bissel tired

Nu, no, nothing's new.

Actually, I'm very tired and will have to blog about it tomorrow. Yes, I was here, at least some of the time, tired, yes... I'm tired.

g'nite...

RSS? Nu?

Isramom, a good friend for decades--yes, pre-blog-- sent me a link explaining how she effortlessly keeps up with my blogging by subscribing to an RSS. Yes, I admit that I don't keep up with anyone on a daily-plus basis.

My question now is:

How can I set up one of those icons, which when clicked will offer an RSS subscription to my blogs?

I'm a writer, not a technician.

Thanks for the info to whomever will provide it!

"Almost Like Being in Love"

When I was in the states I mentioned to a cousin and his friend that I buy movies on DVD and I'd really like "Brigadoon."

Guess what my parents brought me! A present from that cousin, "Brigadoon!" What a lovely movie. Nothing beats those old musicals. The dancing is better than I remembered it, and so is the story.

And coincidentally, what word did the "word a day" service just send, Brigadoon, what else could it be?

This week's theme: toponyms -- words derived from the names of places.
brigadoon (BRIG-uh-doon) noun
An idyllic place that is out of touch with reality or one that makes its appearance for a brief period in a long time.
From Brigadoon, a village in the musical of the same name, by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, based on the story Germelshausen by Friedrich Gerstacker. Brigadoon is under a spell that makes it invisible to outsiders except on one day every 100 years.

New bloga on the block

She'll tell ya all about it. Why "bloga G"? Take a ganda, please.

quick post

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach

Just got back from Jerusalem. I had breakfast with my parents in the succah of the Kings Holtel and then did some errands with my mother. Then grabbed a cab to the "CBS*," and I'm home already.



*defined in an earlier post, so scroll down or do the blogger search for this blog

Easy "cooking"

I'll just take something out of the freezer and do "something else" this morning. It's always good to have a few main courses in the freezer.

Will report back later, of course.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach, and yes, some readers won't be online until Saturday night. Oh, how much nicer it is to live in Israel and not have to deal with those two-day holidays and frequent three-dayers.

The succah is up, including the s'chach. And I decorated it with some posters, which are stored in our special Succot box. (Remember to save your Jewish Calendars. Many have pictures which make great succah decorations.)

That's a neighbor's succah.

PS No news

must change pace

This is the first "real Friday" since we stopped with Day Light Savings. Last Friday was the Eve of Yom Kippur, a totally different kind of day and schedule. Now I ought o shift gears to get ready for Succot. Yes, I know it's not really Friday; it's Wednesday, but it's like Friday, since I have lots of things to finish before Holyday candle-lighting.

Am I going crackers? Could be. I haven't slept all that much. Did I blog you that I went to the pool on Monday. It wasn't all that crowded, which is good, and I saw lots of friends, who were glad to see me. That's always nice. I'm going to try something new for fitness. I just discovered that there's a "Curves" in Pisgat Zeev.

Back to the kitchen and cleaning and...

Chag Sameach!

Wondering...

Why do I keep blogging. Sometimes it seems like hardly anyone comes to just pay a visit. Most are directed by google, looking for a recipe.

I didn't sleep much last night. Went to bed late after getting back. Busy day. Cooked, laundry, then to Jerusalem, then to the airport by bus. Then waited for my parents, then back to Jerusalem with them. First we tried to get on one of the Nesher Shuttles, but when it seemed to be taking forever, and they wouldn't promise to let us off first, I ran to the taxis, got one, had it pick my parents up by Nesher. Nice driver, and being a "special," straight to the hotel. Met there by daughter #1. Had them register, unpack and then dinner in the lobby, Kings Hotel. It has seen better times and worse. Food was OK. The four of us shared three meals. Then walked a bit, took a cab to French Hill, the "trempiada." Waited for a ride. Eventually, one to Ofra, waited more and more. Then there was a ride to Eli; as we approached our junction, offered to take us in to the guards, then just continued all the way into Shiloh. Sheyizke l'mitzvot, he should be rewarded with more mitzvot. There are some good people in this world. Walked up the hill home and was too "awake" to go to sleep even though it was past bedtime. Got up before my alarm.

Tonight begins Succot. Good thing I decorated the succah yesterday. My husband still has to get the schach up, not my department.

Chag sameach

CBS-- At least that's what the bus signs call it

According to the signs on the bus stops on Jerusalem streets, CBS stands for Central Bus Station. The signmakers have no idea that for some English Speakers, CBS is a TV Channel. At least it was in my day.

Now for those who don't frequent the landmark, you're missing out on a very nice little mall.

There are a variety of restaurants and snackbars.
Yes, like in all places, a turn-over in stores. I don't know what will be here.
Every spot is used for commerce. Modern Jerusalem peddlers are set up in the hallways. My grandparents didn't have it so good on the streets of New York.

Need a "drink?"

That's the theme of the latest Carnival of the Recipes at Catch the Spoon. KCC's featured.

And while I'm at it, just to remind you that Next month KCC will be hosted by Teddy of "Help I have a fire in my kitchen," who has a request that the recipes be presented in a specific way.

Your email should have the following format (of course you can add to it,) but this is the minimum; (though only two of them are actually required):

1. Your comments or story about the recipe you are submitting (not required but suggested)
2. Ingredients (clearly marked and counted - 1,2,3 etc.) - Required
3. Pots, Utensils and thingamajigs needed to make the recipe
4. Directions For making - Required
5. And any picture you want to go along with the recipe (not required) Just send it in if it is too big I (Ted) will format for it for the blog.

It's all very clearly explained here. His blog is extremely professional and well-respected in the internet food world, so I'm very pleased that he has volunteered to host the Kosher Cooking Carnival and hope to learn a lot from him.

