יום ראשון, דצמבר 31, 2006

What is Limmud??? Hanah Kehat reports

Hanah Kehat is an orthodox Feminist women we brought to Limmud from Israel. Here is what she wrote about the confrence:

Exactly between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, in the midst of a British university, a huge conference of Jewish studies takes place.

Hanah Kehat reports from Nottingham – 27/12/2006

NRG Maariv Online (http://www.nrg.co.il/online/11/ART1/523/073.html)

Translation: Yuval Keren & Clare Rees.

Every year between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, when the Christian world is in the midst of the festive season and most universities are on vacation – the largest conference for Judaism takes place.
In a magical place, in the buildings of Nottingham University in England, among pleasant groves, a wonderful pond and immense lawns, thousands of Jews gather from all over the world, especially from England and Israel, for a full week of Jewish studies. They include families, children, adolescents, the young and the old; academics, Yeshiva students, housewives, artists and even Jewish Hollywood actors – from all strands and denominations of Judaism. This year the Israeli group who came to teach and study was particularly noticeable.

There are thousands of sessions, chavrutah study groups (including hundreds of simultaneous chavrutah groups), Israeli and Jewish music performances, a marketplace of Israeli crafts and accelerated courses in a variety of fields including Bible, Oral law, Kabbalah, Chasidism, Israel, Zionism, Hebrew mysticism, Feminism and Judaism. Everything goes!

Alongside these sessions there are panels on current affairs. There are even special activities for children of which one of the highlights is Israeli-style Pyjama parties.

The walls of the campus were decorated with thousands of posters presenting hundreds of key Jewish figures, past and present. There was a large display of the map of Israel on the floor. Thus, whichever direction you turn, you catch Judaism and ‘Israeliness’.

During the conference there were a few unique experiences. The Havdallah ceremony at Limmud is a very unique sight of hundreds of candles glowing in the dark accompanied by magical Jewish melodies. The variety of prayer services and the long discussions that continue deep into the night alongside singing and dancing also contribute to the magical atmosphere.

The special theme of this year is responsibility and mutual obligation. The emphasis on kindness and graciousness causes the participants to wisely and sensitively initiate friendships and personal introductions at every opportunity. The kindness is also extended to the environment. The conference is characterised by deep awareness to the environment. The use of non-recyclable items is avoided and there are recycling bins everywhere.

This year a new project was introduced to Limmud - ‘Tell me Text’. It is a ‘marathon’ that takes place three times a day where each of the speakers presents to the audience a text close to their heart. This personal choice of text teaches more about the person than it does about the text. Words are revealed as personal friends, as a source of power, of inspiration, of personal revolution and as stimulants for change of life. Dr. Alon Tal, one of the Israeli environmental activists, read Yizhar Smilanski’s speech to the Knesset – ‘A Land Without Wild Flowers Will be a Hotel not a Homeland’ – as he fought for maintaining the wildernesses and by which he convinced Ben Gurion to establish the law of protection of nature. The poet Eliaz Cohen read his sensational poem, ‘Hear O G-d’. Other intellectuals presented wonderful texts that changed their lives and determined their life choices.

Hundreds of volunteers worked for a year to plan and materialise this giant project. Thus I met an eleven year old boy who volunteered to manage the conference registration. For months he recorded and edited the registration forms, sent to him via the Internet.

When are we going to import all this to us? Well, at present there is Limmud-Galil – small and excellent conferences that are held once a year in the upper Galilee. Still, Limmud started small in England and grew into thousands of participants. Let’s hope that this little sister will also turn into a multitude.

New Year`s Party - what`s the point???

In my social circles in Israel no one will ever dream to go to a New Years Party. It is something only secular people, with a very big S will do , not nice ex Bnei -Akiva girls like us.
Here in London though, even me - quite a geek you must admit, found myself sort of invited to 3 parties/dinner parties.

Most of all I don't get the point of celebrating this - and its nothing to do with the Pope Sylvester, that in Israel the evening is names after him. Its very ironic as many pogroms and killings of Jewish people across Europe were due to him.
The thing is, I cannot find what to celebrate.
Rosh Hashana allows me to reflect upon the good things, things I might consider improving, making new resolutions(and breaking them by Yom Kippur), with a lot of compassion, with different rituals that help you to feel you belong to a community that understands you, and understands the human situation you are in. We all regret our sins together, we all commit to improve our ways, together.

I find this new year quite irritating for few reasons:
1. I will have to remember its 2007 when I write my checks. PG by May it will be a habit.
2. Another reminder that I am not getting any younger.
3. New budget year.

I might go to a party tonight, to catch up with some people I didn't have the time till tonight. But still, there is some thing very lonely about the Christian new year for a Jew abroad I feel. Its not really a new year, all the new year`s resolution were just set up 3-4 months ago. Everyone else seems quite marry and drunk to be honest, so what should a good Jew do?
Hah??

יום שבת, דצמבר 30, 2006

Letting Go - One Art by Elizabeth Bishop

I am learning a new art - the art of Letting Go.
It involves much practice. The intelectual element is not crucial here. It reallity thst matters.
And I , that always felt reality cannot hold my emotions, confront the need to let go.

I am attaching an old post, with the poem One Art, by Elizabeth Bishop< I posted this in the begining of September. four months down the line, I am sort of in the same place.

יום שישי, דצמבר 29, 2006

Had a great chat with MW about music, poetry and innovation in art. unfortunately cannot remember what was said, just remember it was fascinating. Shame. would have loved to do something with that.

יום חמישי, דצמבר 28, 2006

Back in Muswell Hill.
Limmud was great, beyond any expectations. It was a tough challenge - just juggling between the presenters I brought, to the sessions I led, to the lectures I wanted to hear took a lot of energy, that I seem to lack lately.

My favourite things were:
1. the Havdala Session led by Gila Sacks, Sensitive deep and uplifting.
2. Modesty, Covering and Reveling - Sarah Joseph, a Muslim women who covers her hair with a hijab, and Hannah Kehat - an orthodox feminist agreed upon few important things I feel passionate about:
a. Men should not discuss what a women sould wear - that cannot be modest, and it turn here into an object.
b. Tere is a sense of protection or empowerment you gain by covering yourself.
C. Although men ruled to cover the hair those two women, coming from very different prespectives, found thier own reasons and rationalizations to do so. is that new feminism or feminism going wrong? not sure but I like it. It was facsanting to see the semilarities.
3. Jason Demant discussing the morning blessing of - thanks G-d for not making me a women, He brought few sources and explained his own solution. I still don't understand why some of the blessing are on the negative side, My answer to that is blessing - thanks g-d for making me a women)
4. Adi Ness -An Israeli photographer- I will try and show some of his work on the blog.
5. Gareth Berliner - A Redbridge boy doing comedy - about his life with a clinical illness. very powerful
6. Eliaz Cohen reading his poetry
7. Scratch Joseph. Love the musicul and it was so heart warming to see everyone so excited.
8. Not the food, don't even ask. really.

יום ראשון, דצמבר 24, 2006

At Limmud, heard few good sessions, one of them about Havdalah was highly inspiring.
The programme semmsamazing, Spending some quality time with M, meeting up with freinds. its good.

יום שישי, דצמבר 22, 2006

Met up with the Lunch Club girls spontiseously. The question of me visiting Redbridge was brought up.
I feel I cannt. Its too painfull. Just the thought of walking around South Woodford brings tears to my eyes. The lovely furniture Shop, Waitrose (the best one in London!), the charity shops. Cannot do it. More tome needs to pass.
Dont even Mention visiting Sinclair House. that is unbearble to just imagine.

I still feel something was taken from me. I should learn how to let go. Its well about time. is it?
I am staying at M`s, in her lovely flat in Muswell Hill. Its a warm happy place. Its good to be here/ We are leaving in two hours to Limmud Confrence. Quite excited.
So I am in London. The city is covered with a blanket of fog. I find this quite ironic - Like Moshe Rabinu viewing Israel from Mt Nevo - from the distance. As I get here after four months of longing, I cannot view, recognize or familiarize my self with this much loved city.
H who was so kind to pick me up from Heathrow after 2.5 hours of delay, suggested it might be easier this way. Its not really London, I am not really back here. The fog adds a mystical aspect to this visit. Am I really here? Is this the same city I lest four months ago? Following Heraclitus - one of my favourite philosophers - Its not, as you cannot cross the same river twice, as the river is in consistent change and its not the SAME river. His student added, you cannot cross the same river even once.

יום רביעי, דצמבר 20, 2006

Pinchas Sade, and some evidence about my blog

It happened to me for the first time today. I searched for Pinchas sade on Google, and the third refrences is my blog. not bad.
Quite chuffed. yeup.

יום ראשון, דצמבר 17, 2006

A Dance by Pinchas Sade
My translation

Do you remember how once,
As you set silent, your wonderful legs
Folded underneath you on the armchair,
I looked at you
And when some-kind-of-dancing-music was heard on the radio
I came and danced in front of you
Although I don't know how to dance I danced in front of you, and light of that
Evening, and your yellow hair and the tranquility and the happiness - -

This memory, why
Rose in mind, and I
Even don’t know where you are, after all of these years
At this night time. Because now, now again
I came, here in my isolated room, in front of this empty armchair of yours
And danced in front of you.

Keeping up with the Stein`s

The film I saw last night with M, she was a shlicha in the states, and I was sad to hear the film reflects many in the Jewish community. The way the Bar Mitzva is portrayed, the family values, the priorities, I was laughing a lot, don't get me wrong, but not for the right reasons.

M and I naturally saw few empty seats on the first raw - so we made out waythere, as we sat this tall guy approches me and in English make it very clear that the seats are for the VIP`s.

and I thought I was one. (but not really)

You are what you walk like

So, I went to shul on Shabbat - which is always a good thing, its was over heated to I was standing out side the Women's section, in the corridor enjoy the crisp Jerusalem air. Towards the end of the service this very familiar man approaches me, says Shabbat Shalom to me. I politly reply. I look it him, firstly I notice his body guard, and them I notice the way he carries his body. Sometghingvery special about him. I look at him, our shoulders almost touching, and I realize, its Senator Jo Lieberman, catching his wife`s eye telling her the were invited to Kiddush upstairs. So the point here, is not Which Shul it was(Chovevi), or the fact he was very kind and polite but more about the way he carries himself. You look at him and you know he is a leader. You can trust him. Spooky but true.

At the Gala evening of the Jewish Film Festival at the Cinemateque I saw Sahash Demidov, an Israeli actor, made aliyah from Russia some 15 years ago, and again, you could see his nature by his walk.

Made me think. What do people see at me?

Happy Chanuka

Was driving last night to watch a film. was listening to the radio 88FM. they played the Doors` Come on Baby Light My Fire.
And the DJ says - just to remind us all it`s the second candle of Chanuka. I was just passing the Kenneset, and saw the massive (and not so beautiful) menorah they have there, and thought to myself: Its good to be at home.

יום חמישי, דצמבר 14, 2006

Next week in London...

So next week I am arriving to London for Limmud, very excited. and worried. a mixture. Not only about what NOT to wear, but mostly because I will not have enough time to see all my friends that I deeply miss.
Worried about social interactions, about being overwhelmed and feeling its not my life any more.

A reality check

יום שלישי, דצמבר 12, 2006

It happened again.
I have this awful pattern of behavior. I agree to do things, too many things, I compremise my social life or going to the gym for that.
And you see, I am good with languages, technically I can say No in four languages, so how come I dont use that word?

יום ראשון, דצמבר 10, 2006

One of the sights I miss...



What is the address? its somewhere on N2, but where??? your help please!

Israeli wild flowers

Very 70`s!
click the title and enjoy

Wildflowers of Israel
This website is devoted to the study of wild plants of the Land of Israel which has been a focal point of interest to people all over the world since Biblical times. Everybody who is interested in the nature and the environment of this Land will find here a wealth of information regarding all kinds of its plants. Special emphasis has been given to the linkage between the plants and the Jewish traditions and scholarly literature. It is under development and will be updated frequently.
Plants can be searched by scientific and common English names. As time and means will allow us we will translate all the content into English and other languages.


Love it!

S.Y. Agnon



In this photo you see the Great S.Y.Agnon at work working from home. He used to hand write and his wife Ester would rewrite it again, as his hand write was chalenging to follow. He used to write his wonderful short stories and novels while standing. He is the giant uncle that anyone who claims to write in Hebrew has to relate to, mostly regarding prose. He won the Noble prize for litrature on 1966.
The depth of the themes from Jewish topics to modern existences, the way he masters the Hebrew language and his sensitivity towards humen being and History are true divine art, to say the least.
Went back to ikea last night, and bought, finally a book case.
I put it on the trolley, its length is 170 cm, the trolley is about a meter, so there are 70 cm hanging around making it all very complicated. I bumped into this lady and hit her, I apologized immediately, it didn't help, it still hurts. She gave me the nastiest look ever. I can understand her being upset and in pain. But I cannot find a reason for the tiny bits of hatred that sparked from her eyes.

יום שישי, דצמבר 08, 2006

What if my body will not listen to me?
How can I listen to my body?
What does this new-age language can mean to someone like me, who isnt fluent in this discourse?

יום חמישי, דצמבר 07, 2006

Was invited to a dinner part last night at my friends S & J (I think most of my friends first letter is S, M or J.
The company was great, food delicious. The conversation was around TV, blogs and bad dating stories.
It was all in English, and it felt good. I did switch between accents as happens to me, but I can still hold a whole evening in English!

Shoot the Freak - Coney Island



I was there while visiting my very good friend E. I have known her and her family since she was in Israel volunteering on Otzma programme, and we were her Israeli family.
The families got closer then we ever imagined. I think since they got over my cat peeing on her father`s bag on Channucka, he got us all wonderful gifts (I got a Raymond Carver book), we really felt this strong bond. from time to time we meet up, her parents came to London and we had a fabulous dinner at Six 13, I went with her mom to the Whitney Museum when I was there in September. Her sister reads my blog, family.
So during my last vacation there we went to Conney Island, we were both not feeling very good. the weather was changing. and then we saw this "Shoot the Freak" sign.
It made me feel sad, that some people might think this can be amusing. Its so medieval days, or high-school play ground, where all the bullies gang up on the weak one.

It was a great day, that evening we went to see Avenue Q, that gave us the lighter-bitter yet full of love and optimism of the American/Western society.

Where was this taken?

Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.
T. S. Eliot

A poet can survive everything but a misprint. Oscar Wilde

There is poetry as soon as we realize that we possess nothing. John Cage

יום שני, דצמבר 04, 2006

I learnt today that I don't breath enough, and I should remind myself to breath from time to time.
Interesting to think about it. Always thought it just happens, with no effort with no awareness. But know I realize I ignore my body from time to time, and I should change that. Remindes me what Mamonides writes about the body, I will look for it.
Now, breath deeply ahhhhhhhh.

Fiddler on The Roof meets Avenue Q

I guess it was a question of time, click on the title and watch the combenation. Well it makes sense, putting Tuvia in his ultimate desire land - multi cultural Amerca or, Avenue Jew in this case.
Thanks to M for sending this!

יום ראשון, דצמבר 03, 2006

מוטרדת

מוטרדת מהעיגולים השחורים מתחת לעיני
שהם כפולת עיתון חדשות רעות על ספסל רכבת
ולאן אמשיך עכשיו
שאיני זרה ואיני בת למקום
שמקומי אבד לי וטרם אותר
התחנה רחוקה מדי
הלואי ויפתחו סוף סוף השמיים ומישהו
יקריא את הכותרות הראשיות

יום רביעי, נובמבר 29, 2006

My proffessor - who is not known as an easy or a soft guy, but more like a harsh critic, said my poem about Yosef is excellant and I should publish it.
Its good to hear that.

יום שלישי, נובמבר 28, 2006

מוטרדת

Last Thursday I taught 18 years old boys/young men about how I view relationships as a modern-orthodox women. Its a hard one to teach.
I discussed with them this topic through using Sartre and Levinas - The diffrence between "The Other is Hell" and "The Other is a Reflection of G-d".
A lot of things I didnt say found thier way to this poem .


תן לי להיות אסקופה
בביתך שלך
לא אבקש טרקלין
לא ארצה להיות עיקר הבית
עשני אשה חרופה
הקל על דעתי
פסול את כולי מעדות
כסה את שערי
הרחק אותי בבוא עת
קרב אותי בבוא ליל
עשה כל שתרצה
קנה אותי מכור אותי
שאני רכוש ונתונה לממכר ומיקח טעות.

בחלומות שלך.

יום שני, נובמבר 27, 2006

A poem for the week : Robert Haas

MISERY AND SPLENDOR

Summoned by conscious recollection, she
would be smiling, they might be in a kitchen talking,
before or after dinner. But they are in this other room,
The window has many small panes, and they are on a couch
embracing. He holds her as tightly
as he can, she buries herself in his body.
Morning, maybe it is evening, light
is flowing through the room. Outside,
the day is slowly succeeded by night,
succeeded by day. The process wobbles wildly
and accelerates: weeks, months, years. The light in the
room
does not change, so it is plain what is happening.
They are trying to become one creature,
and something will not have it. They are tender
with each other, afraid
their brief, sharp cries will reconcile them to the moment
when they fall away again. So they rub against each other,
their mouths dry, then wet, then dry.
They feel themselves at the center of a powerful
and baffled will. They feel
they are an almost animal
washed up on the shore of a world--
or huddled up against the gate of a garden--
to which they can't admit they can never be admitted.

So whats the lesson here?

On Motzei Shabbat (Saturday evening) I went to Ikea. I always said I will never go, in London it was an exemption, but hey, once you sinned its harder to get away from the crime scene. I need a closet - I don't have enough space to hang my cloths on, and Ace or Home depot didn't have what I wanted. Ikea did. So I went there, with many other Israelites. I think Ikea is one of the last public areas in which all the sectors of Israeli society are represented. You can see men, women, old young, some are Jewish, some are not, some are secular some are observant, new immigrants, and how nicly they all shop together, looking for a better life for easy solutions, or easy solutions for better life.
So I am there, feeling bad in the first place - the Nazi background of the owner, the capitalistic approach, the lack of individuality, and the anxiety big crowded spaces bring on me.

I found what I wanted, but then I wanted more, I wrote the details in the very useful sheet of paper with the quite mini-pencil they hand out, great. I progress (or not??) to the storage area, and I discover they don't have what I want in the colour I want.
So what should I do? this nice guy approaches me, he thinks I might need help carrying something, but no. I tell him I am not sure what to do. He tells me its hid 4th time here, and he is giving up and taking something he doesn't like its colour, because its his fourth time, and he is fed up.
I wonder what should I do. But spending money on something I don't value doesnt make sense. I am giving up the shocking green book shelves, which are in storage, but not on the right shelf, and no, there is no one who can help.
I spent 20 minutes queuing at the Costumer Service department, then realized ts slow on purpose, so people will not stay to complain, and their complaints books will stay clean. I almost left completely. but then I thought about the two massive boxes in the middle of my room that I must unload. and I realized I should cool down, buy and leave.
I am not proud of going there in the first place, I am proud I didn't give in. I will go to Ace and look for book shelves. I would like to think I will not go to Ikea ever again, or at least not in the near future.
For some reason the Spelling Check is not working. So sorry. I will try to make an effort but, you know.

יום שישי, נובמבר 24, 2006

I had a vey busy week:
1. Sorting all my belongings, including dealing with 54 boxes of it. (My computer was spread out over 5 boxes). Most of the boxes had more paper then clothes/china/cuttlery. But its a good thing I didnt have to pack it myself, so I am not complaining!
2. Didnt manage to get the coputer to work. I did sucssed putting theright wires in the right place, but the mouse is not working now, and no internet yet.
3. Slept over on Tuesday night in Beer Sheva - was a wise move as it gave me more time to work on my writing and to do some limmud stuff.
5. Saw my friends three times this week, We met up on Sunday, Monday and Thursday. I am very happy I live in Jerusalem.
6. Saw all my nephews.
7. Gave my sister her birthday present I purchased for her - lovely retro china drom Whittard.
8. Went to a brit today, saw many people from Redbridge, and few thqat made Aliyah from Redbridge, was great.

I have a lot to write about, but Shabbat is coming soon... Shabbat Shalom.

יום שני, נובמבר 20, 2006

Black/White - Not only about coffee

Click on the tiltle and get the article from Haartez, reflecting on the Aroma case, but taking it further, I find this article very important.

Poam of the week by John Donne

No Man is an island

No man is an island, entire of itself
every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main
if a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were,
as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were
any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind
and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls
it tolls for thee.

Visitors

Untill this week:
The M family (they are 5 of them)
R
N
S
D
A

not too bad, it means that I get to see someone from London every 10 days. cool.
My good friend A is here, he brought me a copy of the JC.
My eyes were full of tears, reading about Paul Simon`s concert last week.
I have to say there is something about the JC that makes me feel I am still in London, it is so much part of my Shabbat expirience, ranked high as chopped liver or Seuda Shlishit in South Woodford.

יום ראשון, נובמבר 19, 2006

My container arrived on Friday!!
I reunited with my shoes, bookd and china.
It got me thinking a lot about the reasons behind my emotional relationaship I have with my posseisions. I care for them, I missed them, while they are not able to know that or care about anything. So whats the point here? Is this true love or me being silly?

יום חמישי, נובמבר 16, 2006

How raceist is your coffee?

Well, if you drink it at Aroma (which I used to, here and ther), Its very raceist. I started my own campiegn to boycot them through few internet foroums, I am happy to see Haaretz are aware to that too.
I just feel embrassed reading what the Aroma Tel Aviv owner said to a Sfaradi women. read and join me.

יום רביעי, נובמבר 15, 2006

Had lunch with L.
He lost his sister in a teror attack five years ago. We talked about breavment and loss. And I realized that altough I thought its behind me, its not. Its near.

Sderot

I am dealing with bringing Chaim Uliel to Limmud. Chaim lives in Sderot and he is very identified with Sderot a southern development town, not far or really, too close to Gaza.
The Qassam missels hit Sderot for 6 years now on a daily basis. I talk with Chaim every other day, to arrange the practicalities of his visit and concerts. Just this morning a women was killed and another man was severely hurt in a deadly attack. I called Chaim, to set a meeting, and he tells it is a bad morning. I hear the sadness in his voice. he loves Sderot, he dreams to make this town a buzzing city. Not an easy task, not easy.

יום ראשון, נובמבר 12, 2006

Yesterday as I left home on the way to Jerusalem, my mother gave me few open checks to pay the first bills for the new flat.
I looked at the checks and they carry both my parents name`s. Its very impressive that seven and a half years after my Father`s death he is helping me out with my bills.
(Of course it would`nt happen without my mother`s generosity)

Bothered

A special treat for my Hebrew readers, something I wrote lately. Might transalate one day.

מוטרדת מהעיגולים השחורים מתחת לעיני
שהם כפולת עיתון חדשות רעות על ספסל ברכבת
ואני מכוסה ומבוצרת
ואיני מגלה את אשר ליבי חפץ
גם מעצמי אני מסתירה
ומפטירה טוב תודה. וממשיכה
ולאן אמשיך עכשיו
שאיני זרה ואיני בת למקום
שמקומי אבד לי וטרם הוחזר
ועכשיו מלחמה
והתחנה רחוקה מדי
אני לא אספיק אתה אמרת
שזה נגמר
אני מביטה במראה בשעת ליל מאוחרת חצות
הלואי ויפתחו סוף סוף השמיים
ומישהו יקרא את הכותרות הראשיות

יום שבת, נובמבר 11, 2006

Poem of the week By Sharon Olds

Feared Drowned

Suddenly nobody knows where you are,
your suit black as seaweed, your bearded
head slick as a seal's.

Somebody watches the kids. I walk down the
edge of the water, clutching the towel
like a widow's shawl around me.

None of the swimmers is just right.
Too short, too heavy, clean-shaven,
they rise out of the surf, the water
rushing down their shoulders.

Rocks stick out near shore like heads.
Kelp snakes in like a shed black suit
and I cannot find you.

My stomach begins to contract as if to
vomit salt water,

when up the sand toward me comes
a man who looks very much like you,
his beard matted like beach grass, his suit
dark as a wet shell against his body.

Coming closer, he turns out
to be you - or nearly.
Once you lose someone it is never exactly
the same person who comes back.

יום חמישי, נובמבר 09, 2006

I have where to live!

Just heard I am accepted to live in a lovel flat in Jerusalem.
Very excited!
I will have a place to work, sleep, entraintain and cook. Imagine that.
All my books, cloths and music. Wow.

Why Jerusalem needs The Pride Prade??

Watch this short film, and understand why.
It is animated very tastefully.
Thanks J and C too, for forwarding this to me.

Cuddle Parties

They are the trendiest thing now in London, to find out about the next one, or just to enjoy Sam`s excellant, heart warming writing - click on the title.

יום שני, נובמבר 06, 2006

So this women calls me, she is my mother`s friend, I used to be very friendly with her daughter. She wants to introduce me to this guy. She doesnt know much about him, he is her relative. She is not sure where he lives or what he does for living. She thought to introduce him to me a while ago. (You would think she might gather some information, right? No.)
He is 39 I learn, but he looks less then that, it`s fine I am not ageist.

Oh, and she already told that I dont look good, although I do have a great personality.

Never thought my looks should mentioned as disblity catagory. Not sure I have a great personality. I surely cannot understand how can she judge one.
In my ears "Great Personality" sounds quite dragatory.It point out something else is very wrong.

And you know what? I think I look fine, somedays even great. I can lose few pounds, gain them again and still be the same gorgeouse girl.

I am sure she meant to do a good deed but I am left very hurt.

יום שבת, נובמבר 04, 2006

So what`s Limmud all about?

If you dont know its fine, just double click on the title and you can see a promo for Limmud. Its annual winter confrence will take place between 24-25/12/06, and I will be there.
If you want to apply you can go to www.limmud.org and do so.
See you there?

יום חמישי, נובמבר 02, 2006

A new word!

Had a chat with J, and got to invent a new word:
Soyography - thus is the translation of all meat into soy products. So from tomorrow you can ask where is the Soyography section in the Supermarket, or you might object Soyography as it damages the rain forests.

A new brother to Geniosity. A great new words family, Words last name of course.
If I would have only known
that ignoring me is a new form
of communication I would have
left town, looking for a pit or a cave
Where I could deal with the pain
Where your name will not be mentioned
Where there would be no one else to blame
Where discovering I am over you will be an act of creation
If I would only known that forgetting you is a new form of
celebration

יום רביעי, נובמבר 01, 2006

Muslims, ultra-Orthodox unite in opposition to planned Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem

Could you think about a more dangerous combination?
I am planning to go to the parade, to support few friends.
Must admit I am a bit worried now.
Dear readers, Maybe you can help me. I cannot decide where to live.
On one hand, I want to live in Givat Shmuel with my friend M, We have known each other since year one at school, She is just back from 2 year in New York, we have loads in common. She needs to live in the 03 area (Tel Aviv phone code). A lot of young people in the area, and if I am ever bored Tel Aviv is only 20 minutes away.
On the other hand, I study two days in Beer Sheva - which is 1:20 minutes by train from Tel Aviv, getting t the train station in the morning can take up to 40 minutes. I am probably going to work in Jerusalem, should I live there and that`s it???

You see, I wanted it to be different. Not sure what to do.
Any ideas? advices? Your own experience should you that....?
Please help me!
Got offered another Job. I think I should start making some decisions here. I am leaving too many things in the air at the moment.
Maybe deciding on a workplace will push me to find a place to live, a gym to excerise in and a nice man to marry. Maybe

Very (not) Creative Writing

I love university
I love the students
I love writing papers
I enjoy reading articles
I enjoy the best decaf on soy milk latte in Beer Sheva
I enjoy being just in time to lectures
I am a geek. I am a geek. I am a

How PC can you be???

In one of my classes (Story Telling Workshop) there is a lovely disabled young women. She dresses up very cool, her nails (toe nails) are done, she has a beautiful tattoo, as cool as I would never be.
Yesterday as the class was over I went to ask the professor a question and I stood in her way. So I said Sorry (Slicha really). Her reply made me think she said to me: Why are you apologizing? because I am in a wheelchair? Would you say sorry to any other person???

I was proud to say to her that since living in the UK I ask forgiveness from empty chairs wqhen I bump myself into them, and would say sorry to any other walking on two person I will stand in his way.
I was saddened to think about the timing of our politeness. is being polite being condesending sometimes??

I think in that case it was. Still not sure.

יום ראשון, אוקטובר 29, 2006

Who said eating Ice Cream is not a self reflictive act?

Met with R last night, she came from London for a friends wedding, we sat at the Colony - a very cool bar, walked down Emek Refaim and had same Ice Cream at Aldo. The flavours we had were Bounty and Chocolate Mint, we discussed life, poetry, relationships and then while licking the chocolate Mint ice cream I said its a bit too Minty, Just like Benedict Mints.
R pointed out my that my frame of reference is very British, and it is. Its part of what I lost - my English frame of reference makes sense to me only. I think that's part of the reason for me feeling constantly misunderstood, only I laugh from my jokes, once again. It might be the explanation for my anger as well, or lack of interst in explaining people who amazing were the last three years of my life, they wont really get it, so whats the point??
On the other hand there are 6.500.000 people here who understand my Israeli frame of reference. Well, maybe not all of them, not all of the time.
It was a such a great evening. Well done to R! Who is coming next?

יום שישי, אוקטובר 27, 2006

Israeli Sesame Street

It`s from Youtube. You can see how Arik (Ernie) bakes a cake for Ougi (Cookie monster) In Hebrew. Please dont try at home!

יום חמישי, אוקטובר 26, 2006

200 posts Aniversarry

Mazal tov to me! Funny how time flies. Ishould really have a fund raiser for the 300 celebrations. Where should the money go to? Any ideas???

Studies: Jews in Israel and the U.S. are no longer seen as a single nation

As someone who was been involved in the last ten years in different Jewish educational programmes reading this article saddened me. I believe in Jewish Peoplehood, and in Israel being its focal point. I would love to see Israeli teenagers learning about Jewish Life outside of Israel. And vice versa, Jewish teenagers learning Ivrit as a living language, not as Sfat Kodesh (A sacred language).

Few years ago, before my time in London, my nephew (6 years old at the time) asked me what do I do at work. As it was a bit complicated even for me to understand what I really DO I said that I work in an office, that help Jewish people from all over the world. He opened his brown almond shaped eyes and his reply struck me: What??? There are Jews all over the world???? I cannot believe this!!!
For him, Jewish people lived only in Israel, If you lived outside or Israel you must not be Jewish. At that opportunity I cleared out that our cousins that just made Aliyah are Jewish.

Reading this article shows me that I might had convinced him, but there are so many others out there yet to challenge.

UK Jewish Film Festival in Redbridge!

Sort of proud of my colleagues in Sinclair House. The success of the Yom Haatzmaut Gala Screening allowed to co-operate even more with the UK national Film Festival. It means that 25,000 jewish people in East London and Redbridge can enjoy the excellent films UKJFF brings over on their door step (Odeon in South Woodford), and save the drive on the North Circ to Hampstead! I am so jealous.
Well done Sam!
If you want to find more information email Sam at scurtis@jcare.org.

We got this on the first class of the Masters program in Creative Writing

so you want to be a writer?
by Charles Bukowski


if it doesn't come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don't do it.
unless it comes unasked out of your
heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don't do it.
if you have to sit for hours
staring at your computer screen
or hunched over your
typewriter
searching for words,
don't do it.
if you're doing it for money or
fame,
don't do it.
if you're doing it because you want
women in your bed,
don't do it.
if you have to sit there and
rewrite it again and again,
don't do it.
if it's hard work just thinking about doing it,
don't do it.
if you're trying to write like somebody
else,
forget about it.


if you have to wait for it to roar out of
you,
then wait patiently.
if it never does roar out of you,
do something else.

if you first have to read it to your wife
or your girlfriend or your boyfriend
or your parents or to anybody at all,
you're not ready.

don't be like so many writers,
don't be like so many thousands of
people who call themselves writers,
don't be dull and boring and
pretentious, don't be consumed with self-
love.
the libraries of the world have
yawned themselves to
sleep
over your kind.
don't add to that.
don't do it.
unless it comes out of
your soul like a rocket,
unless being still would
drive you to madness or
suicide or murder,
don't do it.
unless the sun inside you is
burning your gut,
don't do it.

when it is truly time,
and if you have been chosen,
it will do it by
itself and it will keep on doing it
until you die or it dies in you.

there is no other way.

and there never was.

יום שני, אוקטובר 23, 2006

My sleeping arrangements

Just to keep a record

Wed 18/10 slept at N&N Jerusalem
Thur 19/10 Slept at H Jerusalem
Friday 20/10 at M&M Rimonim
Saturday 21/10 at M`s parents Jerusalem
Sunday 22/10 Ra`anana Home Sweet Home
Monday 23/10 at J&T - My old flat in Jerusalem
Tueday 24/10 at D`s Tel Aviv.

Next wednsday is still available!

Taste of Childhood



If you will ask me what does childhood taste like, my answer will be easy and pleasing: Creambo. It originates are from Denmark, but it was happily adopted in Israel since the 1940`s. Its a seasonal product. you can find it in the beginning of the fall - a week after Simchat Tora. I think the Vanilla flavoured is the best, some will argue the coffee flavour is better.
Its good to be home.

יום שבת, אוקטובר 21, 2006

What would have I done if I was in London tonight?

Quite obvious. Have a great time, let me know how wild it was.
So it has been a while. What was I up to?
1. Started working. I stopped working the day the war begun (12/7), as I just read the news from Israel, so it was 3 months without feeling the commitment for a work place. since I came back to Israel, I had all the holidays, and now work. I got really tired, and slept more than 16 hours today.
2. Got two offers for other jobs, have to decide what do. I will first see how It all works out with university.
3. Drove a lot, not happy about it, but what can I do???
4. Met the Mervish`s - they are in Israel now, and I was lucky to have dinner with them, they brought me 3 copies of the JC, luv it! It was surreal to walk with them in Ra`anana - they belong to Redbridge, it`s quite nice that all my world mix up actually. While I was reading the JC had few surprises - saw some friends faces in the party photo-s section, discovered someone I knew from Redbridge passed away
5. Went yesterday to be some groceries before Shabbat in the most expensive place in Jerusalem (The one on Agron and Keren Hyasod st.) its 30% more expensive than the regular supermarkets, as I read in the shabbat newspaper today.
6. Went to buy some new cloths, and realized I dont really need anything new, I have enough.
7. Wrote a poem I am very proud of, PG I will send it out to be published.
8. Met up with few friends, got to see my family.
9. Didnt find where to live. Dont even ask.

יום שני, אוקטובר 16, 2006

News from the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo

A great piece. enjoy!

The Katzav Affair

I heard one journalist calling this mess "Clinton for the poor". sadly its True, Moshe Katzav, which still is the President of Israel, is probably going to face a trial regarding few rapes/sexual harassment.
I had some respect towards him, not because his personality or achievements,more about his biography- Born in Iran, making Aliyah as a child, involved in community work in development town, becoming a mayor, a minister and then a president - living the big Israeli dream. I also had much respect for The President, in my family symbols matter, and that institution symbolizes the sovereignty of the Israeli state. You see, I belong to a generation that finds those things important.
Therefor I feel embarrassed.
I feel embarrassed for him to represent me or to represent any other Israeli , I cannot understand the reasons for him to still try to keep his job, I think he should have resigned a month ago, but really the sooner the better.

יום ראשון, אוקטובר 15, 2006

First day of rain!

Yesterday we asked for rain in our prayers, and today it rained for the first time this (Jewish )year .
If only all our other prayers will be answered so quickly!
Amen.

Catherine Tate

A great piece with her from The Observer. I admire her, not only because she makes me laugh, there are some other deeper reasons.
So.. I started working today, sort of. Its ok, It will get better - I promise to update.

יום שישי, אוקטובר 13, 2006

Tonight its Simchat Torah as in Israel we celebrate one day for both Shmini Atzeret & Simchat Torah.
One of my continuing wonders regarding Simchat Torah in England was the alcohol. For some reason (Marketing?) it became a booze for Jews day, with no reason. Check the first paragraph from wikipedia about Simchat Torah:

Simchat Torah (שמחת תורה) is a Hebrew term which means "rejoicing with/of the Torah". It is one of the happiest days in the Jewish calendar and is marked with festivities in synagogue that include singing, dancing and (typically) a moderate consumption of alcohol.Wikipedia

I find this a contradiction to the whole Idea of sukkot and Simchat Torah itself. During sukkot we celebrated the freedom of the soul, that needs no house, that accepts its diffrent parts. On Simchat Torah we rejoice with our spiritual heiretence, we are proud to be the people of the book. Again not so intouch with the material side.
And alcohol. what it has to with that? No idea.

יום חמישי, אוקטובר 12, 2006

I hate banks, really. Dont even ask. Like what`s the point? I earn a living and they take some of it month by month by pretending it legal to charge me 2 shekeles for this or that, come on, be honest with your self. Its a theft.
Were`s Rubin Hood when you need him?

יום רביעי, אוקטובר 11, 2006

Getting Old or Getting Stylish?

Well, some of you might be surprised. I have a little group of white hairs, on the left side of my head, sort of above the left ear`s tip. I had three long ones there, and I decided to check, by myself if the common belief that If you pull a white hair ten others will grow instead is true.
I promise to update you in a month. It can be quite cool, having a silver line decorating my hair, or even better all-white hair like Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, rather lovely.
Read the morning newspaper, when you don't work you have time to do that. I noticed Haaretz and Maariv both have a Suduku table. I find it a bit passe'. You know, like playing the Hungarian cube or something like that in public...

יום שני, אוקטובר 09, 2006

A morning walk in Ra`anana

Woke up early this morning and went for a walk, back in London I used to walk either to Snaresbrook Pond while I lived in South Woodford or to Cheery Tree Wood after moving to East Finchley, so you can get the general idea - a pond or a wood. Exactly. Here in Ra`anana I walked towards the fields , when I grew up it used to belong to Nehemia- he was a farmer and it was all potatoes or strawberries. This morning I discovered they all got to grow into nice flats or cottages.
I resent that for few reasons - nostalgic (It was beautiful living near those fields, back in the days), ageist (another evidence of the natural progression of my age), and environmental ( Hello, we do need some Green space, what about a nice park Heyyiii?), but I appreciate the irony - It was worthwhile for Nehemia to be a farmer for this fifty odd years - now he sold his land and he is wealthier than he ever was You see, you never get much from selling potatoes...
Part of being back home, and frankly LIVING at home, is sharing thew duties. So this morning I helped my mother going through my fathers` books. We found few books that were printed in Lithuania in 1923, in Vilnius. We found a book about trains my mother received for her 4th birthday from her uncle, he bought it in London for her as a special gift. Books my father received for his Bar Mitzva, one of the signed by Menachem Begin, and many other gems.
It made me feel sad, getting to think about my father from the angle of the books he left behind him, and then I found a photo - its of my father and his classmates, I think they are around the age of 10. But I cannot recognize him, there is one boy there that looks slightly resembles my brother. I will ask my aunt if it is/was my father.

Recommendation for the next generations: circle yourself and avoid confusion.

My New Car

Good news - I got my newish car yesterday. Its a Hyundai Getz. white. I looked for a coloured one but decided to join my people - and get a white car.

יום ראשון, אוקטובר 08, 2006

For all of you that asked: Yes I went to see my hairdresser. Now my hair looks the same, just shorter and healthier.

The North Circ

Last week had many hours of driving and I desperately miss radio4 (yes I am a pseudo intellectual)I just had to invent this new game. I imagined myself driving on the North Circ. The starting point was Sinclair House of course, and as I progressed I brought up the different landmarks as mental images My rout included: Charlie Brown roundabout, the South Woodford bridge, Water Workers Corner, Sainsbury at Chingford, Costco etc.. I think by the time I got to Haifa I was some where near Gatwick. I think I miss London. Can you tell?

Poem of the week by Admiel Kosman

Admiel Kosman

NAMES UNTO THEM


Through the scratched plastic window of the central
bus station I saw a young couple. Early
and next to him stood his wife
Eve by the wall.
Through the scratched plastic window in the first
rain dripping humbly down the window
I saw a young couple. I saw a man who was
a distant relative of mine as was
his wife delicate his beak lightly touched
her beak so I gave that
man the name of good bird, and his wife called
Birdie.
Translated by Vivian Eden

*******
I love Admiel Kosman`s work. Some ten years ago I sent him few of my writings. I still recall his feedback everytime I sit down to write.

יום שישי, אוקטובר 06, 2006

Good news: My mother is out from hospital.

יום רביעי, אוקטובר 04, 2006

Everyon`is a little bit racist

I called 144 today - Its the israeli version of 118118 or 247247. I have to admit I was quite relived to discover I wasnot directed to a call center in India/Scotland/Ireland. Nothing about those dear and much loved countries. its the accent, you see.

New Career?

In the last week I drove more than 900 kilomoteres. If you think about it, I did it over four days, as I don`t drive on Shabbat or Yom Kippur and Friday and Sundays are half days. Not bad. If you add to this the fact I was one of three Lady drivers for the Limmudfest van, you can clearly see my next carrer move!

יום שלישי, אוקטובר 03, 2006

The wall. Saw few sides of it during last week. It made me feel deeply sad and worried. Any ideas?
I stayed at my brother`s for Yom Kippur, the synagogue there is Sephardi, so I had the moving experience of being part of a Sephardi Slichot Service, the tunes are different, so are many of the Piyutim. It felt right. The Ashkenazi Mynian we had in the morning was built from 15 people, and it felt right, intimate with tunes I knowband love.
Yom Kippur was different for me this year, maybe its a post war thing, maybe being with my family.
PS Still miss South Woodford!
My mother is in Hospital, went to visit her today. In Hebrew the word for Hospital is Beit Holim - the house of the ill people. Not very cheerful indeed. So the House of the Ill people she is at is going through rebranding as the Health Care Campus. The have a nice little mall there with Aroma, Shawarma and a bookstore. Health Care indeed.

יום חמישי, ספטמבר 28, 2006

Last night went out with M to one of her colleagues from her Shlichut Birthday drinks. It was at the Old Port in Tel Aviv. The whole area has beautiful wood decking, nice light colours and simple design. The atmosphere is great, good music is played out loud. We left around midnight. the place was buzzing. The Castro shop was still open, If you really need a new pair of jeans in the middle of the night. It reminded me of other places near water - the South Bank, Pier 17, but the Old Port has some added value, it reminded me of Sinai from all places in the world. Not sure why.
I really feel quite bad about sharing these two stories, the last thing I want to do is speak badly about Israel, what am I a spy??? But its part of my life now so..

I called my former bos in Israel, I have known him for good 7 years now, he influenced me, he loves literature, he is a nice guy. His secretary, answers, we caht a bit. I haven't seen her in more than a year, we were never that close. So she asks when did I come back, she asks who was it, and then she asks if I have a boyfriend.

It made me think about the few first month in London, who no -one asked me my age, but asked about my siblings, how old they are, and if I am younger or older than them. Nothing to direct, very subtle.
Later I went to the supermarket to buy some stuff for my mother. I am standing in front of the meat counter WAITING to be served. the Women to my right looks very casual. Schemata hat, didn't really make an effort to get out from her bed. And While I am WAITING, the guy behind the counter asks: so how can I help you?? - and she jumps in, starting to order a whole chicken and its parts. And I am waiting, staring at her ( and I can stare, believe me). Nothing. Then I thought to tell her that I forgive her, because of Yom Kippur but then I realized how patronizing that is, and decided to forgive her in my heart, and to tell myself off for being so impatience, Maybe she is in a hurry? And to be honest - I don't do much now, some writing, some Limmud stuff, playing with my new phone-toy, not much. I guess I should decide how I am playing this game - If I am not willing to push back I should shut up , and not try to educate others!

יום רביעי, ספטמבר 27, 2006

I have spent two hours on the phone today dealing with Natwest. Yes.

יום שלישי, ספטמבר 26, 2006

Can you show some compassion, please?

Not in water,
Nor in rain
Not in drops,
Nor through tides,
Not waves
Please, no clouds.

Please call the reconstruction builders and the aid workers ask them to save us some clean water, some medicine, maybe they can find us a night shelter, a tent. Have they seen the dove?

Please forecast unconditionally fine weather suggesting proof for God’s presence in this miserable world

Please spread rainbow honey on our crying television screens, we cannot watch this show anymore
Please, find a way to translate our nightmares, angst and tears into dollars, pounds and good deeds

______________________________________________
In this time of the year its a coustom to give more money to charity, as part of repenting our sins plan. I wrote this during and after the Tzunami and its published in our new book. If you would like to order a copy you can do that by emailing me.

Reverse Culture Shock Stage

...Finally, in the vast majority of cases the immigrant will return to their own country. Once there the fourth, and most unexpected, stage occurs and this is referred to as the reverse culture shock stage. Upon arriving back, the returning resident will be eager to share their experiences of another culture that have made them a different person. However, they have returned to a group of people, and indeed a country, that has changed in the interim. These changes can be subtle or far-reaching, but they will affect the way that the returnee is accepted by, or accepts, their own host country and its residents. Often the change required will be too great. The returnee will in many cases deal with this by returning to the host culture or exploring another culture and language.

(copied from: BBC2 How to Cope with Culture Shock)

Culture Shock

So yesterday I had to sort out some paper work (not my hobby) in Tel Aviv, so I met later that day with S (we share the same birthday and some life changing experiences) in a nice cafe. I walked in, waited for a waitress to show me where to sit. Nothing. No one acknowledged the fact I walked in to the cafe. nice.
One room was quite full, and I saw there is another room at the back - with nice tables and chairs, so I asked the guy near the fancy coffee machine if I can sit there. His response was:
Yes, why not??? there are tables, chairs, of course you can sit there. its a cafe - that what people do here. they sit.

In that special tone hinting the silliness of my question and the oddity of my line of thought.
Needless to say I was the only one using her napkin (still not serviette) properly.

יום ראשון, ספטמבר 24, 2006

Jewdas Arrested

I heard about this last Monday , and I thought its quite funny.
I don't agree with everything Jewdas does,believe me. My political views specially towards Israel are extremely different. I also resent the way they treat learned people, speically the Chief Rabbi. But I do think there is a need to shake up Anglo-Jewry from its default state of existence its trapped in. People do things because they should, because their parents did it that way , not because they believe in it, without challenging themselves. Rabbis not demanding their congregation to think in a free way about their core believes and how to relate to the modern world from a Jewish point of view. You can see Jewish Renewal in the US and Israel, but not much in England, unfortunately. etc.
I am a bit shocked from the police - surly they had better things to do than arresting 4 Jew-boys in a Jewish event promoting a Jewish Party in a shul. Yes they used antisemetic cartoons, if its about us so we can use it and I cannot remember the police in the States arresting Art Spieglmen and he showed us as mice!!!! Oh, is being Ironic illegal now???
http://www.jewdas.org/uk/arrests_new.html

יום חמישי, ספטמבר 21, 2006

A happy new Year!

The Jewish Year is starting tomorrow night. As I was searching for some relavant images I found this. Its so naive, and safe. I love it. Wishing you all a very happy new year!

His Dark Material Trilogy

I am now starting the third book, and I am sad because this greatexcitment will end soon. I enjoy these books for different reasons: the bravery of the childern, the theologicak arguments, the philosophical conatations, and my simple attraction to fantasy.
What am I going to do after I finish the third book?
Probabl go and find my deamon.

Two countries divided by a common language

George B Shaw said this about USA and Britian, and well, I completly agree with him.
the thing I found surprising was the Toilet- Bathroom divide. On one hand I do agree with cousin D that Toilet is too graphic, on the other hand Bathroom is misleading, you might expect to see a nice bubbly bath there, but what you get is actually a... Toilet!
I would like to offer Restroom as a comprmise, but it might still be misleading.
Any other examples?

10 signs that your boy/girlfriend are going to dump you, really?

Lately I was lucky to spend many hours on an air plane. The good side: Quicker than walking or sailing, you get free socks, you get few good hours of reading. The bad side is: bad food, a risk of getting blood clots and the lousy magazines you happen to read. In one of them on the way from New York to London I read a piece that made me think.
The title was "10 signs that your boyfriend is going to dump you"
My thoughts are:
1. Why is there a hidden assumption that the Boyfriend will dump you???
2. Do Man magazines have the your-girlfriend-is-going-to-dum-you version?
3. Why dump? I think its a harsh word that doesn't leave a place for caring,understanding, excitement and maybe even love that might have been a part of a relationship even if it ended.
So here are my 10 signs you or your partner might choose to end your relationship ..
1. She/he is not returning your phone calls
2. All their friends are too polite towards you
3. You feel he/she are too distant
4. She/he don't want to talk about it.
5. They cancel your big date with another couple because of a head ache
6. You discover he/she cancelled the vacation you were supposed to go together next month, without telling you.
7. Instead of happiness you feel anxious just before you are going to see him/her
8. You don't feel loved or appreciated
9. You didn't get any compliment about your new haircut or promotion
10. You walk around the park, you see other people happy and you realize that you are not happy, you understand you need to make a change.....

Feel free to add yours!
I was staying in the Last 5 days at M`s new flat in Muswell Hill, it was kinda closure experience as she spent her first days in the UK helping me to unpack my flat, and I spent my last days helping her to unpack her belongings.
The flat has a magical feeling, maybe the high ceiling, might be the periodical items, maybe the floor. I like that place. Thanks M, and enjoy your new home!

Back in Israel

That`s it. I am here which is not London anymore but Ra`anana in the meanwhile.
The Last few days were full of saying goodbye- or L`hitraot which means in Hebrew - See you again. Some of my (London) friends I will see in few weeks, others in December, but it will be different. In the reading we had yesterday I was asked by R about writing in English and whether or not I will maintian it in Isreal, for me writing in English helps me to aculmate back in Israel. As if its a bridge to the other world of my life in London. Does it make sense?

יום ראשון, ספטמבר 17, 2006

The 5 Senses

Had this deep discussion with M last weel, I will not tell you her answer, yet. I am still thinking about it.

Which Sense would you rather lose?
Hear
See
Taste
Smell
Touch
  
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Edward Hopper

Saw an exhibition of his work at the Whitney Museum in NY. The work he does with light is always mentioned, what I found interesting was his own body image. He was very tall from a young age, and found himself quite lonely, his classmates used to call him Grasshopper, later in life he confided with his wife, they never had children.
|What I saw in his work was the simple existence of windows or staircases, the consistent need to look to the future or to look outside, not being in this moment as it is unbearable.
The furniture will not fit the people in need for them , the window might be too big, with the high exposure to light something troubling comes out.

It might be the reason I found his work powerful as prayer.

יום שישי, ספטמבר 15, 2006

Stories about Teachers: The Moth

Went there with E on Tuesday night, a club on 236 East 3rd Street, btw. Avenues B & C, very laid back. People gather find a place to sit or just stand at the back, songs that have some link to teachers are played on the background, people go on stage to tell their story. The audience gets to choose the best one. The topic this week was teachers, some were good two were bad, most of them funnym one very sad. I am left with a srtrong sense of community, a community of story tellers, that gathers together once a month or twice a year to hear stories from other people. If you are in NY, make sure you catch it!
Back in London, New York wad great. I will write much more later on. It will be about the following subjects: The Moth, Which sense would you rather lose? Cool Shuls & whom to find them with, how diffrent is English from Americish, 10 signs that your boyfriend is about to dump you, Hopper at the Whitney, Modern Tate, and much more....

יום שני, ספטמבר 11, 2006

Avenue Q

I saw this last night with E and TZ, loved it. The fact someone has done a musical about our problems is very comforting. Work, place to live, realtionships, purpose in life etc, I loved it being delivered through muppets. it made is all feel very...cuddly?
Go and see!

יום שישי, ספטמבר 08, 2006

Dahlia Ravikovitch - Pride

Back to our Poem of the week:

Pride


Even rocks crack, I'm telling you,
and not on account of age.
For years they lie on their backs
in the heat and the cold,
so many years,
it almost creates the illusion of calm.
They don't move, so the cracks stay hidden.
A kind of pride.
Years pass over them as they wait.
Whoever is going to shatter them
hasn't come yet.
And so the moss flourishes, the seaweed
whips around,
the sea bursts forth and rolls back --
and still they seem motionless.
Till a little seal comes to rub up against the rocks,
comes and goes.
And suddenly the rock has an open wound.
I told you, when rocks crack, it comes as a surprise.
All the more so, people.
They closed Zen Palate on the Upper West Side. That was an all fake food resturant. heaven for me. They opened there another bank/Starbucks/Daune Reade. Not sdure what the diffrences are. Its getting scary here it all looks the same, again and again. Bank/Starbucks/Daune Reade, at least in London we have the charity shops to break the routine.

Getting Through to The Other Side

We are having a launch reading evening of our new book Getting Through to the Other Side on 19 September in Waterstone somewhere in London. Its very exciting and as the talented editor Sam said - it was always her dream to have a reading at Barnes & Noble, I guess making it to Waterstone is quite the same.We are thrilled.
If you want to order a copy or find more details about our special evening please email me.
Last night went out with TZ Pier 17, a beer garden right underneath the Brooklyn Brifge with great DJ and an amazing VJ. The weather was perfect and we had the free lights of a full moon. It didnt feel New York, it Didnt feel London nor Jerusalem neither Tel Aviv. It was quite magical.
I went shopping yesterday, in one of those fake villages in New Jersey, shopping was great found 4 lovely tops,3 shrugs, 4 pair of shoes 4 new skirts a fab hat and a matching scarf, but that`s not the point.
I suddenly discovered that my size had changed. Which I noticed in the UK already thanks to Fat Fighter lately I wear size 16 which is nice, but in many shops here I am 14, which is not realistic. Instead of Large for a shirt I am a Medium here, which is slightly strange, you have to admit.
Have I shrank during the flight from the UK? Did the severe security measures or the body search wiped off plenty of inches off my waist? Are sizes that different this side of the Atlantic? The surprising answer my friends is NO!
What really happens said my dear friend E (A Marketing Manager by profession) is that all those companies have decided to degrade the sizes, so women will feel petite and stylish. So if you are a size 12 you will discover you are 10, and all this wonderful good news will make you be happier, feel more confident and competent, feel you deserve more from life and as a immediate result: shop more.
This school of thought brought to the world the three new sizes (remember that once upon a time the smallest size here was 2) 00, 0 and 1. We are not talking math here, we are talking fashion and dress sizes ans self esteem.
And this makes me angry, thinking about those cute chubby girls dreaming to be size X small, failing to achieve this unrealistic and unhealthy aim, and feel they are a failure.

I don't feel chuffed at all from reaching (faked) size 14, I feel used.

יום רביעי, ספטמבר 06, 2006

Things you just don`t get in London

1. Ezekiel 4:9 - the bread, they also have some cereal - I heard its very yummy!
2. Two black women arguing in Macy`s on which days Rosh Hashana falls is this year
3. Kosher Indian instant food packs in the local deli
4. People recognizing my accent as Canadian

יום שלישי, ספטמבר 05, 2006

In New York

Arrived few hours ago, It raining very heavily. So I managed to but an umbrella - which I haven't done in my three year in London.
It feels good to be back here. I love Brooklyn Heights. lovely area.
I took a taxi from the airport. the driver was Israelim with a very bad taste in Israeli music. Don`t ask. Boaz Sharabi meets Eayl Narkis. its good to be here.

the Bad Business list

Well back in March I had the good business list. Today I am disappointed to reveal the Bad Business (BB) list.
1. The Progress Bar in Tuffnel Park - for ruining my goodbye party by exchanging ownership and refurbishing on my party day and lieing to me about leaving me a message which is impossible to do as few of you know.
2. British Airways. I know that nowadays with all the security problems air companies are having a hard time. But please. If you cannot replace your snack with a Gluten Free option why not giving me the money back and that`s it??? I can bye myself an apple in the money I put towards a cookie or an energy bar, right???
3. Starbucks - charging extra money for soy milk is so 1990`s. Go and learn from Costa!!!
4. The taxi driver that argued with me that my flight leaves from Heathrow 3, when actually it was Heathrow 4. Took me more than an hour to realize I am in the wrong place. no fun. (I am using them tomorrow morning, so I am not naming and shaming)
Feel free to add yours.

What I was up to...

Amazing place to go with kids, specialy if they are not yours. My nephews and I had amazing time, loved the scary trains and all the fairy tales come to life. loved it.

יום שישי, ספטמבר 01, 2006

I got a lovely prsent last night, the Dictionary of Spelling and the funny book about How to Be British.
I have lost the attached card, and I dont know who was so generouse and witty. So you, Please come forward and email me. Thanks!
I feel each word of this poem.
Look in the last line on the "write it" and see how clever she was. The "write it" in the lower voice tells us how fragile she is, and how hard it is to master the art of losing after all.

********************************
One Art
by Elizabeth Bishop


The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.


--Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

Oyhoo, New York, New York

My friends in NY told me about this festival. It will all kick off when I am there. really lked the fact that Leonard Cohen done stuff with them. Seems like I am going to have lots of fun.
I bet Geoffry Cohen is eating his hat, wishing he could have been there!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I sang in public. It meant a lot to me. to be there with my voice, to stand and sing. I am kinda used to talk in public. being really clever in witty. Bur when I sing I cannot hide. I have to face other`s tune and breath slowly. There is something naked about singing. I like it. The song has added meanings for me now. Thanks J. Without you it wouldn't happen.
So I am starting the journey back home to Israel. In an hour a taxi will collect me on the way to Holland where I will meet my family - I am going to rest for four days, preparing myself to my holiday in New York.
I have been lucky to make so many friends here. I had 2 goodbye parties one from work and the other I organized for my friends. I was blown away by people`s love and care. and now 5:03am, I am tired and sad. Not only because I finally realize I cannot drink and sleep, though I can drink and drive, more about friendships I am leaving behind. I now that my friends will stay my friends, but so many relationships just slow down till they disappear.
When I first came over my biggest challenge was making friends, I went out with people I would have never do so. I left my comfort zone so many times to discover amazing people around me.
One of my friends wrote to me how ironic it is that I as the guest is so hospitable. For me it was more about the fact I was not willing to be alone. I need people around me and now after they have become my friends I have to leave.

Don't get me wrong. I am happy to go back. My future is there. I am starting an exciting Masters programme. I even got someone`s phone number to call when I get back. He wants to meet for a drink you know, but at the moment I rather go to the White Lion in East Finchley or the Pineapple in Kentish Town with you know who.
Its better to leave when you are sad to leave. I am just not sure I am good with these kinds of emotions.

יום רביעי, אוגוסט 30, 2006

The Iraninan President

You would have thought that since he started his own blog, I might like him better.
You are wrong I still dislike the Iranian President, I think I have a good reason.

A year passed since the Katrina

The weekly Poem -Agi Mishol

LITTLE PRAYER FOR SUNDAY*


Give me a break from flashing cops,
the HMO and the temples of social security,
from bookkeepers, the keepers of jargon,
and temp agency secretaries with helmet-like hair.

They’re been shooting here all morning;
the partridge hunters and the dogcatcher
roam my countryside.
Newspapers --
filled with black-fisted Orthodox men,
and high-strung poetry critics,
and openmouthed bulldozers --
fall like leaves upon my house.

Why is it such a big deal to yield
to a woman like me
who lets others cut her off on the roads.

I who lay me down to sleep with the hens
at the foot of the well-lit shopping malls --
Hear my prayer.

Please don’t add me to the culture package today.

I who am not exempt from anything --
Grant me permission
for one day off
from the army.


* Israel has a six-day work week. Sunday is a regular work day.
Just heard that I got accepted to the Master programme in Creative Writing at the Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheva!

יום שלישי, אוגוסט 29, 2006

Word into Art - at the British Muesum

Went with M to see this great exhibition, much recommended. The many similarities between Jewish and Arab calligraphy made me realize the potential we might have in building a peaceful discourse about the Middle east. Imagine artists of the middle east siting together and learning about different techniques, the role of scared texts and the conceptual challenges of art within a religious ad very suspiciose tradition regarding visual arts.

Few poems take part in the exhibition, I read this one by Said Farhan, found it very relevant.

Homes don`t travel
People hang on to their homes
like snails to their shells
When people have to leave their home,
there remains a scar at the very place
where people and walls met so closely.

יום רביעי, אוגוסט 23, 2006

I am going to Limmudfest tommorow

so you will not hear from me till next Monday, have a great week.
I will be celebrating my birthday with 450 pweople, not too bad.
Happy new month!

יום שלישי, אוגוסט 22, 2006

So how much money did I raise?

Some of you were asking, so here is the answer: £359.
Thanks to you.

I slept a whole night!!!!

You might think its not big news at all but it sure is.
After more than a month of having major difficulties to preform my favourite activity ie sleep, I slept for 8 hours without waking up!
I fell asleep very easily, I have to say. I even picked a book, which I didnt open at all, just putting my head on the pillow was enough. It might be thanks to a drink or two I had with J, or maybe just because now there is nothing to be stressed about the war is over, my stuff is packed, my flights are confirmed, so I can just breath.

So good to counting sheep, making lists, breathing exercise.
Welcome deep sweet sleep!

I found what to wear!

I cannot tell you cause I want it to be a surprise. I managed hopefully to combine am 1980`s look with one of my very fashionable dresses plus some accesories.
you will have to be there to understand!

יום שני, אוגוסט 21, 2006

I am moving out today. The moving company is here. Putting in big boxes my belongings. They are very quick, They wrap it, put it away not realizing what meaning the CD`s, books or linens carry.
I will meet belongings again in Israel, hopefully they wil lall come in one piece, nothing missing.
Hopefully I will be fresh after Fest, Holland and New York. I might even have a job waiting.
I will still need to sort aacomadation, decide if I am a Tel Aviv Girl, or a Jeruslamite one.
Au revoir books, coofee cups, and towels. You will be an anchor of stability, you see, being possesive can be a good thing!


Just found this photo. Love it. Amsterdam 2002

יום ראשון, אוגוסט 20, 2006

Getting Through To The Other Side

Our new book is out now. Its very exciting. It`s cover is bright pink with lots of zebras around. And its good. From poetry to fiction to cartoons to parcitical stuff, its a heart warmimg book. Well done to Sam for all the editing, great work! We will have areading soonm so keep September 19th free, sometime in the evening, somewhere in London. email me for more details.
And you can buy it from me for £8.99!

Yoma


Yoma Tractate deals with all the laws of Yom Kippor - Day of Attonement. It holds some descreptions of the cloths of the high priest, the way they choose the priests. Its one of my favourites,I studied it in depth few years ago and I still feel awe towards that piece of Jewish law.

How surprised I was when I saw this in Brighton last week!
Last week in the engagement party, this guy is trying to chat me up. To be fair to him, he has a point. Not me being that great, more about the setting: its an engagement party, the very much in love couple show us all its possible.
So I am queing, waiting near the buffet. this guy is staring at me. I notice that. I try ti ignore his stare but its getting really uncomfortable. The buffet includes load of bread, cheese and vegtables which I am happy to see. The guy is still staring at me, and then he says: So, do you like cheese?

honestly, the answer is really long and complicated. I like some kinds of cheese, mostly goat cheese as I try to avoid cow`s milk but sometime I will have ricotta cheese, and I dislike soy cheese and I like Hallumi cheese grilled, not fried.
but that was not the question. the question was wether or not I am willing to start a conversation, or maybe more than just one conversation. I am usually very happy to have loads of conversations. But not this one. This guy met me a couple years ago, and he got my phone number and called me few times, untill I told him I will be very very busy in the coming year and I have no time to socialize at all.

Did he forget the whole thing? Was he overwhelmed by my pressence that he decided to have another go?
Or maybe he just had a simple question.
We will never know. Would we?

Bar Mitzva Disco Party

So next Sunday at Limmudfest we are having a Bar Mitzva Disco party. The team, which I am part with, was asked to dress in that spirit - redicouluse 80`s stuff.
Being honest I really think I have none of that.
My dear readers please search the attached link, and write to me (Yes! as a comment, I know you are too shy but still)if I own anything semilar. I will appreciate the truth, as painful it might be! (That item will be given to your favoutite charity shop right after fest).

יום שישי, אוגוסט 18, 2006

Got this idea last night when couldnt fall asleep. A new feature to my blog: The weekly poem.
Every week I will choose a poem I feel close to at the moment. Would love to hear your thoughts and comments.

Poem of the week

One Art
by Elizabeth Bishop



The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.


--Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

יום חמישי, אוגוסט 17, 2006

Jewdas Beach Party

My friends at Jedwas are having a beach party on Saturday night in much loved Brighton.
I will miss thier alternative events next year, or maybe its the right time to wake Tel Aviv up (Jewishy-funky, way of course)????


I passed this piece few times without noticing it at all. H pointed out to me yesterday. Its made from metal, and what you see are the holes in the meterial .You see people kissing other people but its not people kissing people, its light coming through the metal, I find this very clever, a great matophore about love and prejudice.
Its simple as love should be between parents to thier childern, between couples straight or gay, between neighboors or sibilings. Simple as the air and the sea, simple as a calm afternnon in Brighton.
Yesterday was the first Shlom`s Day ever. Did you know that?
We held it in Brighton, and it was actually a lunch club dining out all day scheme. It was a very special day my friends put together so I will miss them even more. It was all perfect, the weather, the company, the food, the shopping, the magnificent tiara Princess they made me wear, the cool badges I have to wear every day till I go back to Israel, the How to be a lady book, which gives "LADY" a whole new meaning. We took the horses for a ride (cannot tell you the name of my horse, sorry), and we even got up to the ghost train. Brighton gets the mature women out of me for sure!!
I just loved every second , thanks NHSTMN. Its was great!


יום רביעי, אוגוסט 16, 2006

The Geoff Show

Was listening tonight on the way back from Pinner. they playd one of my favourites - Drung vs, Stone - the drunk girl was asked what is a qurater of 5000, and I knew that!!!!! (and I am still holding sometraces of Pimms in my body...)
its 1250!
I failed the spelling test though. So NOT suprised.

p.s. Is there any chance to get Geoff`s laughter as a rington? I wonder.

M&S Food in South Woodford!!!

A historical day. 14/8/2006.
The day M&S opened its food store in SW. It really fits the neighbourhood, its becoming upmarket.
At 13:00 today it was packed, free champgne, live music. bloons, and loads of people buying enough food for the whole of Rowanda, just for the week.
The food looks great.
Any idea when it will be included in the KLBD guide???
Anyone???

יום ראשון, אוגוסט 13, 2006

Went to a lovely engagement paty earlier today. Got myself chatting, and found myself invited to a picnic on Sunday, at Kenwood.
Who cares it came from a 5 years and three quraters old girl????

First we take Manhatan then we take....

Aroma are opening thier first international coffee house in NY.
Back in the 90 I worked in the centre of Jerusalem, right acroos their first ever place, and at an end of a bad day (We had no e-mail or direct phone lines, so you can imagine)we used to indulge ourselves with Ice Aroma or a big Hafuch (Late`).
I hope for you, fellow Londoners, that they will come here next.
Starbucks is veil and redicously over priced, costa is sorta ok, but please remember: Cafe Hillel (Aroma`s Archi-rivals) are the best!!!!

