moving on up

The Beit Shemesh Fault Line

2012-01-02T02:24:00.000+02:00

6 days a week, I wake up in the morning and walk my daughter to school. There are only crossing gaurds on one side of the street, so she needs me to help her cross the other street before she is under the care of the crossing guards (who happen to be Grade 6 students). When the school day ends, I meet her at the park near the crossing guards. In a little more than a year, she will be 9 years old and able to do this walk all by herself.

About a 10 minute drive on the other side of town. Orot, a similar religous girls school opened moved into their new building at the beginning of the school year. Their experience is completely different. It is located near the border between the Chearedi Neighbourhood RBS B and the edges of 3 Datei Leumi communities. A group of men calling themselves the Sikirm (bearing the same name as the group who's zealousness to force the Jewish to fight the Roman's lead to the destruction of the second Beith HaMikdash) come out to intimidate the girls (Grade 1 - 6). Name calling, spitting and occasionally throwing rocks and bricks are all par for the course. Parents (and at certain points members of the community) have been escorting the children through the group of thugs to protect their safety. Last week a news crew filmed a scared 8 year old girl, as her mother tried to walk her to school. The image has inspired the country to take action.

The State does have a history of mistreating religious Jews. The Charedi community reaction to the backlash has been t0 fall back to being victims of Charedi bashing and everyone being against them. Most cannot even imagine that this is a direct backlash to their long tradition of using violence and political power to force their life style on others. When I was in Yeshiva, I was a block away from where they protested to have Bar Illan street closed on Shabbat. I saw wrongs on both sides. One night when a police car was hit with a rock, an arrest was made. They spent the night calling the soldiers Nazis, which in their world is a term for anyone who doesn't agree with them. The Nazi imagery that they used Saturday night should not have been a surprise to anybody.

In order to solve the problem at Orot, it is important to look at the real root of the problem. Most importantly this is a turf war. The Sikirm want the school for themselves and to expand the borders of their community and sphere of influence.

Moshe Abutbul was elected under the mantra of a Mayor for everyone. His actions have been anything but as he tries to cater to the Charedi community. In RBS A, the Mikvaot was split between those who wanted a "Mehdarin" experience and those who wanted to have the same standards applied by Jewish communities around the world. He tried to hand them over to the Charedi community and was only stopped by the backlash from the Datei Leumi community and leadership. He has been working to close the only secular school in RBS A, while telling parents he was trying to keep it open. Eventually the Minister of Education stepped in to declare that he will use his powers to guarantee the school stays open. The year my daughter entered Grade 1, school registration was delayed, waiting for the final decision of the school to be made.

When the Sikirm protested the opening of Orot in their new building, the Mayor tried to solve the problem by not allowing the school to open. Once again the Minister of Education threatened to step in, to make sure it opened. The Mayor falsely claimed that he was just trying to listen to the advice from the police.

In order to make peace it will be necessary to remove the political power wielded by the trouble makers in the Charedi community. This can be done both from a policy of not tolerating violence and limiting the dispoportional political power.

- Police should not be afraid to arrest those who are causing violence.
- There has to be a way to enforce a restraining order preventing, such ugly protests so close to the school.
- Following the lead of other democracies and raising the minimum threshold to obtain seats in the Knesset from 2% to 5%. This will allow knock out some of the extremist parties and cause the smaller parties to carry political weight more proportionate to their size.
- Eliminate vote sharing agreements and party mergers during election campaigns. These agreements allow parties with little support to leverage their votes and advertising allotments to in exchange for political favours.

It should be noted that the Charedi fighting does not spread to the communities of Bnei Brak, Beitar Illit, Kiryat Sefar and only seem to be limited to Meah Sharim and Beit Shemesh. The Beit Shemesh Charedi community is made up of a lot of people that cannot afford to stay in Mea Sharim. Mea Sharim is such an insulated community that they just cannot handle the idea that the rest of the world is not like them. Once you think your way is the only way, anything can be justified in the name of your beliefs.

Beit Shemesh will be getting a new Police Chief this week. Hopefully, he will have the skills and if necessary force to make it safe for the Orot girls to go to school. Once that is done, the Charedi community can start worrying about repairing their reputation and getting along as peaceful neighbours. The choice is theirs.

If the Sikirim had been stopped at the beginning of the school year, there would have been no need to bring in the media. Something that should be considered before starting the next turf war. Hopefully, my friends who's daughters go to Orot can let their daughters walk to school without worry just like I can.

Simchat Torah -- Surrounded by Children

2011-10-21T02:25:00.001+02:00

Journey's 4 came out shortly before Channah was born. I listened to that CD on so many of my trips back and forth from the hospital. I felt personally connected to a bunch of the songs. One in particular was about post war Europe, where some survivors enter a boarded up shul to celebrate Simchat Torah. They discover that the Sifrei Torah are gone but there are a pair of children hiding in the shul.

We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong
From evening until morning, filling up the shul with song
Though we had no sifrei Torah to clutch an hold up high
In their place we held those children, am yisrael chai"

Every Simchat Torah, I would think of this song as I danced with Channah. She was my Sefer Torah. Last year we realized that it was the last year that she would be my Sefer Torah. She was getting too big to dance with me at shul. Rachel and I were both comforted, knowing there was going to be a new Sefer Torah to dance with this year.

Last night at shul, I could feel a tear in my soul. I wanted to connect to the joy and deep meaning of the day. At the same time, I didn't have my Sefer Torah to hold and dance with. I had a hard time participating, never mind enjoying the night. I had expressed to the Rabbi earlier in the week that I wanted Kol HaNearim. He told me that it had been taken care of.

This morning the auction reached Kol HaNearim. (Chatan Bereshit & Chatan Torah are assigned before the Chag). I immediately put up my hand to bid. Things went so fast that I am not sure how much I bid, but I had to withdraw pretty quickly. A friend dropped out when bidding hit 1000 NIS. Very quickly, the price hit 2000 NIS. The Rabbi called a timeout and asked who the other bidder was. They had a short meeting. The other bidder was someone who is really important in our life and is one of the people we consider to be our adopted family. The auctioneer choked up as he announced the two had formed a syndicate and had purchased the Aliyah for 4000 NIS and were giving it to me. Suddenly, I was overcome with a feeling of peace and comfort. I was able to fully enjoy Hakafot.

The Aliyah gave me a lot more Chizuk then I thought it would. All the kids said the bracha with me while Channah stood behind me. My aliyah talked about the land allocated to Dan, Naphtali and Asher. Our home is in the Dan region and Naphtali was the name we were going to use if Channah had been a boy. Chattan Bereshit (which came right after mine), mentioned Moshe seeing "Gilad" before he died and the Gabi reference, where Moshe died and we don't know where he is burried. It also contains the letter that I wrote for Gabi, although leining was not taking place from that particular Sefer Torah.

I do not believe in segulahs, as they tend to be people putting their faith into made up rituals, where the outcome is not always in our hand. However, having Kol HaNarim seemed to be the correct way to express everything that we have been through this year. I spent the time hoping that Hashem will grant our prayers to not be quite in the same positions next year. Next year, I will be more than happy to stand by and watch as I hold my own new and little Sefer Torah in my arms. May Hashem answer this one prayer with a yes.

What an End to the Season

2011-10-17T01:12:00.000+02:00

Today was the end of the winter softball season. Wow, what a way to end the season. The game was at Baptist Village which is a lot further away then where we play most of our games. It was the first time, I played there. It had a very different feel then Gezer field as the out field fences were better designed to contain the ball. When I arrived the Sunday night pick up game was still playing. I asked them what type of ball they were using because it was bouncing like it was one of the rubber balls you use to play baseball inside a gym when it snows. It turns out that is was just that the field was very muddy, even though the mud was dry.

Before the game could start, we had an unusual problem. We had a full 9 man team but the other team was one man short. Not only that but one of our players brought a bunch of his kids including a 16 year old that we lent to their team. The original trade was a player straight for nothing. Then we realized that most of our main players were away and we only had one bat. At that point we sent in another negotiator to get a bat as part of the trade. We also gave them a LF, until his turn a bat (he batted 7th in the first) until their "9th" player arrived.

I started the game batting clean up and playing 2nd base. The first inning we scored a bunch of runs and held them scoreless on a bunch of pop ups. The 2nd inning they caught up, after we went 3 up 3 down. I was able to catch an inning ending pop up, which is a play that has been a problem for me as long as I have played baseball. First inning I had a one out ground out to advance the runner to their. Second inning I struck out.

Third inning I grounded out again. I also dropped a pop up. Then the controversy started. With the bases loaded, a ground ball was fielded and thrown home. The ball hit the catchers glove and it landed in his feet. The umpire called him out. He said the catcher had the ball and dropped it after being bumped by the base runner. They then hit a grounder to me, which I turned into an inning ending 4-3 double play. The other teams coach who had been on 3rd base at the time went nuts.

In the 4th we made a pitching change. Our (ringer) catcher, came into pitch for our coach. I was moved behind the plate. I did not have a good game behind the plate. On what play with runners on 1st and 2nd with two out a grounder was hit to our 3rd baseman. Umpire yelled, foul ball, so he didn't rush to make a play. Then he said my mistake and tried to rule it a fair ball. If it had been fair the inning would have been over. Once again their coach went nuts arguing the call. He wanted it to count as a single with the bases loaded. It was eventually ruled no pitch and the batter flew out to CF ending the inning.

In the top of the fifth the score was 11-10 with me at the plate with two runners on. I hit a clutch RBI single passed the second baseman making the score 12-10. We scored our last run on a wild pitch bringing the score to 13-10.

In the bottom of the fifth I was still catching. Two runs had scored making the score 13-12. Then the batter struck out with a ball low in the dirt. I don't know if it was a strike or not. All I know is I caught the ball and tagged the runner for good measure. The coach of the other team came out yelling at the umpire again. The ump said either you go or I go and walked off the field. Eventually he came back to finish off the inning. At that point, I went back to 2nd and our catcher went behind the plate as our regular pitcher returned to the mound to go for the save. First play was a ground ball to short which, was thrown to me for a 6-4 out. Then the next ball was grounded directly to me, for me to get the unassisted last out. The game was called, even though there was time left, because the umpires didn't want things to get more out of hand.

When hand shakes went around their coach shook on umpires hand but not the other. This lead to another shouting match, with the coach being threatened with expulsion from the league and the umpire being critized by the other ump for stirring things up.

The final outcome is we won our last game 13-12. Despite my mistakes, I made a solid contribution to the win.

Coming Face to Face with Rosh HaShanah

2011-09-28T12:18:00.000+03:00

As Judgment Day approaches, I cannot help to think with great sadness of how much things have changed in the past year. I went into Rosh HaShanah feeling confident that our lives had just seemed to fall into place. Gone was the feeling, that we were not where we were supposed to be in life. I entered the year confident that I finally had my life in order.

-Channah was starting elementary school and loves being Israeli
-The frustration of a possible move disappeared a few days after returning to Israeli soil
-I have a great job with a great boss
-I had finally set up the learning schedule I wanted, including a chavrusah
-We were doing a tremendous Mitzvah by allowing a long term guest stay in our apartment while they tried to put their life back together again
-I had taken it upon myself to publicly defend one of my Rabbi's from a major controversy taken out of context
-We made the decision to be more proactive, so that I would make the 240 km trek more often to the closest hockey arena
-We were satisfied with our lot in life, including accepting that our family would always be the 3 of us.
-Rachel had upgraded her skills over the summer and was looking forward to applying her new skills to her jewelery
-We were living in the land promised to our ancestors so many years ago, we were literaly living in Jewish history.

That confidence carried over Less then a week later, with Yom Kippor approaching, it appeared that the prayers of a very special 6 year old girl had been answered. All she wanted was a little sister. Although it was a very difficult pregnancy, we met every step of the way with tremendous joy. I was confident that such a wonderful gift would come to fruition. When we hit the gestational date, where Channah was born, we celebrated and went out and bought a stroller. We were coming down the stretch home free.

Then one night Rachel's instincts told her something was wrong. The false confidence I had built allowed me to convince Rachel to wait until doctor appointment in the morning. By then it was too late. Even in the ambulance, full siren racing towards the hospital, I thought the worst case scenario was, we were dealing with a preemie and NICU time. It didn't even occur to me that her life had been in danger and it was already too late. Gabi would be born that day, just without a heart beat. Life would never be the same.

Over the last 7 months we have seen the best and worst in people. We have endless stories of both close friends and strangers, stepping up to help us deal with our grief. There will be many people standing before God this year, with the merits of not only literally saving Rachel's life but saving my family from being destroyed by grief. The flip side is the countless friendships and relationships that have been destroyed in the last number of months. People who we thought we could count on, who put their own comfort in front of our time of need. People who decided what we needed best but didn't have a clue, how wrong they were. People who would ask what we needed and proceed to do the opposite. I have done my best to forget about the burnt out wreckage of those lost friendships. That doesn't mean I sometimes miss the illusion of what I thought I had.

This year, I stand in judgment not with my accomplishments but holding the shards of my broken family that I am trying to put back together. I have less merits than last year, to plead to over turn the evil decree. The only thing I can ask, is that "time served" is enough punishment for my family and that we will have the strength to get back on our feet. I have always tried to be the anchor to hold everything together. Even in the last two weeks, I have found myself feeling more like a dead weight then keeping the ship away from danger.

May everyone (especially those who took the bitterness out of this year), have a sweet, healthy and happy year.

Only Israeli Police Moment

2011-09-09T00:36:00.004+03:00

On the way home from softball, there are often police stationed on the on ramp from Highway 3 (goes to Modiin/Latrun) onto Hwy 1 heading towards Jerusalem. While I have wondered what they are looking for but whatever it was, it was not me.

Tonight, the police decided to pull me and the car in front of me over. While, I didn't think I did anything wrong, I started to panic just a little. I asked what was going on and all the officer said was that I he needed my license and insurance. My baseball uniform doesn't have pockets, so I try to keep remember to keep my phone and wallet in the front seat. Not only had I not done that, I couldn't figure out where I left it. Fortunately, I was giving my team mate a ride to his bus stop. I told him to get out my ownership papers, while I continued to panic looking for my wallet. In the mean time he was also able to deal with the 2 girls who were trying to tremp a ride to Jerusalem. I eventually found my wallet. The officer added my name to the long list of people who had also had random inspections and we were on our way.

In case you missed the only in Israel part of the story. There were two girls, on a highway on ramp, waiting for people to stop (either voluntarily or by the police) to give them a ride to Jerusalem.

As for the softball game. It was the first game of the season. For some reason the coach decided that, I can hit and batted me 5th, as I played 2nd base. The other teams pitcher was throwing real hard. My first at bat, I hit the ball so it landed just outside the batter box in fair territory. That was good enough for a single (the teams first hit of the season). My 2nd at bat I hit a hanging liner up the middle that was caught. I also had two put outs at 2nd base. We lost 11-0 after 5 innings on the mercy rule. Although the game was much closer than the scoreboard made it appear.