If you're interested in hosting a future KCC, please let me know, shilohmuse at yahoo dot com. Please submit your posts for KCC via blog carnival.

Almost Succot Shopping

Erev Succot, Jerusalem, 2007

Yes, it's almost Succot, and decorations are for sale.
I took this picture from the bus in Geula.


Later I went with a friend to the Malcha Mall. I took this picture from the "Food Court" while we were eating. That's the "Technological Park," a building that supposed to have lots of high tech industry.
The mall, couldn't resist the shot.
Betar Jerusalem, Jerusalem's favorite soccer team, has its own store.

I like shopping, but I won't tell you what I got. OK, not much, really!

Welcome Back Barry!

Barry's Hula Valley Hoop is back in blogsville. K8's most irreverent English teacher is blogging again. I've been nudging him to post his indescribables on his blog, and now, I see that he's finally listening to me.

So now we know what you're doing during your Succot Vacation!

Staying busy, right?

I'm not having a baby, so I just had better keep busy. Right?

My body is suffering from not swimming for a few weeks already, so I'm packed for the pool this morning and then hope to meet a good friend. Then another friend is having a "seudat hodaya." That's a "feast to thank G-d" that the doctors are pleased with her health. And tomorrow morning I'm planning on cooking and then I have to go to the airport to pick up my parents.

And if there's a new baby, I'll have no problems with that. I can always make time for the next generation.

Important Visit

I don't have too many aunts and uncles left, so when my father's elder brother and his wife came to Israel to see my cousin, her children and grandchildren.... obviously I went to visit them.

They served me a nice lunch, and we had a great talk, and I got some more information about family history. They should live and be well, ad me'ah v'esrim shana, until 120, as the Hebrew blessing goes.

Update--No News

Yom Kippur is over here in Israel.
I called my daughter, and she's still pregnant. She relaxed all day and did fine.

Yes, when there's news, G-d willing good news, I'll post it.

It was very pleasant in our local synagogue. Of course, I have a nice seat, even considering the arctic blast on my shoulders from the air conditioner, but just think... In the winter, the heater will warm it up, really well, like the physical therapy I probably need.

As in most Israeli synagogues, the prayers are led by volunteers, amateurs, even if they've had some training. Yom Kippur isn't easy. The men who act as chazanim, cantors, are fasting just like everyone else. We had a nice variety for this chag, Holiday.

Just the highlights:

Kol Nidre was with a French Ashkenaz accent, soft, gentle voice.

Musaf was a show stopper! First of all, it is long and dramatic, definitely not easy even when not fasting. A young man, from a different neighborhood, came up to lead that prayer. He has a good voice, not the operatic professional cantor type, just good, enthusiastic and strong. Normally I don't like hand-clapping, but he was doing the clapping and sang much louder than the clapping. He was in control. Frequently people start clapping, but to a very different pace from the person leading the prayers, or a schizophrenic-syncopation matching nothing at all, which just makes me totally nuts. But in this case, it worked.

As usual we had to waste time, finishing Neila early. That prayer was led by one of the "younger" members of our shul. He did a good job, too.

From my vantage point, I really don't have any complaints.

Baruch Hashem, we're healthy, and G-d should just forgive us for our sins.

Erev Yom Kippur-- plenty to do

It's no longer Daylight Savings in Israel, so the Yom Kippur, day of intensive prayer and fasting, starts pretty early. At least it seems early, since the clock was just changed last Saturday night.

I have a lot of cleaning and cooking to do. Cooking for a 25 hour fast? Well, we have to eat before and after, and my daughter, due with #3, "ordered catering" from me. So I need to return to the kitchen and finish early enough for the food to be delivered.

And there's lots of clean, since I never fully cleaned up from the 4 day Rosh Hashannah visit of that daughter and her family.

Let's just all pray for a safe delivery and healthy baby, since that's all that's really important. I'll let you know when there's news, of course, G-d willing.

Tzom Kal, "Have an easy fast" to all of you who are fasting this Yom Kippur, and may your prayers of repentance be successful. Don't get distracted. Try to concentrate on what's written in the Prayer Book, even if it means reading the translation. If you need a "break," close your eyes and let the sound of the chazan, cantor, transform your thoughts to a higher level.

Gmar Chatimah Tovah
May You Be Inscribed in The Book of Life

Safe Fasting

Here's the source of this article


Fasting For Yom Kippur (from a Medical Perspective)

Michael M. Segal, MD, PhD "... a very good site, perhaps even essential ... extremely useful hints and tips ... should be taken seriously by just about everyone except the most determined masochist." The Jerusalem Post, 10 October 1997.

