tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26759094131995243742024-02-19T07:03:00.688+02:00The Blogging Safta......The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-48580121811848259812021-04-14T15:15:00.002+03:002021-04-14T15:49:32.953+03:00Our Gluten Free Adventure...<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Recently, my husband was diagnosed with a condition that requires him to go on a Gluten Free diet.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For Avraham, his world was turned upside down...having to change his diet, giving up some of his favorite foods, seemed like the end of the world. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For me..learning the ins and outs of running a Gluten Free kitchen.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">-learning about cross contamination & why it is so dangerous</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">-what to buy</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">-checking for the Gluten Free symbol</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">-finding new recipes</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first thing we did was check the pantry to see if we had any Gluten Free foods. To our surprise, only a couple of things were not acceptable. I sent them to Devorah.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Baruch Hashem for my daughter Naomi, who has been teaching me the ropes, and of course Whatsapp ...sending Naomi pictures of products while shopping ."is this okay or this..what should I buy" I can only imagine what other shoppers are thinking</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> watching me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have learnt about rice flour, hummus flour, corn meal, potato flour, tapioca flour and the list goes on.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The difference between starches and flours and when to use each.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many Gluten Foods contain sugar, something I avoid being a diabetic. This is another challenge for me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Surfing the internet, reading articles about GF and searching for companies that produce GF products. Eventually, I did find several and even one in Netivot that produces many of the products we want to buy.. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The local grocery stores are carrying GF bread in their freezer, pizza, baked goods and so on. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Willy Foods, a food broker, supplies the grocery stores with so many everyday GF products, and so does B&D have several products that we use. Truthfully, many Israeli food manufactures have a GF line. The main problem for me is finding the right flour. I want to bake bread & cakes....GF bread is very expensive. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Avraham has been enjoying different GF breads [he tried an Italian bread and a flax seed bread that he really enjoyed], </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">bourekas and pasta, even though he isn't a pasta fan. He was surprised how many foods are GF.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When shopping Avraham found a good quality beer..and he was happy. He is saving it for Yom Haatzmaut...doesn't have long now.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week for Shabbat, I baked my first Gluten Free banana marble cake and it came out pretty good.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We receive many challenges in life, some are easy to handle, others are harder. I learnt a long time ago, we never receive a challenge harder than our ability. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And so our challenge for now is Gluten Free foods...I have no doubt we will succeed.................</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you have any suggestions on GF, send me a message.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chag Sameach</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Miriam </span></div>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-59892650116440861982020-02-12T10:05:00.000+02:002020-02-12T13:15:21.918+02:00MAZAL-TOV TO US...<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">בס''ד</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Avraham and I were married 52 1/2 years ago on the 17th of Sivan 5727 (June 25 1967) in Chomedey, Quebec. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Little did we dream at the time, that many years down the road we would be living in Eretz Yisrael and be grandparents and great-grandparents to beautiful tzabarim. All our grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born in Israel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last week, my husband and I were blessed with our 4th great-grandchild, a little girl born in Rehovot to our grandson Yoni [who was our first grandchild] and our granddaughter-in-law Tamar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In honour of the birth, I added another Shabbat candle to my tray. I now light 26 candles. May they always bring much light. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQyEzw54G1PWE9GEJe4Mn25GlN0ih8rMG9jjnhX5Y4DN8Z1tkdrZzAPqXc3lp7NTO3a5DAnZ66dr_ErCPEqHVhgqotcpYI4fuVgU4xvL5GfXVjjdqhWicUE4GVBB1vOcI0tahNJvt9wI/s1600/20200207_102037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQyEzw54G1PWE9GEJe4Mn25GlN0ih8rMG9jjnhX5Y4DN8Z1tkdrZzAPqXc3lp7NTO3a5DAnZ66dr_ErCPEqHVhgqotcpYI4fuVgU4xvL5GfXVjjdqhWicUE4GVBB1vOcI0tahNJvt9wI/s320/20200207_102037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love to watch my candles flicker, and I can thank Hashem for all the blessings in our lives... 3 great children, 2 wonderful sons-in-laws, 13 grandchildren, two more grandchildren by marriage and 4 great-grandchildren. We are really so blessed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Twenty-six has deep meaning in Judaism. Twenty-six is the gematria number for the Hebrew letters of Hashem’s name (Hebrew: יקיק). According to Jewish tradition, Hashem gave the Torah to the 26th generation after Creation. . aish.com & Chabad.com </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How I wish my parents <i>a”H</i> and Avraham’s parents <i>a”H</i> were here today. How they would enjoy spending time with the children and marvel at all the accomplishments of their family which now numbers over 80+ </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">May our family continue to grow and may we share much nachat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Miriam </b></i></span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-30494089832785107772019-10-26T20:54:00.001+03:002019-10-27T06:42:52.221+02:00Shabbat Morning....בס''ד<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Parsha Beresheit...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is still dark</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">it is peaceful</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">it is quiet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Slowly the day is starting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as the moon slips away</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and the sun is rising</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">behind the fluffy clouds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The birds are </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">soaring across the sky</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">chirping a lovely melody</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as they search the ground for food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mother bird has found a piece of bread</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">placed safely in her beak</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">she flies away</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to feed her children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Big birds</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">enormous in size</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">little birds</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as tiny as a speck</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">each with spectacular colours</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">sitting on top of a street light</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">with a bird’s eye view</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wonder what they are seeing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">watching the birds</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">go about their day</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">marveling at the miracles of nature.