Under a clear night sky with the moon and stars shining brightly, a Bar Mitzvah boy was smiling. Matthew’s family flew from Florida to Israel to celebrate his Simcha. They chose to spend their time and special occasion on an army base in the Gush with the brave Chayalim of the IDF.
Valentine’s Day is approaching. Even Israel isn’t exempt from the commercialization of secular holidays. I was recently walking through a popular mall in Yerushalayim and noticed all the pinks and reds, hearts and stuffed teddy bears, the chocolate kisses and red roses. My first thought was “Am I in an American mall or an Israeli one?” But then I thought, love is love. What’s the difference? So, I personally might not celebrate Valentine’s Day, it doesn’t mean others can’t. In fact, the mall looked really pretty and so cheerful. And in today’s day in Israel and the world at large, that’s the type of message that should be spread- regardless of its origin- the message of love.
