On the bus to Jerusalem

This morning, I went to work by bus. Usually, I don't take much time in the morning to daven all of shacharit (say the full morning prayer service), but on the days I take the bus, that's what I do on the way. On most mornings, there are several women doing the same. Today, something different greeted my eyes when I got on the bus - a young man was wearing tefillin (phylacteries) and finishing his morning prayers. It gave me a warm feeling to live in a country where a teenager feels comfortable wearing a set of tefillin on the bus. Then I wondered why he hadn't davened with a minyan. Hmmm.

On the way home, I took the bus going to Ashdod. Naturally, it was filled with soldiers en route to their bases. Again, I got a warm feeling. This time, it was about living in the country where children are raised to fight for ideals that are greater than the importance of their individual lives. I know I talk about it a lot, but that contrast between Israeli youth and American youth is striking to me. I'm so glad we moved here.

There was another siren this morning in YB. Leah's class was listening to music, so they didn't hear the siren. Thank God for the 15 or so soldiers who are stationed at the school for that very reason. They came into the classroom and quickly herded the girls into the mamad. Leah told me afterwards: "Ima, did you know they also have lady armies?"

Actually, we are all glad we moved here. It hit 70 degrees today, and I understand there is "skin-burning cold" running across the US. Come visit.