Table of Contents
Gal is our dog. We found him when we were engaged. We went to a place in Talpiot - Studio 56 - to check out possible wedding invitations. We came home with the cutest puppy in the world instead. It was love at first sight for us both and while we knew we had a responsibility to find his original home (which we tried to do) when it became apparent he had simply been abandoned, he automatically joined our family. He is now - 2013 - 8 years old and truly a part of our family. We love him very much.
There I was – alone – one day
When two fine people passed me on their way.
I scurried and scrambled between the cars
As they sought out my owners, near and far.
But I suspected something then I now know for sure
And as each day passes at 12A, its clear even more
That they were my real parents, my real mum and dad
Because without me in their lives, they'd be a little sad.
I sometimes think it was my broken end,
You know, the tail they helped to mend
Or perhaps it's the rude noise I make,
The one from my mouth; I call it "the fart fake."
Or maybe it's the human way that I wink
Just when I'm about to be busted, I think.
And then I look so cute, so innocent, white and fluffy
That all they can do is sit back – and "laugh-ee."
Like they time they bought me sushi
I grabbed a whole bunch of it you see.
Or the day I decided
The whole apartment's mine, just for me to pee.
So life as Gal the puppy, I guess is pretty good
I kinda like it here, in the Katamon 'hood.
I have the park with lots of friends
So Daniel and Emma can't drive me round the bend.
At the end of the day, life 'aint so tough,
They buy me great food and all sorts of fun stuff.
I'm not so into The Post but Haaretz makes a good pee place
But my eyes are really on that unopened beer case.
It's true I jest here, at least for the most part
Because Daniel just has, the most warm, loving heart.
And one day soon when Emma invades my bed,
I'll let her think for a while, that of MY home, she is head.
I love you both and thanks for taking care of me….
Gal Puppy
When two fine people passed me on their way.
I scurried and scrambled between the cars
As they sought out my owners, near and far.
But I suspected something then I now know for sure
And as each day passes at 12A, its clear even more
That they were my real parents, my real mum and dad
Because without me in their lives, they'd be a little sad.
I sometimes think it was my broken end,
You know, the tail they helped to mend
Or perhaps it's the rude noise I make,
The one from my mouth; I call it "the fart fake."
Or maybe it's the human way that I wink
Just when I'm about to be busted, I think.
And then I look so cute, so innocent, white and fluffy
That all they can do is sit back – and "laugh-ee."
Like they time they bought me sushi
I grabbed a whole bunch of it you see.
Or the day I decided
The whole apartment's mine, just for me to pee.
So life as Gal the puppy, I guess is pretty good
I kinda like it here, in the Katamon 'hood.
I have the park with lots of friends
So Daniel and Emma can't drive me round the bend.
At the end of the day, life 'aint so tough,
They buy me great food and all sorts of fun stuff.
I'm not so into The Post but Haaretz makes a good pee place
But my eyes are really on that unopened beer case.
It's true I jest here, at least for the most part
Because Daniel just has, the most warm, loving heart.
And one day soon when Emma invades my bed,
I'll let her think for a while, that of MY home, she is head.
I love you both and thanks for taking care of me….
Gal Puppy
The Unconditional Love of Dog Park – The Story
“The Hebrew word for dog is ‘celev’ meaning ‘like a heart’; let your dog make you like a heart to other dog owners.”
Anon.
We’d had our little puppy, Gal, for about 3 months. One day, my husband Daniel came home, all excited to tell me news of their afternoon walk adventures. “We met two great puppies,” he said “and Gal played really nicely with them,” he added. “They’re so sweet – 2 golden retriever females named Ginger and Milan – and they belong to one guy,” he explained. He went on to tell me how our little mixed breed puppy had run circles with them and had really enjoyed the exercise. “The Israeli owner – Dani – said they go their often; it’s not really a park, just a bit of abandoned grass that no-one seems to use so there are no complaints about dogs running around without leashes.” And so began our introduction to what is now famously known in Jerusalem’s German Colony neighborhood, by natives and new immigrants alike, as “Dog Park.”
