Shalom from Stormy Israel

Written December 13, 2010

 

To my dearest kinderlach, grandchildren, family, friends, neighbor, shalom !

How are you? I am fine. Just nursing a cold I brought with me from Morocco. As it turn out, a drastic weather change in Israel, rain storms & low temperatures,make it more difficult to recuperate. But, on Thursday, I will be leaving for Eilat,  (the city on the tip of the Red-sea, most southern city in Israel, where the temp. today read 23C or 74F )  to bask in the sun...... Tel-Aviv temp.today, was at 14C = 57F at high and 8C =36F low.

 

No matter what I will write or tell about Morocco, I will not be close to the actual experience. The visible conflict of old & new, rich & poor, color & plainness, rainy city of Fez & dry golden Sahara, mountains & valleys, are all mixed with the noise of the markets & the smell of food & spices.  The important part of the tour, was our guide, Micki, who was born in Morocco, speaks the language, well versed in the Geography, History & culture of the land.  At the time of the Jewish expulsion from Spain in the 15 century, many found refuge in north Africa especially in Morocco. However, after the establishment of the state Of Israel in 1948, the majority of the Jewish population had to escape Muslim Morocco. Though, king Mohammad the 5th, the reigning king of the time, was kind to the Jews, the hotile atmosphere at the time was bad for the Jews. In the most beautiful city of Marrakesh, from a population of 35,000 Jews, only 126 persons are left, most are old.

A wonderful event of the trip was, getting up at 4:30 am, one morning day, driving in Jeeps to the edge of the sand dunes of the Sahara, climbing on camel's back, and riding  a camel convoy, ( like post cards) into the desert.  The last high sand dune we did on foot. (even the camels could not make it....) I must stop here and confess : I was helped & pushed from behind by my camel owner... so I could reach a peak. Once there, we sat Until we saw the first sunrise. And what a magnificent site this was. Sahara was GOLDEN.

Because it was a "kosher Tour", we traveled with two (2) cooks. Three meals we ate in Jewish communities (Fez & Casablanca) and on Shabbat we were invited to eat at the home of Isak Ohayon. And what a Shabbat it was, and what meals we ate ???  In the tradition of the Morocco cuisine & hospitality.

 

We celebrated Chanuka in Morocco, so I failed to wish you a happy Chanuka.  However, Last Saturday night, I went with my friends the Hammers, from Nahalal to Haifa. We drove through the Christian-Arab section of the city, and we could tell that X-mas was in the air. 

 

To all of you celebrating the holiday season I wish you:

 

Merry Christmas  &  a Happy New  year.   Season  greetings to you all ! ! !

 

I miss you all, Love, Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla,  me, Esther.

Happy Thanksgiving

Written November 24, 2010

 

To all my "Mishpacha". My dear children, Grandchildren, Family, Friends, Neighbor.

 

 Happy Thanksgiving.

 

 

When living outside the USA, and now in Israel, one thinks CHANUKKAH.   My neighborhood elementary school children, accompanied by their parents, marched last night, with lighted, large candle - torches, singing Chanukkah songs. The bakeries are offering the traditional "PONCHKES" - donut filled jelly, and Chanukkah Menorahs are on display.       On main streets in Tel-Aviv, such as Alenby and Dizzengoff and in Ramat-Gan, Bialick st. the bargain holiday sale is in full swing.   Sound familiar ??

 

Wishing you all, a very happy Thanksgiving, flavored with Turkey, stuffing, Pumpkin pie, Corn, and all the other good trimming.

With love, Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, Me, Esther.

Shalom from Israel

Written November 22, 2010

 

To my family, friends, neighbor and all who are included in my Mishpacha (family) E-mail category, Shalom from Sunny, rainless Israel. I miss you all, thinking about my other home in the USA, and I,also, love my home here. It is over 5 weeks since my arrival, every day is full of activities and happenings,I must say I am BUSY.  I saw 3 shows, all Israeli. Only one of them I can mark as very good. 2 more, are in the planning. I went to 2 concerts, both were excellent (the usual). 1 more in the planning. I am visiting friends & family,- my sister came for a Brunch today.

On Sunday, Oct. 28. I will be leaving on a 12 day tour to Morocco. Needless to say, I am excited. 

With all the activities I participated, the one event most memorable, took place last Thursday.  I was invited to a Henna Ceremony. This ceremony, is mostly performed by Sephardi Jews mainly descendant from : Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen, Iraq. It is a Prenuptial ceremony were the bride is "Marked" with Henna.This tradition came from Biblical time, when Jacob worked for 7 years in the household of Laban for the promise to get his daughter Rachel. As we know, Laban gave Jacob his daughter Lea & Jacob worked for 7 more years for his beloved Rachel. Not to fool a,groom again, the bride is "marked". 

