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Hey Folks... so I know I have been MIA lately, and well, theres lots of reasons for that. But, I have a few entries to add now, so it should catch you up on most things.
Tu B' Shevat and Tidings
Leah Schneier2007-03-08 17:03:24
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Hey Folks... so I know I have been MIA lately, and well, theres lots of reasons for that. But, I have a few entries to add now, so it should catch you up on most things.
I meant to write this weeks ago, but February passed with a blink of an eye. In the beginning of February was the holiday of Tu Be'shevat. This is the holiday of trees, and in general, the beginning of spring. Kind of like the American Labor Day, with a religious combination. Traditionally, you go and plant a tree, and eat lots of the fruits and seeds from the trees, from nature. I spent the weekend with my cousins for Shabbat. Saturday, we had a big lunch with my cousins from Rishon, their uncle and cousins, and the grandparents. Zev, the grandfather, is the patriarch of the family here. We had a great big lunch, and everyone gave toasts, lots of l'chaims (cheers). Traditionally, there is a seder (just like on Passover), but with all sorts of fruits and nuts. We didn't do a seder, but we did have all the appropriate foods. We sang lots of songs, and Zev told us stories about the family, and about Israel. It was a great Shabbat.
On, February 23, Zev died. Zev is my grandmother's first cousin. It was expected, but unexpected at the same time. He was 86, and not in great health. Anyway, the reason I tell you this, is not to make you sad, but because I wanted to tell you a little bit about Zev's life, because it is a part of the history of Israel.
Zev is from Drahev, in what was Czechoslovakia, but is now the Ukraine. He came to Israel in 1939 at the age of 16, all by himself. He came with a zionist youth organization (trying to create the state of Israel for the Jews). This, and other zionist youth organizations were bringing young Jews to the land of Israel to cultivate and develop it, and to convince the British and UN to give this land to the Jews. He left behind his entire family, of 9 brothers and sisters, and parents, and nieces and nephews. He came
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