Tying Tzitzit for IDF Soldiers

Group tying session led/instructed by Eli Poch

One of the most unexpected but totally wonderful phenomena of the Hamas War has been the popularity among IDF soldiers, religious and non-religeous, for wearing Tzitzit, a very unique Jewish ritual garment.

“Tzitzit” – The “Mitzvah” (Divine Command) of attaching “Tzitzit” (a group of threads, attached in a special way, as defined by “Halachah L’Moshe MiSinai;” that is, according to Jewish Tradition, taught to Moshe by G-d on Mount Sinai during his forty days and nights atop the mountain, but not included explicitly in the Written Torah) to a garment with which one covers oneself, as it says in Parashat Shelach (BaMidbar 15:38), “And they should make Tzitzit…” (from the OU site)

In recent years, instead of discreetly tucking the strings in their slacks, more and more Torah observant Jewish men wear them showing proudly, no matter where they are. 

The popularity of the tzitzit among even non-observant soldiers may probably because of the higher morale of the religious soldiers. I don't know for sure what they tell their fellow soldiers about how wearing tzitzit proudly make them feel, but tzitzit has become an accepted part of the IDF uniform for many. They must be tied a certain way, and it's not easy. Actually there are a number of ways to tie them depending on certain customs. Once the strings start breaking or get tangled or untied the tzitzit isn't kosher/acceptable. 

It's obvious that our IDF soldiers aren't very sedentary, yes, to put it mildly. Conditions are "rough" at best, which prove rather "fatal" if you'll excuse the expression, for the carefully and ritually tied strings off the tzitzit. So you can imagine how frequently the soldiers must get new kosher tzitzit. Among the various war related chessed projects, providing freshly tied kosher tzitzit is important. There are now tzitzit tying groups for IDF soldiers all over the country. Men and women can tie them after being trained, of course, and then they're checked by an expert before being distributed.

One of my neighbors decided that she wanted to tie tzitziyot and asked her friends in other communities about it. They told her to contact Eli Poch, who runs project Tzitzit for Tzahal, was willing to travel to Shiloh with the required four cornered garment of especial IDF provided non-flamable fabric four-cornered shirts in a variety of sizes and strings. And he even found time before Rosh Hashannah for his first visit, which I couldn't attend. Thank Gd I made it to the second session, and he very patiently taught us, encouraged us and inspected the finished tzitziyot. 

Gd willing he'll return after Simchat Torah for another session, since it will take a while until we can tie without someone instructing, checking and encouraging...

If you'd like to find a Tzitzit for Tzahal group near you, or start one, you can WhatsApp only +972 54-646-7624.

Here I am tying on the couch, far from the airconditioner...

Our tzitzit tying sessions are hosted by the Shiloh Women's Center.

From Hollywood To The Holy Land: A Spiritual Odyssey, Book Review

We live in strange times. The media keeps hyping a television reality show that follows a formerly religious Jew who traded a life of mitzvot for money, traif and fame, and here I am reviewing another autobiography/memoir about a Jew who discovered that a life of Torah and mitzvot in the Holy Land has literally saved his life, From Hollywood To The Holy Land: A Spiritual Odyssey, by Tzvi Fishman*. You can read my review of Miranda Portnoy's Making Meaning Out of Madness: A Jewish Journey, here. What should I call this genre?

Fishman wasn't trying to escape a life of disappointments, failure and/or poverty when became interested in Judaism. He was a Hollywood success, scriptwriter of movies that had made it to the screen, a published novelist, friends with celebrities and could get any woman he wanted besides "invitations" from those he didn't. And if he had wanted a "quieter life," his father would have set him up in business in The Virgin Islands. Most people would call that "the American Dream."

But suddenly Fishman's body began to rebel and he developed severe ulcerative colitis. The treatment is steroids, which made him swell up, and as soon as he finished the prescribed period of treatment, the bleeding returned. This pattern went on for months and months, wreaking havoc with his life.

