Real Life Under Fire

A local shelter, I waited in a couple of times

I thought I could write a Baile Rochel about real life under fire, but although I do find some humor, it's just too serious a situation. I planned a Baile Rochel before Israelis were murdered, but now... I can't ignore the tragedies, even when I can mock/satirize what is ironically enjoyable. ... it's not that life has been dull, but...

This isn't in Shiloh, but I did
visit it. Some people spend the
night in their local shelter, so
they don't have to wake up and run
to safety. Especially those with young  
children.

No doubt you're aware that I live in Israel, so you must be aware that we're under attack. Iran has been launching dangerous rockets at Israel, destroying homes and murdering innocent Israelis. Many Israelis have been injured, too. 

Some have been injured trying to get to shelter. One old man even died on his way to safety. Most Israelis don't have convenient shelters in or near their homes. We're among them, unfortunately, but I'm so grateful that we had our house built extraordinarily well insulated with stronger walls and foundations than standard. There are a few spots, away from windows, where my husband and I feel safe, certainly safer than we'd be going to a neighborhood shelter.

On Shabbat, just hours after the war began, as I was walking to a Torah class, suddenly a neighbor called out that there had been an alert. She's the mother of young children and used the emergency situation to turn on her phone. I was just a few steps from the shelter pictured at the top of the post, so I walked in. One entered with a bottle of whiskey, so of course I requested some-- which he happily poured for me. By the time it was affirmed that there had been an "all clear," lots of other neighbors had entered, and we had a lovely time together. 

Once it was permitted, I continued on my way to the class. The neighbor who had agreed to give it was surprised that we had shown up and were waiting for him. When it was over, there was another alert. That gave me ten minutes to return to the shelter I had been in previously. No whiskey that time, but great company. After the all clear, I walked home.

True story, Shushan Purim Sameach

Confusing-- Google Maps to The Rescue

Major changes have been happening in Jerusalem the past decade or so, and now hardly a week passes with another road being dug up resulting in changes in the bus routes. And when all this is complete, Gd willing I will live to see and enjoy it (it's no secret that I'll be 77 in a few months), we'll have more lines of the lightrail and changes in even the most veteran bus routes.

We don't have a car, so our transportation is public transportation. We can't trust that the bus routes we've known for decades haven't changed, so I check Google Maps when planning my trips in Jerusalem. 

When you open the app, you're asked to write your required destination and verify your "starting point." Then it gives you three basic options, private transportation, public or hoofing it- yup, walking. Each route option gives a time estimate, and walking-- including walking to/from the bus will offer routes. So, don't panic. Just click Google Maps.

Remembering...

 לעילוי נשמתם

Li'ilui Nishmatam

Raising their souls... remembering...

Some of my relatives, on my mother's side... all have passes away, if I'm not mistaken

According to the Jewish Calendar, today and tomorrow are yartzeits for two of my aunts, two of my mother's sisters. May their memories be blessed. 

Even many of my cousins have passed away already, some at rather young ages, all from illnesses, even the bride in this picture, who died recently at the age of 82. That's old for my maternal family. On the same day another cousin born in the same year, also died. 

Some families consider 90+ normal and almost take that age for granted, not my mother's family. My mother lived to an older age than any of her siblings, 88, two decades more than her parents. 

My father, like my mother, lived to an older age than his parents and siblings...

Nothing's guaranteed... 

I have a theory that our genes predict many things in our general health. Think of it as Gd giving us a hand of cards, some better and some worse. Of course, just like when playing cards you can play badly and lose even if you start with a great hand, and it's even possible to make the best of a bad hand-- though that's much harder. Obviously I don't believe any of the the hypes claiming that certain foods or lifestyles will guarantee you a long healthy life... and that's not even taking in account that an accident, criminal or terrorist can destroy the life of a potentially long-living healthy person. 

What's most important is to take care of ourselves, as best as we can, thank Gd and treasure every minute and certainly our family and friends... Anger and hatred destroy the gifts of life... 

Rosh Chodesh Adar Increases Joy ראש חודש אדר מרבים בשמחה

שבועה הבא ראש חודש אדר תפפ"ז

Next week is Rosh Chodesh Adar 5787

While you're at it, visit all of Tel Ancient Shiloh. It's an amazing archeological site. For more information contact 02-578-9111 or visit@telshilo.org.il.

אנחנו מתפללות במקום המשכן איפה חנה התפללה

We pray at the location of the Mishkan Tabernacle, where the Biblical Chana prayed.

Haikus About War, Weather and Life

It's amazing how much can be expressed in seventeen 17 syllables... Yes, I've posted many of my haikus over the years, and I think we're due for a new haiku post. I write a haiku, posting it on Facebook, every morning besides Shabbat and Jewish Holidays when writing and posting are forbidden. Sometimes I wonder if I'm being repetitive, considering that I write hundreds each year... Wow! Even I'm impressed 🤣 Following is a variety, as promised in the title. Enjoy, and please let me know in the comments which you like and why. Thanks.

long busy day planned

thankful to Gd for my health

each day a true gift

cold, grey winter morn'

exhausted from yesterday

but was lots of fun

suddenly sunshine

see weather changing quickly

winter in Israel

Gd created earth

but man's bad judgements cause war

VICTORY NOW, please

Holy Shabbat soon

trying to clear mind's worries

Gd willing, please help

new week, pray for change

weak leader endangers us

I can't ignore it

freezing cold today

glad my plans changed to stay home

will Zoom and walk here

Thursday so quickly

week sped by and didn't do

all that I had planned

never ending war

people, nations hate us Jews

comes from them, not us

I'm a nobody

my opinion doesn't count

but I'm not quiet

I never follow

popular fads, opinions

have mind of my own...

woke much too early

too frustrating forcing sleep

that refused to come

Thank Gd for Shabbat

just another few hours

special holy day...

pray for better week

may Gd gift leaders with wisdom

so far disaster

don't be fooled by words...

don't trust fancy promises

I don't see true peace...

