KUMMUNIQUE

Shalom! We are proud to present another issue of Kummunique.
This issue is filled with Aliyah and Eretz Yisrael inspiration - so enjoy!

In this issue you will find:

1. "Happy Birthday Moshe" by Malkah Fleisher
2. "Terumah" by Rabbi Pinchas Winston
3. "World Enters Joyous Month of Adar" by Ezra Halevi
4. "Arrivals: From New Hampsire to Kiryat Shmona" by Meredith Price

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1. "Happy Birthday Moshe" by Malkah Fleisher

Mishe, mishe, mishe nichnas Adar, marbin, marbin, marbin b'simcha! Happy Adar everyone! Boy oh boy – it's hard not to jump the gun and write a big Purim article, because Purim is so much in the air now – my mishloach manot (food gifts) are shaping up, and my costume is practically wriggling for joy in my closet.

Nonetheless, I will restrain myself and mention that a big Jewish event is coming our way a full week before we bite into those buttery hamantaschen we're all dreaming about. Happy Birthday, Moshe Rabbeinu!

On the 7th day of Adar (exactly 3 months before Shavuot, and the day that would have made Purim his brit day had he not already been born circumcised), our Teacher, Moses, was brought into this world. Happy Birthday! It was also on this day, exactly 120 years later, that Moshe was taken out of this world (our Sages tell us that G-d took Moshe's soul with a kiss).

After Moshe, the Jewish people had many great leaders – Yehoshua, David, Shlomo, etc – but there is something that always brings us back to Moshe. Maybe it was his intimacy with G-d. Maybe it was his selflessness on behalf of us wayward Israelites. Maybe it was the extraordinary circumstance of his leadership, from his anointing, through plagues, split waters, hovering mountains, and 40 years in the desert.

As an aliyah activist, I am particularly moved by his almost maniacal passion for the Land of Israel, despite the fact that he hadn't so much as smelled the air of the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob until the day he died.

The Book of Our Heritage by Eliyahu Kitov gives an incredible account of the passing of Moshe Rabbeinu. According to the commentators, Moshe was very busy on his last day on earth, blessing Yehoshua, blessing the tribes of Israel, and making sure everything was in order for the Jews to continue on without him. With all of his history with our people, with all he had accomplished, he used his last minutes on earth to reinforce our connection to two things – G-d, and the Land of Israel

"A Divine voice then came forth and said: 'The moment has come for you to depart from the world.' Moshe replied: 'Blessed is His Name, Who lives and endures forever.' He then said to Israel: 'I ask of you, when you enter the Land of Israel, remember me and my bones and say, 'Woe to the son of Amram, who ran before us like a steed, and whose bones fell in the wilderness.'' A Divine voice then came forth and said: Within half a minute you are to depart from this world.' He lifted his two arms and placed them on his heart, and said to Israel: "See the end of one who is flesh and blood!" (Book of Our Heritage, The Month of Adar).

It is fitting that Moshe's life be so linked to our happiest month, to the month of our joy, as he cared so much about the things that cause Jewish joy – the Torah, the Nation, and the Land.

Kumah Loyalist Ezra HaLevi will be contributing this week's recipe:

Moshe b'Teivah [Moses in the ark] is what Israelis call pigs-in-a-blanket.
Here is Ezra's untested fabulous Moshe b'Teivah recipe:

Take defrosted malawach. Smear schug and tomato paste/sauce on one side. Place hot dog (veggie dog should suffice) in center of malawach and wrap/seal it.Throw Moshe b' Teivah into deep fryer or pan with lots of olive oil. Fry until browned, then bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Top with sprinkling of cayenne and Zaatar. Enjoy! Let me know how it goes!

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2. "Terumah" by Rabbi Pinchas Winston
From the OU

In this week's parshah the Jewish people are instructed to collect the materials for and begin the construction of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. It was a tremendous undertaking to build a "house" for the Presence of God, an undertaking that, as God Himself later revealed to Moshe Rabbeinu, required Divine assistance (Rashi, Shemot 39:33). Only with the help of God does the impossible become possible, and sometimes, it is only in hindsight that we are able to discern His hand in all that we have succeeded in accomplishing.

