A Visit f2f to Beersheva

photo by Yocheved Golani,
https://itsmycrisisandillcryifineedto.blogspot.com/

Over the past few years, I've blogged about a group of friends I have who communicate on Facebook, secret group, and get together f2f periodically in all sorts of locations. This time we decided to visit Beersheva, since quite a few of our members live there or nearby.

At this Beersheva f2f, besides a couple of locals, we came from Netivot, Netanya, Maale Adumim and Shiloh. Yes, that shows you how spread out we are over the country. I traveled from Jerusalem by bus with my friend from Maale Adumim after spending the previous night in Jerusalem to enjoy some of my progeny.

photo by Yocheved Golani,
https://itsmycrisisandillcryifineedto.blogspot.com/

BTW, about the public toilets in the Beersheva Central Bus Station, the "pay a shekel" entrance didn't work well, and many, including yours truly, squeezed through with a friend, not to cheat, but because it only opened every two sh'kallim. 

The 470 express, which had a bare minimum of stops, was a great way to travel from Jerusalem to Beersheva and back. As a "senior" it only cost me a total of ns20 for a day's trip including buses in Beersheva.

We met in the older part of Beersheva in the Allenby Park, near the old "mosque," municipality building and British Commonwealth ANZAC Cemetery. One of our friends gave us a fascinating overview of the history of Beersheva and the two old buildings we faced. Then we entered the nearby British ANZAC Cemetery and placed stones on the one Jewish grave there.

Then we squeezed into a car and drove to the "Grand Kenyon" Shopping Mall and had a very pleasant late lunch together. A few of us then shared a cab to the bus and train stations, which are conveniently side by side. Following are a few photos taken in Beersheva.

photo by Yocheved Golani,
https://itsmycrisisandillcryifineedto.blogspot.com/

Thankful that there has been rain so far this winter, but we were also very happy that it was dry during our visit to Beersheva. Except for the fact that some of us looked like crazy old bag-ladies, schlepping our coats, pocketbooks and additional bags, it really was perfect weather for a walking tour.

On the bus back to Jerusalem, my friend and I succeeded in charging our phones via the overhead outlets. It's one of those modern conveniences one needs nowadays. We are so dependent on electrical communication devices. The outlets didn't work on the bus going to Beersheva, so we were very relieved to discover that these did work. She had an extra long cord, but mine was just minimally the right length. It wasn't all that comfortable to use it and keep my phone safe. If I find myself traveling a lot on such buses, I'll have to buy a longer cord.

Photos included here were taken by me, except for those identified as by https://itsmycrisisandillcryifineedto.blogspot.com/.

F2F in Netivot and the Baba Sali

Last week, for the second time, a group of facebook friends and I met in Netivot. For some, the attraction of Netivot is the Tomb of the Baba Sali, and one member of the group lives right near there. It's a popular place of prayer, because he was considered a very holy and wise Jew.

Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira was a Moroccan-descent Rabbi and Kabbalist Teacher.
Baba Sali has become legendary to Moroccan Jews and is known as the “Praying Father” of the Moroccan Jewish community, who made Aliyah to Israel in the middle of the twentieth century. Baba Sali was part of a lineage of great talmudic scholars, and his sons continue to lead religious lives. He was married to his wife when he was 16, and she would play a large role in his religious pursuits. He is known for miracles preformed, particularly healing a crippled IDF soldier, and for helping lead the Moroccan Aliyah to the young State of Israel.
His funeral, in 1984, was attended by an estimated 100,000 people and his tomb has become a pilgrimage site to Moroccan Jews. (Jewish Virtual Library)

You're not going to find the crowds that make Kever Rachel so unpleasant.

I'd say that it's heimish if you don't mind my using a Yiddish word to describe a pilgrimage spot most popular with Moroccan Jews. The food is there for the saying of blessings. It reminded me of a Sephardi/North African Jewish shiva house, one in which someone is in the week of mourning. There's lots of food, and the visitors are encouraged to make blessings and eat. The Ashkenaz custom is not to serve, since the mourner isn't supposed to be caring for the visitor. The mourner is to be cared for.

