Here's another great "blog magazine;" this time BOMS #85.
There's no need to spend money on paper magazines; these internet ones are so much better.
Take a gander.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Hevel Hevaliml #28
The one and only Soccer Dad treats us to an unbeatable Hevel Hevalim.
For those who've never read one, they are like magazines; the articles are blog posts.
Take a gander!
For those who've never read one, they are like magazines; the articles are blog posts.
Take a gander!
can't sleep
Yes, it's not my usual hour to be writing and it's not my usual hour to be up. I must have done too much today and can't unwind.
I was up early as usual to blog etc. Then I went to the pool. then to Jerusalem, errends, etc and lunch, because I needed to eat, then I met my "staffmates" for a guided hike in Jerusalem about the late Rabbi Arye Levin, then we all ate out together, fancy hotel dinner. Then I went back with neighbors, but their car was a couple of miles from the hotel.
Maybe I should try sleeping again. My legs are getting all bitten up.
Can't keep my eyes open.
I was up early as usual to blog etc. Then I went to the pool. then to Jerusalem, errends, etc and lunch, because I needed to eat, then I met my "staffmates" for a guided hike in Jerusalem about the late Rabbi Arye Levin, then we all ate out together, fancy hotel dinner. Then I went back with neighbors, but their car was a couple of miles from the hotel.
Maybe I should try sleeping again. My legs are getting all bitten up.
Can't keep my eyes open.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Carnival of the Recipes #47
Take a gander at all the recipes, including one of ours. I used the left-overs as a sauce when cooking turkey drumsticks.
Ratta tat tat a tat
yummy yum yum!
Ratta tat tat a tat
yummy yum yum!
Friday, July 08, 2005
To shop or not to shop?
Since making aliyah to Israel 35 years ago, my trips back to the "old country," were spent shopping. Honestly, I must have spent more time in stores than seeing badly missed relatives. It didn't matter who was paying me or if the bill was considered a gift by generous loved ones. I shopped. And I shopped.
Olim, immigrants of my time knew that nothing could beat the old products and styles and quality. I don't know when, but at some point things began to change. Now my relatives come here to shop, whether it's for high style boutique clothes or underwear. We've found stores that are better than the American ones. And even if you can get thicker, softer towels for less money in the states, my closets are full; I don't need any more.
In the 1970's and possibly the '80's, too, olim brought so much stuff--to save money--that they had to spend a fortune in closets to store it all!
Even fifteen years ago, looking for a special outfit in a fancy New York dress shop to be a gift from family, I saw styles that looked just like my neighbors were wearing the previous winter.
During my last visit my mother and I did abridged shopping excursions, and after calculating prices of the few things that looked interesting, it became clear that my shopping days are over.
I hope that the new Nefesh B'Nefesh olim aren't bringing too many of the things that can be bought here.
PS That is except for one thing, I haven't found here... gloves for exercising in the water. If anyone knows where to get them, please let me know.
Thanks
Olim, immigrants of my time knew that nothing could beat the old products and styles and quality. I don't know when, but at some point things began to change. Now my relatives come here to shop, whether it's for high style boutique clothes or underwear. We've found stores that are better than the American ones. And even if you can get thicker, softer towels for less money in the states, my closets are full; I don't need any more.
In the 1970's and possibly the '80's, too, olim brought so much stuff--to save money--that they had to spend a fortune in closets to store it all!
Even fifteen years ago, looking for a special outfit in a fancy New York dress shop to be a gift from family, I saw styles that looked just like my neighbors were wearing the previous winter.
During my last visit my mother and I did abridged shopping excursions, and after calculating prices of the few things that looked interesting, it became clear that my shopping days are over.
I hope that the new Nefesh B'Nefesh olim aren't bringing too many of the things that can be bought here.
PS That is except for one thing, I haven't found here... gloves for exercising in the water. If anyone knows where to get them, please let me know.
Thanks
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz
Tammuz has a double Rosh Chodesh, beginning of the Jewish (lunar) month. It's a sort of women's holiday. Yesterday, I just took it easy, lazy. Needed a rest. Late afternoon I wrote a musing that seems to be getting "good press."
I also played with "picture posting." Take a gander at the latest pictures.
Now to doven and go to the pool. Staying home is a great vacation.
I also played with "picture posting." Take a gander at the latest pictures.