We can speak about Eretz Yisrael in the same way. To return to a barren land after 2000 years of exile, and to transform what had become a virtual wasteland into living habitations and an advanced country – and all this in less than 60 years – is nothing short of a great miracle. This is especially true given all the obstacles along the way and opposition from the rest of the world.

Amazingly, the land has developed not only physically, but spiritually as well. At the center of the spiritual world is the Western Wall, recovered during the miraculous 6-Day War, and a draw for Jews from all over the world. As one drives from community to community, it is astounding how many synagogues and Torah study halls have been built over the years.

And, as long as we keep our ultimate national goal in mind, to build a "house" in which the Presence of God may rest, then we can expect additional miracles that will further develop this country into a place to which ALL Jews will wish to return. We will be able to make a gift (terumah) to God from the very gift that He first gave to us, as the Jews did in this week's parshah when they contributed to the Mishkan.

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3. "World Enters Joyous Month of Adar" by Ezra Halevi
From Israel National News

Tuesday and Wednesday are both Rosh Chodesh (the "head" of the Jewish month of) Adar, the most joyous month of the year, which historically has heralded unexpected blessings for the Jewish nation.

"When Adar enters," the Talmud declares, "joy is increased." Adar is the month during which the Jewish people's immediate annihilation in the time of Queen Esther was thwarted, "transforming sorrow to joy, mourning to festivity." (Esther 9:22) The Purim holiday is celebrated on the 14th and 15th days of Adar to commemorate that event.

Before the Jewish people left Egyptian slavery, the ninth plague – paralyzing darkness – struck the Egyptians on Rosh Chodesh Adar, six weeks prior to the Exodus. "No [gentile] man saw his fellow, and no [gentile] man could move from his place." (Exodus 10:23)

Following the Jewish people's incomplete return to Zion in the time of Ezra the Scribe, the building of the second Temple was completed in Adar.

Judaism's greatest prophet, Moses, was born, and 120 years later also passed-on, on the 7th of Adar.

Several Diaspora communities throughout the ages adopted their own local Purim holidays to mark days when the community thwarted genocide at the hands of gentiles. On the 18th of Adar, for example, the Jews of Cairo celebrated the "Purim of Cario" each year following an intended massacre in 1524 (CE).

Tuesday is actually the last day of the month of Shvat, but when a month has 30 days, both the last day of the previous month and the first of the following one serve as Rosh Chodesh of the coming month.

The special Hallel prayer is recited on both Tuesday and Wednesday and the Ya'aleh v'Yavoh portion is added to the silent Amida meditation and Grace After Meals (until sundown Wednesday, as Jewish days begin with the night).

"V'nahafoch Hu!" [roughly, "and the tables were turned!"] is the rallying cry of the Jewish people during the month of Adar, after the Persian royal advisor Haman's genocidal plot to rid the world of the Jewish people was foiled through the self-sacrifice of Esther, a beautiful woman forced to cohabit with the gentile Persian king and her uncle, Mordechai, who refused to bow down to Haman, despite pressure from the Jewish community to submit rather than enrage the despot.

Our sages advised Jews throughout history to seek to schedule critical events, in which Divine assistance is desired, during the month of Adar (Tractate Ta'anit 29a). In 2004, Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed by the IDF on the 29th of Adar.

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4. "Arrivals: From New Hampsire to Kiryat Shmona" by Meredith Price
From Jerusalem Post

Shauna Harris, 18 - From New Hampshire to Kiryat Shmona

'I was raised Jewish, but it was never anything special," says Shauna Harris as she straightens her green Israeli Defense Force fatigues.

"I never liked Hebrew school as a little girl, and I think my Mom and I were literally the only Jewish people in my town in New Hampshire."

For a non-practicing American Jew with no prior connections to Israel, making aliya usually seems too scary, too impossible or both. But for Shauna, it fulfills a dream that began at the age of 13, as soon as she stepped foot in the Holy Land for the first time.

BEFORE ARRIVAL
It was actually to avoid the complication and expense of throwing a large family celebration that Shauna and her parents decided to make a trip to Israel for her bat mitzva.

"I didn't even want to come," she says. "It was the middle of the summer of 2001, and I wanted to hang out with my friends, go to parties and see movies."

The land of Israel, with its stereotypical bearded rabbis and sand-colored camels, was far from appealing to Shauna. But as soon as she and her parents boarded the plane, her feelings started to change.

