Caption This! don't be shy

It's a good thing I always have my camera handy...

You can even make up a story or short dialogue if that suits.

Let's Start Dancing and Singing For Rosh Hashannah!

Hat tip: Miryam B

I'm starting to get anxious about the three day Rosh Hashannah holiday.  OK, it's really two days of holiday immediately followed by Shabbat.  Don't panic.  I've done it before, actually many times.  I just ought to get into planning and cooking mode, not that I have guests yet.  Yes, I guess I ought to invite some.

But in the meantime...



I always feel better singing and dancing.

Free Faux "Curves" Threw Me A Curve Ball

We have these great exercise machines in the park just acrosss the street, yes, even closer than the pool.

There are a whole bunch of them, state of art, rain-proof etc.  The area is even fenced in to make it more private.  So, I figured a few serious minutes on them in the morning would be a fine way to try to keep my body close to the shape it achieved by exercising in the pool.  As you can see, there are also shade trees, and did I say that they are free for use? 

It was too sunny to go walking by the time I got out of the house, but there was shade, good thing.  The park was empty, just perfect.  Or so I thought.

First problem was that almost all of the seats were wet and I hadn't brought a rag along.  I did my best to dry off a few, sat down and then I heard...

Can you see that small tractor coming through?  Just as I started to work out, it started to work.  It was there to make a new path, since a family will be building in the area of the existing one. There went my privacy.  I also didn't like the idea of breathing in the freshly turned earth.

I worked out another couple of minutes and walked home.  Do "good intentions" burn calories and strengthen muscles?

Effy versus The Little Red Hen

OK, the title's a "plot spoiler."  Effy's no "Little Red Hen."

I've received a number of children's books to review; I took Effy Does the Job by Bruriah Kugel, Feldheim.com to the grandchildren today.

First I read it to the almost four year old.  I don't know how much he understood, since his English is very limited.  Actually the Effy series was originally written in Hebrew, so I told my daughter to try to take them out from the library.  Once the children know the plot in Hebrew, it'll be much easier to understand them in English.  The almost one year old loved the pictures, which are really gorgeous.

I must admit that I didn't read the book in advance.  I just grabbed it, because it was on top of the pile.  As I began to read, I immediately saw the similarity with my favorite "Little Red Hen."   I've read "The Little Red Hen" so many times, even blogged it a couple of times.  First Effy's mother, then Effy starts cleaning the neighborhood and nobody is willing to help.

I took for granted that it would have the same sort of ending.  I was totally wrong.  While the Little Red Hen told the other barnyard animals to "get lost" when they expected to share her bread, Effy ends up partying with his friends who promise to help him next time the neighborhood needs cleaning.

Effy (actually the author) has a point.  If Effy had gone off in a huff, he'd have lost all his friends and end up all alone.  No doubt, that was the fate of the Little Red Hen.  Teaching our children to get along with others and how to acquire friends with kindness and forgiveness is very important.

The Little Red Hen will never look the same to me after reading Effy Does the Job.  Yes, I do recommend the book.  I must admit that the lesson is good for me to learn, too.

Chaviva's 9/11 Havel Havelim

This week's Havel Havelim is very professionally and promptly posted by Chaviva.  It's obvious that she worked on it during the week, since being on the American east coast it must have had  been soon after midnight her time when it saw the light of day.  I discovered it by chance, not expecting it so early in the morning Israel time.

If you have "Sundays," this gives you plenty of time to read all the posts and share it/them (both the HH and the posts) all over the internet.  Yes, there's plenty to read, no matter what your interest, opinions and agendas.

Chaviva, thank you!

Transplant, Horticultural Success?

It's no secret here in Shiloh that our "garden" is the worst in the yishuv, community.  That's right.  Granted that we have a lovely vineyard, which even gives us sweet grapes in the right season, but besides that, OK and an olive tree even more temperamental than most, our garden is disgusting.
Periodically I "drop" seeds and fruit in all sorts of places hoping for miracles.  Well, a miracle did happen and some sort of squash took root in a planter.  It shared its soil with a "spider plant," that has a story of its own, not yet blogged about.

The container, large for most purposes, didn't suffice for the large vegetable.

That meant that we, the two worst gardeners imaginable, had to risk transplanting it to the real holy earth.  So, on Friday, a short time before Shabbat we took the plunge.  My husband dug a hole in a very shady place, right next to the front door/stoop and under the drain pipe.  Then very gently he loosened all the soil from the pot, and we carried it down to its new home.

We watered it as thoroughly as we could and prayed that G-d would have mercy on the innocent plant, especially since we couldn't care for it on Shabbat. 

On Shabbat we could see that the leaves fattened up and more flowers were blooming.  Here is a picture from this morning.

PS No, I don't know what it is.  It could be some sort of dla'at, pumpkin type of squash, large or mini.

