tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33397671152037252542024-03-19T06:39:33.112+02:00Voices Magazine's BlogVoices' blog continues the mission of Voices Magazine, www.voices-magazine.com, and Voices TV - showing the world what's RIGHT about living in Israel.Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.comBlogger676125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-29640324175090637072014-11-16T16:13:00.001+02:002014-11-16T16:23:10.737+02:00Stepping Back for a Sharper Vision<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; mso-cellspacing: 0in; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Winston Churchill once
said, <i>“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely
to see.” </i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBtR3TXkBH_zWThu_WDdIXMIhNCKW4TDtbIwAoo68DshJAk1oY6PPvMvNFWwohlk-7LEAqclbWH4wf5G365ZoymJCqxZoYW_LEgUz2fsLv4fsXg72QJp03gKBLVQcwo9yl5JokOw34cJK/s1600/IMG_20141116_103850316_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBtR3TXkBH_zWThu_WDdIXMIhNCKW4TDtbIwAoo68DshJAk1oY6PPvMvNFWwohlk-7LEAqclbWH4wf5G365ZoymJCqxZoYW_LEgUz2fsLv4fsXg72QJp03gKBLVQcwo9yl5JokOw34cJK/s1600/IMG_20141116_103850316_HDR.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each of us has a dream,
and hopefully a vision (my dear friend Anita Tucker said that each of us “must”
have a vision). Our vision can be clearer if we step back a bit, and look
from a longer wiser distance.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That was surely the
thought in mind when my bat mitzva granddaughter Shir Tehilla and her parents
developed an idea for her bat mitzva project. Shir would spend a day with
each of her grandparents, and <i>B”H bli ayin hara</i>, great-grandmothers. She’d
participate in what they enjoyed, or felt was important. She may not know it, but those feelings and
values are inside her too, just like the brown eyes and sweet smile that she
inherited.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxLPqMPapUB1Lk94HijYQFGLOYU-WtlVEtPYxZqvhgdTXZdnLgGBy0tIKpsNS4uz8SsXzc9HoMx61wvxnLBFx9abjUwrxqIwIievIbz0608fGF6M59quPAkWz-928ko1U6Fs7ZsvSqrDu/s1600/IMG_20141116_104008794_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxLPqMPapUB1Lk94HijYQFGLOYU-WtlVEtPYxZqvhgdTXZdnLgGBy0tIKpsNS4uz8SsXzc9HoMx61wvxnLBFx9abjUwrxqIwIievIbz0608fGF6M59quPAkWz-928ko1U6Fs7ZsvSqrDu/s1600/IMG_20141116_104008794_HDR.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, today, it was our
turn. My husband has a passion for growing things – fruit trees, plants, all
kinds of fascinating green things. I love the people of Gush Katif and have
been involved in their community for many years through the Committee for
Gush Katif Bridal Showers and even preceding it. <i>B”H</i>, we took Shir Tehilla on
an adventure that combined both of these passions.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoraiYtn8rfVG7WBm1ClYVVGu9yNzy-IL1fd07OVm3_v8SMJESKPpVtmEoanLgLuvxWNyhA7gwRnr6nYFiVMXAiphLbxqzQcBzy0eBzniU3PtpGdPJtVieNzwyZxmSYyjnwp65c1rll2B/s1600/IMG_20141116_111600364_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoraiYtn8rfVG7WBm1ClYVVGu9yNzy-IL1fd07OVm3_v8SMJESKPpVtmEoanLgLuvxWNyhA7gwRnr6nYFiVMXAiphLbxqzQcBzy0eBzniU3PtpGdPJtVieNzwyZxmSYyjnwp65c1rll2B/s1600/IMG_20141116_111600364_HDR.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We traveled to the renewed
community of Netzer Chazani and met one of the most inspirational women in
today’s world – Anita Tucker – a modern day heroine, a pioneer, a farmer, a
Zionist, a leader, a builder, a backbone of Gush Katif’s past and its future,
<i>IY”H</i>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoraiYtn8rfVG7WBm1ClYVVGu9yNzy-IL1fd07OVm3_v8SMJESKPpVtmEoanLgLuvxWNyhA7gwRnr6nYFiVMXAiphLbxqzQcBzy0eBzniU3PtpGdPJtVieNzwyZxmSYyjnwp65c1rll2B/s1600/IMG_20141116_111600364_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anita told us the moving
story of her life in Gush Katif and since the Expulsion. Shir was two years
old when Anita’s home was destroyed. She doesn’t remember Gush Katif – only what
we have told her.<br /><b>TREES</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our subject for the day
was trees. When <o:p></o:p>Gush Katif was destroyed - its houses reduced to rubble - some
of its trees remained. The communities of Gush Katif were living in hotels,
in caravillas, in make-shift "towns", hoping one day to rebuild their
lives, and of course, ultimately to return to Gush Katif, <i>IY”H</i>.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFq_DRXEoLDVsTB0qa-0SsBWbKZoexRxwsHi_7dU8EvULMuR5rI0FcLJGRyZg8tnkuvyoqNrh8xHCtz-9SxEAoo_wpWcecdUdCaFXNpQ8602gkqSFs-DSXMpreINh1JMx1vcUq23ApSWY/s1600/IMG_20141116_111633384_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFq_DRXEoLDVsTB0qa-0SsBWbKZoexRxwsHi_7dU8EvULMuR5rI0FcLJGRyZg8tnkuvyoqNrh8xHCtz-9SxEAoo_wpWcecdUdCaFXNpQ8602gkqSFs-DSXMpreINh1JMx1vcUq23ApSWY/s1600/IMG_20141116_111633384_HDR.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Five years after the
destruction, Aviel Tucker found out that 1000 trees from Gush Katif had been
saved by the<i> Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael</i>, which had replanted them in a nursery
in the south until one day the communities would be built. Each tree – mostly
palm trees and olive trees – was labeled with the community to which it
belonged. Aviel found the Netzer Chazani trees. He cried.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajU0pY6O8G3xlPI9VyzmuRQxJdha06MID8V-f8q6ZPdvxEHuozoKOA5zWyLOJCfL26DPI0nbSOdyqmbZgtegJNCgSZHJyrYMjlbjdtcqhRCSgNkGTLMrv8NgwtVPswRLs06z0c_uk-Q-0/s1600/IMG_20141116_123548487_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajU0pY6O8G3xlPI9VyzmuRQxJdha06MID8V-f8q6ZPdvxEHuozoKOA5zWyLOJCfL26DPI0nbSOdyqmbZgtegJNCgSZHJyrYMjlbjdtcqhRCSgNkGTLMrv8NgwtVPswRLs06z0c_uk-Q-0/s1600/IMG_20141116_123548487_HDR.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKzVApbvCNnxmgXHJNgVry0mUxAJpNKjDQrE6exaHQWFGXu-muDOVvAqAUDQTK7RzQ8M1who0TzYFCOaRX1madnHJCtSG2Dj3-nrUWI1Fi_h-ZFI_iN5-iaQPIPAQDvrcJazyX7VLZmxV/s1600/IMG_20141116_130924875_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKzVApbvCNnxmgXHJNgVry0mUxAJpNKjDQrE6exaHQWFGXu-muDOVvAqAUDQTK7RzQ8M1who0TzYFCOaRX1madnHJCtSG2Dj3-nrUWI1Fi_h-ZFI_iN5-iaQPIPAQDvrcJazyX7VLZmxV/s1600/IMG_20141116_130924875_HDR.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_-8jizveJz0ZjGfI5Q4qTeXDzsgB37S3Eca3IOQdAZKy8LCmU4k2WgTbZMrY_QWRA1eYvDOECxq5Dm192pylBTYFQgdis5IWcU8dejmiKStgSWiiuDJVei9x1pfTQCJuVNdH8w-RnsI9/s1600/IMG_20141116_131131348_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_-8jizveJz0ZjGfI5Q4qTeXDzsgB37S3Eca3IOQdAZKy8LCmU4k2WgTbZMrY_QWRA1eYvDOECxq5Dm192pylBTYFQgdis5IWcU8dejmiKStgSWiiuDJVei9x1pfTQCJuVNdH8w-RnsI9/s1600/IMG_20141116_131131348_HDR.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The trees had fared just
as the community had – some were flourishing and green, some were bent and
broken, some were wild and aimless. Rooted in foreign soil, there they stood
alone, until the day Aviel found them. He returned many times to hug the
trees – yes, hug them - and tell them, “Hold on. We will get you. We will
rebuild and we will bring you home.” Next year, he told the trees. And then…next
year…and then…next.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivvf9H-a1iUueHv7OfZRZccby5i-tjZ8eXDdTSuiXjJdmhl5aLKAmLgEhA7OpjVRG_YySitFHE6owEVd6V-08F6IjqCo7NQ8-D5h3bSz3E6ej9cgHMO57pqCVssC7CcsSpQW62lI7W3gP/s1600/IMG_20141116_131543549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivvf9H-a1iUueHv7OfZRZccby5i-tjZ8eXDdTSuiXjJdmhl5aLKAmLgEhA7OpjVRG_YySitFHE6owEVd6V-08F6IjqCo7NQ8-D5h3bSz3E6ej9cgHMO57pqCVssC7CcsSpQW62lI7W3gP/s1600/IMG_20141116_131543549.jpg" height="200" width="110" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is almost ten years
since the destruction of Gush Katif. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Netzer Chazani is being rebuilt, and starting to look and feel like a real town. Aviel thought that this year might be the one when the trees come home.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few months ago, Aviel visited the
nursery, and one of the caretakers said, “These trees are going to
Palmachim. You never came for them.” No!!! Aviel argued that the Netzer
Chazani trees must come back to the community. “But we waited so long
for you to claim your trees. Palmachim is ready for trees.” After lots of
negotiations, and with the knowledge that <i>shmitta</i> was almost upon him, Aviel
knew the trees must be replanted in the new Netzer Chazani community
immediately.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The cost was tremendous,
but the community did everything it could to transport the trees (including a
few from Gadid – there are Gadid refugees in Netzer Chazani’s new community,
as well) to its new community. On long trucks, the palm trees were laid, on
other trucks came the olive trees. Each was dug up with its original soil,
still from Gush Katif.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This summer, 70 trees
returned to their community. The trees were planted on the condition that
they could be replanted when the Netzer Chazani community returned to Gush
Katif, <i>IY”H</i>, may it be soon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3uObxrlVKMKys_3rrDTv8KW_mBziW2C7A36OiE0j9pOpbBAaHY8CZm3MF9DM2xzoD9IfNQtPKQAP9JBo39Hzguna1Yuxs2Izpy_4PrkcmNfZGw1j_goOIdXJS4sLNYxz1MLDY4er2sam/s1600/IMG_20141116_131549669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3uObxrlVKMKys_3rrDTv8KW_mBziW2C7A36OiE0j9pOpbBAaHY8CZm3MF9DM2xzoD9IfNQtPKQAP9JBo39Hzguna1Yuxs2Izpy_4PrkcmNfZGw1j_goOIdXJS4sLNYxz1MLDY4er2sam/s1600/IMG_20141116_131549669.jpg" height="200" width="110" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>One Tree</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Aviel was told to leave
one palm tree behind – why waste the money. This palm tree was broken in
half. It would never live. Why spend money on a lost cause. He refused. We
visited that tree today, and my granddaughter Shir hugged it. It has an
interesting shape, but it is <i>B”H</i> thriving surrounded by its family and those
who are pampering it with love and attention.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All of us have challenges
in our lives. Sometimes we seem broken and “unfixable”. But with love and
caring, and of course, faith, the broken can be mended, and we can each have
a strong positive future.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you to Anita and Stewart Tucker, and Aviel Tucker for an unforgettable day. Thank you, Shir Tehilla, for inviting Sabba and Savta to share with you some of the things we care about. We love you and are proud of you. Mazal tov to you and your Ema and Abba on your upcoming Bat Mitzva, IY"H.</span></i><br />
<br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-oCpNGFCFiJY%2FVGiwGSLilxI%2FAAAAAAAAhz0%2FFy-rLYk3BYo%2Fs1600%2FIMG_20141116_111600364_HDR.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoraiYtn8rfVG7WBm1ClYVVGu9yNzy-IL1fd07OVm3_v8SMJESKPpVtmEoanLgLuvxWNyhA7gwRnr6nYFiVMXAiphLbxqzQcBzy0eBzniU3PtpGdPJtVieNzwyZxmSYyjnwp65c1rll2B/s1600/IMG_20141116_111600364_HDR.jpg" -->Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-66617945684188782692014-10-24T17:13:00.001+03:002014-10-24T17:14:02.276+03:00To Live as a Jew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3339767115203725254" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsOQmhipLZm5v_mvMe-JQwNf3cflN6hrpZ9MIaK9f-zeIDisun-rsfbuXYPj5BkAPe3eTWBVgFVADb-yD5DeC4f8TMx2D05FLeighYj2FnHVa6bVDpbXAE7JGILxepWQgmmbghE_OUF-h/s1600/Yemima+Barera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsOQmhipLZm5v_mvMe-JQwNf3cflN6hrpZ9MIaK9f-zeIDisun-rsfbuXYPj5BkAPe3eTWBVgFVADb-yD5DeC4f8TMx2D05FLeighYj2FnHVa6bVDpbXAE7JGILxepWQgmmbghE_OUF-h/s1600/Yemima+Barera.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">In <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Hadassah</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Hospital</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></i></b>, a 21 year old girl is fighting
for her life. Actually, as she lies in a coma, <i>others</i> are fighting for
her life, sitting by her bedside, praying for her, saying psalms in her behalf
– <i>Yemima bat Avraham Avinu.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Correct,
<i>“bat Avraham Avinu”</i>, the father of all Jewish souls. Only a few short months
ago, Yemima, originally from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ecuador</st1:country-region>,
received her conversion certification.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Terror in Jerusalem</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On
Wednesday, an Arab terrorist plowed down a group of Jews at the Ammunition Hill
train station. Infant Chaya Zissel Braun was murdered in the attack, and eight
others are in various stages of injury. Yemima Mascera Barera is in critical
condition, on life support systems. It’s ironic that Yemima, who wanted so much
to be Jewish and come closer to Hashem in His Holy City, became a victim of
Arab terror just for that – being a Jew in <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yemima
has been living in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
for the past two years, strengthening her connection to G-d, Judaism and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>. Her
friends and teachers all say she was always very single minded, focused on one
goal - becoming a Jew, coming ever closer to Hashem, marrying a Torah-observant
husband and raising a Jewish family here. Completing the dream would be
bringing her mother and sister to <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As
of this writing, Yemima’s mother and sister are on the plane to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>, but not
in the way the 21 year old had hoped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Searching for G-d</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rabbi
Gavriel Guiber of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gabriel.guiber"><b><span style="background: white; color: #3b5998; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;">Un Mundo Mejor</span></b></a>
(who teaches Torah in Spanish) has helped Yemima for the past five years, since
she first wrote to him on the internet, asking him for guidance in leading a
more observant life. Her questions had such depth, the rabbi thought she was
Jewish. Yemima told him that while she was not Jewish, her mother lit Shabbat
candles, and the family had a tradition that the grandmother and
great-grandmother had done so, as well. Her family name is one of <i>anusim</i>
(forced converts who tried to observe vestiges of Jewish practice), but the
family had no documentation that they were Jewish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rabbanit
Chaya Engel, one of Yemima’s teachers in Machon Roni, a Spanish-language
seminary for women, said that the Zohar states that when G-d asked the nations
of the world if they would keep the Torah, as a whole they rejected it. However
there were small voices within the nations that answered, “Yes!” “No one heard
them, except<i> HaKadosh Baruch Hu</i>,” Rabbanit Engel said. “Before <i>Meshiach</i>
comes, Hashem is bringing back all those <i>neshamot</i> (souls) that wanted to
accept His Torah, because they deserve it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yemima
is one of those souls.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Tradition in Ecuador</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Back
in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Guayaquil</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ecuador</st1:country-region></st1:place>, Yemima lived as
traditional a life as possible with her mother and sister. Her parents are
divorced. While they all wished to become Jewish, since the family had little
money, Yemima’s mother gave her whatever they had in order to come to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rabbi
Guiber helped her, and brought her to Machon Roni where other Spanish-speaking
women learned Torah. He said, “She is a model example of a gentile that wanted
to convert, and also an example to us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In
order to support herself, she worked in a senior residence in Bnei Brak, and
commuted to seminary daily. Rabbanit Sara Yalta Katz, director of the seminary,
located in the Old City of Jerusalem, said that Yemima traveled the farthest to
learn, but she never missed a day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When
she moved to <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
to be closer to Machon Roni, Yemima worked cleaning houses. Her best friend
said, “She would have done anything to learn Torah.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rabbanit
Engel teaches many Spanish-speaking girls who are preparing for their
conversion. “These girls come to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>, having a relatively high
level of education or standing in their home countries. They were teachers,
clerks, and today they clean floors. But they are willing to be nothing here,
like the Biblical Ruth, in order to be Jewish. We were born Jewish, but they
chose to be Jewish.“</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rabbanit
Katz said that Yemima decided at a young age that she wanted to become Jewish,
but she was always hoping for a sign proving that “Hashem controls the world”.
Yemima told her that once while praying the <i>Amida</i> (the Silent Prayer),
an earthquake hit. Her family went scrambling under the table, and everything
was falling around her. Yemima said that perhaps she was concentrating so
intensely on her prayers that she did not feel the earthquake at all. She told
herself, “This is it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Critical Condition</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While
Yemima has completed her conversion process, she is still working through the
bureaucracy of citizenship. <i>IY”H</i>, may she recover and fulfill the entire
dream – living as a Jewish woman in <st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place> and one day raising a Jewish
family that will be a tribute to our people.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Your
psalms for Yemima’s recovery are vital. <a href="http://tehilimyahad.com/mr.jsp?r=Fudis7dfI1" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #3b5998; line-height: 115%;">http://tehilimyahad.com/mr.jsp?r=Fudis7dfI1</span></a></i></b></span></div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-17144365848894873312014-04-07T20:20:00.001+03:002014-04-07T20:33:37.319+03:00Thanks to Mickey Rooney for His Inspiration<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><i>It was June 21, 2001</i></span></b>, almost a month since the murder of two
beloved Efrat residents, <i>olah chadasha</i> (new immigrant) Sarah Blaustein, <i>HY”D</i>,
and youth group leader Esther Elvan, <i>HY”D</i>. My community of Efrat (and
the greater community of Gush Etzion) was reeling from the Arab terror on the
roads of Gush Etzion and across the country. We were all in a huge depression.
Tears flowed easily and often. Smiles had long been forgotten.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The much-awaited summer vacation was filled with dread.
Folks didn’t drive on the roads. There was nothing to do and no place where we
could escape the deadly realities of the day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the Efrat list, which I had established some years
before, Efrat residents were writing their ideas of ways to cheer up the
community – a town fair, cowboy-and-Indian movie nights, etc. All cute, but
nothing that captured the imagination.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-V_z5rtCldIGadI8f9j4Xwc8lcfqucZqOZ181y7VYHDg7Wj_yaIoisTK-ogfP-TEf4O__GdVczPaAyZq6Rd_K61GMLbgkj6gRClrtoYLCLKLVqeAcaCgyIHye6ZApvKwPxPtPXKAFvWf/s1600/mickey+rooney+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-V_z5rtCldIGadI8f9j4Xwc8lcfqucZqOZ181y7VYHDg7Wj_yaIoisTK-ogfP-TEf4O__GdVczPaAyZq6Rd_K61GMLbgkj6gRClrtoYLCLKLVqeAcaCgyIHye6ZApvKwPxPtPXKAFvWf/s1600/mickey+rooney+poster.jpg" height="320" width="176" /></a></div>
I sat at my desk on that Thursday night and looked up at a
poster on the wall – an original advertisement for a 1939 Mickey Rooney-Judy
Garland movie musical, “Strike Up the Band.” In those days of post-Depression <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>, Mickey
Rooney and Judy Garland were constantly trying to think of ways to bring their
community out of its depression. The answer always ended up being a show.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
He’d say, “We're gonna put on a show. And it’s gonna be the
greatest thing this town has ever seen. And everyone’ll be in it.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The idea of the show was to raise everyone’s spirits! Well,
by golly, it worked for Mickey every time! And if a show could cheer up
post-Depression <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>,
maybe it could help depressed Efrat/Gush Etzion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">With Mickey's Inspiration</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I wrote an email to the Efrat list:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<b>WE’RE PUTTING ON A SHOW.</b> It will be the greatest
spectacular in the history of the Gush Stage. A cast of thousands, or at least dozens.
You’ll leave the theatre singing and dancing and feeling good.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We’re going to spend our summer preparing a fantabulastic
show for women only (sorry guys – if you want a play, put on your own).”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1zABguokBE_I4MCxPupcVwsSuJbJA-jQggI-T8zSjr7DEPzMmJ8xxQxg6n31a9DUlthlVCjDWReb5BF6Seegj7wKW_2Fo6cyFPZnsJ-zin2Mk9aMz9uCiaFA5OfZV7woXphbRihKDlAr/s1600/first+rys+ad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1zABguokBE_I4MCxPupcVwsSuJbJA-jQggI-T8zSjr7DEPzMmJ8xxQxg6n31a9DUlthlVCjDWReb5BF6Seegj7wKW_2Fo6cyFPZnsJ-zin2Mk9aMz9uCiaFA5OfZV7woXphbRihKDlAr/s1600/first+rys+ad.JPG" height="200" width="163" /></a>Thirty-five women joined at my first meeting, and we had
enough of a staff for two directors, two choreographers, a stage manager, a
scenic designer, a producer (me) and lots of other stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That night, I summed up the meeting. “I explained that the
goal of the play is to give everyone something positive to do all summer, and
to bring us closer together in HAPPINESS, instead of in SORROW. We’re going to
sing together, dance together, work hard together, sweat together and smile
together. And at the end of the summer, <i>IY”H</i>, we’re going to invite all
the women of Gush Etzion to come see the show. I know all of them won’t come,
but we hope several hundred will. We’re even going to invite the women of
Chevron, Kiryat Arba, Beit El and Ofra. They all really need something to sing
about.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Little did I, or anyone else know, that the Gush Etzion
Raise Your Spirits Summer Stock Company would not only attract hundreds of
women, but more than 40,000 women/girls from Israel and the Diaspora would see
our shows over the past 13 years, and <i>B”H, bli ayin hara,</i> we would become
one of the most acclaimed community theater companies in the country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it all began because Mickey Rooney taught me the lessons
of joyous song, a common goal, community effort, inclusion of everyone, and dedication
to a dream.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They were right on target in 1939, they were right in 2001
and they still hold true today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Junxu0WMo1Vq6uDm4f0JhDEBQWZVJu1fovQo4loD43ntxtwR1ZPthJMvRm2pshAggxsfRFYyDc0BNqki_tb8SOmMvn1x1hoovVmd1yHBTg7DeOMgzO5slvTxF2TWq_GEKlRuYrEwHlDP/s1600/we+love+ya+mick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Junxu0WMo1Vq6uDm4f0JhDEBQWZVJu1fovQo4loD43ntxtwR1ZPthJMvRm2pshAggxsfRFYyDc0BNqki_tb8SOmMvn1x1hoovVmd1yHBTg7DeOMgzO5slvTxF2TWq_GEKlRuYrEwHlDP/s1600/we+love+ya+mick.jpg" height="200" width="158" /></a><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Mickey, 93 years young</span></b></div>
Mickey Rooney passed away this week at the age of 93. Those
lucky enough to remember him for his upbeat undefeatable energetic young man
roles will always have a reason to smile and an example of unending positivity.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those who remember him for his 200 movie roles will surely
keep the legend of the tiny dynamo in their hearts.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Mickey, the women/girls of Raise Your Spirits Theater and
their audiences thank you.</i></div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-68253598004217975762013-12-25T20:36:00.001+02:002013-12-25T20:37:12.866+02:00Someone Else's Shoes<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Too many </i></b></span><b>years ago to count, I was a young working mother.</b> </span>I had the sweetest infant son at home, while I was racing around the entertainment industry, working as Eastern Editor of the <b>Hollywood Reporter</b> at 1501 Broadway in New York City. Whenever I came home at a normal time, I'd speak to my friends and compare notes.<br />
"What did you do today?" I asked.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKEtDAvIKOO-gwryLN1D-krEokXxV97SDLJ9zQJADZoGvqa99wdchd65jLw9HVWTFzZ62chyphenhyphenojMV9rOOawK-oyYtvEu9gTqmLwj765z1yFt5SPfeLIyCKniKydheBEY2jDGf30KVjafsi/s1600/Baby+pix+-+Micha+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKEtDAvIKOO-gwryLN1D-krEokXxV97SDLJ9zQJADZoGvqa99wdchd65jLw9HVWTFzZ62chyphenhyphenojMV9rOOawK-oyYtvEu9gTqmLwj765z1yFt5SPfeLIyCKniKydheBEY2jDGf30KVjafsi/s200/Baby+pix+-+Micha+baby.jpg" width="200" /></a><i>"Abby and I walked the babies in their strollers up the avenue. Then we went for pizza."</i><br />
I was so jealous. My two best friends had spent the whole afternoon together with their babies.<br />
"Oooh. I wish I could have been there."<br />
<i>"What did you do?"</i><br />
"Typical day. I had lunch with one of my columnists, and we shmoozed for a while in Sardi's with Mary Tyler Moore."<br />
<i>"Oooh. I wish I could have been there."</i><br />
<div>
I have spent a good part of my working mother life, doing incredibly exciting things, meeting fascinating or important people, and traveling to fascinating places. I have loved every minute of it. But I also missed being a traditional mother. I don't even think I'd know how to do that.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZQaXIeXltv3ZjKps6rfEhJyURsApv07GfmhvXDiDTD-RGxXKkaUr6ok8QtLOFJp70P8pqm5TWCZRynY1NvkWKfeyqvNmiQ7QRWoW7PkTOo5ZVZiCXUDGLS_PXkx3kGbNLR9e84HRefgA/s1600/IMG_3618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZQaXIeXltv3ZjKps6rfEhJyURsApv07GfmhvXDiDTD-RGxXKkaUr6ok8QtLOFJp70P8pqm5TWCZRynY1NvkWKfeyqvNmiQ7QRWoW7PkTOo5ZVZiCXUDGLS_PXkx3kGbNLR9e84HRefgA/s200/IMG_3618.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hMDHcIuvszVv1K1aiiQMlXHaDJZemqONFGoCU8Hoy7DToBTxNEJlvbeqDhj7Jw_sQRIvVGOoNoPqse_RyEwmJBwIXgR0u412fMCGirI4KSjBx2kNbhB-sO-p_uUNT6CT2GfJcOOQMMK5/s1600/IMG_3610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hMDHcIuvszVv1K1aiiQMlXHaDJZemqONFGoCU8Hoy7DToBTxNEJlvbeqDhj7Jw_sQRIvVGOoNoPqse_RyEwmJBwIXgR0u412fMCGirI4KSjBx2kNbhB-sO-p_uUNT6CT2GfJcOOQMMK5/s200/IMG_3610.jpg" width="200" /></a>When I want to impress my granddaughters with my domesticity, I open a cookie mix, and let them put chocolate chips on top of the dough. We watch the cookies rise in the oven, and they think I'm a genius. (Well, that <i>was</i> the point, wasn't it?)</div>
<div>
If they get time to spend with their other grandmother, they probably know that I am a bit different. But meanwhile they've never complained. </div>
<div>
Thank G-d, my kids and now my grandchildren have never said, "Why can't you be like David's mother?" They have never flinched when I answered a "Mother, can you do this for me today?" question with, "Sorry, dear, but I'm filming a movie."</div>
<div>
But I <i>do</i> feel sad that I can't be more like <i>Donna Reed</i> or <i>Mrs. Cleaver</i> or even <i>Mrs. Doubtfire, </i>or whoever the 2014 equivalent is.</div>
<div>
So, when a new blog came out, by Magi Sumers, called "Grandma's Girls", <a href="http://grandmasgirls.weebly.com/">http://grandmasgirls.weebly.com</a>, I both hated and loved Magi.She's the perfect grandmotherly grandmother that I have always wanted to be. She makes pom poms with her kids on a snowy day. I went out and filmed a music video.</div>
<div>
But you know what? She's a fabulous girl!!! She's an arts and crafts queen. She's a domestic imaginator. She has given me dozens of ideas to do with my children and grandchildren. </div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I don't have to come up with ideas that will make my grandchildren think I'm a genius grandmother. I can copy Magi, and that's okay. Because if she didn't want us to copy her ideas, I do not think she would have started a blog about them.<br />
So, I'm excited to keep making my movies, performing on stage, interviewing famous folks, and traveling on new adventures, <i>IY"H.</i> And I'm super excited that I can also do terrific grandmotherly things with my family, thanks to Magi Summers. Magi, whenever I can, I'm going to step into your shoes. I wear a size 8. How 'bout you?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-75259252081755402422013-12-17T21:37:00.001+02:002013-12-17T23:04:40.095+02:00As Long as It Slides<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b2SZaCMkqaepCz5lLL7EHEk5u9h2X4Eea-RYdtP2JNlf8WbUOcLuQJg0M048pa6snMSe0-Da1lttcslic6n2nXnDBqTKD7woScdPSWtCGEN69NPMbp33Ygq2ps_usgkutD6lgzzGiP_X/s1600/snow+in+efrat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b2SZaCMkqaepCz5lLL7EHEk5u9h2X4Eea-RYdtP2JNlf8WbUOcLuQJg0M048pa6snMSe0-Da1lttcslic6n2nXnDBqTKD7woScdPSWtCGEN69NPMbp33Ygq2ps_usgkutD6lgzzGiP_X/s200/snow+in+efrat.jpg" width="147" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Everyone knows</span> <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>’s in the midst of a
SnowZilla right now.</span></i></b> There have been enough posts and photos to flood the
internet, greater than the flood that will result, G-d forbid, when the massive white
mounds melt.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There’s been a lot of bad in the <i>snowblitz </i>– the worst being
30,000 freezing families. <i>(May that never happen again.) </i>There’s also been a lot
of good – kind deeds and brotherly cooperation <i>(that’s for another blog). </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Besides the life lessons and the logistic lessons of the largest snowfall in 120 years, thank goodness, we've broken through the shock of the storm with some fun, F-U-N. I bet you didn't know Israelis could get their minds off the Iranian Crisis, the Palestinian </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Crisis</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, the Bedouin </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Crisis</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, the Economic Crisis, the Boycott-Israel Crisis and who knows whatever crisis to actually have fun for a change. Well, many of our kids may never have seen so much snow, but they were fast learners in the snow-fun department - traditional snowman building, snowball
fights, and a <i>chavaya (incomparable experience) </i>of enjoying the immense white
wonderland.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Down We Go</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Across the street from my house is a fantastic hill – a perfect
45 degree angled rise – begging for skiers and sledders to take advantage of
its slope. Yesterday I noticed two boys riding <i>(or really, sliding) </i>bikes down
the hill. That was a first for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>In my mind, that rates just about as high as watching folks "shovel" away three feet of snow with kitchen brooms. (I even offered a kid a real shovel, and he said, "No, thank you." Swish swish swish.)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_lY_FpgHKBGt5xtQ1NHFJpnoGqZpnAyLiVWzneebHtrW-e1dO3tQj7L30kjonXnXbupx4SY8KpWR-bSORV4IYhksYYXj4jHCqmwvVraAm6RV9_Tb2-mHa7uun7fk3QImmHSntJf4shwV/s1600/Rosebud.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_lY_FpgHKBGt5xtQ1NHFJpnoGqZpnAyLiVWzneebHtrW-e1dO3tQj7L30kjonXnXbupx4SY8KpWR-bSORV4IYhksYYXj4jHCqmwvVraAm6RV9_Tb2-mHa7uun7fk3QImmHSntJf4shwV/s200/Rosebud.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I watched outside a little longer, waiting for the sledders, but not
one traditional sled made its mark on the hill. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What has happened to the little wooden sled? Not necessarily
<b>Citizen Kane</b>’s <i>“Rosebud”</i>, just a real sled. We had one in <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>. If we’d
have brought it here, it would have sat for 21 years waiting for this moment. Maybe
that would have been a waste. But I guess no one else brought their sled
either.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqcr0v26FnnhrPk7UZmlqzw2L36m7vJUk-jTbUE_5eIn5um0vkFkWrHUv_J2f7s55rMkQ6JP1japffCB26jxSeT-pF6hNEmB6DuzmwZecCVf6g05jfcx0uDQ9EZwUk_McXyPTR_z4lhW3/s320/Rachel+Meir2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel Meir's rare real sled.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqcr0v26FnnhrPk7UZmlqzw2L36m7vJUk-jTbUE_5eIn5um0vkFkWrHUv_J2f7s55rMkQ6JP1japffCB26jxSeT-pF6hNEmB6DuzmwZecCVf6g05jfcx0uDQ9EZwUk_McXyPTR_z4lhW3/s1600/Rachel+Meir2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Except for one family that was using its <b>uncle's childhood sled </b>from England<b>, </b>the little wooden sled was mainly missing, but the sledding went on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9NAiZdc_ay2Go48Eco9EYrSK7BA4c6hysMXQYiqJWlmNrUzswVKQ3QcRhjMDzmw4L23poM2fvJcD-lvgUTSDYF6W6ZqWqnGSB97JgeuDlPhBY7yu6xVGY6ALu4dIwXT1Vm28dQ9BgJyf/s320/Esther+Margolis+-+getting+to+school.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Esther Margolis vintage photo<br />
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sleds from high chairs.</b><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FWU9SGgMVIBBf9U4eJtnlh1845GL_0V2CSTum0PshyphenhyphenHb_IOrBX1PVdEx5-j0G_j3eyzSb2ynSuQ6H-0raP41LjlvpPAFNgiKEUgJ4OWVRzBGnmeQn-MHztf1gbEat4qHngkM39_ONcOj/s320/ari+fuld+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ari Fuld does an "Obama selfie" while on his saucer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FWU9SGgMVIBBf9U4eJtnlh1845GL_0V2CSTum0PshyphenhyphenHb_IOrBX1PVdEx5-j0G_j3eyzSb2ynSuQ6H-0raP41LjlvpPAFNgiKEUgJ4OWVRzBGnmeQn-MHztf1gbEat4qHngkM39_ONcOj/s1600/ari+fuld+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Sleds from saucers.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkYZlHF1G3_xkoUEpsluoVb0Gvvsl6UnPIgewNTPnzENGjnjdrhIw5NSEoxAeligdb4gib2Fd2Tj_sOP2re7LbmEERIEc6XdE8Gm-lVBKjLHpD322oGJusAa3JJDnocjetyFpr2N-qDRw/s1600/ari+fuld3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkYZlHF1G3_xkoUEpsluoVb0Gvvsl6UnPIgewNTPnzENGjnjdrhIw5NSEoxAeligdb4gib2Fd2Tj_sOP2re7LbmEERIEc6XdE8Gm-lVBKjLHpD322oGJusAa3JJDnocjetyFpr2N-qDRw/s320/ari+fuld3.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v8arOB2wwDRAYcChMGvvwgAq8r5iD3xVYfYq2_48cBtHnSshBXwW_wVKTPM3KkFlE7brD7ra2l7c9avW1IEp2Nsfo1H6qD8xybbKFlg_u1GuwK_oQl-B7VQNYBmB7D-1r7vyRq3t_cxP/s1600/ari+fuld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v8arOB2wwDRAYcChMGvvwgAq8r5iD3xVYfYq2_48cBtHnSshBXwW_wVKTPM3KkFlE7brD7ra2l7c9avW1IEp2Nsfo1H6qD8xybbKFlg_u1GuwK_oQl-B7VQNYBmB7D-1r7vyRq3t_cxP/s320/ari+fuld.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGQxNg5doGjjQUoJJwq5HSLx8AIL-tW1t0FeGT6gKoqHsdxDiiG0eKqcZauES8Q391xpBVSKGgeEs60oozrAbxX3BXMV1a_WwRhVsgSnDWnKqsrjDyCFIdI2k4v1dk6NNp4iEkfRPlR-B/s320/April+Selditch+roasting+pan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="235" /><br />
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: start;">Sleds from oven pans.</b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April Selditch, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Yonatan Abrams swapped his luxuriously comfortable beach-boogie-board-garbage-bag sled for his friends roasting pan which does 360's at light speed."</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGQxNg5doGjjQUoJJwq5HSLx8AIL-tW1t0FeGT6gKoqHsdxDiiG0eKqcZauES8Q391xpBVSKGgeEs60oozrAbxX3BXMV1a_WwRhVsgSnDWnKqsrjDyCFIdI2k4v1dk6NNp4iEkfRPlR-B/s1600/April+Selditch+roasting+pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucVC3WFNQPC5shfLMNnctiN86YGoVnYAjVdXtobeJKrdCJlUZWua4bTeUOu50bM6q8Hm6gRkM_DrcMgx7hYnYoftgrLLkJqLIiTFRAdq-CdDDqDtZLedR4WlSOICEhnYPtLYviQDmSkrd/s320/April+Seiditch.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="235" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April Selditch, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Maayan Abrams (5yrs) of Efrat in Park Asor sledding on her boogie board/garbage bag combo."</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucVC3WFNQPC5shfLMNnctiN86YGoVnYAjVdXtobeJKrdCJlUZWua4bTeUOu50bM6q8Hm6gRkM_DrcMgx7hYnYoftgrLLkJqLIiTFRAdq-CdDDqDtZLedR4WlSOICEhnYPtLYviQDmSkrd/s1600/April+Seiditch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Sleds from boogie boards and garbage bags.</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzvUVCzgemKRkg05H2AP9hBER4hwxDYuYIrR5saAd8DxOUbVLh6s6aKtDb_WjiXYV7xwwJlQcHiAnjEJ9Mg_wJtCCxhNT3F3Ecr6sBwu0-0mMj-lTx4DtCvkvEB_GPFOG49zvCQF-lNZN/s320/TmarRun2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tamar Rund and her kids hit the slopes with agricultural plastic in Pnei Kedem.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzvUVCzgemKRkg05H2AP9hBER4hwxDYuYIrR5saAd8DxOUbVLh6s6aKtDb_WjiXYV7xwwJlQcHiAnjEJ9Mg_wJtCCxhNT3F3Ecr6sBwu0-0mMj-lTx4DtCvkvEB_GPFOG49zvCQF-lNZN/s1600/TmarRun2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNERjjUPrFMxrN0-zRirqpbVndSEYQz6nJOEATTYKAxax5CFwdRYQvbeVQVOyxPEWj0E5mkfgCcnTtHOUb3XShHPytXdleaM91QqqT3myw4zVpB8hNC2BmIUbfo7-ht03HszVHvudPLxV/s1600/TamarRund5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNERjjUPrFMxrN0-zRirqpbVndSEYQz6nJOEATTYKAxax5CFwdRYQvbeVQVOyxPEWj0E5mkfgCcnTtHOUb3XShHPytXdleaM91QqqT3myw4zVpB8hNC2BmIUbfo7-ht03HszVHvudPLxV/s320/TamarRund5.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Sleds from agricultural plastic!</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdf0DZcytjY_pG-JPibaO7zqQxMNzFUnuN7vg1AwoMU-ijBXJP4IV52jBZJAEyfEjy4MG3d5CrSPmCQuHorHjC_XtQXCrd2f4WRb3n9hk8jB0AVm-PjXmRleT9EFBnlWhIX_EkYOm_vSN/s320/Rosenstark+plastic+sled1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judy Rosenstark's kids on today's version of a sled.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdf0DZcytjY_pG-JPibaO7zqQxMNzFUnuN7vg1AwoMU-ijBXJP4IV52jBZJAEyfEjy4MG3d5CrSPmCQuHorHjC_XtQXCrd2f4WRb3n9hk8jB0AVm-PjXmRleT9EFBnlWhIX_EkYOm_vSN/s1600/Rosenstark+plastic+sled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LwWZLp1atttxWspttI42oAvA0OwjbgmUzBomQJfUjJwxUY1HZdViH7viXEi5vAzjuij8_BKj0ykBKplY6ePe5JrdsU4evjCXezO_WEAU6k4sYlOEgS9TW51_El7DGsmGTSZnwTSmXLK1/s1600/Rosenstark+plastic+sled2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LwWZLp1atttxWspttI42oAvA0OwjbgmUzBomQJfUjJwxUY1HZdViH7viXEi5vAzjuij8_BKj0ykBKplY6ePe5JrdsU4evjCXezO_WEAU6k4sYlOEgS9TW51_El7DGsmGTSZnwTSmXLK1/s320/Rosenstark+plastic+sled2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkfz9olJOInFf47DcXe2nUPZcnQGLQqwSeIYMS27aJiJBc5yQcxtIv8_GHWlXi_PKjZ-WG4IyZGfFnSvIwGIIxMKHFAb0BTJ3rdKjl-R76ujFvwC_YArLaB5h7L5OTVHYLbSDfaLvtG0V/s1600/Rosenstark+plastic+sled3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkfz9olJOInFf47DcXe2nUPZcnQGLQqwSeIYMS27aJiJBc5yQcxtIv8_GHWlXi_PKjZ-WG4IyZGfFnSvIwGIIxMKHFAb0BTJ3rdKjl-R76ujFvwC_YArLaB5h7L5OTVHYLbSDfaLvtG0V/s320/Rosenstark+plastic+sled3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Sledlike knock-offs.</b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4py3oBCxEtrquFrHsKRLeUsLeLkwvRzK8mQgr3XnY1tI8j_P3ryU_MQI4HXgYDDvcCZWhdm5fV2zs1YNxVIQcu_Vl_g0nlFWG4dzi4eidlh8ucFXsTj_5cD2Qry95ocWwPJSfNg8AJMf/s320/Rachel+Meir.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel Meir snaps a sledless sledder.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4py3oBCxEtrquFrHsKRLeUsLeLkwvRzK8mQgr3XnY1tI8j_P3ryU_MQI4HXgYDDvcCZWhdm5fV2zs1YNxVIQcu_Vl_g0nlFWG4dzi4eidlh8ucFXsTj_5cD2Qry95ocWwPJSfNg8AJMf/s1600/Rachel+Meir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Sledless sleds.</b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzYogOYhKXT7Kz2nXX_YOrxi92fsSoDNUSeA3ySX35qaqC8vfqEWfksML4UnM9PST62sfBQsJ6YjMtg41DETA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(Plastic sheet sledding in Pnei Kedem, courtesy of Tamar Rund)</i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Menachem Begin might have wanted to “conquer the mountain or
die”. Not today, baby! Folks all over <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>’s
snowy hilltops are conquering the mountain and living it up on whatever slides. SHWOOSH! And that’s okay too.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-20379930616083794842013-12-15T16:48:00.001+02:002013-12-15T17:08:55.142+02:00The ONENESS of Israel<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Israel </span>is a place of ONE. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We've got One G-d. One Torah. One Land. One People.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One, that's how we like it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0TWEys_6JcRIdIAF61BONVPoCJZJHza9LG3auo9MmVNE_LdEj0pYNZ7YIcxnulVPpEsMMyN54Dk6lhinEYD0FBbW8JYAKdpix4Vy6CMo3Oa2DoGDLk-QxGnMOEYGVPWc7QADti9m3bUw/s1600/day1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0TWEys_6JcRIdIAF61BONVPoCJZJHza9LG3auo9MmVNE_LdEj0pYNZ7YIcxnulVPpEsMMyN54Dk6lhinEYD0FBbW8JYAKdpix4Vy6CMo3Oa2DoGDLk-QxGnMOEYGVPWc7QADti9m3bUw/s200/day1.jpg" width="147" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, we're thrilled on those years that we get ONE day of snow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's enough for us. We go outside and make our snowfolks. We have a snowball fight. We take enough photos to fill facebook and overload all our email carriers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One day of snow.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_iySMsOwfNKnrSw32OM9bhyJe8JpyTpcbtvrB9LFIwxkPKz1ZxGkzsmfvl0ktwrenkUPCuyeKGusyFzlxreHj849IongMfpxQ2t0b5anrz0F0qhdfakW8-12cPuNOnWVW3rqS0s-rQj-/s1600/snowangel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_iySMsOwfNKnrSw32OM9bhyJe8JpyTpcbtvrB9LFIwxkPKz1ZxGkzsmfvl0ktwrenkUPCuyeKGusyFzlxreHj849IongMfpxQ2t0b5anrz0F0qhdfakW8-12cPuNOnWVW3rqS0s-rQj-/s200/snowangel.jpg" width="147" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The kids are so happy, they talk about it for a whole year until we're possibly lucky enough to get another day a year later - even a few flurries are appreciated.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxkIF0E9UI7Fj0wAe2qRufD4STWodE3BVUgvoD-9dFQ7pC-nU7w2Y_1JWAt7NtPNii_ZJnlXPax8OxBGCB3nWWMAWaaWhyAiapShOeINShWcERYDGQ4Sjt2qxFUJ02sIALOhvQ-9VGo0Q/s1600/snowangels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxkIF0E9UI7Fj0wAe2qRufD4STWodE3BVUgvoD-9dFQ7pC-nU7w2Y_1JWAt7NtPNii_ZJnlXPax8OxBGCB3nWWMAWaaWhyAiapShOeINShWcERYDGQ4Sjt2qxFUJ02sIALOhvQ-9VGo0Q/s200/snowangels.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUWaT7cMb1vRfmZHPwtScUccVNetTh9djHqYY7Z_p3U2ISVyFifVRB0pTLArjkV3mLvuRoLoby_k9-9cw1d20fX0ltKGiD9fJy2HXlKsIXnlHkk-nxtau0xeHtwFIz0CmpFo3EoCJ7uHz/s1600/1461039_10153634406500624_1180812144_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUWaT7cMb1vRfmZHPwtScUccVNetTh9djHqYY7Z_p3U2ISVyFifVRB0pTLArjkV3mLvuRoLoby_k9-9cw1d20fX0ltKGiD9fJy2HXlKsIXnlHkk-nxtau0xeHtwFIz0CmpFo3EoCJ7uHz/s200/1461039_10153634406500624_1180812144_n.jpg" width="147" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But this year, Mother Nature over did it. Mothers usually know what their children want and need. And Mom, we didn't need this:</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc7qJDMMXdHHyK_HaNfwXf034heVZLeKF-EMIhVoD_ND9woYdTKRwQgE9qusfsh7dNlRfWMbcC4_Up5pJoqXuwzXTMtFdMjQmFEbS8ABtCsLhymNoH30UwSlsukorwvFsrTy5_2MdwkXy/s1600/1456135_10152173698967122_1247823879_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc7qJDMMXdHHyK_HaNfwXf034heVZLeKF-EMIhVoD_ND9woYdTKRwQgE9qusfsh7dNlRfWMbcC4_Up5pJoqXuwzXTMtFdMjQmFEbS8ABtCsLhymNoH30UwSlsukorwvFsrTy5_2MdwkXy/s200/1456135_10152173698967122_1247823879_n.jpg" width="146" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5G62SX8VBgwx6QTAy7j-0lLyJrkiTUd88K5kPP4O02RKYmY-FImQOOIjT8TLqaLGiymsboSR7oP-RN3JwQvLn3hTygLP_esV_bITHZQi0JIwp1MCI-RW3DD449swvcs_8c1UlC33es4m/s1600/1453220_10152173698592122_470320562_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5G62SX8VBgwx6QTAy7j-0lLyJrkiTUd88K5kPP4O02RKYmY-FImQOOIjT8TLqaLGiymsboSR7oP-RN3JwQvLn3hTygLP_esV_bITHZQi0JIwp1MCI-RW3DD449swvcs_8c1UlC33es4m/s200/1453220_10152173698592122_470320562_n.jpg" width="146" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedAAzVEzRYH93-oxpCm6Se4UpBq9bZrrGPq2Y2CA1fIcygJisSGVeLqUkLi6wxPWik5HttIsGEMxHKXbRzcvHhuiFlkVCA_Rva4k65wOB4S-nbvVOVcCh1N8dRuJqWDUKfNY8Ty4-EIUO/s1600/shirsha+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedAAzVEzRYH93-oxpCm6Se4UpBq9bZrrGPq2Y2CA1fIcygJisSGVeLqUkLi6wxPWik5HttIsGEMxHKXbRzcvHhuiFlkVCA_Rva4k65wOB4S-nbvVOVcCh1N8dRuJqWDUKfNY8Ty4-EIUO/s200/shirsha+snow.jpg" width="146" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBc8-0j-y1Z-y0HX1OKc3kHWu3J247yZNrRSlgXi_OLAPxEPG2XwptB2OtiagTCIiA1iNvkdHccGiC92LSGWYyHBKSlQ7C-Wd5xsYJx3gGHPyPyxcakoc60zwFcO7GwXH_-BaxUdLWOmEX/s1600/bati.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBc8-0j-y1Z-y0HX1OKc3kHWu3J247yZNrRSlgXi_OLAPxEPG2XwptB2OtiagTCIiA1iNvkdHccGiC92LSGWYyHBKSlQ7C-Wd5xsYJx3gGHPyPyxcakoc60zwFcO7GwXH_-BaxUdLWOmEX/s200/bati.jpg" width="147" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"From Wednesday night through Saturday afternoon, approximately 80 centimeters of snow fell in Efrat, 50 centimeters in Safed and 60 centimeters in Har Bracha, near Nablus in the Samarian mountains, an Israel Meteorological Service weather forecaster told The Jerusalem Post on Saturday night.<br />Areas in Jerusalem ended up receiving between 40 and 50 centimeters of snow, despite predictions that the capital would get up to 1 meter." <i>(Jerusalem Post)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay, we had a lot of snow on Thursday. Fun, fun, fun. See our snowmen. See our snowball fight.<br />But then when it snowed again on Friday and Shabbat, that was too much!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Besides the fact that there was no transportation, and folks were stuck wherever they are, the electricity went out in 35,000 homes (1.4% of the country). Three of those homes belonged to my own children, who were freezing INSIDE their homes with their babies bundled up as much as possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't blame Israel Electric Corporation, and I know they were working around the clock to restore power. I don't even mind (now) the two six hour black-outs we had, but I can't stop thinking about all the children and senior citizens and ill and well, everyone, freezing in their homes, apartments or caravans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mother Nature, we thank you for wanting to give our children a little bit of excitement. I thank you for the beauty of the wadis and hills blanketed in white. I thank you for the opportunity to see the smiles on my granchildren as they made snow angels. I thank you for the walk I took with my friends in the stillness of the white night.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But for future reference, here in Israel, let's keep with the theme - ONE. Only ONE day of snow per year fits in just fine. That's the way we like it.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_vfXET8zQeXS0wjfUU4ddOyM5dr8KGy99q1zGjNXFd39U-uOr-XAEjRkZ8kOF57QUbEf-8fydqQIIaDNDbHNTyz9_3cpXfuzIf9zwA9ra94dcDuDOhkaL5OFH1_72HyPjolNm0Am_aiY/s1600/natah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_vfXET8zQeXS0wjfUU4ddOyM5dr8KGy99q1zGjNXFd39U-uOr-XAEjRkZ8kOF57QUbEf-8fydqQIIaDNDbHNTyz9_3cpXfuzIf9zwA9ra94dcDuDOhkaL5OFH1_72HyPjolNm0Am_aiY/s200/natah.jpg" width="146" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(My thanks to all the emergency workers and government/ electricity/ hospital/ security folks who tried to keep us all safe over these days. May you be blessed.)</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96LYhderVrjMr33GsHbmg041_dmU0gGTp_Yfwy_amFPVfbBR023yiIUEPNXVAyEGg48d1gUVhppcHnkKKJVKEmzTM8iYaAyjKhFTfP7HutpmjaVXdFwsKAlEC2yhUu4-gQ6P_DQ45VWvg/s1600/1460037_10153634394890624_1903323869_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96LYhderVrjMr33GsHbmg041_dmU0gGTp_Yfwy_amFPVfbBR023yiIUEPNXVAyEGg48d1gUVhppcHnkKKJVKEmzTM8iYaAyjKhFTfP7HutpmjaVXdFwsKAlEC2yhUu4-gQ6P_DQ45VWvg/s200/1460037_10153634394890624_1903323869_n.jpg" width="147" /></a></div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-76646488896600639862013-12-01T01:46:00.000+02:002013-12-01T01:54:41.108+02:00Efrat and Chanukah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcgDeham-8qjvvr5__HuPMPddHI18V9jUDxE-FbVqUOKqiGyCE4x8dD3Yx25gFE3D6M_FmLnmzeTcKayneppTxahZTvi9c7RzNs9u0iYln4kmC56XomHTVlfYsHF1iVT_40SG_TLTl1GC/s1600/menorah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcgDeham-8qjvvr5__HuPMPddHI18V9jUDxE-FbVqUOKqiGyCE4x8dD3Yx25gFE3D6M_FmLnmzeTcKayneppTxahZTvi9c7RzNs9u0iYln4kmC56XomHTVlfYsHF1iVT_40SG_TLTl1GC/s200/menorah.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><i><b>My hometown of Efrat</b> </i></span>is especially connected to Chanukah. We’re
like this! <i>(Okay, I know you can’t see my fingers, but they’re as close together
as they can be!)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, I know all of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> loves Chanukah. I know we
are all proud of the bravery and faith of the Chashmonaim. We all tell their stories
to our children, and marvel at their victories. Everyone in the world knows the
miracle of the little jar of oil.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But Efrat puts its “money where its mouth is” where Chanukah
and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Holy</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place> are concerned.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our Zayit hill is packed with references to both Chanukah
and the <st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city>.
I know that many folks head to Modiin to uncover our connection to the Chanukah
story, but I invite you to join me in a walk around Efrat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Efrat, Rechov Matityahu HaCohen honors the father and founder
of the revolt against the Syrian-Greeks. </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgNkbBZp_K4e83scCZL8N98uPx_fWhcekuzBafhQpu_v7YBubQIDcyFavhAmWeDH36_FKywH47piiTaPDk1HIvQa2hRgmWhnyvMrpqPFzMlbiozw68Bxv284B3SSZIfNBiLPeaFaZS-sO/s1600/Judah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgNkbBZp_K4e83scCZL8N98uPx_fWhcekuzBafhQpu_v7YBubQIDcyFavhAmWeDH36_FKywH47piiTaPDk1HIvQa2hRgmWhnyvMrpqPFzMlbiozw68Bxv284B3SSZIfNBiLPeaFaZS-sO/s200/Judah.jpg" width="195" /></a>Rechov Yehuda HaMaccabee and Rechov Yonatan HaChashmonai recall two of
Matityahu’s five sons who led the Jewish people in overthrowing the occupying
forces of the Syrian-Greeks. <i>(Who were the other three? Yochanan, Shimon and
Elazar.)</i> The Chashmonaim dynasty ultimately lasted for 100 years.<i> (It ended
when the megalomaniac king Herod “killed every member of the house of the Chashmonaim in order to claim the throne of <st1:place w:st="on">Judea</st1:place> for himself.”)</i><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rechov Menorah commemorates the menorah that stood in the <st1:placename w:st="on">Holy</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype> –
first the golden menorah, then the simple menorah of the Chashmonaim, and one
day,<i> IY”H</i>, the magnificent menorah of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Third</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rechov Zeit Shemen reminds us of the oil that was used daily
in the Menorah. <i>(And also the little jar of pure oil that Yehuda HaMaccabbee
found in the <st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city>.)
</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CJRq4Dm3qVJLqUinp6tGNGAFf__0DMJyUvpFnzq0YrTMqMHyg_fY4FGuoCFgfIBXZOeisnEAcFWr8PR3RgVD1nRdxTSf2vXmjhFLBSa9kHcFm92i551bGcZnmjYBiFjeaxejloi8Ru-m/s1600/ketoret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CJRq4Dm3qVJLqUinp6tGNGAFf__0DMJyUvpFnzq0YrTMqMHyg_fY4FGuoCFgfIBXZOeisnEAcFWr8PR3RgVD1nRdxTSf2vXmjhFLBSa9kHcFm92i551bGcZnmjYBiFjeaxejloi8Ru-m/s200/ketoret.jpg" width="153" /></a>And Rechov Nataf and Rechov Tziporen stand for two of the spices
used in the <st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city>’s
holy of holies. In Efrat today, as in Jewish history, Nataf and Tziporen are
attached Rechov Ketoret, the incense offered twice a day on the <st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city>’s Golden Altar. The
incense with its eleven very-varied spice ingredients parallels the unity of
the Jewish people in serving G-d. We hope Efrat is a place that promotes that
unity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZr6cJ6yCkkx6JyVbulyuEeDK_BDLyA2Yyvit5NMoJb97mPju0cyJUUK2uzdX78lWRV2kTVsHoMUOVKnFmJe2LbUBCJfV0bhUahEzZDqD-pyU9LszafOVqS4sVYLDg4jwwRk0dwFCmoxuH/s1600/Beit+HaMikdash+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZr6cJ6yCkkx6JyVbulyuEeDK_BDLyA2Yyvit5NMoJb97mPju0cyJUUK2uzdX78lWRV2kTVsHoMUOVKnFmJe2LbUBCJfV0bhUahEzZDqD-pyU9LszafOVqS4sVYLDg4jwwRk0dwFCmoxuH/s200/Beit+HaMikdash+side.jpg" width="200" /></a>From different points on Efrat’s Zayit hill, we can see the
site of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Holy</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>. One day soon,<i> IY"H, </i>we pray we will be
able to stand on our hilltops and see the <st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city>
itself and the light emanating from its golden Menorah. Until then, our longing
for it continues to grow as we drive upon our streets, and raise our children
in the legacy of Yehuda HaMaccabee, Matitiyahu HaCohen and our <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Holy</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-68896219676580919712013-10-01T15:25:00.001+03:002013-10-01T15:25:29.183+03:00CONGRESS, what did I do to you?<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsrrXmnIYf4JAHYxJjni-DquSWxW6yb-XVWoqIsIAxcfeeuNS99Xb-RWERFGs5_1tRExtZoZXn6ttD_c8ZmKYJVVQ1F7leaf3m-_8jtRdur18Chd3AljsdsHs5H9F_RplQMszFNUTdNU5/s640/blogger-image--450108217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsrrXmnIYf4JAHYxJjni-DquSWxW6yb-XVWoqIsIAxcfeeuNS99Xb-RWERFGs5_1tRExtZoZXn6ttD_c8ZmKYJVVQ1F7leaf3m-_8jtRdur18Chd3AljsdsHs5H9F_RplQMszFNUTdNU5/s640/blogger-image--450108217.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><b><i>Yesterday my daughter and I </i></b>flew to America to visit our loved ones. No specific events planned here.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Total vacation,<i> IY"H.</i> Total visit of togetherness, friendship, love, discovery and fun.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">No news.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Nothing heavy, with G-d's help just a real traditional family vacation. </div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Although we hadn't really planned out the week, on our New York itinerary included only three specific musts: buy new tap shoes, see a Broadway show, and visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><b>THE NEWS</b></div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">During our flight to the US, I was faced with a million entertainment choices. Everyone around me had screens tuned to movies, cartoons and sporting events. I turned to Fox <b>News</b>, and discovered that for the 18th time since 1977, the American government is shutting down over failure to pass the budget. </div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Well, I'm sorry, and I hope it can be worked out. I'm not into politics, but even I understand that a budget impasse is very dangerous to the whole American people.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">But this budget shutdown seems aimed at me!! And I don't even know President Obama or anyone else in Washington!</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Fox explained the shut down's immediate consequences - all National Parks are closing. Well, sorry for the folks hiking in Yosemite, but thank G-d I wasn't</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">planning any nature walks this week.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Then I saw it - the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island will be closed.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Are they kidding?</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Those were the top items on my MUST SEE list.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">And I realized that thousands of other tourists probably had those landmarks, as well as others on their lists too. And those folks in Yosemite might have been dreaming of visiting there for years.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Perhaps closing national parks and landmarks is a better choice than firing thousands of workers, but America's landmarks are not only about fun and photo ops.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">They're about the spirit of America, the pride of its great nation, the face of courage that the United States put forth to the world.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Ground Air Force One for a week.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Stop this week's funding rebel insurgents wherever.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Save money this month not trying to topple some foreign regime.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Buy less nuts and bolts and supplies at inflated prices for government offices.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">And I won't even mention Obamacare...</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">But reopen the national parks and landmarks!</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">The boat to Liberty is waiting for me and thousands others, as well.</div></div>Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-22816061995710909012013-09-27T17:29:00.001+03:002013-09-27T17:40:34.919+03:00What will be our children's memory?<div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">On a road trip this week, we listened to a children's CD - Uncle Reuvain (not the Simcha Train, but I'm sorry I don't know the name). It was full of fun kid's songs that delighted our passengers.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">We sang and laughed throughout our long trip. Then suddenly one song brought great tears to my eyes, and I noticed that those old enough to understand were teary-eyed, as well.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">The song told a little boy's memories of the Friday night candles in his home.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">It is the warmest and most loving Friday night song I have heard in a long time. And perhaps it was more meaningful to me, because it described Friday night in the eyes of a child.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">This little boy explains that throughout his entire life, he will never forget how his mother lit her candles - her quiet tuneless hum, her embracing of the Shabbat, her lingering by the lights (in prayer).</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">It made me think, "What do my children and grandchildren see? What memory will they hold in their hearts from my Friday night 'licht bentschen'?"</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">And what will my grandchildren remember from their mothers?</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">I am decades older than the little boy in the song. My children are older as well. But I still hold on my own heart the sight of the Friday might lighting by my forever-beloved grandmother, of blessed memory. The same memory is reenacted every Shabbat by my own dearest mother, may she live and be well until 120.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Their candle lighting was no match, match, wave, wave, wave, Shabbat shalom.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Even today, although standing is difficult for her, my Mother takes every moment of her special hi/gh with G-d and shares her every thought and wish and worry. As with her mother before her, I watch her lips move as she prays for every loved one and Am Yisrael. I watch as her burdens (at least temporarily) go up in the flames of the Friday night lights, and the Shabbat serenity that envelopes her with love.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Every Friday night we pray, "...bless us with great blessings; make our household complete, crowning our home with the feeling of Your Divine Presence dwelling among us."</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">The little boy in the saw did not call the Friday night candles, Shabbat candles. He called them, "my mother's lights"</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); text-align: left; direction: ltr; ">IY"H, as I light my Candles on this first Friday night of the new Torah cycle, I will try to make the candles my own, and bring my personal heartfelt prayer and love to my lights, so they can be remembered with happy warm tears by my own children and grandchildren for years to come.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); text-align: left; direction: ltr; ">This Shabbat, you can do the same.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); text-align: left; direction: ltr; ">Become your child's Friday night memory. It will hold him for his entire life.</div><div style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); text-align: left; direction: ltr; ">Shabbat shalom.</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwllQltEmEFlnFlZ7J4_B1pObh6Ik7WnPTjNVZoFZfAkiK4XBrGhaO80dUwqK7lusv7RCJEPWQ5uxPOPGMiw26OeqgoQHlIHl3Sy-Y66rQQHYa_j6FeCSoQf_WN8yHjEqY6sMwoxBHNYF/s640/blogger-image--454240478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwllQltEmEFlnFlZ7J4_B1pObh6Ik7WnPTjNVZoFZfAkiK4XBrGhaO80dUwqK7lusv7RCJEPWQ5uxPOPGMiw26OeqgoQHlIHl3Sy-Y66rQQHYa_j6FeCSoQf_WN8yHjEqY6sMwoxBHNYF/s640/blogger-image--454240478.jpg"></a></div>Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-33939235923744530892013-08-14T21:07:00.001+03:002013-08-14T21:25:41.675+03:00Hidabroot Women at Rachel's Tomb<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBGtClx-ax8jxSlVf8CeHxiW0y-jsC9TcjfXr4DAGe-f6fkvtCQlhDC9SRYk7AD70n3TLLAROIce0y6h0MBPbBzLVAvnqTcNT9KvCydGwWuF4KZEETKeDUxpTaoGCKDvAI0gSPT_V4FBi/s1600/photo+(89).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBGtClx-ax8jxSlVf8CeHxiW0y-jsC9TcjfXr4DAGe-f6fkvtCQlhDC9SRYk7AD70n3TLLAROIce0y6h0MBPbBzLVAvnqTcNT9KvCydGwWuF4KZEETKeDUxpTaoGCKDvAI0gSPT_V4FBi/s200/photo+(89).JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">I love going</span></i></b> to Rachel’s Tomb (the burial place of our Biblical
Matriach Rachel, wife of Jacob). Like Jewish women from throughout the
centuries, when I have a problem, I unburden my heart there. Sometimes I go
just to visit my “grandmother”, and sometimes I go to pray for the nation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Usually, I concentrate on my family – each member, asking
for that when s/he needs. Today I went to pray for myself. I talked to the “charity
lady”. We’re old friends. We share with each other our thoughts. She's very wise. I think the Ministry of Religion puts wise women in key spots in the country in order to give good advice to people like me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was standing near the Kever Rachel memorial stone when it
started get crowded – very crowded – and suddenly I felt myself pushed into a
corner. I turned around and there were dozens, then hundreds of women behind me
and beside me. Women dressed modestly. Women not. Women with their hair
covered. Women not. All sorts of women. They studied the names on each of the books on the bookshelf (they more or less all said, "Psalms") and carefully picked one, leafing through its many mysterious pages. They began reading. Maybe had "instruction sheets", following what was written to a tee. Some had lists of people to pray for - for good health, prosperity, a spouse. They pushed forward toward the large stone in the middle of the room. Not many could reach it, but as many as possible did their best to touch it. Some cried. Some whispered. They had clearly never seen anything like this before.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I finished my prayers and wiggled my way out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In front of the building, I asked a cigarette-smoking blonde
woman where she came from. She said, “Hidabroot brought me from Beersheva.”
Wow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I asked two Ethiopian ladies, both of whom were dressed very
nicely, where they came from, “Hidabroot brought us from <st1:place w:st="on">Ashdod</st1:place>.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were more with doilies on their head from Ashkelon, slacks-clad
ladies from the Krayot, <st1:city w:st="on">Haifa</st1:city>,
north, south, east, west.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq4fMkj6_B0DDK3jZEgCOc_S0n27DxYn7oq5ETzDrfizeTrCMrZ0FVD_suyns1SD6nrt6rM6EYqT3DFiljBS_EqjRedIjf96BG5PA3Grv7ATiAs9veW875vViIGL5ddL0gK9yH_8ZtI1Y/s1600/photo+(88).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq4fMkj6_B0DDK3jZEgCOc_S0n27DxYn7oq5ETzDrfizeTrCMrZ0FVD_suyns1SD6nrt6rM6EYqT3DFiljBS_EqjRedIjf96BG5PA3Grv7ATiAs9veW875vViIGL5ddL0gK9yH_8ZtI1Y/s200/photo+(88).JPG" width="200" /></a>Ten buses. Five hundred women – the majority of whom were
secular and assimilated.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They spent the day – this Elul day, three weeks before the
High Holidays – on a trip to discover what preparing for the holidays
spiritually is all about. They traveled to Chevron, the Cave of the Patriarchs,
and witnessed a giant shofar blowing ceremony there; Beitar Elite in order to
perform a favorite women’s mitzvah of dividing the dough<i> (hafrashat challah)</i>;
and then they came to Rachel’s Tomb.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of the women (most of whom had never been to these
places before) that I had spoken to, said that this was the most amazing day of their
lives. They had never felt so full and complete before. Their excitement about our Jewish roots and all they had learned about our heritage in one day excited me as well. I also felt proud of the
Hidabroot organization, <a href="http://www.hidabroot.org/">http://www.hidabroot.org/</a>,
which introduces Torah and <i>mitzvoth</i> to the most uninitiated Jews around with
video clips, lessons, learning partners, weekends, events, etc.Sometimes you wonder if these organizations succeed in their work. I saw their success right before me!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the buses lined up to pick up the women, I was moved
beyond words. I was so stunned, I didn’t even take a picture (and for me, that
says a lot). Good for you, Hidabroot!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Hidabroot site is in Hebrew, but there are also lectures
with English translations. Try them: <a href="http://www.hidabroot.org/MediaCategories_List.asp?CategoryID=207">http://www.hidabroot.org/MediaCategories_List.asp?CategoryID=207</a>.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Make the most of the next three weeks before Rosh Hashana. Happy new year.</div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-79006807187044949462013-04-19T11:49:00.003+03:002013-04-19T11:54:53.906+03:00Rediscovering Efrat's Past with a Living Museum<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQCecdYUWKZJqHJargRjDMWQxxNfVZ9OSrF1QeMA4TlpaSEfma88Mb6ttoY2zMazjGFH7fEsLXWpqK-gFpS5i8JZdxjmENMHoTxUShbMyXczHoPeWy_nqvAWFpvnSmcZqJFsYyAch0-Wj/s1600/living+museum+acting.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQCecdYUWKZJqHJargRjDMWQxxNfVZ9OSrF1QeMA4TlpaSEfma88Mb6ttoY2zMazjGFH7fEsLXWpqK-gFpS5i8JZdxjmENMHoTxUShbMyXczHoPeWy_nqvAWFpvnSmcZqJFsYyAch0-Wj/s320/living+museum+acting.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naomi and Ruth tell of their trials upon their return to Bethlehem from Moav</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>My hometown </i></b></span>of Efrat has just celebrated
its 30<sup>th</sup> anniversary on these rolling Gush Etzion hills. So, it's natural that we look back at our beginnings three decades ago, and at at the growth of our town, our population, and even our positive influence on
Israeli society. Efrat residents have many reasons to be proud,
<i>B"H</i>.</span><br />
<div class="Section1" dir="rtl">
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Efrat's story,
however, did not begin 30 years ago on these hill, or almost 100 years ago when Shmuel Holtzman purchased land here. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Efrat in Jewish History</b></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzF1amMybwR_UNXyCMJNdJrFMGJyMzV4sgjI1A78tbIfmxXQU_oB1GE1JZf-y16DPTWByZHmrt8A-lqPQBgLfUSllUG0nfT8O9xfgZHwiJx7xUi1eYUK2Zwl6gwjTsXCocYm1hem-UoVj/s1600/Abraham+&+Sarah.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzF1amMybwR_UNXyCMJNdJrFMGJyMzV4sgjI1A78tbIfmxXQU_oB1GE1JZf-y16DPTWByZHmrt8A-lqPQBgLfUSllUG0nfT8O9xfgZHwiJx7xUi1eYUK2Zwl6gwjTsXCocYm1hem-UoVj/s200/Abraham+&+Sarah.webp" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abraham and Sarah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our Jewish presence on
these rolling hills stretches back to our patriarchs and matriarchs, Ruth and Naomi,
King David, the Chashmonaim, Bar Kochbar, and yes, forward into time to the modern Jewish
resettlement of this area, Shmuel Holtzman, Moshko (Moshe Moskowitz), Rabbi
Riskin and our residents today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An exciting way to teach residents the history of their town is through a Living Museum. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><st1:place style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Living</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">portrays life and historical events through performance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I proposed one last year when we began planning Efrat's 30th Anniversary. The Living Museum would make Efratians more familiar with their note-worthy history, and foster in our residents an even great
connection to our beautiful city. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WS3ZNUqDLAHhLV4zwlNGJJfRuEuOxeO27-HOxv2lcLRS6MWfSIQpq2023tue-aqPDviesTrqOfmqc_oXDnDBW8iYZqdM0g6HmAbyXy0T1esNxNVNOC3ov-p7SmtDvi7eONq3W_ThIw1_/s1600/lviing+museum+3.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WS3ZNUqDLAHhLV4zwlNGJJfRuEuOxeO27-HOxv2lcLRS6MWfSIQpq2023tue-aqPDviesTrqOfmqc_oXDnDBW8iYZqdM0g6HmAbyXy0T1esNxNVNOC3ov-p7SmtDvi7eONq3W_ThIw1_/s200/lviing+museum+3.webp" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boaz, Naomi and Ruth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year's Efrat's
30<sup>th</sup> anniversary celebration was a perfect time to launch Efrat's
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">LIVING</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">MUSEUM</st1:placetype></st1:place>. The Efrat Community Center's director Neta Magen and Local Council staffer Keren Claster were very supportive of the project, and helped make it happen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>Our Patriarchs Slept Here?? </b></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9W158gcPx1NiJA91RD_b6iS9TeYBAJ_vbfAJf3Zj-NR55VMlRIjWT3TOTHkqQE2OYkvAr92CzpAbxIVAu7bkD6gduFAYf_M-V8j052ukpCcPY7ErE4tNOG7SNL9oBbn7vxGrd_OYKl25/s1600/living+museum2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9W158gcPx1NiJA91RD_b6iS9TeYBAJ_vbfAJf3Zj-NR55VMlRIjWT3TOTHkqQE2OYkvAr92CzpAbxIVAu7bkD6gduFAYf_M-V8j052ukpCcPY7ErE4tNOG7SNL9oBbn7vxGrd_OYKl25/s200/living+museum2.webp" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacob, little Benjamin and Rachel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This year's living
museum explored our earliest roots here through conversations between Abraham
and Sarah; Jacob, Rachel and Benjamin; Ruth, Naomi and Boaz. Hundreds of adults
and children were able to meet our historical ancestors, hear their stories and
even photograph with them. It was a humongously fun part of our
celebrations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was excited to write, produce and direct Efrat's <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Living</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> program. Our <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Living</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> performers were Abraham - Betzalel
Yablochnik, Sarah - Aviva Danziger Cohen, Rachel - Noa Choritz, Jacob - Brian Choritz, Benjamin - Akiva Choritz, Boaz - Peter Abelow, Ruth Bati Katz and Naomi - me (Sharon Katz).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Costumes were provided
by the collections of the Raise Your Spirits Theatre, Noa Choritz and Sharon
Katz.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSkrqtB-D9BoUWHlU2CZsBXJemVMZaSFpq4XmiMVVM3CN-6jPiyICfM4fYNilpUDy64iWFKpPAUwZlyoBJZJwIaFP_EeVaDzSUiPtcs1Pl6grESG8FzgER7975M4U79nOMJIPNZSY8010/s1600/living+museum+kids.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSkrqtB-D9BoUWHlU2CZsBXJemVMZaSFpq4XmiMVVM3CN-6jPiyICfM4fYNilpUDy64iWFKpPAUwZlyoBJZJwIaFP_EeVaDzSUiPtcs1Pl6grESG8FzgER7975M4U79nOMJIPNZSY8010/s200/living+museum+kids.webp" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone wanted photos<br />
with our Biblical figures</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This year's Living Museum is only the beginning. <i>IY"H</i>, I hope we'll be able to expand it every year, introduce new Biblical and historical figures, and include more Efratians in this exciting program, where history and creativity come together. I<i>Y"H</i>, I'm hoping its success will one day encourage communities throughout Israel to show their pride and their deep roots in their own towns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-5184030137577503592013-04-13T23:05:00.000+03:002013-04-14T00:34:01.903+03:00What's Up, Efrat? Israel's Independence Day 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC16ex_ncTwrF6r5ZxkmQ09DwDdqHfYZ1hbFm2cC6slsNJRD6z-4IiOfnW1BXtT922fGjen5L4iFUwM6rUWJszkFcVp4Z4MuDT9kL8TTJ5rd9Q-zv_CUyecIoWDpuIV7xK7QvWco6Kk6W/s1600/WHATS+UP+EFRAT+FRAME.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC16ex_ncTwrF6r5ZxkmQ09DwDdqHfYZ1hbFm2cC6slsNJRD6z-4IiOfnW1BXtT922fGjen5L4iFUwM6rUWJszkFcVp4Z4MuDT9kL8TTJ5rd9Q-zv_CUyecIoWDpuIV7xK7QvWco6Kk6W/s200/WHATS+UP+EFRAT+FRAME.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">There's so much</span></i></b> going on in Efrat and Gush Etzion on Memorial Day and Israel's Independence Day. Find out all about it here on <b>What's Up, Efrat?</b></span><br />
<a href="http://www.voices-magazine.com/videoClip/256">http://www.voices-magazine.com/videoClip/256</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgc16waAt6-HPRcMi52XOJC-AEGdqMI6VOlqtehXnPPaSGYQd3LWENwOkoGU3H9VtfYOZzHZAEqQVb7MvN4C70FeK90TKAFPOj9hdArge-ubkOgdy7PR5Uwo67knEqLmzh3vvTJBxbUFE/s1600/zikaron_marachot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgc16waAt6-HPRcMi52XOJC-AEGdqMI6VOlqtehXnPPaSGYQd3LWENwOkoGU3H9VtfYOZzHZAEqQVb7MvN4C70FeK90TKAFPOj9hdArge-ubkOgdy7PR5Uwo67knEqLmzh3vvTJBxbUFE/s200/zikaron_marachot.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On Sunday night, lail 5</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> of Iyar,
Matnas Efrat presents its <b style="background-color: yellow;">Yom HaZikaron Ceremony </b>in memory of </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: Georgia;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Georgia;">’s fallen
soldiers and victims of terror. 7:50 in the Ulam Sport. This will be followed
by appropriate activities for the youth in the Ulam Rakefet.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yeRMmgvZCiLEVB4IsL1V4Hs6xY21ltpdOZZppbd_NAUL0L4naHtu82aVJxr2yLR6eyjvm6av7hs-ody0yygStykynY-HK9LiyHYPHVyhtaaYdL9ne59CB8S4Tktp4J5yk7zzyeCuf8cr/s1600/atsmaut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yeRMmgvZCiLEVB4IsL1V4Hs6xY21ltpdOZZppbd_NAUL0L4naHtu82aVJxr2yLR6eyjvm6av7hs-ody0yygStykynY-HK9LiyHYPHVyhtaaYdL9ne59CB8S4Tktp4J5yk7zzyeCuf8cr/s200/atsmaut.jpg" width="91" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On Monday night at 7:30 PM, there will be <b style="background-color: yellow;">community
tefillot in synagogues all over Efrat to celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then at 8:30 until 10, we’ll join together at Park
Asor for the greatest <b style="background-color: yellow;">Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration</b> ever – with a special 30 year
torch lighting ceremony, a special spectacular program, local entertainment,
honored guests, fireworks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">At 10:30, the party continues on with youth bands
taking the stand after the main ceremony ends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-NttpoU9nnUru9HR2j0MrbJ7Twcxo3EbdfdRfQJXxSVRIugecC0I_wyGirdHjoankHnm2zt6igzELsjYwpQZYIhnOBkltmmyKMsd23AUYmNtxi3Sn6w0NIvp6mVw3VAu6_wmJOJ0GvpU/s1600/sHDEMA.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-NttpoU9nnUru9HR2j0MrbJ7Twcxo3EbdfdRfQJXxSVRIugecC0I_wyGirdHjoankHnm2zt6igzELsjYwpQZYIhnOBkltmmyKMsd23AUYmNtxi3Sn6w0NIvp6mVw3VAu6_wmJOJ0GvpU/s200/sHDEMA.bmp" width="134" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
There’s more happening on Monday night, as well. At
10 PM, we’ll be <b style="background-color: yellow;">SINGING YOM HA’ATZMAUT in Shdema</b>. Gush Etzion Mayor Davidi
Perl, as well as other dignitaries will be present. For more information
050-550-0834.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjWx9LxOpZB-zoSC_KuNCXB_WHHXNdUtPfFbf34aGhyx-JZ6bLiJjeJA_Ug-KILuLJ3P8ZZD4eauF5Pi_q2PJk0eS1pjsUmjGmmvrtFHMxqQCJDn-6mLdbxkrR2Tp0ZUirTWW89SO8ww3/s1600/Gush+Etzion+Yom+HaAtzmaut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjWx9LxOpZB-zoSC_KuNCXB_WHHXNdUtPfFbf34aGhyx-JZ6bLiJjeJA_Ug-KILuLJ3P8ZZD4eauF5Pi_q2PJk0eS1pjsUmjGmmvrtFHMxqQCJDn-6mLdbxkrR2Tp0ZUirTWW89SO8ww3/s200/Gush+Etzion+Yom+HaAtzmaut.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Also Monday night 11:30 PM, Matnas Gush Etzion is
continuing its tradition of <b style="background-color: yellow;">Singing Songs of Yom HaAtzmaut</b>. Come on down to the
Matnas Gush Etzion Lobby and join in. For more information 993-7999.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_JOcM3w7NrDDj5ropqG7-AUtvFQmlSw81_wUezgqScgTrrO3wlF2xSmMWlQ1UG3FqsfvNBjw6hoKW5tmoxlPOrU9kjiSUVkgSw66iZVOqO-kkxzVVr1mtE-myzLi_1ckdQphwyAkdhaK/s1600/IMG_2486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_JOcM3w7NrDDj5ropqG7-AUtvFQmlSw81_wUezgqScgTrrO3wlF2xSmMWlQ1UG3FqsfvNBjw6hoKW5tmoxlPOrU9kjiSUVkgSw66iZVOqO-kkxzVVr1mtE-myzLi_1ckdQphwyAkdhaK/s200/IMG_2486.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On Tuesday, Yom HaAtzmaut, the <b style="background-color: yellow;">Pina Chama is hosting its annual Yom
HaAtzmaut Barbecue</b> in honor of all those soldiers who stay on duty that day</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span dir="LTR"></span> Thousands of burgers and
franks – with all the toppings – will be handed out to our chayalim.<br />
</span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thanks to all the good folks who work
so hard from morning until night on this barbecue. This is your opportunity to
bring over large salads, cakes, sodas to add to the menu. And your monetary
donations are welcome too. Please call 050-8434797</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE"><span dir="RTL"></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ49oQmxzudta8z6jXOdgIVxhkFLuKQ1kU7pM5BwP8dBgpTU-ePsv0pEJ_-sWg1U88XNCsU-KdfV22XOORY_o1TN3LG6I6Jf4NZuJZ32Uix_lITQkpINMZMzS0qqsPEKG93rg7pZq_aV1z/s1600/DSCN0824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ49oQmxzudta8z6jXOdgIVxhkFLuKQ1kU7pM5BwP8dBgpTU-ePsv0pEJ_-sWg1U88XNCsU-KdfV22XOORY_o1TN3LG6I6Jf4NZuJZ32Uix_lITQkpINMZMzS0qqsPEKG93rg7pZq_aV1z/s200/DSCN0824.JPG" width="200" /></a><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="display: none; font-family: Georgia; mso-hide: all;"><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> Also on Tuesday
from 10 AM to 3 PM – <b style="background-color: yellow;">Efrat’s Most Spectacular Yom HaAtzmaut Picnic and
Celebration Ever!!!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As Efrat turns 30, we’ll be celebrating
with a giant Carnival and Street Fair. It’s so massic, it will stretch from
Park Asor all the way to the Matnas.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRopkU4Z52iox6RhV1wi2Q90cLTJsJQCM9CVWqIT1Luvqghrza2WQ-8mDFz2SA-n-t1Mh7MT0DHQe2hkF8u_CfFaiTsKlgo-8tsCJ6Zq9DYrglxD4PsjZW5DqfNo018XCauFMtbjPHl0Tn/s1600/DSCN0807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRopkU4Z52iox6RhV1wi2Q90cLTJsJQCM9CVWqIT1Luvqghrza2WQ-8mDFz2SA-n-t1Mh7MT0DHQe2hkF8u_CfFaiTsKlgo-8tsCJ6Zq9DYrglxD4PsjZW5DqfNo018XCauFMtbjPHl0Tn/s200/DSCN0807.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Excitement EVERYWHERE!!!! Activities for
the family: inflatable, mats and cushions, Fair Sales, stage and music
festival, activities recreation and picnic areas, <b>A LIVING MUSEUM</b>, quizzes and
all kinds of fun activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">There’ll be food booths with everything for
a hungry family – both dairy and meat - at affordable prices, tables and
chairs, plus barbecue grills for free.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Plus exciting youth activities, like
paintball, climbing wall, archery and more...</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Admission is free. It's going to be a great
day for Efrat, its residents and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>!!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5PRFkGtlvIHrMXUuNyOlanT94iHkTxjUs5vF6Ik32uvaLNYrdU5RaceQP3zbaBZh05mzk8C43SgqzThLfYC2tRg70IA8In24CRpXRaQkOE_B1NgTEKADl3GFeARSYLjpZaDVtkyV8ncy/s1600/tank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5PRFkGtlvIHrMXUuNyOlanT94iHkTxjUs5vF6Ik32uvaLNYrdU5RaceQP3zbaBZh05mzk8C43SgqzThLfYC2tRg70IA8In24CRpXRaQkOE_B1NgTEKADl3GFeARSYLjpZaDVtkyV8ncy/s200/tank.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Also Tuesday, Yom HaAtzmaut, drive out to Nokdim
from 9 AM to 4 PM for <b style="background-color: yellow;">Gush Etzion’s Chanyon Tzahal, IDF Parking Lot.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Not only will Nokdim be the base this year for many
IDF vehicles of all kinds, but there’ll be state of the art surveillance and
warfare equipment, and all kinds of special safety and emergency equipment. Plus
inflatable castles, a petting zoo and a Military Band performing at 2 PM. Admission
is free.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFyyhj_gVjSHOBEfFe4LhwAu-Foukm-L-tGGPLnjNM4Xs6m0i9xb_I5qDoxhBVGlGtTFUwA5RpIrfkFuLIhpV3cJSOU4X3flqy7_-EsoyTZru4yVbR4BBiqW0nU6-xJ_4o1bJPO5MMqAX/s1600/happy+birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFyyhj_gVjSHOBEfFe4LhwAu-Foukm-L-tGGPLnjNM4Xs6m0i9xb_I5qDoxhBVGlGtTFUwA5RpIrfkFuLIhpV3cJSOU4X3flqy7_-EsoyTZru4yVbR4BBiqW0nU6-xJ_4o1bJPO5MMqAX/s200/happy+birthday.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For more information: www.etziontour.org.il
050-2639549 (Rotem)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Happy Israel's Independence Day #65!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Happy Birthday Efrat #30!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">** </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>SAVE THE DATE: </b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
First ever trip in a series of trips for <b style="background-color: yellow;">Efrat’s 50+ Club</b>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Save the date – 23/4/13 to the <b style="background-color: yellow;">Judean Plain!!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s going to be fantastic. For more information - 9932936</div>
</div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-1605967026299766102013-03-14T00:11:00.000+02:002013-03-14T00:12:43.009+02:00Fighting over Granny<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpQS3eem2SHuVxvvHe4H_8gh5C99QMKFQVz2jMWnkkT5x9CntXYcf7SyEhvyCquGfu4CC7-3G2QOS3d9O7F3VeFGG0jCXTTbB_CGBZCcFPiQT0nQ-IRli7xMIlQO_Nq87WbcGBysN56Mv/s1600/fightin+over+granny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpQS3eem2SHuVxvvHe4H_8gh5C99QMKFQVz2jMWnkkT5x9CntXYcf7SyEhvyCquGfu4CC7-3G2QOS3d9O7F3VeFGG0jCXTTbB_CGBZCcFPiQT0nQ-IRli7xMIlQO_Nq87WbcGBysN56Mv/s320/fightin+over+granny.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>My mother,</i></span></b> like many trans-Atlantic mothers, comes to visit our family for the major holidays. Usually it's Chanukah and Passover.<i> (May she have the strength to make this trips for many years to come.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her visits are most often a month in length. That might seem like a lot, but each trip is split into two - between my brother's family and mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And as our children grow older, our family visits are subdivided as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's nothing like a grandmother, and everyone wants his turn to be with "Bubby" (that's Grandma in Yiddish). Everyone wants one-on-one time and a bit of grandmotherly attention. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's all well and good, but all this subdivision makes our real time with my mother very short (and precious).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By the time she's settling down in my house, it's time to pack up to go visit my brother. And she could be getting comfortable there when one nephew or another requests that she come visit him. Besides the fact that although my mother's on vacation while she's here, most everyone else is in school or working, so their visiting opportunities are limited indeed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There have been visits filled with such heated competition, some family folk, we'll call them JOHN, in point of fact counted how many days and parts of days my mother stayed at my house, and demanded exactly equal visitation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It got ugly. <b><span style="color: blue;">:</span><span style="color: red;">)</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm happy for any of my friends whose parents come to visit. And I know they're all happy for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just wish all our trans-Atlantic parents and grandparents decided they'd rather be in the same country as their family than holiday commuters. And if they have to come only for holidays, perhaps they could make those visits longer, so we all could enjoy Bubby.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until that time, may all grandparents have the strength to come and enjoy their family as much as possible.</span>Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-10833961005499140432013-01-20T22:19:00.001+02:002013-01-21T14:28:23.957+02:00The Right Wing Dilemma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo8olIf5iV3jC6E5qMDc2KQuPXjDgHo18Ogy8VOhX4lMiqoLcuXIM6jfPS0LRFc43paKtI6eekMx9iVX4p5fQAwAdhwk_IiAtLuYiQsl7l6xDaVzrNlP9r-AV511lXXV7AhyW7xwEHsD2/s1600/VOTE+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo8olIf5iV3jC6E5qMDc2KQuPXjDgHo18Ogy8VOhX4lMiqoLcuXIM6jfPS0LRFc43paKtI6eekMx9iVX4p5fQAwAdhwk_IiAtLuYiQsl7l6xDaVzrNlP9r-AV511lXXV7AhyW7xwEHsD2/s200/VOTE+2013.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>
<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Elections in Israel</span></i></b> will be held, <i>IY"H</i>, on Tuesday. Personally, I can't wait until they're over. Like all elections, this one has had its share of nasty comments, attacks on parties and personalities, and all sorts of negatives that I hope will pass by the time the polls close.<br />
Right wingers have a real dilemma in this election - for whom should they cast their vote?<br />
<br />
<b>** Likud/Beiteinu</b><br />
<b>** Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home)</b><br />
<b>** Otzma Le'Yisrael</b><br />
Likud/Beiteinu, a joint party of Binyamin Netanyahu's Likud and Avigdor Leiberman's Yisrael Beiteinu, is the party expected to get the most votes - 30 something. <br />
Bayit Yehudi is the party of the quickly rising politician Naftali Bennett. It's the party that is attacked more on every side by just about every party. That must mean that Bennett and his party are worrying everyone else.<br />
Otzma Le'Yisrael, the party of MKs Aryeh Eldad and Michael Ben Ari, is expected just to cross the threshold, but cross just the same.<br />
They all have their pluses; they all have superstar right-wingers in their parties; they all have folks that have proven that ideology and action can go together; they have all declared their love and devotion to the land of Israel and its people to some extent or another.<br />
They could all lead the country in positive directions if there were no outside pressures.<br />
The problem is that:<br />
** Right wing voters appreciate the decision by the Prime Minister to build in Judea and Samaria, but they're waiting to see if the building comes to fruition (freezes are easy; defrosts are months or years in progress). Right wingers don't know if the Likud/Beiteinu government (even though it does include many stellar right-wing MKs) will lean to the left to make a coalition.<br />
<i>Interesting note</i>: American "movie stars" are coming out for Netanyahu. Should that sway Israeli voters?<br />
** Right wingers appreciate Bayit Yehudi's dedication to Jewish education, yeshivot, hesder and mechina (pre-Army yeshivot) programs. They appreciate their connection to Jewish communities throughout Israel. They also don't know how Bayit Yehudi will stand up to the challenge if G-d forbid Jewish communities are slated for destruction, or if Jews are forced out of their homes. Rumors pass along lots of Bayit Yehudi quotes or misquotes, and hopefully folks try to discover the truth, but who really knows.<br />
[Bayit Yehudi is currently under attack again - this time for Jeremy Gimpel's <a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164348#.UPr2fx2Twk8">statement</a>, <i>"Let's say the dome was blown up, and we laid the cornerstone of the Temple in Jerusalem."</i> That doesn't scare a right-winger, and everyone knows Jeremy Gimpel is a very fine and principled young man, so I think that attack has "blown up" against the other parties.]<br />
** Right wing voters appreciate the devotion MKs Arye Eldad and Michael Ben Ari have always done for all of Israel, especially for Jewish rights in Judea and Samaria. They can always be depended upon. But are two, or even three members of Otzma Le'Yisrael enough to make a difference. Perhaps yes. But who knows?<br />
So, it's Sunday night, and right wing voters are calling one another, "What do you think?" "I don't know." "Neither do I." And then they call someone else.<br />
You'd think it wouldn't matter. Right wingers have three good choices. But, as in every election, Israel stands yet again on the brink of a precipice, and every action and decision by the Knesset can change the course of history forever. So, right wingers are considering their votes very carefully. They're hoping for some kind of inspiration. They're hoping that by Tuesday morning, they'll see a sign that will make them feel secure that they'll be making the right choice.<br />
Good luck to all voters, and to the State of Israel. May the Force be with you.Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-72627556930406591872013-01-11T00:54:00.001+02:002013-01-11T00:54:40.241+02:00Just Give Me a Snow Day<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij11-uJ9iBQXU6RcmqWHQ4CNz3vcmCg5BvB7f7-qj19IoTAECBwU8kB8HxYxLvr57IgbGPV80SjY0QS-8cIqcXw3PhyX9V1d27KZFbPo_IrSnX3UXlwWD4DcbcYR473_06gLJXu4x8h1-V/s1600/IMG_5505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij11-uJ9iBQXU6RcmqWHQ4CNz3vcmCg5BvB7f7-qj19IoTAECBwU8kB8HxYxLvr57IgbGPV80SjY0QS-8cIqcXw3PhyX9V1d27KZFbPo_IrSnX3UXlwWD4DcbcYR473_06gLJXu4x8h1-V/s200/IMG_5505.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>The economy </i></b></span>may be shaky, the politics as dirty as ever, terror still haunting our roads, but give Israelis a snow day and all's right with the world.<div>
Everywhere else in on the planet, after a heavy snowfall, citizens scream out to their Mayors, "Plow the streets. Plow the streets." But here in Efrat, Israel, when the snow plows rolled down our main street, passers-by started boo-ing.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UfeoRmIOsyLc0zopn5cfkQRqfQBwfbJZIHWHj1jXlXO3OiSsrYtnYYrwHzRlEvyxwfrMLTZwfYBxBAVQAH1rKT-ktyIMxbclPUBcy8zt2oxSqL2eR-mQwqW2fINNiUEVK78wsPp3eKGL/s1600/smallDSCN0146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UfeoRmIOsyLc0zopn5cfkQRqfQBwfbJZIHWHj1jXlXO3OiSsrYtnYYrwHzRlEvyxwfrMLTZwfYBxBAVQAH1rKT-ktyIMxbclPUBcy8zt2oxSqL2eR-mQwqW2fINNiUEVK78wsPp3eKGL/s200/smallDSCN0146.jpg" width="200" /></a>Snow is such a magical and infrequent occurrence in Israel, that no one wants it to end.</div>
<div>
As soon as the weatherman hints at the possibility of that four-letter-word, "S--W," all Israel is a twitter (and I don't mean the Social Media). Anticipation is higher than the best actor waiting for his "Oscar", higher than a father in the delivery room, higher than a trader on the stock market floor.</div>
<div>
And when the snow doesn't appear exactly when the forecasters predicted, a gloom settles over the town, as if everyone had bet and lost Israel's highest-pay-off-lottery.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocr80jNA_DamG-Q-F7RdEiJYVJiw7A7vVTWZYqlmtM17FhnvBU5VK9kccdkpySbQl20W5A9yWZMwgfbP_ivXPpp2YKa2bP3mD42PI0NoeGewc7oP65EVuKj4wenFtt6ojRm34afW0qjnz/s1600/DSCF7493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocr80jNA_DamG-Q-F7RdEiJYVJiw7A7vVTWZYqlmtM17FhnvBU5VK9kccdkpySbQl20W5A9yWZMwgfbP_ivXPpp2YKa2bP3mD42PI0NoeGewc7oP65EVuKj4wenFtt6ojRm34afW0qjnz/s200/DSCF7493.JPG" width="150" /></a>But when the first snowflake appears, the word goes out faster than an Indian smoke-signal.</div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: magenta;">Winter Wonderland</span></b></div>
<div>
We awoke this morning to a white paradise. All was quiet and the sky was so bright, we had to wear sunglasses in order to see.</div>
<div>
The whole town put on two or three pairs of socks, just as many shirts and pants, and at least one scarf, hat, pair of gloves and colorful boots. Everyone from child to adult looked like a bundled-up joke out of the <i>Calvin and Hobbs</i> comic.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUh_Ws5UbsGivrhJz-AathodaugVPAZS3qRIHnAVt3SleTlXLqFL_Sc5drHo6xhmcYy_7G72RTtSg0QMWdInmDNj0t4UfnNLRbbZr8M3Nw2LRmzFT7ErYImzVPOi-094e53HiL9GdDhIV/s1600/DSCF7487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUh_Ws5UbsGivrhJz-AathodaugVPAZS3qRIHnAVt3SleTlXLqFL_Sc5drHo6xhmcYy_7G72RTtSg0QMWdInmDNj0t4UfnNLRbbZr8M3Nw2LRmzFT7ErYImzVPOi-094e53HiL9GdDhIV/s200/DSCF7487.JPG" width="150" /></a>But everyone was so excited to get out into the snow, kids didn't even complain when their mothers added yet another scarf or ear muffs to their anti-cold collection.</div>
<div>
There was no school, no work, no shopping, no <i>chuggim</i> (extra-curricular activities). There were just friends and family, snowmen and snowpets, igloos and snowball fights. There were photos and photos, facebook uploads and internet albums.</div>
<div>
There were no competitions or pressures or worldly tensions. There were encouraging words, "Wow, your snowman is terrific." "We love your sled." "We saw you sliding down the hill on a plastic tray. Cool." There were shiny cheeks and big smiles.</div>
<div>
Yes, there were folks stranded in the wrong places. There were slippery steps. There were sniffles and frozen toes.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPH_86LPKZS_gySSX7N7UI9E2_lqWabf_0uHHJ6OavMLZcfHjYCZ2YpFxevT-2bJjgIZCAxHSs11g9RnyMaxSDnOkvOpeaUyrMPvikfU_pALLgIFXVQ9kC441s_N3MFnguDrVwzACOwPW/s1600/IMG_5636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPH_86LPKZS_gySSX7N7UI9E2_lqWabf_0uHHJ6OavMLZcfHjYCZ2YpFxevT-2bJjgIZCAxHSs11g9RnyMaxSDnOkvOpeaUyrMPvikfU_pALLgIFXVQ9kC441s_N3MFnguDrVwzACOwPW/s200/IMG_5636.jpg" width="200" /></a>But there was a feeling that life had been suspended in a place between time and space, a place of all good, all soft, all shine, all happy, all blessing, all snow.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFABgofkSlLCreKkobvgF3FcMJfcHTLc6g6IRzdLKFklr5FLflwu7kST1ElKXpqMbFczIXM-GL1L3ueeR-M6HAdN93euZe1VJJ87mY8GmZsBz4WYaU83zwonJAmNne60qFNH0LxZO1Mki/s1600/IMG_5641.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFABgofkSlLCreKkobvgF3FcMJfcHTLc6g6IRzdLKFklr5FLflwu7kST1ElKXpqMbFczIXM-GL1L3ueeR-M6HAdN93euZe1VJJ87mY8GmZsBz4WYaU83zwonJAmNne60qFNH0LxZO1Mki/s200/IMG_5641.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
Thank you, G-d, for the snow. We'll remember today with great joy for a very long time.</div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-46929693466642675012013-01-10T00:47:00.003+02:002013-01-10T17:20:59.028+02:00Doublelife - From Intermarriage to In-Marriage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaGOE93rTz2RY-Nonab9zyw6mEoHXEKpM95SbhDGKwk15zIbxxqEXvqjq2gbIwD_Lr0NJRxNtc_N4NkN5OISKZ_Y9cFLozbGq8wFh6rFUsPjNzlyadQTFYIhLj4yf7bXD93LivbkbOjNW/s1600/DSCN0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaGOE93rTz2RY-Nonab9zyw6mEoHXEKpM95SbhDGKwk15zIbxxqEXvqjq2gbIwD_Lr0NJRxNtc_N4NkN5OISKZ_Y9cFLozbGq8wFh6rFUsPjNzlyadQTFYIhLj4yf7bXD93LivbkbOjNW/s200/DSCN0040.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>When Harold</i></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and Gayle Berman married
23 years ago, neither would have guessed that their family would one day be
living the lives of Torah Jews in </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'s Judean hills.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Brought together by their love of music, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Harold was an assimilated Jew from
upstate <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>, and Gayle was a Christian farm girl from <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:state>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But after more than a decade of
searching and learning, growing and evolving, they became, as Harold wrote,
"a Jewish family, not by fate, but by choice, by design and by destiny".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Their journey was not a simple one. It
was filled with challenges, heartbreak and miracles. During the majority of
their early married years, they lived a double (even secretive) life of an
interfaith family, involved in both Church and synagogue, Christian institutions
and Jewish community, until they realized their double life could not continue.
They decided to become an in-faith family. And to their own surprise, they both
wanted the foundation of their home to be an Orthodox one, filled with all the
beauty, <i>chesed</i> and values of an observant Jewish family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4yHnjcqIVNf0btdgsGdIXBnPJIF9kZma85MNo2ZMwYDSq9y92ATJbPGcMWfWtu6clQZ7hZAQlc2UvZfj6-ntL9Knjul26WI3zd7aMCMjAhCub2AynOzGQL8EDrchuvDJ1UmyPh6b2xCc/s1600/DoubleLife-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4yHnjcqIVNf0btdgsGdIXBnPJIF9kZma85MNo2ZMwYDSq9y92ATJbPGcMWfWtu6clQZ7hZAQlc2UvZfj6-ntL9Knjul26WI3zd7aMCMjAhCub2AynOzGQL8EDrchuvDJ1UmyPh6b2xCc/s200/DoubleLife-Cover.jpg" width="155" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Harold and Gayle have brought their
story to the public in a touching and eloquent dual autobiography, <b><i>Doublelife
– One Family, Two Faiths and a Journey of Hope. </i></b>This is Harold's second
book<span style="background-color: white;">. He <span style="color: #373737;">authored <b><i>Jewish Adoption - Unique
Issues, Practical Solutions</i></b>, plus articles that have appeared in
numerous publications. He is also the former Executive Director of the Jewish
Federation of Western Massachusetts.</span></span>
Gayle <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">was a celebrated opera singer and Church
minister of music. Today she teaches privately, and serves as</span> music director of <st1:place w:st="on"><i><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Emunah</span></st1:placename><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">v’Omanut</st1:placename><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></i></st1:place> and the <i>Raise Your Spirits Theater</i> production of <i>"ESTHER
and the Secrets in the King's Court".<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Through a series of letters written to
one another, Gayle and Harold detail with great sensitivity and candor, the path
along which they walked and tripped, plodded and ran toward a new life. Harold
said, "To have a book that would be interesting and credible, you need to
reveal some things. Otherwise you're left with, 'We were an intermarried
couple. We woke up one morning, and saw the light.'" Gayle agreed,
"We had to give examples of issues that arose, and how we dealt with
them."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Bermans have met many intermarried
couples over the past two decades. Lots are totally and unchangeably assimilated,
Harold said, but others are searching and don't know how to access help. Both
Harold and Gayle hope <b><i>Doublelife</i></b> will be a kind of guidebook for
those looking for a real life example of the journey toward Jewish family life.
It is also an inspirational book that reminds everyone of the beauty and
meaning of a Torah life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">And the Children Shall Lead the Way</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKa3UBdmSPRC6_7S5q3jncINo4JO7cc0AQ4vHDEmKzP5v20X7P66sk339pvNiS9wTQ4SZT0rkKdU6NVVf20QJqC3K5TXRbr3jc3EmgZDFHnIe2bcnk27iiWVq-Ff33q-eegHIER0g6ieJ/s1600/berman-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKa3UBdmSPRC6_7S5q3jncINo4JO7cc0AQ4vHDEmKzP5v20X7P66sk339pvNiS9wTQ4SZT0rkKdU6NVVf20QJqC3K5TXRbr3jc3EmgZDFHnIe2bcnk27iiWVq-Ff33q-eegHIER0g6ieJ/s200/berman-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Despite the fact that Gayle was not
Jewish, the couple, like many intermarried families in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>, sent
their son Micah to a Jewish preschool. Perceiving Micah's enthusiasm and love
of Biblical figures and Jewish tradition, plus Harold's growth in
Torah-observance, Gayle understood their lives would be better if they were a
fully Jewish family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As she explored the path to Judaism,
Gayle explained that she sought out "every convert story I could. I wanted to find someone
who had dealt with the dilemmas that I was experiencing."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She and Harold decided to be the
guideposts of future couples who may be considering changing their
inter-married to an in-married status. Harold hopes <b><i>Doublelife</i></b>, <a href="http://www.doublelifejourney.com/">www.doublelifejourney.com</a>, will be
"a living example of what Judaism and living a Jewish life could be."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After writing the book, Harold founded
J-Journey, <a href="http://www.j-journey.org/">www.j-journey.org</a> , to provide
a peer mentoring network with couples like themselves who can guide
inter-married families who are interested in “taking the journey, or are
already on the journey”. The idea is to complement rabbinical law, not replace
it. So the site will include an <i>Ask the Rabbi</i> feature (with a rabbi involved
with conversion for 25 years) and an <i>Ask a Friend</i> feature for questions
like, "What did you tell your parents?", "How did you know it
was the right time to convert?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the Bermans grew in interest and dedication
to a Torah lifestyle, they began looking for a stronger Jewish environment than
their <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:place></st1:state>
community. They considered moving to <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>
and <st1:state w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:state>, and then decided to explore a
future in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Harold had visited <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> several
times, leading groups from the Jewish Federation of which he was a regional
director. They'd also visited as a family. On August 14, 2008, Gayle,
Harold, Micah and Ilana Berman moved to Efrat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Happy new beginning.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Doublelife</i></b> will enliven your spirit,
remind you to appreciate the values of the Torah, and inspire you to grow further
in your Jewish identity. Totally absorbing and surprisingly honest, you’ll
laugh and cry with the Bermans, and then cheer at their triumph of faith.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Doublelife</b> will soon be available in bookstores, on Amazon.com and Kindle. In the meantime, Harold and Gayle invite you visit </span><a href="http://www.doublelifejourney.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.doublelifejourney.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> to register for a discount coupon.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Watch VOICES-TV's interview with Harold and Gayle Berman:</i></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.voices-magazine.com/videoClip/255">http://www.voices-magazine.com/videoClip/255</a></i></span>Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-29819553582589386112013-01-08T17:09:00.000+02:002013-01-08T17:16:34.067+02:00Israeli Politics - Nothing Changes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROip0_kZ0MakgKhU2GvVDLRkbR63tu1Oqd_FDePPVc45x7ZBTRiTzW29_k8watwE5uvZaFtuZpXywPU0ER7BrTjFbCTYSv2PGiJ9VAT4g6a6E5hJ1l0Hwru-zmfyI7DT9NB_uLrWNAz6K/s1600/IMG_5417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROip0_kZ0MakgKhU2GvVDLRkbR63tu1Oqd_FDePPVc45x7ZBTRiTzW29_k8watwE5uvZaFtuZpXywPU0ER7BrTjFbCTYSv2PGiJ9VAT4g6a6E5hJ1l0Hwru-zmfyI7DT9NB_uLrWNAz6K/s400/IMG_5417.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Newspaper article from HaMODIAH, September 3, 2009, titled,<br />
"Settler Leaders: Netanyahu Gov't 'Humiliating' Us"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>I was cleaning</i></b></span> out the upstairs den <i>(yes, I'm sure you're all shocked) </i>when I came upon this article, <i>"Settler Leaders: Netanyahu Gov't 'Humiliating' Us".</i><br />
The leaders of Judea and Samaria were upset, because Prime Minister Netanyahu had promised them building and growth for the communities of <i>Yesha,</i> before the previous elections. But as soon as he was elected, <i>BOING</i>, suddenly everything was frozen<br />
We know there has been no building in Efrat for ten years, but this article was talking about Maaleh Adumim's E-1 <i>(does that sound familiar?)</i> and Ariel. Even former Gush Etzion Mayor Shaul Goldstein exclaimed that "Gush Etzion is totally frozen." And Bel El Mayor Moshe Rosenbaum claimed that his community was up against a "sealed wall."<br />
Well, it's more than three years since that article. Nothing has changed.<br />
This article could have been written this week (except that Davidi Perl is the new mayor of Gush Etzion.)<br />
Again, the Prime Minister has promised the Jews of Judea and Samaria that they will build - three hundred units here, two hundred there, three thousand total. That sounds great, doesn't it.<br />
I'll believe it all when I see those buildings built and filled with Jewish families.<br />
Until then, it's all just politics.<br />
<b><span style="color: #783f04;">Right Wing Government - Cough Cough</span></b><br />
Another political note: I was sitting together with a bunch of friends who were acting as giddy as school girls <i>(while they were far from girls in age or gender)</i>, as they spoke about the next government, which would be a strong partnership of the right.<br />
"Bayit HaYehudi is the natural partner of Likud. They should ask for this ministerial position...and that. When we're in the government, this will be different, and we'll take care of that." Everyone glowed in the warmth of coalition dreams.<br />
<i>Wet-blanketly</i>, I told them, "The Prime Minister will go for every other party in the government before he even thinks of including Bayit HaYehudi, if he even thinks of such a thing. I doubt it."<br />
They <i>pish-toshed</i> my words, and absolutely turned around to continue their joint-dreams.<br />
I said that every time I hear a Bayit HaYehudi person say, "When we're in the government, we'll...", I have to laugh.<br />
Look, I hope I'm wrong. But even yesterday's newspapers carried Netanyahu's olive branch to left-wing parties to join his coalition. I didn't hear him calling out to Naftali Bennet or Aryeh Eldad.<br />
So, Bibi is promising <i>Yesha</i> thousands of new homes one day, and inviting the left to join in on the next. In addition, he reminded the country three days ago that after the elections, he is ready to return to the negotiating table with the Palestinian Authority.<br />
Good luck to the right wing parties, and I hope I'm wrong about my gut-feeling that they'll be outside the coalition of what right-wingers had hoped would be a right-wing government.<br />
Good luck to future housing buyers. I hope I'm wrong that they'll be waiting quite a long time for those promised apartments in Judea and Samaria.<br />
<i>Sometimes I am wrong.</i> I hope this is the time. But, we've all got to admit it. Nothing changes in Israeli politics. The same dirty tricks are repeated all the time. Let's just not act surprised.Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-87581116802157973572012-12-27T00:20:00.002+02:002012-12-27T11:46:41.764+02:00DAMES 6 - A Tribute to Women<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQFNTk9ouycBcXo5j63ErflxDuza3DzzKnBb14FpfoRbhwiBhEKLdjewsrBI11MPkpwzP8Nc4UFBxi9lZ0eb6RLpdI-eMUxQxuHDN2uoMELYGcwT0IDHOQ6cotKq1dK7I-qGZsFISz9KJ/s1600/IMG_4639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQFNTk9ouycBcXo5j63ErflxDuza3DzzKnBb14FpfoRbhwiBhEKLdjewsrBI11MPkpwzP8Nc4UFBxi9lZ0eb6RLpdI-eMUxQxuHDN2uoMELYGcwT0IDHOQ6cotKq1dK7I-qGZsFISz9KJ/s200/IMG_4639.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><i>The women of ALL AGES from</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><i>my own family! They don't all dance, </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><i>but they ALL inspire!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYlgYl0kLxjcCnrCBPUlkQBOcVMfaqPiTFvt_PT3qOmaS1acCZLWBASR-5pW_s04kTKxjzX4_jNBNvSkD86gjLb_e2fDfQTnP_RFWQ75qDKTCZ0kaxsIx_D17BS9Hi2rt84xgaFADfOm_/s1600/2013+-+DAMES+6+POSTER+2+CHARMS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our dancing shoes are just "smoking" from use. We're beginning to gather costumes and accessories. We've got to get the poster ready, and<b> "DAMES of the Dance 6 - A Tribute to Women"</b> will be ready to sell tickets for the upcoming performing season. <i>We're all really excited.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This DAMES is a
tribute to Women! It is a tribute to our mothers, our daughters, our sisters,
our best friends. They are people we love, adore, admire and
appreciate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYlgYl0kLxjcCnrCBPUlkQBOcVMfaqPiTFvt_PT3qOmaS1acCZLWBASR-5pW_s04kTKxjzX4_jNBNvSkD86gjLb_e2fDfQTnP_RFWQ75qDKTCZ0kaxsIx_D17BS9Hi2rt84xgaFADfOm_/s1600/2013+-+DAMES+6+POSTER+2+CHARMS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYlgYl0kLxjcCnrCBPUlkQBOcVMfaqPiTFvt_PT3qOmaS1acCZLWBASR-5pW_s04kTKxjzX4_jNBNvSkD86gjLb_e2fDfQTnP_RFWQ75qDKTCZ0kaxsIx_D17BS9Hi2rt84xgaFADfOm_/s200/2013+-+DAMES+6+POSTER+2+CHARMS.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is a tribute to
their self-sacrifice, their courage, their smile, their love, their empowerment.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is a tribute to
the women who raise the next generation, who instill them with pride and teach
them not to fear, who encourage them to try and succeed. It is about the women
who are beautiful inside and out, and teach their children to feel beautiful and
smart and strong and successful (even when they are
not).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is a tribute to
the women who light their Shabbat candles, say Shma in bed with their children,
make their <i>challot,</i> feed their families, learn with their little ones, teach
them their <i>brachot</i>, support their husbands, inspire their friends and families.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is a tribute to
the women who teach the next generation and the next about love of Hashem, our
Torah, our brethren and <i>Eretz Yisrael.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is a tribute to
the women who rise early and work long hard hours, who travel far to make a
living, who work at small jobs and large, who run companies and countries, and
yet will sit up all night studying with their teenager for a final or rocking or
nursing a new baby, or jump out of bed to calm a frightened
child.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is a tribute to
women who truthfully make everything in the world happen, while they bolster
everyone else and encourage them to make things happen too.
<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is what we keep this in
mind as we develop our numbers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is not just a
show. This is a tribute to women, and we must make it <b>A TRIBUTE TO
WOMEN.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
For ticket information, keep up with our facebook page, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/damesofthedance">http://www.facebook.com/damesofthedance</a> .</div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-63573957851700104752012-12-18T16:44:00.001+02:002012-12-18T16:44:13.360+02:00DISGUSTING - Arab Stone-Throwing at Rachel's TombI didn't know whether to title this blog, DISGUSTING or HUMILIATING. But I decided for the former, because that's how today's scene at Rachel's Tomb seemed to me.<br />
I drove, as on every other visit, to Rachel's Tomb to pray, together with my dearest Mother (until 120) and my lovely daughter.<br />
As we exited the car, we noticed groups of people standing around - half on the parking lot side of the street and half in the entrance to Rachel's Tomb.<br />
Two armored police trucks were holding back the worshippers. <br />
Arabs were throwing stones over the giant cement barrier. Smashed stones and shattered glass lay on the street in front of Kever Rachel. Policemen were calling out blurred instructions through their megaphones.<br />
Visitors were told they could enter Rachel's Tomb, the burial place of the Jewish Biblical matriach Rachel if they could "run quickly and keep against the wall."<br />
DISGUSTING.<br />
That is how one comes to pray at the resting place of his grandmother - running for his life, hoping to dodge the stones and boulders lobbed from a few meters away on the other side of the wall?<br />
I was so excited to cap off our lovely family day today with a family visit to<br />
Mama Rachel. My own mother had come 5000 miles to visit her loved ones, and every trip to Eretz Yisrael is made complete with a visit to and heartfelt prayer by the burial place of our beloved Matriarch Rachel.<br />
Jews from all over the world put Kever Rachel - Judaism's third holiest site, after the Kotel and the Cave of Machpelah - on their must-visit list.<br />
But not today.<br />
Everyone stood around waiting, whispering, impatiently trying to show patience, shaking their heads in DISGUST.<br />
My mother cannot run 100 meters, dodging stones and boulders on the way. And even if she could, I would not allow it.<br />
So we stood along with everyone else.<br />
We watched full armored border policemen watching stone throwers. As far as we saw, there was no response - no tear gas, no paint guns, no anything. <br />
Rock-smash-rock-small-cloud-of-dust.-Whoa.<br />
Thus goes a sunny afternoon in the little town of Bethlehem, where today, thanks to Arab stone throwers, there is no "peace on earth" and certainly no "good will toward men" or women or children who simply wanted to pray, or unburden their hearts at their grandmother Rachel's side.<br />
I surely hope that on the other side of the wall, soldiers were about to pounce.<br />
We'll never know unless an Arab is injured, and therefore, the incident will make the news.<br />
We turned back to the car, and waited for permission to drive out. They said, "Drive out quickly and carefully." Quickly, I could manage, avoiding rocks aimed at my car was beyond my ability.<br />
We raced out and saw a line of cars waiting to enter.<br />
Sorry, friends. Today, you cannot visit your grandmother.<br />
DISGUSTING.<br />
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-16570441607079829302012-12-11T10:12:00.001+02:002012-12-12T22:15:30.984+02:00The Gift that Keeps Giving - LightHow appropriate that on this holiday of Chanukah - the Holiday of Lights - the State of Israel, the Israeli Departments of Transportation and Roads, and the Councils of Gush Etzion and Efrat have gifted residents of Efrat and Gush Etzion, as well as all those who drive along Route 60, with THE GIFT OF LIGHTS. Traffic lights.<br />
This morning, as I drove out of the northern entrance of Efrat on the Shayarot (Convoy) Road, I was greeted by brand new traffic lights.<br />
Suddenly instead of the usual mass of cars, bunched up upon one another like guinea pigs seeking warmth, cars were lined up civilly, waiting their turn to drive on to Route 60.<br />
No more inching forward, hoping to make a turn before a speeding vehicle bears down on you. Now on-coming traffic has a red light, while cars from inside Efrat turn carefully on to the road.<br />
This junction on Route 60 has been particularly dangerous, as vehicles speed by from the Beitar-El Khader light going south and the Southern Efrat light going north. Drivers from the Shayarot Road have literally taken their lives in their hands to get on to the highway. Several tragically have lost their lives in the attempt.<br />
Acknowledging the treacherous traffic turn off, Israel's Transportation Minister Israel Katz (no relation to the author) announced last year that he would install a traffic light at the frightening intersection. And he did it.<br />
This gift of lights truly is a gift that keeps giving - because it is giving the local drivers the gift of life and safer driving, IY"H, for many years to come.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nC1Cf_qLC7Y1REAyDiakV3kNFEUW8C9cAWccVfO4GFEFSuckSuIpHXDUVjhILGV79UlRutvkFTC8aHJax9xrkgpjZs7A19iwmx5jHoDyCtRPg32G_69kDhdg86aa_9CugPNMGWiiEoTe/s640/blogger-image-1815880422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nC1Cf_qLC7Y1REAyDiakV3kNFEUW8C9cAWccVfO4GFEFSuckSuIpHXDUVjhILGV79UlRutvkFTC8aHJax9xrkgpjZs7A19iwmx5jHoDyCtRPg32G_69kDhdg86aa_9CugPNMGWiiEoTe/s640/blogger-image-1815880422.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCOvUvcN4WOMXqzZLgDBJSu8Puq_Yr4y7L2EzY3Sum6guPovJIlHui89yYHUnXik-cmL54i8RZ6oUZBBKKzHfFsGgu-CEgSPcXYvURTqZALzOi9kyhHW5U8ysUsL6qpgLNPnxz3XPIKE_/s640/blogger-image-351745714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCOvUvcN4WOMXqzZLgDBJSu8Puq_Yr4y7L2EzY3Sum6guPovJIlHui89yYHUnXik-cmL54i8RZ6oUZBBKKzHfFsGgu-CEgSPcXYvURTqZALzOi9kyhHW5U8ysUsL6qpgLNPnxz3XPIKE_/s640/blogger-image-351745714.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR37IerAystI8lHz-YJw-8UPXljWRs1x3VSxoSGKPIYhxm-qq9POPptT0mPL0MvvM3OQmhfP-ufroLzh_6BlhOVq9ffgJ9bBAC04V8LBm_Svq1xiMGZdgxvlqN_eaWtLh8DEc1257gPdO4/s640/blogger-image-1597373142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR37IerAystI8lHz-YJw-8UPXljWRs1x3VSxoSGKPIYhxm-qq9POPptT0mPL0MvvM3OQmhfP-ufroLzh_6BlhOVq9ffgJ9bBAC04V8LBm_Svq1xiMGZdgxvlqN_eaWtLh8DEc1257gPdO4/s640/blogger-image-1597373142.jpg" /></a></div>Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-68097063256452483192012-12-09T02:30:00.000+02:002012-12-09T02:30:01.947+02:00What's Up, Efrat? Chanukah 5773<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY3sN783ye0YUggq2kSlDkovBs7_qhz_8Pb2C4WSXUN98mS70bbECCVzv_p1QraGVXM8fUsU14WR7674S_cV1zACN6Ogd0bVfgCRlvZEWGiuaOB7F6pECxn6Esz6GxpDP3jllwTpMwz9z/s1600/Whats+Up+Chanukah.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY3sN783ye0YUggq2kSlDkovBs7_qhz_8Pb2C4WSXUN98mS70bbECCVzv_p1QraGVXM8fUsU14WR7674S_cV1zACN6Ogd0bVfgCRlvZEWGiuaOB7F6pECxn6Esz6GxpDP3jllwTpMwz9z/s200/Whats+Up+Chanukah.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Watch What's Up, Efrat? Chanukah edition, right here:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.voices-magazine.com/videoClip/254">http://www.voices-magazine.com/videoClip/254</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or read it here:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Welcome to the <b>What's Up, Efrat
Chanukah edition</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's so much to speak about, we hope
this edition will encourage you to check out the <b><i>Efratone</i></b> and <b><i>Gushpanka</i></b>
and find loads of great activities for your family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First, we'd like to read a letter that we
received from the Southern families who sought refuge here during the war.<span dir="RTL" lang="HE"><br />
</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>"Thanks
and great appreciation to residents of Efrat, especially the residents of 14
Rechov Yehuda HaMaccabee. Tremendous thanks and appreciation for<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"><span dir="RTL"></span> </span>all you have done for us - families who came from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ashdod</st1:place></st1:city> to Efrat in
the difficult days of the war<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE"><span dir="RTL"></span>.<br />
</span>For your contribution in bringing meals,
helping with the laundry, the loan of a baby carriage, your shining faces and
your sincere desire to help us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Special thanks to Meir Alipur who donated
his apartment to us. Our thanks to the Yad B'Yad <i>gemachim</i>, who helped us
on such short notice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our blessings as well to Miri
Kelley and family who took care of the logistics<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE"><span dir="RTL"></span>,</span>and hospitality, and all the Shabbat meals in her home<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE"><span dir="RTL"></span>.<br />
</span>Happy are you to live in a<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"><span dir="RTL"></span> </span>place filled with good people, who have been
preoccupied with kindness and helping others. May we meet at <i>smachot."</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>What's Up, Efrat?</i></b> went out on location
for Chanukah. Here's a peek at what's happening around town.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WLDase3wmlTUWSERQJ1w_iVr4f8-aAz_bgzWzV3UPbooiXMJ-8ZgU2_ILxcL2hxhcM5kMAj49PaT8DQxtTwNVNYxksFwdlNKmCWu0nf2FB97J3sD7Z13O7KeVO-1qP6TnTIpyVt-fpW8/s1600/DSCN0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WLDase3wmlTUWSERQJ1w_iVr4f8-aAz_bgzWzV3UPbooiXMJ-8ZgU2_ILxcL2hxhcM5kMAj49PaT8DQxtTwNVNYxksFwdlNKmCWu0nf2FB97J3sD7Z13O7KeVO-1qP6TnTIpyVt-fpW8/s200/DSCN0114.JPG" width="200" /> </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCngbA3P6YmPqvMH3gPePGqfA_0CXprQSk8LEx_Imv2ud8IOb8K9vjjoUttyvpoFS3d_0bCUuSrh2LCj5zzcgB-SluPtN2RCFUzkIRJ0reJKwvJP7SWk7blE3VOAL8zyqEbFehP6LvFoWf/s1600/DSCN0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCngbA3P6YmPqvMH3gPePGqfA_0CXprQSk8LEx_Imv2ud8IOb8K9vjjoUttyvpoFS3d_0bCUuSrh2LCj5zzcgB-SluPtN2RCFUzkIRJ0reJKwvJP7SWk7blE3VOAL8zyqEbFehP6LvFoWf/s200/DSCN0119.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Aseh</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Chayil</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype></st1:place> held its <b><i>Veshinantam
Levanecha</i></b> special parent-child learning recently. The children learned
to deal with their fears through learning, sharing, speaking and prayer. Watch
for a full video on the event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Efrat library will be open on
Chanukah</span><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">on Sunday and Wednesday
from 3 PM to 9:30 PM. And on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Friday hours are as usual, 9:30 AM to 12:15 PM.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On Sunday, 25 Kislev, December 9<sup>th</sup>,
the first day of Chanukah, Matnas Efrat is presenting <b><i>ULTRA MADHIM</i></b>,
a show that will light up your day – 11 AM, at the Matnas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdfeX34-nx-Dztqi3La7ntQGRPn_p7RGsRjNF07ZRM6qeCX_SKb2hiOoMyNAmuBTuBuZtxvgaeJ-ogW9aYmjsKJLLQ7jR6s2KBvwiPkpuHrDI2KizNl-Zn7ARI8FzbTuj7XFEe4QjTFYr/s1600/Cast+photo+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdfeX34-nx-Dztqi3La7ntQGRPn_p7RGsRjNF07ZRM6qeCX_SKb2hiOoMyNAmuBTuBuZtxvgaeJ-ogW9aYmjsKJLLQ7jR6s2KBvwiPkpuHrDI2KizNl-Zn7ARI8FzbTuj7XFEe4QjTFYr/s640/Cast+photo+cropped.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cast of ESTHER and the Secrets in the King's Court - Photo by Rebecca Flash Kowalsky, www.imagesthroughtime.com .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the second night of Chanukah, Sunday,
26 Kislev, December 9, at 8:15 PM, join the women and girls of Raise Your
Spirits for their smash-hit musical <b><i>ESTHER and the Secrets of the King's
Court. ESTHER</i></b> is celebrating its tenth anniversary with an amazing
production that has wowed its critics and audiences. To order tickets for
Sunday's performance, or the next show on Thursday, December 27<sup>th</sup>,
visit <a href="http://www.raiseyourspirits.org/">www.raiseyourspirits.org</a> .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Efrat's religious scouts will be going on
a camping trip from Sunday to Wednesday. While other youth will be enjoying a
leadership seminar from Tuesday to Thursday.
And Bnei Akiva will be holding a Seminar from Wednesday to Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On Monday, 26 Kislev, December 10<sup>th</sup>,
join the One Israel Fun Chanukah Trip with Eve Harow. One <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place> is traveling to the
Hasmonean Hills to learn about the Chanukah story where it happened – Beit
Choron, Neria, Neve Tzuf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On Wednesday, 28 Kislev, December 12,
Efrat residents 50+ are invited to participate in a trip to </span><st1:city style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> for an Adult Chidon Tanach, Bible
Competition. It sounds great. Contact 9932936.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or visit the </span><st1:place style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Jordan</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Valley</st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
with One Israel on Thursday, 29 Kislev, December 13. Mevuot Yericho, the Einot
Kedem Ranch, and more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For more information, contact Zahava
Englard 052-484-6034.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.oneisraelfund.org/daytrips">www.oneisraelfund.org/daytrips</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On Thursday at Matnas Efrat there's a
Creative Workshop for Chanukah for children. Contact 9932936.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Zayit Raanan is having their annual
</span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pajanuka party</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> on Thursday night, 6th candle, with arts and crafts, music,
candle lighting, games, schtick, and a special slideshow of the kids of zayit. All
children are invited to this fun evening. More information, Debbie Shohat at </span><a href="mailto:debbieshohat@gmail.com" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">debbieshohat@gmail.com</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Right after Chanukah, there'll be a
three part series</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for parents of
special needs children on Wednesday evenings in the </span><st1:place style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Parent</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Empowerment</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">December 19, 26 and January 2. The
evenings will be informative and very important. Find out more by contacting
Sharona Blank.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, there's going to be a <b>Winter
Happening</b> for children with special needs and their families
on Monday, January 7 from 4:00-6:00 pm in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Aseh</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Chayil</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype></st1:place> with
activities,a show, dinner and a fire and
light show.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>RSVP</b> to <b>Sharona Blank 993-9315</b> at the Social Service Dept. of the
Efrat Moetza or email <b>993-9315, <a href="mailto:sharona@efrata.muni.il">sharona@efrata.muni.il</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, Matnas Efrat is showing the
not-to-be missed film,</span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> "Zohar HaRakia" </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">on Motzei Shabbat 9 Tevet, December
22. And join Tzur Hartov on 16 Tevet, December 29</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, for a
Sing-along.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-19014380687189980432012-11-22T12:29:00.002+02:002012-11-22T13:16:07.061+02:00Damned if you do...and Damned if you don't<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs57CxFkCsFX-f6nsP-GnPF3a__beaKK2FKxDSn7rvdD_I9dleTD0g_cpQbcIxITuc2wRt-4O2CYdqavWK1QGBL6gkvzx8l2FREkl-CGXbKXpiW-igUH6enjWm5TKQdlkxjqwPoM8uLO3X/s1600/SLEEPING+IN+STAIRCASE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs57CxFkCsFX-f6nsP-GnPF3a__beaKK2FKxDSn7rvdD_I9dleTD0g_cpQbcIxITuc2wRt-4O2CYdqavWK1QGBL6gkvzx8l2FREkl-CGXbKXpiW-igUH6enjWm5TKQdlkxjqwPoM8uLO3X/s200/SLEEPING+IN+STAIRCASE.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>It is twelve</i></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> hours since the ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas has been implemented.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everyone is claiming victory on this one: Israel, Hamas, Egypt and the United States. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Israel is hinting that it has hurt Hamas terribly. <i><u>Note:</u> it doesn't say it has brought Hamas terrorism under control or that it has destroyed Hamas' ability to launch rockets against Jewish communities in Israel.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hamas is touting the non-agreement status of the ceasefire, and is declaring that its people are ready for war whenever...</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS61iikYoMvFqW-61VWB-PtdYJ2av-zK6NawUIoS7CRc4Ff_ZBViNDRVYGEwZ3R5TUyl9FqT0rs0ejJNJEqZmKrccIKgjVy3-HnMDGOrcolAw9nTRbtZZoD90lws0tOcSRwxOvWbDMlOsi/s1600/Hillary+and+Bibi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS61iikYoMvFqW-61VWB-PtdYJ2av-zK6NawUIoS7CRc4Ff_ZBViNDRVYGEwZ3R5TUyl9FqT0rs0ejJNJEqZmKrccIKgjVy3-HnMDGOrcolAw9nTRbtZZoD90lws0tOcSRwxOvWbDMlOsi/s320/Hillary+and+Bibi.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Egypt and the United States just think they are brilliant.</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Abandoning the South?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meanwhile, residents of the South are dismayed, despite a quiet night. I guess I feel like they do. I am happy the missiles and rockets have stopped <i>(although there have been several Red Alerts, and the government is claiming that they are mistakes :) )</i>. I want children to play without fear in the sunshine. I'm thankful that Jewish soldiers do not have to go into Gaza. But I am disappointed that the government has just abandoned the problem without finishing off the terrorists and their ability to strike Israel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Gaza situation is a clear cut <i>Damned if you do..and Damned if you don't. </i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7n3bgpF9Bnb8cmu7mXmVHj4_5ngF5DwbBmFfbLf3MIrw6wseb-qsXQbLMquivrD0RBVAMjHHuzdx3cr-Ci8zpLJThhxxoUJJw_Gwv-_KlELJ-02_8nY12jsG9F9jUG1Qmn3ydPBR1thg/s1600/IDF+SUMMATION+OF+OPERATION+PILLAR+OF+DEFENSE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7n3bgpF9Bnb8cmu7mXmVHj4_5ngF5DwbBmFfbLf3MIrw6wseb-qsXQbLMquivrD0RBVAMjHHuzdx3cr-Ci8zpLJThhxxoUJJw_Gwv-_KlELJ-02_8nY12jsG9F9jUG1Qmn3ydPBR1thg/s200/IDF+SUMMATION+OF+OPERATION+PILLAR+OF+DEFENSE.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know the IAF struck more than 1000 rocket targets, but until the moment of the ceasefire and even afterwards, missiles were still being fired. So, perhaps there are thousands <i>more</i> targets. Okay, we know and appreciate what you destroyed. What have you left behind? The Arabs will just rearm and prepare for the next assault, <i>chas v'shalom</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I appreciate the Air Force strikes. I just wish we had let our pilots and soldiers finish the job.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then again, if the battle would have intensified, Israel would have been blamed and sanctioned for its aggression.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are currently in the lowest position possible -<i> lose-lose</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If we go in with ground forces, then casualties would add up, <i>chas v'shalom.</i> If we don't go in, we can't wipe Gaza clean of terror. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Lose-lose.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If we keep this cease fire, then the Arabs can rearm for the future, rebuild their terror infrastructure, and even attack in different ways (as evidenced already with a barrage of stonings, shootings, fire bombings in Israel's cities and on its roads), and we cannot retaliate, because that would <b>escalate</b> the violence. So we have to allow the Arabs to slap us, and injure us, while we lick our wounds and comfort out wounded. <i>Lose-lose</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I appreciate the IDF and the IAF. I pray that Hashem protect them and give them success over their enemies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But friends, I think if we are going to be criticized anyway, it's important to keep Israel safe for the future. I think Israel's deterrence has to be big and loud and fearsome. Let the nations hate us, but let our people live in safety, even if it's safety and non-peace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was going to write ...<i>Win-lose</i>. But it's actually <i>win-win</i>. Because if there's no war between Israel and its Arab neighbors, life could really be beautiful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>** The caption on the top photo of Am Yisrael Chai's facebook page says, <span style="text-align: center;">"Bibi, we have no problem sleeping on the stairs if you'll just come and destroy their structure."</span></i></span>Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-55662087974369897202012-11-21T18:52:00.001+02:002012-11-21T18:52:10.644+02:00Guest Blog from Beit El - WAITING FOR HILLARYThis is a guest blog, written by a Beit El resident. It is an excellent example of the mood in Israel today. Here's to the women of Beit El.<br />
*. *. *. <br />
Today I stood with neighbors of mine outside Bet El on the way to Ramallah. We had heard that Hillary Clinton was going there to speak to Mahmoud Abbas. We held signs saying, THERE IS NO MORAL EQUIVILANCY, CEASE FIRE=TERRORIST FIRE, and HILLARY-VISIT BET EL..<br />
<br />
A car pulled up, and the driver slowly read the signs. He said very politely, and with an Arab accent, "I'm from Cease Fire. I want peace. Turn on your televisions and see what is happening to Gaza. Israel must stop." I bent down, close to the window, and said, "We also want peace. Thousands of missiles being shot into civilian populations in Israel will not bring peace." He answered, "Who started this? You did." I replied, "This began not last week, but years ago. We evacuated 9,000 Israelis from their homes in Gush Katif. We pulled out of Gaza. Instead of lessening the missiles, you increased them!<br />
<br />
His face contorted, his voice tone changed, and out it came,"Get out of the West Bank. Go back to Poland you f---ing b-tch."And off he drove.<br />
<br />
And that my friends is the crux of the matter. The Arabs do not want us here. Not in Gaza, not in Judea and Samaria, not in Jerusalem, not in Israel! But here we are, and here we shall remain.<br />
<br />
We have made the desert bloom. If we had peace, we could help our neighbors do the same. Imagine a Middle East where the Arabs would want to benefit from our knowledge. Instead of Israel and the Arabs spending billions of dollars on defense, we could spend it on desalinization projects, hydroponic plant growing, better health care, medical research, better education, and on and on. Imagine the boon to tourism for everyone in the region.Israelis love to travel. We would get in our cars and visit multiple countries, not unlike Europeans. (A girl can dream, can't she?)<br />
<br />
G-d gave the Jewish people a small slice of earth to be our eternal home.We're not going anywhere. He wants us to be "a light unto the nations". If only the nations of the world would let us.<br />
<br />
Praying for the safe return of all our soldiers!<br />
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-77596089422160439502012-11-19T22:00:00.003+02:002012-11-19T22:17:03.382+02:00Are We All Making Believe??<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SunxWiVkR-Hp3gQfZX5-2CijT1xjqaLjMPur_ROuaA_i6e0-BLPEGf3ngBBxm5dpDxBsH7RQCLOftLU9enSXaDkyzhXkg64oBmv4RkHf_wC8Vqmyih-JD-SwsnEiXmP9aBquQMyHdUfP/s1600/KASSAMS+-+SHMASHED+BLD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SunxWiVkR-Hp3gQfZX5-2CijT1xjqaLjMPur_ROuaA_i6e0-BLPEGf3ngBBxm5dpDxBsH7RQCLOftLU9enSXaDkyzhXkg64oBmv4RkHf_wC8Vqmyih-JD-SwsnEiXmP9aBquQMyHdUfP/s200/KASSAMS+-+SHMASHED+BLD.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Arab terrorists are aiming rockets and missiles at Israel's towns and cities. Israelis are sleeping in bomb shelters. Homes have been destroyed. Children are traumatized by the incessant missiles.<br />
<div>
The Israeli Air Force is trying to destroy as many Gazan terror targets as it can. The Israeli Army is poised outside Gaza, waiting for further instructions. Every family has a father, son, brother, cousin, neighbor who has either been called up for "Tzav 8", emergency reserve duty or has been told to "be ready". At the checkpoints, every single car - Jewish or Arab - is being stopped. </div>
<div>
I think we can say without exaggeration that things are pretty tense in Israel today.<br />
<div>
So, imagine how strange it is to walk around town with Arab workers on their building sites, as if nothing was different. How weird it is to be in the supermarket and watch Arabs enter, boisterously kidding around, as if the Mets are on the way to the championship. How bizarre it is to see Arab women leisurely lunching in the Mall as if it's a perfect autumn day with nothing having changed but the color of the leaves on the trees.</div>
<div>
I keep wondering, "What are they thinking?" </div>
<div>
I can't even venture a guess.</div>
<div>
On a regular day, we shop together, we drive on the same roads, we order from the same menu. But these are not regular days. And yet, we are all pretending that nothing is happening in Gaza and Ashkelon and Sderot and Ashdod and even Gush Etzion.<br />
How long can we pretend?</div>
<div>
<i>Photo courtesy of Devorah Horev.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339767115203725254.post-47461751750687135802012-11-16T08:54:00.000+02:002012-11-16T16:10:45.270+02:00Go, Boys, Go!<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18.18181800842285px; line-height: 24px;">My alarm was set this morning for </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3339767115203725254" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18.18181800842285px; line-height: 24px;">7:10</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18.18181800842285px; line-height: 24px;">, but low-flying jet planes shook me awake. "Drat," I thought.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18.18181800842285px; line-height: 24px;">
Then I thought of my friends in the South who thank G-d and then the Israeli pilots every time a jet heads their way. The jet means Israel is trying to defend them! And after living under the barrage of more than ten thousand rockets in the past seven years since Israel abandoned Gaza to the Arab terrorists, the sound of jets above is very comforting.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18.18181800842285px; line-height: 24px;">
One of my friends in the South posts, "Go boys, go!" on Facebook whenever she feels an Israeli Air Force fighter plane approaching.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18.18181800842285px; line-height: 24px;">
So, I was up earlier than I'd wanted, but it was a good opportunity to get dressed and pray for the safety of Israeli soldiers and civilians, for an end to Arab terror and a final cessation to the firing of missiles and rockets on Israeli homes and schools, playgrounds and synagogues.</div>
Sharon Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04187707180795618521noreply@blogger.com0