Random pictures

2011-06-17T15:17:00.001+03:00

Hachnasat Sefer Torah for the shul

Jason writing his letters

the children's latters

~~Fields of Dreams~~ Gezer Field Maariv after the game

It is not bananas it is called eclipse (as seen from gezer field)

eatting the worlds most awesome ice cream in geulah

new uv safe swimsuit from aunt R and uncle B

at gezer field watching abba play softball

Cherry Picking Festival

2011-06-17T15:08:00.001+03:00

In Israel, any 2 people doing something can be a festival. "Hey look, we are both hanging laundry- it is the laundry hanging festival!" Going for a walk with a friend, it's a walking festival! Well today we went to the annual Gush Cherry picking festival- and let me tell you this really was a festival!

I am going to let the pictures tell the story. There were also shopping booths, and play areas for kids. But the picking was the most fun. We had a blast! (all pictures were taken on my phone so some are a little dark)

the next one is friends of ours who got us there without getting lost

the Titanic sinking as the power went out

What the orchards look like from above

Sefer Torah and Hidden Graves

2011-06-17T14:41:00.001+03:00

The oppurtunity to fulfill the mitzvah of writting a Sefer Torah by actually writting a Sefer Torah is a rare opportunity. I had done it once before, when my Yeshiva was taking the Sefer Torah from place to place to give alumni the opportunity to write a letter, even if they could not afford it. I was so nervous, that I basically losely held the pen while the Sofer did the work.

Shavuot night, they announced that a new Sefer Torah was being donated to the shul last night. What immediately appealed to us, was that they allocated the last two words for all of the children and would only require a 5 NIS donation. We immediately bought one for Channah and Gabi. After much contemplation we decided to by two letters at full price. One for my FIL who is currently on the winning side of a battle with a brain tumor and one for our family.

We got to the house where the final letters were being written and I told the Sofer that I had bought two letters. He asked if I wanted him to do it or if I would like to do it myself. I told him that I wanted to do it. He showed me how to hold the pen and had me practise on a scrap piece of parchment. I got it perfect on the first shot, so the Sofer picked out some of the harder letters to fill out. My hand started to shake, then I couldn't get the ink to come out. After some moving around he found me a Bet and a Reish to fill in from the world בארץ I wrote my two letters and then the Sofer cleaned them up and finished the word. There are commentaries who say that you can read out all of Jewish History in Parsha וזאת הבראכה and now I had my own special word. I hadn't really been paying attention to the Pasuk and in my head was thinking how it normally refers to the Land of Israel and how appropriate that was.

I then went to Shul for Mincha and looked up the Pasuk. In that section the word comes up 3 times. 34:5 - Moshe died, 34:6 - we don't know where Moshe is buried. 34:11 - evidence there will never be another like Moshe. I immediately freaked out because I thought, I had written from 34:6. My special word in the Torah was a remez (hint) about Gabi. Instead I have a Gzerah Shava (when on word is written in multiple places, we can learn out concepts between the different psukim).

I don't know what the lesson is, but somehow it connects, the first ever generation of Olim (our Aliyah), Moshe's unknown grave (just like Gabi) and those unable to enter the land of Israel.

It's All Dark, At the Ball Park, That's OK IT's A........

2011-06-16T00:38:00.004+03:00

Sometimes the stars or in this case the moon, just line up for a perfect evening. It was the last softball game of the season (before the make up games) and I wanted to make sure Channah was able to come see a game. So Rachel and Channah came tonight, which happened to coincide with the full lunar eclipse. The eclipse began after the game started and by the end of the game the moon was completely gone. An open field, with no surrounding light pollution and an excuse to stay outside, was the perfect setting for such an occasion.

We were playing against the Demona 2 team, which is a young team that reminds of the Mighty Ducks. They have a coach that really works hard to guide them and they are constantly cheering or trying to syke out their opponents. They're aggressive, fast and love to bunt. They also have the hardest throwing pitcher in the league who did not pitch tonight.

There were a few great only in Israel moments. The umpire started the game asking what bracha to make on the eclipse. After call our Rabbi, I passed on the message. One of my team mates was so excited he started the first half of the bracha, then stopped and started waiving his arms. He was so excited to make the bracha he forgot what to say. I was glad to help him out.

The coach wanted to try me out at First Base for the game. I was having a horrible night, during warm ups so they moved me back to my preferred position at Second Base. Although, I normally justify my roster spot with my glove, this time it was my hitting that contributed to a great night.

My first at bat, I put down a first pitch bunt that landed straight in front of the plate. The 1B forgot to go to the bag, so all I had to do was run passed in to get the single. I think some runs also scored on the play. I eventually scored to increase the lead to 4-0.

My second at bat was the most memorable for me. On the first pitch, I tipped off that I was squaring up to bunt. This sent the defence into a panic, after my first successful bunt. The base runner knew, I had no intention of bunting and used the distraction to steal 2nd. I then put down a perfect bunt down the first base line for another hit. I eventually scored on a 2 out wild pitch.

My third at bat, I took the first pitch and the runner was caught stealing. I then took the next pitch and lined it over third base for my third single of the night. Next batter, I was forced out at 2nd base to end the inning.

My fourth at bat, I just didn't feel I had the pitcher lined up right and struck out.

The most bizarre play of the night happened when the other team had a runner on 2nd. The batter walked, while the base runner stole third. The batter then took a big turn towards 2nd. He was nailed in a run down, as we conceded the run. For those scoring at home it was a 2-3-6 out on a walk.

As for my glove, we the first ball hit towards me was mostly knocked down by the pitcher and the runner beat out the throw. The 2nd play was a 4-3 put out on a simple ground ball. I played catcher for the last two uneventful innings, as we nailed down the game for the win.

Pilot Trips Before NBN

2011-06-14T23:46:00.000+03:00

In this week's Parsha the Jewish people decide they need a pilot trip before entering the land of Israel. The negative report kept that generation from entering the land. There is a machloket among meforshim if God really approved of the trip instead of trusting him. Rachel and I did not take a pilot trip and the move has gone well for us.

I had an very interesting conversation with a friend this evening.

Me: We are going to the cherry picking festival. This time we are trying to go with someone who knows how to get there.
Friend: but the Mitzvah in this week's Parsha is to explore the land.
Me: I want to explore the land and bring home cherries!!
Friend: That's selfish of you.
Me: Think of what would have happened if the Meraglim brought back cherries instead of grapes. Jewish history would have been completely different.
Friend: The wine companies would use a different logo.

2011-06-12T12:42:00.000+03:00

Hatikva as heavy metal- a little strange but they did it to the star spangled banner so why not. But people are singing along! Israeli's are a proud people but man are they strange.

Date Day

2011-05-29T21:23:00.001+03:00

Today Jason and I went on an honest to goodness, 7 year old free, date! I know, sounds totally unbelievable to me too!

Truth is, the whole thing was sort of a goof up. An old friend is becoming a tour guide and invited us to a private tour of the kotel tunnels- something I have always wanted to do but have never gotten around to. Needless to say I jumped at the chance.

Well, maybe jumped is the wrong word since try though we might we got there 20 minutes late. And the tour was already gone. Ok, so no it wasn't. Can we chalk it up to a bad brain day that the tour was actually supposed to be next week and I screwed up the dates?

Anyhow, I ended up walking around the city walls from shhar yafo to shaar haashpot which, thought it has stunningly beautiful views, also has stunningly insane hills. Boy did I get my work-out for the day (and I was running trying to make the tour we were "late" for!

In any case, we decided to see if we could get on a tour anyway, and ended up signing up for two separate tours- one the kotel tunnels, and 2 the ~~sega~~ aish hatorah genesis centre art display. The display is designed to portray Jewish history and it's connection to Jerusalem through the years using pillars of glass.

The technology is amazing. You get a set of headphones that have a built in sensor and as you move from room to room it hooks up to an overhead computer to keep pace with how quickly you choose to move through the exhibit.

Each column is made up of hundreds of pieces of stacked glass that have been carved in different ways. It starts with the "pillars" of the Jewish history. It moves through a few diferent eras but I only took pictures of those I found most interesting.

The destruction and exile after the beit hamidash was destroyed.

The transition from student to teacher over 2000 years, represented by 2000 pieces of glass carved with various names

The holocaust with chunks torn out of the chain

rising from the ashes

close up of the stacked sheets of glass in front of the names of soldiers who died for the state.

We then went to the kotel tunnels tour. Those pictures are all over the internet so I did not bother taking many, but this one looking down the full height of the wall rather impressed me

Jason brought the car around and I wanted with this gorgeous view

see, here is me

Oh, and here is a fun decorated car that went by while I was waiting.

This I just thought was cool. I rarely get to see the men's side of the kotel- the lined up bimas and shtenders cracked me up!

Channah in her new glasses

2011-05-29T17:56:00.001+03:00

A snowflake in Beit shemesh

2011-05-15T15:31:00.000+03:00

My not overly large husband standing directly in front of the door of our new car.

We have named is snowflake as it is tiny, white, and unique because the "Z" fell off the back of the "GETZ" so it is the only "GET" people really appreciate getting. Also, telling someone to go "b'getz" just sounds cute. It really does have trunk space too!

the used car dealers desk. A Tehillim and 2 tzedakah boxes!

And the rest of his office. Note the top left shelves of sefarim.

A Snowflake in Beit Shemesh

2011-05-14T22:31:00.003+03:00

(Note: Blogger has been down, so this did not go up on Thursday)

From time to time over the last couple of years we have considered buying a car. Most Olim consider buying a car towards the end of their 3rd year, before their rights expire. We had been working with a razor thin budget. We kept getting told that if only we doubled our budget we could get a decent car.

With everything we have dealt with in the passed year, some family members decided to help remove the financial obstacles that were hampering our car search. So this time we were fully committed to the search with quadruple the budget. Again we ran into the response if only we could kick in another 60% we could get a decent car.

This time we had some other things going in our favour. Driving is really impractical for my commute to work. The way our street is designed, it would take longer if we decided to drive some places then to walk. No matter how much we rely on the car, we think it is safe to say it will be a low milage car.

The week started optimistically, as we thought we had found a really great deal on a yellow 2004 Getz. It was sold before we had an opportunity to look at it. Over the course of the week, we ran head first into the frustration, that buying a car in Israel can be.

- A mechanic who we have relied on during previous searches, didn't seem too interested.

- One agent would only look for the best value on one particular make and model of our choice. For 200 NIS he could help us decide what particular car that should be. While we were looking for this century, he was thinking a little older. Plus he never returned phone calls.

- The company that found the first Getz had seemed promising. Then we found out that any car that was not on their lot would require a 500 NIS deposit just for the opportunity to see it.

Out of frustration, I opened up Shemeshphone and called the local dealers. The first one offered 'Haimeshe' service but didn't speak English. Then things started to fall into place.

The place I called was a local dealer in the industrial part of town. I told him what we were looking for. He suggested that we could use financing to and get a slightly more expensive car with more bang for the buck. I gave him our floor price and waited to see what he could do with it first. He said he would contact his Jerusalem lot to see what they had. He would call me back in the afternoon.

He did exactly what he promised. He found 5 cars and only one was slightly above the budget I gave him. He would get a driver to bring one of the cars to Beit Shemesh for us to take a look free of charge. He said he would call us when it arrived and he did.

The car was in excellent condition. A few scratches (this is Israel) and the 'z' had fallen off. We took it for a test drive including going up "the hill". It performed very nicely. There is ample room for what we need.

In the end we bought a 2006 White Getz GLF. Milage is a little high, which will balance out with our low mileage driving. It has a 1.4L engine which solves some of the fuel efficiency concerns. We got it for 8,300 NIS below list price. The engine and transmission are under warranty for 6 months. On Wednesday their mechanic will come in and perform any required maintenance that is coming up. The tires are brand new. Pick up will be on Sunday, once I am able to take care of the insurance.

Tonight the Rabbi made sure to point out which bracha to say when we pick up the car. We think we got a great deal with excellent customer service, while staying local. I don't think things could have gone any smoother.

What I learned from my mom

2011-05-08T15:36:00.002+03:00

I learned that it is possible to love someone from far away.

I learned to hold my little girl's hand because it is a big scary world out there, but that sometimes there are times to let go and let her try to do it her way then kiss it better after.

I have learned hat often it is better to it than ask forgiveness than to ask permission.

I have learned that field trips are lots of fun but staying home can be just as fun and often more cozy.

I have learned that laughing can come at the worst of times and that crying is not always a bad thing.

I have learned that sometimes sleeping on the floor is the only way to get a decent night's sleep

I have learned that weekends don't need to start on Friday's.

I have learned that having a lousy haircut is not the end of the world.

I have learned that raisons go great in carrot cake- but only the yellow ones.

I have learned that sometimes I need to let my child follow her dreams even if they hurt me.

I have learned that being a good mom means saying no as often as it means saying yes.

I have learned that you don't always need to tell Abba everything that goes on when you are "out with the girls"

I have learned that worrying about money has a a time and place, but so does spending money for a memory that will last a lifetime.

Lastly and most importantly, I have learned to love unconditionally even if sometimes I forget how it's done.

I love you mom.

Happy mother's day

2011-05-03T22:02:00.002+03:00

Taken in Tzfet over Chol Hamoed

2011-05-01T04:02:00.002+03:00

Returning to the Softball Diamond

2011-04-15T14:28:00.003+03:00

With all of the difficulties in the last 6 weeks combined with some much needed rain, has put my attempts to start playing softball on the backburner.

In January, I passed the physical and a few weeks ago I played my first game. I was blown away when I arrived at the field. It was the same one that used to host the IBL. The field was impressive with grass, dirt infield, properly drawn foul lines, foul poles, permanent bases and an outfield fence. They even had two umpires. They also had rules I never heard of for this level of play, such as a designated field and a DH (who could play the field).

The team we played against was really talented. Playing in Spanish, with real baseball names like Rodriguez and Ramirez added to the intimidation factor. I soon discovered that I might be out of my league with the skill of some of my team mates. They stuck me in RF where I had trouble tracking down fly balls (which has always been a problem for me). At the plate where I normally redeem myself, I was hit by a pitch, grounded out, then struck out. We lost but managed to not invoke the mercy rule (down by 15 after 3 innings ends the game). I wasn't 100% sure if I wanted to go back.

The week before Pesach was hard to get guys out especially with two games on the schedule. Last night we had only 9 guys. They stuck me out at my preferred position of 2B. The coach was playing SS. Based on the way we were covering plays, it was clear I did not have his full confidence.

In the 2nd inning there was a hard hit ball to my left. As I tried to get the ball, in fell out of my glove and I ended up making picking up the ball while lying on the field. From my position I could only manage a weak throw and to make things worse I through it into the ground. The ball slowing trickled to the first basemen with enough time to get out the runner.

A few plays later, there was an attempted steal of second base. I ran to the bag and the throw was low and off to my left. Instead of sliding, the runner deciding to go into 2nd standing up. I caught him and the ball at the same time. I took a knee my head as I fell over but as I we untangled I was able to show that I still had the ball and the runner was out. When I first stood up, I was worried because my head hurt and I couldn't see anything. Someone pointing out my glasses had fallen off solved that problem.

