I have to put together the latest JPIX today, G-d willing, so stay tuned. If you'd like to host one, contact Leora. And if you'd like to contribute to future editions, then send in your picture post links as soon as posted.
And don't forget to contribute to the next Kosher Cooking Carnival. If you'd like to host one, please contact me.
Thanks
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
My "Vacation," Bible Wonderland
No, this wasn't a kiddie theme park based on the TaNa"Ch, Jewish Bible. There's a fantastic study program in Herzog College. Thousands (I had been given the number 4,000) people or more have been having a great time studying the Bible. There are many classes going on simultaneously in Hebrew and English. The rooms are packed. Late registrants have been turned away or given no choices.
This was my first time in the program. Recent years I've been in the states during the Nine Days, when it takes place. I paid extra for transportation from Shiloh to Gush Etzion. It was worth the money. Even if we had a car, I'd consider it worth the money. The comfortable bus meant that I could use my energy concentrating on the high-level lectures.
Next time, I hope to choose from Hebrew lectures, too. There's a great energy there, and it's easy to stay alert, much easier than I had expected. Tea, coffee and other nosherei are available between classes. Lunch is included, too, and the service is so efficient, it's like from another world. The line sped and there was plenty of food.
I decided not to blog the pros and cons of the various shiurim. If someone wants to ask about a specific one, please just email me. thanks
This was my first time in the program. Recent years I've been in the states during the Nine Days, when it takes place. I paid extra for transportation from Shiloh to Gush Etzion. It was worth the money. Even if we had a car, I'd consider it worth the money. The comfortable bus meant that I could use my energy concentrating on the high-level lectures.
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| Atara Snowbell |
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| Dr. Yael Ziegler |
I decided not to blog the pros and cons of the various shiurim. If someone wants to ask about a specific one, please just email me. thanks
A LOVEly KCC in MamaLand!
Please remember to send in any kosher food posts you write or read via blog carnival. And if you'd like to host one of our monthly editions, please contact me.
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
KCC Soon and... My Tanach, Bible Studies So Far
There should be a Kosher Cooking Carnival pretty soon in MamaLand. I had forgotten to remind her. But no big deal. For sure it'll be worth waiting for. Just keep on checking in. Her blog is so good, that you'll find plenty to read.
I had a totally wonderful day at Michlelet Herzog Bible "festival." They offer about a week of studies, five classes a day. You sign up in advance and have to choose the exact classes you want. They have mostly Hebrew and a great choice of English, too. I don't know the official numbers of participants but it must be in the thousands.
For an additional fee there are buses from all over the country, even a stop here in Shiloh. So how could I not go? Besides that, lunch is part of the package. There are a number of drink stations in the building with hot and cold drinks. They also have cookies and pastries most of the day.
I had been very nervous about my ability to stay awake and alert for five 70 minute classes. That's one of the reasons that I took all the classes in English. Thank G-d, so far it has been fantastic. And yes, I was awake and alert all day. Four out of five classes were totally top notch. One wasn't, but I still enjoyed bits and pieces of it.
I'll write more, G-d willing, tomorrow or Thursday.
I had a totally wonderful day at Michlelet Herzog Bible "festival." They offer about a week of studies, five classes a day. You sign up in advance and have to choose the exact classes you want. They have mostly Hebrew and a great choice of English, too. I don't know the official numbers of participants but it must be in the thousands.
For an additional fee there are buses from all over the country, even a stop here in Shiloh. So how could I not go? Besides that, lunch is part of the package. There are a number of drink stations in the building with hot and cold drinks. They also have cookies and pastries most of the day.
I had been very nervous about my ability to stay awake and alert for five 70 minute classes. That's one of the reasons that I took all the classes in English. Thank G-d, so far it has been fantastic. And yes, I was awake and alert all day. Four out of five classes were totally top notch. One wasn't, but I still enjoyed bits and pieces of it.
I'll write more, G-d willing, tomorrow or Thursday.
And Now a Healthy Chocoate Spread
Thanks to "Pesky settler," my classic, easy, healthy, halva spread now has a chocolate version. Her boys requested a chocolate spread, so she combined my non-dairy halva spread with cocoa powder:
You can also use this to ice a cake.