Fishman tried all sorts of cures, diets, Indian master swami, yoga, holistic medicine and more, but none helped his body heal.

Then his buddy Daniel asked a simple innocent question:

"Why don't you know anything about Judaism?"

Fishman realized that it was true. Over the years he had studied all sorts of academic subjects, philosophies and trendy ideologies, but his knowledge of actual Judaism was virtually non-existant. Slowly he began to search and learn. Later on bit by bit he took on various mitzvot, and his ulcerative colitis became history. 

I can't do justice to Fishman's amusing way of describing his journey to Torah Judaism and life in Israel. You really must read it all in his own words. In person Fishman is as entertaining as his book. For a few years he lived across the street from us in Shiloh, and I know the family well. But Fishman never talks about his past, only the present and plans for the future. So it was a real eye-opener to read From Hollywood To The Holy Land. 

In addition to the great story, there are lots of photos helping the book truly come to life. We get to see what Tzvi looked like way back when, scenes from his former life and people and places mentioned in From Hollywood To The Holy Land.

From Hollywood To The Holy Land is highly recommended. It's very well written and the story comes to life, yes, like a movie...

*Yes, this is the same Tzvi Fishman who wrote "Arise and Shine," More Adventures with Tevye and many other more serious books.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (August 23, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 248 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1082429406
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1082429408

The PROPHETESS, A Book Review

Evonne Marzouk's The PROPHETESS is an amazing book that slowly draws one in until it can't be put down. Even though it was written more for teens and marketed for that age group, I truly enjoyed reading it.

We follow Rachel, her family and friends as she discovers her destiny. There are no goody-goodies, as the characters are all drawn realistically with good points, bad points and problems. Rachel lives in an ordinary suburban neighborhood with all sorts of people, Jews religiously observant and not along with non-Jews. Rachel's parents, though both Jewish, have different attitudes towards their religion. Rachel's mother's father was very religious and influences their home, even after his death. The last thing Rachel ever expects is her destiny as a prophetess. And nothing is simple.

The PROPHETESS leaves us with a few incomplete storylines, so I'm hoping for a sequel. What was the turning point in Rachel's mother's life, and what happens to Rachel's three best friends Maya, Chris and Jake? Nu, Evonne, hint, HINT!

The PROPHETESS is the perfect gift for readers of all ages, including yourself. It can be ordered on Amazon hardcover or Kindle. 

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bancroft Press (October 16, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 161088504X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1610885041
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 10 - 12
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9 inches

• Best Sellers Rank: #1,005,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #79 in Teen & Young Adult Jewish Fiction

• Customer Reviews: 
  4.7 out of 5 stars    27 ratings

Eight 8 Nights of Chanukah

Chanukah 5779, 2018 Night #1

Chanukah 5779, 2018 Night #2

Chanukah 5779, 2018 Night #3

 

Chanukah 5779, 2018 Night #4

Chanukah 5779, 2018 Night #5

Chanukah 5779, 2018 Night #6

Chanukah 5779, 2018 Night #7

Chanukah 5779, 2018 Night #8

Purple Chrain, Sing Along and Enjoy

This fantastic little clip/video/cartoon is actually from last year, but I don't remember seeing it then.  Enjoy and singalong...

Retired From Seder Making

I was suprised at the enthusuam this statement got on facebook.

I must admit that I am happy I'm not making the seder this year. Honestly, I hope that I never will have to again. I paid my dues.

And I was even more surprised that my husband said:

"Next year let's go away."

It's not in our budget, and I really do prefer my cooking and most other home cooking to hotels and restaurants. Hotel coffee is probably better than what I serve myself. My Passover perked coffee, made with Turkish isn't that awful. It's better than most instant coffee. And this year we got Tasters Choice for a nice discounted price.

In years past, when I was much younger and the kids very little, I'd do all of the cleaning before Passover. And I'd generally pull an all-nighter to switch our kitchen from regular aka chametz to Pesach mode.

