Energy Comes and Goes With Need, But...

But is seems like I'm always tired.

There are never enough hours in the night. Is it just me, or may age?

The funny thing is that when people see me at work they characterize me as "energetic." When I'm moving, I move quickly, but when I don't have anything I must do, I'm lazy.

When I'm busy I don't feel tied...

I eat a low carbohydrate healthy diet. I don't under-eat, and I don't overeat.

I preserve my energy when I don't need it. Maybe I misread that into thinking it's being "tired." I don't nap. If I do, then I can't sleep at night.

I exercise, mostly at the pool in the summer, a few times a week. My job, part-time, isn't sedentary.

Maybe I'm just a kvetch.

5pm, The Golden Ratio and Wet

Here are three more 52 Frames photos:

5pm

Wet

Adventures in Havel Havelim Land...

There's nobody like Tzivia when it comes to blogging and hosting Havel Havelim. Her latest edition just gave it a shot of energy which it hasn't seen for years. Tzivia is a fantastic writer and not only keeps up more blogs than I do, but she even writes books. I'm really, really glad that she has agreed to host Havel Havelim every few weeks.

Besides including a slew of fantastic posts, Tzivia wrote what she calls her "rant." She calls for a few improvements in Havel Havelim, which are all very good ideas. One of them was actually a condition many years ago. She requests that you send a sentence about your post, in the email to the host. Don't just send the naked link, my phrase, not hers. Tzivia also thinks that all participants should visit and comment on at least two other posts in the Havel Havelim. And she calls for more people to host. I certainly second that!

Havel Havelim is the longest running international Jewish blog carnival in the world. It's a weekly round-up of blog posts about what's happening in Israel and Jewish Life and to Jewish bloggers. We communicate and coordinate on our facebook page. Over the years there have been a few internet sites that facilitated putting up blog carnivals by collecting links sent in, then sending them off to hosts and listing the up-to-date information about the blog carnivals. This made hosting pretty easy, but now it seems like we're on our own. I'll have to start updating the information on my blogs on the "pages" or sidebar. So if you're not on facebook, then you can always send me your links and I'll, bli neder, pass them onto the host, if it's not yours truly. My email is shilohmuse at gmail dot com. You can also contact me to volunteer to host. Subject: HH links or HH hosting or HH question

To summarize:

• when submitting links to Havel Havelim, please include a line about each
• join our facebook page
• you can email me with your links or about hosting shilohmuse at gmail dot com
• visit and comment on at least two posts, preferably more or all, in each edition
• share and blog about HH each week

You don't have to be a blogger to enjoy and participate in Havel Havelim!

Diet Update: And I Didn't Even Need "Control-Top..."

Almost two years ago I bought myself a nice blue dress in my favorite outlet store in Jerusalem. I bought it because the price was right, only about 20% of original price, yes, that's 80% off* and pretty flattering except for a big of bulge that could be flattened down with control-top pantyhose. I planned on wearing it the following summer after at least a couple of weeks of getting fitter in the pool.

Well, last summer started with my mother's death and then no pool membership. Also I kept the Jewish mourning Law about not wearing new clothes pretty strictly. And somehow I ended up gaining a few kilo. I even tried to give the dress to my daughters who weren't interested.

Late this winter I put myself on a regime to get those few kilo off, and I succeeded! And the year of mourning is now over.  So this morning, for Shabbat I decided to wear the dress. I put it on and to my surprise, I discovered that those "bulges" were gone, so I didn't need the control-top pantyhose. Thank G-d!

*I found the tag, and the discount was greater than that. Original price was ns590, and I paid ns69!!!!

"Saturday Night, Full Moon;" Book Review

A not so funny thing happened on the way to writing this book review...

Saturday Night, Full Moon by Yerachmiel Michael Tilles, Menorah Books, Intriguing Stories of Kabbala Sages, Chasidic Masters and Other Jewish Heroes, has been sitting by the computer in the den for just over three weeks. I generally don't wait all that long before writing a book review. How long can one remember the facts about the book and how it felt reading it? But some very unpleasant things happened here in Israel to three wonderful families, which became the focus of my blogging of late. And you're probably well aware of them.

