The Yomim Tovim in Israel are truly a special treat for us.
There is nothing like spending Yom Tov in a community where almost everyone else is celebrating
it - in a country where Sukkos is a national holiday.
Even with all the negative stories coming out of Suburban Bet
Shemesh where I will be staying, the experience I have always had there is an exceedingly
positive one. The two primary suburbs of Bet
Shemesh are Ramat Bet Shemesh A and B. Most of the negative stories (such as
the one about extremist Charedim screaming “Whore!” at an 8 year old Dati Leumi
girl) come out of RBS - B. The residents there are basically Meah Shearim
transplantees.
I will be staying in RBS - A where my family lives. Although
the majority of that community is Charedi, there is still a very sizable number
of DL Jews. (I think the breakdown is 60/40. with a very small number of secular Jews.) The Charedim in RBS - A are
mostly moderate. They are as nice to me and my wife as could be – warm and welcoming
every single year - even though I wear a Kipa Seruga on my head. Which in
Israel is like wearing a giant name tag that says “Religious Zionist”.
For those who live in RBS –A, I will be mostly Davening in
Maasas Mordechai located centrally on Nachal Dolev. If you are so inclined - come
over and say hi.
As in past years, I hope to be able to continue posting in a
timely fashion. I expect to have a new post tomorrow.
Anyway, I‘m on my way. “See” you all on the other side of
the ocean!