Facing Facebook

OK, after a few weeks on facebook, I don't see much in terms of advantages. I find more communicating via blogs and comments, and of course direct email is even better. And nothing beats real, old-fashioned f2f and even phone calls. In the facebook fishbowl, it's spooky. I don't know what happens to the info.

I keep getting "friend requests" from total strangers who saw my name as a "friend" of other strangers, whom I'm sort of sorry I "friended."

I have info on my blogs up, but I haven't noticed facebook as a "referrer."

No, haven't started twittering, yet. Gevalt.

Must put in another load of wash. Can't do that via the computer.

KCC Depends On You!

The success of the jblog carnivals, the Kosher Cooking Carnival and JPIX and Havel Havelim, too, depend on you; that is anyone who reads or posts on blogs.


If you read or post anything that would suit any of the carnivals, please send in the links. The hosts, unpaid of course, can't be expected to read every post on every blog. Each of you can help. Please. Just send the posts in without waiting until it's almost the deadline. It's never too early.

Click to submit the link:

• KCC
• JPIX
• HH

Thanks!

Special T'hillim--Just An Hour And A Half Before Shabbat

You'd think the local ladies of Shiloh had nothing else to to an hour and a half before Shabbat, but the beeper beeped frightening news. Yehudit bat Sarah Blumah isn't doing well in Tipul Nimratz--Intensive Care.

Dozens of women gathered in our local synagogue to say T'hillim--Psalms for:

a Refuah Shleimah for Yehudit bat Sarah Blumah.

I dread the sound of that beeper.

The Best Things In Life ARE Free!

The other day I picked up the grandkids from the babysitter, and we walked to their home. On the way, the girls spotted this flowering bush and decided to bring back flowers. They had so much fun, and the flowers smelled so good, better than the best perfume.

What could be better than walking and enjoying nature?

Post-Yom Kippur

Nice prayers, perfect weather, and nobody fainted, as far as I know. At least, nobody fainted in our shul's Ezrat Nashim, ladies section. Now I just wonder if G-d will answer our prayers with the answers we prayed for. Will G-d forgive us? Will our sick relatives and friends be healed? Or does G-d want to reward them in the next world already?

I served left-over food, chicken, soup, etc from the pre-Yom Kippur feast. But I didn't eat it. I drank water, had some goat yogurt and salad with a blob of t'china paste and some cooked vegetables.

Shabbat Shalom!

Please pray for a refuah
shliemah, complete recovery for:

• Yehudit bat Sarah Blumah
• Gershon ben Ginalla
• P'nina bat Sofia Zlatta

This Week In Jerusalem

I really don't have any more time for the computer. I have to get the house ready for my married daughter and her family and we eat "early" to finish before the Fast of Yom HaKippurim.

So, I'll just post these pictures of Modern Jerusalem, or at least a couple of scenes I couldn't pass up.






Tzom Kal, Have an Easy Fast
May G-d Forgive Us

Granny Bragging

Bli eyin haraa, keep away the "evil eye."

Yes, at a year or so depending on the calendar you're using, the young man is a builder. And with his left hand...

This is my first attempt at "video," so please forgive the shaking camera.

As Usual...

It really did seem like I'd be off the computer earlier than usual this morning, but as usual, things got in the way. The computer slowed down to keep me here. Or, as my husband keeps saying, it slowed down, because it's old and needs to be replaced. Oy, replacing a computer isn't easy. It's not like buying a new winter coat and getting rid of the old one, either to the trash or some 2nd hand place, whether charity or profit.

The computer has all sorts of valuable information which must be transferred to the new one. That's not easy for us. We'd have to bring in the computer maven. I don't even think our very talented and technological baby could handle it. It takes patience, and there isn't much at least from my end of things.

Also, it's not like the computer doesn't work. It does, and it has a comfortable keyboard, not like other keyboards which have slashes where the shift key ought to be. And our screen here is big enough for me. OK, it's an old fat one, not like the new slim ones. And our "tower" can't be closed, so it's getting full of dust. That is a problem. This computer, with various updates etc has been with us a long time. The maven said that the next change is a change, not an update.