Techina (plain unseasoned sesame paste,) honey, boiling water. Add cocoa powder and a tiny bit of vanilla extract. It's a Halvah spread.The sesame paste, boiling water and honey are in inexact equal proportions. What does that mean? It means that you don't have to obsess. It's approximate. You can make it sweeter or less sweet, thicker or thinner.
You can also use this to ice a cake.
Monday, August 01, 2011
HH #323, 2 Cents are No Longer 10 Agaroth
Back to business, the aim of this post. Well, it's to tell you to visit, share etc. Havel Havelim #323 and all of the included posts. And, of course, thank Yaaqov!
Shiloh, The Center of Jewish Blogging, Blogs and More Across the Street
Ester has posted more posts in honor of Rosh Chodesh. Read them; they are excellent.
Just a few houses down is the location of Eliyokim Cohen who produces a daily news show, Jews News. It's a "must see."
Shelly lives a couple of minutes' walk from our street. She blogs, too. Her latest post promotes Sundays off, the opposite of my latest one on Shiloh Musings.
And yes, my husband blogs, too.
I don't think that there is a Havel Havelim this week, so please enjoy this bit of Jewish Blogging.
Just a few houses down is the location of Eliyokim Cohen who produces a daily news show, Jews News. It's a "must see."
Shelly lives a couple of minutes' walk from our street. She blogs, too. Her latest post promotes Sundays off, the opposite of my latest one on Shiloh Musings.
And yes, my husband blogs, too.
I don't think that there is a Havel Havelim this week, so please enjoy this bit of Jewish Blogging.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Forty 40 Years!
According to the Jewish Calendar, exactly forty years and a couple of hours ago I became a mother. I didn't write "for the first time," because once a mother, always a mother.
With the birth of my first child, my life changed forever. All I had ever wanted to be was to be a mother. I had never planned any other profession. I expected my husband to provide all the financial resources we would need, just like my own father did. That part of my dream was a mistake, and we'll always suffer for that, unless one of us manages to write a great book, best seller, to provide us with a comfortable income for the rest of our lives.
This may not be "pc" in this modern world, but I still think that there's nothing more important than being a mother. What's the point of going through pregnancy and birth to give your child to others for raising and education? No, I'm not promoting "home-schooling." My first-born and I used to prepare for my parent-teacher conferences. I knew what to say and ask each teacher. By the time my younger ones were in school, I was a real professional... mother. Yes, being a parent is a profession. One of the things that made me want to leave teaching was that the parents weren't playing their role properly. I even tried to get the school to invite the parents of remedial students for special parent-teacher get-togethers, so they'd learn how to help their children. After sitting alone at my desk for hours waiting for parents who didn't come to talk to me, I knew that I was wasting my time. I didn't even receive phone calls from parents who received letters that their sons were failing English.
A parent's role is to be an advocate for each child. That doesn't mean to blindly support everything your child does. It's to help your child and the "system" get along.
I've learned an awful lot in the past forty years. In some ways being a mother is nothing like I had expected, and in some ways it has been even more wonderful than my dreams.
My five children are all very different. I love all five equally.
It's hard to believe that I've been a mother for forty years. In my mind, I'm just a teenager...
With the birth of my first child, my life changed forever. All I had ever wanted to be was to be a mother. I had never planned any other profession. I expected my husband to provide all the financial resources we would need, just like my own father did. That part of my dream was a mistake, and we'll always suffer for that, unless one of us manages to write a great book, best seller, to provide us with a comfortable income for the rest of our lives.
This may not be "pc" in this modern world, but I still think that there's nothing more important than being a mother. What's the point of going through pregnancy and birth to give your child to others for raising and education? No, I'm not promoting "home-schooling." My first-born and I used to prepare for my parent-teacher conferences. I knew what to say and ask each teacher. By the time my younger ones were in school, I was a real professional... mother. Yes, being a parent is a profession. One of the things that made me want to leave teaching was that the parents weren't playing their role properly. I even tried to get the school to invite the parents of remedial students for special parent-teacher get-togethers, so they'd learn how to help their children. After sitting alone at my desk for hours waiting for parents who didn't come to talk to me, I knew that I was wasting my time. I didn't even receive phone calls from parents who received letters that their sons were failing English.
