Don't you know!?!

Am I the only mother who hears that disgusted: "Don't you know!?!" from her kids?

This afternoon when I returned from Jerusalem, after a "swim," errands and shopping, I mentioned to son#1 that found myself a bargain bathing suit. OK, I didn't say anything about the fact that it couldn't be tried on, but that's not really important. I told him that I bought a "name brand" at the Wednesday "market" between the Central Bus Station and Center 1.

Eema! Don't you know!?! Everything there is either absolute junk or stolen goods!!!!

Honestly, I knew about the junk, but I just figured that the good stuff was left from some store that went out of business or slightly irregular, faulty.

Or could he be wrong?

A Pesach breakfast favorite

This is a Pesach favorite in my house. I found it years ago among recipes sent to me from magazines or something. We call it "matzah cereal."

I warn you that the ingredients aren't exact.

You need a dairy pot with a cover, ok without is probably ok too, but then you'll need to cover it in the end with a plate or something.

some butter (unsalted)
water
milk
sugar
cinnamon
and matzah, of course; in some countries they sell already broken matza, which is fine, because you have to...

1. break the matzah into the pot
2. add a bit of water
3. and then enough milk to cover, proportion is flexible
4. then a generous pat of butter
5. a spoon or two of sugar
6. some cinnamon
7. cook, checking carefully until it boils
8. turn off the flame and keep covered for awhile
9. then serve--you can add more milk,
10. and if the public demands, more sugar

Enjoy!

take a look at these!

There are some gorgeous pictures here. The photographer is a friend of my son.

Another tzedaka, chessed

This week my husband found himself in the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital Emergency Room for a good part of the day.

When I spoke to him for updates, I kept asking if he had eaten, since he tends to go without food in many situations. He claimed he had eaten but wouldn't give me details. A few minutes ago he gave me a couple of plastic bags and finally explained the food story.

Apparently there are charities that specifically help those waiting on line in the Emergency Ward. He was given a sandwich and a pastry, and he was very grateful, as am I.

These are the names and addresses for those who want to donate to these wonderful tzedakas which do a needed chessed.

Agudat Mishon La'Choleh
8 Alshaich Street
Jerusalem
Tel. 1-800-20-40-20
fax 02-500-3508

Agudat Shaare Marpeh
34 Eli HaCohen Street
Jerusalem
Tel. 02-537-8388
fax 02-538-9994

"only an idiot would..."

Over the years I've had to put up with a lot of insults.

A number of times, decades ago, I tried to get involved in Israeli politics, but at meetings I'd be greeted with

"What does your husband think?"
"Can you get your husband to come to the next meeting?"

and things like that.
So when a before one of the previous elections somebody called to ask me if I would be willing to join the English language branch of a political party I just had to ask:

"Do you want me, or do you think you can use me go get my husband."
"Well, actually we do want your husband, but you can join, too."
"Can you promise not to ask me his opinion or to convince him to get active?"
"No"
"Thanks for being honest, but I'm not able to join."
"No problem."

At least she was honest, yes, "she." There's no sisterhood in politics.

A couple of years ago someone said:

"Your daughters are so intelligent; they must take after your husband."

and then waited for me to say "thank you." No surprise, no thanks from me, but I was polite and stayed silent instead. Maybe that was a mistake.

Over the years people brought groups to Shiloh then asked my husband to speak to them. When he'd recommend me as a substitute, they'd act like they were getting the dregs of the bottle, worse than second best. And they weren't even shy about telling me that they didn't want me but had no choice. Sometimes after my "show" they'd thank me, relieved that I was nothing like what they had feared.

I've worked hard to find a "nice spin" to it. Maybe they didn't really think me an idiot, just that only an idiot would be married to him?

Can you think of something better?

Yes, it all sounds pretty pathetic, but ever since I decided that it should be my reaction, I've stopped getting upset when it happens. And since I've been writing and blogging I've developed a following of my own. Actually, before the recent elections I attended a meeting of English speaking NU-NRP, and nobody asked me for my husband or his opinions.

We've come a long way....

just a reminder

Two things...

#1 Just a reminder to post about food, kosher food, for the 5th Kosher Cooking Carnival! Here's the 4th, the 3rd, and the 1st.

Recipes, menus, traditions, cookbook reviews, food advice, funny food stories--as long as it's kosher!