Israel's enemies

want to believe all those lies

truth ruins their story

Shomron Beer-- Amber Oak בירה שומרון אמבר אלון

A few months ago I saw mentions of a new brewery called Shomron שומרון, and I knew I had to try them out. They're in my neck of the woods, lantzmen, as my grandparents would say.

The back story of the Shomron Brewery makes it even more important. The owner has to keep his identity a secret, because IDF service; brewing beer began as his post trauma therapy. When his therapist was helping him to heal via a hobby, he admitted that he liked to drink beer when home and not on duty. So, brewing beer was suggested. The popularity of his beer encouraged him to make it in commercial quantities, and he's still tweaking the formulas.

Doug Greener, the Beer Maven, reviewed the Shomron Beers in the Jerusalem Post, where the backstory is featured. I missed the tasting because of a minor, though very annoying accident on my way there. He later gave me two sample bottles of the Shomron Beer, one an IPA and the other this Amber Oak, which I decided to try first. The molasses aroma was strong and inviting; the flavor confirmed its natural sweetness, though nothing that could be identified as oak. Honestly, that didn't bother me. It was perfect on that winter evening, and I certainly wouldn't refuse it in the summer. I'd even offer it to one who doesn't usually like beer. It doesn't taste like a commercial beer. That's an advantage of craft beers... They are special. And yes, if you didn't get the message, I recommend the Shomron Amber Oak. 

Gd willing next week I'll try the IPA.  

Contact information: 050-297-5575 shomron.beer@gmail.com ראשון עד חמישי - 09:00 עד 16:00 Sunday to Thursday, for orders click.

Annaconda-- Lots Better and Funnier Than Expected

 Last night my husband and I went to the movies... 

We used to be big movie goers, but in recent years it's rare. Actually, the last time was an occasion like last night. My husband's a retiree from the the Menachem Begin Heritage Center and now volunteers there, so he's invited to some of the staff events. This was a family event in Jerusalem's Cinema City. It included an "all you can eat" dinner in their VIP room, lots of pasta, pizza, salads and more plus a choice between two movies, neither which he had ever heard of. One was described as suitable for kids and the other seemed "childish," too, but we're a generation or two or even three older than pretty much everyone else who'd be attending. We agreed that if we didn't like it, we'd just walk out. Yes, the movie was ANACONDA.

I looked it up on the internet first to get a bit of an idea as to what to expect. It didn't sound impressive at all, but the evening was free. We even travel for free... So we figured there was nothing to lose.

To be perfectly honest, we had no positive expectations... but within a few minutes we were mesmerized...

ANACONDA is a movie within a movie and a comedy. It's fantasy for sure. That's genre #1, but I was reminded of John Belushi, not just because the main character is heavy. If there's such a thing as a John Belushi genre, this would be it... John Belushi in the Jungle.

Apparently an anaconda is a dangerous jungle creature, whether fact or fiction, it's irrelevant. The acting was great; the characters seemed totally real, though it was obviously unrealistic. We recommend it, and yes, there were people who walked out in the middle... 

One more thing... it's a clean movie, neither nudity nor sex. You can take your kids.

PS I took these pictures of the screen while watching the movie. We sat in the back row, and the footrests didn't work in many of the seats. It was still comfortable, lots of upholstery... so different from the Jerusalem movie theaters from way back when.

Looking Forward to Rosh Chodesh Shvat

 

We'll pray together in Ancient Shiloh, exactly where the Biblical Chana had prayed for a son.

I've been inviting women to join me for Rosh Chodesh Prayers in Ancient Shiloh, the actual site, proven by archeology and the Tanach/Bible for well over twenty years. It's available by public transportation. Spend the day at Tel Shiloh, contact information +972 2-578-9111 and visit@telshilo.org.il.

Schnitt's Triple C-- WOW!

To be honest, I'm wary when given a can a beer, rather than a bottle beer, but I must admit that I think that drinking that can of Schnitt's Triple C changed my mind. Please forgive me for not leaving you in suspense...

To be honest, I did get a bit fouled up trying to open it, but I did manage to pour the beer, slowly for sure. As you know, when pouring beer slow and easy is better than force. So it was for the best.

The aroma was sweet citrus, davka reminding me of the mystery citrus fruit growing in my yard, which is some sort of cross between a sweet pomelo, grapefruit and orange...

The taste was pleasant plus, suiting all four seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall.

Schnitt labels the Triple C as an American Pale Ale, and it's one of those ales which has made me lose the taste for white wines. I don't know if I'm the only one who has experienced this, but I now prefer a good Pale Ale a lot more than white wines. 

There's no strange sticky aftertaste either, which accompanies some beers. Give Schnitt Beer a try.