First, I must tell you,all, that my invitation to the party came from the bride's grandmother who is a daily visitor, black coffee company, of my neighbor Bertha Eini. There was no way I could say NO. In my heart of heart I was happy. Never attended a Henna, being an Ashkenazi Jew, it is not our tradition. However, I was told, this ceremony is now popular in Israel,just another party prior to the wedding.An event full of color, sweets, dance & songs.

The entire place , as I entered, looks like it was taken from 1001 night. The bride to be, wore Shecherezda like dress, the groom, in white silk, silver embroidery, jeweled "Fez". the bride changed 3 outfits during the evening. Music was playing, food was served and about 75% of the guest, like a miracle, appeared in caftans of silk, scarves with bells, gold & silver crowns & hats.  The Bride and Groom were surrounded by their immediate family who carried plates of "Goodies". The mother of the Bride, carried a bowel made of sesame seeds/sugar, full of the Henna paste with 2 silver candles. At that same time, smaller plates, but big enough, full of candies, cookies, sweets, wrapped in red & gold ribbon, given to all the guest. A two seated, red velvet with gold trimming, cart entered the hall, the young couple hopped and we ALL, danced with the plates of goodies in front of them. The cart was pushed through out the hall while we danced & sang. The couple & the parents (and grandmas) enter into a red velvet, pillows covered,tassel hanging mini harem. Inside, the grooms mother presented the bride with Jewelry, as well, the bride mom gave the groom a prayer shawl,and an embroidered with his name, a prayer shawl bag and a watch. And then, each finger of the bride and groom was covered with the candy called "RACHAT LAKUM" (a soft kind of sweets - delicious).

At that point, the grandma, picked up, a small lump of Henna paste, & placed it on the brid's palm. She covered it with a small pillow like pad  that had a flower corsages on top, with 2 red ribbons to tie it to the back of the hand. Once, the Bride & Groom,had their hands in Henna, all the guest were invited to mark their hands. No need to guess, my left palm & a "ring" around my 1st digital of the left ring finger is marked with Henna....  I was told, the yellow/Orange color will fade with in 1-2 weeks.

p.s the dancing continued until after midnight, every one took his plate of sweets home.

Only in Israel.   Hope to hear from you. Love,

Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, Me, Esther.  

Written February 15, 2010

 

To Mayne Tayere Mishpacha, all my friends, my dear neighbor, Hello & Shalom. How are you ? all is well here. I can't believe, 4 month are almost over, time to pack again. I will be leaving Israel on the 28 of Feb. and after 2 days stay in Prague I will arrive in the USA. Yes, I am practicing my English....

It is 30 degrees C (about 86 F) 30% humidity, which mean: a mini CHAMSIN. (desert heat). Very unusual fo the month of February, even in Israel.

Talking about the English language, there is a big drive to learn the language nationwide. The daily English newspaper "The Jerusalem Post" is advertising their new paper "The Jerusalem Lite". One of the requiered subjects in school , from the 5th grade is English of which on the 12 year of the Highschool  the national matriculation test is  requiered in order to graduate. (Bechinat Bagroot).   My cousin Ditza, Is a english highschool teacher  in Jerusalem, preparing student for the test. In addition, she also, checks tests.  I visited Ditza last Shabbat when she told us the story.  Part of the test was an essay the students had to write about a life experience. A young boy wrote about his struggle in loosing weight, his diet, excersises etc. He ended his essay, writing that his happy day was: when he was able to see the FINGERS of his feet.......

So, to you all, who don't know, in Hebrew there are no TOES. We do have only fingers.....

But, unlike English, every finger (on the hand) has a name.

I miss you all, See you soon, Love to you all,

   Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, that's me,   Esther. 

 Written February 4, 2010

 

To my dearest Family, friends, neighbor hello & Shalom from Israel.

I hope all is well with you. I am fine. It is "cold" here, Israel style. I let the MAZGAN -air-conditioner, to blow some hot air into my home. This is a very good indication , it is cold.

Snowing in the north, the entire Galilee region is covered, Jerusalem has some "dusting" on the mountains. Rain in the center & the south with high winds. The rain and the snow is much welcomed after years of drought.  For me, most important, the oranges, clementine, lemons, and all other citrus fruits are just DELICIOUS.  When the Jaffa oranges from Israel will arrive in the supermarkets in the USA, just get them.