OK, enough kvetching. I have a busy day planned, and the virus check hasn't clicked in yet. A few seconds to go and I can say I finished earlier than usual, even though I have about a hundred emails I still haven't taken care of. So, nothing personal if yours is among them.

Please Pray

Refuah Shleimah

A Complete Recovery

Yehudit bat Sarah Blumah

A neighbor who is very sick.

For years she has organized

T'hillim, Psalms, for others.

Now she needs our prayers.

On the Threshold by Chaya Grodner

On the Threshold

Today we stand on the threshold of Yom Kippur. We vigilantly pray for Hashem to inscribe us in the Book of Life. We have uttered hours of Selichot prayers. We have gathered together to hear the sound of the shofar as it too calls out to Hashem to inscribe us in the Book of Life. In just a few more days, we enter into the most profound day of prayer and beg for Hashem to have heard our prayers, our requests for His mercy and to inscribe us and seal us for another year in the Book of Life.

With Hashem's blessings that we are inscribed and sealed, comes our responsibility. In the Torah, in Parshat Nitzavim, we are commanded to Choose Life. How can we Choose Life if after all, Hashem is the One Who chose if we are inscribed or not?

It is not the choice to live or die, but how we live our lives. We must live our lives to the fullest, to live everyday with meaning and purpose, to share with each other and make each day count.

A little over a year ago, I left the world of hi-tech. I was fortunate enough to become involved with Tishkofet. Life's Door-Tishkofet, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2002 to transform the experience of facing serious illness from one of anguish, confusion and denial to one that encourages collaboration, growth and healing for patients, families and professionals. It is dedicated to creating a sincere, dynamic and robust dialogue that addresses the value of openly exploring serious illness and end of life issues. Life's Door-Tishkofet strives to instill purposefulness in the lives of its participants.

During the month of September, Tishkofet presented a most powerful exhibit based on the personal journey of Ilan Dimant. Ilan, 24, was born and raised in Jerusalem, served in the IDF and was a law school student. A little over a year ago, he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Ilan dropped out of law school and chose to live his life by sharing with us his creativity and inspiration. This experiential exhibit carries universal messages that enable the visitor to gain deeper insight into the world of facing serious illness. There is no one today that does not know someone in this position, be it family, friend, neighbor or colleague. It is Ilan's dream that by sharing his journey he will provide a meaningful and transformative response to this experience and contribute to the place of hope and understanding of others. Room by room the visitor is exposed to Ilan's life since his diagnosis. Each guest will carry away a different message, but all will leave with a greater empathy and ability to support those with illness. The exhibition was featured in every major Israeli newspaper, the radio and TV. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

Ilan has chosen life. He is my hero. He lives everyday to the fullest. And, this is my message to all of us –Leave work at work. Take part in living a healthy life. Eat well. Exercise. Study. Volunteer. Be with your family. Tour our beautiful country. Enjoy all that Hashem has given you. Choose Life!

May you be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life!

Changing Focus

I used to focus my Torah-Bible posts on this blog, but recently they've been posted on Shiloh Musings, like this morning. I wrote a linguistic interpretation on a phrase in Chana's Prayer, T'filat Chana. Hint! Hint!

What's the purpose of all this blogging? Good question.

Is it to vent, rant or inform the world of ...?

Yes, as I've admitted many a time, my blogs are my fantasy journalism career. My university degree is actually in journalism, but I've never had a real job in it. I did work in public relations many years ago, and I'd love to go back to some aspect of it.

Bli neder, meaning don't hold me to it--it's not a vow, I ought to get rid of all those EFL books I have. If you're interested...

And sorry if there are typos, the blogger spellcheck seems to be out to lunch.

With My Last Ounce Of Strength or...

Before My Bleary Eyes Shut for the Night

I wish to blurb the latest edition of Havel Havelim, which is posted by a jblog host who chose the name I wish I had chosen!

Every time I see the title of the blog, Writes Like She Talks, I'm certain that she must get so many hits just from that brilliant name! Oops, I really shouldn't be sounding so jealous on the Eve of Yom Kippur. She really does have a great blog, and it's pretty, too.

Good Timing

I'm glad that Daylight Savings ended last night. It made the night longer, so I could get up at the "same time" but it was really an hour earlier, since I needed to get out early. Maybe I should stay on that schedule. Or maybe not. It's crazy enough to get up at 5am, but today 5 was 4. But at least I caught the bus.

