Shalom le kulam. Ma shlomchem?

Shalom le kulam. Ma shlomchem?
Doesn't time go by so quickly? I feel like I have only just finished writing the other blog and it is time to write another. I am thankful to say that things have really been getting back to normal this week. Little Ori recovered well after his circumcision, although he is a bit 'gripey' now which leads to fun nights! The whole family is settling down and finding their new places within the family and I am glad to say that our little 20 month old daughter hasn't managed to inflict any serious damage on Ori yet, although she really gave him a good whack when he was only a few days old!! This week was another family event; it was my cousin's wedding. He is only 22 yrs old and there was much talk of how young he is to be getting married. In our culture it is obligatory to find something to talk about…. The wedding was great and everyone seemed to really get in to the spirit of things. The Shabbat after a wedding the whole family and all the friends get together for the Shabbat to be with the newly married couple. It is always a crazy but fun time and I am really looking forward to it. The project up north is going really, really well and as one of the directors here at the Ulpan, I went up to see that everything was going alright. There were glowing reports of Efat and Saray, (of course I would have never doubted for a moment that there would be…) and the students seem to be progressing well.
Well, writing this from a rainy and cold Tel Aviv hope that you all have a good end to the week and I wish you all Shabbat Shalom!
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv-Director

Shalom le-kulam

This week I hardly know whether I am coming or going! I normally start with what is going on here in Israel, but today, I want to start with what is going on with me! As I said last week, my wife gave birth to our 4th child, (3rd son). When a boy is born, there is always so much to do and for me it was no exception. Trying to get the Brit Milah arranged, the Sandak (godfather), the Mohel (the circumciser) and all the family in the same place at the same time and all on the 8th day of his life, whilst making sure that all is going smoothly at the Ulpan, and that all of our students and potential students are taken care of. Eventually, it all came together beautifully yesterday. The weather was fantastic and all of our closest friends and family were there as well as all of my colleagues from both the Tel Aviv branch and the Jerusalem branch along with a few of my long term students. There was a real mixture of people, backgrounds and languages. It would have been an anthropologist's dream! As the Parashat ha Shavua was "Lech Lecha", this week where G-d told then Abram to leave his country, home and father's house, I spoke a little bit of Abram's character and the importance of what he actually did, becoming the first Ivri (the first 'Hebrew' from the root 'To pass over'), also about his heart to take everyone with him. It was important for us to choose a name which reflected firstly, what our new little son meant to us and secondly, what we hoped he would be and become and so we chose the name 'Ori Avraham'. (Ori meaning 'my light' and Avraham after Avraham, Avinu.) We look forward to the next many years that we have together; getting to know him and seeing our little Ori Avraham grow in to what we hope and pray will be an exceptional man and especially a man of G-d.

Other than that, there were a few significant days this week; there were the memorial days for Rachel, emenu and for Yitzak Rabin, after his assassination, 16 years ago.

Shabbat Shalom le kulam!

Gil Pentzak

Ulpan Aviv-Director

Ulpan Aviv

Well as you know, things are rarely dull here in Israel and this week was no exception… Two days ago, there was the vote at UNESCO (United Nations Educational and Cultural Organization) concerning the request from the Palestinian Authority to be admitted. Despite them meeting none of the educational and cultural criteria for admission, the result of the vote was still positive. We are waiting with baited breath to hear the results of the UN Security Council vote on the 11th of November…. In the meantime Mahmoud Abbas has been encouraging Palestinians to kidnap Israeli soldiers with North Sudan giving people the added incentive of offering 1 million USD to the person who successfully captures an Israeli soldier. The first known attempt was made to kidnap a young female soldier yesterday evening in Pisgat Ze'ev (one of Jerusalem's neighbourhoods). In the Gaza region, rockets and mortars have been coming in thick and fast to the Israeli towns of Beersheva, Sderot and Shaar Negev, killing one man, causing a lot of damage and resulting in all the local schools being temporarily closed down in order to prevent any harm to the local children. It really feels as if it is 'open season' on Israeli citizens at the moment. Not a very comfortable time…

On a personal note, I haven't been in to the Ulpan at all this week although I have been overseeing things from home. No! I haven't been ill this week….. On Monday evening, my wife gave birth to our fourth child, a little boy. We are absolutely delighted and thank G-d for his safe arrival. The labour was a long one, but both mum and baby are doing well. The Brit Mila (circumcision) will be on Tuesday next week (we go according to the 8th Hebrew days) and so at the moment all my time is taken up with arranging that and the special Shabbat that we have on the first Shabbat after the birth. I'll let you know how things went next week!
I wish you all Shabbat Shalom and a peaceful and blessed end of the week.

Shalom le Kulam! Ma nishma?

