Heval Hevalim #40

The 40th edition of Heval Hevalim is hosted by Israel Perspectives, who did an excellent job. Take a gander...

"HaMerkaz," the center of the country

Perception, it's all in the mind.

In Israel, when people refer to "hamerkaz," the center of the country, they actually mean close to the coast, near Tel Aviv or the old "green line" which was the pre-1967 border.

For me, that's not the "center." I see the area I live in, Shiloh, as the true center. We're actually a half hour or a bit more from most places. We're barely a half hour's drive to Jerusalem and the same to the Yarkon Junction, near Petach Tikva, with Kfar Saba just a few minutes in the other direction and Netanya, if you stay on the road. Just today I visited my aunt and uncle who are staying with my cousin in Neve Ne'eman, just a mile or so from the junction. Even my combination of buses and hitchhiking made the trip no longer than it takes to get to shop in Jerusalem. The Jordan Valley is even closer.

Ever since I discovered how centrally we're located, I've been very upset with the way the yishuv is marketed. And I'm not quiet about it.

Memories

After a major build-up, the actually anniversary of our aliyah passed silently. We docked at Haifa port, Saturday night, September 5, 1970, a few weeks before Rosh Hashannah.

"In Jerusalem," the Jerusalem supplement of the "Jerusalem Post" has had a series on a young couple, American olim chadashim, and their aliya experiences. The final article tells of their living in the Old City of Jerusalem. That prompted me to write the following letter, which may or may not be published:

re:In Jerusalem Oct. 5, 2005 14:07 Updated Oct. 6, 2005 18:42

Settling down

Thirty-five years ago my husband and I were the very first American olim chadashim to make the old city of Jerusalem our home. We went from the boat to the Maon Betar on the corner of Rechov Hayehudim and Rechov Plugat Hakotel. The "Jewish Quarter" wasn't the trendy place it is today. Mud paths connected the buildings and there was so much construction, we constantly had to find new ways to get from place to place. Our only Jewish neighbors, besides the guys in the Maon Betar, were Rav Moshe Tzvi Segal and his wife.
So many memories...

best intentions

Here's an excellent article from the NY Times about the difficulties in helping the Katrina refugees. A lot of the problems are universal in these horrid and tragic situations.

The Disengagement victims, the evacuees from Gush Katif and Northern Shomron are still homeless. All of the present housing is temporary. And now they need more help than ever. It's hard to find information. Almost all are unemployed. It's hard to job hunt if you don't know where you'll be living. Most want to stay together with their former neighbors and somehow recreate what they once had.

There seems to be a news blackout about it. Yes, it's old news, but it's still a tragedy. And the people must be helped. And the world must know.

In our Rosh Hashannah Prayers we pray for all of Am Yisrael, that is all of the People of Israel. Jewish Unity demands helping all Jews, including and especially those who were thrown out of their homes by the Israeli Government.

Enlarging the house

We've been playing around with the idea of enlarging our house. On one hand the "master bedroom" is tiny, and I hate being at the western end of the house, and the livingroom, for whatever reason never seemed large, especially since the kids got us a gift of a large "cocktail table." And on the other hand, the house is very empty most of the time. We've been empty nesting for years. It used to be that it filled on most Shabbatot and all Jewish Holidays. But now it's common to be alone, unless I invite neighbors for a meal or two.

Every few weeks and plenty of the holidays, our married daughter comes with her husband and two daughters. They fill the house, and there's hardly any room for the girls to play. And, G-d willing, next week, in just a few days, trekking son will be returning. At present he plans on basing himself here, but he's 24, and can end up doing almost anything.

Over a year ago, an architect-builder made up plans for us, which are tempting, though I can't imagine myself living with builders for months on end. The renovations would utilize our unfinished attic to make the master bedroom suite of my dreams, with a view of the sunrise. Plus another couple of bedrooms up there. Downstairs we'd change the entrance, lose a small bedroom and toilet and end up with a larger livingroom.

I don't know if it's cost effective, in that the selling price would increase to the extent of expenses.

Also, even if everyone (all the kids at present) visits, we can still fit everyone in. Of course if G-d willing more would get married, it would be more complicated. We should only have such challenges.

On the other hand, we're not getting any younger. I'd hate to leave my kids a much larger house filled with even more clutter than we already have. My parents and many other elderly people are, in a sense, imprisoned in houses larger than they need, because sorting through all their possessions and throwing out and giving away most of it is too overwhelming.