From that point on I had the full confidence of the coach. He gave me first choice on handling certain plays. Later in the game, I picked up another assist as the runner fell and didn't get up after rounding second base. As the cut off man, I was able to get the ball in, with plenty of time to get him out.

At the plate most of the team was poping out. Even the catcher caught two foul balls. I managed to hit the ball hard on the ground into a 4-6-3 double play. We lost 19-1 after 4 innings, finishing the game almost an hour early.

This was more of they type of game I wanted to play (minus the lack of offence and losing) and am once again looking forward to the next game.

A few pictures

2011-04-10T01:03:00.000+03:00

Just a couple of the cute ones until I get around to writing up our weekend in Jerusalem.

Connecting the Mourning of Losing a Daughter and the Beit HaMikdash

2011-04-07T01:22:00.000+03:00

My Rabbi likes to say that a Mitzvah has to have Mazel. You never know which ones are going to become popular and which ones are going to be forgotten. One of the forgotten mitzvahs he is big on is tearing kriyah when going to the Kotel if you have not been there in 30 days. I have a special shirt reserved for this purpose. It's replacement has already been lined up because it has too many holes, but this morning I couldn't find it and went back to the original.

Tearing kriyah was a different experience. For one I had my father over my shoulder trying to figure out what I was doing. It was also the first time I teared kriyah since Gabi died. The contrast was quite emotional. While Jerusalem is in Jewish hands and we are able to visit our holy sights we still mourn that the most important thing the Jewish people has lost as a whole has not been returned. On the flip side, as much as I loved Gabi, held her warm body in my arms her failure to have a single heart beat outside of Rachel, means her life halachicly did not count. As painful as losing her is, I did not tear kriyah for her. I could not help but think of how much it doesn't bother us that we don't have the Beit HaMikdash. It is also sad that halacha has not stepped up to the plate to deal with the emotional realities caused by advancement in the field medicine.

I went down to the Kotel. Chabad really annoyed my father with the line "Hey Grandpa, Do you want to put on teffilin?" We davened mincha then I took some time to myself. What I thought was going to be a relatively short tefillah, evolved as it went along. Everytime I thought I was done, I threw in the word "and" then continued. A recurring theme was I kept saying "Eicha" Eicha is the book we read on Tish B'Av, when we mourn the loss of the Beit Hamikdash. The word essentially means "How can it be?" 4 weeks ago, I repeated it over and over again as I cried myself to sleep.

I not only hope that my Teffilot will be answered with a yes, but that I have davened for the right thing as not to have a bracha taken away on a technicality.

LIARS

2011-04-04T19:37:00.000+03:00

Contrary to the flier that comes with the shemeshphone book, not ALL business is BS/RBS are listed. I am a local business in RBS and I am NOT listed in Shemeshphone. Obviously if I did not pay for an add I do not expect one, but to imply I do not exist because I choose not to advertising with them or that they cover ALL businesses when they don't is just false advertising.

Not only that, but there seem to be a number of other business, large ones, like Shefa Shuk, Yesh are not listed. There is also apparently only 1 pizza place in town, and we seem to have lost a whole lot of restaurants and small business between when I woke up this morning and when my ShemeshPhone Book was delivered.

I agree 100% no pay, no add- but then do not include a flier saying you have included everyone if you have not!

A note about posts about Gabbi

2011-04-04T18:36:00.000+03:00

So as not to turn our family blog into a nightmare I have a separate place where I a posting my thoughts, feeling, arguments with God and rants pertaining to our recent loss. Please feel free to visit http://mygabbi.blogspot.com/ but please be aware this is mostly writing for myself and to help clear my own head. Much of it may not "follow the party line". It might make me a bad Orthodox Jew, but it is what is keeping me human.

For those who pray, and those who don't

2011-03-31T13:36:00.000+02:00

Can those who wish or pray please do so for another pregnancy as quickly as humanly possible- like now or at the very least before our trip to Toronto this summer. I don't think I can handle this void for much longer. Yes Channah was assisted, but Gabi was a total surprise- please wish, hope or pray for another spontaneous surprise asap. We are already aiming for it again.

I feel dead inside and I know right now that the only thing that can make my brain whole again is a baby in my arms. I had so focused my life on having a little one again I now have no idea what to do with myself. My body is healed but my brain is so broken. It is shattered into hundreds of millions of people each with a tiny picture of me with a baby on it. I have no idea how to put the puzzle back together without a real copy of the picture to look at. It is like trying to do a puzzle without knowing what it is supposed to look like.

I have dealt with depression before and now I have to wonder if I was faking it for attention. The pain of the grief in my heart is so sharp now that I keep needing to double check there is no real physical knife in my chest. The tears come for no reason at all- and for every reason under the sun. A beautiful day will send me into hysterics because Gabi will never see it. A hug from Channah will have me longing for another small set of arms around my neck.

Why did this happen to me? Oh lord I have always tried to be good and kind. To help those who needed it and to mind the feelings and sensitivities of those who might be in pain of their own. How could you in your majesty tease and bully me by playing "keep away" with the one thing I want so badly when I was so, so close to getting it.

Is it wrong to hate god? No that is the wrong the question., I don't think I can hate something I am not sure I believe in anymore. In those 5 minutes of silence in the ultrasound room my belief in that covenant was torn away from under my feet leaving me on the shakiest ground I could imagine. All my life I have been taught to turn to God in my times of trouble- now here he is the cause of it- to whom do I turn now?

My siddur and my Tehillim sit closed on the shelf, as do most of the books we have been given. At night I wake with nightmares and find myself sitting on the edge of the bed in Channah's room just watching her tiny body rise and fall- terrified that God will take something else I love from me. I want to hold her tightly and scream at God that "HE CAN'T HAVE HER! SHE'S MINE", but I know in my heart that God can do whatever he wants and better not to call attention to how much I love her.

My life feels empty save for for her tiny speck of light, and I so fear that light being extinguished I can barely breath.

God please, I hate you and I love you. You have given me so much and taken away so much. Please send me a healthy, full term pregnancy as quickly as possible to mend my heart and my brain from the extreme pain you have put them in. Please return me to a whole and sane state where I can be the parent and wife I want to be, and the woman I need to be.

Please God, I have no one to turn to but you. Avinu malkenu, my father my king. You can grant any wish my heart desires. Please see me as a daughter begging at your feet for true happiness only you can provide. Please allow me to say with a full and happy heart "who brought me happily and joyously to this day" as I had planned to do less than a week from now.

The Line Between Comfort and Cruelty

2011-03-29T21:28:00.000+02:00

When dealing with a tragic loss people feel they need to say something. In order to do this people turn off the filter between mouth and brain. They end up saying something that hurts and provides no comfort at all. Not only that but the hurtful thing they say isn't even original.

There is one concept that has been repeated many, many times. Only twice it was said in a way with compassion and understanding and to some degree provided comfort. The other times it has not and has even gone as far as someone suggesting that we should be "happy" for the "zchut" of burying our dear baby girl Gabi in an unmarked grave somewhere in Jerusalem.

I have decided to play a little game. My interest in politics, leads me to follow websites that break down the nuances within a story and how they are spun when presented to the public. For example last week procedural manoeuvring was used to make sure the Government did not fall on the budget but before the vote to find the Government in contempt of parliament. We are going to look at 3 versions of the same idea and you can guess which is comforting and which was hurtful. Keep in mind that all three versions are simply conjecture because we really have no way of knowing if they are true or not. It is very possible the source is what my Uncle likes to call Mesechet Baba Misa.

1. There are Neshamas that have had accomplished everything they needed to do, however they still need to go through the process of being in the womb to complete their mission in this world. As they are very special Neshamas they have the option of choosing which family to help them complete this most important task. Of course they only choose the best of the best to look after them for such a short time.

2. I don't know if this helps or not, it is something my Rebbe told me. Many Tzadikim were wiped out in Europe and for their Nishma to complete their mission they just need to be buried in Eretz Yisrael. Perhaps you were helping one of these special Tzadikim make their way to Eretz Yisrael.

3. Perhaps she was a Nishama that had to go through the process of being in the womb to complete their mission in life. You are so lucky that you were given this mission and should be happy that G-d gave you this opportunity.

Have you figured out which one it is yet?

Gabi was born 4 days later than Channah and aside from having no heart beat was in much better shape then when Channah as born. Halacha hardly recognized Gabi. She was burried somewhere in Jerusalem in an unmarked grave. We will never know where. There was no funeral and no Halachot of Aveilut. Our Rabbi has said we would not be permitted to remain in shul for Yitzkor. No Yahrzeit. She will always be loved and remember by us but Halacha has already forgotten her.

Now can you guess which version of the story is not comforting?

The first two tried to show that there was a purpose to Gabi's life even though it was taken away before she could take her first breath. The third is just cruel.

If you still can't see the difference, go to the Shiva of the latest terrorist victim and tell them how lucky they are that they lost a love one Al Pi HaKiddush Hashem. Go find me a parent that is happy about the opportunity that they got to bury a child. Show me a Siddur/Tehillim covered with stains from tears from your davening of have the same "zchut" that we did. Perhaps after taking these steps you will finally understand how mean and cruel your words actually are.

Home

2011-03-03T22:36:00.000+02:00

Once again I am home from a c-section without my baby girl. This time she will not be joining us in a few weeks.

I am home but not sure I want to be. I never expected to come home from the hospital without my little girl. All my hopes and dreams for the last year have been tied up in this child and this pregnancy. Every daydream had Channah with playing with her little sister in different places. Someone told me to find a safe place in my head. There isn't one. Gabi is playing in every one of them. Channah and Gabi are hiding out in every nook and cranny in my brain. They are stuck in every fiber of my being. Together.

It was never supposed to end this way. And now I have no idea how to go on.

How We Lost Our Little Princess

2011-03-02T00:53:00.003+02:00

I want to write down all the things going through my head write now. I just can't capture it in any type of coherent form. I am just going to recap what happened yesterday.

On Monday morning Rachel went to the Kupa for her regular Monday round of appointments at the Kupa. The nurse was having trouble finding a heart beat. She immediately went to the doctor to do an ultra sound. The Kupa doesn't have an Ultra Sound tech working on the day that the high risk doctor was in. She said she saw a faint heart beat and ordered an ambulance.

Rachel called me to tell me it was time and to get to the Mercaz before the ambulance. It took me a moment to register what was going on. She said we were going to the hospital and they would decide if we need an emergency C-Section. Ein Kerem was choosen because it would be closer.

Taking the 38 can be nerve racking at the best of times. Taking it full speed in traffic with sirens blaring was terrifying. Rachel had to do it lying down backwards. During that time, I started refocusing on the possibility that we could have a preemie born that day and we could handle it. I never had the slightest inkling of what really happened.

Rachel was set up in labour and delivery. They brought over the ultra sound machine. You could see the look in the techs face when he didn't see anything and called over another tech. Again the same thing happened and they called in the doctor. Next was a proper ultra sound. Rachel was given the option of how to get there and choose walking as it was the fastest. As I am running with all our stuff, to keep up with Rachel, the staff is trying to get me to take of the paper work. After doing everything they could they determined their was no pulse.

We went back to L&D, before being taken to a mostly private room next door, away from the heart breaking noise of the heart monitors. I called the Rabbi to tell him what happened. 20 minutes later I called to ask the first Shiloh and he said he was already on route to the hospital.
Rachel also needed a Mom, so I called her Aunt from the Shomron to sub in for the role. The help at that point in time was tremendous.

Rachel was given the choice between induction and C-Section. After choosing C-Section the doctors than tried to discourage her. The C-Section was scheduled for 2 hours later. During our wait we also met with the Social Worker.

During the C-Section they showed us the large knot in the umbilical cord. They said it happened very fast and she showed no signs of suffering. The first time you hold your baby girl in your arms, you are supposed to make a Shechiynu. Instead I burst into tears. She was warm and looked just like Channah when she was born, only bigger (1480g). I can still feel what it was like to hold her in my arms the same way, I can still visualize how I used to first hold Channah. It felt like holding a sleeping baby. Rachel was still pretty imobile from the surgery, but she was able to touch her.

The support we have received since then has been amazing. People are spending the night, so Rachel is not alone. I spent a great deal of time, yesterday and today running around to get straight the Chevra Kadisha starightened out. We rented a car so we could go back and forth to the hospital easily. Parking is a nightmare. It is like Yorkdale the week before Christmas, only worse. Channah had her Mesibat Siddur today. My chavrusah arranged for a professional photographer to make a video for Rachel.

We had finally accepted the fact that we had our perfect little family. Then we go to the Kotel and Channah davens for a little sister. A short time later, Rachel's dermatologist would not provide a needed script until she took a pregancy test. She thought it was just jet leg, not the answer to a special little girls prayers. Maintaining this pregancy became a full time job. We were so greatful for the oppurtunity. Hashem gave us such a wonderful gift. I am still having trouble accepting that he would just take it away just like that.

The Day We Wish Never Happened

2011-02-28T23:05:00.001+02:00

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gabriela Galit. She leaves behind parents and an older sister who loved her very, very much.

For most of us it takes a life time, our Gabi was able to fulfil her purpose in life before she was born. She has been a source of love and inspiration. She taught us that even the impossible can be come true, for both good and bad.

We loved our Gabi very much and will always remember her.

Extra thanks to all the special people, who were there to be with us today in our time of crisis. Rachel will be in the hospital for a few more days. Visitors are greatly appreciated.

Rachel & Jason

Channah in the old stroller

2011-02-24T16:08:00.000+02:00

Stroller Shopping

2011-02-24T15:24:00.001+02:00

When Channah was little we had 2 strollers. The Graco Metrolight that we used the vast majority of the time, and a small umbrella stroller that we used when we wanted something really small and convienient. By the time we left the umbrella stroller was falling apart, and since Channah did not use a stroller anymore anyway we just tossed it.

We brought the regular one intending to put it away in case we needed it again- and so we did. The problem is that the old one is build for Toronto- oversized tires and a huge wheel base perfect for snow. Large and heavy to stand up to wind. Folds long and flat to fit well in a trunk. Nice and stable for on buses. The problem is all of those "features" turn into drawbacks when you live in a country where everything is tiny and narrow, and snow is not a regularly occurring phenomenon. Not to mention that you can not keep strollers open on buses here, so I really needed something that would collapse very quickly and easily while holding a baby in the other hand.

So I started looking. A few weeks ago I went to a Dr. Baby store and found one I thought I liked. Umbrella fold, nice high handles for Jason. Lightweight. I came home and showed it to him on the website, and while I was on the site started looking at some other options and found another one I wanted to look at.