Each year on Yom Kippur, Jews wish each other a khatima tova (a good seal in the Book of Life) and tolerable fast. The route to a khatima tova is beyond the scope of this article; the route to an easy fast is simpler to describe. The following are the essentials of human physiology that will help you have a tolerable fast on Yom Kippur:
Don't get thirsty: Most people think the difficulty about fasting is feeling "hungry". However, avoiding thirst is much more important for how you feel. Not only do you avoid the discomfort of thirst but you are also well hydrated and swallow frequently, so your stomach does not feel as empty. One important way to remain well hydrated is to avoid drinks or foods that cause your body to get rid of water. Such foods and drinks include alcohol, tea, caffeinated coffee and chocolate. Another important rule is to avoid consuming much salt. Salt causes a person to feel thirsty despite having a "normal" amount of water, because extra water is needed for the extra salt. For this reason you should avoid processed foods containing lots of salt such as pickles, cold cuts, or cheese. Most tomato sauces, canned fish and smoked fish have a lot of added salt. Since Kosher meat has a high salt content it may be best to choose a main course such as fresh fish, canned no-salt tuna fish or a de-salted meat such as boiled chicken. By avoiding these types of foods and drinks in the several hours before a fast, you can avoid either losing water or needing extra water. Other actions that cause the body to lose water, such as perspiring in warm clothing, should also be avoided during the fast.
Don't start the pre-fast meal on a full stomach: The pre-fast meal often begins at 5 PM, so a large lunch could prevent you from eating enough immediately before the fast. It is best to have a small lunch, or no lunch at all. A large breakfast early in the day based on cereals, breads and fruits can provide the energy you need during the day, yet these high-fiber foods will be far downstream by the time of the pre-fast meal and will not keep you from eating enough food at the pre-fast meal. A large breakfast is also helpful because it stretches the stomach. After eating breakfast, it is best to consume beverages during the day. This will not fill you up, since liquids are absorbed quickly, and this will ensure that you have absorbed enough fluids during the day to start the pre-fast meal being well hydrated. Be sure to avoid beverages with alcohol or caffeine. You should also drink at least a glass or two of fluids with the pre-fast meal because many foods need extra water to be digested properly.
Eat foods that are digested slowly: Include some foods high in oils and fats in the pre-fast meal, since such foods delay emptying of the stomach and effectively prolong your meal. However, beware of fatty meats or salted potato chips that could load you up with too much salt. Salads and other high fiber foods that are so important in one's normal diet should be de-emphasized for the pre-fast meal since they travel quickly through the digestive system. Fruit, despite its high fiber content, is worthwhile since it carries a lot of water in a "time-release" form.
Don't get a headache: Withdrawing from caffeine produces a headache in people who drink several cups of coffee a day. If you consume this much caffeine in coffee or other foods or drinks you should prepare yourself for the caffeine-free period by reducing or eliminating caffeine from your diet in the days or weeks before Yom Kippur. Don't try to get through the fast by drinking coffee right before Kol Nidre, since this will cause you to lose a lot of water.
Make the meal tasty enough so people will eat: The pre-fast meal doesn't have be bland. Spices such as lemon or herbs are fine for fasting, but salt and monosodium glutamate should be reduced as much as possible.
Don't do a complete fast if you have certain medical problems: People with medical conditions such as diabetes should consult their doctors and rabbis before fasting. Certain medications need to be taken during Yom Kippur, and it is important to swallow them with enough water to avoid pills getting stuck on the way to the stomach and damaging the esophagus. Fasting by women who are pregnant or breast feeding can also be dangerous. If a young person who has not fasted much before has unusual difficulty fasting you should discuss this with your doctor since this happens in some serious metabolic problems in which fasting can be very dangerous.
Don't eat improperly after Neila: Even people who have prepared well for fasting will be hungry after Neila. Be sure not to eat food too quickly at the post-fast meal. Begin the break-fast meal with several glasses of milk or juice: these put sugar into the bloodstream and occupy space in the stomach, discouraging you from eating too rapidly. Also be careful about eating high salt foods such as lox, since you will still be a little dehydrated and will need to drink a lot of fluids to avoid waking up extremely thirsty in the early morning hours. If you take vitamin C, be sure that you are fully re-hydrated beforehand, because one of the vitamin's breakdown products can precipitate out in your urine if you are dehydrated, causing kidney stones, which are painful and dangerous.

These preparations for the fast of Yom Kippur will be different from your normal routine, but they can serve as a concrete reminder of the approaching Day of Atonement.
An earlier version of this article appeared in the Jewish Advocate (Boston, USA) in 1989. Copyright © 1989 - 2007 Michael M. Segal, MD, PhD. This document may be reproduced freely on a non-profit basis, including electronically, during 2007 as long as this copyright notice is included.

For an article on fasting for Yom Kippur written from the perspective of a runner and a rabbi by the late Rabbi Richard Israel click this link. Other Yom Kippur fasting articles:
Tracey R. Rich: Tips for Yom Kippur Fasting
About.com: Yom Kippur: The fast
Jewish Pregnancy.org: Yom Kippur: Pregnant and Fasting?

Od Avihu Chai March to Jerusalem--Itinerary

From Shiloh to Jerusalem

A Living Memorial to Avihu Keinan, HaYa"D

Succot, 2007

Sunday, September 30

The 18th of Tshrei

• 9am Shiloh Cemetery-- We leave from Avihu's grave
• Shiloh Junction--The main road
• Memorial at Waadi Charamiya
• Ofra
• Givat Asaf-- the T Junction to Beit El, (busses)
• Ammunition Hill, Jerusalem, for Special Program.

As in recent years, not all of the route will be hiked. You can meet us at any section of the route.

Estimated time it will end is 6:30pm.

For more details call the office, 02-940-1111 or Orit, 0545-649-140 and 0525-666-687 or Natan 0524-317-333.

BEWARE-- Don't use these candles!

Not all candles are created the same.

I've been lighting my Shabbat, HolyDay and Yartzeit (24/48 hour) candles in the same corner of the house for the over twenty years we've been in it. Never has the wall blackened, that is until this past weekend, the three-day Rosh Hashannah and Shabbat, we just celebrated.


(I flipped it straight, but it keeps showing as on the side.)

Here's a photo of the type of candle, which had been burning. It looks clean, because I took the picture at the grocery store.

"If I were a rich man..."

Tevya sang:

...
I'd build a big tall house with rooms by the dozen,
Right in the middle of the town.
A fine tin roof with real wooden floors below.
There would be one long staircase just going up,
And one even longer coming down,
And one more leading nowhere, just for show.

I'd fill my yard with chicks and turkeys and geese and ducks
For the town to see and hear.
And each loud "cheep" and "swaqwk" and "honk" and "quack"
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,
As if to say "Here lives a wealthy man."

If I were a rich man,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
...

But is that what being rich really means?