Send them to shilohmuse at yahoo dot com or via Conservative Cat’s handy form or the blog carnival one, and at the same time you may discover other “carnivals” to visit and enter.

#2 Just a reminder that there are charity organizations which collect unopened packages of chametz distribute and them to poor families after the holiday. Many of us miss-calculate our food needs and find ourselves days before Pesach with much too much packaged chametz. The very best thing to do with this food is to donate it to charity.

Tizku b'Mitzvot

Midwives

My five children were delivered by midwives in hospitals. That was always the standard here in Israel and also in England where my third was born.

Growing up in mid-twentieth century America, midwives were characters in quaint novels, movies and the Bible. America was very doctor oriented, and my generation was mostly delivered to unconscious women by doctors in the hospital.

In 1971, preparing for the delivery of my first child, and in a foreign country and limited by a still unknown language, I read the first glimmer of complaints about American birth procedures in the books my mother sent me.

I was happy to find myself in the old Shaare Tzedek (Jerusalem, Israel) delivery room, one room with curtained off beds, the midwives a whisper away and in full view. I was never wheeled during "transition," the most painful stage of birth, from "labor to delivery room," the norm for decades in the sadistically, insensitive doctor-planned American hosptals.

I can't say that I had any say during my children's births. It wasn't like today's births in Israel, when the laboring mother is allowed choice and "company." But I was satisfied and never tempted by the idea of a "home birth" with a private midwife. Nor did I ever think of hiring my own private doctor, which was the luxury of the time.

In recent years home births with midwives have a small and dedicated following. This is true in Israel, the United States and other countries. When something goes wrong, and the baby, mother or both die or is injured the midwife is blamed. And not only the specific midwife, the entire profession. Does this happen when a similar tragedy happens in a hospital?

I have heard of cases when the midwife insisted that a high-risk birth was no problem at home, and unfortunately she was wrong. There are also cases when the midwife is right, and there are many cases when the doctors make tragic mistakes. Yes, giving birth in a hospital doesn't guarantee that everything will be perfect.

Neither money, prayers nor modern equipment can guarantee a healthy baby nor a healthy mother. It's hard to accept, but it's true.

This is not Pesach Cleaning weather!

Even though the sun is peeking through the clouds, it's not really Pesach cleaning weather. I need a warm, dry sunny day that shreaks free laundry drying! Open your windows and sing! This is just too wimpy, damp depressing for me.

In addition, we started Day Light Savings, Thursday night after the wedding, just two days after we landed from the other wedding to which I flew the night after another wedding, and I haven't adjusted yet. It's not just me. I called my two Monday walking buddies much later than usual, and neither were functioning.

Maybe we can arrange to postpone Pesach?

Count, 123 BOMS!

It's the 123rd edition of BOMS! Take a gander!

interesting for bloggers

If you link the NY Times on your blog, they track it, and people then link from the Times...

when I'm 64

Actually I'm not, but Havel Havelim is. The April fool's edition is #64.

When I get older
losing my keys
many years from now
will you be blogging
those blogs again
emails, links and lots of boring..
If I'd be a mac, instead of pc
would you trade me in
would you still blog me
would you still read me
if you knew how old I am?

You'd be older too, ahh if you'll say the word

I will blog to you!

as sung by the Beatles:
When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a Valentine,birthday greetings,
bottle of wine?
If I'd been out 'till quarter to three,would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

Hmm------mmm---mmmh.
You'll be older, too.Aaah, and if you say the word, I could stay
with you.

KCC #4 4U from Australia!

Kosher Cooking Carnival #4, guest-hosted by ~ Sarah's View ~!
Lots of tasty recipes to sample!

Thank you Sarah!

The fifth KCC will be after Pesach, so send your recipes, menus, advice concerning kosher cooking and "anything else kosher!" to shilohmuse at yahoo dot com or Send your links for the next edition of Kosher Cooking Carnival via Conservative Cat’s handy form or the blog carnival one, and at the same time you may discover other “carnivals” to visit and enter.

T'hillim -- Psalms

King David had a very rough life. Even though he was born into a well-respected family in the Jewish tribe of Yehuda, known and esteemed for its leadership, he was the "Cinderella" son, sent out to be a shepherd, instead of being groomed for "finer things." When the Prophet Samuel arrived at the family home to anoint one of the sons as king, successor to Saul, David wasn't presented to him. Only after he insisted that there must be somebody missing was David brought out.