Now to doven and go to the pool. Staying home is a great vacation.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Self-esteem
Modern child and educational psychology keeps stressing the importance of strengthening a child's self-esteem. Sometimes there are debates about what raises or lowers it.
One of those issues is hetero vs homogeneous classes.
There are those who say that putting the weaker students, whether MLD (mild learning disabled with normal/high IQ's) or those whose abilities are limited, in smaller classes geared to helping them will cause them to feel stigmatized.
I strongly disagree. There is nothing that lowers self-esteem like failure, and nothing that raises it like success.
For this reason, I feel that if a student is put in a framework in which he succeeds, he'll feel good about himself. Frequently it's the parent who feels stigmatized and wants his kid with the others, oblivious to his child's feelings of failure and worthlessness. It's so frustrating to see his classmates learning so effortlessly, and the teacher can't keep helping, and the other kids don't respect them. And how can one curriculum and one test accurately enrich and assess all sorts of kids?
I sent my own sons to a high school that specialized in teaching boys like them, with high and average IQ's but problems with reading, math and sitting. They did really well, as did their friends. It was much better than failing and being singled out. Also the school was geared to having them tested with accommodations.
Remember, not everyone can wear the same size and shape shoes. Schooling must also fit properly.
One of those issues is hetero vs homogeneous classes.
There are those who say that putting the weaker students, whether MLD (mild learning disabled with normal/high IQ's) or those whose abilities are limited, in smaller classes geared to helping them will cause them to feel stigmatized.
I strongly disagree. There is nothing that lowers self-esteem like failure, and nothing that raises it like success.
For this reason, I feel that if a student is put in a framework in which he succeeds, he'll feel good about himself. Frequently it's the parent who feels stigmatized and wants his kid with the others, oblivious to his child's feelings of failure and worthlessness. It's so frustrating to see his classmates learning so effortlessly, and the teacher can't keep helping, and the other kids don't respect them. And how can one curriculum and one test accurately enrich and assess all sorts of kids?
I sent my own sons to a high school that specialized in teaching boys like them, with high and average IQ's but problems with reading, math and sitting. They did really well, as did their friends. It was much better than failing and being singled out. Also the school was geared to having them tested with accommodations.
Remember, not everyone can wear the same size and shape shoes. Schooling must also fit properly.
great little movie
This is a great little movie about Israel. Take a look and let her know what you think.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
upscale shuk
Things are changing in Jerusalem. The once, rather "primitive," ok, quaint, open market, Machaneh Yehuda, is evolving.
Over the past few years the Jerusalem municipality has been putting a lot of money into it, with a new "roof," street drains, etc. The natural economic principles have also played a major role. When we first made aliyah 35 years ago, food was weighed in old scales with labeled weights (at best instead of stones, for which you had to trust the peddlers) and now you can only find the electric digital ones.
Years ago you put your produce into a tin tray, wide bowl, for weighing, and then it was dumped into your shopping bag. There were no plastic bags. I remember my husband complaining about it and being told that the plastic made the produce sweat and rot. Now even melons which really should never be packed in plastic are bagged unless the rare consumer refuses.
Disposable products in Israel didn't exist. No one would waste money on something that could be used only once. Now the shuk, itself, has stores specializing in such items.
But the biggest change is in the stores themselves, cleaner, fancier and just stores! There's a high quality coffee shop. Who would have imagined? And there are fantastic cheese stores selling gourmet cheeses. Of course pastry shops and the most exotic fruits and vegetables and kitchen supplies are plentiful.
Now, there's a gorgeous, high class boutique selling designer clothes, right in the middle of the shuk, on Rechov Egoz, Walnut Street. I bought myself a special jacket and then brought a visiting cousin from the states who got herself some really special outfits.
So, now you see that the shuk isn't only for carrots and apples and onions.
Over the past few years the Jerusalem municipality has been putting a lot of money into it, with a new "roof," street drains, etc. The natural economic principles have also played a major role. When we first made aliyah 35 years ago, food was weighed in old scales with labeled weights (at best instead of stones, for which you had to trust the peddlers) and now you can only find the electric digital ones.
Years ago you put your produce into a tin tray, wide bowl, for weighing, and then it was dumped into your shopping bag. There were no plastic bags. I remember my husband complaining about it and being told that the plastic made the produce sweat and rot. Now even melons which really should never be packed in plastic are bagged unless the rare consumer refuses.
Disposable products in Israel didn't exist. No one would waste money on something that could be used only once. Now the shuk, itself, has stores specializing in such items.