I went to the pre-Yom Kippur Study Day in Matan, one of the women's Jewish Studies "schools."

Then I went to downtown Jerusalem to buy a dress for my elder granddaughter. I was successful, but once I compared it with the one I wanted to give the younger one, I realized that the dresses are actually the same size. So I have to get another dress for the little one and save the dress I have, which is too big.

I guess I ought to go to bed very early tonight.

Shemitta's Over For Now, Sort Of

We're post-Rosh Hashannah, so Shemitta, the HolyLand's Agricultural Sabatical, is over now. Sort of, yes, because though you can start working in your garden and planting in your farm etc, it will take months and longer before we can deal with peels without thinking etc.

Shemitta produce is still with us and will be for a long time, since it will be months until post-shemitta vegetables are grown and ready for eating, and it will take months until post-shemitta fruit are grown and ripe for eating. And for the products, like olive oil and wine, which take much longer, it will take years. And don't forget frozen and canned foods...

So, of course, by the time things get easy, and we've forgotten the hassle and Halachot, it will be time for the next shemitta to begin.

Shavua tov u'mevorach. Have a good and blessed week.

19's An Odd Number--JPIX

JPIX
#19 Indivisible
and Rather Zaftig

Way back when Mr. BagelBlogger, very ably assisted by his beautiful wife, the lovely Baleboosteh, took up my challenge and started JPIX-The Jbloggers Picture Carnival. Seventeen editions later they retired from the jblogging scene.

A couple of months ago Little Frumhouse announced that she wanted to bring JPIX back to life. And she did! If you're interested in hosting one, or blog carnival—for sending links is "down" you can contact her at http://www.blogger.com/jpixcarnival@gmail.com.

Please have the blog-courtesy to post about this and mail the link around, too. Thank you!

While I still, hopefully, have your attention, a word from our sponsor, I'd like to remind you that there are two other jblog—Jewish Blogger—carnivals, Kosher Cooking Carnival and Havel Havelim. KCC accepts posts about all aspects of kosher cooking, including Halacha, tradition, jokes, anecdotes, restaurant and cookbook reviews. Send your links here. HH includes all sorts of posts about anything Jewish or Israeli; send your links here.

There seems to be a problem with some of the blogger posts, and I'll try to fix it, but I found that if I delete the slash / at the end of the link in the box and then press enter, the post comes up just fine. There may be a problem with the template I've been using, which doesn't need a slash for blogger. Sorry.

I am going to try something very new and complicated for this edition. Leora has been trying to teach me how to embed links into pictures. So, my plan is to chose a picture from each post submitted to this JPIX, and when you click it you'll get to the original post and discover who blogged it. If it works, it should be great, and if it doesn't, it doesn't, and I'll have to repeat the remedial blogging course. Actually, it's working with one, minor problem; I can't control the sizes.

How I did this:
First I copy (a few times) the basic code from Leora's instructions, and then I substitute the crucial links with the post and picture links from the participating blogs. Yes, I'm doing it on word, like I prepare all of my carnival posts.

I duplicated the trial run, and it seems to work. So now, dig in and enjoy by clicking each picture and visiting the posts. And please post this carnival on your blog and send its link to everyone you can think of plus.

So, it's like riding a roller coaster. Strap yourself in and hang onto your seats! And I hope that the carnival post isn't too big, long and heavy. Here goes!











































































night

czar

I'm pretty sure that I included every blogger who sent something in. Towards the end I realized that it was getting quite enormous, and I began limiting the amount of posts per blogger. I really wonder how many blogs you'll be looking at. Most of the posts included more than the one picture I put up. So there really is a lot to see.

Enjoy! Please blog about it on your blogs, and pass around the link and encourage everybody to click the pictures and meet the blogs.

Thank you!

Not Getting Enough Done and...

I can't remember the last time my inbox was empty, or at least without a few dozen "to reads." So if you've sent me a letter and I haven't answered, it's really nothing personal.

I seem to be getting bogged blogged down in all sorts of norishkeit, like contanstantly shooting "wild" animals, like these.

