Written May 22, 2011   Shalom to my dearest family, my friends, and my neighbor. How are you ? All is well here, getting ready to return to the USA for the Summer. Last week, my sister, Sarah, came for a visit. We meet often, usually for a home made lunch. This time, we decided, we will eat out, and I suggested a small outdoor, take out, with seating. The Menu is limited, Pita bread stuffed with Fallafel balls, or Shu'arma, with all kind of veggies &  Mideastern  flavored pickles. I did the ordering, while Sarah saved the outdoor table. While ordering, the proprietor kept talking to me in English while I answered in Hebrew. When I asked him, "why are you speaking with me in English ?" He answered " I can hear, by your Hebrew that you do have a strong American Accent"..... Well, I knew, time to return. I wish to share with you two events I experienced while here. I took a tour of the Weizman Institute in Rehovot. (a town south of Tel-Aviv).Considered one of the most important Science, Medicine, Physics research & technology in the world. Named after the visionary & founder,later the 1st president of Israel, Chaim Weizman. A Dr. of Chemistry, he moved to Israel, and established in 1932 the Institute,which was called then, The Sieff Institute. ( In Hebrew it was called Machon Ziv). Weizman moved to the area with his wife Vera, a Pediatrician. They bought a parcel land on the highest hill of the area, adjoining the Institution, and built their home there, in the Bahu style. The home was be-quested to the state of Israel after his death in 1952 & Vera's in 1966. Chaim Weizman was instrumental in persuading Lord Balfour in 1917, to declare the need for a Jewish Home, to be established in then Palestine.( It is called the Balfour declaration). Albert Einstein was his friend, laying the corner stone to the future Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His vision of building a Jewish nation, based on knowledge, Education, and higher learning, materialized in that Institution. (Please, open Google). The 3rd President of Israel, Ephra'im Katzir, was a scientist at the Institute when elected. (Most scientist at the institute live on campus, in  beautiful, but very modest, homes). Chaim Weizman's nephew, Ozer Weizman, was the 7th president of the country. If I am not mistaken, at least, 3 Nobel price winners, are Weizman institute scientists. Cancer research, and new Pharmacology development are ahead and recognized in the world.  After the visit, I had a feeling of Royalty amongst us, regular, every days Israelis. The next story, on a ordinary day, takes place in Jerusalem, the main Bus station. I Just arrived, went through the check point, bags, pocket book, through metal detector, etc.   I was on the 2nd floor, ready to take the escalator to the 3rd, were the terminals are located, I realized both escalators are going down. Not, yet, aware of what is happening, I was  wondering, how am I going to get to the 3rd floor with the UP escalator going down ??  At the same time I saw, that MASSIVE amount of people  coming down both escalators, I heard the announcement, identified as security, to clear, immediately the 3rd floor, because of a suspicious object found in one of the terminals. The 2nd floor in the Jerusalem bus station, is known for the Take out / Eating courts, candy stores, bakeries, "Chachkes", jewelry, cell phone, religious articles, books, CDs, etc, vendors. While the clearing of the suspicious object took place, the Israeli Economy was flourishing in the station. I was surprised to notice, no pushing, no yelling, very crowded but amusingly orderly. Until....the call: "All Clear". Like magic, Both Escalators turn UP, and the pushing was with all it might..... Later I was told that at least 5 times a day, the station is in emergency status, because of a suspicious object. Most of the time due to people forgetting their packages. As a rule, in Israel, a package with out a person becomes Suspicious. Only in Israel. I miss you all, See you very soon. (Arriving May 31st), Love to you all. From your Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Esterika, Ludmilla, Esther.

Written May 3, 2011

 

Shalom & hello to my dear children & grandchildren, family & friends,and neighbor.

Hi, I am fine, busy as usual,and having a good time.

I found, that every time I visit, stay, live, in this wonderful country, I learn something new. The Israelis, never cease to amaze me.

Yesterday, in Israel, we commemorate the Holocaust day. (Yom Hasho'a). It has been celebrated on the 28th day, of the Hebrew month of Nisan. The day of the start of the failed uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942. It is a somber day in Israel. Regular TV & Radio programs are dedicated to the Holocaust. I am not sure, when this day was established as a memorial to the 6 Million, I think the decision was made after Eichmann's  trail in 1961. As a child , a teen, & a young adult in Israel, I, as well as many others who lived in Israel at the time, were not aware of the atrocities & the murder of the Jews in Europe during 2nd world war. What is so amazing, the survivors, who arrived after the war, did not talk either.  The concept "Remember" started in the 70th, when the war generation started to pass on. I am sure you are all aware of the many Holocaust Museums around the world. The Israeli museum, appropriately, named "YAD VASHEM"(memorial & a name).  The Spielberg witness project, movies on the topics, books & documents being compiled, are all for the purpose of "REMEMBER".

Israel, now, is taking steps to salvage the last remnants of survivors stories. The statistics are, that about 13,000 survivors died since last year, and the number is growing as the years passes by.

We, here, believe that our collective memory is not better then other nations, but because we are insisting of remembering the events & not letting it being forgotten,we will be able to stand the wear & tear of time that is known to be a vehicle for erasing and forgetting. 

Yesterday, at 10:00 am, through out Israel, a 2 minute siren was heard. Entire nation stopped whatever they were doing, and stood in silence.  The siren caught me on Jabotinsky road, main traveling artery, in Ramat-Gan. Buses, cars, motorcycles, pedestrians, all stood. (drivers & passengers got out of their vehicle to stand). Shopkeepers stood at the entrance to their establishments.

Now, you would ask, what was I doing on Jabotinsky Rd ?  Well, I went to buy fish. Mr. Yossi Aragi has a large "pool" inside the store, looks more like a whirlpool with live fish swimming in. We looked inside, and he picked for me the 2.5kg (about 5.5lbs) fish with his net. I will spare you the end of this fish story... Any one for a good fish recipe ?

Wishing you all good days to come, I miss you all, please write.

With Love, Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, that me, Esther.      

Shalom from Israel. Land of a dozen kinds of dates

Written January 11, 2011

 

Hello to all my dearest children, grandchildren, family, neighbor, friends.

Yes, I miss you all, I am coming back within two (2) weeks.  My time,here, in Israel went fast. I Had a wonderful time full of "cultural" events, many trips & tours in the country & out, visiting family & friends, cooking, knitting, reading and just doing NOTHING.  

Last evening I went to to the Mann Auditorium - the Heichal-Hatarbut (culture center) in Tel-Aviv to hear the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra "playing" the Opera:  The Barber Of Seville.  What a concert / opera was that.  The actors/ singers all wore black, mingled with the orchestra players, & aside from singing, they really acted.  Acts like the the housekeeper, Berta, who sang her aria holding a feather duster, ended up her act, going between the orchestra musicians dusting their instruments. Or Figaro himself, went down to the conductor (Roberto Abbado) to hand him a paper note to safe keep for Rosina.  As the actors sang, on a large screen above the stage, the translation in the MODERN every day Hebrew was printed.  I called it A Opera with a twist. Three (3) hrs of fun & enjoyment.   And  p.s. 3000 + seats full to capacity.

During the time I stayed in Israel, I was in Eilat, the most southern city, on the tip of the red sea, and to the Galilee mountains in the north. I went down to the Jordan Valley, visiting  Tiberius and the sea of Galilee,having Brunch in a Glatt Kosher Eatery called Oogata, in Kibbutz Kineret ,a non observant Kibbutz.  One of the main industry of Kibbutz Kineret is dates. The entire area is covered with Palm trees. I think they are so powerful in their beauty, just to see them one must like dates. I shopped in the factory store -a beautiful establishment. I never knew we have that much kind of dates. ( Gastronomically speaking, one can not taste more then 4 or 5 at a time).  Aside from dates, there was Silan (Honey made from dates), date spread, date wine, date liquor, date candies, date cakes, dates , dates, dates.

My last memorable part in Israel is my neighbor Bertha. Although, may be only 5 or 6 years my senior, she acts like a mother to me. When one morning I did not knacked on her door to greet her good morning, she called her daughter Nechama to check on me. When I told Bertha, that I am a "big girl"familiar with the ways of this world and no need to check after me, she answered  " I am responsible  for you" . I was thinking of her answer and I do appreciate the sentiment, for there is much to say about the Israelis. With all the political bickering, the religious differences,  we are responsible to each other.

It is late. I will be in Jerusalem tomorrow, visiting (and shopping) in the famous Machane Yehuda Market.

Again, I miss you all. see you soon. To you, living in NYC, I wish a "easy snow storm".

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

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.