"By the time we landed at Ben-Gurion and the wheels of the plane touched down, I was in love with this country," says Shauna. "I told everyone that I was coming here one day to make aliya. Most of them thought I would soon forget all about it and sarcastically suggested that I at least leave the airport before making a final decision."

But four years later, she was on a different plane - this time to stay.

UPON ARRIVAL
Shauna made aliya on July 13, 2005 with the help of Nefesh B'nefesh. Yet while many immigrants make this life-changing transition with their families, 17-year-old Shauna came alone. For the first three months of her stay, she lived full-time on Kibbutz Yiftah in Kiryat Shmona with about 80 other young immigrants.

"We had seminars and Hebrew classes, and they really made our move easier by explaining things, answering any questions and helping with the bureaucracy."

FAMILY HISTORY
Shauna's mother, a micro-biologist for the state of New Hampshire, grew up in Connecticut, and her father, who works as an operational director for Signal Technologies, was raised in Texas.

"My Dad isn't religious at all and my Mom is really Zionistic, but being Jewish was never really important unless someone was saying something against it."

An only child, Shauna and her mother are extremely close, and her Mom plans to make aliya as soon as possible.

LIVING ENVIRONMENT
Although Kibbutz Yiftah is a great place to catch up on sleep over the weekend, Shauna spends most of her time during the week at her boyfriend's house in Herzliya Pituah.

"My room on the kibbutz is similar to a dorm room," says Shauna. "I have a roommate and share a bathroom. It's really nice, and I love to go there on weekends to hang out with my friends and relax. Oh, and on Friday nights there's a cute pub with cheap drinks too."

Then she mumbles something about the drinking age at home being 21, "which has nothing to do with making aliya!" she laughs.

CIRCLE
Over the past six months, Shauna has made friends from all over the world. Some of them are also new immigrants, and many of them are in various stages of army-university tracks. One of her girlfriends from Canada is in a combat unit, and another close friend of hers also made aliya from New Hampshire.

"I have met so many inspiring, strong people here," she says. "Even though everyone has their own problems, we are all going through similar things, so we learn from each other and help each other. It's like a big family, and I'm so happy to be part of it."

ROUTINE
Being a new recruit in the Israeli army means long hours and early morning wake-up calls.

"I usually wake up at 6:30ish, put on the exact same uniform, take the 7:15 bus to my base and work from eight until 5:30," says Shauna. Being in the army means that your time is no longer really your own, and free time is a rarity.

"When I do have time away from the base, I'm so exhausted I'm usually sleeping," says Shauna. On the weekends, she finds time to see movies, play video games and go out to dinner with her boyfriend.

WORK
In September, Shauna started her service in the army at a base in Northern Tel Aviv. She works as a liaison in international relations but cannot discuss the details.

"One thing I can tell you," she says, leaning secretively into the table as the army emissary sent to chaperone our interview eyes her suspiciously, "is that I love wearing this uniform because of what it symbolizes. I beg to take my M-16 home, and I love the fact that the police here don't look at me as a security threat even though I'm carrying one of the biggest guns I've ever seen!"

IDENTIFICATION
"The Israeli culture suits me much more," says Shauna. "I really like the US, but I feel more comfortable with myself here, and although I'm still an amateur at the Israeli pushiness, I love the fact that I'm accepted here."

FAITH
"I am a Zionist with strong opinions," says Shauna, "and although I am not extremely religious and don't really care about keeping kosher, I have a ridiculous respect for those who are deeply religious."

Raised in a reform/conservative home, Shauna's family never placed much emphasis on religion.

"I did end up unwittingly fasting on Yom Kippur this year," she says, "and I think I'll continue to do it. I love the way religion is celebrated here, and I love feeling part of it."

LANGUAGE
Although she did attend Hebrew school as a child, her Hebrew was close to non-existent when she arrived last July.

"I thought I knew Hebrew because I could read a menu," she says. It didn't take her long to realize she was wrong. Now, she can communicate relatively well.

"At the base, I am forced to speak in Hebrew so I've improved a huge amount since I started," she explains. And although she's been told to curb her use of the word slicha, her commanders say she's a quick study and will soon have both the language and the culture under her belt.

PLANS
"Call me in like 10 years," says Shauna in response to a question about marriage and children. "All I know right now is that I want to stay here. I'm not going anywhere."