Rachel Our Mother

Shabbat that has just passed was 11 Cheshvan, the Yartzheit of Rachel Imeinu one of the four Matriarchs of the Jewish Nation. The story of how our mother Rachel came to be buried where she is, has been documented beautifully in the two video's below. I have decided to include both as they have slightly different details and each contributes to helping us to appreciate the important role of Rachel Imeinu. Of course the 11 Cheshvan was also the birthday of her younger son Binyamin (Benjamin) the younger brother of Yosef HaTzadik.

If you watch both videos, they give a glimpse as to the transition happening in Israel and a major problem that leads to many of the difficulties we face as a Jewish Nation. May the Matriarchs and Patriarchs protect us and cry for us. May we in turn strengthen our connection with them and our commitment to both Torah and our Holy Land. Imma Rachel has been crying for long enough, it's time we work together to hasten the final redemption.

The video below includes some beautiful old photographs, hence adding this as well as the above video. 

Both videos are prepared by licensed tour guides. Don't let the current problems in Israel keep you away, come and visit and remember to support our tour guides.

 

We hope you have been inspired by the videos above. 

In the text above you will find a few Hebrew words. Immeinu אמינו is Hebrew for our mother. Imma אמא is Hebrew for mother.

Have a blessed and peaceful day

Shoshanah Shear
Chessed Ve'Emet

Mishloach Manos 5773

A Classic Mishloach Manos basket. This Purim gift contains a packet of biscuits, a packet of crisps, 2 chocolate coated waifer biscuits, a packet of coated peanuts, a packet of sweets, two mini chocolates and 2 chocolate coins. It is packaged in clear celophane plastic with purple flowers on and an attractive bow. The card will be attached once we know who it is going to and if needing delivery the address. Cards are handmade a requests for design are an option.

All ingredients of our Mishloach Manos are Bedatz Eida HaCharedi the most widely accepted Heksher. All food items are specifically kept in their original wrapping so that the Kashrut is easily recognisable. The containers are all brand new and have not been Toyvelled as yet. 

This Mishloach Manos is selling for ₪48. The Mishloach Manos and can be collected from us or we can deliver within Eretz Yisrael for a delivery fee of ₪40.

This lovely Mishloach Manos contains: a glass rectangular dish with two matching white mugs with green stripes. The mugs rae filled with a chocolate coated waifer biscuit and a packet of nuts. There is a small jar of Nescafe coffee and 4 chocolate coins. This Purim gift is attractively packaged in clear celophane with a bow. Aside from the card with your message on, this Mishloach Manos is ready to go.

It is selling for ONLY ₪65. You are welcome to purchase from us directly or we will deliver within Eretz Yisrael for ₪40

This Mishloach Manos is prepared in a cream, oval ceramic dish. It conatins a box of Lipton tea, a packet of biscuits, 3 chocolate coated waifer biscuits, 2 packets of sweets and 3 chocolate coins. This gift is attractively packaged as the others and awaits it's card. Aside from the card it is good to go.

It is selling for ONLY ₪69. You are welcome to purchase from us directly or we will deliver within Eretz Yisrael for ₪40

This Mishloach Manos is prepared in a set of two matching white dishes with a blue check and floral design. It contains a mini bottle of grape juice, 2 mini Halva, 2 peanut brittle, a small packet of sweets and is attractively packaged with clear celophane and bow.

It is selling for ONLY ₪60. You are welcome to purchase from us directly or we will deliver within Eretz Yisrael for ₪40

 

This Mishloach Manos is prepared in a glass basket bowl. It contains a packet of biscuits, a packet of sweets, a packet of coated nuts, 2 chocolate coated waife biscuits, a mini Kifkeif. It is attractively packaged in clear plastic with ribon.

It is selling for ONLY ₪53. Yםu are welcome to purchase from us directly or we will deliver within Eretz Yisrael for ₪40.

These almost matching Mishloach Manos provide an idea of the packaging for these Mishloach Manos. Butterflies, crowns or other decorations can be added to any of the Mishloach Manos at additional cost. These Mishloach Manos are prepared in diamond shaped green dishes. They contain a packet of chips, 3 chocolate coated waifer biscuits, 1-2 packets of sweets, 2 peanut brittle and one has 3 chocolate coins.

