When Will it Rain?

Here in Israel rain is rare. The rainy season is after the Jewish Holidays, usually starting some time in October, ending in March.  And even then we can have a couple of dry weeks or more. Droughts are common. Actually, we're suffering the effects of a shrinking Lake Kinneret (Galilee) and Dead Sea right now.

I'm not writing this to complain about the weather. It's just that I'm planning on going to Jerusalem and want to be "prepared." It's not all that cold, but should I bring a jacket, umbrella etc? The forecasts aren't clear. One says dry, and the other predicts rain.

Last night as the sun was setting

Today we expect +27..+20 °C, without precipitation, gentle breeze. Tomorrow: +25..+22 °C, without precipitation, gentle breeze. Weather site

Scattered Thunderstorms 26°17° 40% W 18 km/h 66%
Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. High 26C. Winds W at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 40%.  A different weather site

Art of Revelation: A Visual Encounter with the Jewish Bible, Stunning!

I am very privileged to be reviewing Yoram Raanan's Art of Revelation: A Visual Encounter with the Jewish Bible.

For months I had been waiting for the book to arrive, and it was certainly worth the wait. It's the art book worth buying a coffee table for.

Some of you may have read about the burning of Raanan's studio a couple of years ago.

"IN NOVEMBER 2016, A FIRE DESTROYED MY STUDIO, TOGETHER WITH FORTY YEARS OF WORK,
I soon began painting again, and I realized this was only another part of a journey I'd begun long ago..." Yoram Raanan

Miraculously, after the fire that destroyed Raanan's studio and a large percentage of his paintings, he was able to produce this book from photos of them.

I went through Raanan's entire book, studying all the paintings. It is organized by the weekly Torah Portions. For some Torah Portions there is more than one painting, since apparently he uses the art medium of his painting to interpret the Bible, annually. It reminded me of how, each year when we read Parshot Shavua, we see different points/lessons and interpret the same words, verses and stories differently each year. I found some of the paintings absolutely stunning, aesthetically and spiritually.  Many of Raanan's paintings would be exquisite on silk.

Lech Lecha

Noach

Bereishit

Aren't they gorgeous!? Definitely awesome.

Presently, Art of Revelation: A Visual Encounter with the Jewish Bible by Yoram Raanan can only be purchased via his site; click here. It's a visual and spiritual treat, perfect to feast your eyes on Shabbat,  Jewish Holidays and weekdays, too. Perfect as a gift, not only to give to others. You should enjoy it, too.

Adventure on The New Jerusalem High Speed Train

One great advantage of our age and being retired is the opportunity for spontaneity. There are very few strictly scheduled events to worry about. After a lovely lunch in Center 1 with friends from all over the world, my longtime buddy and I decided to take the lightrail to the center of Jerusalem. Since we had a few minutes before the trolly's arrival, she wanted to ask some questions at the nearby Navon Train Station of the new Jerusalem High Speed Train. The young man at Information informed us that "today," meaning yesterday, we didn't need advance reservations to take the new train to Ben Gurion Airport. All we needed was our trusty Rav-kav.

And so, within seconds, we were on our way. The young friendly help staff assisted us in "purchasing" our free roundtrip tickets. We're still young enough to enjoy an unplanned adventure.

We had read about the Jerusalem High Speed Train, which like when the lightrail was new, is offering free rides. I must admit that I had been nervous about the long escalator ride underground. I'm still traumatized by old wooden escalators in the London Underground at Kings Cross to the Northern Line, which I had taken forty-three years ago. I must tell you that these new Jerusalem escalators are wonderful. I felt very safe and didn't feel any ear pressure when we got deep underground to the tracks.

In keeping with the festive mood of the pre-opening of the Jerusalem High Speed Train, we were given little chocolates. It was clear that many of the passengers, including young families, were on the train as a lark, like us, but there were also quite a few who appeared to be legitimate airplane travelers. They had lots of luggage with them.

We sat in the upper part of the train and looked out of the window, but it was disappointing to discover that a large portion of the route was in tunnels. We could see at times that we were speeding much more quickly than the cars of the parallel road.

The biggest time-waster was when we got back to Jerusalem and couldn't find an up escalator. All there seemed to be were a few much-too-small elevators. They were crowded and slow in coming. I think that only one was actually working. If that's so, then Gd willing it should be easier to get up once they're all fully functioning.

For people who live in or near Jerusalem, the Jerusalem High Speed Train is great. To and from Shiloh it isn't. We're actually as close to the airport as we are to Jerusalem. That's another reason why I enjoyed yesterday's adventure. I may never have another real opportunity to take the train.

eating the free chocolate candy

The actual train ride is just over twenty minutes in each direction, and there's a train every half hour.

In just over 90 minutes we traveled to Ben Gurion Airport, walked around the arrivals area and took the train back to Jerusalem.

Another Batch of Challah in New Kitchen

My first batch of challah and rolls pretty much lasted until the end of the Jewish Holiday Season. Between being invited out for meals and buying just a few rolls to supplement, I only restocked/baked more challah yesterday.

My new Electrolux oven is large enough for me to get all the challot in at once, spread over two trays. I used the lower heat plus fan and just kept the upper tray in a bit longer. I experimented a bit with the recipe. This time I didn't add eggs to the batter. We'll see if the challah is less crumbly.