Today, Ginger and Milan are all grown up. It turned out that Dani, Ginger and Milan didn’t live alone. We later met Dani’s wife, Yehudit and 5 or 6 months after that, they had a beautiful addition to their family – (human) daughter Avia. As if to follow suit, some months later, Milan gave birth to 8 beautiful puppies herself! But that was quite well planned as Milan has won a lot of dog shows and thus produced pure bred highly sought-after puppies.
Gal is quite adult these days too. But it’s no longer just Gal, Ginger and Milan who play in Dog Park each afternoon between 6 and 7 in the summer and 5 and 6 in the winter. To its regulars, Dog Park has become a culture like Shabbat is to observant Jews. No matter what is going on in their lives, come that special Dog Park time, each of our dogs let us know we have to get moving; we have a date with our buddies and we can’t miss it for anything. Even if we’re tired, our dog isn’t and has been waiting for this the entire day. When we get there, we sit on a little concrete step as our dogs run and play together. They play and we chat and because of our canines we find things in common that without our dogs, we never would.
Over the last year and a half, other dogs have told their parents (a.k.a. owners) about the park, bringing them along to sit and chat to the other parents. We’ve found two of Milan’s siblings (adopted by different parents). There’s Shai (belonging to an American family who just spent two years in Israel) and Ugi (second child of the owners of “Nisha” on Derech Beit Lechem). Their first child, Omer (human) is the unofficial 2-year-old Queen of the Park. Omer and Ugi recently got a younger brother too (human); a little boy called Amit. Of course there was a table of Dog Park people at the brit – and when the father gave a speech, he spoke of how Amit means “friend” and amongst other things, his hopes that his son will be a friend to dogs and their owners.
Then there’s the other golden of the park, Joy. All dogs new to Dog Park have to be approved by Joy before being formally accepted by the pack; or rather, Joy’s mother, Ronit. Ronit is tough enough to ensure no riff-raff enters the park. She is not only protective of beautiful Joy, but of all of Joy’s friends – other Dog Park regulars.
While Gal loves the golden retrievers (who wouldn’t?), he particularly enjoys playing with canines his own size. His special friend in the park is Charlie. A little older than Gal, Charlie is a ginger colored dog, who’s not been “fixed” and thus will often be found attempting to hump anything or any dog. Other than that slight issue, the two play great together. Charlie is owned by two American immigrants and their son and if daddy comes with Charlie, he might forget to tell him that he’s gone home already, leaving daddy sitting in the park alone.
Gal’s other special friend is Xuxa (pronounced Shusha). He might even like her in that way, but we will never know, as Gal was fixed. Xuxa is very similar to Gal in looks (apart from being darker – maybe that’s because she has pure bred Israeli parents?). She is also way thinner, which is perhaps why she has such the coolest party trick to get food. She stands on her two back legs with incredible posture. This makes it impossible to not give her food, when her parents – Israelis Gisele and Oded – aren’t looking. Now there’s a cute couple (Gisele and Oded, not Gal and Xuxa!).
Of the other small dogs around, Gal has also taken a liking to newcomer Tutu. She is very pretty and looks a bit like Gal but again is thinner and perhaps a bit taller. I think Tutu’s a cross in looks between Charlie and Gal. The three of them look great playing together. Interestingly, Tutu’s parents live two doors down from us but we only met them at Dog Park; I guess it’s true that dogs bring people together.
The other big dogs we like are Franco who is very distinguished looking and has a whole bunch of different fun owners, and Chupa – a chocolate colored pretty canine. They are both very pleasant natured and good to hang around with.
Then there are the medium sized dogs. Well, there’s Naala, who’s still a puppy so not fully-grown, but she will be pretty big; another relative newcomer to the group. Then there’s Junior, Shpitz and Rocky and they all run up and down the abandoned piece of grass together, scavenging for food scraps and jumping on top of each other.
The amazing thing about Dog Park is not so much the dogs, but the parents. Politically, religiously, ages, familial status, wealth, class, and anything else you can think of, you couldn’t get a more diverse group. But the one thing we share – our canine comrades – has eliminated all those differences and we have discovered all sorts of other things we have in common after all. Today, the group is very cohesive, but in any other life circumstance we would never have spoken to each other, let alone invite each other to family celebrations.
