“To be a free nation in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem.”

There is a common Israeli expression that has been repeated to me several times by family members and people I’ve met over this past year: “ta’aseh chayim.” The literal translation of this phrase is “do life,” but I think it has a much deeper and profound meaning.

Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July back in the states, is usually spent having a family barbeque and watching fireworks. And Memorial Day... well, mostly what it means to me is that it's time to head to Nordstrom for their annual sale.