Teenagers Gilad Sha'ar, Naftali Fraenkel and Eyal Yifrach were kidnapped by Arab terrorists, then murdered and it took over two weeks for Israeli authorities (actually a group of civilians in the end) to find the bodies and then there was their massive funeral. Sorry, but I just couldn't think about reviewing the book, even though it was right next to me each time I saw here in the den.

Saturday Night, Full Moon, is a lovely compilation of stories, messages, full of Torah and the words of Jewish religious leaders. Each chapter has messages to make life better for us, to make us feel better.

Now you can enjoy, read and re-read, stories from Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles’ famed repertoire. Saturday Night Full Moon is a collection of thirty-three Chasidic stories of Kabbalah sages, Chasidic masters and other Jewish heroes dating from 16th Century Israel to 21st Century USA. Fully indexed with biographical information, as well as verses, names, dates and topics, this first volume of Rabbi Tilles’ stories is certain to become an oft-turned-to family treasure.

I particularly like the chart/guidelines at the beginning of each chapter with information about the people mentioned and suggestions as to when the chapter is particularly appropriate to read or use in a Dvar Torah or speech.

The Onion Plot, page 121

The stories are beautifully written and can be read or repeated at various sorts of occasions, or just read quietly to to give comfort or good ideas. Yes, it's highly recommended.

Product Code: SNFMYT

ISBN: 978-1-940516-07-3

Binding: Hardcover / 270 pages

Dimensions: 8.75” x 5.5”

Global Shipping Available

Singalong in the Shiloh Swimming-Pool

I've read that even during the worst, the most violent days of the Israeli War of Independence, people would leisurely dine and drink coffee in the cafes of Tel Aviv. Is that the sort of think that was happening this morning in our local swimming pool, here in Shiloh?

Reading the news gives the impression that the country is in turmoil, burning, but you wouldn't know it during that short hour women had in the pool this morning. The staff had some popular classic Israeli songs blasting, the kinds of songs which have been popular for decades especially at "singalongs," and many of the women did just that. We sang along together.




These are the occupations that keep us sane and give us the strength to go on.

Following Crowds, The Funeral of the Three Murdered Teenagers

In my many decades, being of pension age I'm no youngster, I've learned that at times one must just go with the flow. There are many times we just find ourselves in places or opportunities unplanned.

I must admit that I don't make it a principle to go to funerals or shiva (condolence) calls when I'm not actually acquainted with the people. If anything my "principle" has been to avoid those public occasions. I've been to too many funerals of terror victims whom I actually knew and visited and helped at homes of the victims. Before the three teenage boys' bodies were discovered (davka by a civilian crew led by a Shiloh neighbor) I kept feeling haunted by the similarities of the photos the families Fraenkel, Sha'ar and Yifrach had given to the media to show of their sons hiking the Land to photos of Yonatan Eldar, Shmuel Yerushalmi and Avi Siton, HaYa"D. Those three teenagers were all from my neighborhood and all three had also been murdered by Arab terrorists, and the pictures were so familiar. All one needed to do was to Photoshop their faces, and you'd think they were the same exact boys, Eyal, Naftali and Gil-Ad, HaYa"D. Deja vu...

When I got my schedule for this week, I was surprised to have Tuesday off, since I had been working Tuesdays of late. I do work part-time and had given my boss a lot of leeway in scheduling me. I really didn't know what to do. It was too hot to try to visit a cousin in Tel Aviv; the Israel Museum isn't open Tuesday morning. And my daughter had asked me to babysit on Monday. So then when it was announced Monday night that the boys's bodies had been discovered, I began pondering the idea of going to the funeral. It was cinched when I got a message that there would be buses from Shiloh. We were to only attend the last part, the joint burial. That made sense, and was logistically the most sensible, also the safest, health-wise, for us to do. No doubt that most of the people who needed medical care had been to one of the earlier eulogy parts of the funerals in the various communities the boys were from. Our bus picked up people on the way who already looked close to collapse. They told us that they were coming from Talmon and their bus had broken down.

