An alternately structured and sometimes stream-of-consciousness journal of my view of the purpose and essence of life as a Jew, the importance of the Land of Israel, how to differentiate good from evil, and perhaps even what to do about it. Oh,and also some technology thrown in for good measure. And whatever else comes to mind, actually...
In short: "BLOGITO Ergo Sum"
Okay. So you think you know how to run a Seder, eh? How about updating it a little into the 21st Century; like, say-how it would look on Facebook, for instance.
Or, what if you're in grad school, and you are reading the Haggadah? Well, thanks to Carl Elkin, welcome to The Graduate Student Haggadah. (hat tip: my very own Toodles.)
I don't like Pesach cleaning. Even though I found this cute cartoon (below) on Jewlarious, and I do have some OCD tendancies (don't worry-I'm working on myself), I still do not like to clean for Pesach. Bottom line is, it's physically daunting, I get overwhelmed with all the papers, articles and what-nots that I've saved over the years (a packrat, am I) and, combined with my natural laziness, it just doesn't cut it.
But truth be told, I found some really interesting things while I was cleaning the sifrei kodesh bookcase and books. My problem is, I sit down and start reading and thinking about the past, and my parents (ob"m), etc. and get into a sad mood, and the cleaning stops dead in its tracks.
For example, I found my old book, "Pninei ha-Dat," which I had while in school in New York, many snows ago...I found my sister's Mishna for students (from the same era), with her name written in Ivrit; she doesn't speak the language any more, and has forgotten most of it. . .
I found some Rav Kahane books, two of them in Ivrit, which he himself had sent me, a couple of months before he was murdered (I had started reading them years ago, and never finished...)
I found a copy of my father's (a"h) book of poetry, Shirim be-Sulam Minor, ("poems in a minor key"), published in the 1960s.
And, I found a little "megillah" of Megilat Esther (not kosher of course), which I would have used to follow the Megillah reading in shul on Purim, if I had known that I had it (-cause I like to follow the Megillah reading from a real, or a 'real-fake' scroll). . . it had slipped on top of and behind the Mikra'ot Gedolot...
I also found my eldest daughter's Chumash, from third grade in Israel, and another one of her third grade books in Hebrew, still covered with the paper book covers they made us put on then. I wonder if they still do that there. . . probably.
The carpet cleaners just left, and it will take hours before they are dry, but it really is beginning to feel like Pesach here (I managed to clean all the books and bookcase just before they arrived-- great timing)!
We will be picking up a guest who will be staying with us for a while, and I started pulling out books I want to learn with her, as I was cleaning them. Of course, they are now on the chametz table, so I'll have to clean them again, but we're not converting over until motzai Shabbat (G-d willing), so I have some time.
I miss my children. I wish they could be here for Pesach. We are having a lot of guests for the first Seder, but only we know our songs and minhagim (although one or two guests are Israeli, so maybe they know some of our niggunim as well), and it is never the same without family here. I am getting to the point where I can't see myself staying here for any length of time; it is almost time to move on, and join my kids. . .
It's happening again-I'm getting nostalgic and teary-eyed. Time to end this post.
Have a wonderful Pesach: chagsameachve-kasher.
(by the way-the latest Haveil Havalim is up at Jack's. Go, get a good read in before Pesach...)
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I am sitting here at my old 512 MB of RAM computer which is held together with chewing gum and scotch tape (they don't say that anymore, 'scotch tape.' Only in Israel...or is that the Israeli word for "Velcro?") at 10:11 a.m. MDT (-going in to work later today), reading the latest Haveil Havalim #209 at What War Zone with its aggregate of great blog posts, lamenting the fact that I haven't blogged since Purim.
That's what working during the day,going to sheva brachot and chatunot (that should actually have been in reverse order) and rehearsing and teaching at night does for one. Real Life obliterates Virtual Life. I have to say, I really miss my virtual life, and my virtual friends. In short, I really miss blogging. And Facebooking. And Twittering (I know, I know-they call it Tweeting. So what.)
It's a cyber-connection to the World At Large, and it's thrilling. And there is a real void when it's not functioning. Unfortunately, I can't just sit down and 'belt it out' without thinking and researching. So for the past hour I've been here, surfing Facebook, writing comments on a blog or two, reading some posts, and--VOILA! I've gotta go to work now, so I don't have the time to Collect My Thoughts (hope you like the plug, Norma...) into a coherent paragraph.
