Haveil Havalim is up at Simply Jews.
JPIX, the Jewish photo round-up is up at Leora's.
And finally, the Kosher Cooking Carnival (KCC) is up at The Real Shaliach. (Hey!!! Didn't he just host HH last week? Now that's a dedicated blogger.)
Enjoy.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Summer Vacation
It's already begun for the two older ones; tomorrow is Orli's last day. Don't ask me why, but I felt the need to reiterate, re-emphasize and repeat some rules. I posted these in a very obvious place--the refridgerator door:
SUMMER RULES:
**You ate it--now put it away. Including the dish (but please wash that first).
**If it's yours, it should be in YOUR room. Get it out of any common areas, including the living room, dining room and kitchen.
**If you finished the frozen water, refill it. Same goes for ice cube trays.
**No feet on mommy's sheets. Offenders will be banned from the room.
**Feel free to clean something--ANYTHING--at any time.
And you feel free to add any other rules I might like.
Happy summer vacation to all--especially my girls. "magiah lahen"--they deserve it.
SUMMER RULES:
**You ate it--now put it away. Including the dish (but please wash that first).
**If it's yours, it should be in YOUR room. Get it out of any common areas, including the living room, dining room and kitchen.
**If you finished the frozen water, refill it. Same goes for ice cube trays.
**No feet on mommy's sheets. Offenders will be banned from the room.
**Feel free to clean something--ANYTHING--at any time.
And you feel free to add any other rules I might like.
Happy summer vacation to all--especially my girls. "magiah lahen"--they deserve it.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and let's not forget Ed McMahon, or never speak ill of the dead
Listen, noone knows better than me (except CK, my celebrity-watching idol friend) about the trials and tribulations of these stars. They've been bankrupt, drug addicted, and most disturbingly accused of child molestation.
Michael Jackson, specifically, seemed the most damaged. He was a talented performer. I remember Motown's 25th Anniversary, where he performed Billie Jean and did his moonwalk for the first time. The country went crazy. He was everywhere during my college years. His fall from grace was sad, so much more now that he will be remembered as much for it as he will for his music. Kinda reminds of Elvis.
There's alot of nasty stuff being said about him out there. Personally, I feel the man is dead; whatever you think of him, why not leave it alone now?
These three were icons of my youth. More than missing them, their deaths make me nostalgic about certain periods of my life. Ah, well the sun rises, and sets, as my mother says.
Life goes on.
(I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, too).
Michael Jackson, specifically, seemed the most damaged. He was a talented performer. I remember Motown's 25th Anniversary, where he performed Billie Jean and did his moonwalk for the first time. The country went crazy. He was everywhere during my college years. His fall from grace was sad, so much more now that he will be remembered as much for it as he will for his music. Kinda reminds of Elvis.
There's alot of nasty stuff being said about him out there. Personally, I feel the man is dead; whatever you think of him, why not leave it alone now?
These three were icons of my youth. More than missing them, their deaths make me nostalgic about certain periods of my life. Ah, well the sun rises, and sets, as my mother says.
Life goes on.
(I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, too).
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The saddest anniversay
June 25, 2006.
Three years ago today, Gilad was captured.
I've blogged about this before over here and here.
I don't have much to add. Just that I get sick to my stomach when I think of it. And that I feel guilty that I don't think about it all the time. I go about my business; I laugh, cry, work, play, am kind, lose my temper, share and sometimes don't. But Gilad is not on my mind constantly. He is never far away. Living here, he can't be. There are signs and posters everywhere, t-shirts, snippets in the news and many people working hard to get him freed. But he is not there always.
Even though I can't think of him constantly, his captivity touches my heart, as it does the heart of all Israelis. We acknowledge these milestone days, and wait and hope. Personally speaking I am glad that I don't have to be the one to choose to bargain with terrorists--truly a deal with the devil.
May G-d grant your freedom speedily, Gilad. We are waiting.
A father awaits his son's freedom.
Three years ago today, Gilad was captured.
I've blogged about this before over here and here.
I don't have much to add. Just that I get sick to my stomach when I think of it. And that I feel guilty that I don't think about it all the time. I go about my business; I laugh, cry, work, play, am kind, lose my temper, share and sometimes don't. But Gilad is not on my mind constantly. He is never far away. Living here, he can't be. There are signs and posters everywhere, t-shirts, snippets in the news and many people working hard to get him freed. But he is not there always.
Even though I can't think of him constantly, his captivity touches my heart, as it does the heart of all Israelis. We acknowledge these milestone days, and wait and hope. Personally speaking I am glad that I don't have to be the one to choose to bargain with terrorists--truly a deal with the devil.