According to Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers, being rich is "being happy with your portion in life," what G-d gave you. It's one of those platitudes so easy to say but hard to do. I've met very few people in this world who truly live in accordance. One of them was my Cousin Mickey, ZaTza"L.

This week I met another one; actually I met his brother and saw both of them perform. They are Dekel and Ofer Shikratzi; I've probably spelled their last name incorrectly. They have a site, which is Hebrew only. Ofer has been a professional actor, even playing Shakespeare in England, for a long time, and Dekel is his much younger brother, who has Down Syndrome. Dekel is no less an actor, and the two brothers have been performing a two-man show for fourteen years. They have appeared all over the world.

This past Monday, they appeared at a standing room only performance in the Bnai Binyamin Yeshiva High School, Beit El, where I teach. Students, parents and staff were invited to attend. It was amazing.

Ofer, the older brother, who according to conventional wisdom, should be happy and confident, portrayed himself as troubled and traumatized by childhood events. Dekel, the one we would think dissatisfied with his lot, is actually the richer one, strong and confident, accepting his situation and happily going forward.

Following are some of the pictures I took.

Join the March to Jerusalem!

Aliyah l'Regel

The Great Succot Pilgrimage to Jerusalem

The Avihu Chai

March to Jerusalem

From Shiloh

You can meet us

on the way

or in Jerusalem!

Sunday of Succot

September 30, 2007

Avihu Keinan, of Shiloh, was killed in a badly planned army action. He was one of Israel's top combat soldiers, but he wasn't even given a chance to defend himself. Due to the perverse morality imposed on the army, the soldiers were forced to endanger themselves unnecessarily, to prevent any possible harm to Arabs. Because of that, Avihu was killed, just before Rosh Hashannah, four years ago.

Upon hearing the terrible news, they type of news every parent dreads, Avihu's father Moshe pledged to march to Jerusalem and confront the President of the State of Israel.

So that Succot, two and a half weeks after Avihu was killed, we, neighbors, men, women, teens and toddlers in strollers, joined Moshe. We marched to Jerusalem. We marched, unprotected, where many fear to travel, even in bullet-proof vehicles.

A Succah was set up across from the President's Residence, and Jews from all over the world, including other bereaved parents and rabbis and politicians came to see him. He was also invited to meet with the President.

Every Succot since then, we have been marching from Shiloh to Jerusalem. People from all over join us. You can, too.

In total honesty, I must say that it is an amazing feeling to be back on the roads in Eretz Yisrael, hiking as free men. This is our Land. We can only possess it by walking it.

For more information about the exact route and program call the office, 02-940-1111 or Orit, 0545-649-140 and 0525-666-687 or Natan 0524-317-333.

views...

Three unrelated views...

What can be seen from my new seat at the synagogue...


Dry, brown, end of summer...


Olive trees and grape vines in Shiloh's valley

This is the valley in the land of my Village of Shiloh, not what has been known for thousands of years as Emek Shiloh, the Shiloh Valley. Maale Levona can be seen in the distance.

The Kosher Cooking Carnival Tutu, yes, 22

Presenting the 22nd Kosher Cooking Carnival!

First of all, if you haven't yet checked it out, Juggling Frogs has organized an index of the contents of the first twenty-one Kosher Cooking Carnivals. You should add it to your side bar for easy reference. And I have to give credit where it's really due. Juggling Frogs has sent me links for many of the posts in this KCC. Thanks again, JF, you're the greatest!

Here's a listing of all the previous KCC's: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21!

The posts won't be in any sort of intelligent order; sorry.

There's an inn in Montana, run by a blogger who bakes bagels!

And talking about bagels… here's the special KCC Tutu from the one and only Mr. Bagel!



Did you know that DovBear can cook?

~Sarah~ lives pretty far away from most of us, so it's nice to know how she prepares pizza, if we ever come to visit.

Here's a dairy "crumb cake" from KallahMagazine.

Juggling Frogs shows us how to easily write on a cake. And here's her Pomegranate Chicken Salad.

Learn how to make Taco Salad from Frugal Journey.

Baking Bites reviews Hershey's Coffee Kisses. It also gives a recipe for Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Bars.

The Kosher Blog does a flexitarian Shabbat. There's also a post about new kosher grass-fed cheeses and just the right pasta for them.

Here's a nice batch of tried and true recipes from the OU site.

The talented Fred sent me this interesting recipe:

Grandma Min lived to 94, and was a real sweetie.
Grandma Min's salmon gefiltefish

Fred - Here's the recipe - It's actually my mother's when she used to use yellow pike and Lake Erie white fish which are both now either extinct or not available.

4 pounds fish (3 pounds salmon and 1 pound halibut or other such fish or four pounds salmon)
heads, skins and bones of above
5 onions
4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp white pepper
1 tsp sugar
2 eggs beaten
5 1/2 cups water
3 tbsp matzo meal
2 carrots

Grind fish and one onion in food chopper or processor. Places in a large bowl, add 2 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp pepper, sugar, eggs, 1/2 c water and matzo meal. Chop or grind until fine in texture and well blended.

Place fish heads, skins and bones in very deep pot. Slice remaining onions and place over them. Add the carrots, remaining salt and pepper. Bring to an active boil. Shape fish into 2 inch balls. Drop carefully into pot. Cover and cook over low heat 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Shake pot frequently and add a little more water if necessary.

The fish broth is fabulous as well as the fish!

Enjoy.

Alva

Here's an illustrated guide to coffee from Lokesh.

Read about New York delis.

Hirhurim muses about Shemittah.

Try: Healthy Shabbat's Secret Substitute for Raspberry Vinegar.

Tiffany's peanutbutter carob balls look nice and healthy.

Mo'ah Kemo Efro'ah wonders why Trader Joe can sell such good parve ice cream.

Here's an interesting parve cheese recipe: The Kosher Blog » Archive » Pareve Parmesan Cheese Substitute.