But the biggest change is in the stores themselves, cleaner, fancier and just stores! There's a high quality coffee shop. Who would have imagined? And there are fantastic cheese stores selling gourmet cheeses. Of course pastry shops and the most exotic fruits and vegetables and kitchen supplies are plentiful.
Now, there's a gorgeous, high class boutique selling designer clothes, right in the middle of the shuk, on Rechov Egoz, Walnut Street. I bought myself a special jacket and then brought a visiting cousin from the states who got herself some really special outfits.
So, now you see that the shuk isn't only for carrots and apples and onions.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
another super-simple recipe
Last Friday I was wracking my brains to think of something to bring to my daughter's for Shabbat. For whatever reason I kept thinking of carrots, maybe a carrot cake, but none of us needed the extra calories. Also, a can of pineapple chunks was "burning a hole" in the closet.
Then, I got my inspiration!!!
A carrot salad. I had never made one before and was still traumatized by the spoiled tasting one served at the Chemdat evening at the Hyatt. I was hankering for a good one.
I checked a couple of cookbooks to make sure I wasn't crazy and then made my own version of the "easiest ever carrot salad."
I put a half a dozen medium carrots in the foodprocessor on shred. It filled my small foodprocessor, so if you live in large carrot country, 3 or four will suffice. Then I poured, pushed, prodded the strings into a mixing bowl and added a can of light syrup pineapple chunks and mixed. Then I packed it all into jars to take to my daughter's.
It was a hit, tasted great with chicken, turkey, fish, everything we ate! You can make it a bit more interesting with raisins and maybe chopped nuts and other dried fruit.
Let me know how it comes out.
Then, I got my inspiration!!!
A carrot salad. I had never made one before and was still traumatized by the spoiled tasting one served at the Chemdat evening at the Hyatt. I was hankering for a good one.
I checked a couple of cookbooks to make sure I wasn't crazy and then made my own version of the "easiest ever carrot salad."
I put a half a dozen medium carrots in the foodprocessor on shred. It filled my small foodprocessor, so if you live in large carrot country, 3 or four will suffice. Then I poured, pushed, prodded the strings into a mixing bowl and added a can of light syrup pineapple chunks and mixed. Then I packed it all into jars to take to my daughter's.
It was a hit, tasted great with chicken, turkey, fish, everything we ate! You can make it a bit more interesting with raisins and maybe chopped nuts and other dried fruit.
Let me know how it comes out.
Monday, July 04, 2005
A Yartzeit
Yartzeit is the Yiddish, also commonly used in Hebrew, English and most languages spoken by Jews, for the anniversary of a death.
So today was the fifth of my neighbor's mother. She invited the local women to hear a shiur, Torah class, given by another neighbor, a female. Yes, ladies can also give Torah classes. And afterwards we discussed the issue of women saying kaddish. Contrary to "popular knowledge," women can, that is are permitted according to Jewish Law, say kaddish, just like men.
One of the women there had said kaddish for a parent, and another looked into the issue for a dead child. The women are all very religious learned women. They are not feminists looking for ways that women can be more like men.
It's not easy for women to get to a minyan to say kaddish during the week, because a lot ot the daily minyanim are in places that don't have and Ezrat Nashim, women's section. For women to find a place to doven midday is very hard. I once went into a hat store near town to ask if I could doven there.
Not easy to be a Jew.
So today was the fifth of my neighbor's mother. She invited the local women to hear a shiur, Torah class, given by another neighbor, a female. Yes, ladies can also give Torah classes. And afterwards we discussed the issue of women saying kaddish. Contrary to "popular knowledge," women can, that is are permitted according to Jewish Law, say kaddish, just like men.
One of the women there had said kaddish for a parent, and another looked into the issue for a dead child. The women are all very religious learned women. They are not feminists looking for ways that women can be more like men.
It's not easy for women to get to a minyan to say kaddish during the week, because a lot ot the daily minyanim are in places that don't have and Ezrat Nashim, women's section. For women to find a place to doven midday is very hard. I once went into a hat store near town to ask if I could doven there.
Not easy to be a Jew.
Best of #84
BOMS, as it's known, is ready for your reading pleasure. It provides a wide variety of articles and post of all types, including one of ours.
Take a gander...
Take a gander...
busy, busy, busy
Yes, I'm busy, and I'm on vacation from teaching. How would I survive if I was working? I wouldn't.
