Beautifying Jerusalem

 

I was going for a walk in a beautiful park in Jerusalem and noticed over time some of the park benches gradually being beautifies. It's quite a bit of work. Someone has been out and about doing some tapestry type work on the metal park bench. Every one is different and really a lot of fun. 

They look so very happy and lovely to see!

 A few days later, we were out doing errands and took a second look at the sidewalk. There are usually these black metal items that look rather like a row of pawns from a chess set. This row is not the usual black, they have been dressed up. Each with a different hat or head gear.

 Someone has a sense of humour and some time on their hands. 

Either way, it's rather fun to look at and certainly brightens one's day.

 Have you noticed any form of beautifying Yerushalayim in your area? Do let us know or share a pic.

These photographs have been taken by Shoshanah Shear of Shear Success Photographers

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

Think Good and It Will Be Good - An Appeal for Rain in Israel.

On Thursday of last week, the news came out of a disasterous fire in the Carmel Mountains in the North of Eretz Yisrael. I posted on Face Book for Jews to join us in Tehillim or Teifllah and to send in some inspirational Torah thoughts to add to our weekly Tehillim reminder for our International Tehillim Group. Our reason being that Torah is akin to water and water can put out the fire. I received an answer of a teaching by the Tzemach Tzedek: "Think good and it will be good - tracht gut vet zayn gut"

To help us to think good and to hasten the rains in Israel, we have put together a few images and a little poem. It is a bit of fun, but the message is a serious one. Please join us in increasing Tehillim for Am Yisrael and for Eretz Yisrael. 

It's time for rain, here come the clouds.
An answer to our prayers, no more need for shrowds.

 The sky covers over, soon it will rain.

This light still comes through, there'll be blue sky again.

We're ready for rain, our rain boots are out.

We'll jump in the puddles, laugh and splash about.

 The rain is now coming, the rain clouds now open.


The North of Israel now get's its soaking

The fire goes out and the Kineret re-fills

The level is just perfect, free from all spills.

We invite you dear friends, Yidden great and small.
To imagine this poem and visualization, have a ball.
Put in some frills, add to it make it tall.
For we really need Salvation right now for one and all.

Lag B'Omer Right After Shabbat

The kids in the area have been very busy collecting wood and preparing their bonfire. Lag B'Omer is coming right after Shabbos. Great excitement .... However, with all excitement comes the need to exercise a little control. Please make sure you wait for Shabbos to finish completely before lighting your bon fire.

Shabbos comes out in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) at 19h57. For Shabbat times elsewhere in the world, you can take a look at chabad.org

If you have children, please take good care of them. Keep them a safe distance from the fire. Make sure not to throw any plastic or other items in that can blow out of the fire in the direction of anyone passing by. I hope your bonfire is a safe distance from any grass, trees or other foliage.

 Enjoy Lag B'Omer, if you can, send us a pic of your bon fire and we can all enjoy together.

Remember, Lag B'Omer is about the great light that Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai revealed, so take a few moments or half hour or more to study some Torah. If you can manage to learn a story of teaching from either the Zohar or Chassidus, so much the better.

 Shabbat Shalom

Charedi Housing Crisis

Charedi Housing Crisis may indicate Larger Trend: If there's anyone wondering about the difficulties the religious communities are experiencing in terms of being able to purchase their own home in Israel... they may wish to think again as the problem is simply indicative of a much larger problem that could affect those... who are not religious as well: Visit this link on Matav.com for more information.

We need to start sticking together truly helping each other out, rather than turning a blind eye... We're all in the same boat together. The hole being drilled under "that person's" seat on this mighty yacht called Earth, is not just affecting them, it's affecting us all.

Come and Meet Other Jewish Women

If you are coming to Eretz Yisrael on a Pilot Trip during the month of December or have recently made Aliya, come and join our Full Day Seminar for Women. At this event you will meet other women who already live in Israel. We have some wonderful speakers lined up.

Each of these speakers is very worth getting to know and each have guests for Shabbat.

So come and join us. One of the keys to settling in Israel successfully is increasing your network. What better way than through a full day that is geared to increasing Unity with Jewish Women.

If you can't make this event, please be in touch anyway. We are working on making this kind of event a regular happening. So come along another time.

Advert going into the RBS Views

"Wow, what a list of speakers" Comment sent by friend on FaceBook

"Your event sounds fantastic" Comment sent by friend on twitter

Advert going into the Shechunaton in Har Nof

Our Upcoming Women's Event, scheduled to take place, G-d willing, on 8th Dec 2009 at the Dati Leumi Shul Hall, 22 Rehov Chai Taib, Har Nof.

"It looks like terrific program!" One of our presenters in response to confirming details of the time for her slot.

As you can see, responses coming in are positive. We have wonderful and inspiring speakers and a varied program.

Come and join us for a day of Torah, Tehillim, Tzeddakah, Simchah and Unity. Further details can be seen on our website

Prior Booking is essential. Payment to attend can be made either via PayPal or direct deposit to our Bank Account.

To book your places, please email Shoshanah
Book for a friend too and receive a free raffle ticket.

₪250 per person.

Networking Opportunity for South Africans in Israel

If you are South African and are considering Aliya, have made Aliya, are in the process of making Aliya, do join this exciting Yahoo Group. It has been set up specifically to increase networking amongst South Africans in Israel.

The group is South Africans in Israel Job Exchange - SAIJE
The idea behind the group is to strengthen and assist South Africans making Aliya to be successful in Israel. How?

If, for example, you have the need for a plumber, you of course have many options of plumbers to use. By posting on SAIJE and responding to posts on this group, you can give work to a South African plumber, thus helping him to have the opportunity to be financially independent in Israel. In addition the SA plumber is enabled to continue working in the profession or trade he is skilled in and accustomed to.

The same is true if you need a secretary, tutor, doctor, lawyer, therapist, editor or indeed any other kind of service.

In addition to this, the latest trend in becoming successful in business is networking. How can we do this? By connecting with like-minded people, hence fellow South Africans in Israel. In this way, even if you dont need a service provider right now, perhaps you will in the future. Or perhaps you will be chatting to a friend and discover that they need exactly the service you just happened to see posted today, yesterday, the day before, even last week.

We are told that living in Israel is difficult. Let us make it easier by uniting and helping fellow Olim from South Africa.

We look forward to hearing from you and to welcoming your interaction on this great Yahoo Group. Together we can ease the process of making Aliya.