Do any of you feel the same way?
So, let me quickly get some stuff out here: 1) my son needs to rent his apartment out long term (he is moving). Anyone out there interested or know anyone interested in renting an apartment in Jerusalem, Ir Gannim area? Email me.
2) Vote well, vote often: Vote for Baby K'tan to win the New Inventions Entrepreneur contest, at Start Up Nation, here.
Thank you-will catch you later. Happy Pesach cleaning.
My younger son (Nathaniel Blumenstein), reminded me of Purim last week when I heard he was rummaging around in his Jerusalem kitchen for his Abba's star iron, in the hope that we left it there last Purim, when we traveled to Israel for his older brother's (Mister Arnold) wedding.
You see, we had taken it with us, knowing that since we were returning way too close to Purim (two days), we would never have the time to stand over a hot deep fryer, sweating away frying our Famous Purim Stars in boiling oil.
So, clever beings we, we took our Purim Star paraphernalia with us to the Holy Land, and actually made our Purim stars at yon younger son's postage-stamp-sized apartment, in his teeny weeny alcove- er-kitchen. Actually, he made them, and did a great job of it, too. These Purim stars, deliciously crispy, made from a yummy batter of milk, flour and eggs--were the delight of our family since our Texas days, almost thirty years ago.
Well, it was Toodles (Nathaniel's sister) who had thought that we had forgotten them there, but to her (and his) chagrin, we had taken them back to galut with us. And therein lies my tail...er...tale; and the reason for the title of this post.
You see, not having any reason not to-we assumed that everything was hunky-dory and hubby made these two HUGE bowls of batter (is that why they call it 'batter up?'), and I added the eggs and mixed, mixed, mixed to get those lumpy lumps out (oompah-loompah).
And then, while the batter was settling in the fridge, just resting and waiting to participate in that delicate symphony of cold batter and hot oil to be formed into luscious Purim Stars which delighted the palate, hubby opened the drawer to take out the Purim Star Iron, and (drum roll, please): guess what we found? The iron handle had split off from where it was screwed into the iron star-shape, with the screw part still in the star. It was broken, ruined--caput!
What apparently happened was, sometime somewhere on the way back from our trip last year (who checks Purim Star Irons over the summer? Really now), it broke off and we never knew it. And we never checked. Until AFTER the batter was done. Talk about a panic attack...
So, this Purim, after years of high praise for those stars lo these many years in our present community, and with all our friends eagerly awaiting the arrival of Purim (not for the joy and mitzvot of the chag, mind you) just for our stars--we can no longer make them. HORRORS!
And I am also reprising (see title) my Purim post of two years ago, March 2007, because פשוטאין לי חשק וסבלנות (oh, heck-just look it up) to write anything this year, and in that post you can read all about our Famous Purim Stars (may they rest in pieces).
And below is my ode to our Purim stars which I composed (with hubby's editorials. I mean, he is an editor for crying out loud) for they who are no more, which we are enclosing in each mishloach (this year we only made 60. I'm gettin' old).
A Purim Spiel:The Saga of the
Famous (Anon.) Purim Starsz”l
Two score years ago but less two more,
(Anon) Purim Stars first went out the door
*
And did the Mitzvah of Mishloach Manot well,
In Dallas, where the (Anon) clan then did dwell.
*
It continued in D. to where the (Anons) moved,
To be beloved by all, the Purim Star proved!
*
Alas this Purim of 5769,
our Purim Star Iron is no longer online.
*
It made its last stand in the Holy Land
Last Purim, to the joy of the (Anonymous) clan!
*
But on the plane back to D. that day,
Our Star Iron snapped, nevermore to play …
*
(The discovery of your long demise
Lying–in–the-drawer was a big surprise)
*
And having already made all that batter,
Conjuring up ‘Plan B’ was no small matter!
*
But, dear friends, never fear - though our Iron has DIED
From the (Anons) you will still get Mishloach FRIED!
I posted the first three segments of the Zola Levitt interview with Joan Peters a while back, ending with the third segment in the beginning of February (scroll down to find them).
