Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel – Originally written - 27 Sept, 2009
Shana tova and g’mar hatima tova for you and your family!
We are settling in to our life together here in Ramat Beit Shemesh (or “RBS” as they say here.. ) This is, in fact, quite a beautiful community. My only real complaint is that it is very hard to practice and learn Hebrew when English is the common language here. It is said that Eretz Yisroel (Land of Israel) is acquired through yisurim (challenges), and while we are working through some issues, overall I (Steve) love it here, and am acclimating to my new home, and Chava is learning to put up with me…
Israel is an amazing place, especially during the hagim (holidays)… But the amazing thing is Shabbos. Like other frum communities in Israel, such as Har Nof, and Bayet v’Gan, Shabbos in Ramat Beit Shemesh is truly Shabbosdik… No cars, no buses, no radios, no horns… Just the sounds of children playing and people walking down the middle of the streets, wishing each other “Good Shabbos” or “Shabbat Shalom” (depending on whether they are American/South African or Israeli.)
Ramat Beit Shemesh is about a 40 minute drive from Jerusalem, it’s out in the country surrounded by gentle hills dotted with olive, almond, and carob trees, flocks of sheep and ancient wine presses and mikvas from the times of the second temple. We can also see all the way to the coast from our mirpeset (balcony), and can watch the sunset flame the sky almost every night.
Yontiv was a little difficult. We arrived into town just before Rosh Hashanah and I really didn’t have a chance to check out different shuls, to determine where to daven. There are a half-dozen English oriented shuls within a short walk from our apartment. In the end, we settled on the Carlebach Shul for these holidays where my step-son-in-law led mussaf on the second day. We are thinking seriously about a small, relatively new shul, led by Rabbi Haber, who was an early proponent of outreach (Kiruv) and continues to be actively involved in working with youth and ba’al tshuvahs. He is active in trying to foment unity in the Jewish world.
The Beis Tefilla shul is another possible option for us. Their beis midrash (learning center) is wonderful, with a number of shiurim (classes) happening all at once all day long, in addition to learning in hevrusah… Rav Malinovitz is no small potatoes. He is the chief editor of the Artscroll English-translated Talmud series.
My best teacher in the process so far, is my kallah… Chava is wonderful at reminding me and teaching me what is important as we step through each of these processes. She acts sometimes as a gentle “noodge”, but most often as an amazing role model, as she sits in the days before RH and Yom Kippur, reading books to help her (and me) prepare… Next year, I will be better. This year I was just plain confused!
I miss our community in Portland very much… Due to Portland’s unique circumstances, our community is both mixed and unified. I feel very privileged to continue to consider myself a part of this community, even though I have made Aliyah.
We pray that yours and your family’s coming year be filled with nachas, simcha, parnasah, health, and Torah. May H”S bless you with wisdom and compassion and love.
Shana tova and g’mar hatima tova for you and your family!
We are settling in to our life together here in Ramat Beit Shemesh (or “RBS” as they say here.. ) This is, in fact, quite a beautiful community. My only real complaint is that it is very hard to practice and learn Hebrew when English is the common language here. It is said that Eretz Yisroel (Land of Israel) is acquired through yisurim (challenges), and while we are working through some issues, overall I (Steve) love it here, and am acclimating to my new home, and Chava is learning to put up with me…
Israel is an amazing place, especially during the hagim (holidays)… But the amazing thing is Shabbos. Like other frum communities in Israel, such as Har Nof, and Bayet v’Gan, Shabbos in Ramat Beit Shemesh is truly Shabbosdik… No cars, no buses, no radios, no horns… Just the sounds of children playing and people walking down the middle of the streets, wishing each other “Good Shabbos” or “Shabbat Shalom” (depending on whether they are American/South African or Israeli.)
Ramat Beit Shemesh is about a 40 minute drive from Jerusalem, it’s out in the country surrounded by gentle hills dotted with olive, almond, and carob trees, flocks of sheep and ancient wine presses and mikvas from the times of the second temple. We can also see all the way to the coast from our mirpeset (balcony), and can watch the sunset flame the sky almost every night.
Yontiv was a little difficult. We arrived into town just before Rosh Hashanah and I really didn’t have a chance to check out different shuls, to determine where to daven. There are a half-dozen English oriented shuls within a short walk from our apartment. In the end, we settled on the Carlebach Shul for these holidays where my step-son-in-law led mussaf on the second day. We are thinking seriously about a small, relatively new shul, led by Rabbi Haber, who was an early proponent of outreach (Kiruv) and continues to be actively involved in working with youth and ba’al tshuvahs. He is active in trying to foment unity in the Jewish world.
The Beis Tefilla shul is another possible option for us. Their beis midrash (learning center) is wonderful, with a number of shiurim (classes) happening all at once all day long, in addition to learning in hevrusah… Rav Malinovitz is no small potatoes. He is the chief editor of the Artscroll English-translated Talmud series.
My best teacher in the process so far, is my kallah… Chava is wonderful at reminding me and teaching me what is important as we step through each of these processes. She acts sometimes as a gentle “noodge”, but most often as an amazing role model, as she sits in the days before RH and Yom Kippur, reading books to help her (and me) prepare… Next year, I will be better. This year I was just plain confused!
I miss our community in Portland very much… Due to Portland’s unique circumstances, our community is both mixed and unified. I feel very privileged to continue to consider myself a part of this community, even though I have made Aliyah.
We pray that yours and your family’s coming year be filled with nachas, simcha, parnasah, health, and Torah. May H”S bless you with wisdom and compassion and love.
posted by Shaul Gedalyah | 4:08 PM
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