But like the quote above says, a dog can “make you like a heart” – open you up in a way you never imagined possible – because they show you how love can and should be unconditional.
“The Hebrew word for dog is ‘celev’ meaning ‘like a heart’; let your dog make you like a heart to other dog owners.”
Anon.
We’d had our little puppy, Gal, for about 3 months. One day, my husband Daniel came home, all excited to tell me news of their afternoon walk adventures. “We met two great puppies,” he said “and Gal played really nicely with them,” he added. “They’re so sweet – 2 golden retriever females named Ginger and Milan – and they belong to one guy,” he explained. He went on to tell me how our little mixed breed puppy had run circles with them and had really enjoyed the exercise. “The Israeli owner – Dani – said they go their often; it’s not really a park, just a bit of abandoned grass that no-one seems to use so there are no complaints about dogs running around without leashes.” And so began our introduction to what is now famously known in Jerusalem’s German Colony neighborhood, by natives and new immigrants alike, as “Dog Park.”
Today, Ginger and Milan are all grown up. It turned out that Dani, Ginger and Milan didn’t live alone. We later met Dani’s wife, Yehudit and 5 or 6 months after that, they had a beautiful addition to their family – (human) daughter Avia. As if to follow suit, some months later, Milan gave birth to 8 beautiful puppies herself! But that was quite well planned as Milan has won a lot of dog shows and thus produced pure bred highly sought-after puppies.
Gal is quite adult these days too. But it’s no longer just Gal, Ginger and Milan who play in Dog Park each afternoon between 6 and 7 in the summer and 5 and 6 in the winter. To its regulars, Dog Park has become a culture like Shabbat is to observant Jews. No matter what is going on in their lives, come that special Dog Park time, each of our dogs let us know we have to get moving; we have a date with our buddies and we can’t miss it for anything. Even if we’re tired, our dog isn’t and has been waiting for this the entire day. When we get there, we sit on a little concrete step as our dogs run and play together. They play and we chat and because of our canines we find things in common that without our dogs, we never would.
Over the last year and a half, other dogs have told their parents (a.k.a. owners) about the park, bringing them along to sit and chat to the other parents. We’ve found two of Milan’s siblings (adopted by different parents). There’s Shai (belonging to an American family who just spent two years in Israel) and Ugi (second child of the owners of “Nisha” on Derech Beit Lechem). Their first child, Omer (human) is the unofficial 2-year-old Queen of the Park. Omer and Ugi recently got a younger brother too (human); a little boy called Amit. Of course there was a table of Dog Park people at the brit – and when the father gave a speech, he spoke of how Amit means “friend” and amongst other things, his hopes that his son will be a friend to dogs and their owners.
Then there’s the other golden of the park, Joy. All dogs new to Dog Park have to be approved by Joy before being formally accepted by the pack; or rather, Joy’s mother, Ronit. Ronit is tough enough to ensure no riff-raff enters the park. She is not only protective of beautiful Joy, but of all of Joy’s friends – other Dog Park regulars.
While Gal loves the golden retrievers (who wouldn’t?), he particularly enjoys playing with canines his own size. His special friend in the park is Charlie. A little older than Gal, Charlie is a ginger colored dog, who’s not been “fixed” and thus will often be found attempting to hump anything or any dog. Other than that slight issue, the two play great together. Charlie is owned by two American immigrants and their son and if daddy comes with Charlie, he might forget to tell him that he’s gone home already, leaving daddy sitting in the park alone.
Gal’s other special friend is Xuxa (pronounced Shusha). He might even like her in that way, but we will never know, as Gal was fixed. Xuxa is very similar to Gal in looks (apart from being darker – maybe that’s because she has pure bred Israeli parents?). She is also way thinner, which is perhaps why she has such the coolest party trick to get food. She stands on her two back legs with incredible posture. This makes it impossible to not give her food, when her parents – Israelis Gisele and Oded – aren’t looking. Now there’s a cute couple (Gisele and Oded, not Gal and Xuxa!).
