Wedding Music for IDF Soldiers

Many soldiers were at the wedding, plus those who couldn't be there.

And many of us guests have soldiers on the front. 

Am Yisrael Chai!

עם ישראל חי

Joyous Wedding

We were privileged to be invited to a beautiful joyous wedding, which was held last night in Jerusalem. I got to see so many good friends, which was a bonus. Thank Gd.  May the young couple be blessed with good health, lots of wonderful healthy children, long life and a super-sized sense of humor, Gd willing.

Dancing Up a Storm-MAZAL TOV!

I've been to so many weddings, dozens, probably hundreds over my lifetime. My very first memory is the wedding of an aunt and uncle when I was just over two years old.

And every wedding is different, has something unique about it. Even the most  ordinary and conventional weddings are memorable, because each couple and the families and friends are different.

Last night we were at a very special family wedding at the Jaffa Port, not a location I'm familiar with at all. This couple actually made sure to tailor their wedding according to their requirements, but it still had all of the elements of a Jewish Wedding, the chuppah (wedding canopy,) blessings, ketuba, food, dancing, great joy etc.

And the dancing was to their favorite sort of music, which isn't the music I usually hear at weddings, but my kids and I danced together on the sidelines.

When I see how beautifully my kids dance, I consider that my late mother is with us, since she loved to dance! I guess we inherited those genes from her.

Artist's Choice Ends 2014 on 52Frames

I found this last challenge/theme of the year, "Artist's Choice," to be the most difficult. My 52Frames photos aren't among the popular ones, so I felt the pressure even more than usual to finish the year with something really gorgeous.

My photos are handicapped by the fact that neither my camera, the inexpensive Canon IXUS 145 and phone, the simple Samsung Galaxy 2 are very good. People are always advising me to take "sharper" photos, which is impossible. I try to make up for it by interesting subjects or composition. Since last week I was invited to two weddings, I had hoped that at least I'd find/take a great picture at one of the weddings. That's what I did. I submitted a mildly cropped photo of the chuppah, wedding canopy and ceremony at one of the weddings.

The setting was absolutely gorgeous, so "all" I had to do was to get the full reflection in my screen, no view-finder on this camera. I did my best.

Two Weddings in One Week!

I honestly can't remember the last time I've been to two weddings in just one week. Both were Shiloh weddings, children of neighbors. It was so nice to be with my wonderful neighbors as we all celebrated together.

First wedding

Of course, each wedding was very different, considering the parents and the young couples.

But they were both totally joyful!

MAZAL TOV!

מזל טוב!!

Seventh 7th Night of Chanukah, A Joyful Wedding!

I moved my Chanukiyah over a bit, in order to take better photos. While my husband was off in Jerusalem at the Begin Prize Ceremony, I quickly lit my Chanukiyah and then went off with neighbors to a wedding.

Despite the rain, we could see the bright lights of Israeli industry. By turning off the auto-flash on my Canon IXUS 145, I got surprisingly good photos. 

It rained and drizzled the entire way, and I wondered what we'd do if the chuppah (marriage ceremony) was to be outside. I could see it set up beautifully, and the rain stopped after we got there.

It was gorgeous, and apparently G-d did want an outdoor chuppah.  Only the fish were wet while we enjoyed the festive event.

After it was over, and we were in the hall, there was an amazingly heavy downpour.

According to Jewish Tradition, rain at a wedding is a sign of a bracha, blessing, and may this couple be blessed and fruitful.

A Crazy Couple of Months

It's just starting to hit me that I've had a crazy couple of months.  Early June I rushed to Arizona, because my mother wasn't doing well.  Also since my son's wedding was coming up, I felt that it would be a good idea to get the summer visit over as soon as I could. 

Within a few days of my return, my mother was dead and I was back on a plane.  Then it was to New York for the funeral.  I managed to return to Israel for most of the shiva.

And then I rushed back to work as soon as the shiva was over.  Since I only work part-time, I didn't "take off" work when my son got married.  I sort of squeezed it all in. 

Now I'm feeling it, especially when people ask me how I am, if I've recovered form the wedding, if things have really begun to sink in.  I didn't really give myself a chance before. And now it's almost Rosh Hashannah, which this year is a challenging three day "yontiff," because it's immediately followed by Shabbat.

I must admit that I am starting to feel that things have changed.  So much is mixed up.

And just like in the middle of a Jewish wedding ceremony the chattan, groom breaks a glass, to remind us all that Jerusalem still hasn't be rebuilt.  We still don't have the Holy Temple on the Temple Mount. 