Mottel makes a "mean pasta." Yum!

Read about Joes Settler's fifth favorite food. Hey, Joe, that would make a great meme. "Name your five favorite foods."

Here's an unusual kosher food post from my husband. And here are some Rosh Hashannah food ideas he sent me from The New York Times, of all places. Yes, he has gotten into adding recipes to his blog, though we haven't tried them. I'm too spontaneous and creative a cook to follow recipes.

File this away for next year's head for your Rosh Hashannah table. Be creative!

Sometimes it's good to get out of the kitchen. If you can get to Jerusalem and want something "different," try out Istanboolie near Machane Yehuda.

It's possible to make perfect rice on an electric "platta" on Jewish Holidays.


JF sent me a link to a cookbook review about bread-making, yummy, crusty, delicious bread. Juggling Frogs also sent Virtual Shmita? posted at rabbisedley. which suggests another way to keep shmita.

And here is: Juggling Frogs: Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, and Shmini Atzeret 5768/2007 Meal Planners (free downloads) That should help everyone.

A drum roll please…. Now for: Blog d'Elisson: THE REAL THING! I'd love some of that. (Gevalt, what a think to read when fasting on Tzom Gedalya.)

Baking bites brings passive solar heating into a totally different dimension with these cookies. And a great looking Honey Cake With Lemon Glaze can be found on the same site.

JF sent me WFMW - Comfort Food from Sell Crazy Someplace Else, which is a new blog for me.

Ezzie, the first blogger to encourage me to start KCC and was the first guest-host, too, blogs about Kosher Pareve Ice Cream.

Havel Havelim's initiator, Soccer Dad, gives us some 3 day Yom Tov cooking ideas.

Next month KCC will be hosted by Teddy of "Help I have a fire in my kitchen," who has a request that the recipes be presented in a specific way.

Your email should have the following format (of course you can add to it,) but this is the minimum; (though only two are required):
1. Your comments or story about the recipe you are submitting (not required but suggested)
2. Ingredients (clearly marked and counted - 1,2,3 etc.) - Required
3. Pots, Utensils and thingamajigs needed to make the recipe
4. Directions For making - Required
5. And any picture you want to go along with the recipe (not required) Just send it in if it is too big I will format for it for the blog.

It's all very clearly explained here. His blog is extremely professional and well-respected in the internet food world, so I'm very pleased that he has volunteered to host the Kosher Cooking Carnival and hope to learn a lot from him. If you're interested in hosting a future KCC, please let me know, shilohmuse at yahoo dot com. Please submit your posts for KCC via blog carnival.

Thanks to all of you, and please post and link this KCC to your blog.
Shannah Tovah!

Coming Attractions...

Yes, like in the movies.

It's really my bedtime now, so I'd like to just leave you with a hint of the show I saw tonight. I don't have time to write it up properly.

So, I'm leaving you with these two coming attractions. If you have any idea of

• where
• what
• who

Just comment.



Good night.

Momsense! Watch this!

As you know, I rarely post video clips, but this one is really great. It only lasts a couple of minutes, so relax and enjoy.

Click here!

Not quite Junior Congregation, but a real success

In many synagogues the states and Canada, too I think, it's the general custom to have the children pray separately from their parents in what is known as "Junior Congregation." It's rare in Israel, probably because the kids manage to follow along at a younger age, since language isn't a problem.

Also, in Israel, most shuls don't have a weekly sermon, which can really make kids, and some adults, rather antsy.

This year for Rosh Hashannah, our neighborhood synagogue did things pretty well. No, I'm not taking credit; I'm not on the committee.

There was a community Kiddush during the break before Shofar blowing. Actually, since we live very close by, we found it easier to go home. I was also able to put food on the platta, electric hotplate, so it would be ready for the meal. When we got back, there was a 15 minute sermon, and at the same time there was a children's activity. Then we all heard shofar blowing and during Musaf, some girls took the kids to a nearby playground.

On regular Shabbatot we have a "Children's Kiddush" just after the Prayers; at the same time in the summer, there's a short Dvar Torah, Torah Talk.

134, no, it's not a counting mistake

It's...

Yes, the 134 Havel Havelim! There's time to savor it, since there won't be another edition until after the holidays, the Jewish Holidays.

And in another two days, G-d willing the KCC tutu! So hurry up and get your kosher food posts in lickedy split! Please get your kosher food posts in. Either mail them to shilohmuse at gmail dot com or via blog carnival.

Holiday "cooking"

Alternative titles:

• cooking on an electric food warmer
• cooking on the Shabbat/Holiday "platta"
• surprisingly simple rice
• Holiday-cooked rice for Shabbat

According to strict Jewish Law, one can cook on Holidays but not on Shabbat. In years like this one, we have three solid days of restrictions. We just had a very long weekend, the two day Rosh Hashannah crowned with Shabbat.

Even though we can cook on Holidays, as long as we neither light a match nor put out a flame, (electric stoves are even more difficult,) I like to do all the cooking in advance, so I can pray in the synagogue and not have to worry about the logistics of the meals.

The meat and poultry were cooked in advance and some were frozen to be taken out a few hours before needed. The same for the potato-vegetable kugel. Other side dishes are more complicated. I separated the vegetables into meal portions, so they would stay fresh in the fridge. Carbohydrates were the biggest problem, since they don't freeze that well nor keep well. Personally, I don't need any, but I'm a minority.

Our electric "platta," food warmer, isn't all that hot. I've never really cooked on it, but I decided to try something new.

Since the easy way of making rice is to pour boiling water over the rice, after heating it in the pan with some oil, I figured that white rice should cook well-enough on the platta. Here's how I made rice for Shabbat on Rosh Hashannah.

I used a pot with a large diameter, to guarantee maximum heat.

