Shalom from Steaming Israel

Written June 18, 2012

 

Shalom to my dearest family, children & the kinderlach, my friends, and neighbors.

I am fine, feeling good.  I will take a hot Summer to a cold winter.  FYI, the temp. in the Tel-Aviv area is about 33-35 C, ( =   about  94 F ). However, the humidity is high too, as we are near the sea.  Last w/e I was in Jerusalem, temp. on Saturday reached 36 C  = 97 F. It was dry, like the usual on  mountain regions, but sure, it was scorching. 

I do my daily walk early morning, still, arriving home, soaked, flushed face, fanning myself, and drinking a quart of water with no stop.....

Yesterday, I felt a complete Israeli. I received  a notice, in the mail, that  the new protective kit is available to me in a designated location in the area of my residency. This protective kit, is to be used, (should not open before) in an emergency such as chemical/nuclear outbreak.  The kit contains : Hood unit, Filter, Syringe, Drinking tube, Blower air flow unit, Flexible rubber air pipe, Belt, and most important, Instruction for use. Hopefully, I will never had to use it.

The day I arrived, fighting the my usual urge to sleep, but keeping myself awake, to prevent a jet leg, until about 10:00pm.

Just as I went into my world of dreams, I was awaken to knocks on my door, and calling my name. I jumped out of bed,  opened my door, Nechama, Bertha's ( my next door neighbor), daughter summoned me to see her mother who complained of not feeling well. I must explain, Nechama, lives on the second floor, just above her mother.  Across the street lives another daughter, Sarah. Because Bertha does not read or write, and can not recognize numbers, she presses a set number on her phone, for Nechama or Sarah. Back to Bertha, who suddenly felt bad, and pressed Nechama's  number. Mor, the 14year old granddaughter answered the call, and Bertha  screamed into the phone :  "I am dead, I am dead". Top it all she did her screaming in Arabic, her native tongue.  Needless to imagine the commotion, when they knocked on my door.  Jumping out of bed, wearing a sleeveless, open decollete night gown, & bare feet I ran across the hall to see Bertha. As we all, calm her down, Nechama called the equivalent of 911 in America. Within a few, very quick, minute the "Hatzala" , same as in NYC, the 1st aide that run by Jewish organization, who are the first to respond, arrived. Two of them with shave heads, black velvet Kippot (Head cover), long beard, long side curled, Pe'ot, reaching their shoulder, white shirts, black vest, long Tzitzit were the four corners  fringes are hanging to the knees, black pants to the knees only, with black socks to the knees were the pans ends.  In NYC one can see those Chasidim in the neighborhoods of Williamsburg or Boro-Park.  The moment I saw them coming up the stairs, I gave the quickest  dash to my place, and put on my self  the first thing my hand has reached in the closet.  A wool  long sleeves sweater,( 85 F) and a pair of sport socks, to cover myself.  Now, here I was surprised. They spoke a perfect  Hebrew, they asked the most relevant questions, they checked B.P, pulse, and listen to Bertha's heart.  As a nurse, I was impressed, they were professional, polite, and very, very nice. By then the 1st aide arrived and took over. The Hatzala group left.

I am sure some of you aware of the political issues with the Israeli draft of the ultra Orthodox. A stigma given of their refusal to serve the mandatory requirement to the country. Well, I do have an answer now. Some DO !

When I purchased my place in Ramat-Gan, I was impressed with the neighborhood, the access to various services, the niceness of the people living in the area, the quiet atmosphere, the trees etc.  Last week, at about 3:00pm in the afternoon, a BIG explosion  sound was heard, while I was home. Immediately there after, I could hear the sirens of police, fire, ambulances. (All are having different sounds). I knew, it was close, and in time like this one does not leave the house, just to check.  That evening I visited my friend Ofra.  At 8 minute before the 8 o'clock, (the new gimmick of channel 1, in the Israeli TV, "eight to eight" news), the first story is about the explosion in my neighborhood.  This was the 5th attempt of the "under wold" to eliminate  Nisim Alperon a known figure in the Israeli crime family.  Here goes my neighborhood, he lives on the parallel  street.  The story of the Alperon family is one full of fascination.  The Sopranos are small change. 

Only In Israel.

I love you all, I miss you.   Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, Me, Esther.

Written February 4, 2012

 

Hello, Shalom, and Shavu'a Tov (Good week), to my dearest family, friends, and neighbors.

Here I am again, greeting you from Israel.  First thing to report, I am feeling just fine, lighter by 7 Kg = to 15 lbs. My mouth did not touch any of the sweet and Delicious bake goods of the land, in the pass 2 month.

Second I would like to report, my snails have names. The big one is Babba, and the smaller one is Ganoush.

I did spent many days in January, at home. "They" say, it was the wettest January in more then 60 years. 29 days of rain, cold & chilling weather. When leaving for Israel, I did not foresee or imagine such a winter. Not one pair of gloves, to be found in my closet, here. Oh well, the prediction is dry & warm for the coming week. 

I did enjoy a few "indoor" culture events. Twice a visit to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem - a must when you will visit the country, and a visit to the new added building in the Tel-Aviv Museum. Here, I was impressed by the new building, that radiates serenity with beauty.The building was designed by an American Architect, his name I can't remember, Kudos to him.

