A Guten Chodesh!

I think it’s honest to say that here in America, we go to sleep thinking about Eretz Yisrael, we wake up thinking about Eretz Yisrael—and yes, we often wake up in the middle of the night, check the news, text our children there, and then toss and turn for a long time after.

This newsletter is in honor of you—our precious ones in Eretz Yisrael.

I marvel at you. And yes, I’ll admit it—I’m a little jealous. The strength you’re building, the emunah you’re living with, the camaraderie and shared experiences you’re creating—these will be part of you forever. I hear the stress, but more than that, I hear the faith, the resilience, and the quiet heroism of just keeping on going. You are the ones holding us together. You’re the ones calming us down. That’s an Eretz Yisraeldige mindset.

Being there just a few weeks ago, I was reminded—yet again—of the incredible dedication and mesiras nefesh you live with every day. Your choices, your balancing acts, your thought processes—they’re not like ours.

Everyone, everywhere, wakes up each day not knowing what it will bring. But here in the U.S., we pretend we do. We plan. We schedule. We think we have control. You—you know the truth in a deeper, more real way.

Do I go to the makolet or not? Is it safe to take the bus today? Do I push off that non-urgent doctor visit? Can I make it to my friend’s simcha? What if the siren goes off when I’m at the mikvah? Or overdue? How do I work when there’s no gan and no babysitter? Will I make it to my sister’s wedding? What about Cyprus? Egypt? El Al raffles? The Rav says don’t wake the kids for a siren, but my parents in America are panicking…

As I write this, I’m brought back to a moment from one of the most nostalgic, comforting voices of my children’s early years—Rabbi Shmuel Kunda, from the classic Where’s Zaidy?

(Yes, a tape! Anyone else feel old?)

In it, Zaidy says:

“Don’t worry, Eli. Everything will turn out for the best. Remember—everything is bashert. Hashem always has a good reason for whatever happens. Even if we don’t understand it. The Ribono Shel Olam sometimes sends us on trips to places we’ve never heard of, for reasons we don’t know—but we can be sure it’s all for a reason. When we hear the sound of the shofar, it’s the Ribono Shel Olam reminding us that everything He does is for the best—and then He will bentch us with a good year.”

I must’ve listened to that 100 times with my kids—but somehow, it hits differently now.

To our daughters, sisters, and friends: you give us strength. Just by being you. Your calm, your positivity, your creativity and determination—they inspire us, whether we’re speaking to you or just speaking about you.

With deep admiration and love,