We have a large electric "kettle" with lots of boiling water all the time.

I poured the clean/checked/rice into the pot, added some oil and put it on the platta to heat up a bit. Then I added double the amount of boiling water and covered it well. That means that there was a heavy towel over the pot's cover.

I did not check it while it was cooking, since that would cool it.

A few hours later, when it was time to eat, the rice was absolutely perfect!

Nothing's Perfect

I've been heard umpteen times complaining about education here and now, but actually, no place has what I remember.

I'm reminded of that every time I read the Carnival of Education. There are so many great posts linked this week. It certainly gives a different perspective when reading about what goes on in other parts of the world.

ps take a gander; there are some great posts in "coe."

first post of the year

No time for details, but I certainly survived the 3 day Holiday weekend. I'm glad we don't have another one in two weeks, like the Jews abroad. This was enough.

I like my new seat in shul, B"H. It definitely has its advantages.

There weren't any complaints about the food. The only guests we had were our married daughter and her about to expand family. And now...

I had better get to work and start cleaning. The floors, dishes, laundry....

Yes, it was worth it.

A Wonderful Jewish New Year to All

My apologies to anyone I've offended this past year.

I have a lot to do before the Holiday begins before dusk, so I may not post again, and I probably won't be visiting any blogs. Yes, I know that I haven't been visiting much, too busy and stressed out, since work has resumed.

The house will be full for the Holiday, Baruch Hashem, Thank G-d.

I've frozen a lot of the food, but I still have a lot to cook.

After Rosh Hashannah, G-d willing, I will finish working on the next Kosher Cooking Carnival, so please get your kosher food posts in. Either mail them to shilohmuse at gmail dot com or via blog carnival.

• menu planners and tips
• Shemitta, explanations and guides
• traditions and anecdotes re: Jewish Holiday foods
• restaurant and cookbook reviews
• and, yes, recipes, too

I'll be in a new seat in our synagogue. It will be a bit disorienting, but G-d willing I'll adjust and enjoy it.

Gmar Chatima Tovah

May G-d inscribe you in the Book of Life

pigging out

I was a bad girl today. There was a short "staff party" at work before the Rosh Hashannah, Jewish New Year's holiday.

Someone, well-meaning, but unwise, put tons of chocolate candy by me. All sorts of candies to be sampled. Too many candies. They weren't even that good. But that didn't stop me.

I've been very stressed out and had no self-control whatsoever.

I had more candy today at work than I've had the past few months.

I was a very bad girl today.

Still Life at the Edge...

... of the pool.



Now I must wait for next season to begin.

Better late than never

I always considered being a mother the most important thing possible. This was in direct opposition to the popular Feminism and pseudo-maleism popular among my peers when I was a teen and young adult.

It was rare to see successful professionals with their kids except as staged photo-ops, then off with the nanny for the little ones.

I was horrified to read an interview with Barbara Walters, when she first became a really big time success, in which she gave advice to other women trying to make it in her field. One piece of advice was, "Don't have children." Ms. Walters has one, and I hated to think that her child knew how her mother was telling everyone that children hold women back.

Things have changed, and the young women in Ms. Walter's profession have children and very public pregnancies.

Now Michael Douglas, 63, is telling the world how much he enjoys his two young children and is sorry that he wasn't much of a father previously.

Yes, better late than never.

Well, almost...

Well, I was almost the last in the pool. Close enough to count, maybe.

I was cold, and the ache which had kept me up at nights the past few weeks, was nudging me out of the water. It seemed rather childish to suffer another five minutes, just so that I could be the last in the pool before closing after having been the first swimmer of the season.

I definitely got my money's worth this summer, thank G-d, even though I went to New York for a couple of weeks.

This winter I'll have to go to Neve Yaakov for a swim, even though I'll be teaching the same day.

Now, it's almost 10pm, and I haven't had dinner yet.

Tomorrow, no swimming, sigh...

I have to get back to cooking and go to teach. I just hope my teaching day is more pleasant than today was.

Will I, or Won't I?

The full question is:

Will I "complete the circle?"

(as it's said in Hebrew)

Or to be more precise...

Will I get to the pool tonight before it closes for the season?

I was the first non-staff person in when the official season opened three months ago, and I hope that I'll get back early enough from work to have time for at least a twenty minute session.

Now to plan today's lessons...

HH #133

Number 133

It's at Rubicon 3

Go and see

My "Sacrifice"

I did it for the "good of the community."

OK, what did I do? I changed my seat in the synagogue. It had been my "Makom Kavua," "regular spot" since even before we had proper seats. Actually, even before the building was built, I even sat in a very similar location in the temporary building.

It's a couple of rows back, but not all the way in the back, by the wall. I like the wall for two basic reasons.

• One, I can lean against it, which is more comfortable than just standing.


• Two, it's quiet and less distracting than having people on all sides of me.

I also like being in the third of five rows, since it's both close and far.

The problem with that seat was that the door faced it, and the drafts on my legs and neck were unbearable. Others claim that the Women's Section is stuffy. That may be so in some places but not where I sat. The air conditioner over my head sure kept that air moving and cold. In the winter it moved hot air. It was so chilly in my row that nobody wanted to sit near me. There couldn't be any other reason?!

But still, we had a meeting and the majority voted to keep a large window "all the way open" until it "snows" or rains, or until some of the ladies change their vote. My health, of course, isn't an issue. I'm a minority, since popular knowledge says that it's easier to warm yourself up than cool yourself down.

A lot of people told me to change my seat, so I offered to, as long as I could get one in the front row. I have to sit at the "edge," to reduce the people around me and the noise. Last night as the meeting ended, one of the male committee members spoke to me and in the middle he had a call from someone who didn't like her front row seat and wanted to change it. I got the seat. Now I have to move my scarf, shawl, siddur (prayer book), and T'hillim (Psalms book) from the box of my old seat to the box of my new one.