David was anointed by Samuel, but he couldn't take office immediately. Saul was still king, and Saul was out to kill him. During this difficult time, when David and his followers were being persecuted and killed by Saul, he wrote Tehillim, Psalms. They are poems and prayers of great faith, despite seemingly insurmountable difficulties. I've likened them to the "original blog."

There's a great comfort in reading Tehillim, and Jews all over the world read them at times of trouble. It's very popular to divide the 150 chapters among a number of people, and each one has to read his/her chapters daily. Frequently this is done to bring "Refuah shleimah," complete healing to someone ill. I'm part of two such groups.

I've just discovered that there's a Yahoo group of Tehillim sayers. So, if you'd like to join, take a look.

Shavua Tov! Have a truly wonderful week.

Celebrating

We're still recovering from our weekend in NY/NJ for a family wedding. It really was beautiful, and I'm glad I took the trip, even though I was sure that I'd be sorry I did it.

Funnily, I think we've spent more time talking about the pink and white kiddush another family hosted that shabbat in a Westchester MO shul. My husband sent me a link from YUTOPIA about lavish affairs.

It's obvious that most, decisions about what to do for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah or Brit or "celebration" for a baby girl have nothing to do with the child. It's all for the parents' needs.

The kiddush definitely made things difficult for families who worry about "what the Cohens would say" in that community, making the simple tuna and egg salad kiddush look cheap. But not everyone can afford even a "hot kiddush" with chulent and kugels. And even though it's a posh area, the simple kiddush can be a strain for some.

I remember when my brother was Bar Mitzvah, my parents decided not to do a big evening event. They just invited people to a luncheon in the synagogue after the services. I remember my mother saying: "I'm not going to wine and dine anyone who doesn't have the decency to come to shul and hear him." They're not religious, so traveling on Shabbat wasn't an issue. And my father's religious aunt and uncle, my late grandfather's siblings, made arrangements to be where they wouldn't have to travel.

All of these celebrations have changed a lot over the years. We did different things for our kids, all modest.

And if you're wondering, the wedding really was gorgeous.

a different "sandwich"

Yes, I'm the sandwich generation.

Last Sunday, when I was in New York for a wedding, I had fun flaunting my lofty status as great-aunt to the adorable "flower girl" who really wanted to see her aunt's wedding. I pushed my way over to the "chuppah," wedding canopy from from my front row seat and seated her on the floor, inches from the bride, to give that five-year old a perfect, unblocked view of the ceremony.

Last night, back home in Israel, I was at another wedding, that of a friends' son. There I found myself moving two chairs right to the front of the chuppah and assisting the groom's two grandmothers to sit in them for a perfect, unblocked view of the ceremony.

Baruch Hashem, Thank G-d, for the wonderful opportunities. I pray to merit seeing my own grandchildren wed and I pray to merit that they see their aunts and uncles wed. G-d willing.

Test Timing

One of the classic accommodations for those with "minor learning disabilities/differences" is allowing more time on tests. In Israel, 25% is added to the time for some during the high school "matriculation" exams, known as the "mivchanei bagrut."

For some people it makes the difference between passing and failing. For some it's just knowing that there is extra time that makes it better. It takes that panic pressure off. I try to have my students skip the tough questions and come back later. Some people can't concentrate for very long periods of time, so extra time just doesn't help.

The American College Board Testing service is weighing the advantages and disadvantages of changing their tests to make them fairer for all. They may eliminate timing completely, but that isn't too great in a "multiple choice test," since it's known that one shouldn't go over multiple choice answers, since the first is frequently a better guess than the correction. With unlimited time, some students may start playing with their answers and find themselves erasing the correct and substituting mistakes.

I'm sure glad I'm finished with that part of my life.

Savta Brei, my late mil's version

Savta is "grandma" in Hebrew, and therefore I named my mother-in-law's version of "matzah brei" after her.

Standard matzah brei is like a "French Toast" using matzah. You soak broken matzah in eggs with some milk. The milk is optional, so those allergic can eat it. Then you fry the mush in a frying pan until fully cooked, then turn over to crisp the other side. It comes out really thick when I make it, so I use a cover. Start on a high flame and then lower it. You'll see a "cooked texture," then you'll know to turn it over. It is usually served with honey or jam, but you can use sour cream, nothing or whatever you want.