Of the other small dogs around, Gal has also taken a liking to newcomer Tutu. She is very pretty and looks a bit like Gal but again is thinner and perhaps a bit taller. I think Tutu’s a cross in looks between Charlie and Gal. The three of them look great playing together. Interestingly, Tutu’s parents live two doors down from us but we only met them at Dog Park; I guess it’s true that dogs bring people together.
The other big dogs we like are Franco who is very distinguished looking and has a whole bunch of different fun owners, and Chupa – a chocolate colored pretty canine. They are both very pleasant natured and good to hang around with.
Then there are the medium sized dogs. Well, there’s Naala, who’s still a puppy so not fully-grown, but she will be pretty big; another relative newcomer to the group. Then there’s Junior, Shpitz and Rocky and they all run up and down the abandoned piece of grass together, scavenging for food scraps and jumping on top of each other.
The amazing thing about Dog Park is not so much the dogs, but the parents. Politically, religiously, ages, familial status, wealth, class, and anything else you can think of, you couldn’t get a more diverse group. But the one thing we share – our canine comrades – has eliminated all those differences and we have discovered all sorts of other things we have in common after all. Today, the group is very cohesive, but in any other life circumstance we would never have spoken to each other, let alone invite each other to family celebrations.
But like the quote above says, a dog can “make you like a heart” – open you up in a way you never imagined possible – because they show you how love can and should be unconditional.
Although we weren’t yet privy to your awesome companionship until around 2 months later, today, November 12, 12 years ago (give or take a day or so) you came into the world.
With your super cute face, floppy brown ears, empathic large eyes and tiny voice, there you were, running around playing dodge ‘em with the cars on that busy street in Talpiot by Studio 54, 12 years ago.
As we picked you up while looking for a sign of ownership, you shook in our arms, scared, overwhelmed, bewildered and most of all….hungry. We took you to a vet who said you were in great shape (although in need of a feed) and then brought you home.
It was love at first sight. It still is.
Every time we look at you we are reminded at what a bracha your furry presence has given us. You’ve been there through everything. You were a comfort when I struggled to conceive. You were a companion when I had a baby and needed to get out of the house. And you were – and continue to be – a non-judgmental friend there to cuddle and be stroked whenever one of us is sad.
We made your birthday November 12th as that was the day daddy proposed to me and I shook with apprehension and responded in the affirmative. And even though we knew nothing about your species (just like I knew next to nothing about your daddy), we brought you into our lives and have never looked back.
As well as mummy and daddy getting engaged and the day of birth, November 12, in in 1984, Paul McCartney released ‘We All Stand Together.’ Not one for believing in “coincidences” but rather fundamentally accrediting these events to those in life through which Hashem chooses to remain anonymous, no matter how many years have gone or will proceed, November 12th has been, is, and will always remain a date etched on the mind of the Sass family. It is at the same time a memory and a lesson that taking a chance on something you know you love but are unsure how to handle, brings the ultimate joy in life.
Happy birthday Gal; 120 עד
With your super cute face, floppy brown ears, empathic large eyes and tiny voice, there you were, running around playing dodge ‘em with the cars on that busy street in Talpiot by Studio 54, 12 years ago.
As we picked you up while looking for a sign of ownership, you shook in our arms, scared, overwhelmed, bewildered and most of all….hungry. We took you to a vet who said you were in great shape (although in need of a feed) and then brought you home.
It was love at first sight. It still is.
Every time we look at you we are reminded at what a bracha your furry presence has given us. You’ve been there through everything. You were a comfort when I struggled to conceive. You were a companion when I had a baby and needed to get out of the house. And you were – and continue to be – a non-judgmental friend there to cuddle and be stroked whenever one of us is sad.
We made your birthday November 12th as that was the day daddy proposed to me and I shook with apprehension and responded in the affirmative. And even though we knew nothing about your species (just like I knew next to nothing about your daddy), we brought you into our lives and have never looked back.