The end of season sale is on now so last year's models are currently on sale, and there was 150 shekel off the price of the one I liked, so Jason and I decided to go over after an appointment today to take a look. We also looked at the other one. It had every single feature of our old stroller- good canopy, decent sized basket, almost full recline, parent tray, kid tray/toy, good wheels etc, but is roughly 1/3 the size and only half the weight. Oh, it also can still hold Channah should we so desire (so can the old one, but this one hold roughly 5 kilo more). It also has some removable pieces so that if we need to make it even smaller for a small car or whatnot, it reduces to roughly half the size of the old stroller. It has a huge all season canopy that comes right down to the front bar to block both sun and wind.

We bought it on the spot. This is the one that will iy'H be coming with us on our next trip to Toronto.

Oh, did I mention it is bright, eye piercing apple green? At least we are not likely to lose it by accident.

Presenting the Dr. Baby Paris. http://www.doctorbaby.co.il/gallery_image.asp?PageNum=2&return_parent=168&gallery_id=338

Also has a 3 year bumper to bumper REPLACEMENT warentee (so if it goes back we leave the store with another stroller and are not left strollerless) good across the country.

Old and new side by side for a size comparison

Little updates

2011-02-20T13:48:00.000+02:00

Firstly- as of last night this baby is officially more patient than it's older sister was. This pregnancy is now longer than the last one was and every day is twice the bracha it was until now!

Secondly- here the school kids dress up for purim katan during adar aleph. Channah's class had to dress up as opposites. Here she is as day and night. She originally also had a sun crown to go with her moon belt but it was too scratchy.

On Valentines

2011-02-14T07:49:00.002+02:00

I may not celebrate valentines day, but this day will always be the most special one on the calendar. It is the day I became an eema. The first time I saw Channah she was tiny and connected to more things than I could count. I could not touch her or hold her- but there was a valentines for mommy in her incubator. Best present I ever got. I kept it in her baby book.

Investigating Kashrut Properly

2011-02-12T23:05:00.001+02:00

One of the drawbacks to life in RBS is there are elements of the community that want to be frummer than everyone else. If that makes them happy, then it generally doesn't bother me. The problem is in RBS these elements tend not to be satisfied with "improving" themselves and want to make their chumras public policy. In RBS B (home of such embarrassing groups as the Neturei Karta and the Burka Babes) the trend is to use Tzniut as the vehicle for attack.

In RBS A there has been an Anglo shul that has been the lightning rod of controversy by handling community issues the "Daas Torah" way. Over the past 6 months they have hosted a number of special shiurim designed on increasing "awareness" of the level of kashrut. As an offshoot there have been two major kashrut scandals. When the dust settles it became clear that there was never anything problems with the kashrut of the food. A little more care and due deligence would have prevented setting off the Kashrut Alarm.

Over the past week, I conducted a kashrut investigation of my own. The Keurig website had explicitly stated that Twinings K-Cups were not Kosher. The Twinings web page stated that all of their products sold in the United States and Canada were certified kosher by the London Beth Din with a link to their website. As we sell to schools, shuls and businesses in the Jewish community, providing in correct kosher information would be really bad.

If I followed the models practised locally, we would have notified all of our customers that Twinings wasn't kosher and pulled the kosher information off our website. Instead, I contacted Keurig, Twinings and the London Beth Din. Keurig repeated the Kosher information on their website and said I should take it up with Twinings. The London Beth Din said they would investigate and I never heard from them again. Twinings initially provided their London Beth Din Kosher information. They then told me that they had contacted Keurig and they had accepted their OU certification and the website would be corrected. The Keurig website now lists their Twinings tea as being certified by the OU.

When money and halacha are mixed together, it is very easy for things to get complicated. One time, when our Rabbi was asked to check out a particular restaurant he found certain things that set of warning bells. Rav Goldstein (who is a big local Posek) told him that while there were valid concerns, halchically it would not be permitted to say that the restaurant was not kosher. Unless there is a blatant kashrut violation, time and care need to be taken to get all the facts correct before making public proclamations. In this particular case Twinings was able to reestablish themselves on equal footing with the other 4 tea manufacturers without the mass panic of customers who would falsely think their brewers had been used for a non-kosher product.

Ready for bed

2011-02-03T11:37:00.000+02:00

Channah's Birthday Party

2011-01-31T22:45:00.001+02:00

The Cake. I am so proud of my decorating! It is the first time EVER I have made a cake and you can tell what it is supposed to be.

The arts and crafts project (hair elastics with ribbons)

Pictures with the duck :)

Watching the movie.

Arts and Crafts project

Snacking during the movie

Playing pass the package

Holy Crow

2011-01-25T15:50:00.000+02:00

Today (well actually tonight) is the same point in this pregnancy as we were at when I ended up in the hospital before Channah was born. Yes I am a bit of a mess. On the other hand, I know we are on the lookout for any indication that something might be off and are way more on top of things this time round. I also know that we are doing everything we can to avoid what happened last time.

Other than side effects from everything we are doing, I feel fine. Of course, last time I was feeling great and at a friend's wedding the night before. Yeah. Makes me even more nervous.

This time being stuck in hospital would mean being at least an hour away from Channah and most likely not having regular contact in person. Not sure I can handle that. In fact, I know I can't handle that.

I am a bit of a mess. I think I will pack a hospital bag tonight just in case.

If you don't mind, can anyone reading this spare a quick thought or prayer for keeping me home with my family as long as possible? To me every day from this point out is twice the bracha it was until now (and it was a pretty big bracha to begin with.)

Thanks.

Mesibat Chumash part 2

2011-01-14T01:15:00.002+02:00

Mesibat Chumash part 1

2011-01-14T00:08:00.000+02:00

They make a huge deal here when the kids get their first Chumash. Seriously, singing and dancing and candy- it is sort of like those Christmas pageants that you see on Family Chanel Holiday specials that JEwish kids never seem to get. Well that is one of the awesome things about living in a Yiddeshe Medina- you get to celebrate the cool Jewish moments in life.

Tonight was this special celebration of the girls in Channah's kitah aleph class getting their first chumashim. A longer video will follow probably tomorrow that shows the singing and dancing, but as a super proud ima I needed to get something up tonight.

Picture of her with her new chumash and her keter torah (thanks to Aunty Brenda for the stunning skirt! The girls had to wear blue and white and Channah looked dynamite!)

Being a flower on Har Sinai.

With her brand new chumash

Getting a bracha from the Abbas and the Rav of the school

When the Doctor Recommend Going Against Medical Advice

2011-01-12T22:44:00.000+02:00

Yesterday all the tests were fine and the baby was doing well. The doctor said he wanted to keep her overnight and discharge her in the morning. When asked for a medical reason to justify his decision he was open and honest. The staff that handle the discharge papers leave at 15:00 and Rachel needed to have the 2nd steroid shot to help the baby's lung development at 16:20. Rachel explained that staying at the hospital was a non starter for a number of reasons. It would mean missing a medical appointment close to home with someone who is only available once a week. There would be no helpful medical care provided. Due to the lack of rooms, Rachel had been stuck in the post postpartum ward with all the crying babies. This also meant any medical care that she was supposed to receive while she was there was taking 10 times as long. The level of systemic medical care was embarrassingly poor. .

After hearing these arguments the doctor agreed that the healthier option for both Rachel and the baby was to be home. He recommended that Rachel sign out of the hospital "AMA" (Against Medical Advice). He told us what paperwork needed to be done and was ready in order to make sure the Kupah would still pay for the visit.

Last month, Bikor Cholim hospital was turned down by the government for extra funding to keep the hospital running. There was a real threat that it would finally be closed down. The hospital has been on financial life support for quite some time. This brought up all the arguments for keeping it open. There was criticism of the possibility of shutting down the hospital located in the heart of downtown, only a few blocks away from some of the worst terrorist attacks during the 2nd Antifada. They mainly serve the local Charedi population who would have a difficult time getting to the 3 hospitals on the outskirts of the city, especially on Shabbat.

After seeing it first hand, it reminded me of the arguments made to keep Branson Hospital open in Toronto. As a kid, it was the closest hospital to where I lived. In every single document for medical permission my parents had to sign for school or camp etc..., they noted not to send me to Branson. Despite their reputation for horrible medical care, people argued that it was close by for people who would have trouble getting to the other hospitals, especially in the Jewish community. Eventually it was closed down and the premises taken over by another hospital. Bikor Cholim is in a prime location for a top level hospital to serve the community. After 160 some odd years, it is about time that they get one.

Another Doctors Appointment Another Trip to J-Town

2011-01-11T01:24:00.001+02:00

This morning Rachel and I went to the doctor for one of her regular appointments at the OB. The doctor decided herself on something they were not able to get on the last ultra sound. The baby wasn't moving to her satisfaction. So I ran to buy an orange juice to try to wake the baby up. It didn't help, so the doctor told us to go to Haddasah Har Hatzofim to get an ultra sound with better equipment, as a precaution. We had to hurry as it was almost noon and we the technicians go home at 2:30. We went home quickly packed a travel bag and were on the 417 to the hospital. Arrangements were made for Channah to go to fiends after school.

We have had the route planned out for a while of getting off at Bar Illan and taking a bus from their. The only notification was to take a taxi instead. As we hit Jerusalem traffic we asked the driver if it was better to get off immeditaly and catch a cab, then wait out the traffic. He said we should have told him earlier because he would have suggested getting off at one of the first bus stops. Taxis don't go to Bar Illan because they know everyone is taking the bus. He then proceeded to try to flag down a taxi. At one point to save time he drove on a sidewalk (which had people walking on it) to get around a car that was blocking traffic. Eventually he told us to where to get off, to have the best chance of catching a taxi.

We get to the hospital and we completly lost as to where to go. The room marked Ultrasound was actually the office for checking in. Then I had to go downstairs to register Rachel while they began the exam. They found everything to be normal but the baby was not moving to their satisfaction. We then go to the entry area for Labour and Delivery. It was pure chaos as the doctors are dealing with multiple patients and we have not clue what is going on. Eventually they have a huddle of about 8 medical personal to decide what to do. As their is no space in the NICU, just in case we need it, she would be transferred to Bikor Cholim. In response to Rachel's pleas to go home they point out that it is so serious they are sending us by ambulance. About 15 minutes later they asked us if we had a car or if we needed the ambulance.

After more chaos and monitoring the give Rachel the Steriod shot (to help the babies lungs) and send on our way to try to figure out where the ambulance is. To stress the seriousness of the situation Rachel must go by wheelchair and someone would be waiting for us at the hospital.

We find the ambulance, which was more of a Hassaah then anything else. When we get near the hospital we get dropped off by the side of the road and get vague instructions on where to go next. Nobody was expecting us and we had to go through the full registration. Once signed in Rachel goes for monitoring.

After a few minutes of monitoring, I am told to leave the area because it wasn't tznius because woman also needed monitoring. I use the time to call some of our friends to let them know what is going on. One friend calls to say that she is about to get on the bus to come help us out at the hospital. As soon, as I hang up the phone the baby starts kicking. The friend arrives and I am once again thrown out of the room for a much longer period of time. This time the friend is able to keep me updated.

The end result is Rachel is staying in the hospital overnight in order to get the second shot of the steroid. They will also be doing monitoring during the day to make sure everything is all right. We are hoping that she comes home tomorrow or at least in the next couple of days. Channah as her Misibat Chumash on Thursday and we both want to be there.

New recipe posts galore

2011-01-06T15:16:00.000+02:00

I finally cleaned out my old bookmarks, documents and scraps of paper where I had recipes I liked but did not want to lose and put them all in one place. I added more recipes this morning than I did in each of the last 2 years! Feel free to go visit http://kosherquick.blogspot.com/ for lots of new things we have been enjoying around here.

The life of Channah

2011-01-06T00:16:00.000+02:00

So along with growing like a weed and being super excited to be a big sister, there are actually other things going on in Channah's life. For starters, she has discovered the new love of her life- Goomey. Basically a giant piece of elastic that girls hold around their ankles, knees, hips and who knows what else and bounce over, under around and through. You might know it as Chinese jump rope or as Israeli jump rope. I know it as our new constant and eternal companion that must be driving my downstairs neighbours crazy (although they say they do not hear it!) Basically, if she is not sitting on her tush doing something like homework, she is singing some sort of random chant and bouncing around the living room.

For those who wonder how she stays so thin, take note. Go to any sewing store, buy about 8 feet of elastic, tie it closed and bounce roughly ten thousand times a minute. If there is no elastic available, feel free to use the lines on the floor tiles as a great and ever present substitute. No tiles? Use your imagination. Find a shadow, a crack, heck even a blank piece of pavement and bounce like a tigger.

Her reading is coming along beautifully. I love watching her sit in the big chair with abook the size of her entire torso and sound things out. The questions are adorable "Ima, what sound do three dots on an angle make? No, wait, I mean in a triangle." We bought her a book of fairy tales in Hebrew and she sits with it for ages trying to figure out the stories.

She has also taken to leaving us "love pictures"- sort of a hybrid between the mass quantities of artwork we used to get, and love notes. It will be a picture with a bit of real effort, and somewhere on the page wwill be a picture of Channah with a little speach bubble and her saying she loves us (in Hebrew). It is totally heart melting.

One of the other things she loves are jump rope (as we will not let her do it inside, and she can not go out after dark she resorts to imaginary jump rope. More bouncing. And not just bouncing, she gets her arms involved as well. Seriously, we are thinking of hiring her out as a personal trainer to people who can not afford gym memberships.

Her favourite toys are stillplaymobile, lego, polly pockets and the ever present barbie, but they have been joined by some new things like an abacus (she loves math and thinks it is a game most of the time), card games like uno or slamwhich, and battleship. Thank goodness she has mostly outgrown candyland- I am not sure either of us could take much more of that one.

She also just got access (on occasion) to a computer built for her- well protected, kiddie game access only, and only used right now in the living room, with our supervision, for a little while a few times a week. Yeah I know that level of parental control can't possibly last, but i nthe meantime we are trying to teach her responsible computer use.

The big news in her life is that next week is her Chumash party at school. The girls will sing and dance for the parents and be rewarded with their very first chumash form their teachers. I have no idea what else is involved as this is a first for us, but I can promise that there will be lots of new pictures and probably a new video posted here next week. The girls have been practicing for weeks and I am very excited to see what they have in store for us!

As always pooh bear is being well looked after and is looking a little loved for his age.

Other than that, not much to report. She is an amazing, happy little girl, always ready to help other out where needed. She is generally good natured, enjoys school (and even generally homework) has lots of friends (and a more active social life (made up of playdates and birthday parties) than we do. Her teachers love her and have told me her Hebrew is beautiful (we have got her in speech therapy to raise the level of her specific vocabulary a little, but it is a common need for anglo kids born here so I am not worried and she is progressing incredibly well).

I was talking to a new olah this week and she asked me if I thought we made the right decision. All I have to do is look at Channah and how well she is growing and thriving here and I know I have no question in my mind that however annoying the health-care and random strikes may be, however pushy some of the people or however many people we miss, we have made what, for us, is the perfect decision and opened up worlds for her that she would not otherwise have known.

I only hope that we are as lucky with thenew addition as we have been so far.

random this and that

2010-12-26T00:41:00.000+02:00

This morning Channah felt the baby move for the first time. She was so excited it was awesome.

