Shabbat Shalom From Eretz Yisrael

It has been a hard week in Israel, but Shabbat is coming. While you clean, cook or whatever else you need to do to get ready for Shabbat, here is a youtube video with a selection of Erev Shabbat Songs to help you to get into the right mood. The songs also have images, some of them very beautiful.

Let the music help you to stay focused on what it is to be a Jew. Remember, more than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews. Let our observance of Torah and Mitzvos protect us and tip the scales in favour of an immediate Geulah.

Shabbat Shalom to everyone.

Tuvia Finds His Freedom Soon to be in Hebrew

Some months ago we brought out our first children's book: "Tuvia Finds His Freedom" written and photographed by Eliyahu and Shoshanah Shear. We are delighted to begin the new year by receiving the proof copy of the Hebrew translation of the same book. The book has been translated into Hebrew by Dana Baum who was born in Israel, lived for many years in South Africa and returned to Israel some years ago. We are very grateful for her superb translation. During her years outside of Israel, Dana managed to maintain her Hebrew at the same level as her English and her translation certainly shows a wonderful talent.

The Nikud (vowels) has been inserted by Rabbi Eliyahu Shear and proved to be quite a learning curve. Not only to make sure that the grammar is correct but also in learning about the various software programs that enable one to insert Nikud. Having completed the task of inserting the Nikud, Rabbi Shear had to alter the photographs to have Hebrew captions instead of English ones and then to complete all the formatting to ensure that the Hebrew version is the same as the English one. A big challenge was the cover. The English cover had been created using a template provided by CreateSpace. Obviously, this time the cover had to be reversed which the template did not permit as easily, thus necessitating creating a new cover. 

We are in the process of reviewing the book once more in all the necessary detail and look forward to sharing information of the Hebrew version of the book being available for purchase.

In the meantime, if you would like to pay for a book in advance, we are taking orders and will be happy to deliver as soon as the proof copy has been approved.

You can purchase the book in English or in Hebrew or in both. Why would you like both? Whether you would like to help your child to improve his / her reading in Hebrew and to gain excellent vocabulary or whether you would like him or her to maintain their English, having both books will assist with this. Likewise, the book can be fun for an adult to read in English and Hebrew. If you would like to make an advance purchase, please be in touch.

We look forward to sharing more updates regarding the Hebrew version of our children's book "Tuvia Finds His Freedom".

Shanah Tova

Shoshanah Shear

Chessed Ve'Emet

Preparing for Simchat Torah 5776

Sukkot for the past few years has seen harsh wind making sitting in the Sukkah difficult due to it being blown over. Still, we made it through. This Sukkot, the wind has been calm, sun rather hot and the rain has not yet begun, but the Chag has had tests beyond tests.

Looking at the news it seems as though every half hour or so there is something new happening. Some tragedy, something to test our commitment to Torah, Eretz Yisrael and the holiest part of our land.

My thoughts flit from the victims of the latest attacks to the words of Vayikra and various Prophets especially Yirmiyahu. I am encouraged to see the large numbers Davening at the Kotel this morning. I am encouraged to hear of the efforts of those who respond to tragedies with building our land further.

As we prepare to bring in the Yom Tov of Simchat Torah and Shmini Atzeret all I can think is let us gather all the strength we have and celebrate this Chag better than we have ever done before. Let us show Hashem that our commitment is to Him, to Torah, Tefillah, Gemilut Chassadim and of course to our Holy Land. Let us all increase in more Torah learning, more Tefillah, concentrating on our prayers and not talking in Shul, learning what G-d's way is and doing whatever it takes to live according to His rules. At the end of the day, He is the One in charge of ALL creation. He promised us that there will be an end to our long Exile. Let us increase our efforts so that Hashem will bring us close and hasten the Redemption.

Chag Somayach

Shoshanah Shear
Chessed Ve'Emet