The main advantage of my new seat is that I'll be able to see what's going on in the men's section, and the big disadvantage is that if there's some special event, the celebrating family gets to sit in the front row.

But the most important thing is that my legs will be warmer. And I did it to show that I don't expect the world to revolve around me and my needs. Living and working with others means we have to compromise.

Shannah Tovah to All

Yes, the dawning of a new age...

no time...

... to blog right now, but I have lots to say

Check in later, yes, later...

eventually, I'll be back.

internet friends vs f2f & Rosh Hashannah prep

Internet friends are nice, but not as a replacement for f2f, seeing people face to face or calling them on the phone.

Actually I have a meeting tonight, the "sisterhood" of the local synagogue. We'll probably discuss how full the women's section must be to keep the door opened and other things like that.

About preparing for the three day Holiday. It seems like most everybody is freezing a lot of the food. That way we can just take it out to be reheated. It works well for the meat and poultry. And some kugels, too.

How did I manage years ago with a smaller fridge/freezer, larger family and lots more guests?

Oops! must get to the meeting.

friend far away

There are all sorts of ways of measuring distance. Especially since writing and blogging, I have friends all over the world, and I've also rediscovered old friends, who are now all over the world.

One of those, whom I knew in NCSY and roomed with in Stern College, is now, and has been for quite a long time, the Chabad Rebbitzen of the Crimea. She just sent me the link to their new internet site.

It's amazing; take a look!

A better cure would be more sleep

When I was "doing" my teacher's licence, I did a presentation to the class about behavior/attention/concentration problems in our students.

My original plan was to show/prove that the modern busy/noisy classroom was at fault.

According to neurologists, only 3-5% of the kids actually have some primary physical reason to be AD/HD. The course was filled with teachers, like myself, who had plenty of classroom experience, but no certification. I asked them what percentage of students in their classes show signs of AD/HD. Most said 30-50%.

I handed them a list of symptoms sans title, and asked them what the symptoms were.

"AD/HD," they all said in unison.
"No," I replied. "Insufficient sleep. Yes, all of the impulsively, memory problems, etc can come from insufficient sleep."

My research had shown that we, and especially our children, are getting 2-4 or more hours less sleep than fifty years ago. There's a heavy physiological, neurological and educational price to this. No medication can cure it.

When I saw this NY Times article about children with bi-polar symptoms, the alarms kept ringing in my head. All the doctors could recommend, according to the article, was heavy and potentially dangerous, psychiatric drugs.

The symptoms described seemed like severe impulsively problems, and that was on my insufficient sleep list.

Maybe it's "easier" for parents to get their kids to pop pills rather than change their life styles, but trying a regime which includes three or more additional hours of sleep per night is healthier for all. The only side effects would be less TV and probably less shopping in the mall.

Following the Sunset

When the weather is hot, and the sun is strong, I don't leave the house unless I have to.

Today, after the pool, I didn't go out, not at all. But then I was tempted by the cool breeze coming in. So as the sun was setting, I set out.

At first I wasn't sure which way to walk. I usually turn left and walk that way around the neighborhood. But somehow, I glanced to my right and....

...followed the sunset.

Welcome Clouds

Of course within a month or two I'll be feeling very differently about the weather. Right now these clouds are very welcome, and I know that the sun will chase them out of the sky before the morning's over.

In Israel there are only two seasons, with the shortest, and sometimes the most peculiar of transitions.

Summer is summer; hot and cloudless. Dry in the mountains and humid on the coast.


The past few years, I've found that the constant heat and strong sun have sapped my strength.

This morning, just a week before Rosh Hashannah, the sky was filled with clouds, winter-like clouds, practicing before their annual debut.

Look at the "coming attractions" which remind us that winter is going to come soon, with a bang, a clap of thunder and flashes of lightening.

Then I'll start kvetching and ranting about the cold. I'll try to hold my tongue and keep my fingers from typing complaints about the rain. It only rains here in the winter, and if we don't have enough rain, it's a danger, a punishment for our sins, our ungratefulness to G-d's wonders and mercies.

Shannah Tovah

Have a Good Year

Be a Head Not a Tail

And a Healthy One, Too!

Shannah Tovah U'Mevorach!

May you have a good and blessed year

Please consider this a personal greeting,

from me to you.

Gmar Chatima Tovah

May G-d Inscribe You in

THE BOOK OF LIFE

"Private Pool," Redux

I just got back from the pool, even more private than yesterday morning.
The lifeguard and clerk/cleaner/miscellaneous worker were sitting around trying to keep warm.
Nobody was in the pool... until I went in.
The water was deliciously warm. The sun had already set.
The trick at this hours it to keep your body as underwater as possible.
Very few days are left until the pool closes.

With this year's schedule at work, it'll be harder for me to get to the Neve Yaakov pool for my weekly swim. But I'll need it more than ever.

In the meantime, I'll enjoy what I have.

Is it really September 5?

Time flies, though we didn't. We took a boat. Yes, we docked Saturday night, Haifa Port, September 5, 1970. It was barely two and a half months after our wedding.

Like this year, Rosh Hashannah was three days including Shabbat. I felt gypped. It wasn't fair. I was sure that by making aliyah I'd never have to deal with such a challenge.

Making aliyah was the smartest thing we could ever have done. Next in importance was our move to Shiloh eleven years later.

Shabbat Shalom and Shannah Tovah

Getting Ready for Rosh HaShannah

Last night we had a Pre-Holiday Women's Learning Session. Two of the local women taught us.

And in between the classes, we socialized.

Shiloh women came to our Ramat Shmuel Synagogue, conveniently for me in the back of my house, from all the neighborhoods. We are of many generations. Quite a few of the women there are younger than my children!