May G-d grant your freedom speedily, Gilad. We are waiting.
Monday, June 22, 2009
A rif-raf of random thoughts about work
It's been a crazy couple of weeks. End-of-year meetings with parents, end-of-year parties, report-writing and what-not. Next week we have a surprise something-or-other at work. It's a secret; all we were told is to leave the hours between 5 and 10 PM open on Tuesday night. Last year there was a guided tour of the Ramparts Walk on the Walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, followed by dinner at Cafe Rimon in the Mamilla Mall. Not to shabby. So I'm looking forward to this year's top secret event.
The end-of-year parties (for the kids, with moms invited) are amazing. These women (most of the gannenot [teachers] and their assistants are chareidi ["ultra-orthodox"]) could be professional party planners. No detail was missed from the costumes of the kids, to the video of them (very hi-tech), to the breakfast spread (beautifully presented, and yummy, of course). There is a hebrew word used, השקעה, hashkaah, which literally means investment. These women fling themselves into these projects, giving everything they have. It was truly impressive.
I've come a long way at work. My hebrew has improved to the point where I get very little correcting. I've made friends (mostly Anglo women like myself) and have become friendly with some of the chareidi women, although I wouldn't say we were friends. I grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, so their way of life is not completely foreign to me. Like in every group, there are many individual differences; some of these women are quite modern in their outlook ("He's their father, who else should watch the kids when I'm not here?") and others not ("It's his job to learn Torah, I can't ask him to watch the kids so I could _______"). I've learned the hard way not to discuss topics like Women's Tefillah Groups. Sex, on the other hand is sometimes okay to discuss.
A few days ago the menahelet [principal] pulled me aside. "Baila", she said, "For the upcoming parties, I would like you to dress as tzanua [modestly] as possible." I looked down at what I was wearing: sleeves to the elbow, skirt, well below the knee and--DING DING DING DING DING--open-toed sandals. "Sure." I mumbled. What else is there to say? I choose to work there, I have to follow their rules. Or at least try. (Last year I used to wear very short-sleeved shirts in the summer, but have not put those on this year. I feel uncomfortable. But open-toe sandals? I can't give those up).
We had a meeting with some parents to discuss the child's transition from our school to a regular school. The child is three-years-old, very bright with a motoric impairment of the legs. He is from a chassidish family. He will be attending a regular "cheder" (yeshiva) classroom in the Fall, with a "shadow". The chassidish father was extremely intelligent, asked good questions and made excellent observations; he made eye contact with all of us (women). When the shadow was brought in (for training), he was obviously very uncomfortable. His eyes were cast downward throughout the entire meeting. He also had good questions and comments, but he clearly was less comfortable. Again, two men from the same background, with seemingly different outlooks on behavior.
Well, I better leave now. Today I have reports to write. In Hebrew.
Piece of cake.
The end-of-year parties (for the kids, with moms invited) are amazing. These women (most of the gannenot [teachers] and their assistants are chareidi ["ultra-orthodox"]) could be professional party planners. No detail was missed from the costumes of the kids, to the video of them (very hi-tech), to the breakfast spread (beautifully presented, and yummy, of course). There is a hebrew word used, השקעה, hashkaah, which literally means investment. These women fling themselves into these projects, giving everything they have. It was truly impressive.
I've come a long way at work. My hebrew has improved to the point where I get very little correcting. I've made friends (mostly Anglo women like myself) and have become friendly with some of the chareidi women, although I wouldn't say we were friends. I grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, so their way of life is not completely foreign to me. Like in every group, there are many individual differences; some of these women are quite modern in their outlook ("He's their father, who else should watch the kids when I'm not here?") and others not ("It's his job to learn Torah, I can't ask him to watch the kids so I could _______"). I've learned the hard way not to discuss topics like Women's Tefillah Groups. Sex, on the other hand is sometimes okay to discuss.
A few days ago the menahelet [principal] pulled me aside. "Baila", she said, "For the upcoming parties, I would like you to dress as tzanua [modestly] as possible." I looked down at what I was wearing: sleeves to the elbow, skirt, well below the knee and--DING DING DING DING DING--open-toed sandals. "Sure." I mumbled. What else is there to say? I choose to work there, I have to follow their rules. Or at least try. (Last year I used to wear very short-sleeved shirts in the summer, but have not put those on this year. I feel uncomfortable. But open-toe sandals? I can't give those up).