Photo by Yona Zoref

It Was Worth it!

When I first began planning the large Sheva Brachot, post-wedding celebration for my son and his wife, I, with the encouragement of one of my kids, thought I could somehow do it without a caterer.  I figured I'd combine my cooking, my daughter's and various take-out and store-bought things.  But then the various additional logistics such as finding and setting up enough tables, chairs etc. made it seem a bit more complicated. Neighbors, younger than us, who have married off quite a few kids told us to get realistic and hire a full-service caterer.

That's what we did. We actually took our next-door neighbor who had been recommended by many.  He and his staff did it all.  They got the tables, chairs, tablecloths, plates etc.  He bought and cooked all the food, set it up and cleaned up afterwards.

 

My husband, family and I were able to just enjoy ourselves and the guests, food etc.

The fancy challot were gifts from a neighbor and the popular Herby's Bakery from Beit El.

I just made a few decorations to make sure that it looked like a real party.

I didn't even bring my camera.  These photographs were done by my neighbor Linda Fairman, who's a professional photographer.

"Sheva Brachot," The "Post-Wedding Party"

Traditional and Torah observant newly married Jews don't just rush off on a honeymoon a few hours after the wedding.  The custom is to attend a series of festive meals, during which the Sheva Brachot, Seven Wedding Blessings are recited.  We hosted a large one in Shiloh for our newly married son and his wife.



one challah from a neighbor
and the other from
Herby's Bakery,
Beit El

It was in the nearby shul hall and catered by a neighbor.  The wedding was small by Israeli standards, so I used this Sheva Brachot as my opportunity to invite lots of neighbors.

Most people were very happy not to have had to travel far. 

And there were also guests from Jerusalem and other yishuvim.

 

 

The Newest Green

When I was growing up, nailpolish was red, pink, coral for the daring or a white pearly color.  Those are pretty much the only colors you won't find in my collection.  I have blues, greens, orange, yellow, purples and metallic nailpolish.  For some inexplicable reason I have become a fan of greens, firstly apple green.  But a few months ago when visiting the states I grabbed a different type of green, more of a sage green.

And that's the nailpolish I ended up wearing to my son's wedding.

My outfit was black, an old, black dressy skirt, plus a black sequined top, bought on sale in Atlanta, GA, and a black and gold hat.

PS I do my own manicures; they're not perfect, but that's life.

The Wedding!

Well, to be honest, this will be a difficult post to post, because my kids don't like me to write about them or post pictures of them.  Last night our youngest got married.  We still have more who are single.  At the wedding someone who doesn't know the family well asked if this was the "last wedding."  I answered "G-d forbid.  He's the youngest.  I hope more of our kids will get married."

Just in case you're curious, I wore black, a black skirt and a black sequined top and black and metallic hat,  and couldn't quite figure out what color nailpolish to use.  For some reason, I had bought sage green around the same time I bought the sequined top and after spending a ridiculous amount of time trying to decide which color from my collection, I wore the sage green.  It looked better in person.  It sparkles because I used a coat of cold sparkle on top.

The young couple planned the wedding.  As far as I could tell they used the basic chuppah set up the hall does and didn't bring in an "artistic arranger."  It all looked gorgeous.  With scenery like that you don't need anything fancy.  Only the bride was more beautiful.

"co-photographer," took some of the pictures

And just in case you're curious. You're not supposed to be able to recognize people here, except for me and my husband.  The kids demand their privacy.

Double Busy Day, B"H, Chodesh Tov and Mazal Tov!!

Chodesh Tov.  Off to Tel Shiloh soon for Rosh Chodesh Prayers.

This isn't from our wedding, but yes we have a wedding, G-d willing tonight!

I photographed this in Jerusalem.  I don't know whose it is.

An "Only in Israel Story," At The Bank

credit

Yesterday I finally made it to downtown Jerusalem aka "Jerusalem Center" as it's called on the lightrail.  One of my stops was the bank to open one of our small savings to pay for a few wedding expenses, since a son is G-d willing getting married soon.

It's possible to do these things by internet and other impersonal ways, but I'm just too much a "people person" and just like to deal with real live breathing talking listening people.  I guess that's why I enjoy working in a store.  I just can't understand how people buy things online.  I have to feel the fabric, even if I don't try it on. Though I must try on shoes or I can never know if they will be comfortable.  Back to the story.

