Fan Girl Moments

It turns out that it hasn’t been so difficult to meet the authors I admire here in Israel. Before arriving in 2019, I read a book called “Becoming Israeli” edited by Akiva Gersh, who later guided Kai on several trips around Israel during the online schooling days of COVID. In that same book, there was …

Summer visit to the US

Reuben and I traveled safely to the US at the end of July. He made friends on the flight from Tel Aviv to Boston, including one in first class who brought us snacks back in coach after Reuben ate every bite of the food I packed for him. We spent one night in Boston with …

Reuben Status Update

We are exhausted over here. We have been sprinting, yet figuring out how to live with Crohn’s is more of a marathon. I recognize that if I wasn’t so focused on the goal of flying to the US, I would probably not be in such a hurry. The fact is, both Reuben and I want …

Homestay in France

When I was 12 years old, I was matched with a big sister, Karen, through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in Cincinnati. I wasn’t considered an “at risk youth” but after my father died when I was 8 years old, my younger brother was matched with a “big brother” and it went so well that …

Passover Vacation

Passover vacation ended this morning, and the kids grudgingly went back to school. Their break started on April 7, so they seem to have forgotten all about their regular routine. My mom finally arrived on April 3rd for her first visit since we’ve lived in Zichron. The airline lost her luggage, but other than her …

Kai and Danny’s trip to Greece

GUEST BLOG BY KAI So, I went to Greece this past week with my dad, and for any of you who have never been to Greece, here’s what it’s like: You land at the airport and are instantly transported into what seems like a completely different world. The airplane itself even disappears, transforming into an …

Travel log

We arrived back in Israel last night after our month-long stay in the US. We flew Turkish Airlines, which was mostly a great experience. Online check in was simple, and we were each allowed 2 pieces of checked baggage (luckily, considering we left Israel with 3 bags and returned with 6!). We received a “hygiene …

Kai’s Pride Post

Hey, it’s Kai. I know you guys have probably been sitting on the edge of your seats waiting for another one of my amazing, comedic, grand blog posts. Here it is, but it isn’t a funny one this time. I’m going to talk about some pretty serious stuff in this post. This is one I …

Living with Uncertainty

I can hear fighter jets soaring above our town throughout the day and night. Here in Zichron, that is as close as the war has come. Many of our friends are hosting families from the south, especially friends or family who live in a home without a mamad (safe room). One mother told me that …

Pressure on Fear

I felt scared last night. The escalating violence in Jerusalem last week was upsetting, but seemed entirely separate from my existence here in Zichron. My friends who live there told me they were wary about going to certain parts of Jerusalem, and that they anticipated a “rough few days ahead”. When the rockets started falling, …