Message for Chanukah from the Lubavitcher Rebbe

As we prepare for the forth light of Chanukah, we decided to interrupt our theme of Chanukah songs with some light of Torah in the form of a message from the Lubavitcher Rebbe on Chanukah.

I hope you enjoy it.

Third night of Chanukah

We have just lit the third candle for Chanukah and it's time for another beautiful song. This time we are happy to share a song produced by Boys Town Jerusalem Choir. Beautiful voices and special boys.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. 

Chanukah Somayach everyone

Shoshanah Shear
Chessed Ve'Emet

Second Day of Chanukah - Greetings from Eretz Yisrael

It's cold with clear skies in Eretz Yisrael. After a busy day, it's time to prepare for the second candle of Chanukah. The candles look beautiful as always and so now we share another Chanukah song.

Have a very joyous Chanukah. May the lights of the Chanukiah bring light, warmth and blessing into your home.

Shoshanah Shear
Chessed Ve'Emet

Chanukah begins - Chunukah Somayach from Eretz Yisrael

It's a wonderful time of year to be in Eretz Yisrael. The cold is starting outside but the houses are aglo with the special lights of Chanukah.

Tonight we light the first light of Chanukah. I wanted to listen to some Chanukah songs and had to search for something I'd enjoy. This is the first that is a little different and rather fun. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

If I manage to, I'll try to share others during Chanukah. What is your favourite Chanukah song or memory? Do post below, we'd love to hear.

Have a very special, fun filled, light and happy Chanukah and stay warm.

Shoshanah Shear

Chessed Ve'Emet

Shalom Aleichem Music Video and Shabbat Shalom

A few weeks ago someone requested that I share Shalom Aleichem as our Shabbat Song video, to be played obviously before Shabbat. I immediately sat down and began to look for a suitable video with the traditional well known Shalom Aleichem. Surprisingly it is not so easy to find. So if any Jewish men out there have a beautiful singing voice and are able to make a music video, please make a video with the classic Shalom Aleichem that many are used to hearing in their home on Friday night after returning home from Shul.

One issue I had was the amount of videos made by women. Yes, women can have beautiful singing voices and musical talent, however, Shalom Aleichem to me is traditionally sung by the men in the house or the father of the house and I was looking for a male voice.

Next, many were made by all kinds of versions of Judaism. I am not prepared to be promoting distortions of truth so those videos were ruled out.

Next came all kinds of musical variations on the tune of Shalom Aleichem. The first video here is very lively and beautiful. It is a little different to one's usual or traditional Shalom Aleichem but it is sung by a choir of Jewish boys and is very enjoyable to help you to get into the mood of Shabbat.

For those who prefer the real traditional tune, here is a video with this for you.It took a lot of searching to find, but here you are. I hope you enjoy it.

Whatever your ideal version of Shalom Aleichem is, the song is sung when one returns home from Shul and is ready to begin Kiddush, HaMotzi and then the Shabbat meal. I hope you enjoyed one or both of the videos shared above and with that, I have Shabbat preparations calling me and needless to say you will too.

Have a very blessed and joyous Shabbat

Shoshanah Shear

Chessed Ve'Emet

Gaining Inspiration with the Yeshiva Boys Choir

What kind of a week have you had? Has it been productive? Have you achieved something you had no expected to? If you are considering making Aliyah, have you done anything this week that will help you to achieve this goal? If you are already in Israel, have you done anything this week that will assist you to have a successful integration into life in Israel?

If you need a little inspiration, a song in your heart to lift your spirits and keep you focused on the purpose of Am Yisrael in this world,  then you will enjoy this video.

No matter how crazy the world around us seems to be, in a few short hours it will be Shabbat, a time for us to unite with our Creator and to enjoy rest, company of friends and family, learning some Torah, singing uplifting songs and all the good things that Shabbat has to offer us.

May you have productive preparation for Shabbat and may this Shabbat fill you with all the strength and inspiration to carry you through the coming week. 