The reason we returned to Netivot to see a friend who had recently recovered from a serious medical problem. It was a celebration, and we met for dinner at a lovely dairy restaurant called KAKAO.  The food was great.

We didn't try desserts. I had their Five Color Health Salad, and they brought me olive oil when I requested it.

Miriam, another member of the group also blogged about it. I had a wonderful time and can't wait unit we meet again.

HaDassah's Jerusalem Get-together, Social Media Fun!

The incomparable HaDassah was in Jerusalem again, and lots of friends showed up at the Waffle Bar on Rechov Shlomzion Hamalka, Jerusalem.

There were bloggers, photographers, social media maivens, "just friends" and her two older sons who are now Israelis.

It's sure fun to party like this, see old friends and meet new ones. HaDassah, hurry back here soon!

Keeping Busy, Fun With Friends

The other days my friends and I got together. We're a facebook group and meet every few months. Yes, I know that facebook groups aren't known for meeting in person, but we meet. We've met in Jerusalem to eat, chat and bead. We've also gone to Netivot, Shiloh and Netanya. I haven't gotten to all the get-togethers, but I did go this week.

I noticed two friends knitting, and I thought it great.

We also ate, and we talked and we talked.

We met at the Cafe Cafe in Center 1, Jerusalem, because quite a few members of our group have come from afar, yes, much further than Shiloh. The service was good, much improved over previous visits. They let us use their special room, so we had privacy and didn't disturb the other diners.

The food was good, and the company even better.

Facebook Friends in Shiloh

Yesterday I hosted a number of friends whom I'm in touch via a closed facebook group. At our first f2f (face to face) meeting in Jerusalem barely six months ago, we planned a winter visit to the Negev and a spring visit to Shiloh.  Yesterday was the visit to Shiloh.  During Chanukah we met in Netivot.  Of course, only about a third of the group could make it.  For some it's a serious matter of distance.  Georgia and Colorado are more than a bit too far, and the carfare is pretty expensive. 

I tried to squeeze a lot into the afternoon of the visit.  One thing I wanted to show was that our "midtown" actually has stores and other servies. I took them to the supermarket and the clothing/toy/misc. store.  Some of them tried out the WC aka 00 of the clinic, too.

Of course Shiloh Hakeduma aka Tel Shiloh was the highlight of the trip.

We received a guided tour and then prayed directly to G-d.  And then they all checked out the Tel's shop and were very impressed.

We ended with a meal at the local restaurant, eating pizza and salads. As you can see we have everything one needs in Shiloh!  We even have something very few others place have, G-d's presence, which will never leave.

Now we have to figure out where we're going next.

Facebook Isn't Turning Me On

My visits to Facebook are getting less and less frequent. I don't need that niche between blogging and emails. None of my old friends have discovered me there, and I haven't discovered anyone I'd like to friend either.

It's not like I'm deleting my page or anything like that, but I can't remember when I last signed in. And when I do post something, nobody reacts to it. It's like being invisible.

I don't twitter either. I keep thinking that it would be a good idea to open an account...

I like real people, f2f, even phone calls, emails and blogging. So you can't say that I'm a techno-phobe or whatever the term is. I waste so many hours a day on the computer. Why should I add to it?

Would This Be Considered Cheating?

I've been trying to follow the Start Fresh kosher weight loss diet for almost three months. As of last week I lost about 13 pounds or almost 6 kilo.

This week, I didnt eat much, because I was sick. I haven't yet weighed myself at my neighbor's. If I lose more than what has been usual, could my illness be diet cheating? Or will I end up gaining some of it back, if the loss is more than standard?

Yesterday, I planned three full meals and the required snacks, but somehow, lunch was eaten as an early dinner, and my second fruit was a post dinner snack. I never had the third.

I went out late morning to talk to someone about "yishuv business." I'm perpetually chosen to head our election committee and we're having local elections next week. On the way to speak to him and back, I ran into all sorts of neighbors and had great conversations with them.

Yesterday was such a glorious spring day, and so many neighbors were outside. I really do prefer f2f whenever possible.

Now to get the house ready for Shabbat!

Blogger claims no typos, but I'm sure it's just blogger's mistake. Sometimes the spellcheck takes a break and doesn't function. I just double-checked and hope I caught them all.