These Mishloach Manos are selling for ONLY ₪43 and ₪46.50 respectively. You are welcome to purchase from us directly or we will deliver within Eretz Yisrael for ₪40.

 

This Mishloach Manos is prepared in a stunning glass vase. It contains 2 packets of coated nuts, 2 chocolate coated waifer biscuits, a packet of chips, 2 mini flakies, a 2 packets of sweets, 3 chocolate coins. Below you can see how it is packaged and is ready to go as soon as your card and message are added.

It is selling for ONLY ₪71. You are welcome to purchase from us directly or we will deliver within Eretz Yisrael for ₪40

 

We have more Mishloach Manos to add, G-d willing tomorrow, or you can order your own choice of food items and container. All containers provide the opportunity to give a lasting gift of an item needed in most Jewish homes.

If you would like, we can add into any of these or other Mishloach Manos any of the following:

a mini Perek Shira, a Brachah card for Hafrashat Challah, a mini glass. These are $1.50 each in addition to the Mishloach Manos.

For $2 we can add a braided Havdala candle or a set of 2 white or coloured candles.

For those sending a Mishloach Manos to a Sem Girl, why not add one of Lori's lipsticks or lipliners from FaceFacts by Lori. We sell them at greatly reduced price as part of raising funds for our Bayit Chadash Gemach, with Lori's permission. You can select the colour from the colour chart on Lori's website and let us know which one to add into the Mishloach Manos.

Or select from one of our stunning Fridge Magnets (or the full set). They sell for ₪10 each or for the set as listed on the blog.

Please email us to place your order or to make a time to purchase from us in person. All Mishloach Manos need to be paid for a week prior to Purim.

"Yibaneh Yerushalayim" - Our Second Edition

It's out, It's official, the second edition of our magazine "Yibaneh Yerushalayim" - May Jerusalem be Built (or re-built).

YIPPEE!! We did it, we reached Edition 2 and distribution has begun.

What does building Yerushalayim mean to you? Let us know, we'd love to hear your thoughts and possibly include them in our next or a future edition. In the meantime, we are happy to let you see what this is all about.

The first two images show the cover, both close up of title and full image, of our second edition. The cover photography and design is by Reb Eliyahu Shear and copyrighted to him, as was the most of the first cover.
 

The last two images show both editions of our magazine. Yes, the number of pages is still less than we want. Our target is 64 pages. Actually, one of our readers said she thought the number of pages is perfect as one can read every page, article and advert with ease and enjoy.

Others want more pages. What do YOU want?

Do you have a service or product related to Kosher Jewish weddings and or setting up your new home in Eretz Yisrael?

You do?!!

Great, do be in touch for rates of adspace and other info, as we'd love to add your advert too.

If you are good at sales, we need good sales people to help to sell the adspace. At present, commission based only, but LOTS of scope for progress.

Level of the Kinneret

Can it be a whole month has gone by since we last posted regarding the Kinneret? Amazing!!

I took a look at the last post and the level of the Kinneret was -213.67m. The level I found for today is -213.66m. That means that the level of the Kinneret has risen by 1 cm. Not much in a month now is it. The level is still higher than it was last year, it is 36cm higher than it was this time last year to be exact. Is that enough?

NO!!

We need more rain and we need the level of the Kinneret to rise. What can you do??

Pray hard for more rain. AND, send us ideas so that readers can learn how to help use the water in Eretz Yisrael in the best possible manner. Here are a few ideas to get you started:  Fix your leaks, repair leaking toilets. If you have an urn you use on Shabbat, don't just throw out the water, use it to fill a hot water bottle or to clean the floor.

How else can we save water or help the Kinneret?

If you have ideas, do let us know, AND keep up those Tefillos.

Shavuah Tov

Shoshanah

Shavuah Tov - Chanukah Is On The Way

Shavuah Tov everyone.

It's been another glorious day in Eretz Yisrael? Is that what you want to hear?

HM, we are wanting rain, beautiful soft, rain that continues for a few days at least.

You know what though, the sunshine reminds us of another light. The light of Chanukah.

Here in Eretz Yisrael, the stores are stocked up with Chanukiot, candles, wicks, olive oil to light the Chanukiah. Some are preparing Sufganiot or donuts.