As well as mummy and daddy getting engaged and the day of birth, November 12, in in 1984, Paul McCartney released ‘We All Stand Together.’ Not one for believing in “coincidences” but rather fundamentally accrediting these events to those in life through which Hashem chooses to remain anonymous, no matter how many years have gone or will proceed, November 12th has been, is, and will always remain a date etched on the mind of the Sass family. It is at the same time a memory and a lesson that taking a chance on something you know you love but are unsure how to handle, brings the ultimate joy in life.
Happy birthday Gal; 120 עד
This past week we entered Gal – our much beloved veteran dog – for his first ever dog show. We didn’t know what to expect at all (my only “experience” of dog shows being from the Best in Show mocumentary) but figured we would give it a try, especially since it was local and coincided with Eitan’s 7th birthday.
We arrived at Holyland Poodles campus (which is gorgeous) to be greeted by a larger than life Hello Kitty as well as some local friends. We chatted and admired other dogs (as well as rabbits and gerbils) and took our seats on what turned out to be a perfect-weather day.
It was extremely well-organized but nothing like the over-the-top Dog Shows I imagined. First, it was family-friendly and second it was just so cute. No one was being over pushy about their dogs; everyone just knew that – in their eyes – their dog was already a winner.
Likewise with Gal. Truthfully he’s a rather old dog and we’ve only ever taught him a couple of tricks just for fun. Mainly Gal is just a snuggle dog. He loves to sleep on our bed and takes a nap every afternoon with me. His favourite activity is, pretty much, just hanging out (and trying to figure out how to steal food)!
In fairness though, he is objectively gorgeous. Despite being in his early 90s in dog years he still looks like a puppy…but without the puppy jitteriness and yappiness. He’s relaxed. And when small kids want to pet him, he complies. He rarely gets frustrated and the worst he’ll do is growl if you’re pulling his hair (I can tell you for sure that I myself would do way worse than that if someone did that to me). So yeah we’re proud of him and we love him.
Also, he’d just had a haircut and a new leash and collar. And, in the last few months he’s been going on long walks to improve his – and my – fitness level. I think it’s made him quite spiffy!
The show began with dogs being called up in threes to walk around the show area with their owners. Gal wasn’t anything extraordinary on the leash and he even peed on the rail; he didn’t do anything impressive but he looked well, just like Gal; sweet and adorable.
When the winners were announced beginning with fourth place, once he didn’t take that position we thought it was over. But when they announced – in second place – “Gal Sass” it wasn’t just his ears that pricked up but his mega-proud parents me and Daniel. When I said: “Wow I can’t believe he won,” a few moments after my screaming woo-hoos had subsided, it wasn’t Gal who snapped but Golan, my 10-year old.
“Mummy, how could you be surprised?” he asked, aghast. “How could you not think Gal would win?”
And that piercing question left me quite speechless. And it was only after a while that I formed a response that was satisfying enough which was “well yes, Gal has always been a champion in our eyes, but we’ve never merited to have it recognized in the eyes of official competitors.”
Well done Gal. Champion to us and (official) Champion at the 2nd Gush Etzion Dog Show!
We arrived at Holyland Poodles campus (which is gorgeous) to be greeted by a larger than life Hello Kitty as well as some local friends. We chatted and admired other dogs (as well as rabbits and gerbils) and took our seats on what turned out to be a perfect-weather day.
It was extremely well-organized but nothing like the over-the-top Dog Shows I imagined. First, it was family-friendly and second it was just so cute. No one was being over pushy about their dogs; everyone just knew that – in their eyes – their dog was already a winner.
Likewise with Gal. Truthfully he’s a rather old dog and we’ve only ever taught him a couple of tricks just for fun. Mainly Gal is just a snuggle dog. He loves to sleep on our bed and takes a nap every afternoon with me. His favourite activity is, pretty much, just hanging out (and trying to figure out how to steal food)!
In fairness though, he is objectively gorgeous. Despite being in his early 90s in dog years he still looks like a puppy…but without the puppy jitteriness and yappiness. He’s relaxed. And when small kids want to pet him, he complies. He rarely gets frustrated and the worst he’ll do is growl if you’re pulling his hair (I can tell you for sure that I myself would do way worse than that if someone did that to me). So yeah we’re proud of him and we love him.