In the interim, I made more room in the livingroom/diningroom by moving the diningroom table so that its length is on the short wall, giving more space, especially so we can put the baby on a blanket on the floor to play. I've also announced that we're making some changes in the bedrooms, so that the entire young family will be able to fit into one, rather than needing more. Hopefully the trekker will help with the moving and painting.

The "problems of the rich."

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach!

Good News for Dry Bones fans

...and if you're not yet familiar with Dry Bones, take a gander! And thanks to biur chametz for giving out the good news.

public pregnancy

It's so funny. When I was growing up, pregnancy was something to be hushed up, like divorce and cancer, "l'havdil," though they're all so different. We never saw a pregnant teacher. As I understood they weren't allowed to teach "once they showed."

Old maternity clothes were big and boxy, so nobody would notice the belly button popping up, like a full balloon. Even when I was pregnant with my older kids, we were expected to have swollen veins and restricted lives. One thing I didn't mind was getting a seat on the bus. I was disappointed that my belly didn't show enough for people to get up.

Now pregnancy is different. Strange, I don't think women have evolved, it must be society. Certainly since Demi Moore posed in her "altogether for two," things have changed.

And now, a female action star is going to "spy for two" according to the New York Times. "Alias"* (*thanks, Esther for the correction) star, Jennifer Garner, is pregnant. I admit that I've never seen the show; nor can I pick her out of a line-up. But I'm glad that pregnancy is "in." I think it's wonderful that successful women are having kids.

But I wonder if she'll have trouble leaving her baby to go back to work.

smile!

Here's a wonderful piece on energy saving. He really has it down pat.

...and what did you eat?

Today's Tzom Gedalia. It's a fast day, like in no eating, and it's the day after the two day Rosh Hashannah holiday, which consists of four major meals, besides going to pray and hearing the shofar, ram's horn.

I don't know when I began the custom, probably during my 25 year phase as a vegetarian, but I try to make one of the feasts non-meat. It just seems too much to have 4 meat/poultry meals in 48 hours. Am I crazy?

Really, how much should be body consume? The meal I prefer to have "anything but meat" is the second night. Consider, we've already consumed a heavy meal the night before, which usually begins with all sorts of fruits and vegetables, known as "hasimonin," the "signs." This is an eating ceremony that combines "word games," as, if you'll excuse me, only Jews could invent. In the states, all we ever heard of was the honey with apple and used to dip the " challah," sweet holiday bread, and we'd say: "May G-d will it that we have a sweet year."

In Israel we discovered that all the other families did lots more, with all sorts of foods and puns. If I was to do it in English, and you can do it in any language, you can, or example serve lettuce and say: "Let us have a wonderful year." Did you get it? Some families have a couple of dozen. After that every good housewife, as my kids insist, serve soup, sshhh--I don't serve fish, too--and meat or poultry and lots of side dishes and a good dessert. The great sorbet my husband bought is still in the freezer, since we just couldn't handle a special dessert.

Then, since the prayers in the morning are very long, we take a break, go home for kiddush, which consists of cake and coffee. Though this year we had the kiddush at shul, since there was a brit milah, baby circumcision. Later of course we went home and ate for hours, or so it seemed. So how could I serve another meat meal that evening? I couldn't. Also, it's complicated to get the food heated up after candle-lighting. So I served fish and bourekas and mashed potatoes and vegetable and salad, and who could eat? But the complainer still complained that it wasn't a meal. It was more than enough for me.

The next day we had another giant meal with soup etc. So how could I complain that today's a fast day? Though I wouldn't mind a cup of water...

Shannah Tovah, have a wonderful year.

first words

G-d willing, this year will be much, much better than the last one...

You don't have to be a teacher...

...to enjoy the latest Carnival of Education.

Heval Hevalim #39

Better Late Than Never!

Take a gander at the latest Hevel Hevalim. I didn't have a chance to put it up before Rosh Hashannah. It has some really great posts. Sorry about the delay.

last words of the year

A couple of news items leave me feeling ill, so I'll leave you with this until after the holiday. Why should I suffer alone? Sorry.

Even within the same regions there are differences in the ghetto walls. The Gush Etzion Region will be divided by the wall, which won't provide security, only riches for members of the ruling mafia. Those left out are protesting, but their regional head, Shaul Goldstein, suggests they just keep quiet.

Just yesterday was Avihu Keinan, HaYa"D's yartzeit, memorial day. (more on Shiloh Musings) His father's mission, since Avihu's death has been to protest the perverse/false morality practiced by the Israeli Army. Yesterday the army donated food to our Arab enemies. This is on the eve of our holiday, when thousands of Jewish Israeli families are homeless and poverty stricken.

And this is how we, the Jewish People and Jewish State, are ending a horrible year.