Well! After the excitement last week of Gilad Shalit's release and Sukot followed by Simchat Torah, this week was back to the grind stone! I have to say that after all Tishrey's holidays and festivals it will be great to get back to a more normal rhythm and routine, although I have seen that Israel is back in the news (just for a change…), with the earthquake in Turkey. Apparently, despite the strained relations between the two countries at the moment, Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rang the Turkish Prime Minister to offer assistance. At first this was refused as Turkey hoped not to need external assistance, although it was reported in the newspapers this morning that Turkey has accepted the offer. I hope that it will lead to warmer diplomatic relations between the two countries and was moved to see the rescue of a two week old little baby from the rubble yesterday. I hope and pray that the baby's family will also be found safe and sound.
After finishing her training last week, Noyah, our new teacher will be starting to take students this week. We are delighted to have her on our team and we wish her every success. I love to see how our teachers develop and blossom in their style and confidence with every course that passes. The continuing education program that we run here at Ulpan Aviv, allows Osnat and myself to really be involved in this process. A real privilege.
Today, Sarai and Efrat travelled up north to start the project with the Australian students on Kibbutz S'deh Eliyahu. Both are very much looking forward to the challenge. All the best to them. It will certainly be quiet around here without them!!!!!!

Shalom le Kulam! Ma nishma?

Well! After the excitement last week of Gilad Shalit's release and Sukot followed by Simchat Torah, this week was back to the grind stone! I have to say that after all Tishrey's holidays and festivals it will be great to get back to a more normal rhythm and routine, although I have seen that Israel is back in the news (just for a change…), with the earthquake in Turkey. Apparently, despite the strained relations between the two countries at the moment, Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rang the Turkish Prime Minister to offer assistance. At first this was refused as Turkey hoped not to need external assistance, although it was reported in the newspapers this morning that Turkey has accepted the offer. I hope that it will lead to warmer diplomatic relations between the two countries and was moved to see the rescue of a two week old little baby from the rubble yesterday. I hope and pray that the baby's family will also be found safe and sound.
After finishing her training last week, Noyah, our new teacher will be starting to take students this week. We are delighted to have her on our team and we wish her every success. I love to see how our teachers develop and blossom in their style and confidence with every course that passes. The continuing education program that we run here at Ulpan Aviv, allows Osnat and myself to really be involved in this process. A real privilege.
Today, Sarai and Efrat travelled up north to start the project with the Australian students on Kibbutz S'deh Eliyahu. Both are very much looking forward to the challenge. All the best to them. It will certainly be quiet around here without them!!!!!!

Shalom Lekulam!

It is almost with a sense of disbelief that I am writing this blog. It is 08.27am on the morning of Tuesday the 18th October 18, 2011 and in just over half an hour, Gilad Shalit, a young soldier imprisoned in Gaza for the last almost 5 years, (1940 days) should be freed. There have been so many rumors; “Is he alive?” “If he is alive, what condition will he be in?” “Who is on the list of prisoners to be exchanged?” The whole of Israel and the world with her are holding their breath. What a historic day. And, what an appropriate moment; at the moment we are celebrating Sukot, a time of joy and celebration and of gathering in. At last Israel will be able to ‘gather in’ her long lost son. I would also like, at this time, to honor the families who lost their loved ones to the hands of those who are being released as I am writing this blog. The pain of seeing their son or daughter, mother or father, friend or relative’s murderer going free must be excruciating. All I can say is that they may be free from the prison bars which held them, but they are in no way free from the justice of HaShem the perfect judge…… The news flash is that an Israeli officer has just met Gilad. Only a few more moments….. In the light of the breaking news, my news seems insignificant. I had a great beginning of Sukot with my family. All of my brothers, their families and my sister were at my parent’s house. It was a very noisy affair, (9 small children!!!), but we had a fantastic time. Tomorrow evening marks the end of Sukot and the beginning of Simchat Torah, which means “rejoicing over the law.” Each week in synagogues around the world a portion of the Torah (1st five books of the Tanakh, i.e. the law) are read. This week sees the last reading of the Torah being read, before starting again next week. There will be lots of singing, dancing and a special blessing said over the Torah. Another time of great joy for the nation. Anyway, you will have to excuse me; I am just off to see what is happening with the exchange. I wish you a joyful and peaceful end of the week. Chag Sameach! Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv - Director

Wow everybody, what a week!

Rosh Ha Shana was great. I spent it at my in-laws house with my wife’s family and we all came out speaking to each other which just goes to prove that miracles not only happen during Purim! My wife especially loves going to the synagogue to hear the shofar being blown. It is a sound that seems to really tug at your heart. These last few days have been ones of soul searching before G-d to bring to light any wrong doings from the past year. It’s tough to come face to face with one’s own humanity in the light of the holiness of HaShem. At Ulpan this week, things have been crazy. Final preparations for the project up in the north starting directly after Succot and interviewing new teachers to take Sarai’s and Efrat’s place during that time. (Not easy shoes to fill….) The process to update the website is well under way and going well and we have launched a new campaign on Facebook. Don’t forget to check it out and you may even win a free course…. Other new things at the Ulpan in Tel Aviv include a new street sign on rehov HaYarkon. In the very short time that it has been up it has already brought 3 potential students in, all enquiring about learning Hebrew. Despite the pre-opening nerves, things really have taken off here in Tel Aviv, which is fantastic! Well I am off to prepare for Yom Kippur, which by the way, as with this year, is the only day on which fasting is allowed on the Shabbat. So it just leaves me to wish you all TSUM KAL.