In the Pink's Hadassa, Refuah Shleimah

Hadassa Henya bat Rivka will be having surgery on her neck on Monday.  Please add her to your refuah shleimah, complete healing prayers.  Thanks

Here's Hadassa at HaGov this summer with Benji, me and Risa.  That is probably Hannah hidden behind Hadassa.  I think she had been sitting there.

Jerusalem's Old Train Tracks

It has been decades since this was used by a train.  There used to be a slow, winding train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv and Haifa.  I only took it once or twice, since by the time I first made it to Israel it was already 1969, and there was a new road for cars and buses which didn't have to skirt the winding "green line" which separated Israel from the land Jordan had invaded during Israel's War for Independence.

The tracks make a nice place to walk and take short cuts in the middle of Jerusalem, near the Emek Refaim-Baka-Katamon neighborhoods.  Part of it has been fixed up, so you can even bike on it.

The section going up to Matan is still undeveloped, full of weeds and rocks.  I didn't walk it last year, but I had a few years ago.  I should do it again.

And what book are you reading?

I can sometimes go for ages in between books or read a few all at once very quickly.  The computer has stolen my pleasant reading time.  I must fight this terrible yetzer hara, evil inclination and read more books.

Since I get books to review, I have some good ones, and periodically I borrow "disposable" books from a neighbor.  He has a giant collection and I prefer those I can lose or pass on and not worry about returning.

I don't think I'll be reviewing the book that I didn't like.  I wrote to the publicist and explained why I can't recommend it. 

There's another one from the publicist I'm reading right now, always sneaking minutes to read it, even though I was afraid to start it.  It's a "cancer book," by a woman who died.  She reminds me in many ways of Coffee and Chemo RivkA, who also passed away from cancer.  They both exude a special strength.  I wonder if they had been in touch.  It's Soul to Soul by Deborah Masel.

And I also started reading a nice "suspense" book.  It was perfect when I had to wait someplace for a few hours.  It's Final Target by Iris Johansen.

And I also read the Tanach, Bible, since I'm studying in Matan's Al HaPerek course and we get questions on two more chapters every week.

That's it.  I have tons more to do here since I'm home.

One More Day...

The season is almost over.  Three months speed by.  Even though the weather has been cooling, and it even rained recently, it's hard to believe that the pool will close, empty out after tomorrow.

"The pool" is actually two pools, a children's wading pool and a swimming pool.  OK, it's far from olympic size and depth, but hundreds, probably thousands already, of children and adults from Shiloh and its suburbs have learned to swim here and enjoy what it has to offer.

There's a kiyosk that sells nosherei and other things.  There's also a building/caravan with toilets, showers and dressing rooms.  Swimming hours are separated by sex.  And there are also adult hours when either men or women, dpending on the day, can swim or exercise undisturbed by young children.

Since it's closing after tomorrow, I guess that means that it'll reopen in about nine months.  Let's start the new countdown looking forward rather than feeling sorry for what we won't have.

Friendly Voices From the Family "Vineyard"

Last Friday I suddenly realized that I'd been hearing voices from our tiny vineyard.  Last year I invited a neighbor to make wine from the grape harvest, which had been larger than I could eat, B"H.  He made a delicious, fresh, tangy white wine which I love.  This year we didn't have as many grapes, and he told my husband that he was going to make a red wine.

So I didn't mind that a different neighbor and his kids were harvesting the grapes.

It was pretty obvious that within a few days the birds and ants would win the war, and there wouldn't be anything left to eat.  You can also see that the leaves are just starting to wilt. 

On Shabbat, the neighbors brought us some of the grape juice made from our grapes, and we gave them a bottle of last year's wine.  Thank G-d for everything!!!

Bake "Em Standing Up

I usually cut and layer the vegetables I bake, but that gets boring.  I hate being bored.  So, last Friday I decided to set the veggies up a bit differently for baking.

This is what we ate, post-baking, on Friday night.  It tasted great.  All I did was dribble a bit of oil on it and then bake until they were soft.  Yes, it's that easy to cook/bake vegetables.  It's as easy as slicing a cake or opening up a box of cookies.

Matisyahu, "Got No Water," A Good One

Here's a Matisyahu song with Jerusalem pictures. Enjoy!



Thanks Bobby

911, The Number Will Never Be The Same

I photographed this sign  in a catering hall recently.  It says that the hall holds 911 guests.  I presume it means that they calculated according to a larger number that includes staff, waiters etc, for insurance reasons. 

A couple of years ago, we were treated to a Shabbat in Tel Aviv, in a fancy hotel.  At first our host told us he was sorry, but the hotel had been fully booked.  Then we got a call that one room had emptied, and it was for us. What was the number? You guessed it, 911.

Don't Miss This Bargain!

As usual, Ya'aqov's Havel Havelim is worth a lot more than esser agaroth.  It's definitely worth the visit as are the varied posts included.  Share it, too, of course. 

And check out NachlaOr, the musicians collective of Jerusalem's of creative and dynamic neighborhood of Nahla'oth, at Nachladorms, Jerusalem's newest Kosher Hostel and Dormitory.

I Need a Good Dance

I came back from work feeling rather "blahh."  Actually, considering that the rides home were great, and I didn't wait all that long for the first, hardly at all for the second and not at all for the third who insisted on taking me to my door.  I told him that he did the mitzvah fully, mehadrin.  Thank G-d, I really should be grateful, and I am, but it was just one of those nights...

So when Fred sent me this great dance and comedy routine by Bob Hope and  James Cagney, I just had to share it. Dancing is my best sport. I love to dance.



Here's Fred's commentary:

These guys must have done something right, James lived to be 87, and Bob, whom
I listened to on the radio, before TV, made it to 100, died on my dad's birthday.
Googled their bios for more info.

Enjoy the attached....

James Cagney and Bob Hope at a Friar's Club Meeting back when actors were real performers.

Bob Hope was 52 and James Cagney was 56. For the young folks, here is something you probably have never seen before and, unfortunately, you may never see again.
For us older folks, this is the best of the best, and we had it for many years!
This is a side of these two entertainers you hardly ever saw but it shows you their enormous talent.
Bob Hope, the best of the comedians, and Jimmy Cagney...mostly cast as the bad guy, gangster in the movies.

Budget Flying, Some Humor

Taking a plane trip used to be a real treat.  No matter how short the trip, there would be some sort of meal.  The meal and the right to take a "no charge" suitcase or two were things we used to take for granted.  Now even if you're traveling from Arizona to New York, you have to pack food, especially if you have dietary restrictions, like kashrut or low carbohydrates--I have both.  The airlines give out pretzels, peanuts and water, unless you're flying in one of the luxury classes.

And at least my last visit was in the summer, when clothes are thin and lightweight, so I could fit a few changes into a small bag. Otherwise I'd have to pay extra to bring a proper suitcase.

OK, it's not quite as bad as the Carol Burnett skit Yoni posted on facebook:



If I visit my parents in the winter, maybe I'll go there without a suitcase and do some shopping in AZ, or I'll fly there "directly" from Israel and go to NY afterwards, so I'll only have to pay for the suitcase in one direction.  And at least we sit separately from those who get better service.

The Shopping "Experience," Neither Catalogues Nor Internet For Me

We've been having some unbelievable sales at Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin where I work.  Jews and Arabs, side by side, search for bargains.  I speak in Hebrew, English and pantomime.  Customers leave with big smiles and bulging bags.

Shopping at sales is fun.
Selling at great prices is fun.

Sometimes I get email notices about bargains and sales from very reliable stores, the same ones I enjoy going to for bargains when I'm in the states.  I just can't buy that way, via the internet.  I have to see the clothes; I have to feel the clothes.

I like talking to the sales people, thanking them.  As a salesperson, I enjoy friendly customers.  And  I do try to be helpful.

Am I just "old-fashioned?"  Are internet sales the way of the future?

"You're Doing a Mitzvah; The Car Should Start"

Last night, after working over eight hours of a six hour shift at Yafiz, (night shift is longer than morning shift, especially during busy seasons), I began getting worried about how I'd get home.  The young man who had been driving a group of us north of Sha'ar Binyamin had decided to take his life elsewhere, and I wish him luck, health and success.  But that leaves me without a reliable ride home when I have night or Friday shift.

My boss and another worker made me a sign saying "Shiloh/Ofra," to catch the eye of Rami Levi customers going in that direction.  But when I stood at the place where all the cars exiting go by all I saw were Arabs, and I don't like to advertise where I live.  After a couple of minutes, I saw a young Jewish couple, so I quickly "flashed" my sign at them.

"I don't know if it'll help, but we're going to Eli."
"That would be wonderful if you'd just drop me off at the Shiloh Junction."

They quickly loaded their car, and then it didn't start:

"You're Doing a Mitzvah; The Car Should Start"

Then the car got the hint, started and they drove me to Shiloh.  They increased the mitzvah by not leaving me on the main road, thank G-d.  So, I got home safe and sound.

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach

Have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat

Rain?

Last night as I trudged home, all the way up the hill after being dropped off from work, I noticed that the street was wet.  Could there have had been a leak from something?    As I continued walking I notice that the whole road was wet, and it seemed that water was dripping from the trees.

I had just come from Shaar Binyamin, about twenty minutes south of Shiloh.  It had been summer there, yes, very hot and even muggy in the "outer part" of the store where I work most of the time.

Then I saw some neighbors walking:

"Did it really rain here?"
"Yes.  Why are you asking?"
"There was no sign of rain in Shaar Binyamin.  It's a different climate, more like the Bikaah, Jordan Valley."
"I had been shopping in Ariel, and was in shock when I walked out of the store and discovered that it was pouring."

May this rain be a good sign and a blessing for all of us, whether we deserve it or not!