Springtime in Efrat

According to the calendar and the position of the earth in relation to the sun, spring is still almost four weeks away. In Dottie’s garden, here at the Weiss home in Efrat, spring has arrived. The orange-colored things in the pictures below are called (I think) Chinese chrysanthemums. Irma got really excited about a week ago when they popped up out of the ground.

Irma’s/Dottie’s garden is sprouting other signs of life, also. Other flowers are starting to come up and the garlic is also coming up; yep, garlic; can’t have a garden without garlic – a staple in our kitchen.

The weather is starting to improve – getting warmer, that is. We still want rain – lots of it. We are getting to the end of our rainy season for this year, and we are still short of what we need. When the rainy season ends in a month or two, we aren’t likely to see any more for about six months. Unlike other parts of the world, the middle-east has been running short for the past seven years.

The last few days we’ve started to see the almond trees blossom. That’s a beautiful sight – delicate white blossoms turning to pink and then red as you go toward the center of the flower. Very beautiful, really. I apologize for not taking my camera on this morning’s walk for you all. I’ll try to remember on Sunday’s walk.

Enjoy the pictures.

Be well, Y’all
Mel

100 Year Old Florida Woman Saves Israeli Lives

Happy Birthday, Rose.

Rose is celebrating her 100th birthday this month. I’m not sure exactly which day is her birthday, but it doesn’t matter; she deserves to celebrate the whole month. Heck, Rose deserves to celebrate the entire year.

You see, Rose is one special lady.

Most people, when they get past a certain age (varies by person), they just kind of retire. Age becomes an excuse for not doing much of anything. However, Rose, in Boca Raton, Florida, is special. At 100 years of age, Rose is more active than many people half her age. She dresses nicely, walks with a quick step, smiles heartily and continues to exercise her sharp mind.

Rose raised a family. She is also an artist, having many of her paintings hanging in her own apartment, as well as other places. Rose is computer literate and has been actively trading on-line in the stock market for years. In addition, she has a long history of being active in community organizations wherever she has lived; an apartment full of award certificates, plaques and trophies testify to that.

Now what about saving Israeli lives? Well, many women in America and other countries donate their time and/or money to organizations that save lives or educate or feed people in Israel. They may help hospitals, schools, orphanages soup kitchens and more, and their work is vital and appreciated. They are helping to save or improve lives of Jews and non-Jews living in Israel.

Rose has done the same. What makes Rose so very special, is that today, at age 100, she is still active in helping to save lives in Israel. For the past several years, Rose has been president of a local Boca Raton chapter of American Red Mogen David for Israel (ARMDI). Rose has tried to retire from that position, but no one else will step up to replace her.

ARMDI is Israel’s national emergency medical and ambulance service as well as the national blood bank agency. They build and operate emergency medical centers, buy and operate ambulances, train emergency medical technicians and more. To Rose, helping to facilitate and encourage donations for ARMDI from her fellow residents of her home retirement village in Boca Raton is just too important to walk away from. She is well aware of the importance of what she does.

Israel is blessed to have people like Rose and others who help build hospitals and schools and do other important work. But to still be doing it with love and energy at age 100… that’s really special.

Thank You, HaShem, for giving Rose the strength and clarity to continue her important work.

Rose, thank you for the work you are doing. You are helping many others to donate to the health and safety of all people in Israel.

On my desk is an ARMDI greeting card from Edith and Ray that reminds me of the help Israel gets from our friends in Boca Raton. May G-d bless you, Rose, and Edith and Ray and Evelyn and Bea and Rhoda and Edna and Alice and all of our friends whose names aren’t coming to me at the moment. When we were with you all in Boca, we thought you were pretty special. Now that we are in Israel it REALLY shines through. Thank you who lead and thank you who join and donate. May G-d bless all of you.

By the way, we always remember you whenever we see an ambulance here in Israel.

Be well, Y’all

Mel

P.S. Let’s all take a moment to remember our friend, Irving, who recently passed away, just short of 100 years old. He also was a hard worker for ARMDI and other causes.

A Typical ARMDI Ambulance in Israel