To switch the dishes from upper to lower of the upper cabinets, I'd stand on the counters. Then when all was moved, I'd cover them with hard-to-remove Contac paper. Just to think about it today, a short few weeks since suffering terrible hip pains... And then I'd cook everything for the Seder and following day and days after...

My husband just had three jobs, other than a lot of the shopping. He would make the charoset, grind the chrain, horseradish in the coffee-grinder attachment that came with our Passover blender and cover the diningroom table.

When our daughters got older, they helped a lot with the cleaning. And when our sons got bigger, they not only cleaned, but they helped me move the dishes, pans, etc. That's when I discovered that not only did tall boys not need to stand on the counters, but their strong, large hands could hold more dishes than mine ever could. They did the "switching" in record time. After the army grabbed them, I hired teenage boys from the neighborhood, which was money well spent. And then when my husband's job switched him to part-time, I insisted that he learn my routine and help.

But covering counters is still my job. Now I use reusable "oilcloth," heavy plastic, cut to size. The hardest part is trying to remember how to fit it all.

Now, at my age, and with a very empty nest, after all this work, the last thing I have the interest or energy to do is to cook food for a Passover Seder. Every two years one of our daughters (plus her family) hosts us and the rest of the clan. On alternative years, we joyfully accept invitations. May all of our generous hosts be blessed with good health, gifts from GD and children willing and able to take on the role when they, too, are ready to retire from Seder making.

My Friend is Making a Movie

A neighbor of ours has been mentioning a movie he's involved with for the past few weeks or so. A mutual friend, former Hollywood guy, who has written some great books, such as Tevye in the Promised Land, and had, for a few enjoyable years, lived across the street with his family, the one and only Tzvi Fishman is making a movie! It's called  "Stories of Rebbe Nachman,"  and he's raising a bit of money to finish it off and get out to the public. Maybe you'd like to help.

To raise money, he's using Jewcer.com.

Watch the  trailer.


Here's the official explanation.

"Stories of Rebbe Nachman" will be a fun and inspiring, feature film based on four of Rebbe Nachman's wonderful, faith-filled, fairy tale-like fables. The film will be a powerful beacon of light in our dark and despairing world. The famous Hasidic master, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, taught that stories can bring healing to the soul. While most people tell stories to children to put them to sleep, Rebbe Nachman told his stories to wake people up! Filled with many deep messages of faith, trust in God, and the importance of always being happy, these universal stories are for people of all ages. It is well known that after reading one of these stories many many people have returned to the Torah. Too religious, you say? Well, we believe that Jews all over the world are waiting to be awakened through the joy and inspiration that this entertaining film will bring. And you can make it happen! We have already privately raised $150,000 toward our budget of $180,000, so we only need another $30,000 to make this film a reality. The Jewish People have an important message for the world, and a movie of these inspiring stories has the power to light up the universe. With faith in our enterprise, we are beginning to film of August 10, 2014. As Rebbe Nachman taught, “The whole world is a narrow bridge and the important thing is not to be afraid.”Thank you for joining me on this fun and revolutionary journey! for more...

Jewish?

It has become very faddy for celebrities and politicians to announce some Jewish family connection, even if it's not genetic. Over half a millennium after the Inquisition, that's pretty good news.

Two of the latest are from different eras and totally different lives.

Students of the American Revolution and the early days of the United States all agree that one of the most brilliant thinkers and politicians was Thomas Jefferson. Yes, you guessed it! Geneticists say there are Jewish markers on his "Y chromosome."

University of Arizona geneticist Michael Hammer found that the Jefferson Y chromosome was a perfect match to a Moroccan Jew and closely matched another Moroccan Jew, a Kurdish Jew and an Egyptian.

And from today's celebrities...
Do you remember the athletic, graceful and precocious ice skater, Oksana Baiul, who stunned the world when she won the Olympic Gold at the age of 16? Yes, she, too, has Jewish roots.

hat tip The Gantseh Megillah