Shabbat Shalom

Shoshanah Shear

Chessed Ve'Emet

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

Honesty in Business - with video

Many Olim find that working freelance, privately, becoming an entrepreneur is necessary in order to meet their lifestyle goals on many levels. A question that comes up often is how do you set your price? In Israel it is typical to find a price you set being negotiated, bargained or altered. What is the best business response?

Let's take a look at a video from businessmen on business ethics

We hope you enjoyed the video and would love to hear your thoughts on the topic. To what extent do you strive to fulfill the business ethic of honesty in business?

Singing Happy Birthday in Hebrew

What do you do when your child has a birthday in Israel? How do you sing Happy Birthday in Hebrew? 

There are a few versions that I have heard. Perhaps you have heard them too. If not, here is a cute, fun video to hear some ideas. We hope you enjoy them.

Whether or not it is your birthday, it is a fun way to improve your hearing of the words and to pick up some vocabulary. 

Before we let you enjoy the short video, here is Happy Birthday for you

 in Hebrew

 יום הולגת שמח  pronounced "Yom Huledet Somayach"

A Personal Response to the Har Nof Massacre

Everyone has their own response to what transpired on Tuesday in Jerusalem.

Please take a moment to watch the YouTube video by Rabbi Haber of Ramat Beit Shemesh

One Thing I Asked of G-d - Musical Video

If you had a wish to ask of G-d, what would it be?

David HaMelech, King David,  in his Book of Psalms shared his wish. The video below has put this wish to music with stunning photographs that demonstrate the beauty of our Holy Land.

Shir HaMa'alot sung by Yosef Karduna

As we prepare for Shabbat, enjoy this beautiful recording of Shir HaMa'alot by Yosef Karduna complete with stunning images from Eretz Yisrael.

Shir HaMa'alot is from Tehillim (Psalms) 121, written by King David giving praise to Hashem and a reminder that our assistance is always from Hashem, Creator of ALL and Guardian or Israel.

Yeish Tikvah - a musical reminder with Benny Friedman

Living in such volatile times, here is a music video to give some hope and inspiration. 

Benny Friedman sings for us "Yeish Tikvah"- there is hope. We are not alone. We have one G-d.

Hashem is always with us, watching over us, caring for us, crying with us. As we prepare for Shabbat, take a few moments to listen to this beautiful music with it's upbeat rhythm and remember we have Hashem.

Yeish Tikvah ! We have hope

If you understand Hebrew, enjoy the words that remind us to unite and strengthen our Emunah. If you are just learning Hebrew, this is a wonderful way to do so.

Shabbat Shalom. שבת שלום 

May it be peaceful and rejuvenating. May we all merit the Moshiach and Final Redemption, immediately, without any further delay

Preparing for Chanukah and Latkes

Tonight is Chanukah and as everyone prepares their Chanukiah, here is a video of how to make Potato Latkes. There are many video's on YouTube about this tasty tradition. Some have certain problems either with immodest adverts at the beginning or women singing. I am sorry that this is not an Israeli demo, but it has a good Jewish woman explaining, demonstrating etc. Here you can learn both a little of tradition and how to adapt this recipe to be a little more on the nutritional value side.

Enjoy and have a Chanukah Somayach

Rabbi Greenbaum and Israel for the Nations

Jerusalem has some wonderful rabbis.

Here is one of them who is a published author, translator and teacher in various areas of Torah.

This particular video clip is the first of several taken at a function in America. The rabbi is Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum of the Azamra Institute.

Please do stop by the online store and browse some of the amazing books written by Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum. Purchase a copy and let your friends know that they can obtain his books right here.

Learning Hebrew 2

I was looking for a YouTube video of the Aleph Bet song that is Tzenua as in sung by a man and not a woman. What a treat to find a friend of mine had made a cute video clip.

Rabbi Shalom Gold of the Old City is so much fun. His shiurim are wonderful and one of his expertise is DikDuk, Hebrew grammar.

This YouTube video will teach you all about the Hebrew Alphabet, for English speakers. 

So here is a treat, I really hope you enjoy.

Learning Hebrew

As mentioned in a previous post, if you are coming to Israel, you will need to learn Hebrew.
Here is a short clip of some useful words and phrases.

Hope you enjoy.