A parent's role is to be an advocate for each child. That doesn't mean to blindly support everything your child does. It's to help your child and the "system" get along.
I've learned an awful lot in the past forty years. In some ways being a mother is nothing like I had expected, and in some ways it has been even more wonderful than my dreams.
My five children are all very different. I love all five equally.
It's hard to believe that I've been a mother for forty years. In my mind, I'm just a teenager...
Saturday, July 30, 2011
What Happened to The Weather?
It's too hot!
It's much too hot!!
I can't take the heat!!!
Yes, I'm back to feeling the heat, suffering from the heat. Yes, it's too hot!
Sorry for the rant.
And, yes, I know that in a few months I'll be kvetching about the cold. Why can't I just bottle the summer heat for winter and the winter cold for summer?
It's much too hot!!
I can't take the heat!!!
Yes, I'm back to feeling the heat, suffering from the heat. Yes, it's too hot!
Sorry for the rant.
And, yes, I know that in a few months I'll be kvetching about the cold. Why can't I just bottle the summer heat for winter and the winter cold for summer?
Friday, July 29, 2011
Eating Kosher on Delta Airlines
I must admit that the Regal kosher food served on Delta was pretty tasty. Considering that I'm on a low carbohydrate diet, I didn't try the rolls, so I can't give an opinion about them. The food was much better than the kosher meals served on British Airways and competes with El Al.
Delta provided "unlimited" kosher pretzels and peanuts in tiny bags. But of course I recommend bringing a supply of fruit and unsalted nuts for noshing.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Big JBlogger Tweet-up, Meet, Just Fun
HaGov, The Lion's Den--the best kosher sports bar & grill in Jerusalem, was the venue for a major Jewish social media get-together last night. Dozens of Jewish Bloggers, facebook and twitter folk gathered in honor of the visit of Hadassah Sabo Milner, In The Pink.
Here are a couple of pictures. There's more on my facebook page. Name the bloggers!!
Here are a couple of pictures. There's more on my facebook page. Name the bloggers!!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Elegant and Delicious, Kosher Dairy Dining on the Upper East Side
U Café was a big surprise for us when we were wandering Lexington Avenue searching for a kosher restaurant after arriving in New York. Was it totally by chance we had turned uptown to look instead of downtown, or was it that my husband had done an internet search when I had been napping after the all night flight? Whatever the reason, we were very happy with our find and even returned for a second meal there.
Considering how exhausted and jetlagged I was then, I can't remember the names of what we ordered but here are some pictures. Presentation, as you can see, is as important to the Pini Ben-Ari and family as the recipes. Service is also great. He came over to check if everything was alright and quickly discovered that we have mutual friends.
Considering how exhausted and jetlagged I was then, I can't remember the names of what we ordered but here are some pictures. Presentation, as you can see, is as important to the Pini Ben-Ari and family as the recipes. Service is also great. He came over to check if everything was alright and quickly discovered that we have mutual friends.
U Cafe LLC
1436 Lexington Avenue
(Between 93rd & 94th Streets)
New York, NY 10128
Tel: (212)-427-8223
Fax: (212)-427-8825
Email: info@ucafeny.com
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
That Ancient Golden Bell
Listen:
Now I finally understand the reason why gold is so valuable. Think about how old this bell is.
Rare gold bell discovered in excavations in Jerusalem
24 Jul 2011
The bell was apparently sewn to the garment worn by a high official in Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period.
(Communicated by the Israel Antiquities Authority)
A rare gold bell with a small loop at its end was discovered during an archaeological excavation in the drainage channel that begins in the Shiloah Pool and continues from the City of David to the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden, near the Western Wall. The excavations are being conducted at the site on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in cooperation with the Nature and Parks Authority and underwritten by Ir David Foundation.
According to the excavation directors, archaeologists Eli Shukron and Professor Ronny Reich of Haifa University, "It seems the bell was sewn on the garment worn by a high official in Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period (first century CE). The bell was exposed inside Jerusalem's main drainage channel at that time, among the layers of earth that had accumulated along the bottom of it. This drainage channel was built and hewn the length of the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, on the bottom of the slope descending to the Tyropoeon Valley. This drainage channel conveyed rainwater from different parts of the city, by way of the City of David and the Shiloah Pool, to Nahal Kidron.