Since I'm not going to repeat/copy the article I posted on Shiloh Musings, please click here to read it. And of course I'm interested in your comments. Please share it, too, thanks.

Funeral of Eyal Yifrah, Gil-Ad Sha’ar and Naftali Fraenkel, HaYa"D

Suffocating in the Heat and Sadness

Yesterday, meaning last night would have been the perfect evening to take advantage of the women's only (18+) night hour at the local pool. It was so hot that I wouldn't have been chilled by the usual too cool air that contrasts with the warm pool water.

The suffocating heat and overeating at a friend's house earlier in the day left me feeling lethargic and almost paralyzed. Even the babysitting for the grandkids didn't energize me all that much. They are pretty big now, I besides cooking lunch and supervising a bit, all I had to do was to enjoy their antics and admire the precocious mathematical skills of the little ones. Maybe if I had been drinking the water like I kept urging to the kids to do I would have felt better later on...

I was so tired when I got home that I didn't even pay attention to the news or phone messages, so I wasn't among the first to find out that the bodies of the three Jewish teenagers had been found. But when I did, in a phone call davka from the states, all I could do was to write...

We Should All Be Ripping Our Clothes in Mourning

Me, A Beer Mavin?

Could it be the influence of my old friend Doug and his wonderful beer blog,  Israel Brews and Views? Last Wednesday I did a very unprofessional beer-tasting between three beers. Two of them have been featured on Doug's blog.

Most of the food and even drink at the American Consulate's Independence Day gathering weren't kosher. Most rabbinic authorities consider all beers, especially the non-flavored, to be kosher, so I decided to try the first beer I found. It was davka the Arab beer, Taybeh.

To  be honest, I'm not a real beer maven, but I do have my personal opinions. The Taybeh beer could be best described as ordinary, nothing special.

The next beer I found was the Israeli boutique beer Dancing Camel. Just like with Taybeh, I requested only half a glass. This beer was more to my taste. There was definitively something special about it. If given a choice between the two, I'd go for Dancing Camel any time.

After leaving the Consulate, I picked up my bag at my son's apartment. When he heard of my beer-tasting adventure he decided to top it off with a third beer, Turborg Red. To my unpolished palette it tasted a bit like the Taybeh beer, nothing special.

Both my sons added their opinions. One agreed with me, and the other didn't. As I tell my customers at Yafiz.

"Taste is totally subjective. There's no right and wrong."

But I'd like your opinions in the comments, please, thanks.

Not All Ice Cream is The Same

Many people were really happy that Ben & Jerrry's was served at the American Independence Day reception at the United States Consulate. I wasn't. Years ago, when we first started going/were invited, they served Häagen-Dazs. I love Häagen-Dazs, always did, and even though the original owners are no longer on the scene, I'll never forget that they were strong Zionists and donated even to Shiloh.

There was never even a flavor I didn't like.  I am addicted to their mint ice cream, but that's another story.

I was relieved that Ben & Jerry's was at the consulate, because it's kosher. So I had some. I don't remember the name of one of the flavors; the other was the passionflower. They had no flavor even though there should have been a real contrast between them. I've never had that experience with Häagen-Dazs and even other cheaper ice creams.

Only after we had the meat meal from the Waldorf Astoria stand did I discover that there was kosher sushi, which would have made a better first course. I was stuffed. Next time, if there's a next time, I'll try to check out the offerings first.

Praying for The Safe Return of Eyal, Naftali and Gil-Ad, Chodesh Tammuz Tov Havel Havelim

Cross-posted on Shiloh Musings

Unfortunately, we're now in week #3 praying for the safe return of the three teenagers kidnapped by Arab terrorists.

Jewish Press

Many of the posts in this week's Havel Havelim will be on this topic and the terrorism and violence by the Arabs.

Havel Havelim is the weekly blog carnival by Jewish bloggers from all over the world. It has been going on for more than a dozen years. First started and coordinated by Soccer Dad, who no longer blogs, we now use facebook to keep in touch and organize. If you'd like to participate as blogger, host or just reader of HH, then click and join.