They're really not that problematic, certainly don't make the noise the previous neighbors' dog caused when it had wild conversations with the dogs in the houses on two other sides of ours. We were caught in the cross-shouting/barking. And we're hoping that these frisky goats will trim the weeds.

Now, since the deadline has passed for JPIX, I'll get cracking and G-d willing post it tonight. And if I don't, so, nu, you'll just keep checking my blogs until it's up. And while mentioning jblog carnivals, don't forget to send in your links to the Kosher Cooking Carnival .

And please, pretty please with lots of honey and apples on top, blog about it, telling one and all that they should take a look and participate etc. Post the link, send the link etc.

Shavua Tov

Have a Great Week!

Not My Usual Friday & Reminisces

We're off to a funeral, yes, Harry's.

Since it's the last long Friday of the year, daylight savings ends Saturday night, I hope to be able to cook the side dishes for Shabbat when we return.

Yesterday was Tzom Gedalia. As usual I had a lazy day. Before the fast ended, I made my super-simple-one pot vegetable soup. Then I had some colored noodles with a dab of "concentrated" sesame paste, but my husband, who had a tough day at work, ate a nice portion of chicken and vegetables.

Afterwards I took a walk and met up with another walker. We reminisced about our old neighborhood, Bayit V'Gan, Jerusalem. She grew up there and we lived there for almost ten years, before moving to Shiloh. Last night we discussed the 1973 Yom Kippur War and Shaare Tzedek Hospital.

We started that conversation when talking about succot sizes. I reminded her of the super, tiny succot in many apartments. In many buildings the merpesot (terraces) are "staggered" to give everyone a minimal amount of uncovered merpeset for a kosher succah. In some cases the "minimum" is more like a "doll house," or those "model succot" kids make for school fairs and competitions. Being home-owners here in Shiloh is so much better.

I have lots to do...

A Great Man

Harry Hurwitz, Zionist legend, has passed away.

It's hard to believe it. We had just traveled with him and his beloved wife Freida to a wedding a couple of weeks ago.

Years, no, decades before I had ever met them, I remember reading about Harry Hurwitz, the great Zionist, Betari, Jabotinsky Revisionist of South Africa and his newspaper.

I never dreamt that my husband would end up working for him at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center. In those days, Begin was the head of the opposition, and nobody, other than the most optimistically idealistic ever really thought that Menachem Begin would someday be Israel's Prime Minister. Harry believed in Begin. And now, no doubt, Begin is greeting him in Olam Haba, the World to Come.

Reflections on Rosh Hashannah Food

I remember the days when we'd have a dozen or more around our table on Rosh Hashannah. That wasn't all that difficult when our five kids were home. But this year we were alone, just my husband and I.

We ended eating three out of four meals out. The big advantage is no dishes to wash. And the biggest advantage is lots of great company! And all the hosts are great cooks, certainly more adventurous than I am.

I brought some food to two of the meals and we also gave our hosts wine. The first meal was fun combining all sorts of customs and "simmanim," the food items used for good wishes by way of "punning."

The second meal was a quiet and boring one at home; boring because I'm a boring cook, very simple. My one innovation was using wine in the tsimmis.

Tsimmis in Wine Sauce--Classic With A Twist

• carrots
• sweet potatoes
• prunes
• brown sugar
• cinnamon
• ginger
• red wine--I used some we didn't want to drink

Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces and put in a pot, sprinkle with sugar and spices, add wine and some water to cover. Cook covered on a low heat until soft.

Third meal, second night, we had a lovely fish meal and great dessert.

And the fourth meal, second lunch was the most interesting, cheese fondue as a first course, and then fish and salads and some other interesting things. There were lots of other guests. Our hosts brought their table into the livingroom, so we could all have room, and the meal was leisurely and fun.

Our synagogue's custom is to have a kiddush break before shofar blowing. Next year, I hope to remember to have some crackers, spreads and salad instead of just coffee and cake.

Food Is Never Out Of Season

True, we've just had a two day Jewish Holiday, with four big meals, but that doesn't mean that it isn't the time to look at a new blog food carnival, Carnival Of Simple Family Favorites. I admit, that it's hard to think of eating again, right now. This blog carnival has some good recipes. Enjoy and good luck, and please don't forget to send in your recipes for the Kosher Cooking Carnival.

Thanks!