Yet all are part of one neshamah, planted in rich, verdant soil, determined to grow. May our garden continue to produce a glorious assortment of flowers and trees, each attached firmly to its roots. Our diverse southern vegetation flourishes and grows into different trees, flowers, and fruits, and a rainbow of glorious shades and hues appears. Yet each shoot is rooted in the same soil, stretching its branches and blossoms heavenward in an endless pursuit of growth and connection to the One above.

This past Lag B’Omer, we were blessed to make our first upsherin, where we celebrate our son’s first hair cut. It’s a wonderful milestone that mimics the three years that we refrain from plucking a tree’s first fruits and symbolizes the entry of the child into the world of Torah learning. It’s a clear sign to everyone; this boy is no longer a baby.

Although there are more direct and faster routes to Beer Sheva and Eilat and all the sites and towns in-between, the Basor River is one of the beauties of the Negev that defiantly justifies a diversion.

The importance of death customs has been ingrained in me since birth. When I served as a shomeret for my grandmother, I was instructed not to eat, drink or perform a mitzvah in the same room. In the shock of death, it seemed rather inane to be told it would be considered mocking the dead. My grandmother was gone; she couldn’t do those things because she didn’t exist anymore, a fact that still makes me tear up.

Our 18-month-old son, Ezra, has a rare primary immune deficiency called Hyper IgM Syndrome. His body is unable to produce certain antibodies to protect him from infection. Thankfully, he has been doing well with the medical treatments that he receives. However, serious complications can arise and the prognosis is unclear. A bone marrow or stem cell transplant is the only cure. His doctors recommend a transplant provided a suitable donor can be found. Right now there is no donor in the registry that is a perfect match to Ezra. We are starting a campaign to find his perfect match and we need your help.

Our 18-month-old son, Ezra, has a rare primary immune deficiency called Hyper IgM Syndrome. His body is unable to produce certain antibodies to protect him from infection. Thankfully, he has been doing well with the medical treatments that he receives. However, serious complications can arise and the prognosis is unclear. A bone marrow or stem cell transplant is the only cure. His doctors recommend a transplant provided a suitable donor can be found. Right now there is no donor in the registry that is a perfect match to Ezra. We are starting a campaign to find his perfect match and we need your help.