Yesterday was my parents' last full day in Israel, before returning to the states. This morning they're taking a cab to the airport. Yesterday my mother finished packing except for what they needed for sleeping and traveling. Will I do as well at 80? Will I be alive at 80?
I left them with two of my daughters who treated me as an irresponsible teen for my transportation ways of "tremping" home. So, like a good girl, I called as soon as I got into my next door neighbor's car, so they shouldn't worry and shouldn't worry my parents unnecessarily. I'm a good girl.
Today I'm off to babysit for "future lawyer," the youngest little girl in the Hebrew University Law department as her mother interviews students for the special "clinic" program she runs in Israel Movement for Quality in Government. Whatever Porat ends up being, she has been charming all the staff smiling and chatting away in whatever language tiny infants of her age speak. Of course I'm bragging, what else are "bubbies" supposed to do?
After that we may see a visiting relative and then I'll rush back home for a memorial "shiur" (Torah lesson) my neighbor is having in memory of her mother.
This year I'll take a pass on the American Independence Consulate "event." Being the token YESHA guest doesn't do much for me.
I can't believe that I'll be going to the states in a week and a half. There's still a possibility of getting me to speak about what's going on here. I'll be in the NY/NJ area, unless transportation further afield is covered. Contact me at shilohmuse at yahoo dot com
Next week, before leaving, I'll be giving a session at the ETAI English Teachers convention.
Dishes are waiting my attention, or in other words, I had better wash the dishes and do lots of other things here in the house.
Lots to do before leaving to babysit at the university.
Yesterday was my parents' last full day in Israel, before returning to the states. This morning they're taking a cab to the airport. Yesterday my mother finished packing except for what they needed for sleeping and traveling. Will I do as well at 80? Will I be alive at 80?
I left them with two of my daughters who treated me as an irresponsible teen for my transportation ways of "tremping" home. So, like a good girl, I called as soon as I got into my next door neighbor's car, so they shouldn't worry and shouldn't worry my parents unnecessarily. I'm a good girl.
Today I'm off to babysit for "future lawyer," the youngest little girl in the Hebrew University Law department as her mother interviews students for the special "clinic" program she runs in Israel Movement for Quality in Government. Whatever Porat ends up being, she has been charming all the staff smiling and chatting away in whatever language tiny infants of her age speak. Of course I'm bragging, what else are "bubbies" supposed to do?
After that we may see a visiting relative and then I'll rush back home for a memorial "shiur" (Torah lesson) my neighbor is having in memory of her mother.
This year I'll take a pass on the American Independence Consulate "event." Being the token YESHA guest doesn't do much for me.
I can't believe that I'll be going to the states in a week and a half. There's still a possibility of getting me to speak about what's going on here. I'll be in the NY/NJ area, unless transportation further afield is covered. Contact me at shilohmuse at yahoo dot com
Next week, before leaving, I'll be giving a session at the ETAI English Teachers convention.
Dishes are waiting my attention, or in other words, I had better wash the dishes and do lots of other things here in the house.
Lots to do before leaving to babysit at the university.
Hevel Hevalim #27
No doubt that the latest Hevel Hevalim is one of the all time bests. Wonderful reading.
Take a gander.
Take a gander.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
It can happen to anyone
The actress, Brooke Shields, has been known for her beauty ever since she was a tiny child. Recently she has revealed something very different, her bout with post partum depression. It's a dangerous condition that sometimes causes death--suicide and murder.
adding a link
I'm adding the link about Avi Bieber, who refused to attack fellow Jews, and now he is jailed. Here's the link; it includes an email address to send Avi messages.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
lovely Shabbat
absolutely
lovely Shabbat
sandwiched between
elderly parents
and busy daughter
herself
sandwiched between
me and
her two little girls
watching the
interplay
between
first and fourth
generations
G-d willing
next year
again
then again
and again
more and more
and more and.....
lovely Shabbat
sandwiched between
elderly parents
and busy daughter
herself
sandwiched between
me and
her two little girls
watching the
interplay
between
first and fourth
generations
G-d willing
next year
again
then again
and again
more and more
and more and.....
Friday, July 01, 2005
going away
going away
for Shabbat
to be a sandwich
between
parents and
daughter and and granddaughters
can't complain
Baruch Hashem
for Shabbat
to be a sandwich
between
parents and
daughter and and granddaughters
can't complain
Baruch Hashem
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)