We had a meeting with some parents to discuss the child's transition from our school to a regular school. The child is three-years-old, very bright with a motoric impairment of the legs. He is from a chassidish family. He will be attending a regular "cheder" (yeshiva) classroom in the Fall, with a "shadow". The chassidish father was extremely intelligent, asked good questions and made excellent observations; he made eye contact with all of us (women). When the shadow was brought in (for training), he was obviously very uncomfortable. His eyes were cast downward throughout the entire meeting. He also had good questions and comments, but he clearly was less comfortable. Again, two men from the same background, with seemingly different outlooks on behavior.
Well, I better leave now. Today I have reports to write. In Hebrew.
Piece of cake.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Productive blogging
Haveil Havalim is up at The Real Shaliach.
It's a great edition, but what really amused me is that he met his Kallah [fiance] because she started commenting on his blog.
And people say this whole blogging thing is a waste of time....
Mazal Tov!
It's a great edition, but what really amused me is that he met his Kallah [fiance] because she started commenting on his blog.
And people say this whole blogging thing is a waste of time....
Mazal Tov!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Orli's bat mitzvah
Last night finally came. Orli has been counting down since Liat's bat mitzvah, almost four years ago. She was practically busting with excitement.
Orli's hair.
My feet. Heel spur killed me.
An uninvited guest.
This is what happens when you give your a kid the camera and tell her to be creative.
Here's my speech (Isaac's is in the car. If he brings it up, I'll post it, otherwise, trust me, it was nicely done). Feel free to skip it and scroll straight to dessert.
Orli, 12 years ago you came into this world and immediately made us feel like a complete family. Is it because you were our third daughter and needed to somehow gain our attention that you developed a fantastic sense of humor almost as soon as you could talk? Whatever the reason, Orli, you have kept us laughing for nearly 12 years. You've also evoked other emotions, but we won't go into those on your special day.
As Abba mentioned, when were here visiting several years ago, you chose the Pasuk כי אשב בחושך ה אור לי--"When I sit in darkness, G-d is my light"--to engrave on a necklace we were buying you. When I did a little search (Google, where else?), I found that the source for this Pasuk is in מיכה ז:ז [Micah, the prophet], but is added on in many Sefardic communities to Chana's prayer as an opening to their morning services.
As you may remember, Orli, Chana was the mother of Shmuel HaNavi (Samuel the Prophet), who gave her son to the service of G-d. When she brought Shmuel to Eli HaCohen she offered up a beautiful supplication exalting G-d and His Greatness for blessing her with a son. Your Pasuk, Orli, was aptly added onto Chana's praise. "When I sit in darkness, G-d is my light". What beautiful, comforting words.
I do not have the eloquence of Chana, Orli, but I can say this: G-d has sent you to us, our light. May you always be as luminous as you are today; May you always shine with laughter and humor and follow in his ways.
Dessert!
Party's over. :-)
Oh wait, I almost forgot. What would this post be without a picture of the girls?:
May we all celebrate many, many happy occasions!
Orli's hair.
My feet. Heel spur killed me.
An uninvited guest.
This is what happens when you give your a kid the camera and tell her to be creative.
Here's my speech (Isaac's is in the car. If he brings it up, I'll post it, otherwise, trust me, it was nicely done). Feel free to skip it and scroll straight to dessert.
Orli, 12 years ago you came into this world and immediately made us feel like a complete family. Is it because you were our third daughter and needed to somehow gain our attention that you developed a fantastic sense of humor almost as soon as you could talk? Whatever the reason, Orli, you have kept us laughing for nearly 12 years. You've also evoked other emotions, but we won't go into those on your special day.
As Abba mentioned, when were here visiting several years ago, you chose the Pasuk כי אשב בחושך ה אור לי--"When I sit in darkness, G-d is my light"--to engrave on a necklace we were buying you. When I did a little search (Google, where else?), I found that the source for this Pasuk is in מיכה ז:ז [Micah, the prophet], but is added on in many Sefardic communities to Chana's prayer as an opening to their morning services.
As you may remember, Orli, Chana was the mother of Shmuel HaNavi (Samuel the Prophet), who gave her son to the service of G-d. When she brought Shmuel to Eli HaCohen she offered up a beautiful supplication exalting G-d and His Greatness for blessing her with a son. Your Pasuk, Orli, was aptly added onto Chana's praise. "When I sit in darkness, G-d is my light". What beautiful, comforting words.
I do not have the eloquence of Chana, Orli, but I can say this: G-d has sent you to us, our light. May you always be as luminous as you are today; May you always shine with laughter and humor and follow in his ways.
Dessert!
Party's over. :-)
Oh wait, I almost forgot. What would this post be without a picture of the girls?:
May we all celebrate many, many happy occasions!
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