Learning Hebrew with Stick Around

Last week while reading through some business news on LinkedIn, I came across Stick Around– language stickers for the home that can help us become more fluent in Hebrew. Being a 3-time Hebrew ulpan drop-out, I was thrilled to see a product that better addresses my learning style and at a very reasonable price. I’m anxiously awaiting my order’s arrival and will try to remember to report back to you soon on my impressions.

In the meantime, I spoke with the creator of Stick Around and after enjoying hearing the story of how this product came about, I asked him to share it with you too. So, here is a guest post by Amit Turkenitz, owner of Gingerhood.com Continue reading “Learning Hebrew with Stick Around”

Israel Education: Picking Your Battles (part 2)

Continued from yesterday…

Har Sadom

Later in the day I received a call from Yisrael’s 5th grade teacher asking why he hadn’t gone on the class trip. From the permission slip that was sent home on paper (we’ve yet to receive the electronic communications we’ve been requesting for 3+ years) we determined that the 5th & 6th grade boys and girls would be going together on this full day (8:30 am – 6:30 pm) trip to Har Sodom where they would see Lot’s pillar of salt wife, and Ayin Bodek Nature Reserve where they’d be hiking a moderate to difficult level trail through water and needed to bring:

  • Comfortable shoes for walking in water
  • Breakfast, lunch & snacks
  • 3 Liters water
  • Hat & change of clothes

We (along with Yisrael) decided that he would not go on this trip for the following reasons: Continue reading “Israel Education: Picking Your Battles (part 2)”

Israel Education: Picking Your Battles (part 1)

Olim parents of young children sometimes feel overwhelmed by the education system in Israel. Don’t worry, this is normal because it is different like most experiences in a new society, but because it can be emotionally difficult for our children it can become very stressful.

I know that I have preached in the past that one should not make Aliyah with the idea that they will cling to the customs of the society from which they came forever fighting those of the Jewish homeland. However, the following situation is an exception (in my opinion) because just like in the US (and I suspect other countries) future generations will benefit from positive improvements to the education system.

Yesterday, I found myself in two upsetting situations related to education. The first occurred during ulpan when our morah (teacher) asked if anyone knew why Sarah (not her real name) had been missing class. A few of her friends explained that Sarah’s 1st grader was refusing to go back to school because of a bullying situation and the administration’s lack of response to it. My stomach knotted because I instinctively knew which school this boy must be attending based on our experience there 3 years ago. Our morah knew of my experience and suggested that I contact Sarah and encourage her to fight the system as I had done – and added that if a group of parents got together and petitioned the school, things could improve. Continue reading “Israel Education: Picking Your Battles (part 1)”

Don’t Put Your Dreams in the Hands of Others

The following is a message I received (author unknown) that should go viral in my opinion.

Imagine the following scenes throughout Shmueli’s life in the thriving religious community of Goshen, Indiana…

Scene 1.

Little Shmeuli is 7 years old and just finished examining a big picture book of Israel and it’s holy sites.

Shmueli: Mommy, I want to move to Israel. It looks really fun there! Can we move mommy?

Mommy: No, sorry sweetie. Abba has a good job here in Goshen, and anyway the Israeli kids are really too rough. You might get hurt. Maybe someday, but not now.

Scene 2.

Years later, Shmueli is now 16 and just finished viewing the Goshen Yeshiva senior class trip pictures of Israel.

Shmueli: Abba, looking at all those picture of Israel really makes we want to go there. The Cohen’s made aliyah, why don’t we? Continue reading “Don’t Put Your Dreams in the Hands of Others”