Asa the kindergarten teacher!

Asa returned yesterday from the IDF summer camp, organized for children of fallen soldiers. He was selected as one of the instructors, working with 5-6-7 ears old. He came home with a lot of stories about children, about their fathers.

The story of the camp, the joy of the children is told through Asa's smile, conquering every picture.

See these pictures on Picasa Web Albums!

Time flies

Time flies. We didn't even notice and our kids are no children any more. Suddenly they are grownup, having their own will, their own style, goals and pace. Suddenly we, the parents, become not important, not deciding and not influencing.

My first shock came more than two years ago when my son Asa left for the army. Until that day he never even took a bus without our knowledge and permission. Unexpectedly, without even consulting with us, he decided to go to a fighter unit and he started to decide about his future.

The first shock came unexpectedly. I tried not to think about his leaving and I tried not to look how grownup suddenly he became. So when the parting came it was a real jolt. Now I am much more prepared. Aia is still in high school, but she is already an independent and grownup lady. Her time and her departing will come very shortly.

From one side it hurts to learn we became at most just friends, while in the “old times” we were like God for our children. They don’t ask anymore for permission or advice what to do. They just tell us what they want to do – or they simple let us know after the happenings.

But on the other side it is a great feeling: We did it! We raised them, nourished them, taught them, help them, equipped them with reasoning, with understanding, with the ability to decide, to choose and to understand. And now they are ready to stand on their own feet and lead the pack.

Good luck! Enjoy life! We supplied you everything you need. Ia m sure you will use your knowledge with wisdom, with reasoning and for good.

Disappointment...

For days the weather forecast predicted heavy show in hills of Galilee. Everybody waited with high anticipation for the long dreamed white snow. Not for the special school holiday (no school on a snowy day) but for the rare beaty: White snow covering the trees ; hearing the snow crashing under the feet ; building snowman ; Jimbo and Mango in the snow, tasting it, smelling it ...

But no, there was no snow! Not even a single drop!

So nothing left except waiting for the next time and remembering the last time it was snowing in Tefen (about 4 years ago). Here is a small sample how it looked like at that time. 

Happy Chinese New Year 2006 to Everybody!

By chance I was in New York last week on a business strip, planned to go home on Friday. But as we didn't completed the planned discussion I was "kindly requested" to stay a couple of more days.

So I was fortunate to visit Chinatown for the New Year celebration. Millions of people, paper firecrackers, dragons, drums, smell of great Chinese food, fantastic atmosphere! Even the rain couldn't harm the festival.

If you are interested, you can see some pictures at Chinese New Year '06!


Happy New Year - year of the dog!

Beginning...

Is any reason writing a blog? Is anything ordinary is occurring I must share with the whole world? Someone can say "absolutely not". I get up in the , go to work, sit in front a "TV screen" most of the day, go home when already dark, see the evening news and go to sleep.

Yes, in general it is true. But at the same time a lot of small (or not so small) and interesting and exciting and sometimes normal (or even boring) happenings occur, thoughts are popping up, people are contacted, projects start and drops, places are visited. And there is the family, children and their happenings,. And politics and cultural events, and successes and failures and the list can go on forever.

Life is not boring. On the contrary. Every day is a new day, a new opportunity, a new beginning. Every day there is something special, something beautiful. Sometimes it is just how the sun is shining. Sometimes it is the the caring hand of your wife. Sometimes it is something big, sometimes it is small.

The size or the importance of events is not important. This is my life, the first, the last, the only one.