Like with most Chagim, the Chag is in the air, in the stores, the talk of the town.

So let's get into the mood. Here is the first video clip to help Chanukah at the Kotel, obvaiously from a previous year. Watch  it, enjoy and enjoy your preparations for Chanukah.

Tour Israel

When considering making Aliyah, it is easy to get caught up in day to day difficulties, problems, complaints and more and to lose sight of just how special Eretz Yisrael is.

If you are Jewish and are not sure whether to live in Eretz Yisrael, here is a video to help you see how special our precious land is.

If you have already made Aliyah and need a little Chizuk, here is a video to do just that.

We hope that by taking a virtual tour with Rabbi Shalom Gold of the Old City of Jerusalem, you will be able to alter the perception that the Spies lead us to believe. Don't focus on the negative, don't get pulled down by the struggles. Our Land is beautiful, special and spending time touring Israel can be all it needs to revive your Bitachon and remind you why we blong here.

Enjoy, and remember to stop by and make a comment, let us know which posts are helping you and what you would like to learn or see more of.

Israel, the Kineret and more

It is Thursday, time to begin preparing for Shabbos again. The weather has been just gloroius or has it?

Soft sunshine, wispy clouds, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. But this time of year our thoughts are not of sunshine, not in Eretz Yisrael anyway. Our thoughts are of the need for rain and to fill the Kineret.

Recent reports state that the level of the Kineret is either -213.645m or -213.65m. It is 26 cm higher than it was this time last year, but we have a long way to go.

We don't want to wait till the end of winter for a sunden downpour that is more like floods and removes valuable top soil. We need a gradual, steady, gentle rain that fills the Kineret and all other water supplies to our precious land.

So keep on Davening, keep up the Mitzvos. May we be blessed this year with ALL the rain we need in the proper time.

Shabbat Shalom

Invitaiton to Share your Inspiring Story of Eretz Yisrael

  This invitation is all about unity and increasing love of Eretz Yisrael. Hence the chain of interlinked people, in a background of blue, ie L'Shaim Shamayim.

Hi Everyone

The 9 days is an appropriate time to increase in our appreciation of Eretz Yisrael.

There is a teaching that Eretz Yisrael is acquired through suffering. For many, one of the greatest difficulties is not knowing where to find the necessary information in order to take care of what needs to be done. For some, unforeseen challenges can test one's Emunah and commitment to the Land.

When faced with a difficulty, the Baal Shem Tov's teaching that everything is Divinely Directed and happens for a reason, can pose an interesting exercise in finding the good in a series of problems. So it was that following a difficult Aliyah, we decided to use the challenges to provide valuable information to others making Aliyah. Information that will assist to ease their process.

Amongst the information provided, we also share stories of the Beauty of Eretz Yisrael. Stories that give Olim Chizuk and the will to keep striving to acquire Eretz Yisrael no matter how hard the challenge.

For this we would like your help. If you have visited Eretz Yisrael or even if you live here, if you had a special experience in Sem or Yeshiva. Perhaps a special Shabbos experience. Perhaps coming to Eretz Yisrael made your Torah learning come alive. Perhaps you were touched by putting Tefillin on Jews at the Kotel or giving out Shabbos candles some where in Israel. Whatever the story, if it is inspiring and will help others to increase in their appreciation and love of Eretz Yisrael, please send us your story and we will be happy to share it on our blog
If you have a story to share that can be posted on the above blog, please email it to us. Stories should be 400 - 800 words in length and edited.

Looking forward to hearing from you

Shoshanah Shear

Our Prayer Project - To Increase Unity and Successful Klita

This image is one of 4 stunning fridge magnets created by
Shear Success Photographers.

You can purchase or order one of these fridge magnets or the full set by sending a comment to this post or following the link on the word fridge magnets.

We read in the Chumash, that when the Spies came to check out the Land, two of them were protected from talking negatively or falling into believing falsely what their eyes saw, ie "that life in Eretz Yisrael would be impossible and it is better to remain outside of the land." One of these was Kalev ben Yefune and his key to protection while scouting out the Land was to go and daven at Maharas HaMachpela that the merit of the Avos and Imaos protect him. For Kalev it worked, as we read further in the Chumash.