The main street of the Jerusalem is in the region of the excavation, above the drainage channel. This road ascended from the Shiloah Pool in the City of David and an interchange, known today as 'Robinson's Arch', was built in it, by way of which people entered the Temple Mount. Apparently, the high official was walking in the Jerusalem street in the vicinity of Robinson's Arch and lost the gold bell that fell from his garment into the drainage channel beneath the road.
We know from sources that the high priests, who served in the Temple, used to hang a gold bell from the fringes of their robe. Thus, for example, in the 'Tetzaveh' Torah portion, in the Book of Exodus, there is a description of the high priest Aaron's robe: "All of blue... it shall have a binding of woven work... And upon the skirts of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the skirts thereof; and bells of gold between them round about." It is impossible to know for certain if the bell did indeed belong to one of the high priests; however, the possibility should not be entirely discounted.
Monday, July 25, 2011
HH, The More The Merrier
I just love these sorts of surprises. Because of some foul-ups/malfunctions in blog carnival the free service that collects and sends links to blog posts for blog carnivals like Havel Havelim, The Kosher Cooking Carnival and JPIX, there was no HH last week. Yesterday, Susan posted a "make-up" edition and now Ya'aqov has posted another "make-up edition." Instead of one or none we now have two!
So check out Ya'aqov's Havel Havelim and Susan's if you haven't gotten to it.
All the information for participating and hosting is in both.
As Ya'aqov mentioned, there will be a big "tweet-up" in Jerusalem's best kosher sports bar & grill, HaGov, 5 Yoel Solomon St., 7-10pm, on Wednesday so we can f2f with Hadassa and William Daroff. Actually, although my blog posts tweet, I'm not in the scene. I don't travel with that sort of equipment.
It seems like there will never be an official "third international Jewish bloggers convention." With Twitter and Facebook many bloggers are in touch and actually blog less. There will be quite a number of bloggers at HaGov on Wednesday. So if you want to f2f, meet us in person, then come. PS the food is great!
So check out Ya'aqov's Havel Havelim and Susan's if you haven't gotten to it.
All the information for participating and hosting is in both.
As Ya'aqov mentioned, there will be a big "tweet-up" in Jerusalem's best kosher sports bar & grill, HaGov, 5 Yoel Solomon St., 7-10pm, on Wednesday so we can f2f with Hadassa and William Daroff. Actually, although my blog posts tweet, I'm not in the scene. I don't travel with that sort of equipment.
It seems like there will never be an official "third international Jewish bloggers convention." With Twitter and Facebook many bloggers are in touch and actually blog less. There will be quite a number of bloggers at HaGov on Wednesday. So if you want to f2f, meet us in person, then come. PS the food is great!
Please Help Through Israeli Bureaucracy
Well-known jblogger Lady-Light of Tikkun Olam is here in Israel trying to help her daughter who is now physically handicapped and in constant pain ever since being hit by a car when doing guard duty. The story of Nechama Tzippora bat Ora Tova's RSD is chronicled in their blogs.
This morning I had a long talk with Lady-Light and tried to help her find ways to get her daughter into the proper Israeli system to get all the medical and financial help someone with RSD needs G-d willing to be cured or at least function. Unfortunately, her daughter had worked for a private company and not the government. The private security companies do not take good care of their workers. Also, in Israel there isn't the American legal precedent "custom" of awarding enormous financial packages as compensation. But there are things that Israelis can and should get by law, and that does include what she needs.
If anyone knows more about how to get into the system, please email lady-light. Thanks
This morning I had a long talk with Lady-Light and tried to help her find ways to get her daughter into the proper Israeli system to get all the medical and financial help someone with RSD needs G-d willing to be cured or at least function. Unfortunately, her daughter had worked for a private company and not the government. The private security companies do not take good care of their workers. Also, in Israel there isn't the American legal precedent "custom" of awarding enormous financial packages as compensation. But there are things that Israelis can and should get by law, and that does include what she needs.