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So my (relatively) trusty laptop/tablet computer has been slowly but surely dying of old age. First the fan went so I put it up on blocks so air could circulate through its lungs more freely. Then the power cord went so I bought a new one and plugged it in to life support. The optical drive started to go- but lots of geriatrics need help with optics right? Then the video card started to go, so I reset it often and pulled the battery on a regular basis because that seemed to help with the symptoms. I knew then that it was too far gone to treat the cause. This week, the Hard drive started to wheeze. I had actually planned on putting it onto a respirator- making boot disks and running on an external drive.

But with the dawning of the sun came the realization that it had so many diseased parts it really was more humane to euthenize it. And so, last night in one last puff of glory there was a huge thud as I tripped over the power cord and unplugged it one last time. It had a long and productive life for its species- rarely has a laptop in captivity been known to thrive for so long under such hostile conditions. (It was fed and watered regularly).

And thus through the natural cycles of life, a new lappy came into our home. It is tiny as a newborn babe- actually smaller than most at only 9 inches and 3 lbs. It has 250 gigs worth of storage space, and 2 gigs of memory. It even runs good old windows xp in English, and has a warentee and service centres relatively local. I also got an external dvd lightscribe (LG 20x) and a cooling pad (lets see how long this one makes it) for just under 1400 shekel (about $380 US).

If anyone local is looking to get a new lappy of their own I *HIGHLY* recommend Ivory Computers (google for them. They are huge and have branches in about 15 different cities). I found them through zap.co.il and got personal recommendations from a few different geeks that I know.

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Last night we decided to go with the old standard of Chinese for Christmas. I made the best, low carby lemon chicken EVER. Recipe will be on the other blog in in the next little while.

My little girl is growing up

2010-12-26T00:36:00.001+02:00

(Picture above from our celebration dinner at cafe cafe tonight)

This week was a huge milestone for us as parents- our first parent-teacher conferences. I went on my own as Jason figured it would be easier if I did not need to translate every 2nd word and someone needed to stay with Channah anyway.

So, having absolutely no idea what to expect, I went.

The first thing to know is that schools here are a little different to what I am used to. In a nutshell, you can go through the entire year with almost no feedback from teachers as to how your kid is doing. I was told not to worry, that if there was ever a problem someone would be in touch, but as a North American olah I found the whole thing a little worrisome. I was also told that I could call the teacher at home if I was concerned about anything but a) that felt really intrusive to me for anything not particularly major and b) while my Hebrew is pretty good face to face, I have a lot of trouble understanding natives over the phone.

I got the chance to meet with 2 of her teachers. First I saw her Torah teacher (I guess what I would have called her Hebrew teacher before I moved only here Hebrew is covered as part of general studies). She told me that Channah is a pleasure to have in the class. She is neat and polite and always works hard to get her work done. I asked my one real question- "Do you think she understand everything you are saying in class?" The teacher gave me a bit of strange look and said "She answers questions and can do the work so I certainly think so- why would you think she didn't?" When I answered that we are fairly recent olim and I was a little concerned about her Hebrew level compared to the rest of the class the teacher started to laugh. She did not believe me that Channah was not born here. Clearly from speaking to me she knew *I* was an olah, but she had just assumed that Channah had been born here and went through all her early schooling here.

Definitely made my heart sing and told me we came just when we should have. After just over 2 years my kids accent and vocabulary are good enough to fool the natives!

From there I went across the room to meet with her "mechanechet" (I what I still refer to as her "English" teacher even though she does not actually start learning English at school until next year. This is going to get confusing somewhere a long the line).

I got handed her "report card" and was incredibly amazing to see perfect scores and amazing comments right through. Seriously, I am betting this has got to be the best report card ever seen to a Mechanic or Swirsky descendant EVER (I would include Gasner's as well but my mom insists her's were that good). I know I sure as heck never brough home anything resembling this thing!

In any case her mechanechet also told me how sweet she was and what a pleasure she is to teach. She told me her reading was coming along wonderfully, as was her writing (which I knew because we read at home and I now find little love notes everywhere on a fairly regular basis). She is a little math whiz and gets upset if she needs to use her fingers to figure out an answer. She plays nicely with the other kids and is one ofthe first ones to volunteer to help out for anyone who needs it.

So say my heart was soaring is the understatement of the millennium.

Tonight we took her out to celebrate. We had planned to go to Aroma for hot chocolate, but when we got there it was packed. Since we were all sort of hungry we decided to go for dinner to cafe cafe instead. Channah was beaming as she ate her ravioli (her favorite food *ever) and enjoyed her milkshake. Jason and I were just as happy to be watching her and out with her celebrating something so special.

A few more months until we have twice as many special moments in our lives and I know I can't wait.

New pics :)

2010-11-02T15:16:00.000+02:00

Pictures taken this afternoon after trying on the new shabbat clothes from Zaidy Nathan and deciding she looked too gorgeous and the day was too nice not to go outside to take some pictures. As always, click to enlarge.

In the Army Now

2010-10-28T01:02:00.002+02:00

Last week I was invited to play paintball. At first I was reluctant, as my previous time playing paintball in Toronto was not a great experience. It was dark so I couldn't see very well, including where I was shooting. My gun kept jamming which lead me to playing one game with my hopper open. Plus the paintballs hurt leaving me with welts on my stomach and neck. When I thought about it, I realized that paintball in Israel (where people have real army training), is a completely different experience. The bonus was it was free because they were filming a commercial.

The location was an abandoned army training base, still owned by the IDF. It was a beautiful sunny day, (not too hot not to cold). There were army fatigues for everyone. Well, almost there were not enough pants to go around. The equipment was semi-automatic M-16 in excellent condition. No problems with jamming and they did shoot straight.

There were 3 staff members. There was the company owner who was the base commander. There were also two other commanders who ran the day. One was tough and serious. He liked to yell and make people do push ups run around and other drills. One guys day was done when they had a heated argument with the commander because he didn't want to do a duck walk for the video. My commander was the exact opposite. He did paratroopers and was really laid back. At one point someone offered to do push up, army style (holding his gun). When he was told that his knees should be off the ground, he complained it would be harder. One of the girls in our group proceeded to do a bunch of proper regular push ups.

The day started with getting uniforms before being briefed by the tough commander. He was trying to set the tone of feeling like we were really in the army for a few hours. Having to concede his authority to the cameraman, did frustrate him just a little bit. After being briefed and assigned to teams, we received our weapons.

The weapons training was neat because they kept referring to how things are done in the army. There are 3 ways to shoot (walking, lying down, crouching) and practiced them all using balloons as practice. It was a great feeling knowing that I was able to hit my targets.

All in all we played 3 different games. The first one was capture the flag. The leader of our team had a plan but had some difficulty, assigning the tasks to be organized. I was in the back of a team of 4 who was trying to cut around the outside and moving really slowly. I cut back to the building holding our flag, when I saw some people closing in on our position. It was quite a feeling trying to fend off a position listening to the paintballs, explode over my head not sure where the shots were fired from. I saw them closing in on our position and warned one of our gaurds. They took the flag and the guard chased them down. The gaurd did not know if they could bring back the flag and in the confusion, someone else I had previously had a shootout with scooped the flag. I started to chase, but someone was yelling that had been hit and I was wide open to be taken out by anyone else. In all the confusion and disorganization we lost.

The 2nd game was rescue the hostage. There were 5 "terrorists" defending a hostage trapped in Gaza. My rescue team was lead by the commander, so I got to experience how a real soldier goes into a building. During a shootout, I had a paintball brush off the top of my head. The base commander said there was no paint and sent me back to battle. By that point all of the terrorists had been taken out and the body was been carried back to the base.

The final game was everyone for themselves, for whoever still had ammo left. The position I started with, was a little bit out of the way. After some silence there were was shooting near the main buildings. Someone had taken up a position behind a stack of tires, where he was completely exposed from my angle. I would get off a bunch of shots before taking cover. It was funny because, I could see the paintballs flying and just missing him. I was position so the cameraman had a great angle of me during the battle. After exchanging a few rounds, he was gone. I don't know if I had hit him, or if he was trying to sneak around behind me. I decided to head for the main buildings. There was silence which left me with the feeling of being the only one left. As a result I was way to aggressive trying to take the next building and was shot in the leg. It didn't hurt at all and I barely felt it.

We then returned all of our equipment and waited for pizza. In the mean time someone managed to get a really huge rock lodged under their car. 10 guys pumped up from the day, running up a hill and chanting. It would have been a great video for the commercial. They easily picked up the car, so the rock could be removed.

The final only in Israel moment came on the ride home. The person who asked to be randomly dropped anywhere in Beit Shemesh, was going to the house next to the driver's. I arrived home exhausted after a really enjoyable day. I have no idea how much paintball costs, but it is a great activity.

Newbie

2010-10-24T23:15:00.000+02:00

Worth his/her weight in gold?

As of today Newbie is roughly 1.5oz. That is like $2000 in gold!

(Ok, so I personally think s/he is worth a whole lot more than that, but I can't help where my mind goes wheen I see an article about things in oz!)

Tuition just doubled!

2010-10-22T15:09:00.002+02:00

We just got a note from school that over and above tuition we have to pay fees that equal MORE than the total for tuition. Essentially, tuition just doubled with no notice. Is this normal?

A New Addition

2010-10-06T20:13:00.002+02:00

Well, it has been a long time in coming and we have finally made the decision that it was time to move forward. The truth is that for a while now we have been feeling a little out of sorts- like something was missing from our lives. Something so pure and simple that you do not really notice it isn't there until you start getting sick and realizing that you just can't live any longer without it.

Yes, I am talking about pure, fresh water.

I know there are those who, out of principle, will not drink tap water in Israel. They think it is dirty or smelly or just do not like it. The truth is, in our old apartment I never had any trouble with the tap water. It tasted fine, did not have any particular smell, and overall was perfectly drinkable. That has never really been the case where we are now.

From day 1 here there has been weird stuff, little white flakes, floating in our water. If you pour a glass and let it sit you could get, quite literally 2-3mm of crud at the bottom of your glass- and the Brita did nothing to get rid of it. I could replace all the pipes for thousands of shekel in this RENTAL apartment, or I could find another solution. On top of that, for the last few months there has been construction going on outside our building and there has been even more crud, sand and debris floating in our water.

We had taken to buying bottled water anyway and were keeping it in our tiny and seriously overcrowded fridge. So Mei Eden was our happy solution. For what amounted to a difference of less than 10 shekel a month from what we were already spending, we could get it delivered to our door and cooled without needed to take room in the fridge.

To those still reading: There will also be another new addition around here some time after purim. :) We are asking people to wish us a long and boring few months!

We've got a strong desire

2010-09-19T22:32:00.001+02:00

Ho to speak English like an Israeli

2010-08-31T19:43:00.000+03:00

Today I was in the shuk in Tel Aviv with Channah. Someone started talking to me about something in English at the precise moment that I was haggling on a price with some guy who, truth be told, looked like he would rather just not sell the item. Now, you and I both know that if just one "potential rich American tourist" word slipped out of my mouth all hope of the reduced price would fly out the window.

So what is a good little native Anglo supposed to do?

Fake it.

1) the biggest difference between the sound of words in English and the sound of words in Hebrew (other than the sound made by clearing your throat of any rocks you might have picked up over the last 5000 years) is where the emphasis is placed in the word. In English it is almost always at the beginning of the word. In Hebrew the middle or generally the end is more predominant.

Anglo- GI*raffe. GUI*tar. P*yjama.
Heb - gi*RAFFE. Gui*TARA. pyja*MA

2) The verb "to be" ceased to exist.

Anglo - I need to go to the store.
Heb - I need go to the store.

3) Any short pause in English becomes a hold of the previous sound in Hebrew.

Anglo- I m going to (slight pause) the store.
Heb - I am going tooooo the store.

4) A comma becomes an "ehhhh"

Anglo - I need to go to the store to get milk, eggs and cheese.
Heb - I neeeeed go to store for milk ehhh eggs and cheese.

5) Um becomes Em.

Anglo - Um, I have no idea what you are going on about.
Heb - Em, You know you are cra*ZY?

6) Every sentence is a question.

Anglo - I would like to get this cucumber.
Heb - I would like to get thiiiiiis cucumber?

I got my dis*COUNT but EM some*HOW EH I feel a little dirty?

Who comes up with this stuff?

2010-08-29T20:54:00.000+03:00

Tomorrow Channah goes to meet her kita aleph teacher. As a new kita aleph student we got the requisite book and supply lists in the mail. There was a math book ("cheshbon"- and actually I think there are 4 of them) and a learn to read book, and an intro to chumash book and a bunch of others. We had to get pencils and erasers and a pencil case. My mom took her for a brand new school back and she got a trolley thing to cart her million pounds of stuff back and forth every day.

She also had to buy notebooks.

When I was in elementary school learning to write in Hebrew we had special "machbarot" with a picture of a bunch of old men learning and a menorah on the front filled with lines they told us were the lines they used in Israel.

This stuff.

Everyone had to get a whole bunch of them at the beginning of every year and we used them instead of foolscap paper for all our Hebrew subjects until at least 5th grade- probably longer but as I never did any of my homework anyway I could be remembering that wrong.

So imagine how surprised I was to get to picking out her notebooks, only to discover that she had 3 types of notebooks to get. Regular lined, graph paper for math, and totally blank. Not a single red widely spaced line in sight!

I asked Channah's OT today about finding some as I thought it might help her handwriting and she looked at me like I was crazy. She told me it was only for Americans! I commented on it on my facebook page and got the surprise of my life.

Turns out that what I always thought of as Israeli paper is here called a "machberet Anglit" (and English notebook) and is used for teaching kids to write in English!

The Other Side of the Rabbi Orlofsky Controversy

2010-08-25T01:38:00.003+03:00

I wrote a post yesterday on LJ on this topic. Thanks to the power of Google, it has drawn a lot more attention than I normally get on LJ. After further contemplation, here is a revised version of what I originally wrote.

Earlier this year, due to a technical glitch a customer was having problems redeeming a gift certificate. Before giving me time to work on the problem they reported it to their 1000 member Yahoo group. From there things spiraled out of control, as people bashed me and sent threatening e-mails to our company. I was accused of sending hate mail and one person put the glitch on the same level as bashing gays in the local newspaper. It continued for days, even after the problem was resolved. All I could do was sit on my hands and let our PR person do damage control. By that point the truth wasn't relevant. It was a real life lesson on how much damage can be done on a baseless accusation.

Another similar real life lesson occurred during the battle for control of the mikveh. The battle had already turned ugly, when our Rabbi got involved. His first move was to contact the parties involved to get both sides of the story. There was another Rabbi who I lost all respect for. He accused anyone (including my family) who had experienced events that he claimed never happened of being a liar and was not afraid to do it publicly. On the other hand, at same time I learned a valuable life lesson from our Rabbi about getting the facts before resorting to name calling.

