Prickly Pears, Pink Pajamas and Purim Plans

Greetings from Afula! Yes, we are back in Israel - to re-visit our ancient roots and to enjoy our blossoming branches, the children and grandchildren who have made their home in this northern city of our holy Land. On this, our longest stay, I am beginning to feel quite comfortable here as I get to know the lay of the land and the spirit of the people - particularly in my conversations with immigrants from everywhere as well as the Afuli tzabarit (accent on the "tza"). The what? I'm so glad you asked.

I've always thought that the word "sabra" is both the Hebrew word for a cactus fruit (prickly pear) and a Hebrew term for a native-born Israeli. But on this trip, I learned that "sabra" is not actually Hebrew at all. The correct Hebrew word is tzabar. With the accent on the "bar", it is the cactus fruit; on the "tza", it is the native born Israeli. Add the "it" at the end and it is a native born Israeli female! For a full treatment of this topic, click here and watch (at least) the first 2:45 minutes of the video.

The tza-bar' fruit comes in several varieties and, as you quickly learn by speaking to the local yokels, so does the tza'-bar! 

I was recently introduced to the "Two Week Rule" which states that upon learning something new, you will likely notice it again withing the next two weeks. And so it was with this new discovery. Within hours after I learned the word tzabar, I opened my son's refridgerator and there was his Tzabar-brand chomus.

A few days later, I stopped the car short to take this pic when I made an accidental turn on, yes, Tzabar Street. 

So why all this sudden fascination with tzabarim (plural)? Well, it began with the blessed event that brought us to Israel at this particular time: the birth of our very first tzabarit grandchild.

Interestingly, the Hebrew spelling of her first name - Tzippora - closely resembles "tzabar". Tzippora is also the Hebrew translation of the Yiddish "Faiga", her middle name, in memory of my mother-in-law who also liked being called "Tzippi" (common nickname for Tzippora) on her frequent visits to Israel.

Born one week after our arrival in Afula, Tzippora Faiga has already endeared herself to her parents and three big sisters and is giving her visiting grandparents much joy and "yiddishe nachas".

As for the big sisters, they were able to enjoy the suitcase full of stuff - including the pink pajamas - that Saba and Savta brought for them, before they became completely obsessed with their baby sister.

This Sunday, we will celebrate Tzippora-the-Tzabarit's first Purim here in Afula. The next day, we will Remember Jerusalem on Shushan Purim and, with G-d's help, we will spend a few days in the holy city immediately thereafter. Meanwhile, please join us in thanking G-d for this precious gift and in our prayers that Tzippora Faiga will blossom and grow along with her sisters in the holy soil of Eretz Yisrael.

Faiga bas Avigdor, z"l

May she take her namesake's love of the Land to a whole new level and embody her great-grandma's many strengths, using them to glorify and sanctify G-d's name in the world. 

Happy Purim to All!