Our bank branch always has these things changed, like who and where and how to find the clerk to handle such matters.  I went to where I had taken care of things just over a year ago.  The clerk there sent me to the other side of the bank.  Over there they told me to go upstairs.  There a cute little "helper guide" told me to tap in my number onto a computer screen.  Well somehow my "taps" weren't strong enough, so she did it for me.  I was given a receipt with my "number."  I was told to wait until I was called. 

A minute later I heard my number and was told to go up to "the express bank clerk" who was right next to where I was waiting.  I told her what I needed to do. Of course I couldn't remember the name of the sort of account I needed to open, but she knew.  This is done all the time here.  And since I had, with the help of the young helper, typed in my number, she knew who I was and all my bank business etc.  At least it was on the screen in front of her.

"No problem," she said.  "It'll be in your account tomorrow.  My neighbor has daughters still single.  Maybe you have sons for them?"
"I also have single daughters."

just as an example of  a Jewish wedding

None of the ages/sexes matched up. And then we began talking and blessing each other.  I was in tears by the time I left the bank.  Such blessings, G-d willing...

Two Funerals and a Wedding

Yes, that was yesterday.  In under twenty-four, more like fifteen hours I attendeded two funerals and a wedding.

Just after Shabbat, we got the terrible news that a neighbor's two decade fight to survive a failed liver was over.  Fourteen years ago he received a liver transplant. The doctors were amazed at how long he had survived his very precarious medical situation and numerous crises, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end...  G-d willing, bli neder, (don't consider this an oath) I'll blog about him in a few days when I can do his life and contributions justice.

Then in the morning, an sms from the Shiloh office informed us that the father of a different neighbor had passed away; the funeral was in Jerusalem.  Since my plan was to got to a wedding in Bnai Brak at night, I didn't even think I'd made the funeral, but the neighbor who was driving me called to say that since he studies regularly with the husband, we'd be leaving a couple of hours early for the wedding and going via the funeral.

There was another death announcement early afternoon that a different neighbor's brother had passed away.  How is it that after no such announcements for weeks, or was it months, there should be three in just a few hours?

It was rather surreal, dancing and singing and being so joyful after burying two very special people.  Tears of joys combined with tears of sorrow.  One should never compromise on the simcha, joy of a wedding.  A new family and new lives begin under the chuppah, marriage canopy.

May all live long, healthy, fulfilling and contributing lives...

And may the memories of the dead be blessed, yihi zichram baruch, יהי זכרם ברוך

I Don't Think They Did The "Mizinka," But...

For the second time in just over a week, I was at a "last wedding" in a family which means that all the children are married.

The first set of parents don't have too much Ashkenaz (European Jewish) blood, and I think that the "Mizinka" is an Ashkenaz custom. In the second, one of the sets of parents is divorced, so I can't imagine their having sat together for such a dance. But it's always possible that it happened after we had left.

Both weddings were suitably joyous and beautiful and different. I attended most of the weddings of both the families and wish them all mazaltov, good health and many blessings and smachot, joyous occasions.

Somethings Good and Something Confusing

First I'll start with the confusing:
There seems to be a problem with sitemeter's recording of "hits" to this blog. I think it's showing fewer or at great delay. If it's correct, then what's the point of blogging here?
Just wondering...

Now for some good things:

First, it was pointed out by my neighbor, Rav Dov Berkovits, how miraculous the blossoming trees are this year, considering that the rainfall has been less than minimal.


Yesterday was the day I had planned for our Women's Rosh Chodesh (start of the Jewish New Month, which is based on the lunar calendar) Prayers at Tel Shiloh. I had been very sick the day before and knew that if I was up to going, it could only be if I got a ride. So the night before called a neighbor who usually goes and by car; she had other plans.

So I sent out an announcement to the Shiloh email list. Nobody called or replied. Then I called another neighbor who said that she wasn't sure and would call me if she was going.

Throughout the early morning, I got calls from yet another neighbor who needed a ride and promised to call if someone offered. But nobody called, so I dovened Shacharit, prayed the morning prayer, and was about to hang the wash when the doorbell rang.

Yes, a ride. So I had her call the waiting neighbor while I got a few things I needed. Then we went down to the Tel. We found other neighbors already there and one joined us.

It was beautiful. I could have taken pictures all morning, but my driving neighbor was in a hurry and didn't have time.


So we went to the spot many believe had been the location of the Mishkan, Tabernacle, and prayed the "Hallel" prayer together out loud and then Musaf, the added prayer for holidays. And then we rode back up.

Earlier in the week we attended a wedding. a lovely young couple from different countries a each of a combination of Jewish ethnic backgrounds.

MAZAL TOV!