On Sunday night, I saw a blog post and some follow up discussions on how horrible Rabbi Orlofsky is based on some of his comments on an audio clip. He was put on par with the worst criminals the Haredi community has to offer. The basis of the condemnation were two clips. In one clip Rabbi Orlofsky accused Rabbi Hersh Weinreb of stupidity and the 2nd one says that modern orthodox who don't believe in the Gedolim are not bnei Torah.

Rabbi Orlofsky was my Mashgiach in Yeshiva. He had a lunch time seder, where I had to make the Siyum because I was the only one who had been to every class, (including him). While the clips were damning, they lacked context and from I have known seemed out of place. I chose to call Rabbi Orlofsky directly. He has given me permission to share the details of our conversation.

The whole controversy began last Friday when the clips were anonymously sent to the OU office. The clip is from a shiur given 5.5 years ago, the time period during the battle over the banning of Rabbi Slifkin's (who I have a lot of respect for) book. Rabbi Orlofsky had taken the rather lonely position, of standing up for the Gedolim. The lecture was at Ohr LaGolah. While people may consider them to be just ordinary Ohr Sameach students, he pointed out that they are really a seperate program made up of Rabbis who's values include allegiance to the concept of following Gedolei Torah. He felt they had not deserved the name calling and personal insults. He was shocked to be hearing these types of attacks coming from a place like Ohr LaGolah. By his own admission he lost control and went overboard. He was not prepared to hear many of the comments and questions he had been receiving (including name calling of the gedolim), in this setting.

The point of contention was not about which Rav to follow but of the importance of having a Rav in the first place. This has been a long standing Jewish tradition and he was shocked to hear these Rabbis rejecting the concept.

Rabbi Orlofsky has a ton of respect for Rabbi Weinreb and meant that even with all his knowledge Rabbi Weinreb would not consider himself to be a Gadol and goes to the Gedolim for advice. The point was that people who were bashing the authority of the Gedolim (the students) were the same people who follow people who go to the Gedolim when their expertise in halacha are required. The attack was an unjustified way of making the point.

Rabbi Orlofsky has since sought out and received acceptance of his apology from Rabbi Weinreb.

The 2nd clip was Rabbi Orlofsky speaking out against the concept of "Catholic Israel" where it is the people who determine Jewish tradition rather than the Rabbis. The Modern Orthodox was a slip of the tongue after saying Conservative 3 times in a row. Given his lecture style he probably explained the use of the Modern Orthodox term, but the clip cuts out right away. He has said that he would love the opportunity to hear the rest of the tape. An anonymous person has claimed that they have a copy of the tape and threatened to make it public. On behalf of Rabbi Orlofsky, I have requested to arrange to get the recording to him. To date the person has not responded. All I know about the person is their IP address is from Brandeis University.

Rabbi Orlofsky is amazed that with thousands of hours of his recordings around there is only a two minute clip on him. If his shiur was so horrible, what happened to the other 58 minutes?

Not only that, but has no one else ever said anything that was not what they intended or worse yet taken out of context?

Rabbi Orlofsky made a mistake a long time ago. He admits he was wrong and has apologized to the people that he hurt. His life accomplishments are not going to be undone by this incident. As we go into the Yom Neroim, it is important to realize that our actions have consequences. Things are not always as they are appear. If we are quick to condemn others without trying to understand the other side, we are just spreading Sinat Chinam.

I will never know 100% for sure what was going on in Rabbi Orlofsky's head or what he had actually intended to say. My experiences of the past year have taught me that things are not always as black and white as they may appear. Perhaps my friendship with him has allowed me to know him a lot better than the people are attacking him.

Happy Birthday Jason!

2010-08-24T00:48:00.001+03:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON!!!! (Yes I am yelling. Everyone needs to know that it is your birthday so they can take a minute to send best wishes to the most patient, even-tempered, , forgiving, friendly, kind, generous, doting, devoted, supportive, sleepy, silly, bed-time story reading, furniture moving in the middle of the night, willing to put up with me guy I know. I love you.)

And now for some cheesy Israeli birthday music. I am sorry I could not find a recording of your favourite "It's not a party unless there is cake" song.

Toronto Trip -- Sports

2010-08-05T02:32:00.000+03:00

The plan is for the next little while to post some of the highlights of our recent trip to Toronto. Fitting in as many sports as possible was an important part of our trip.

It was not practical to bring my hockey equipment with us. I had enough trouble explaining to security at Ben Guerion Airport why I was traveling with my skates and helmet. For the first little while, I borrowed equipment from another goalie when he wasn't using them. When our schedules no longer worked, I borrowed the upper body stuff from a friend who upgraded a few years ago. The lower body equipment, I borrowed from the person who runs the Monday night game. The equipment had been donated a long time ago after someone upgraded their equipment. If the year had been 1983, it would have been state of the art used equipment. One person kept complimenting me on how well I played and that I would be so much better if I had better equipment. Nobody had a stick to spare so my old Monday night game bought one for me to be added to their spare equipment. Thanks Glenn.

I was playing up to 3 games a week. I easily fit back into my regular Monday night game. They have not been able to fill my spot with a regular since I left. I was also able to play a bunch of afternoon games my FIL runs, that I have never been able to play in before. Who has time in the middle of the afternoon to be able to play hockey? I had a great time and made lots of great saves. Goals that I gave up have been easily forgotten. I also spent a lot of time adjusting the borrowed equipment. I stopped a slapshot from a Junior A player which left it's own 'autograph' on my wrist for about 10 days.

I had been looking forward to Halladay's return to Toronto. The game against the Phillies was moved to Philadelphia to make room for the G20 rioting. The Doc ended up pitching on the Friday night so it wasn't that bad. The result was I got to go to two games instead.

I went to Jays/Twins game with my Father and my Uncle. It was a really entertaining game. My Uncle and I paid extra attention to Twins LF Delmon Young who always seemed to be the centre of the action. HR leader Jose Bautista hit an inside the park 2 run homerun when Young was insturmental in taking himself and CF Denard Span out of the play. It was a rare treat to watch. The Jays went on to win 6-5.

The second time, I went with Channah and my Mom to a Sunday afternoon game against the BoSox. The first play was a fly out to LF, which Channah quickly understood that rule. I have never seen anyone cheer so enthusistically for a foul ball. To her it meant the batter had another turn at the plate. She managed to cheer herself out by the 4th inning and my Mom did a great job keeping her entertained the rest of the game. Every once and a while she would turn her attention back to the game. By that point she wasn't sure if a play was good or bad for the team she was cheering for. It was a really fun afternoon. Jays lost 3-2. I don't think Channah has ever been to a sporting event where the home team won. It could be worse, she could be a die hard Cubs fan.

For me one of the highlights was one of the tremendous displays of Achdut that I have ever seen at a baseball game. There were a lot of vocal Red Sox fans in the section next to ours. Every once in a while they would start the cheer "Let's Go Red Sox" At some point it got really embarrasing for a home game and someone would start the response with a " Let's Go Blue Jays" cheer. Around the 6th inning there was a really long back and forth round of cheering that wore down both sides. There was a short pause as fans from both sides stopped to discuss. Then suddenly all at once in perfect unity they started a tremendously loud round of "YANKEES SUCK"

I bought Channah a bright pink Blues Jays Princess hat that has a pink bow that ties in the back. It was perfect for her. I picked up an official batting practise hat for myself. It is a big improvement to what I have been using for tiyuling. I picked up a cute baseball person for Rachel.

Before we made Aliyah I took Channah to the Hockey Hall of Fame. It was really neat because they had just retired my favourite all time player Patrick Roy. Going back was high on her to do list for the trip. We walked in and all she wanted to know was who "the most famous player" was. It was a very different response to last time where her fascination was the giant statue of Ken Dryden, who was "Bubbie's friend" She tried to make my Mom happy by touching "the famous puck" (from the 2010 Olympics). We played two games of bubble hockey which was the one of the main reasons she wanted to go. She thought the Vezina trophy looked like the Beit HaMikdash and no longer recognizes the building featured on the Conn Smyth Trophy. The real lesson of the day was that she will never understand the cultural significance hockey had on myself and Canada as a whole. It is a small price to pay for the better life I am able to offer her here.

It was nice reconnecting with the sports I love. I am going to try to be more proactive in playing hockey this year. It is amazing how little my perception of professional sports has changed since the days where I used to live and breath it. I still follow, just not to the same degree.

Testing

2010-08-02T19:35:00.000+03:00

Testing posting from my new toy. I seriously love my new phone!

The Move to Nowhere

2010-08-02T01:50:00.001+03:00

We have had many people ask us about what happened with the roller coaster scenario of our non-move. So here is the basic story.

We are fortunate to live in an apartment that has a proffessional landlord separate from the owner. She manages a number of buildings, so things have always gone really smoothly. Before leaving she confirmed that there would be no issues renewing our lease for another year. At the beginning of the 9 days, we received a frantic e-mail from her, that the owner has made Aliyah and would like his apartment back. Moving was the last thing we wanted to do. Starting the apartment search out of season, across the ocean created an unpleasant strain to the end of our trip.

On Thursday night we received an e-mail from the landlord. The owner is enjoying life in Kiryat Sefer and would like to renew for another year. However, he is worried he may change his mind and wants the option to terminate the lease on two months notice. Negotiations went back and forth. We went to bed thinking we had an agreement. We would renew for a year. We could each have the option to terminate on 3 months notice, however he could only terminate under a limited set of circumstances. He could not terminate the lease to sell the apartment. As on off hand follow up Rachel sent an e-mail, as it was not discussed confirming there would be no rent increase.

In the morning, we found out the owner agreed to all of the terms but wanted the rent increase. He felt it was reasonable because it matched the going rate in the neighbourhood. We told him he couldn't have it both ways and that no one would move into an apartment with an option to terminate in 3 months. A very short time later he agreed to an unconditional 1 year contract with the nominal rent increase. We are happy with the outcome and will be able to weigh our options from a better position next year.

Yay!

2010-07-30T12:18:00.001+03:00

WE ARE NOT MOVING (at least not this year. we will likely start looking for next summer).

Guest post from my mom :)

2010-07-30T01:35:00.000+03:00

This note is for Channah to have read to her by one of her parents...
Things that we have done while you were in Toronto...and then some, as I have probably missed a bunch of stuff!!!

We went FISHING, and bought a great KNAPSACK, in your favorite color...PINK! Zaidy Nathan took you when you were downtown with Uncle Meyer to buy you 2 beautiful dresses... we bought you a life jacket so that you could go out in our sailboat... we went out for dinners, and Lunches and Pizza, and had a B.B.Q. of what we caught at the fishing at the Yacht Club... we had sleep-overs and baked, and you were at Camp, and we went to a Water Park, and Movie nights and sleeping in Aunty Deborahs Bed... and got to take baths in a giant size Tub, with new bath toys, we took your Ima and Abba to Costco and bought a coffee-maker... and sent Ima to school so that she could learn more about Jewelery making... and you went to a Baseball game with your Abba, and to the Hockey Hall of Fame...and sos much more that I can't even think about now... Lots of Memories from the old country...and We will do some of that again ... someday...

Where were we, where are we, and where are we going.

2010-07-28T19:40:00.000+03:00

Toronto
Israel
Who really knows.

Just a quick note to bring this blog a little more up to date.

From June 14th through to July 26th we were in Toronto. It was a preplanned trip for a cousin's wedding. For obvious reasons we did not post anything about being away until after we got back.

It was our first trip back since making aliya. While the culture shock was more than a little surprising (We did live there for almost 3 decades and here for only 2 years- who would have thought acclimating would be so difficult?) the trip itself was amazing. We saw so many people and did so many things- well, that will be a whole bunch of blog posts and picture posts and what not to follow.

While we gone we got notice that our landlord had made aliya and as such we have to move asap. We have until the end of September- sounds like a while, but the chagim eat up most of that time. We are now desperately seeking a new apartment in the same neighbourhood. If anyone who reads this happens to hear of anything please let us know!

Meantime, we are mostly unpacked from our trip, and are going to go on a box hunt to start packing asap.

Netanyahu's Speech - Translated by sub-par Ulpan Student

2010-06-08T23:43:00.002+03:00

2010-06-06T23:44:00.002+03:00

It was bound to happen sooner or later

2010-06-06T21:26:00.000+03:00

The good- Free wireless in the ER!
The bad- one mistake after another and no central communication

Last week we had our introduction to Israeli hospitals. I know it was bound to happen sooner or later, but we are all generally healthy and so it always sort of seemed like something we would just get away without having to deal with.

Anyhow, Thursday of last week I woke up with a really sore spot on the back of my neck. It felt like a terrible bruise, but I figured I must have banged myself without realizing it. By that night there was a big bump and it was tender, but, as I really hate doctors, I decided to continue ignoring it. Friday was much the same, but by shabbat I was in so much pain I decided I would call after shabbat to see when I could get an appointment.

The first one I could get with my doctor was for the following Thursday. Ok, I would stiff it out.

I woke up Sunday morning and could not turn my neck. MY head hurt all up the left side to my ear, and moving my shoulder would send spasms of pain down my arm and my back. I called the doctor's office and said I needed to see someone, anyone, ASAP.

they put me in with a new doctor for later that day. Within about 2 minutes of seeing me, she said we needed to go to the Emergency room at Hadassah Ein Kerem (HEK). That it was an infected abscess, probably caused by a scratch or something, but it needed to be dealt with immediately. She gave me a piece of paper that I needed to gain admittance to the ER, and off we went.

Great, how does one get to HEK on short notice with no car? Fortunately we have amazing friends and Lorien offered to loan us their car and to watch Channah. We drove off on what is a stunning drive that I could not particularly enjoy. Got there, saw the entrance to the hotel, found parking, walked through the giant mall to get to the emergency room.

At the ER, we checked in and opened a file. They took the letter she sent, detailing everything about why I was there. Scanned it in to the computer, than apparently added a "DO NOT READ" stamp since apparently no one ever looked at it again before sending us to triage.

Triage was fairly standard, except for the fact that my normally VERY low blood pressure was elevated. No worries, said the nurse, it is probably because you in a lot of pain, I am sure it is temporary (incidentally, she was right. The next morning when I went to the local nurses station to have the bandage changed, it was back to well within normal ranges)- however that does not mean that I did not hear about how terrible my high blood pressure was from everyone else all night long!

I was actually really impressed with how efficient the ER was- we were seen really quickly. They said it did need to be dealt with, gave me a painkiller and said see me in 45 minutes once it had time to kick in. They used a local anesthetic, dealt with it, bandaged it up, gave me a dose of IV antibiotics and a script for pills the next morning. I tried to tell them I was pretty sure it was not drained properly as I knew how big it was and saw how little they got out of it, but they insisted I was wrong. They gave me a form to take back to my doctor, and off we went. Start to finish about 4 hours.

Jason went to fill the script the next morning. Apparently, it could be filled, but not at our insured rates because it was not written as a maccabi script. So Jason ran with the script down to the doctors office (he took the form also- she looked at it and then gave it back) to have it transferred. While there he mentioned I could not turn my head still, so they told him I should come back in right away.