You must understand that my husband and I don't eat a lot of challah or bread. One smallish roll suffices unless we have guests. So, most of what I bake as challot are round rolls. Yesterday between the challot and rolls, there were about sixteen 16 pieces. That should hold us for awhile. I would have baked a bigger batch, but I don't have freezer space. We only have the refrigerator freezer. That's also why I didn't make cakes, too, when I was baking. Since I have plenty of the two types of 1, 2, 3 cookies I had made when the family came, I don't need cake to serve on Shabbat.

All we need now are guests.

Jerusalem of Gold ירושלים של זהב

Yesterday we found ourselves in Jerusalem walking towards the setting sun, and the sky was an amazing gold.

Any Plans for The New Year?

As I wrote the other day, אחרי הגים after the Holidays is when we have no more excuses. It's time to do all sorts of things we've been postponing.

What are your plans?

Any doctors appointments or similar things you should have done but put them off?

Anyone you want to see, or should see but haven't made the time?

Is there anything you need to buy or order?

Is there something you need to do for your home?

When was the last time you went through things to see what can be thrown out? or given away? or fixed? Go through your clothes, books...

And what about that diet?

Now should be the time to start a walking/swimming/fitness routine, find exercise partners.

Sign up for an interesting or challenging class.

Make more time for your kids, grandkids, other family members and friends.

Make time for yourself.

And what about your bucket list? Do something you've always wanted to do.

Nobody lives forever.

Succot Almost Over, Soon אחרי החגים

In the Jewish Calendar, there's a period late summer when for almost a month we celebrate holidays. And when we're not celebrating, we're preparing, or cleaning up from them. This holiday season includes lots of fasting and even a twenty-five 25 hour fast.

In Israel, all these religious holidays are national holidays, when schools, government offices, banks, some stores etc are closed. Considering how soon they can fall after the two month school summer vacation, you shouldn't be surprised that for a couple of months many things get postponed until אחרי החגים, acharai hachaggim, after the Holidays.

Tonight we begin the last of these Holidays, Simchat Torah, when we joyfully dance with the Torah and move back into our homes after a week of eating and sleeping in our sukkot.

One thing for sure is that many of us will have to work really hard trying to lose the weight we've gained over the holiday season. That's one אחרי החגים things I'm not looking forward to.

Black Beer Beef, So Simple

From the same person who brought the orange juice I used for cooking the easy to cook Turkey Wings, I got some non-alcoholic black beer, which also needs to be used up. So, I decided to cook  it with the chunk of beef, which has been waiting in the freezer.

After thawing the beef and soaking it in water a bit, I did my usual stage one, adding it with some cooking oil* in a pot along with onion and fresh garlic. Then I added the beer, till it reached about a third way up the beef, a few peppercorns and covered. When it reached a boil, I lowered the flame so it would simmer a couple of hours.

That's it. It's that easy.

My plan is to serve it on the Eve of Simchat Torah, since it has a "gravy" and can stay safely on the platta, Shabbat/Holiday electric heater, until we're ready to eat. Other dishes are riskier.

*cooking oil, I cook with soy oil, even though many people nowadays prefer canola or olive oil or one of the many others available. Cook with whichever you prefer and can easily buy.

Easy Recipes and Enjoying The New Kitchen

Yesterday we had guests for a Succot lunch. They had been great fans of my new kitchen during the years I just talked and complained. I got a lot of support from them, so it was very exciting to host them. I served a fish meal, mujadarra, eggplant, baked vegetables, salad and salmon.

Mujadarrah:
1 cup brown rice
1 cup lentils
small/medium onion cut
a bit of cooking oil of your choice
4 1/2 cups boiling water

Put all but water in pot, saute a bit, then add boiling water, cover, bring to boil, lower to a simmer until you can't see any water. Leave covered at least another 10 minutes. Serve.

"Impressive" Eggplant:
eggplant
tomatoes
onion
fresh garlic
vegetable oil

Slice eggplant partially, so it opens like a book.
Fill with sliced tomato. Sprinkle diced onion and garlic, then oil. Bake in medium-high (or whatever is recommended by your oven manufacturer) oven until cooked.

"Fancy" Salmon:
Filet of salmon
lemon slices
fresh garlic
mustard
Decorate your salmon. Wrap in foil, if you're baking it at the same time as the other dishes, so it won't overcook. Otherwise just bake in a medium-high (or whatever is recommended by your oven manufacturer) oven until it seems ready. You can check that the salmon has changed color and is flaky where thickest. Yes, it's that simple.

I enjoyed the meal and hope everyone else did, too.

PS It was so much fun being able to cook so quickly. I could fit all three baked dishes in the oven at the same time. I love my new kitchen!!

Morning Dilemma

Sometimes it's hard to choose just the right mug.

Each one's a story, and I can remember most of them.

The advantage of drinking my coffee from the larger mugs is that I end up using less sugar. And the advantage of the smaller mugs is that it makes my French Press seem larger, as I have more "cups" of coffee.

Do you have a "regular" mug or cup everyday, or do you like variety?  Why? Which is your favorite, and why?