It is now time for part IV, where Ms. Peters talks about, among other things, the "massacre" in Jenin being a total lie, the fact that Arabs who consider themselves 'Palestinians' can consider Jordan, which is 80% Palestinian, because it is a major part of the territory called "Palestine," and where selling land to a Jew is still punishable by death; about the death-grip that the oil-rich Arab countries have on the United States because of our dependence upon their fuel, and many more things which shed light on the true situation of the Arabs vis-a-vis Israel.
So, some of you want to show your displeasure with that terrible, inhumanitarian, terrorist state of Israel by boycotting Israeli industries or products? Because Israel, of course, has only done bad things to the so-called Palestinians, wait--and I forgot the rest of the world--it hasn't done much of anything for them, either. Israel is just always-well-there- with it's annoying Zionism, annoying smart people, annoying love of life. Gosh, they're so annoying, it's no wonder you want to boycott them!
So, good riddance, I say! Go, boycott Israel (just hope you enjoy moving back into your cave and starting your new life hunting and gathering.)
Watch this (found on WeJew) to show you exactly how to do it right:
My friend Naomi is a physical therapist in Jerusalem. Some time ago she sent me the story of one of her patients, Odel, a 13-and-one-half year old girl with a terrible disease, who would be happy if she could just have a special chair, to help her live as normal a life as she is capable of . . .
Naomi sent me a letter in Hebrew, which I translated (with some 'poetic license') below. Please, if you can, do a mitzvah* and help her to help her patient, by commenting on this post (leave me your email address and I will reply) and telling me of your willingness to help.You can also email me and/or Naomi, whose email is in the letter below.
I left out other personal details 'to protect the innocent,' but if you are genuinely willing to help, I will give you some more details, as will Naomi--in our replies.
I am also adding her original letter in Hebrew below, for my Israeli readers who prefer to read it in leshon hakodesh*. She also sent a photo in the letter, and if I can get it formatted right (my Tech Support Hubby is trying to do it), I will add it later.
Odel Kadosh, 13 and a half years old, suffers from a muscle-atrophying disease called Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy.Her disease has worsened, and now Odel cannot walk anymore, nor is she capable of standing, and it is also very difficult for her to raise her arms.
Odel attends a regular school—she is a diligent student and very sociable!As her physiotherapist, I strongly recommend a motorized wheel chair for her, which would be suitable for getting around her home environment in Ramat Bet Shemesh.
This chair can be electrically adjusted to recline (in order to rest her back), and raise the seat so that Odel could reach items at table level, and so that she could see her friends at eye level.This chair is essential in order for Odel to independently function in school, in her neighborhood and in the various social activities in which she participates.
The cost of such a chair is approximately NIS 45,000 ($10,743.40).The Ministry of Health can only fund this under 50%, according to the standard for such funding.Odel’s family is having great difficulty in raising the funds; her mother has stopped working in order to care for Odel and her two little brothers, who are also afflicted with the same syndrome. . .
Please, please help Odel’s family by donating whatever you can for her!Donations (in Israel) are tax-free.
בשל החמרה במחלתה, אודל אינה מסוגלת עוד ללכת ואף לא לעמוד ומתקשה בהרמת הידיים.
אודל לומדת בבית ספר רגיל, תלמידה חרוצה וחברותית.
כפיזיותרפיסטית שמטפלת בה, אני ממליצה על רכישת כסא גלגלים ממונע, מתאים לנסיעה בסביבת הבית שלה (רמת בית שמש), עם אפשרות לפיקוד חשמלי על הטיית הגו (לצורך מנוחה) וכן הרמת המושב, כדי שתהיה מסוגלת להרים חפצים שמונחים על השולחן וכן שתוכל לראות את חבריה בגובה העיניים.
הכסא קיומי וחיוני לצורך תפקודה העצמאי והבריא בבית הספר, בשכונה ובפעילויות חברתיות שונות, בהן נוטלת חלק.
עלות כסא כזה היא כ-45000 ₪. משרד הבריאות משתתף במימון של פחות מ-50%, לפי אמות המידה שלו.
למשפחה יש קושי לגייס את הכסף, האם הפסיקה לעבוד, כדי לטפל באודל ובשני אחיה הקטנים, הלוקים באותה תסמונת.
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