If anyone knows more about how to get into the system, please email lady-light. Thanks
New Israeli Singing Sensation, Ethiopian-Israeli Woman
Netivotgirl, who sometimes posts on Shiloh Musings, sent me a youtube of the winner of Israel's version of "American Idol," כוכב נולד "Kochav Nolad," "A Star is Born," is Hagit Yasou, an Ethiopian from Sderot.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
"Leaving on a Jet Plane," Last Month's Voices Article
Written for Voices Magazine
Voices from Shiloh
Leaving on a Jet PlaneBy Batya MedadTammuz
July, 2011
Yes, it’s that time of the year again. It’s time for the big “kibbud av v’em” mitzvah. And now that means flying all the way to Arizona. Last year my son and I took my father to reunite with my mother in Arizona near my sister. The year before I flew to New York and brought my father here on aliyah since there was nobody who could take care of my father. My mother was in the hospital, and the plan was for her to join him here. Now, I try not to make plans.
I couldn’t sleep last night. There are all sorts of “minor details” concerning this upcoming visit I still haven’t taken care of. It’s rather insane. My bags are pretty much packed. That’s the “easy part.”
It’s always hard for me to leave Shiloh and Israel. Each time gets worse. I just can’t imagine what my life would have been like if I hadn’t made all the changes I made, very much following G-d’s commandments to Avram in Lech Lecha:
א וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָם, לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ. 1 Now the LORD said unto Abram: 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee.Not that many years ago, such a move would be very permanent with almost no contact with one’s old, former world. But today is both easier and more difficult. We have phones, internet and that jet plane…
Have a good and safe summer.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Indian Kosher Food in New York
At first I liked the food.
Then, some point during the main course I began to feel that I had eaten too much salt. I'm not a salt-lover. Everyone else loved the food.
It's a meat restaurant, unusual for an Indian one. But considering that it's for Jews, no big surprise.
Friday, July 22, 2011
That NYC JFK Air Train
Last year when I landed in NY's JKF International Airport from AZ I wasn't prepared to use it. For some reason crossing the road from the arrivals exit to the door/gate seemed insurmountable. Instead I spent a ridiculous amount of money to be a passenger on some bus that took me to Mid-town Manhattan after a long wait. This year I was ready and am glad that I took the plunge. Now I wouldn't hesitate as long as I could carry, wheel, schlepp my bags. I took it twice.
The first time was after landing on the red-eye from AZ and needed to get to a cousin in Far Rockaway. I took the Air Train to the Howard Beach subway stop and followed his directions to the station from where he picked me up. The helpful red-jacketed worker helped me fill my Metrocard with enough money and pointed me in the right direction.
My second time traveling the Air Train was to get to the airport. Since I had my big suitcase and carry-on, my lovely nephew (after assisting me to walk, with all the bags, cross-town from Grand Central Station) got me onto a LIRR train to Jamaica at Penn Station. At Jamaica I successfully followed directions to the Air Train and arrived at JFK International Airport without any problems.
Here are some pictures:
The first time was after landing on the red-eye from AZ and needed to get to a cousin in Far Rockaway. I took the Air Train to the Howard Beach subway stop and followed his directions to the station from where he picked me up. The helpful red-jacketed worker helped me fill my Metrocard with enough money and pointed me in the right direction.
My second time traveling the Air Train was to get to the airport. Since I had my big suitcase and carry-on, my lovely nephew (after assisting me to walk, with all the bags, cross-town from Grand Central Station) got me onto a LIRR train to Jamaica at Penn Station. At Jamaica I successfully followed directions to the Air Train and arrived at JFK International Airport without any problems.
Here are some pictures:
Thursday, July 21, 2011
JPIX and KCC Reminders, Now That Blog Carnival Is "Functioning"
For the past couple of months those of us who look forward to, host and participate in the Jewish blog carnivals, floating internet magazines, have found them floundering because of problems with the service that usually delivers links to the hosts. I don't know what the problem was, but there are signs that it has been solved.
Please send your links to Jewish picture posts for JPIX, which I'll be hositing in just over a week or so. And also send posts concering kosher food, halacha, Jewish Law, customs, recipes and restaurant and cookbook reviews to the Kosher Cooking Carnival. If you'd like to host an edition, please let me know.
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