Also, he’d just had a haircut and a new leash and collar. And, in the last few months he’s been going on long walks to improve his – and my – fitness level. I think it’s made him quite spiffy!
The show began with dogs being called up in threes to walk around the show area with their owners. Gal wasn’t anything extraordinary on the leash and he even peed on the rail; he didn’t do anything impressive but he looked well, just like Gal; sweet and adorable.
When the winners were announced beginning with fourth place, once he didn’t take that position we thought it was over. But when they announced – in second place – “Gal Sass” it wasn’t just his ears that pricked up but his mega-proud parents me and Daniel. When I said: “Wow I can’t believe he won,” a few moments after my screaming woo-hoos had subsided, it wasn’t Gal who snapped but Golan, my 10-year old.
“Mummy, how could you be surprised?” he asked, aghast. “How could you not think Gal would win?”
And that piercing question left me quite speechless. And it was only after a while that I formed a response that was satisfying enough which was “well yes, Gal has always been a champion in our eyes, but we’ve never merited to have it recognized in the eyes of official competitors.”
Well done Gal. Champion to us and (official) Champion at the 2nd Gush Etzion Dog Show!
I remember the moment we first saw you
Scurrying in the street…tiny, crisp white and beige, small, fluffy and curiously cute.
I remember when we picked you up from that crowded Talpiot highway
You were scared, shaky, but full of bountiful beans and an exuberant joie de vivre.
I remember when we looked for your owners
…Secretly, silently, hoping we’d find them in ourselves.
I remember when we took you to the vet that first day
He said you were healthy, in good spirits, and just a bit hungry.
I remember you as a fun-loving dog, who everyone loved.
You always looked for food and you loved your Shabbat Challah.
I remember that first piece of sushi you stole
and the time you literally ate Golan’s homework.
I remember the day I realized we’d been so blessed
And that you really had chosen us to be your family.
I remember times when I felt sad but couldn’t verbalize it
But you were always there to listen non-judgmentally.
I remember the Pesach daddy became your voice
Showing me the depth and capacity of how he could love.
I remember the time grandma spent a day with you
and fell in love with you for your gentle presence like so many others did throughout your life.
I remember the day you first met your Ranana cousins
and automatically clung to your uncle David as he reminded you of daddy.
I remember how you always ran to Lynda
as – like with so many of her friends – you knew what a great lady she is.
I remember how you won the Gush Etzion Dog Competition – twice
and how so so so proud we all were to be associated with you.
I remember how amazing you were with family photos
always just sitting down in the middle of us all as was your place within our family.
I remember first bringing you to our new home
and even though it wasn’t a dog-loving street, it very soon became a Gal-gloried one.
I remember so many wonderful, beautiful things about you.
And I’m so sorry you couldn’t last forever.
Yesterday your time came and I still can’t believe you’re gone
I still can’t believe you had to leave
I still can’t believe…
That we had to say Goodbye Gal.
Gal, I remember the day we found you like it was yesterday
And even though it’s not
And even though you had to leave us...
… you’ll never EVER leave our hearts.
I remember the moment we first saw you
Scurrying in the street…tiny, crisp white and beige, small, fluffy and curiously cute.
I remember when we picked you up from that crowded Talpiot highway
You were scared, shaky, but full of bountiful beans and an exuberant joie de vivre.
I remember when we looked for your owners
…Secretly, silently, hoping we’d find them in ourselves.
I remember when we took you to the vet that first day
He said you were healthy, in good spirits, and just a bit hungry.
I remember you as a fun-loving dog, who everyone loved.
You always looked for food and you loved your Shabbat Challah.
I remember that first piece of sushi you stole
and the time you literally ate Golan’s homework.
I remember the day I realized we’d been so blessed
And that you really had chosen us to be your family.
I remember times when I felt sad but couldn’t verbalize it
But you were always there to listen non-judgmentally.