As is my norm, I'm just listing the titles of the posts, not the authors or blogs. Click to read, comment and share, thanks.

A Mitzvah Not to Ignore–Health Wrap Up
She Spent Her Wedding Night With Two Hundred and Twenty One Men: A True Love Story

Did The Arab Terrorists Expect the Kidnapping to Escalate to War?
What does Quneitra have in common with UNRWA camps?
Gentle Strength
The two saddest things and why
4th of July, A Bit Early
Yes, I am Still Tremping, aka Hitchhiking!
The Innocence that Is Still Theirs
Three Yellow Ribbons Round Tree Illustration
28-Jun-14: Escalating terrorist rocket attacks on southern Israel over the Sabbath
Gafni request Knesset Beit Knesset to be expanded
IslamoNazi Child Abuse
Beyond Putting Out Fires
Life Out Loud
But The Status Quo Is Being Altered
Lessons From the Titanic
Redeem Rivky Weiss! (née Stein)

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Technorati tags: jewish-israel blog carnival aka havel ha, blog carnival. 

Just a reminder to share this edition and the various posts. Thanks and G-d willing, we will hear good news very soon.

Ballooning Wishes

BRING BACK OUR BOYS! 

Wherever you go people are talking about how they feel, wishing each other for good news. May the boys,  Eyal Yirfah, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel, be home soon, G-d willing.

4th of July, A Bit Early

Yesterday was the Jerusalem American Consulate's Annual Independence Day Bash, ok maybe "Bash" should be "bash."

We were there along with hundred and hundreds of other invited guests who included Jews, Muslims and Christians.

Some of you may be quickly checking the calendar and saying: It's a full week plus before July 4th. Yes, you're right. Since the celebration is a great food fest with food of all "stripes," the Muslims would be offended if it would take place during the month of Ramadan when they fast during the day and feast after nightfall. This is an afternoon party.

Various restaurants, hotels and food/drink businesses donate food, including kosher ones. More on that in later posts. Let it suffice by now that I ate and drank much too much.

Pain and Painting a la 52Frames

Here are my latest two week's 52 Frames photos:

Pain

 I couldn't think of anything else, but "pills in still life."

 Painting 

I know that we were really supposed to reproduce some famous painting. I was going to splash catsup and other such stuff on the floor like Jackson Pollack.

G-d Willing on Rosh Chodesh Tammuz We Will Celebrate...

G-d Willing on Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, at Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh,  We Will Celebrate the release of Gilad, Naftali and Eyal, and if G-d forbid they are still held captive by the Arab terrorists, we will pray together for their release!

Next month's Rosh Chodesh, Tammuz, will be Sunday June 29, 2014. Please save the date.

Women's Prayers at Tel Shiloh Rosh Chodesh Tamuz
Sunday, June, 29, 2014
1st of Tamuz 5774, 8:30am
Tour of Tel Shiloh & Dvar Torah, Short Torah Lesson
Please come and invite family, friends and neighbors

תפילת נשיםראש חודש תמוז בתל שילה

יום א' 29-6 א' תמוז תשע"ד 8:30

יהיה דבר תורה קצר וסיור בתל

 כדאי לבוא ולהזמין חברות, משפחה ושכנות

Mark your calendar, and join us. For more information, please contact me, thanks.

Praying at Tel Shiloh Batya Medad

For quite a number of years, I've been organizing women's Rosh Chodesh Prayers at Tel Shiloh. It's a very special experience to pray where the Biblical Chana successfully prayed for a son to lead the Jewish People.

Jewish Bloggers Concentrate of Kidnapped Boys, The Latest Havel Havelim

Esser Agaroth is host of this latest Havel Havelim, the long-running round-up Jewish blog posts from all over the world. A large proportion of the blog posts discuss various aspects of the kidnapping of the three Jewish teenagers from the Gush Etzion bus stop. We blog about what has been on our minds and there is no doubt that the terribly kidnapping is central to what we've been thinking about for a week and a half already. Please read, comment and share the posts and the Havel Havelim. We all appreciate feedback, even if you don't agree with everything we write.

