Life According to Lauren.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Jerusalem of White

Splish Splash

This week, Jerusalem saw A LOT of rain.

1. The rain in Jerusalem blows sideways because of the wind. This means that umbrellas are useless, because they just turn inside out and make you look silly. I learned this lesson after 4 umbrellas.

2. For the most part, buildings in Jerusalem are poorly insulated. This means that if you get wet in the rain (which you will...see #1), it's hard to dry off and get warm. The best thing to do is wear 5 layers of clothing and embrace the "drowned-rat" look.

3. Because of the water problem in the Middle East, rain in Israel is an incredible blessing, and vital to the people and the land. With that in mind, #1 and #2 seem insignificant (but we'll complain about it, anyway).

Jerusalem of ~~Gold~~ White

Israel rarely sees snow, and when it does, it's not too much (certainly not what this Northeastern girl is used to!). So when we heard it might snow, we were excited, but skeptical.

But with even a little snow in the forecast, survival instincts kicked in and everyone headed to the grocery store to stock up for the impending storm. Bread, eggs, milk, hummus... you know, the essentials.

And what do you know, global warming delivered, and we woke up to a winter wonderland! Schools canceled, workplaces closed down, and everyone took to the snow to build snowmen and have snowball fights... it felt like a holiday.

I can only imagine how exciting it was for the kids here who have never seen snow. By looking at these pictures... you might think we haven't, either.

Happy snow day!

Snowy night at Na'omi 9 ! Wine, popcorn, chocolate...perfection.

Time to play!!

View of the Old City in the snow

Laura's Toronto-soul is smiling :)

Roomies on the tayelet (promenade)

Snowy Jerusalem streets

Olive tree in white

Snow angel

The only time you can walk in the bus lane? Snow days and Yom Kippur.

Making new friends

When you only pack for one year in Jerusalem, snow boots don't really make the list.

Snow, sleet, rain... Israelis still need their coffee.

Frozen oranges

Snow day pancakes! Nom nom nom

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Color My World With Hope

"The best way to fight evil is to do good...

and to improve as best as we can, a small corner of our world"

Video about the annual Yom Iyyun Shel Chessed

Yesterday was our school's annual Yom Iyyun Shel Chessed (Day of Loving-Kindness). The day is in loving memory of two Pardes students, Marla Bennett and Ben Blutstein, z''l, who were killed in the terrorist attack on Hebrew University in 2002. Last year, I wrote about Marla & Ben, and this special day.

As the above video suggests, the best way to fight evil is to add more light to the world. It is in this spirit that the Yom Iyyun Shel Chessed was created.

Yesterday we visited different places around Jerusalem that represent chessed (loving-kindness). I had the privilege of going to Shalva, the Association for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children in Israel.

I didn't know much about Shalva before going, but I quickly learned that it is a very unique place, overflowing with kindness, love and warmth. I was inspired to write about it, and tell of the tremendous light that it's bringing to our world.

The beginnings of Shalva are truly remarkable, and like so many good causes, was created as a response to pain and suffering:

Shalva, translated as "peace of mind," was founded in 1990 by Kalman and Malki Samuels. The couple's son, Yossi, was rendered blind, deaf, and acutely hyperactive in 1977 after a routine DPT vaccination that went terribly wrong.

For eight years, Yossi lived in darkness, as the family desperately sought help. They visited many specialists who simply could not help him, and many well-intentioned friends and family suggested institutionalizing Yossi. Kalman and Malki refused, and continued searching and praying.

When Yossi was eight years old, his family met a deaf special education teacher who was able to break down his walls of silence. Slowly, but surely, Yossi was reintegrated into the world. He is now in his thirties, and lives a happy and meaning-filled life.

Kalman and Malki created Shalva, so that no family will ever have to feel alone in raising a child with special needs.

Shalva offers a wide variety of services. In the afternoon program, hundreds of children and teens with disabilities come and participate in a variety of therapeutic activities including hydrotherapy, dance therapy, music therapy and pet therapy. They also have the opportunity to sleep-over at Shalva once a week, offering a fun experience for them, and a much-needed break for their parents.

We were at the center during Shalva's "Me & My Mommy" program, where mothers and their child with special needs participate together in therapy, creating a strong bond between them. There was so much laughter in the room!

The Yom Iyyun Shel Chessed continued with text-study, more service projects, and a memorial for Ben and Marla.

Similar to last year, I walked away from this day feeling incredibly hopeful. For me, it served as a reminder of what the human spirit is capable of when confronted with unfathomable circumstances, and as an inspiration to use evil, suffering, and darkness as an impetus for good.

The group outside of Shalva

Thursday, December 20, 2012

(c)hanuk(k)a(h)

Last year during Chanukah, my family came to visit me here in Israel. This year, we switched!

Spending time with my girlfriends, relaxing by the fire, cooking with my Dad, bee-bopping around NYC, Hanukkah parties and Shabbat dinners with the extended family... I felt like one lucky girl!

I didn't take so many pictures, but here's what I got: