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.            

Written December 11, 2011

 

To my dearest Mishpacha, children, grandchildren, to my friends, my neighbors, Shalom !

I am fine, all is well here. After a short period of uncertainly, fear, and being upset I am doing OK.   I am sure some of you know about, what I call now, a minor heart problem. It was diagnosed, just as I was preparing to leave for Israel. With the encouragement of my primary, and cardiology physicians, that I can be treated in Israel, I traveled.  With the recommendation of a family doctor here, I was directed to see the # 1 cardiologist who deals specifically with arrhythmia's.  He is Professor Michael Eldar.  I must interrupt here, and tell you about the 6 days war in Israel, in 1967. When the situation was unclear,and 6 Arab countries vow to destroy the country,  a person by the name of Nachman Shai, spoke to the nation, on the radio, for hours.

He received the nick name :  Hamargiya Haleumi =  The national tranquilizer. Going back to my Professor, I gave him the name

Margiya Halev = The Heart tranquilizer...... I do place him under the category of Super Doctor. I trust him to mend my heart.

Well, well, today is a "free" day in Israel. No usual political garbage, no name calling, a pleasure to hear the news.

Professor Dan Shechtman of the Technion (the MIT of Israel) is the 10th Israeli, Novel Price recipient, for his Quasi Gavish work (?????? Greek to me)  in Che. For the past 30 years, Professor Shechtman, fought the science establishment  to recognize his findings. Receiving the price, was an admission from the scientific world, that they were wrong.

And in between, I visited the Shook Hakarmel = The Karmel market, in Tel-Aviv. One of my favorite places to visit. The aromas, the color, the freshens of the produce, the smell of flower, the assorted pots & pans & other kitchen aide, jewelery  and underwear, Herring, cheese and olives, wine & spices, breads & dry fruits, meat & chocolate. All and all, one stop shopping. 

I can not skip a story about my neighbor Bertha. I promise, one letter will be dedicated to her. Bertha's daughter, Nechama,

who live on the 2nd floor is my connection to Bertha when I am in the USA. Before I left for Israel, I E-mailed Nechama, my traveling itinerary, and estimated my arrival home at about 4:00-4:30 pm.  Upon arrival to my home here, I just dropped my luggage & went to see Bertha. She was seated on her leather sofa. Bertha with a big smile, looked at her big clock, the time was 4:50 pm, and she said : "you told us you are coming at 4:30..........."

  I miss you all, please, write. I check the NYC weather report daily, to see what I do not miss. It is nice & warm during the day, but cools off after sunset. (Some evenings I open the heat.) 

Love & best wishes from :   Ima, Savta, Estherika, Ludmilla, Me, Esther. 

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.