Birthday Week

I function following two calendars, the Jewish one and the goyish international one.  They only coincide about once every nineteen years, and even then sometimes not perfectly. 

Actually the Sate of Israel also uses both calendars.  Our holidays here are the Jewish ones, except that some restaurants and hotels make a big deal out of January first and the night before for parties and all.  Any excuse to make an "event."  Remember that the Jewish New Year is Rosh Hashannah, a very serious time, frequently spent in synagogue being shaken to the soul by the sound of the shofar. It's a time of reflection, repentance (teshuva) that lasts a week and a half, until Yom Kippur.  The goyish international New Year is obviously much more fun for Israelis who have only recently, the past couple of decades, discovered the fun sic of drinking.  There's non of that on Yom Kippur and the kiddush on Rosh Hashannah doesn't compare.

How did I get onto this?  Back to the topic...

In Israel, using both calendars can be rather problematic. The school year begins on September 1, but when Rosh Hashannah will be "too early" school starts early, so the kids can learn something before all those Jewish Holiday and school vacations begin.

When you celebrate birthdays on both calendars, they float around.  There are years when my international  birthday coincides with one of my daughter's Jewish birthday, even though my birthday is about a week later on both calendars.  This year, there's about a week's difference between the Jewish and international  date.  I was surprised by my fellow workers when they made me (and another worker) a party on Thursday the day before my Jewish birthday. 

It was a nice way to start "birthday week."

One is never too old to celebrate birthdays!

I Must Have Done The Right Thing, Thank G-d

The other day at work I suddenly noticed that one of my earrings was missing.  I wear three.  Fourteen years ago my daughters decided to give me a "third hole" for my birthday present.  I like that asymmetrical look and sometime even wear three different earrings.

Back to the earring.  It wasn't just any earring.  It had been my maternal grandmother's; an aunt gave it to me after I had my ears pierced, midway through high school.  To this day I don't know she chose me as recipient.  I have lots of female cousins, and I'm not the oldest even.  I was given two pairs of earrings and they are very precious to me.  I barely remember my grandmother, since she died before my third birthday.

I had a strong feeling that it had fallen off at work and told the other staff members, even pasting a note to the cash register.

Actually, I wasn't upset.  I kept saying "kappora," and told people that I have no doubt that my grandmother is taking care of me and my family, which is more important than her earring.  It was a strange feeling, because I was sad at the thought of not having it.  I have been wearing that earring for almost half a century.  Yes, I'm old.

The following day when I got on the bus to go home from Jerusalem, I saw a cellphone on the seat.  I decided to give it to the driver.  He would bring it to the Egged "Lost and Found," which in Hebrew is called "Returning Lost Items."  There's a mitzvah, Torah law to make every effort to return a lost item.  The concept of "finders keepers, losers weepers" is not Jewish and even forbidden.

Yesterday when  I entered the store, I was greeted with:

"We have your earring."

Apparently a customer saw it on the floor and brought it to the desk.  It was all wrapped up and waiting for me.  I had kept that "third hole" empty for work, even though I have lots of earrings to wear.  It was waiting, apparently, for that one, my grandmother's. 

Baruch Hashem, Thank G-d

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach

May You Have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat

Those TSA Public Pat Downs, Kissenger and I

Last summer, although I boarded at least four flights, only one TSA crew decided that I seemed suspicious enough to warrant a pat down.  I accepted the public option, because I wanted to keep my eyes on my possessions which were being opened and examined publicly at the same time.  Also, I figured that there's less of a chance of inappropriate inspections when in full view.

It seemed pretty strange to me that, although I was dressed in the same skirt for all of my flying, only one airport considered it as dangerous to public safety.

Since the TSA began their inspections, random or whatever, we've all been reading about their strange arbitrary decisions, like inspecting toddlers, diapers and the elderly.  The latest news is that former Secretary of State the 89 year old Henry Kissenger was forced out of his wheelchair to be "patted down."  He had to take off his jacket and stand up.  What happens to those who can't stand up?  Many people take advantage of the free wheelchair/handicapped airport service, because it's too complicated, physically difficult and stressful to walk the long distances with their carry-ons in enormous modern airports.  But there are travelers who are "full-time" wheelchair passengers and can't stand up and remove bulky outer clothes.  How do they manage this?

And another annoyance is the fact that water and other liquids bought in the stores after security inspection can't be taken on the plane.  I had to drink over a liter of water or spill it out before boarding.  And the water was very expensive, as are all products n the airport.  I dread my next trip.

Meal in a Pot, Baked

I don't usually cook up the vegetables with the chicken, because I really don't like them over-cooked and greasy from the meat fats.  That's why I didn't cut the squash and carrots.  The larger they are the longer they take to cook.  I also put them on top.  There's a lemon you can't see inside the chicken, and potatoes are underneath.

This was cooked last Thursday morning, since I had to go to work on Friday, to be served as a "one pot" Friday night Shabbat meal.  Then we were unexpectedly invited out for Friday night, so the chicken and veggies were eaten during this week.  We (I) had an easy Shabbat, since we had also been invited out for Shabbat lunch.

I can't tell you how long exactly I cooked the chicken-vegetable dish, since every oven is different and it depends on how large your chicken and what type of pot you're using.  You can make a similar dish with pre-cut chicken in a pan with vegetables spread out.  And yes, it's flavored with onion, paprika, black pepper and garlic.

For a "Segula" Special Prayer

How does one translate "segula" without sounding a bit strange?  Last week I baked challot as a "segula" for someone who really wants to get married and have kids.

We ended up being invited out for both main meals on Shabbat, so I brought challot with me and requested that everyone eat from them.  (And there are still some in the freezer.)

Years ago, when I first attempted challah baking and until just a couple of years ago, I considered it a very stressful act.  My first time baking challah was the very first time I had ever seen yeast dough, so I really didn't know what I was doing.  It made me feel very insecure.  There were times I baked challah very frequently, but that feeling of "I really don't know what I'm doing" dominated the experience. 

I also discovered an "allergy" to fresh yeast, which used to be the only type in Israel.  My fingernails would get infected, so I kneaded the dough wearing cotton gloves.  Oh, yes, I always have made my challah by hand, sans machinery.  Discovering dehydrated yeast made the kneading much safer and healthier.

Then a few years ago, after my neighbor totally renovated her kitchen she had a special challah-baking ceremony as a chanukat habayit, celebration.  A different neighbor came in and showed us how to make challah with a special ingredient, prayers.  Ever since then, my challah baking has become a special spiritual experience.

PS you can find my challah recipe here.

Not Fair, Is It, Ladies?

Statistics all over the world show that men make more money than women even when doing similar work.  And now matter how carefully a couple try to "share" chores at home, women do more.  This cartoon is spreading like wildfire on facebook with hundreds of shares.

A very long time ago when my kids were kids, I remember one of my daughters complaining that the guys in her crowd got offers for jobs around the neighborhood that paid much better than the babysitting she did.  Boys would get lots of money to clear a garden or storage room, and the girls couldn't get that type of work. 

How many male executives could manage without their female secretaries, office managers?

I've read that when meetings are run by women, they are quicker and waste less time.  There's a good reason for that.  Women don't have wives at home, so we need to get home quickly.

In our school, the first males who took jobs were always offered the opportunity to be the principal, too, just because they were men.  They failed in that capacity.  Our most successful principals have all been women, but they had to work harder to just get the opportunity to try.

Sorry for the rant, but that cartoon and the reactions of some friends on facebook really got me going.

HH #359 At To Kiss A Mezzuah

Susan did her usual professional job as Havel Havelim hostess with the mostess this week hosting #359. It's so hard for me to believe that next week is the three hundred and sixtieth edition of Havel Havelim. I remember when it was barely in double-digits. 

Our recent method of organizing via our facebook page seems to be helping, since HH is growing.  Of course it will only get better if we each make an effort to promote it; share the links, host etc.

To submit a post, click here on the site that Eric constructed. 

Susan, thanks so much and Shavua Tov.  Have a wonderful week everyone.

Looking Forward to Late Summer

In recent years, although we do nothing to deserve it, our little vineyard give us lots of delicious grapes. 

So we've been watching the leaves grow and the tiny fruit begin to emerge on the vines.

It's all so beautifully green.  We just have to be patient.

Shavua Tov

Have a Wonderful Week

What's Your Fvavorite "I shouldn't eat it" Treat?

In Israel we call this "ice cafe`," and it's a favorite of many including me.  I'm not quite sure what's it's called in other countries.  Unfortunately it's filled with yummy, addicting calories, though there are "lite" versions.

It's like a liquidy coffee ice cream.  I had this one at the Sharonim Mall's Cafe` Cafe`.

Nu, what's your favorite?

"Just Take Care of Yourself"

Ricksmom of Beneath the Wings has been busy.  Ricki's in the hospital.  G-d willing she'll recover from her pneumonia, as she did last year, but it's still a very stressful time for the family.  Her latest post describes what she's going through and how she tries to cope, physically and emotionally.

I've been there, done that, when my sons were each hospitalized for long periods of time when they were very little.  My youngest was two weeks old, meaning that I was just two weeks post-childbirth.  In those days, and when my elder son was hospitalized after an accident, food wasn't available most of the day and all of the night for those of us who needed to eat.  It made life more complicated.

It's so important to take care of yourself when you're caring for a hospitalized loved one.  You must drink, eat and rest.  And whenever possible, accept help.  If you fall apart, physically, emotionally or both, you won't do anyone any good.  An aunt of mine had a total emotional/physical breakdown when her husband had been hospitalized.  That was decades ago, and she never fully recovered; davka, her husband did and had to take care of her and outlived her.

I'm sure we've all heard of too many stories of couples in which the healthy one, the caregiver suddenly dies leaving the sick/handicapped of the two on his/her own. 

Take care of yourself!

רפואה שלימה לרינה בת רות

לעילו נשמתה חנה רחל בת אברהם

Shopping Trip to A Giant Mall

My cousin lives in Neve Ne'eman, Hod Hasharon, so I've been watching the Kanyon Sharonim grow from its earliest construction until it was finally completed, but I had never gone there to shop.

Two weeks ago, after a family Yom Ha'Atzma'ut feast, we took the grandkids there to play in its fancy playground on the way home.  They had a great time.  I had been hearing fantastic things about the 1/2 Chinam, "Half Free" discount supermarket there, which supposedly has the lowest prices and the greatest set up in Israel. 

People have told me that it's larger than the giant stores in America.  For quicker shopping, they have divided the green-grocer section from the rest of the store.  It's two stores with different colored bags.

As you must know, I work in Yafiz, Clothing for the Entire Family, in Sha'ar Binyamin, which is part of the Rami Levi chain of discount supermarkets, so I'm in our Rami Levi store a few times a week.  Those two chains are competitors.  I haven't been to other branches of Rami Levi, but I highly doubt if any can be as fancy as this store is.  And I've seen other 1/2 Chinam, "Half Free" branches in Jerusalem from the outside, and they aren't fancy either.  It's obvious that the chain has invested a lot of money to get the moneyed crowd to shop in this branch.

I don't think the prices were less than my Rami Levi, at least among the products I normally buy. They did have a larger variety of food.  Rami Levi refuses to sell fruits and vegetables that cost "too much."  He sells chicken for less money.  I didn't buy much, but I did shop.  It was convenient, as my friend drove me door-to-door.

Distance wise, that mall is closer to Shiloh than going to the Malcha Mall in Jerusalem, and it has some of the same stores, though not all.  Sha'ar Binyamin is much close to Shiloh than the Sharonim Mall, which is just over a kilometer (about a mile) from the Yarkon Junction.  There's a sign in Ariel that Rami Levi is building a branch there.  If it will be near the Ariel University, then it will be much closer to us than Sha'ar Binyamin, but if it's at the other end of Ariel, then it'll be almost the same distance and more difficult to get to without a car.

PS though we were there in the morning, when Israeli malls are generally pretty empty, it was clear that contrary to what the כְּמִתְאֹנְנִים kimit'oninim agitators faux social justice protesters keep claiming, there's plenty of money in Israel and most people are doing very well.

Note That Chain, Caption This!

I have my theories about this picture.  What are yours?

A story was going through my mind the minute I saw it.  Maybe because it's just accross from this...

Do you have any ideas for a caption or story?  If so, please write in the comments, thanks.

Please Remind Me!!!

Tomorrow I must close all of the windows.  It will be national stink day starting this Wednesday night.  Wednesday will be the 33rd day of the Omer, Lag B'Omer.  That's the countdown from the second night of Passover until the Eve of Shavuot, a grand total of forty-nine days.

In Israel, Lag B'Omer is celebrated with bonfires/campfires, smelly, stinking fires all over the place, especially in more rural neighborhoods like mine.  Kids have been gathering wood for weeks already.  Some of the wood they collect really shouldn't be burnt. Kids take old furniture, covered in formica, and burn that, too.

The unpleasant and unhealthy odors waft through every crevice. That's why I must remember to close every single window, because it takes ages for the stink to leave.

I trained my kids to go straight into the bathroom after those fires, strip. shower and shampoo with lots of sweet-smelling soap.

Great HH From Beneath the Wings and Part 2 of Aish's "Listen to Grandpa"

Please start with a refuah shleimah (complete healing/recovery) prayer for Rivka bas Rus, daughter of this week's Havel Havelim host and star of the blog Beneath the Wings.

Rickismom has found time in her busy life to host another edition of Havel Havelim, and it's better than ever.  Please check it out and share, thanks.  Next week it will be hosted by Susan, To Kiss a Mezuzah.  You can send her your links by clicking her name on our facebook page and sending her a message.  Our facebook page is also the address for getting more involved in HH and scheduling to host an edition of Havel Havelim.

A few days ago I recommended watching part 1 of a video on aish.com by Jewlarious starring Eliot Gould, Listen to Grandpa.  They have just released part 2, and here it is:

And Caption This, Too!

Sorry, but her face is hidden.  I can only show pictures of the grandkids when they are unrecognizable.

Nu, so how would you caption this one?  Please add your caption in the comments, thanks.

Thrilling Improv

Life is a constant surprise, isn't it?  We can't control things.  I must have blogged this before that when I studied Creative Dance Choreography the teacher told us that if we fall when performing we must rise gracefully as if it was all choreographed. 

My life has been full of surprises.  That's fine.  I don't like being bored.

A number of years ago, when I was being interviewed for a job (which I didn't get) the boss told me that he was put off by the long list of jobs and professions I had already had.  I told him that they made me more valuable by teaching me much and giving me lots of varied experience.  Obviously, he didn't agree.

I don't think I was ever really "prepared" for the jobs I took.  Most times a new opportunity or challenge or job offer just somehow came my way, and I grabbed/embraced it.  Each job has had its great moments.  I learned from all of them.  We all must learn to accept the unexpected.  Most people rise to the challenge when they must.

Many of us in Israel were very impressed and moved by the athlete Moran Samuel, who after winning the Gold Medal ended up taking the microphone and singing Hatikvah, Israel's National Anthem, after discovering that there wasn't a recording of it.

If The Divorce is So Great, Why The Whispering?

One of the great bonuses in traveling by public transportation and tremping aka hitchhiking is those surprise meetings with old friends.  Not long ago I discovered an old friend after getting on a bus.  I sat down next to her and we began catching up.  We started off exchanging news about our children and grandchildren.  Then I noticed her eyes carefully sweeping the bus, and she signalled me to listen to her whisper.  Now in all honesty, I don't hear very well.  I have no doubt that if I live as long as my parents still are, I'll be like my father in the need for a hearing aid, so whispers aren't my favourite means of communication...

I thought that she was going to mention something about someone else in the bus the way she nervously kept glancing around, but then I understand what she was saying:

"We got divorced.  I'm so happy to be divorced, and my kids have told me that they support me."

Of course, I told her that I trust she made the right decision.  In the past I helped a friend through divorce and think that in many cases it's the best thing one can do. But I couldn't understand why her need for secrecy if she's so happy about it.

Elliot Gould on Aish, Makes Me Wonder...

For some reason there's only part one of this great little story starring Elliot Gould on aish.com and Jewlarious.  I'd love to see the rest of it.



I have all sorts of relatives, children and grandchildren of cousins, who are Jewish according to Jewish Law but raised as Christians.   I've always wondered what would happen if suddenly one of them would knock on my door...

It would be even more complicated if those who aren't Jewish would do the same...  Yes, we have many of those, too.

Caption This...

There are lots of possible captions in my head, plus stories to elaborate on them.  Maybe I should try writing fiction...  But one thing for sure, it sure is always a good idea to go around armed with my trusty, bli eyin haraa, camera. 

• Nu, how would you caption this?
• What could the story be?

Fun in The Playground

Modern playgrounds are getting very creative.  We have our exercise for adults one here in Shiloh.  It's no longer necessary to sign up for a gym when I can just go across the street.

Those who design these exercise toys haven't ignored the kiddies.  I was amazed at the variety of equipment in the children's playground at the new mall in between Tzomet Yarkon and Hod Hasharon.  They provide all sorts of healthy fun for the kids.