Yes, there weren’t any physical injuries, but what about the emotional injuries that a siren causes. And the boom…children and the elderly are terrified.

What people who don’t live in the south fail to understand, is that a kassam or grad missile is not just a firecracker being thrown that lands with a boom, it is a deadly weapon that can maime and kill.

Hamas wants to kill each and every man, woman and child. Why you ask? Because we are Jews and live in Israel.  They don’t want peace. They don’t really even want a state. They want the glory of being able to say, we defeated and threw the Jews out of their homeland.

If G-D forbid this would happen, the land of Israel would become another terror state.

Just look what Hamas did with Gush Katif. Thirty odd years ago, this piece of barren land was settled by Israeli citizens who loved the land. They cultivated the land with loving care, built communities, homes, businesses, schools. The Gush was blooming.

Five years ago, close to ten thousand Jews were forcibly removed from their homes and land. We left all the community centers, schools, buildings, and greenhouses. Beautiful and well equipped parks were also left.

The government insisted this action was necessary because it would bring quiet and peace to the south.

Did Hamas take all that they were given and make the lives of their fellow arabs better? Did they stop the terror of shooting rockets? No they turned each and every inch of land into a terror camp.

Us citizens in the South, faced a barrage of rockets. Thousands and thousands of rockets have been aimed and sent to the south.

Hamas terror reigns in the area.  As I write this blog early Monday morning, two more grads have landed in Sdot Negev, my regional council.

Israel and the Negev is our home. Nothing will ever make me pick up and move to a safer area….because no area in Israel is truly safe.

It is the government and IDF’s job to take military action against Hamas and stop the terror once and for all. All we can do is pray that The Hand of Hashem will watch over us and keep us safe.

Until next time. Please feel free to comment and share.

Miriam     

On Moetzi Shabbat...............

בס''ד
From the time I was a little girl, I can always remember on Moetzi Shabbat, my mother would sit in the corner of the kitchen and recite a tefillah [prayer] in Yiddish and cry. When I would ask her why she was crying, she just answered because……….

Gott Fun Avrohom, [G-D of Avraham] in English, is a very beautiful tefillah that women say three times at the end of Shabbat and just before havdalah.

In this tefillah, the Jewish woman is asking Hashem to bless the members of the family with everything good for the coming week.

May Jewish women continue to pray for their families and may G-d always answer their prayers.

This poem is in memory of my mother a”h whose yartzeit is Erev Pesach.
 
Gott Fun Avrohom
This beautiful prayer
my Mother would say
at the end of Shabbat
so many years ago.

Composed by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
in the Yiddish tongue
a language
many Jewish children today do not know.

Several years ago
while checking out a new prayer-book
I came upon my Mother's prayer.

Reading it’s powerful words,
immediately I knew,
these were the words I wanted to say
at the end of Shabbat
and to start the new week.

G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
protect your people Israel
is the first sentence of this prayer.

The Tefillah (prayer) continues to ask
the holy One, blessed be He,
that the coming week bring
perfect faith, love and attachment
to the Creator, friends and scholars.

We request at the end of the prayer
that the coming week should bring
kindness, good fortune, success,
good health, wealth, honor,
children, life and sustenance
for us and all Israel.

So ladies, don’t delay
when the Shabbat ends,
before we enter the week,
take a few minutes
and recite this prayer three times.

You will see,
you will feel
a special warmth
and a new meaning
to the start of a new week.

Until next time...feel free to comment and share.
Miriam                         

Welcoming Shabbos to our Home...........

בס''ד

Erev Shabbos! For me this is the most beautiful night of the entire week, the time for the four r’s …. reflect, relax, read and rest. I love to watch the flames of my shabbos candles gently flicker, as I wait for Avraham to come home from shul.

The lighting of shabbos candles is of rabbinic origin. [Maimonidies, Hilchot Shabbat 5:1] and it is traditional to light two candles, zohar to remember the Shabbos and shamor to observe the Shabbos.

Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it-Exodus 20:8

In our family, we have a tradition to light one candle for each member of the family. Baruch Hashem, I light twenty candles.

May we always have bright light!

 

Sitting around the shabbos table singing and welcoming the shabbos and knowing that we are not going to have to gulp down food because there are so many other things to do, is a welcome relief.  No phone, computer, television to disturb the next twenty-five hours. 

We 'welcome' the angels who accompanied Avraham home from shul by singing Sholom Aleichem, (May peace be upon you).

We learn from the Talmud that when you come home from shul [synagogue] on Friday night, you are accompanied by two angels -- a good angel and a bad angel. If the table is beautifully set and there is a peaceful atmosphere in the home, then the good angel says, So may it be next week, and the bad angel is forced to say, Amen -- so may it be! But if the house is a mess (both physically and emotionally), then the bad angel says, So may it be next week, and the good angel is forced to say, Amen!

The song praising the Eishes Chayil of the home is alphabetical, with lines beginning with all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. It is a special tribute to the Jewish woman. This song, written by King Solomon, sings the praises of the “woman of valor,” extolling her for her love, work and the light she brings to the Jewish home.

Eishes Chayil is part of Sefer Mishlei, a Sefer of great wisdom. The Rabbis say that the “Eishes Chayil” in its deeper meaning, is speaking about the Torah. 

After standing for kiddush, washing and making hamotsi, our Shabbat meal begins. The food that we have prepared L’kavod Shabbos has a sweet special taste, the taste of Shabbos.

Shabbat Shalom to everyone! May your Shabbos be restful, meaningful and quiet!

Until next time..feel free to comment and pass around.

Miriam