If you are considering making aliya or have already made aliya but are living in an area of Eretz Yisrael that makes it difficult to get to Maharas HaMachpela, we are offering a special Prayer Project. Send us your Hebrew name together with a donation of US$ 18 per name submitted. In return we will say a personal tefillah and recite some Tehillim, in the merit of names submitted, at Maharas HaMachpela.

If you would like a personalized package of either a 40 day cycle of davening on your behalf carried out by a Torah scholar / rabbi and his wife together with visiting various Kivrei Tzaddikim on your behalf, please do send us an email.

Please note: No-one can ever guarantee the type of outcome or a visible response to the tefillos. Our Prayer Project is aimed at creating a positive partnership to increase goodness and kindness amongst all of the Jewish people. On our side we wish to increase in all of the projects we are involved in and to create opportunities for others to be able to live in Israel and earn an income doing what they enjoy and are skilled at, while still being attached to true Torah values and a Torah lifestyle. On your side, through your contribution to our projects, through increasing in your act of goodness and kindness, you bring yourself to be more meritorious and deserving of blessing. Together, this project of UNITY brings blessing to us all.

Maaser money can be used for this.

Eretz Yisrael - "I want to be a Jew"

In various discussions with Jews who are in Israel, coming to Israel and have been in Israel, a certain fact crops up from time to time. There are those who think or believe that returning to live in the Land of Israel is a new idea, a new trend, something Zionistic.

The truth is, returning to or living in the Land of Israel began with Avraham Avinu, our father in the Parsha of Lech Lecha where G-d tells Avraham to leave his land, the place of his birth and journey to the land that G-d will show him. G-d promises Avraham that the land, at that time known as Eretz Canaan will be given to the descendants of Avraham through Yitzhak and Yaakov. In fact, when Avraham Avinu came to settle in Eretz Canaan, it could have ended there.

For reasons I do not understand, when a famine began in the land, Avraham and Sarah, his wife, journeyed down to Egypt to obtain what they needed and wait out the famine. This action was not favorable to G-d and as a result the children of Yaakov repeated their grandfathers actions in journeying down to Egypt at the time of famine.

Of course, G-d is Infinite and could have sustained us in Israel, but for reasons known to G-d, the events described in the Torah transpired.

We are taught of two other significant times that Jews came to Israel. The first was Yaakov our father who returned to the land of his father and grandfather after spending years with Lavan. Now he returned with wives, children, livestock and wealth. The second time is the famous time of the Exodus from Egypt when we were lead by Moshe Rabeinu and later Yehoshua in our return to the land of our fathers.

In further posts we will look at our great rabbis, sages and Tzaddikim who returned to live in the Land of Israel, including their reasoning, messages to Am Yisrael and other lessons to learn from them.

For now, let us return to our father Yaakov. As we are taught in the Chumash, Yaakov had a struggle with the angel of Eisav his brother. This struggle took place through the night and at dawn, when Yaakov was deemed victorious, he received a name change to Yisrael.

It is this name Yisrael that we take on when coming to live in this special land. The name Eretz Yisrael ארץ ישראל means I want to be Yisrael. We get this from the following. Ratz or רץ is from the language of Ratzon meaning to want or desire. When we put an aleph in front of a word, (verb) it becomes a future tense for I, therefore becoming I will want or I will desire Yisrael.

What is this Yisrael that I will desire? There are two ways to translate this. As we see from the above scenario, Yaakov was given this name when overcoming adversity, when being victorious over the darkness. So it is that most Jews when returning to Israel, go through a period of struggle and darkness. However, if we remember our goal, Eretz Yisrael, I will desire Yisrael, we can maintain our focus and come through victorious just as Yaakov Avinu was. After this we become worthy of settling in and living in the Land of Yisrael, the Land that G-d promised to the descendants of Avraham, Yitzhak and Yaakov or Yisrael.

The second way to understand this is that Eretz Yisrael means "I want to be a Jew". In other words I desire to do those things that a Jew should do in this world.

This is Eretz Yisrael - the true desire of every Jew. The Jew wishes to be Yisrael (as opposed to Yaakov) and he/she wishes to be a good Jew, studying the Torah and fulfilling the Mitzvot, the ultimate place for this being in Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel.