Shalom from Stormy Israel

Written January 10, 2013

 

Shalom to all my dear and beloved family, friends, and neighbors.

Here I am, back in the land of Rain & storm.....  yes, I said it right.  How do I say it ? De'javue all over again.

The difference is, the rain in Israel is  welcomed. I do not hear much complain from the known to "Gripe" Israelis.

Main travel  coastal artery, The Ayalon Rd. turn into a gushing river, swiping cars, and trees. The Israel Train (Rakevet Israel), out of service in all 6 stations south to north of Tel-Aviv. Electric power loss in the coastal  cities,

Yavne & Hadera.  I am sure it is sound familiar to NY/NJ area citizens. However, the excitement is at a pick,  SNOW

on the mountains, which mean, Jerusalem is white, Galilee mountains are covered, and Ski area on the Golan height

will open up for skiers. No need to fly to Switzerland........ 

Never ceased to amaze me, how am I being greeted, upon my return. The Supermarket personnel, the flower shop

proprietor,(included a nice free bouquet), Vered, my optometrist, (the best I ever had), the Glaser from Jabotinsky Rd.

(who keeps Svetlana the cat in the store),  The Shoe repair man, who asked me the number of shoes I own, (now he knows my father was a shoe maker, and we never went bare feet).  I am sure the greetings will continue, after the rain..... 

I arrived to Israel late afternoon and entered my home in the evening. After being kissed & hugged, - the usual - by my neighbor , Bertha, I proceeded to unpack, put things in place, go over 6 month of mail and doing some unimportant  odds & ends.                                                                                                                                                                  Looking at the time, it was:

1:30 am.  6:30 pm NYC time, and I am hungry.  In my freezer I found a package  OSEM (brand name company),

 crackers. checking the pantry, my favorite, Sardines in olive oil.  No problem, I will have a supper. As I am eating

my tiny sardines sandwiches, I realized, that those sardines are of the best I ever had.  Went to check the wrappings

 and found the to be generic from the Mega supermarket chain in Israel. Kosher OU certified, from the USA,  kosher

certified from the Israeli Rabbinate, packed in Israel, product of  Casablanca Morocco...... I visited my neighborhood Mega, yesterday, and emptied some from the shelve. Who knows, I might be hungry again at 1:30 am......

Only in Israe.   Please write, I miss you all. Love,

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