This past holiday week has been long and full. I drove with Becca and Avraham and Ashira to Avraham's parents' house in Raanana the night before the seder. We arrived several hours after Chaim and Bara got off the plane from Denver with their children. Since Matanya and Dana were still in a different time zone, we all took a midnight dip in the pool before bed. Ashira was thrilled to be in the water, but couldn't stay in long because the night air made her shiver.

Well, the most interesting thing that happened last week was a visit from Noam, a friend whom I've had the pleasure of hosting several times in the past. He works as a madrich (guide/counselor) at a yeshiva around the Jerusalem area, and he called me up on Tuesday saying that he wanted to visit Tzfat for a little spiritual retreat.