I remember the Pesach daddy became your voice
Showing me the depth and capacity of how he could love.
I remember the time grandma spent a day with you
and fell in love with you for your gentle presence like so many others did throughout your life.
I remember the day you first met your Ranana cousins
and automatically clung to your uncle David as he reminded you of daddy.
I remember how you always ran to Lynda
as – like with so many of her friends – you knew what a great lady she is.
I remember how you won the Gush Etzion Dog Competition – twice
and how so so so proud we all were to be associated with you.
I remember how amazing you were with family photos
always just sitting down in the middle of us all as was your place within our family.
I remember first bringing you to our new home
and even though it wasn’t a dog-loving street, it very soon became a Gal-gloried one.
I remember so many wonderful, beautiful things about you.
And I’m so sorry you couldn’t last forever.
Yesterday your time came and I still can’t believe you’re gone
I still can’t believe you had to leave
I still can’t believe…
That we had to say Goodbye Gal.
Gal, I remember the day we found you like it was yesterday
And even though it’s not
And even though you had to leave us...
… you’ll never EVER leave our hearts.
It says in this week’s parsha – Mishpatim–
“And you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, since you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (23:9)
Feeling like a stranger can take on many forms. It is often when one feels different, like they don’t belong. They find themselves in a situation in which they are different from the community and thus feel like an outsider, a stranger.
When Daniel and I first moved to Efrat, I felt like a stranger. We were without kids and the community all seemed to connect on daycare, schooling, and other childrearing related issues. How would we manage and make friends I wondered? I was concerned I’d feel like a “stranger.”
I needn’t have worried. The first Shabbat as we were taking a walk with our beloved Gal, Zayit resident Tova Moskowitz greeted us with glee, at the sight of our beautiful dog. She then connected us with her wonderful parents Avi and Helen Moskowitz and the rest as they say, is history.
What’s interesting about the pasuk above is that it’s 23:9. If you subtract 9 from 23 you are left with 14; the years that Gal Sass graced us with his presence. in addition, it is often said that the Hebrew word for dog – כלב – literally means “like the heart,” as dogs are so full of kindness and heart that they really do bring people together and create a lot of love in their environments. Gal for sure was no “stranger” to that behaviour and everyone who knew him felt his love.
Indeed, it was Gal’s addition – the extra 1 that transformed Daniel and me from a couple to a family – that imbued us into the Efrat community even before we were blessed with kids.
And talking of the extra 1, there is actually only 1 number between לב) 32) and גל) 33) further supporting the idea above.
Gal, who would’ve known how embedded into the Torah you were? Perhaps that was why challah was your favourite food…
“And you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, since you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (23:9)
Feeling like a stranger can take on many forms. It is often when one feels different, like they don’t belong. They find themselves in a situation in which they are different from the community and thus feel like an outsider, a stranger.
When Daniel and I first moved to Efrat, I felt like a stranger. We were without kids and the community all seemed to connect on daycare, schooling, and other childrearing related issues. How would we manage and make friends I wondered? I was concerned I’d feel like a “stranger.”
I needn’t have worried. The first Shabbat as we were taking a walk with our beloved Gal, Zayit resident Tova Moskowitz greeted us with glee, at the sight of our beautiful dog. She then connected us with her wonderful parents Avi and Helen Moskowitz and the rest as they say, is history.
What’s interesting about the pasuk above is that it’s 23:9. If you subtract 9 from 23 you are left with 14; the years that Gal Sass graced us with his presence. in addition, it is often said that the Hebrew word for dog – כלב – literally means “like the heart,” as dogs are so full of kindness and heart that they really do bring people together and create a lot of love in their environments. Gal for sure was no “stranger” to that behaviour and everyone who knew him felt his love.
Indeed, it was Gal’s addition – the extra 1 that transformed Daniel and me from a couple to a family – that imbued us into the Efrat community even before we were blessed with kids.
And talking of the extra 1, there is actually only 1 number between לב) 32) and גל) 33) further supporting the idea above.
Gal, who would’ve known how embedded into the Torah you were? Perhaps that was why challah was your favourite food…