Shalom, Alllloooo, Hello, to my dearest children, grandchildren, family, friends, neighbors, and all interested reading.

How are you ?  I am fine, here a pain there a twitch, but all and all I am OK. After a few eventful weeks, I did my 15 min. prescribed exercise today, and planning to walk the 2 Kilometers later in the day.  

I am asked about the latest politics and the up coming election, To this I will answer, the show is yet to begin. I am sure, in my future writings I will have a "bag full of goodies".

My grandson, Abba-Natan, went to Brooklyn, yesterday, for a short 2 month Vacation, with his family. 

About 2 weeks ago he was discharged with HONORS from his service in the Israeli Army. 

Abba-Natan, served in an elite fighting unit known as "Modiin-Sade" or Yisuf Kravi as it is called now. In a rough translation it is Field Intelligent.  Stationed on the Syrian boarder, he described his time as a good one, and especially praising the other comrades in his unit.

  Abba-Natan was a Lone-Soldier, which mean his family do not live in Israel. He enlisted on his own, and was adapted by members of Kibbutz Urim, located in the south next to the Gaza strip. 

I must clarify: "discharge with honors" (or served with honor): There are 2 type of service,

Honor or a dismissal.  But, as a grandmother, I am letting all know, that he and only he, served with honors........  As of now, upon his return, he plans to stay permanently in Israel. His goal was to pass the driving test and receive a NY driver license. Once he return, he will have 1-2 years to complete the Israeli driving test. 

My mother, Pearl, born in Poland in a small town name Wengrov.  Orphaned at a very young age, she was raised by several of her siblings, some more then 20 years her senior.  My mother was the 12th child out of 13. From the stories she told me, her favorite place to be was at her sister Freyda , who lived in the next large town name Sokolov. 

While spending some weekends in Sokolov, she joined a religious Zionist group, young women only, name "Bruria".  While on a visit, just before the holiday of Purim , a ruffle was drawn. The 1st prize was a permit certificate to immigrate to Palestine. Those certificate were issued by the British, as Palestine, at the time, was under the British mandate.   My mother won the certificate,

but the girls of "Bruria" protested, claiming Pearl is only a guest. The heads of the organization, knowing her situation, made a decision to bring the dilemma to chief rabbi of the city of Sokolov.

Another ruffle was declared, and Pearl, my mother, won the second time. 

(I never new my mothers age, for reasons I speculated and will write about it later).

With a certificate in her hand,  receiving some money from her older brother, Pertz,  she bought a ticket on a boat. Her family tried in vain to persuade her not to leave, a single woman, going to an unknown future in an uncultured place.  When asked, what she would like to take with her on her journey, she requested to have the "Sefer Torah", ( Scroll of the Torah- the five books of Moses)  that was in the family for years. Many of her siblings were secular, nor religious,  the family Sefer Torah did not play a part in their life.  Never admitted to that, because she loved her brothers Peretz & Herschel very much.  To her family, her trip became a comical story. Here she is, single, having a severe case of strabismus (crossed eyes), not young, in the culture of then, going to Palestine with only a Sefer Torah  warped in a bed sheet, hugging with both arms.  As my mother told me, for 8 days on the sea she held the treasure, arriving to the land of Israel, as she always call, in 1936. 

My mother and the Torah,  survived the atrocities of 2nd world war, her family, left behind, ended in Treblinka. 

Foot note, The Sefer Torah, since was checked & renovated with loving care, twice, by my brother.  Now, temporarily,  station in a synagogue in Jerusalem, awaiting the ordination of my nephew, Daniel, to be placed in the synagogue he will serve. 

Last week end I was in Jerusalem. Staying with my brother & sister in law, to celebrate the birth

of their new grandson, son to Shira & Daniel. Arriving on time, grandnephew, has a new Hebrew word. While we used to  called a grand nephew in Hebrew, "the son of my nephew" the Academy for the Hebrew language decided on a new Hebrew word : "Nechdan".  My  new Nechdan's name is:

Shlomo - Yehuda ( Can be translated to : Solomon Judah).  Shlomo, was my Mother's father, a single child, who inherited  the Sefer Torah  from his parents. Yehuda, is the name appropriate

for the Chanuka Season, Yehuda was a Maccabi.

Hope to hear from you, I miss you all, though, happy to be here avoiding the cold winter of NYC.

Shalom, Peace, 

Only in Israel !   Love,  Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, me, Esther, eem  

To my dearest Mishpacha, friends & neighbors, Shalom. 

Yes I am here again. The neighborhood welcome, as usual, is heartwarming for me. From the people in my local supermarket, to the Glaser with the two cats, Vered my Optometrist, the place I buy weekly flower, Raya from the beauty shop, the watch repairman, and yesterday, to top it all my Manicure place. There is lots of warm hospitality and friendship amongst the Israelis.  All this is my honest true, until I listen to the Radio. ( I do not have a TV here). Listening, it is like being in a 2nd Israel. Another place, I call it the people's zoo.   

As you all know, the coalition government were disperse as of yesterday, and new election were called for the 17th of Mach, 2015. (I will miss the voting.)  The Israeli of the home, street, work, 

is completely different from the one in the radio. Not taking any political view, I found the media very bias, using inappropriate language addressing issues, and political opinion, that is known   as "Daberet".  Not a real word you find in the Hebrew dictionary. Comes from the Hebrew word Dibur,  in translation Talk. I will translate the word as Talkitis. 

No doubt, there is a lot of anger on the Israeli street, were the government made many cuts of services, is now, going to spent about 2 Billion Shekels ( about $ 500 million) on election. 

There is something very difficult about us as a people, especially the one in power.

For me, to form an opinion, I read about 3 different newspapers, and listen to 3 radio stations.

The 3rd on is my classical music......when I say; enough is enough ! !

 However, the people of Israel never ceased to amaze me. On my morning short walk I do, I meet an senior citizen, as we are called here, pushing a stroller with a very cute baby. After a few mornings of passing each other, we started to greet each other with the traditional "Boker-Tov" (good morning). Within a few days we became friends, his name is Shlomo.

Shlomo Is a great grandfather to the little boy name Ori. While his granddaughter goes to work

in the morning, he picks up Ori and baby sit him until 1:00pm.  Shlomo told me, Ori gave him a new lease of life. He has to get up early, forgetting all his aches & pain, walks to his granddaughter home, to start his day with Ori. Feeding, changing diapers, walking in the fresh air, etc.  

Then I remember, my dear friend Ya'ara, who, on a permanent arrangement babysit a great grandchild 2 times a week while her granddaughter goes to school. 

I understand, it is not unusual in Israel, when often, grandmothers still work and the great grandmothers become the sitters. 

I wish to remind you all that my dear grandson Jacob set up my Blog and all my writings since 2009 can be found there.   

http://shalomfromramatgan.blogspot.com  or simple I think you may open just by clicking

shalomfromramatgan. 

 Only in Israel.

All my love, miss you all , Ima, Savta, the Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, me , Esther.