However, many of the Art objects they filled the spaces, were not pleasant to my eyes. I am not an Art "mevin", and therefore I should not critic.

I went to see the Israeli movie "Foot Notes", a nominee to an Oscar for the best foreign movie, this year. If it is playing in your area, go and see. A real human story, no Politics, no Sex and yet, captivating. I hope it will win, and if not, like the Israelis expressed it, after all, it is  a nominee.

Tel-Aviv has many Boulevards now, but when I was young, the only such a Boulevard ran west to east, named "S'derot Rotchild". (S'derot = Boulevard).   On Saturdays afternoon, at the corner of Alenby street and the Rotchild Boulevard,a group of 40-50 people, would gather, one of them stood on a stool or a chair, and loud political discussion was taking place. often a fight will break out between the opposing factions. An unofficial name was given to the group "Haparlament Hayarok" - The Green Parliament.  Long gone those days.   One day, as I was strolling in  my beloved Tel-Aviv, crossing the Rotchild Boulevard, I saw a green platform, on top another smaller green platform, and another, I think about 4 levels. At the top of the last platform, stood an old fashion chair painted green.  No sign of explanation. I thought it was made for my generation, the people who remember the Green Parliament.

My grandson, Abba-Natan, I spending some times with me. last week, he has completed a 5 month Ulpan stay in Kibbutz Yavne, were he combined Studies & work. He will be leaving back to the USA within 10 days.

Please write, I miss you all.  Much love, Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherica, Ludmilla, me, Esther.           

Written January 2, 2012

 

To my dearest children, grand children, mishpacha, friends, neighbors, Shalom, and a happy & healthy 2012.

How are you  ?  I am fine, feeling much better. I had some 2 difficult weeks, experiencing unpleasant cardiac problems.

As you know, I am, here under the care of Professor Michael Eldar. Last week, (as all the "terrible" symptoms disappeared, as they started,)  I had a Nuclear Stress test. ( I am sure you can tell, I still glow in the dark). Here in Israel, administration of the medical system,is a bit different from the one in the USA.  The results of the test, being evaluated by the doctor who is the administrator of the Nuclear Cardiology Unit. This doctor, wrote a complete report, with his findings, added the X-ray pictures taken of my heart, and a complete set of 13 + 3 pages of EKG. All this I received today, via Israel mail, (7 days after the test) with instruction to deliver to my physician.  Much slower then in America, and I am not sure if more efficient.  However, I was IMPRESSED at the "Hart Center" building at the Sheba Hospital. All in one center. From the lab. to research, to testing, angioplasty, hart surgery, recovery, coffee shops, glass elevators, visitor lounges, and above all the cleanliness of the place.

It is cold in Israel, now. I think, it is the coldest December I experienced in Israel for the past 6-7 years.  Top it all, since last night it is raining too. No one complains, water is needed in this dry land.  The measuring instrument, is the sea of Galilee. After every rain, in the news, T.V & radio, announcements will be made, of the amount of rain fall, and the level of water in the sea of Galilee. At present, the water in the sea, is still below  the "red Line". (red line = minimum required) 

When I visited "my Professor's" office for the first time, it drizzled. Because of the location and the greenery surrounding his office, many snails came out, covering the path way. As people came and left  the office, I hope,inadvertently, stepped over some.  I picked up two of the snails, placed them in the envelope with my American doctor findings, and travel with them to my home in Ramat-Gan. I made them a temporary home in a plastic jar, for the night, until the following day, when I went to a Pet shop and got a nice aquarium type of a dwelling. I placed sand on the bottom, and lettuce leave for food. I was fascinated seeing them coming out of the shell and eating, yes eating the lettuce. Amazingly, after 2 days what ever left over, they refused to eat, climbed to the roof of the aquarium and hibernate in their shell. Lesson # 1, no left over, lesson # 2, the "house" had to be clean.  So, now they live happily, until one day I cooked a soup and added Dill & Parsley to the pot. While doing so, I decided to treat my snails to dill & parsley too. The 2 of them climbed to the roof of the aquarium, hibernate in the shell, and did a hunger strike for 3 days. No choice, I cleaned their house, and back to lettuce. Lesson # 3, they don't like dill or parsley. A few days ago, I was told , snail love carrots. Same day, I sliced nice carrot rings and gave it to my silent pets.  Here I was surprised and amazed. They sure love carrots, but not the peels. Those 2 snails, were able to eat the carrot slices and leave a perfect round ring of the peel. Lesson # 4, peel the carrot  prior feeding. They still eat lettuce, but carrots are a delicacy. 

One more story about my neighbor Bertha. I am sure I told you, she is a seamstress. I her "high" days she was known for her craft, and had many clients. Today, she still seats her sawing machine, making outfits for her granddaughters, repairs hems,  replaces  buttons, etc.  Bertha is also known for her rice cooking. (One can count the grains...). because I made my decision to loose weight, I am omitting bread, rice, potatoes & sugars from my diet. (lost 4 kg so far). On Fridays , when Bertha cooks her rice, she invites me to the feast, but with much regrets, I refuse. Then Bertha said, "I am glade

you loosing weight", I answered  "me too" , then she added, "I will have a lot of work, to fix all your clothes".....

Please, write, I miss you all.    Love.

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