So I went to have the bandaged changed at the local nurses station. I was in AGONY. She told me it was bandaged really badly. Much too tight and it was cutting off circulation and not letting me move my arm/neck at all. She re-bandaged it and ordered in some of the good bandage she was using, told us to get it in the morning, and home we went.

Spent all day in worsening pain. Next morning Jason went to get the bandage that had been ordered. The doctor I saw was there and when Jason mentioned I was still in pain she pretty much ordered me back down.

Down I go. she takes one look at it, tells me it is not drained, and sends me back to the ER RIGHT A WAY. Now how do we get there this time. No one we know with cars are available. We ended up taking a taxi. No idea how we would get home. That was for later.

Went through the whole thing again, again with the high blood pressure (although only half of where it was the first night) and the nurse being the only one to recognize that it was because I was in obscene amounts of pain (and now had not slept since Thursday!) only this time, I also got yelled at by every single medical professional for not bringing back the release paper from 2 days earlier! Of course they could not just look up on the computer what antibiotic I was on or who I had seen previously- that was impossible.

I got put in line to see an orthopedic surgeon. Why? I have no idea. I tried to tell them that is not what I needed, but they told me he would be there in 15 minutes. Ok, so I waited. An hour and 45 minutes later he calls me, rips off the bandage, pokes at the thing for minute or two, then tell me it is not his problem and goes to yell at the nurse who put me in that line. Another hour to wair for a regular surgeon.

Finally see the right doctor, he looks at it, yells at me for not bringing the release papers from the earlier visit (I had no idea I am supposed to bring my whole medical file every time I go in!) Drains it, bandages it, puts me on a different antibiotic, and sends us home. Thankfully, Lorien was able to come get us.

So I now have 2 huge nasty incisions on the back of my neck and a bandage that is killing me every time it is changed because the adhesive is destroying my skin- but, other than the ache from the cuts, I am mostly pain free. I do have a list of complaints that is much more detailed that I am sending to the patient advocate at HEK (you know, like trying to give me medication I am allergic to and not listening to me when I say NO!) but on the whole it was better than I expected, but not as good as I would have hoped.

Truth through music

2010-06-04T01:33:00.001+03:00

Eretz yisrael sheli yafa

2010-05-28T15:45:00.002+03:00

lower lip smile

2010-05-27T23:15:00.002+03:00

Big News :)

2010-05-24T20:12:00.001+03:00

Tonight Channah will get her first visit from the tooth fairy :)

This has, of course, led to numerous interesting conversations over the last few days including

-does anyone know the current tooth to shekel exchange rate?
-Ima- do I need to leave my window open so she can get in? But what about my screeeeeeeeeeen????
-How does she come to so many places in one night?
She learned it from Santa. Who *ahem* of course learned it from Eliyahu

She will not let us take a picture until she "gets used to how she looks now".

From the recent wedding

2010-05-17T11:10:00.000+03:00

Splitting a Community

2010-05-05T11:00:00.002+03:00

"There are two sides to every argument, but I don't have time to listen to yours."

In the months leading up to our Aliyah, a peeping tom was caught for the second time outside our building. This time he was caught with his pants down (literally). Tom happened to belong to our community and was regularly seen at our shul. We decided to make a minimal amount of information public so people could take steps to protect themselves. The community rallied around Tom as they perceived him to be the injured party. Numerous people claiming to represent the Rabbi put pressure on those involved to keep the story quiet. Tom needed to be helped by the community and avoid facing the Justice System.. We were told that if we didn't like it we could leave.

The people who were hurt by the incident were of no concern to anyone. The victim moved back home with her family, undoing a year's worth of effort by tenants of our building to get out the previous drug dealing family. She was replaced by another drug dealing family. The older single mother who had caught Tom was terrified as she was told by police they considered it to be a gateway crime. Of course Rachel was terrified at night or when she was alone, especially since we lived on the ground floor and I would play hockey late at night. Aliyah happened to be our escape from dealing with the issue head on.

Our community has three mikvahs. There is Dolev at the top of the hill which is the nicest and newest. It is in close proximity to most of the Datei Leumi (DTL) community. Further down the hill is Lachish, which is currently closed for renovations. It is in close proximity to the more Charedi community. The Luz mikvah is supposed to be privately built million plus dollar to serve the Charedi community. At this point it is more of a bargaining chip, than having any realistic prospects of being built.

When the new Charedi Mayor came to power, there were plans to replace the Rabbis in charge of the Mikvahs. Our Rabbi who was heavily involved in protecting the DTL community's interests gave a personal guarantee, nobody would ever be subjected to an unwanted 2o minute "Mehadrin" Bedikah. One day Rachel did go to the Mikvah and was subjected to the "Mehardin" experience. She came home bleeding and in tears. We later learned the Mikvah had been split in half and Rachel had ended up on the Charedi side.

A few weeks ago someone posted that the Charedi Rabbis were once again taking over the Mikvah and action should be taken to stop it. Part of the political horse trading that lead to the original split was that the Charedi would take over Dolev and the DTL would take control over Lachish. The mikvahs would be traded again when the never to be built Luz mikvah was built. The political part of the agreement has been broken. Although it presents legal issues, it is not relevant to the needs of the community.

A local Rabbi (who's shul attracts a similar crowd to when we were in TO) had one of his henchman post to the list that everything the person said was not true. The Rabbi should be contacted for clarification. Rachel challenged the claim and was turned over to e-mailing the Rabbi. He was surprised she didn't report her experience to him. Going to our Rabbi who went to the Rav of the city didn't seem like a logical course of action to him. At his request she went into great detail as to what happened. Without answering any questions, he said that he would not continue by e-mail, he would be available for a meeting in person but not for at least another week.

A number of concerns emerged about the change in control. Numerous women have had similar experiences to Rachel. There had been a sign that it was forbidden for women to toivel at Ben HaShmashot on Friday night. According to Sephardic tradition this is the ideal time to go. Waiting until night fall to accommodate the Ashkenaz tradition forces them to deal with leniencies they cannot rely on. There is a legitimate fear that some women will simply skip out on this important mitzvah if it is made to difficult. Another variable is the DTL half of the mikvah was getting twice as many people as the Charedi side. It is not very often that there is such a clear cut way of measuring preference for one methodology over another.

The Rabbi mentioned before had the Charedi position clarified. As he does not write in his own name, a post written and approved by someone who interview the Rabbi sufficed. In the comments section the writer was forced to conclude that the Rabbi felt any complaints against the Charedi Mikvah were outright lies. The DTL had been pushing for Rav Ovadiah Yoseph to take up the Sephardic cause. As the spiritual head of Shas he could use his political power, especially since the Mayor belongs to Shas. He was told that the sign never existed. With all concerns swept under the rug he easily gave his blessing to the take over.

How often do we break our teeth to make excuses for inappropriate behaviour based on a persons religious or community standing? How often do we simply toss aside the feelings of those who have been injured emotionally or physically because it is easier not to deal with an issue? Why is it okay to threaten someone else for not following one particular Rabbi? How often is somebody tossed outside the camp for having a different perspective on a situation?

The Charedi community has used the State to more or less build the type of community they want. For the most part I am willing to let them live the lives they want as long as I can do the same. The Charedi community has moved beyond looking after themselves to imposing their views on everyone else. The backlash has already begun. If their leadership and trouble makers don't learn to play nicely with everyone else, they will end up reversing the gains they have made. A good start in Beit Shemesh will be to let the communities function as an essential public service. Continuing with the status quo is the best way to serve both communities. Nobody wins from the nationally publicized religious battles.

Channah's new clothes (thanks Bubbie and Aunty Brenda)

2010-04-24T23:33:00.000+03:00

This is my favourite of the new dresses. I am trying to figure out what colour shirt to put under it. She loves the way it twirls- seriously, huge swing action!

TGhis dress is super cute, but a little wide. She wore it for shabbat with a bright pink shirt underneath it and a bright pink belt. Made the dress really pop because of the colour, and gave it a much better line for Channah.

This next one I am not sure about. Definitely needs a different shirt underneath it, but not at all sure what colour. I might put this one away for a year or so until it it sits a little higher.

Finally we have teh dress we were thinking she would wear to the wedding. she would wear it with a shabbat shirt with bell sleeves. Now she is thinking though she might want to wear the first one as it is twirlier. I will let her choose.

Yom Haaztzmaute

2010-04-24T23:25:00.000+03:00

jason and channah outside the shul erev yom kaatzmaute before tefillah chagigit

channah before food after the "parade"

channah after food

This is what passes for outdoor snacks in this country. Reading it in Hebrew is way more amusing than the English.

jason with fast food (he and channah split one)

the coolest bbq grill of the day

Yom HaAtzmaute

2010-04-18T19:15:00.000+03:00

Israeli independence day, marked by the Hebrew calendar, will be celebrated this Tuesday, April 20, which happens to be one Adolf Hitler's birthday. Guess who won?

Yom HaAtzmaute (Originally written for EtsyCHAI blog)

2010-04-18T19:14:00.000+03:00

Israeli Independence Day – Yom Ha'atzmaut
Yom Hazikaron – the Israeli Day of Remembrance To see this post including images please visit http://etsychai.blogspot.com/2010/04/israeli-independence-day-yom-ha.html

On the 5th of the Hebrew month of Iyar (this year celebrated on April 19th and 20th), 62 Years ago, David Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel Declared Israeli Independence as a State (before being attacked from all sides shortly thereafter).

With the re-raising of the flag over the military cemetery at Har Hertzl Yom Hazikaron comes to a close the country breaks into the biggest party of the year.

For weeks people have been getting ready. Flags hang from every street light and bunting is strung up and down streets wherever it will reach. Balconies and windows become makeshift flag poles, and even cars and buses have flags hanging off the side and flying off the roofs. To my mind, never does the city look so pretty as going into Yom Ha'atzmaut.

The night begins with parades by torchlight to large assemblies with music, glow-y things and cotton candy (seems that in order to qualify in this country as a family event there must be at least 3 cotton candy machines being run by 10 year olds). There are giant inflatable climbing things to play on and speeches to ignore. No matter where you are the night ends with fireworks.

Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israeli Independence day, is the only statutory holiday on the calendar- this means that EVERYBODY and their families are out and taking part in the “rituals”. BBQ-ing, hiking, playing in parks and relaxing with friendsclip_image002 are the order of the day. No self- respecting Israeli would be caught even considering not having a BBQ on Yom Ha'atzmaut. The truth is, from Pessach on stores stock “mangal”- disposable grills easy to shove in a back pack and take anywhere. Our first year here one sabra (Israeli born Israeli) made sure to take us under their wing to make sure we knew we HAD to BBQ on a tiyul (trip) on Yom Ha'atzmaut “not just bringing a meat sandwich”.

Yom Ha'atzmaut is the day to celebrate the Jewish State and being able to live here safely, securely and surrounded by friends, family and the wonder of God's creation.

Happy 62nd Birthday, Israel!

Yom Hazikaron (Originally written for EtsyCHAI blog)

2010-04-18T19:10:00.000+03:00

Yom Hazikaron – the Israeli Day of Remembrance
To see this post including images please visit http://etsychai.blogspot.com/2010/04/yom-hazikaron-israeli-day-of.html

The Israeli Day of Remembrance, Yom Hazikaron (the Remembrance) is observed this year on Sunday, April 18 – Monday, April 19.

Many countries have a day of national remembrance - Veterans Day, Poppy Day, Armistice Day, and others: and all of them are an inherent part of the culture of the country remembering. They remind people of their history - how they got to where they are now - and those who helped them get there. They are days to remember, but as time passes it often becomes more of a day to celebrate the freedom that was so hard won.

Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli day of remembrance for the fallen and for victims of terror is a national day of mourning on a grand scale. From the moment that the flag over the military cemetery at Har Hertzel is lowered, until it is raised again the following evening, the country takes on this feeling of waiting for something.

In a country with a mostly mandatory draft, no one is more than a step or two removed from knowing a soldier. In a country where everyone can be a target, no one is more than a step or two from knowing a victim. In a country fraught with conflict, we are surrounded by places people died to protect.

How we remember is mandated for us - and because it is almost everywhere you go everyone participates. Twice in 24 hours the air raid sirens sound - but no one goes running for cover. The world stops. There is no noise save for the shrill wail from overhead: A sound long associated with pain and fear.

Cars stop where they are. Cabbies stand silently by their doors. Cashiers stop arguing. Vendors stop haggling. Children stop playing.

As a country we are known as augmentative, rude and segmented, but for 2 minutes, one day a year, we are visibly united in our grief. Thinking about those no longer with us to celebrate the imminent Yom Ha'Atzmaute, Israeli Independence Day, a day of celebration and BBQ and spending the day outdoors in the gorgeous countryside, so that we could do so.

New video

2010-04-14T19:13:00.000+03:00

What country am I in again?

2010-04-13T13:41:00.001+03:00

Yesterday we went to get Israeli passports. It is the last step in our aliya/klita. You are not elligible until you have been here for a full year. We were elligible in August, but really had no need to go until now. An Israeli passport is good for 10 years from date of issue, so we figured why bother going until we needed to.

We got our pictures taken at the local photo place just before pessach.

We went in yesterday armed with pretty much every piece of ID we own, plus photos. If someone wanted to steal our identities yesterday on the bus to the office would have been the ideal time. Teudat Zehut, teudat olah, Canadian passports, pictures, and forms including name, parents names, birthdate, iq, shoe size and kindergarten report card.

We handed the guy the papers. He spent 30 seconds looking each one, put them in an envelope, took the money for them, said thank you very much and we were on our way.

I think we accidentally took the bus to another country instead of to "downtown" (I use the word extremely loosly) beit shemesh.

Today we ordered our "home protection kits" (read gas masks) from the post office. When Jason called in they told him the right person is not there yet and someone would call him back. Someone did. I think I have fallen into the twilight zone.

Pesach - Only in Israel

2010-04-08T01:37:00.000+03:00

Pesach was really nice this year. The seder was nice and we were able to fit in a nice balance of seeing friends and touring. I used my flexible schedule to almost get in a full work week. Jerusalem, Hevron, Kiryat Sefer (Modiin Illit). We had a great time even if it was a schedule that would offend the White House.

Here are a list of things that happened that can only be referred to as only in Israel moments.

KLP Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

Buying hot KLP food from restaurants or local food vendor.

Cotton Candy everywhere you turn. You know the kashrut status because there is only one brand of plain white sugar in this country.

(Not so) Hurva Shul - People were trying to get in to have a look. An old security guard came outside to yell at people to tell them it was closed. In the mean time people were walking in behind him, until they put up a physical gate to block the ramp.

Mincha at the Kotel - Chanasat Sefer Torah with a 2 piece band. The band stopped so we could say kedusha uninterrupted. A short time later they pumped up the Kotel sound system. (They played what I call the Hasilenu Song - no idea who sings it or what it is called)

Walking down to the Kotel in the evening and hearing the Windows start up chimes from the Kotel sound system.