Savta Brei is different. You still need the big frying pan and oil. On Passover I use olive oil or special Passover margarine, but any margarine will do.
You have to grate (I use a blender) potatoes and onions, like for potato latkes, the fried potato pancakes served on chanukah.
Use two potatoes per onion and an egg, can be doubled, tripled etc. Either hand-grate, or shred in food processor or blend. Add some salt, pepper and enough matzah meal, so it's not watery; it has to "stick."
The "mush" is used to "coat" the matzah before frying.

• Heat the oil or margarine in the frying pan.
• Break off a piece of the matzah and coat one side with the mush
• put mush side down, and coat the other (not too thick)
• when cooked side cooked, turn over to cook the other
• have paper towels waiting on plate to absorb extra oil
• when second side is cooked, place on towel
• serve with apple sauce or sour cream or plain yogurt

Enjoy!

I never heard of any other clan with this recipe, so the chances are if your family eats it, either we're now related, or you learned it from reading the recipe in the Jerusalem Post, where I once sent it, and it was published.

This will not be very compatible with your diet, unless you've been ordered to gain weight, but it is very tasty!!!

carnival update

This week's BOMS has Woody Allen's words helping to introduce the posts. Just perfect!

And the latest Carnival of the Recipes has some really great recipes.

It may be that I have posts in other carnivals, but I'm still rather "out of it" and haven't been keeping up with things.

Trying to catch up

While I find myself fading, fading, jet-lagged and confused, I'm trying to catch up on a few things.

I can't believe that I really went to NY/NJ for the weekend. I'm not that kind of person.

The flights weren't all that bad. Maybe it helped that I started the flights with vodka and orange juice on the way over and red grapefruit juice on the way back. Then I had some white wine with the meal. Sleeping was easier.

The flight to NY/NJ was full. The woman next to me apologized in advance for making me get up frequently during the flight. She confided that she had a "bladder problem." I don't know why she was so self-conscious. She slept for hours, but I did a lot of "walking" etc. That's why I request the aisle seat, as not to destroying anyone.

I think I already wrote about that flight and how hungry I was.

I also mentioned the pink and white kiddush; I wish I had managed to taste more of the food!

Did I mention that I visited my parents Saturday night? It was ridiculous, ok, scandalous to go so far and not see them.

When we got back from Great Neck, I saw that my sister-in-law and friend were busy trying to finish the "table cards." I joined in to help of course and also managed to finish putting the tassels on the "programs." We didn't have such things in my day. People had to guess and whisper: "Who's that with the uneven hemline?" or "Can't that guy get his tie on right?" "Wow! She's that old and not married?" or "Who is that little doll?" "What a cute little girl, just the right age to be the Flower Girl." and things like that.

It's said that broken plates bring luck, the same for rain on the wedding day and even more "serious disasters." Did you know that the part of Westchester, NY where the wedding took place had an electric outage, just as the photographer was about to take the formal shots? His camera and lights didn't have a battery back-up. That wasn't the only "problem," G-d willing there's plenty of other "good luck" for them to rely on. And yes, the electricity did go on just in time.

The music was great, and I danced up a storm, making sure the younger relatives, knew my age, to make them less phobic about growing old. One of the advantages about our "separate cirlce" and line dancers. We don't have to wait to be asked by popular partners.

Then we went to NJ, where we stayed with relatives, and we left from there, first to visit Uncle Bucky, who had been hopitalized. We said good by to all. and I'm fading, fading fast...

NOw I must admit when I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

Of course my huband claims tha I never apologize to being wrong. There's a very good reason for this. I'm almost never wrong. But this time I really was. I was so certain that thousands of Israel's who have been lighting abroad would someone be willing to pay anything to vote.

...Instead, the plane was more than half empty. The "long-legged seat" by the emergency door had been reserved for us. When we arrived, the steward suggested that we "spread out," and we did, each having a row of three. Others were doing ti , too.

I got to sleep on the way home, but now my head is spinning.

Yes, I'm falling asleep, but it's too early.

I voted, wheeled Porat over to watch, but she fell a sleep.

...And that's what I out to do.

Good night!

about to go to a wedding

manicure ok, sort of
I'm glad I wear a hat so no hairdresser
my clothes will definitely be different, as was my Shabbat outfit

I'll check in post wedding