But we were united in our desire to study and prepare our souls for Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur.

Shannah Tovah

One week at work, and I'm ready for vacation, a long one...

It's a good thing that Rosh Hashannah is next week.

No! Is Rosh Hashannah really next week? I'm not ready for it yet.

When will you be ready?

Give me a month to get ready, or at least another couple of weeks, please.

Sorry, but it's like the birth of a baby. We just can't control when it will actually be.

Thanks for reminding me. Things are going to be very hectic, B'Ezrat Hashem, Baruch Hashem, Thank G-d.

Shannah Tovah Everybody

"Private" Pool

We're in that depressing final countdown until the local pool closes for the winter. Today's the last Tuesday of the season.

When I got there this morning, a half hour after it opened, I was the first in the water and the only one for awhile. Then the lifeguard got in and then some women showed up, and then I had to get out already.

Now I must get ready for work. I wish I wasn't so tired.

Istanboolie, a Different Kind of Restaurant

When I went out for a late lunch with my son the day before his "reserves duty," he said that he had discovered some place new. He lives in Nachlaot, the neighborhood which skirts Jerusalem's open market, Machane Yehuda. Now that I'm no longer vegetarian, I am much easier to please and enjoy the new and different foods.

And new and different most were, especially for my palette.


The restaurant is just a block down from Jaffa Street, towards Agrippas, on a corner, near the more well-known Rachmu and not far from the wholesale candy place I used to take my son to when he ran the "candy concession" in junior high school. Walk down the street parallel to the "shuk" street, with the old Hadassa's Health Food Store; does it still exist? Istanboolie is on the corner.

The food looked interesting, and the prices seemed reasonable. While we were trying to decide what to order, the owner/manager? recommended their "tasters" meal. Foolishly, we didn't ask price first. It was early afternoon, and I, the fanatic breakfast eater, hadn't eaten all day, so that's my excuse.

Everything was delicious, even things I normally don't like. There were all sorts of dishes I had never tasted before, like more kinds of kubeh than I had ever seen.




Yes, we plan on going back, but next time, we'll order a more specific meal.

A hell of a day

I met my 9th and 10th grade classes.

Need I say more? Actually, I met more than that, since we're looking for a sub for a teacher on maternity leave, and somehow, I have the kiddies, plus mine, at the same time.

It was especially depressing, since I knew I'd be missing a wedding. There's a limit to the classes I can miss. Remember that last week I missed the first two days of work, and yesterday I refused to teach, because 3 days are enough. So I couldn't ask to leave early.

And the good news...
The traveling went OK. I didn't waste all that much time going in, and I had a ride from another teacher all the way to the door, even though it took him out of my way.

Good night.

Lucky Again, Baruch Hashem!

Yesterday, I was in Jerusalem for a whole bunch of errands, including something for work. I also had lunch with son #1, before his stint in the "reserves."

One thing I discovered, which makes me feel kinda dumb, considering that I should have had been aware of it sooner. Just because I was nearby, I decided to get some OTC medical stuff, antibiotic cream and things like that, at the "sick fund's" pharmacy. (We're members of Kupat Cholim Le'umit.) We have what's called "gold" membership, which costs more than the minimum, and since, thank G-d, we haven't been sick enough to take advantage of the big discounts, I thought that maybe the "Acomol," Israeli "aspirin" would be cheaper for us. Well, I was right, it was, as was all the other things I bought. I can get this same discount in our local clinic; though the choice of items will be smaller.

I was a good girl yesterday and took the bus from the bus station to town, even thought I felt great after sitting almost an hour in the air conditioned bus. It was high noon, and the sun is too strong for me.

In town I found the "teeth-cleaning sticks" the dental hygienist recommended last time. I went into Alba, which seems to be one of the last large private drug stores in Jerusalem. Ora was sold to a chain, so I won't go there any more; the prices went up tremendously.

After late lunch with my son, at a restaurant I'll review in a later post, I saw that I had probably just missed a bus, so I took one to the "trempiada," to wait for a ride. The bus pulled into the stop blocking movement of a bullet-proof one. Could it be to Shiloh, a half hour late for my personal convenience? Yes! It was! Added bonus, I was able to sit with a good friend and chat.

Now, let's all pray that the "schedule-maker," in the school where I work, manages to fix mine, so that I'll only work three days.

Today is my lllooooonnnngggg day, six lessons in seven class hours, and I'll meet my 9th and 10th grade students for the first time.

We're back in business!

That's after about 9 hours without electricity!

All I did was turn on the bathroom light to take a shower last night, when BOOM!

Everything went off but the TV. Then the fuse was flipped back on, and then I touched something, and then BOOM! again. And this time, not even the TV stayed on, and I couldn't get the switch back up.

Our fuse box isn't as confusing as this one, but neither the hubby nor myself is of that kind of electrical bent. Just before midnight isn't the best time to call an electrician, even if he is a neighbor and good friend. I tried his cell phone, but no answer, and in the morning I discovered that it was the wrong number. Before 7am, I woke his wife. He came less than an hour later. I went to the pool while he fixed everything.

And now I'm back on the computer. So before I forget, I must tell you that the very latest Havel Havelim is up on Life in Israel. So take a gander; you'll enjoy it.

Back to the grind

I have a whole big pile of papers to grade. That's what I'll be doing in a few minutes.

Just because I was too sick to go to work the first two days of the school year doesn't mean that I was given a "vacation." Sick leave isn't vacation. There's a price to pay.

I had to write up lessons and email them to the high school.
Now I have to finish going over them and checking.
And I have to sort them out by "success."

I have to figure out what I'll be doing with the 9th and 10th grades until the other teacher gets back to work from her maternity leave.

I really ought to get off the computer.

Bye!