Will This New Fridge Last Us...

My new refrigerator!

Just over twenty years ago, when we got our recently deceased refrigerator, we were two decades, yes a score, younger. It lasted us well these past twenty years, as most of our kids got married and grandchildren born. Twenty years ago we were still working and feeling young. Now we're retired and as busy as we try to be, we're certainly not young. 

I'll miss this old fridge...

Thank Gd we're both alive and relatively healthy, but that refrigerator bought in our middle age has died. On Friday I kept hearing what sounded like an electric saw, which I thought was from a neighbor doing some sort of construction. But then when the sound continued on Shabbat, I suspected that it must be something else. It came from our old trusty fridge. Gevalt, such a dramatic death. I realized that it wasn't working, but on Shabbat there wasn't much I could do. I trusted its insulation to preserve my food until after Shabbat.

When Shabbat was out I sent out a desperate plea to neighborhood WhatsApp groups requesting cold and freezing refuge for the food hiding out in the no longer "superior SHARP." A few "half shelves" were offered, when a nearby neighbor said that she had a spare fridge/freezer just waiting for us. It took a few trips with heavy bags, but the neighboring refrigerator got most of the food. I stored milk for morning coffee and a few other items on a window sill which never gets sun or heat, so my #morningcoffeehaiku wasn't affected. 

Sunday morning, as early as I dared, I clicked the site of the Chashmalit Beit El electric appliance store in Beit El and found myself communicating with them about a new refrigerator. After my reporting the size of the niche it had to fit into, they offered two, but one seemed a bissel too wide. Refrigerators keep changing their measurements, sort of like most of us. I had been hoping for a new one just the size of the old one, even a drop taller... but wasn't possible. I asked when a new fridge could be delivered, and they said that if I decided within half an hour, then it would come between 1-4pm. That sounded good, even great. I consulted with one of my kids, since I couldn't reach my husband. 

But then I had to solve another problem. The delivery men would take the old fridge, but they weren't going to pull it out of its niche, and my arms aren't long enough to wrap around it do do the job. Also, I really wanted to clean out the niche before the new fridge moved in. So, again I sent messages to local WhatsApp groups. No responses... so I contacted a young neighbor with big tall kids to see if anyone was available to help a short old lady. Luckily one of her sons could come, and he easily pulled out the ol' refrigerator and helped me unplug it. It was a stubborn as some crotchety elderly can be.

Soon after 1pm the new fridge arrived. It even matches my kitchen better than the old one did. I was told not to plug it in for about four hours. During that time, I was busy with less pleasant things than staring at the new, still empty refrigerator. I went down to our local cemetery twice. First for an azkara, memorial ceremony, and after that to the funeral of a dear friend, an older woman who had passed away that very morning.

When I returned I plugged it in and tried to understand the instructions. This fridge is very modern. All the controls are on the door, much better than inside, but I had to figure it out. The LG even has a Shabbat mode. Apparently, all I have to do is to press a button for a few seconds, and it's ready for Shabbat. After Shabbat I'm to just press it again. I guess I'll have to "practice" beforehand. Yes, this is the new generation of religious appliances. If you want, I'll report on my "adjustments." 

And it took me until this morning, until I brought all my food from my neighbor. Why did it take so long? OK, that's another story...

Surviving Without WhatsApp and Facebook

This evening Israel time, Facebook and WhatsApp, which are siblings of sorts, have ceased to work.

Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp apps crash throughout the world

Nobody knows what happened. Luckily I was able make arrangements with a friend by SMS. 

So much of our everyday communication is by WhatsApp and Facebook. 

I hope by the time I wake up in the morning, life will be back to norma.

What do you think?

Let's Hear Something Good, Life Under COVID Corona

Watching a class on Zoom

Last night I participated in a wonderful Zoom Family Reunion with lots of cousins from my mother's side. My branch of the clan is the only one in Israel, besides one cousin's granddaughter presently on a year's program. The rest are now spread all over the United States. Not all even live as Jews anymore, but we're all family. This was the second time we've done one of these Zoom Reunions, and considering logistics, finances etc., there's no way so many cousins could ever get together f2f, face-to-face. Zooming is easier.

That's why I decided to write about the "blessings," good things that we are now able to enjoy because of COVID corona. And of course all of these can be continued once it's safer to socialize and travel. I have no doubt that all of us can think of at least one thing that has gotten better. You're all invited to add your 2¢ two cents or more in the comments.

• ZOOM- I had never heard of Zoom before the first COVID Corona lockdown, and now I Zoom daily. All sorts of classes, meetings and reunions are done via Zoom. 
• video calls- Video calls have replaced f2f face to face socializing, too. You can't get as many people/participants on most of the apps, whether telephone, facetime or WhatsApp, but they generally don't need an additional application and can be done on most smartphones.
• no traveling- Now that we're not traveling, my study group and I meet daily, instead of weekly. During this past year, we've learned more than five times the amount of material we could have learned if we had still been learning barely once a week in Jerusalem.
• seeing the world on a screen- There are many people taking virtual tours, instead of packing up, spending a lot of money on flights, hotels etc. Even when they send in a "tip/payment" to the guide, it's a tiny fraction of what real travel costs, and a lot less exhausting.
• attending classes or events that once would have been too far to get to- As this year's Matan program began via Zoom, one woman in the audience happily announced that she had always wanted to attend lectures by the teacher, but distance had made it impossible. Now she's overjoyed to be able to attend without the need to travel.
  
• masks and general health- Many people, including yours truly, have noticed that we've gotten through the winter without the usual colds and flu. Masks and social  distancing have kept us healthy. Not only do they protect against COVID corona, but hospitals and medical authorities are reporting much fewer flu and other winter illnesses. Asians, who've been wearing masks routinely for years, have been proven right. Here in Israel, at least, the price of masks has dropped considerably. 
• less money saved on weddings and entertaining- The cost of weddings and other "event" entertaining had gotten outrageously high. Keeping up with the Cohen's pushed people into spending more than they had. Now that it's forbidden to attend large events, downsizing is the rule. The new added expense is "live streaming," so your guest can attend without paying for their food.

What would you add to my list?

Zoom, Skype and Coping in the Corona Lock-down

Have you Zoomed yet? A couple of weeks ago, I hadn't a clue as to what Zoom is, but now I'm a fan. Last week, just as the corona virus lock-down restrictions began to creep its way into our lives, my book club friends and I realized we couldn't have our traditional pot luck dinner meeting. We had this nasty feeling that things were going to get worse before they got better. Also with Passover rapidly approaching, we just couldn't put off our meeting. Someone suggested Zoom, so we all signed up and had a wonderful discussion about Little Women. It was rather ironic meeting in such a magical high tech way, when the book was written by hand.

My "Chevruta," Bible study group also didn't want to stop meeting. We usually meet very early Wednesday mornings in Matan before classes begin. At first we tried Whatsapp conference call, but that's for a maximum of four, and we're mostly five. Then we started learning via Skype daily, and we love it. When this corona virus lock-down ends, we're going to miss our daily get-togethers.

Yael Ziegler teaching via Zoom and FB

Once Matan realized that this lock-down was not just a few days, they got into gear. Matan now simultaneously uses Zoom and Facebook live to allow students all over the world to study together. Yesterday we had our regular classes, but watched/listened in our homes. It was amazing how quickly we managed to adjust to the app.

Both Yael Ziegler and Yael Leibowitz gave superb classes. On Zoom we can also see and hear our friends, which was very comforting in these difficult times. Nobody knows when life will return to normal.

Today was Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the first of the Jewish Month of Nissan, and I "attended" two Women's Rosh Chodesh Prayer groups. First I said Hallel together with many of my usual group. For years we've been meeting at Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh, where the Biblical Tabernacle had rested for close to four hundred years, Since we're now restricted to only walking near our homes, we couldn't go to Tel Shiloh, so we Zoomed. The time lag made the singing a bit less musical, but it really was great to be together praying. By the time we ended there were participants from Shiloh, Eli, Kedumim and Beit El.

Saying Hallel together from Shiloh, Eli, Kedumim and Beit El via Zoom

Matan Rosh Chodesh Prayers
Zooming from Raanana

Then I checked out the Hallel at Matan Raanana. It was also via Zoom, but done outdoors, by someone's house. Women from all over had joined in to pray together. Now with technology, to be "together" one can be miles and miles apart.

Our lives are changing so quickly. All this modern technology is certainly helping us get through Corona.

Matan will be having its traditional Pre-Passover learning on Monday March 30, 2020, but bigger and better than ever. That's because it'll all be Zoomed. The English program will consist of seven, yes, 7 lectures instead of the usual three. Top teachers from the various branches will teaching from 9am-4pm.

You can view the classes through:
Zoom: Meeting ID: 257 547 385 https://zoom.us/j/257547385
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MatanFaceYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcddaJS8bnNI3olXbCxNrRA

Yael Liebowitz on Facebook Live

Happy Ending With The Help of Social Media and Friends

Happy lost & found story 

When I was sitting in my "Parshat Shavua," Weekly Torah/Bible Portion class, I realized that one of my earrings was missing. Walking back home I tried to remember exactly how I had gone and looked for it. Couldn't find it, nor at home either.

So I sent out notices with a photo to local email and Whatsapp groups. About an hour later a neighbor called. She said that it looked familiar. She thought she had seen it while walking home and even apologized for not picking it up.

I went to where she said she though she had seen it, and there it was.

When I thanked her, I said that obviously I was in need of those extra 200 or so steps.

Baruch Hashem

WhatsApp on The Web/Computer, How To "Tips"

I'd been hearing rumors that it's possible to get WhatsApp messages and write them on the computer.

I really wanted it, because sometimes the messages are so long, it's hard to read them on the tiny screen. And when I'm home in the den, I sometimes don't have my phone with me. Also, it's so much easier for me to type longer messages, especially in Hebrew, on my computer keyboard. One of the reasons is that I learned something really great in JHS 74, when in the 7th grade. It's called touch-typing. I don't need to search for the letters. My fingers were trained, over half a century ago, to know where they all are. And I've even taught myself, meaning my fingers, where most Hebrew letters are. But it's so much harder to type on a phone screen, even when the phone offers suggestions, trying to read my mind.

Finally, last night, when the Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions decided to start a fan WhatsApp group before the big game* tomorrow, it posted instructions on facebook how to put the app on your computer. So I did it! And now I'll share the news.

This works if you have your own computer, which is somehow/connected to the phone. Try and see if it works for you. There are two ways:

1. From the computer, click WhatsApp, and follow the instructions.
2. From your phone, go into WhatsApp, then click the 3 dots in the upper right hand corner, then WhatsApp Web, and follow instructions.

That's it!

*Tomorrow, Friday March 1, 2019, the Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions are going for their record breaking third Israbowl National IFL Tackle Football Championship in a row. Yaala Big Blue!

New Phone, Xiaomi Mi A2, Hope It Lasts

Well, I had no choice. I really can't manage without a smartphone. I bought a new one, a Chinese one, since I was awfully disappointed with my Samsung J7 which didn't even survive two years. I got a Xiaomi Mi A2, and I'm trying to adjust it to my needs.

OK, first where and how did I choose it?

As I had blogged yesterday, my J7 had dropped dead. No, I hadn't dropped it. It never awoke after restart; it was just lying peacefully on my computer desk Sunday evening.

The young man who helped me in Ariel recommended that I don't buy immediately. I should research and then come back. Besides asking around, I emailed the chain and got some suggestions.

Instead of returning to the Ariel phone store, I went to the same AM Phone chain in Sha'ar Binyamin. I knew that buying a phone and getting the service I'd need to transfer data would take ages. Also, even though it would be possible to find the same phone for less money in Jerusalem, I preferred the convenience and trust I have in this one.

It could be that the J7 didn't suit my needs, so I decided not to skimp this time. Davka, surprisingly, my new Xiaomi Mi A2 cost less than the J7 did less than two years ago. One of the factors besides the 64 memory that sold me on the phone was that the camera is supposed to be good. That's one of the things I haven't gotten to know well, though I'm pleased so far. Priorities are the rings and notifications, so it won't wake me up for a Whatsapp message. I also had to download an app for a choice of ringtones. It doesn't have a choice builtin.

Another plus for the Xiaomi phone is the two year service warranty. That beats the one year that Samsung gives.

I'm definitely making progress in learning how to use my Xiaomi Mi A2, and don't forget at the same time there's a new kitchen to set-up and get used to. At my age, I'm always glad to challenge my mind.

I'm not showing a picture of the phone, since it's ugly black. The model is so new that the store didn't have any nice cases for it, but the company gives a free case, also dark and boring.

Panic Last Night on Way Home!

No, it wasn't a security problem, thank Gd.

With an eye on the road, at the Ofra Junction, I had checked my phone and saw that I needed to update Whatsapp. Considering the rather anorexic memory capabilities of my phone, I generally ignore these "update" requests, except for Whatsapp. So much of my communications with people, family, friends, work, travel/tremps etc are via that amazing and free application.

I never update the apps that Samsung built into the phone, even the ones I use. The reason that I have no memory in it for what I want/need is that the memory is wasted on apps I never use.

So there I was, after 9:30pm, on the corner, with my eyes scanning every vehicle and checking my phone, too. Of course, even though I had deleted a bunch of messages, I was told that there was insufficient memory to update. OK, no choice I had to delete moe apps. All that was left were WalkLogger, our "sick fund" and facebook messenger.

There was no real choice. I had to delete/uninstall something, and the Walklogger was not it. Since I almost never use the sick fund one, that had to go, and since the fb one can get annoying, and it's possible to get messages directly on facebook, that, too had to go.

Yes, you probably guess it. I suddenly realized that I had deleted Whatsapp Messenger instead of the fb one. Since I wouldn't survive without Whatsapp, I quickly sent out a couple of sms's to ask people to re-invite me. And I wondered what would happen to the Whatsapp groups I had started and am sole administrator. Had they just vanished?

If you know me well, you know that patience and waiting aren't my strong points. I went into google and searched for Whatsapp. I found it and managed to re-install it. All this, while waiting for the bus or tremp. As part of the "re-installation," I had a one-time offer to rescue all of my old files and contacts and groups. By then, if I remember correctly, I was already in a ride home, and a section of the route has no internet/wifi etc. I was terrified that I'd lose it all.

Baruch Hashem, I got home safely, quickly and have my Whatsapp back!!

Craving a New, Better and Smarter Smartphone

When I got my Galaxy II smartphone just over two years ago, after it had been recommended by neighbors, I thought it was a good choice. In the beginning it seemed to do almost anything I could possibly expect from a phone, but I was much too soon brought to the reality that I had been sold a can of worms. It's just too dumb for my needs. A few weeks after I got my phone, I went to the states, and with the help (an order to her Amazon account) my cousin's wife got my son his Nexus, which has--even today-- plenty of memory, quadruple what my phone has. His phone did cost more, but he hasn't had to reduce his apps to a rather anorexic amount like I have.

My son early on understood the advantages of a good smartphone. Long before I had even thought of getting one for myself, when my husband and I still didn't have internet on our phone (it would have cost us extra and didn't seem all that necessary) he would point to his phone and say:

"Here's my laptop."

Within less than a year (at least I could get free service during the time) of purchasing my smartphone, which wasn't all that cheap, I found that trying to edit a photo on my phone would cause the camera to freeze up, since the memory was insufficient. I've taken off almost all the apps I had added just to be able to update my very necessary Whatsapp. And the apps that came with the phone, which I never ever use, can't be deleted.

Now I just drool over the idea of getting an unlocked Galaxy 7; I don't need the fancier "edge" one. But I want a 64GB memory. Since my son got a phone with 32GB over two years ago, I realize that today I need even more for the phone to stay relevant throughout its lifetime.

But when I look at the prices, even in the states, I almost lose my appetite.