Somewhere under the Rainbow

On the way to school today, Elazar noticed the Keshet [Rainbow] when we stepped outside, and I taught him the Bracha that you make. Halachically, rainbows are not necessarily good omens, and coming the day after Yom HaAtzmaut is beyond the scope of the commentary on the Gersten Family blog. Although one should not gaze at a rainbow, it is permissible to look at.

Those sand dunes in the distance are across the highway, outside of the Yishuv. It wasn't even raining today, I guess it is just the moisture in the air. It is the first one I have seen since being here. With all the open sky of the desert you can really see the full arc of the rainbow across the sky. I can't remember the last time I saw a full arc like that anywhere.

Yom HaAtzmaut 5773

We were planning on going to the Fox's like we do every year for Yom HaAtzmaut, when we heard that there were making inflatable moon bounces for kids in Mevaseret Adumim free of charge in the morning, which is about ten minutes from the house. So since we didn't have to be in Gilo until 3 PM, we decided to check it out.

We have seen the sign for Mevaseret Adumim on the highway, but we didn't really know anything was there except that there is a sign 'Police Station' next to the sign on the highway.

As it turns out there is nothing in Mevaseret Adumim except for a giant police station on the top of the hill. That's the point. We realized that this area was none other than E-1, the area that is causing all the fuss in the global media. The reason they advertised the moon bounces was to get adults to bring their kids up here. They had refreshments, promotional freebies, members of the local government, speeches and videos. They wanted to raise interest in building up this area.

It's a great area to build. Right across the highway from Maaleh Adumim, and that much closer to Yerushalayim than Kfar Adumim or Mitzpeh Yericho. If you see the area yourself, you realize that there is no reason why Israel should not build there. It is an empty space that no one is using, it is just filling in a gap of space where Israeli settlements already are, and building in Mevaseret Adumim will not cut off the Arab population any more than they already are. Just the opposite. If one would build an Arab community in this space it would cause more complications. It seems to be the classic case of the Arabs have no use for the land, but they don't want the Israelis building there.

But as usual we don't get involved in politics, and just come to enjoy the free moon bounces

After a light lunch, we headed to the Fox's for our annual gala barbque, with Chef Harry behind the grill

This year they surprised the kids with a giant trampoline. It was a great place for Tali to be contained while the rest of us ate our burgers, hot dogs and steaks. Apparently, Ezra was not that hungry either.

Isru Chag in Beitar with the Cousins

It's been a while since the cousins got together. Chol HaMoed didn't work out, but the day after Pesach everyone had off from school, so Abba loaded up the car with four kids and we headed to Beitar.

The big park was a bus ride away on the other side of Beitar, but it had some unique playground equipment which the kids found interesting. Here is Elazar on some sort of seesaw. 

While the kids waited patiently for the big tire swing to become available

Aliza decided to take advantage of the regular swings which no one else seemed to care about

Finally, after a long wait, a big swing became available and here is Uncle Eliezer pushing the kids on a giant tire swing

Once the kids got the swing they didn't give it up too quickly. Rules in Israel seem to be that there is no specific time limit. Once you have the swing, you have the swing, until you give it up.

We even have some raw video

Abba also brought a tennis ball, and we all spread out and had a big catch. 

After the park, we took a walk to the large shopping center and bought the kids pizza and ice pops, before making the return bus trip back to the apartment. We all had some water, a chance to rest, and one last call for the bathroom before heading back home

Another day of swimming at Einot Tzukim

Einot Tzukim has become the go to place for the kids. Its about 20 minutes from the house, and the kids get a chance to go swimming. The temperature by the Dead Sea during the day is swimming weather most of the year. We bought a yearly pass for the family to all the national parks in Israel, which includes Einot Tzukim, so aside from the 65 national parks around the country, we also get a yearly pool membership with it.

Ezra insisted I take some video of him swimming

Yes, it can get crowded. But on the other hand there is a lot more space than in the bathtub at home, and this kiddy pool is a good size for all the kids. There are three other pools in Einot Tzukim, but this one seems to be our favorite

Please just get the kids out of the house...

It's nice living in a new home, and there is more space now than in the apartment, but kids are kids, and they just can't be cooped up in the house all day. At some point, Ima will tell Abba politely, "Please, just get the kids out of the house..."