Restaurants on the road between the Arova and Kotel were open. Burgers Bar - selling drinks and Kippot, Pizza Shop - selling soft ice cream and chips (French fries), Bonkers - selling packaged ice cream and scarves.

Hevron - 3 buses- 2 pick up/ drop off locations, 2 drop off times - buses had to be boarded based on expected return time. Planning #fail

Praying at Marat HaMachpela in the Yitzchak and Rifka Room (only open to Jews 10 days a year).

In the make shift market in Hevron, I asked the vendor about the Kashrut of the lemonade. She told me she made it at home from lemons.

RBS B Post Office - sign from the post office and the police saying it was closed all of Pesach for safety reasons.

One Seder - Never that moment of "Oh no, we have to do this again tomorrow night"

Chametz in all the stores is covered. It is illegal to sell Chametz publicly over Pesach, athough there are some interesting definitions of public for this law.

Rice and other Kitniyot products are everywhere and kept with the regular KLP products. In Hevron they were selling pop corn.

Rachel made a comment that it didn't really feel like Pesach this year. I answered that it was because the Chagim are so integrated to the way of life that they don't seem out of place. It is really special celebrating the Chagim as they were always meant to be celebrated. Ok, minus the super huge giant BBQ, but that we will have again one day.

Day 1 chol Hamoed

2010-04-02T00:03:00.000+03:00

So yesterday we decided to spend the day in the old city. We talked with Channah about being "oleh b'regel" (ancient pilgrimage into Jerusalem for the 3 major festivals) and headed off. Here is our little pilgrim on the path to the Jewish quarter.

And here she is with the ancient Jewish traiditional cotton candy. Seriously. It is not a "day out" in this country without cotton candy.

Another traditional element of any day out is an arts and crafts. A millenium or more ago this might have taken the form of sheep dying or leather crafts. Nowadays- Temple colouring books and a play about a lost ritual sacrifice. Nope. Not kidding about the play. It was very cute, very loud, and about 2 brother's who lost the sheep they were taking to slaughter.

Jason

Dinner. Out. On pessach.

As the shul formerly and currently known as the Churva has been reuilt, the whole rova square takes on a new atmosphere. Being Chol Hamoed, there was live music- but apart from that there were just people milling around. Sitting, chatting, eating. It was soooooo nice!

Then we went to the new Aish temple institute museum sort of thing. First of all, it is GORGEOUS! This is the chandelier in the main hall. Real, gorgeous, chihuli hanging from a 2 story high dome.

This is the view from the roof.

It is also the best view of the top of the temple mount from anywhere that I know of.

Here is a view of the highest point most people get to, from the point on the Aish roof. Let me tell you, from someone who is terrified of heights, there is a HUGE difference!

Channah with their (very detailed) model of the Bait Hamikdash.

Us at the end of the night

Goofing around on the glass toped domed roof.

A few old pictures from Channah's camera that never got posted

2010-04-01T23:11:00.000+03:00

because it has been ages since I cleared the card on her camera! Yes some of these really do go all the way back to Mom and Abba's visit last May. Sorry.

and now a brief message from our sponsors

2010-03-31T00:55:00.003+03:00

Biur chametz

2010-03-29T11:27:00.000+03:00

Aka- Channah's first burning dumpster- ahhhh the lovely life in RBSA

Magid

2010-03-25T09:51:00.004+02:00

This is a really well done video of the pessach story. It is somewhat graphic though and I know I screened parts out when showing it to Channah.

What holiday is this?

2010-03-25T00:26:00.000+02:00

Deck the halls with rolls of tin foil (oy yoy yoy yoy yoy oy yoy yoy yoy)

Once a year we celebrate a time to get the whole family together. A time where extended family comes together from all parts of the world to spend one special night together.

Kids get 2+ weeks off school and spend every single minute of that time telling you they are bored then complaining when you give them something to do. Every tourist attraction in the country is trying to get you to come visit- but who has time for any of that?

Money is spent decorating the home with shiny things to make it holiday ready (that will be thrown out a week later). We pull out pots and pans and dishes that are only used for this special time of year. For weeks leading up to the holiday season we clean like maniacs trying to make sure not a single crumb is out of place for that special night before finally, the morning before, throwing up our hands and saying "That's it! I have done all I can do! Anything still here is just not my problem!" Cooking special foods and strange combination we would never even think of any other time of year.

We get ready on the eve of the holiday- Everyone is wearing new, seasonal clothing. We make sure our families are pressed (if not necessarily starched) to within an inch of their lives. Care is taken to make sure children nap so they can be shown off at later points in the evening.

The big night finally comes. Everyone sits around the table with the soft candlelight bringing an warmth to the festivities. There are things to keep the children occupied so the adults can converse (while stopping regularly to find out what the children have learned in school- the children take special pride in doing so and spend an inordinate amount of time singing songs they learned in class). At midnight one finds themselves eating wafers and drinking wine while singing in a foreign language.

Finally, the night omes to a close with an old guy with a big beard going house to house to visit anyone who puts out a drink for him.

Of course I am talking about pessach. What else could it be?
Thank you Meyer for the thought behind this post

2010-03-22T22:09:00.000+02:00

A photo book by Smilebox

Channah, channah, channah

2010-03-21T02:19:00.001+02:00

You know you have a kid in an Israeli gan when...

Jason- And what happened then?
Channah- Hashem split yam suf so b'nai yisrael could go inside of it. What's his name went first
J- Who?
C- I forget
J- Nachshon
C- no he had a longer name
R- Nachshon be Aminadav?
C- see, Ima knows!
J- then what happened
C- they all crossed
J- and did they get all yucky and sandy when they crossed?
C- yes.
J- no Channah, they crossed on dry land.
R- Hashem made it like tile so they could walk easily
C- no. they got sand in their shoes.

Moral of the story- God can split the sea, but not even he is impressive enough to keep sand out of an Israeli kid's shoes...

Picture was taken last week on the train into Tel Aviv.

The Plagues

2010-03-16T15:58:00.003+02:00

The kids are trying to learn as much as possible before the Pesach vacation.

Channah: The Jews who did not want to leave Egypt, they were dead in Makot Hoshech (Plague of Darkness).
Me: Why?
Channah: Because they couldn't die in Makot Bechorot (Plague Death of the 1st Born), they were not all Bachor (first born).
Me: Why, would they not want to go to Israel?
Channah: I don't know.

Uncle Jay explains- Passover!

2010-03-16T00:21:00.002+02:00

A night out!

2010-03-14T23:50:00.000+02:00

Last night I went out for the evening with a cousin of mine from Rishon. We had planned to go to the anti-segregated bus rally in Jerusalem, but some major traffic meant that we only got there once it had ended. Truth be told, I think we both knew it was not going to happen as we decided at 6:50 that she would come get me and we would head off to the event that started at 7:30. She lives about 35 minutes from me, and I am about 45 from Jerusalem. You can see how this might not work out so well.

On the other hand, I felt like I had an obligation to try to attend. There are many who see the issue as a dati-Chiloni argument, but that is just not the case. There are a large number of dati-im, likely even the majority(!) who also would rather not have segregated bus lines!

So we went. The two of us could not be more different. She is from my mom's generation- has kids almost my age. As gorgeous as I am not. Chiloni to my dati. Political left winger to my right. Vatikah to my new olah. But we had a wonderful time!

We ended up sitting over coffee at an outdoor patio for about 2 hours just shmoozing.

You did see the difference in location show through though! The jerusalemite waiter was in a t-shirt. My Beit shemesh self was in long sleeves and her TelAviviness was in a winter coat!

Tis much better to try and fail and have a great night out than never to try at all!

New Look

2010-03-14T23:42:00.000+02:00

New blogger features means we have a bit of a new look around here. If anyone has any trouble please let us know. We might be adding some new static pages (like the how to reach us) page over the next little bit. Not sure about it though.

I think I will also be cutting the tags down to a more manageable number. We no longer really need the ones from before we moved about what we had for sale!

I have added a search this blog option on the top right hand side. This is for the person who kept telling me she "knows she saw a link to something somewhere a few months ago". Enjoy :)

The Smile Returns

2010-03-09T00:34:00.000+02:00

For the passed week I have been getting tons of comments on how happy I look. The last 3 months have been quite a roller coaster ride. The new path my career began to take a year ago seemed to come to a sudden end. Worry about which direction my career would take, the stress of constantly being home, financial worries and weekly humiliating trips to the unemployment office have been draining. For the most part, I have even stopped writing.

About a month ago, behind the scenes pieces began falling into place. While I had hoped that was the direction things were going the uncertainty created a lot of confusion, as I was trying to make important decisions. The contract for my new job was finalized today. It is the first time in my career that I was in a position to negotiate a contract and it is an opportunity with tons of potential.

I am now the Chief Development Officer for www.1quickcup.com It is a start up company based out of New York, that sell coffee for the Keurig brewing system. There are individual pods that are put into the machine and brewed for a single cup of coffee. It allows each person to have the kind of coffee they like without the messy clean up that goes with a traditional coffee pot. There are over 200 flavours of coffee, tea and hot chocolate to choose from including French Toast, Chocolate Glazed Donut, Kahlua and German Chocolate Cake. It is the perfect solution for any office.

My position allows me to use a wide range of talents and abilities. I am handling customer service issues and order processing. I am responsible for maintaining almost 500 eBay auctions, plus what will eventually be even more on Amazon. I am handling some web work on the companies main website. I also have some Project Management responsibilities. My experience in QA, 5 years managing a warehouse and private lessons based on the Dale Carnegie method have all helped me to be a significant contributer in a short period of time. I am getting tons of valuable job experience and my ability to contribute to success of the company will advance my career.

There are pluses and minuses to working from home. This is the best place for me and my family right now. It will be interesting to see where things go from here.

Mishloach manot

2010-02-26T17:06:00.000+02:00

This Purim, have s'more fun on us. Love Jason, Rachel and Channah.

Our mishloach manot. Crackers, marshmallows, chocolate, and of course, the candle and stick.

In case you have been wondering where we have been..

2010-02-24T11:58:00.002+02:00

So, our router from bezeq is having issues. The wireless works great, but the ports seem to be dead- which would not be a problem except for the fact that our voip line is wired into it. No wireless.

When we bought our modem from Bezeq, we were told we get it for free if we sign for a 2 year contract. Silly us, we thought the modem was expected to last the length of the contract. No.

So we called bezeq. After an hour and a half they told us we could exchange the modem, all we needed was an okay from the tech department. Ooops, they closed five minutes ago. Call back after the weekend.

So we did.

Nope, it is out of warenty. Lovely. 129 shekel to replace it (plus shlepping into Jerusalem to get it as there is no shop here), or 12 shekel a month or a year, plus 40 shekel in shipping if we want to take out a customer service contract. Oh, and we are signing on to bezeq internet for another year if we go that route.

So we decided to see what our other options were.

We asked o nthe list locally to see if anyoen had one used. A computer place contacted us and said they had. So we asked their hours. Jason called before he went over just to be sure they were open. He got there. They weren't. They suggested he wait around for 45 minutes until they got back. Keep in mind he had called them 10 minutes earlier and told them he was coming right over.

So he went back today. Explained what he needed. Double checked they were selling him the right part. It was 75 shekel more than it was from bezeq, but was supposedly a better product with a 2 year warenty.

Got it home. Opened the sealed box. Wrong part.

Called them and they told him they would "do him a favour and take it back- and no they do not sell the part we actually need.

He got over there (again!!) and the first thing the guy did was apologize. Ok, mistakes happen. Then he told him they have one used (part we need) in stock. He would sell it to us for the same price as the (wrong part) that was new. No warenty! But trust, him it would work now (no guarentee about tomorrow though!)- he would lose money on it if he needed to fix it. So, 75 shekel more than bezeq, used, no warenty. Um no.

Then he went into a little speach about how people who use him do so for customer service not for his prices.

Ok, buddy. I pride myself on my customer service and use the line about quality of price a lot. This ain't it.

If anyone is considering a local computer place and is concerned it might be this, I would be happy to answer direct questions.

For now, still no working voip line

Trying on Purim Customes

2010-02-22T21:21:00.000+02:00

This year she is a pink aurora fairy. She started off as princess aurora (sleeping beauty) in a lovely gown from my sister. She then decided she needed a wand. But princess' don't carry wands, so she needed to be a magic princess. Then she decided she needs wings cause they are cool. But not even magic princess' have wings, so she must be a fairy princess. So we bought the wings and they came with antenna. They wiggle and are much more comfortable than her crown. So now she is a pink fairy aurora princess. She will also be wearing her pink sparkly shoes from safta Myra.

Ballet Recital

2010-02-19T08:46:00.001+02:00

Corny

2010-02-11T21:02:00.001+02:00

When you move half-way around the world, you know there are going to be things you need to give up. At first, the reality of your new life fills your world and you do not really have any time to think about them. Over time they occasionally slip into your subconscious, and eventually conscious thought. Given long enough, and even the smallest things you left behind will have a way of popping into your head when you least expect it.

Over the last few weeks Jason and I have come to realize that there are a select few things that we miss from "the old country". Reasonably priced shoes. Fresh broccoli that does not cost a month's salary. Customer service. You know. Little things. For the most part they are very little things that, in the grand scheme of things, are really not particularly important, but once in a while you think about them and realize that they are, in fact, just not available over here.

It dawned on both of us that the one thing both of us missed most (I mean, outside of friends and family) is corn on the cob.

You can get frozen corn kernels here that, once re-hydrated and heated up are a pretty close facsimile to the taste of reasonably okay corn. You can get canned stuff that canned stuff that might as well be sludge is yellow water. You can even buy what, to the untrained eye looks like very expensive plasic, play-food corn on the cob- mostly husked and wrapped in Styrofoam and plastic wrap. The first is our standard form of corn. The second is an option if it happens to be on sale and going into something cooked like shepherds pie or onto pizza. The last option was something that we we had not yet brought ourselves to try.

Recently we mentioned that it was something we missed to someone, he mentioned having it regularly. He buys option C from above and that it was pretty good. So today while I was grocery shopping I noticed it on sale for a reasonably good price (7 shekel a kilo!) and bought a package of 5 ears. I picked the nicest looking plastic pod of the bunch and went on my merry way.

We made it for dinner tonight. I looked mostly like corn on the cob. It even smelled vaguely of yellow! You ate it like corn on the cob- pretending to be an old style typewriter. But when push came to shove it was just a uber-starchy, mostly-tasteless, yellow edible stick (Channah has named it corn on a stick and she has no idea what a cob is).

I really, really missed Simson's corn (hamayvin ya'avin)

Channah's Birthday- Part 1

2010-02-07T19:20:00.000+02:00

Package from Mom

2010-02-07T02:34:00.003+02:00

I am Israel (Video)

2010-02-04T13:02:00.001+02:00

Juggeling- sort of, part 2

2010-02-03T21:06:00.001+02:00

Playing outside

2010-02-03T16:39:00.003+02:00