The Close of the Yom Tov Season

It's that time of year again, when the sukkas start to come down, and the nights get longer.

Just reflecting on Yom Tov for a bit, It was great being here. I won't say I got any particular high, or felt that something special of being Here. I could chalk it up to the fact that I've been bogged down with everything that I didn't have a chance to really feel "It".

To top that off, I even had the guilty feeling of anticipating Yom Tov being over. Though that feeling was more in line with wanting to get back to a normal routine. Get back to my learning in the morning, family time in the afternoon, and work in the evening.

I want my routine back!

But really, I don't feel that guilty about it. Despite not getting a particular high out of my first Yom Tov being here, I did have a great time. We spent a lot of quality family time, and Yom Tov was really great. And the only reason I really have any anticipation of this coming Thursday (read back to my schedule), is just so I can get back to my regular routine, and not a despisal of Yom Tov.

So, here's looking to growth and stability!

Chol Hamoed - Day 1

(click on picture above for all the pics from that day)

Today we went to the Israel Air force Museum where we had a great time. It was so for two reasons.

1. We met up with two other families that made aliyah this summer with us from Passaic, and from our Shul - Ahavas Israel.
2. They had some really amazing air crafts there.

The air crafts ranged from a number of "stolen" airplanes, that consisted of some Syrian or Russian Jew, who happened to have been a pilot in their respective armies, and promptly defected - with their airplane - to Israel. As well as a number of airplanes that were smuggled into Israel, to get past the British.

My thought after seeing those planes, was that the museum is in a way a great proof for anyway who wants to claim the illegitimacy of the state - everything was stolen to create the state!

My friend Oren, brought one of the signs to my attention, that showed how ga'avadik the Air Force is. They had a sign on one of the anti-aircraft guns that were once upon a time belonging to Russia (probably by way of Syria), and they mentioned how good of a weapon it was, but then made sure to point out, they they never had to use it, as they air force didn't let any enemy planes through!

Regardless, walking through the museum was great, it was all outside, where the weather was nice, amazing airplanes to look at, and even a large number of anti-aircraft weapons - which they even had a Patriot!

Very cool. I would definitely suggest this trip to anyone who has a boys - or if your wife likes to look at fighter planes!

Yom Tov Sheini

Today was kind of weird at first, though I was a bit surprised at how well I adjusted to the new Yom Tov schedule.

As being an oleh chadash, one of the benefits which I don't think they mentioned in any of the NBN meetings or through our Aliyah Shaliach, was the one day of Yom Tov. Now I know we were here for Shavuos, but we don't really count that, as we had only arrived 10 days before that, and TC was born that night, so it was a bit of a whirlwind, felt more like a regular Shabbos.

So now, Succos was the first Yom Tov we really actualized the One day of Yom Tov. Now as I mentioned above I thought it was going to be weird. As I'm sure you can agree, I've been keeping two days for 31 years now (I guess including the years I didn't even realize). It's something that has always been ingrained with me growing - there are always two days.

But not anymore! I was amazed at how easy it was to just change like this. It was nice having only one day of Yom Tov to get ready for. On Motzei Y"T I was able to get start cleaning up. The house was more in order, it was just nice.

Oh yeah, and we have one more day of Chol Hamoed too!

Ahhh, just one day.

Oh, and I so badly wanted to call my parents at what would be during their seudah (2nd day of course) and leave a message along of the lines of "Hi Mom & Dad! Just thought I'd wish you a good moed - oops, that's right it's still Yom Tov for you!"

-I didn't, as I figured we are still a bit too close to Yom Kippur for me to mess up with Kibud Av v'Eim already!