So far so Good
August 10, 2004

Shalom!  Ok, so everyone says I need to practice my Hebrew!  That's about the extent of it :)  No, actually I'm picking up words every day and I'm now totally convinced of my need to sign up for Ulpan.  BTW, I must refute a myth that I heard over and over and over prior to our Aliyah.  One really DOES need to speak and understand Hebrew living in Beit Shemesh!!  It does not bode well for us when we go to an office in the Iriyah (impressed?) and they start babbling in this foreign language, I mean Loshon Hakodesh, and I look at them with a terrified "deer in the headlights" look.  Then Menachem (that was smooth) and I look at each other expecting the other one to suddenly become
fluent and then one of us says "Anglit?"  VERY often the answer is "No"! So,contrary to what some Israelis tried to tell us prior to Aug. 3rd, moving to Beit Shemesh is, indeed, considered making Aliyah.  

B"H things are going very well.  We are making our way through the necessary paperwork and offices.  Experiencing our share (?Chelek)  of beauracracy. Today we had 3 errands in the same neighborhood, so, we Americans figure, do them all at the same time and save cab fare, right?  Wrong.  The Post Office was open but the other two offices weren't.  One office was closed, from what I can tell, just "because".  The other office was supposed to be open till 1:00PM but the lady needed to go home early 11:45AM.  OK, so we learned to call before we go, but... then we need to speak Hebrew!!  

Elisheva and Raanan are busy in the mornings going to Ulpan.  Etana's being helpful watching Meira and translating.  Meira's busy being cute.  The Israeli's love her!  Menachem started working on Monday.  It's great having him around but it will take a while getting used to the whole arrangement.  

The Beit Shemesh community is just amazing!  It feels so much like Highland Park/Edison which helps me a lot.  By the second day here we already were given 5 cakes.  By Shabbat (!) People had brought over so many meals and we even had a huge potato kugel.  The shul gave us flowers.  The community welcoming committee brought over a lasagne and our invaluable "Shemeshphone" - the neighborhood phone book.  On day two, a woman from the local Kupat Cholim(health services office) brought us some information, a magnet and a silver and mahogany "Birchat Habait" plaque!!  

We came here invited out for both meals the first two weeks.  The invitations are coming fast and furious for the next few weeks!  Which works out well because due to the port strike, our lift is in Italy so it will be a while before we get our things.  It's not bad though, we all have mattresses, we have a table and chairs in the dining room, a small TV and VCR (B"H)and a fridge. Our cable connection was made on day #2 so the laptops have been great!  

It is just so amazing to be here!  I now understand my friends telling me all these years that this is the best place to raise Jewish children!  You just "feel" Judaism everywhere you go.  It just feels right.  I hope that feeling continues.  I see in the regular supermarkets the aisle with the candles is larger than in America.  They have Shabbos candles, Yahrtzeit candles, Havdalah candles and lots of different options for all of them.  The shul sang "V'shavu Banim" to all the olim this Shabbos.  It means a lot when you are on the recieving end of this.  We get Mazel Tovs, Bruchim Habaim, and wishes for an easy Klita by everyone we meet.  Religious or not.  All the Israelis are thrilled to have this large influx of new Olim.  

Don't get me wrong.  I miss my friends and family so much.  But we are only an email and a 732-777-0553 phone call away!  Not to mention a plane ticket.  No one belongs here more than you!!

B'Ahava,

Randi