Gilad Michael Ben Bat Galim, Yaccov Naftali Ben Rachel Devora and Eyal ben Iris Teshura

Blogging enables us all to be journalists and run our own papers and magazines online. At least that is what blogging is for me. When my blogs appear on various other internet news sites it's like syndication, without my getting any financial compensation. But since I blog in order to get my personal message out to the world, I've made a sort of peace with the idea that I'm not going to earn a living from writing, although I wish I could.

Havel Havelim is a weekly blog carnival and includes blog posts on Jewish interests, and most of those do center on Israel. Also the vast majority, at least of late, of the bloggers do live in Israel. We keep in touch and organize who's hosting and when on our facebook page. You're invited to join us in our community via fb to send in your links, host and at least share the weekly editions of Havel Havelim. If you have any questions, please email me with "HH Questions" as subject, shilohmuse at gmail dot com.

There are a few other Jewish blog carnivals including Jewish Book Reviews, JPIX and my Kosher Cooking Carnival. It appears every Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the Jewish Month. The next host is  Challah Maidel and you can send her your links by/before this Shabbat; click our Facebook page for more information.

These Jewish blog carnivals are certainly reasons to be glad that G-d gave us the intelligence to invent the internet. Please read, comment, participate and share, thanks.

Coffee, French Press, Israeli Ground

I was given a bag of ground coffee for my French Press. This was done at a very well-known coffeebean place in Jerusalem's Machane Yehuda, Bashkovits, 32 Etz Chaim Street. The coffee is very fine, and the filter of the French Press had no problems, hit no resistance when pushed down. I don't know the type of bean/flavor, but it's smooth and pleasant.

I drink my coffee with milk and sugar in a giant mug. Actually I have two mugfulls most mornings. And when I'm in an American coffee place I treat myself to cream or half 'nd half.

Thanks to the one who gave me this delicious coffee!

Unbelievably Easy Stuffed Vegetables

I'm going to let you in on a secret. I didn't bother making "holes," "nests" for the chopped meat in the squash. I just placed some chopped meat on the squash, and it cooked just fine in the oven. The mini-pumpkins here have a little indented spot, like a nest, which I filled with chopped meat.

Yes, it was that simple. And all I mixed with the chopped meat were:

• 1 lb. chopped meat
• 2 eggs
• 1 diced medium or small onion
• 1 medium tomato
• a generous sprinkling of garlic

Just mix it up and use to stuff vegetables, or make a meatloaf or moussaka. 

Enjoy!

Memories...

Someone I knew from the time I was just a couple of years old has written a book about memory, or the lack of it. She also blogs. Lisa Hirsch was my neighbor in Bell Park Gardens, Bayside, NY and then in Great Neck, NY. Her parents and mine were very close, and I remember the family well.

Lisa and Ruth

Alzheimer's - My Mom My Hero

Her blog and book are about her mother's Alzheimer's and growing lack of memory, coping with it for both of them.

There are so many different types of dementia. And it progress differently in each sufferer. I knew my mother had it and knew that it was getting very bad when she forgot that my son was engaged. The last truly aware thing I heard her say was "beautiful" when looking at a photo of my eldest granddaughter, her eldest great-granddaughter.

So few people who've survived to the ages of Lisa's mother and my father have both physical and mental sharpness and health. Usually at least one, if not both, of those are faulty. How sad.

Would You Believe...?

This lovely vegetable "kugle," crust-less quiche, can even be made with leftovers.

Or you can cook up, I saute only, carrots, onions, squash, cauliflower etc specially for the vegetable kugle. Add just an egg or two a bit of oil, some more seasoning and bake. I made this with vegetables I had cooked up a few days earlier.

This vegetable dish looks fancy and is low carbohydrate and good for dieting and good for serving guests. Trust me, that this healthy vegetable dish is so easy to make that I won't even format it as a recipe. You can also saute a bag of frozen vegetables in a bit of oil, and then mix it with egg and pop it in the oven, moderate heat, like for a cake. Sprinkle some cheese, nuts or seeds on top or mix in for more variety.

Enjoy!