Another silly mistake

Thrusday, during lunch club, while I fought against my tears dropping on my gluten-free psta& tuna yummy salad, we talked about something, dont really remember what it was but it reminded me of one of my favourites tv shows, and I said to my friends: Hey, its just like Little House on The Fairary. Yeup. Cannot remmeber the context, but we (mostly them) laughed.
NHS - do you remember what insparked it all???
If you wonder which gift to buy me for my goodbye party and my birthday the best options are:
1. Something through goodgifts.com
2. John Lewis Vouchers (I want to buy more bits for my lovely new china)
3. just a nich goodbye card with a photo of yourself. I know its not fair as I hate photos of myself, ut I will miss so many of you.
4. NO FROGS. please.
5. The first season of the Muppets Show DVD`s, really.
6. Washing machine - its always usefull.
Guess I am getting a bit insomanic, cannot sleep at all. Maybe its because of the war, maybe its because I am leaving soon, but really, but really, there is no reason for me not to be in bed at 2:13 AM.
I tried reading, checking my boring emails. I googled my x-boyfriends, they are doinh fine, couldnt get any information about one of them, and another has published few intersting articles.

Had few thoughts about why I have been watching super-hero films lately, quite obviouse isnt it?
I really should go throgh my paoper work, and decide which shoes I am giving away, but I am tired.
If youare intersted in any of my shoes, scarfs, CD`s, books or any other belongings, email me. I am quite generouse sometimes.

יום שישי, אוגוסט 11, 2006

I have planned to write about Irony & Education, about trying on hats in M&S in Bluewater, about my planned journey to the Whittard outlet(canecelled), about our new book that`s out now and how excited I am about it, but as I got to work today I learnt that Nir Cohen, who was My Gap Year kids Madrich was killed Yesterday in Lebanon.
I know (sort of, not really) how to deal with death, but they don`t. For all of them Nir`s death is thier first encounter with Israeli-army breavment. I read them what was written about him in the Israeli news papers, and started crying not only for him, but also for them, and there naivity that was taken from them. We learnt in his memory one of my favourites Mishnyot from Ethics of the Fathers,

He(Hillel,one of the teachers) would also say:
A boor cannot be sin-fearing,
an ignoramus cannot be pious,
a bashful one cannot learn,
a short-tempered person cannot teach,
nor does anyone who does much business grow wise.
In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man.

(Chapter 2:5)

For me its about the desire for knowledge, the value & methodolgy of learning and teaching, standing up, being counted and being a role model for so many others.
Just as Nir was for so many.
May his memory be blessed.

יום חמישי, אוגוסט 10, 2006

Yesterday was a day of little goodbye ceremonies.
Went with M to The Princess Diana Memorial, it was so pleasent sitting there watching all the kids trying to walk in the water while the royale representitive chased them and told them off. Quite a job, telling happy innocent kids off a whole day long.

M asked me alot of questions the forced me to reflect back, she asked me if I have any regerts. And no. no regerts at all. I never felt this way, I look back on the last three years, and I can happily say no regerts at all.

There were few hards moments, believe me. Loads of work, feeling a bit lonely for time to time, missing home but at whole. it was an amazing 10% of my life.

(Later in the day I discovered the Soho Square,where we sat lazy in the park and played one of our favourites: Spot the Israeli!!!)

In the evening with with my girls to Bluewater, or Heavengates???
I can honestly say now I think better about British Shopping, its getting to my style! Baught some cool kitchen gadgets, well cool.
More about that evening will follow - I am waiting for few pics just to show you how lucky we were not geeting arrested in M&S!

יום שלישי, אוגוסט 08, 2006

Had a long chat with N last night, and I understood a lot about myself.
not sure if its a result of that conversation or I am just ready now, but today I managed to book the shippment of my belonginings and the ticket back to Israel.
Its becoming real.

p.s. tomorrow I am going to Bluewater, never been before. Any recomendations?

יום ראשון, אוגוסט 06, 2006

Our Rabbis have taught: When Israel is in trouble and one of them separates himself from them, then the two ministering angels who accompany every man come and place their hands upon his head and say, ‘So-and-so who separated himself from the community shall not behold the consolation of the community’. Another [Baraitha] taught: When the community is in trouble let not a man say, ‘I will go to my house and I will eat and drink and all will be well with me’.

תענית יא' ע"א
Ta’anit 11a

there is that fruitstock festival in Regents Park today, and I really want to go. But bad news from Israel are coming. 10 soldiers were killed.
Should I go out for a nice day in the park while my peopole are suffering???

The taste of music

I tried to avoid music as much as possible during the 3 weeks of mourning betweem the 17th Tamuz fast tho the 9th Av ( which was last Thursday). In the car I have been listening to Radio 4 so I am well cultured now. Last night I started to listen again to my music, and some of it I don`t get, at all. How come I got a Robbie Williams track? How come I got 3 of them? Did I ever like his music????

I feel its like tasting a new flavour rolling the rythem and the harmony on my tongue, feeling the texture and deciding if I am fond of the new combination.

I still like Ben Foulds and Eminem though

4 mistakes : don`t try this at home!!!

What a morning. Its only 9:22, but ...
I had plenty of guests for Shabbat so when I woke up at 7:30 (My first mistake) I thought to myself, great I will do all the dishes, clean the living room, have plenty of time to read, download some music, call D as he is back from Africa etc. Great plan for the earky Sunday morning.
So I took out from the dishwasher one pile clean dishes, washed the wine glasses and some other bits and pieces and put some more dishes in the dishwasher, then I realized I am out of the liquid that helps the tablets to do the job (never understood how human civilization can send rockets to space and develop a cure for Cancer but cannot work out the formula for a dishwasher tablet that will not need an extra liquid and some salt every now and then), since I am using Ecover which makes me feel good about the environment but keeps the dirt on my cups, I thought - Hey, I really should add something so.... I added some washing up liquid. In my mind it all made perfect sense (Mistake number 2).
I left the kitchen, thought to check the news, but for some reason the internet disagreed to connect some USB misbehaving, tried to print and again some USB`s are having a party. So I started playing Operation , taking cables in, out all the blipping goes on and different light, great game. Thought everything was ok, without really checking (Mistake number 3), then realized that something is really wrong ie the angle my computer desk is caught in, everything starting to slip`sliding away, thanks to IKEA the little front left wheel decided to liberate himself from the rest of the desk and role around the living room. So I tried to take things off the desk so I can fix it, so I moved the hard disc, without disconnecting my camera from its charger which is on top of the heard disc (Mistake Number 4) so it fell on my little toe.Oouchhhh. All ok with computer great.
As I managed to put the wheel backI started cleaning the whole area, and the living room. Suddenly I hear from far away snow melting. That is sureal. its August. 29 degrees, what snow on earth? The quite soft sound came from the kitchen. So I went to discovered it transformed itself into a whole room bubble bath plan with meters and kilograms of foam. Yes, this might happen if you put washing up liquid in your dishwasher.

It all makes sense, but I still have more plates to wash. I am slightly worried, what will be my next mistake?
I wonder

Saw it last Sunday at St. James Park. Lovely, init?

יום שישי, אוגוסט 04, 2006

Burger King

That what happens when Shay & Dror- 2 very funny guys that run a sataire radio show onRadio Tel Aviv, call Burger King in Beirut to order some food. its for real!
Shabbat of Shalom.
(thanks to the other S for sending me this)

יום חמישי, אוגוסט 03, 2006

Tessa Kiros

I am well into her books. She has the most wonderful recipies, mixture of North-Euruope, Italy, South Africa, Greek, Cyprus, what a deliciouse combination.
The manner in which she writes about her family, her respect to tradition and beautiful writing makes her one of my favourites.

How come on fast days I am not hungry? Just thinking about food, but not hungry, there is a very fine line there.

Snow in Jerusalem. It dates from Feb 2003, seven months before I relocated to London and today I found this photo, a month before I return to Israel.
It sharpens my feelings, this photo, how much I love Jerusalem, how much I miss being there specially now, specially today Tisha B`Av, when I usually used to walk to the Western Wall towards the end of the fast.
Needless to say there is no snow covering Jerusalem this time of the year.

יום רביעי, אוגוסט 02, 2006

Mel Gibson wants to meet a Jewish leader

Sorry Mel, but I am very busy with all this Tisha Bav this week, so I cannot meet with you. Actually even if I had time I am still not sure I would like to meet up with you.
I never thought you were attractive, and now I think you are completly appalling. Yah being drunk makes your tongue find its own words, I have been drunk so I know. But the tongue lets out what is inside, in your mind in your heart.

No excuses. Specially now as we see the Iranian president that recommended Israeli Jews to go back to Europe and promised to erase Israel is trying to do it throughout the Hezbollah he funds.
Sorry Mel, apologizing is very sweet but not enough.
I think you got something else wrong. If I am not a devoted Christian (which I am not), why should I accept the Christian morals of forgivness? Since when Jews agreed to give the other cheeck???
You know Mel, go get yourself a drink, call your daddy, start to look for a new career, and please leave us alone.

I don't like you very much,
shlomit

יום שלישי, אוגוסט 01, 2006

Are fighting soldiers exampt from fasting?

I dont want to be funny but I thought it obviouse. Surely they dont need too fast,
even Superman cannot fast and fight, right?

The Three Weeks this year were full of agony sarrow and fear, forcing me to reflect upon what I feel and believe about Israel, war and peace (and how often we use this words in a way that deludes the meaning), Theology and UK Jewry.

I hope this Tisha Bav will bring the peaceful end of this war. Amen

100 anniversary+ walk for life






What a great way to celebrate my 100th post!
here are some photos from Sunday`s walk, thanks to our friends(yes. you too) we raised nearly £1000 for a very good cause, to help people with HIV and AIDS in the UK and Africa.
I loved it, cannot recommend it enough, its a beautiful route, lovely people around you, a very good cause, as I said, and you get a free HEAT mag (and discounts at the VUE cinema)!!! what else does a girl like me needs???
please do it for me next year!!! You can see here 3 of my friends, we were officialy called the Tiger team, but actually we are the S team...
BTW - you can still sponsor us!

יום שני, יולי 31, 2006

Heared this on Shabbat:
- Youn know, now because of global warming you get Jelly fish in the Northern Sea!
- NORTH sea, not Northern, what happened to your English?
- My English? What happened to the Jelly fish?!?

That was me of course.