Baruch Hashem, on the personal end things were much better. We're one person richer, since Porat Rivka was born before Purim. And other good things have been happening.

But it's hard for me to ignore the horrors happening to good Jews and our wonderful Land.

B'ezrat Hashem, shannah yoter tovah.

G-d willing this should be a much better year!

Chag Sameach

consider this personal

Shannah Tovah

to All of You

Gmar Chatimah Tovah

and I Ask Forgiveness

if I've Hurt or Offended You

In Any Way

Chag Sameach

BOMS Again!

This week's BOMS is a really great one. I don't know how he does it. Take a gander...

A couple of things

First another shofar movie-ette.

Then a "complaint." Last week I put up 3 new pictures, and so far nobody has noticed them. Not my husband nor two friends who visited.

Sweetly Simple Tzimmis

Tzimmis is a sweet vegetable dish; it is popularly served on Jewish Holidays, especially Rosh Hashannah, the Jewish New Year. Eat sweet food and you will have a sweet year.

I make mine vegetarian, but some people make it with meat or poultry, as a very tasty one-pot meal. It can be made in a "slow cooker," though I cook it on the stove. There are no "rules" other than having something sweet in it.

I'm giving "measurements" according to your "pot."

If you're making it with meat, put it on the very bottom of the pot. Put a generous layer of prunes and raisins in your pot. Then about double the height of sliced carrots, or baby carrots. Then even more of sweet potatoes cut into big chunks and pumpkin if available; squash is optional. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon and a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar. You can use honey, too, but the brown sugar has more flavor. Add water up to 3/4 of the vegetables.

Start on a high flame until boiling (and keep checking or it will boil over like it just did on my stove.) Then lower the heat to simmer. If you have a good quality pot, there won't be any need to add more water; otherwise, if you can't see the liquid, add.

You can be creative; reduce or even eliminate the sugar. Add other fruits etc. But it may be best to start with the basic recipe and make it differently each time.

Have a wonderful year.

Succot, so soon?

Succot? So soon? I haven't made the Rosh Hashannah tzimmis, and Mirty's already writing about succah building!

When we designed our house, we decided on a nice, what seemed large at the time, "merpeset," balcony/terrace off of the kitchen, which among other things, would be the site of our succah. It ended up being a horrible location for leisure. It's on the south, so it's hot in the summer and windy in the winter. But it's ok for the succah. We have "permanent" wooden beams, which for the past few years the kids keep warning us: "They're about to collapse; you had better make other plans for Succot." So each year we wonder about the next. I have a feeling that we won't be able to hang some of the walls, since the wood holding the hinges has chipped etc.

Originally there were enormous wooden planks that had to be schlepped up from the basement and attached somehow. Then some young Russian immigrants who spent their early time in Israel considering us "family" redesigned it. They cut the large pieces of wood into smaller ones and nailed hinges into the "poles," so we just have to hang the walls. My husband can still do it himself, pretty much, if none of the boys are around.

I finally found decorations that don't embarrass my kids. I just hang up pictures from Jewish and Israeli calendars and Rosh Hashannah cards. None of my homemade artwork had ever met with their approval.

But it's all two weeks away, and I have to make the tsimmis.

LICE--The Simple Safe Method to Clean Heads

When I was growing up, lice was something we only read about. Nobody had it in the 1950's and 1960's in Bayside and Great Neck. We read about it in history books and old novels.

As a young mother in Israel, I was more than horrified to discover that sweet little kids in the neighborhood--in my children's classes--were infested. And then the worst possible scenario...my very own sweet, clean children had LICE!

Eventually, after trying the poisons and potions recommended by those more experienced than myself, I finally found "The Simplest and Safest Method to Rid Hair of Lice." Oh, yes, it's also the cheapest and can be self-applied.

Equipment:
a fine-tooth comb
cheap, ordinary cooking oil
tissues or toilet paper
and three days

Method:
twice a day, morning and night, coat the hair with the oil
after each application, comb through wiping the oily, buggy comb with tissues

That's it. After three days of oil, the lice are dead and so are their eggs. Then shampoo, and you're all done, nice and clean, until the next time.

Yes, it's a good idea for the "infested person" to wear old shirts, you don't care much about, as the oil may drip. And there's no need to visually inspect the head and scalp. A thorough combing of the oily hair is sufficient.

Remember that the lice love clean hair. Don't think that your child's infestation is because you didn't keep him/her clean enough. The dirt and oil kill them; that's the principle of this method.

a bit about that wedding

I promised to tell you about the wedding, so it's mentioned here.