My neighbor , as known as Bertha, but given name in Iraq, was Bertine.( She told me , that prior to the English who ruled, the French was there. An historic fact I was not aware of).  Bertha has, hanging on her wall a photo of her wedding day. She stands with her Husband, dressed in a beautiful wedding gown, her husband in a 3 piece  dark suit,  3  little girls in  white dresses and a little boy are seated in front of the couple. NO one in the picture is smiling. The photo is a "Brown-white".  last summer, after painting my apartment in NY, I rid myself of many pictures. The main wall needed "something extra". So here I am looking at the photo and got an idea,  that beautiful photo,will be just PERFECT on the wall in NY. I told Bertha of my intention to make a copy  , she was flattered. As she said it " I never was in America, but my picture will be".

On The corner of Dizengoff  & Arlazeroff St's. stand the well known Photo establishment  name FARAG. After checking with Mr. Farag  himself, I decided to take the photo to his place. (I did not want to take it out of the frame, & wanted to be sure of a good copy).  The next day I came to the store and took out the photo out of my bag.  Mr. Farage gave a quick glans and I could feel the excitement in his eyes. He looked at me and asked, "Where did you get it "?? "Who are the people"? By my Hebrew accent & looks he knew,  I am not an Iraqi Jewish descendant. When I did explain, he told me, that the photo was taken by Marshak who was the royal photographer of the time. Mr. Farag  put my attention to the printed seal  & a crown in gold, on the inner frame & the photographer name. But, what excite Mr. Farag most, was,  that he studied photography under the great Marshak.    Mr. Farag, came to Israel with the large immigration of the Iraqi Jews in 1951-52.  This immigration is known by the name of  :Oley- Bavel  = "The Babilonian Immigration".       Only in Israel.

The end results is unbelievable beautiful copy, at the price of 59 Shekel =  about $15.....

      I miss you all. I love you.

  Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, that's me    Esther.

Written January 21, 2010

 

To my dear Mishpacha, friends& neighbour, hello & Shalom.

How are you all ?? long time has past since last I wrote my "community" letter. I am doing well. I was told to start to use the food from the pantry. That mean, soon enough, I will have to pack back to the USA.  A real "Wondering Jew"....

I just returned from a week long volunteering in a army base kitchen in the north Galilee.same base I served in,  last year. The enlisted personnel has been change, mostly noted in the Kitchen. Many of the "Old timers" greeted me with joy. They remembered my soup and I tried my best for a repeat performance... The kitchen was on a tight budget, so, when I suggest to have my Tuna salad for supper, I was told :'too expensive, 40 Shekels a kilo" (About  $11 for 2 lbs.) When I heard that one of the soldiers is going into the near- by town (Chatzor Haglilit), he bought 5 cans, & the next eve. I made the most delicious  tuna salad, without Mayo. (Health reason, no Mayonnaise).All was GONE, they loved it.  Because the base is an "Open Base", (a 8:00 - 5:00 )  The kitchen, for supper, prepares food  for about 12-16 soldiers who are the guards.  The usual is, mostly, cold food, such as cheeses, Humus, hard boiled eggs, Shoco & pudding in prepacked containers etc. However, cold food was not served on my time..... I  made macaroni's without baking ,(Butter, garlic, salt & pepper), Potato salad Passover style -( Nothing left,). Fried eggs with tomato mixtures,(Gone). French fried with scrambled eggs. (The pot was cleaned with bread....) .

It is raining in Israel for the past week. No one is complaining. The water is much needed.  What is wonderful, is the rain that came down in the Negev. Ground -Water is being replenished. The sea of Galilee got 62cm (5 ft,) of water in the last few days. We are still 72cm(6 ft) below the 1st red line. Now they hope the fish will survive & multiply.

The Glazier on the main Jabotinsky Rd. is caring for the most beautiful & adorable cats, name  Tolstoy and Svetlana. Being a cat lover, I stop at the shop, often, to see them.The Glazier asked me if I know any one who like to adapt them. I answered that I will ask Gerry, my dear neighbor, who takes care of my cat, Finef, in NYC, if he would like to come to Israel x 8 month and care for Tolstoy & Svetlana......      When I stopped at the place again the Glazier asked me:  "What did Gerry said ?"  So now Gerry has 2 virtual cats......

I am knitting, reading, visiting, going to concerts, theater,museum, entertaining and all and all doing a lots of "NOTHING". I must admit, some times I miss my work, in a way looking forward to Rte. to work.

regards to you all, I miss you, love to you.

Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, that's me, Esther.