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hashem, who but <b>You</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">could have created such a magnificent world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Miriam</i></b></span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-27156737868248801992019-08-25T09:00:00.000+03:002019-08-25T09:00:01.075+03:00The Rocking Chair............. בס''ד<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPANl8K5dNvsWgU5xX1lDeoDVVnQhIwaFLy5v-avWpdLuy7R8FWYs0t-p0Y3W4pntP9BF4ak1oGk0PY_nvIM9x4KMNOY7O2WB9PFO2TmpVO8uJeEvTf1EulHuDbZhuBvi6_WoB3xyTUBU/s1600/20190821_114219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPANl8K5dNvsWgU5xX1lDeoDVVnQhIwaFLy5v-avWpdLuy7R8FWYs0t-p0Y3W4pntP9BF4ak1oGk0PY_nvIM9x4KMNOY7O2WB9PFO2TmpVO8uJeEvTf1EulHuDbZhuBvi6_WoB3xyTUBU/s320/20190821_114219.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A light entry this time...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have a little story to tell about our rocking chair that sits dominantly in our living room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This chair has a great history. Many memories, so let’s begin..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fifty years ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She was as sweet as sugar, but she was not a sleeper. Day & night Naomi wanted to be held and walked. My husband & I were falling off our feet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One afternoon, I thought if I don’t get some sleep, I’m going to collapse... I was so overtired. I called my parents, spoke to my father and asked him if he was busy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Being the smart man that he was, he immediately said, “what do you need?” and I said “<b><i>sleep</i></b>”. He asked me if I could wait about half and hour and they would come over. What could I say but “sure”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Half an hour later, they arrived carrying a very large package with a big red bow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unwrapping the package, my father said “this is not for you, it’s for Naomi”. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The gift was a gorgeous rocking chair with a large rabbit decal on the seat. Naomi loved her rocking chair. I fed her sitting on the rocking chair, and when it was time for her to sleep, a few rocks back and forth and she was out cold. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As she got older, we would sit on the rocking chair and I would read to her, and as a toddler, she would ‘<b><i>read</i></b>’ to her dolls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This chair was by far the best gift I had received.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A couple of years later, Devorah was born and we introduced her to the rocking chair. Sometimes, when I fed Devorah, Naomi would squeeze onto the chair and the three of us would rock.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What fun that was!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The girls loved their chair. As they grew up, the rocking chair stood proudly in their room. No way did they want it moved to another room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Going forward, Eli-Chaim joined our family. The chair became his and he loved it. We would spend hours rocking and reading, laughing, watching Sesame Street, and bonding. I remember these days like it was yesterday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our kids grew up and our chair was folded up and put in a corner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Twenty-five years ago, we made Aliyah, and our rocking chair was one of the few things in our lift. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Naomi, the baby who my parents bought the rocking chair for, was now a mother and I offered her the rocking chair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was so excited the second generation was going to enjoy the chair. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When Devorah gave birth, the chair went to her. This chair was well travelled. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Years later,when I saw the chair folded up and sitting in a corner of Devorah’s house, I asked if she still needed the chair and she said “no” and so I took it home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At some point over the years, all our grandchildren enjoyed the chair. They drew pictures & stuck stickers all over it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I took photos as a memory, then sanded it down, painted it mahogany, bought nice blue cushions and placed it in the living room. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My fifty year old chair is home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s all for now</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Miriam</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Epilogue: </i>The rocking chair was a gift for Naomi, and for tired me, my parents treated me to a once a week cleaning lady for as long as I needed one. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first cleaning lady tried to preach to me...she lasted 2 hours. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The second cleaning lady was too busy telling me how to cook. She lasted an hour and a half. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The third one was also a winner. I told my parents, how much I appreciated the offer, but I’m not a cleaning lady person to have under my feet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so I learned to managed. And if the floor didn't get washed...my world didn't come to an end.......</span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-1309359280707054932019-08-07T08:57:00.001+03:002019-08-07T08:57:29.992+03:00Our Time of Sorrowבס''ד<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are now in the last week of the Three Weeks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Three Weeks, which started on July 20th and will end with Tisha B’Av, is a period of mourning commemorating the destruction of the first and second Jewish Temples </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From sunset Aug.10th to sunset August 11th, Jews around the world will fast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A couple of years ago, I wrote this poem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The day of sorrow,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The 9th of Av.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The blackest day,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We Jews know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hashem commanded us to fast. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To give up our comforts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To be kind and respect each other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We read Megillah Eicha</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And learn about</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The destruction of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yerushalayim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why do we have this terrible day?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Is it because we cried for nothing so long ago?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hashem said “you want to cry,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ll give you something to cry about.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So many tragedies have struck</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Jewish people on the 9th of Av.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many were murdered on the 9th of Av</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In pogroms and the Holocaust</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For no other reason than they were Jews. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Moshiach, Moshiach, where are you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Come now, come now,” the people beg.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For we have suffered all our history.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And bring glory to this nation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today we have a homeland.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Eretz Yisrael</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our precious land </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Given to us by</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hashem.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yerushalayim</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our undivided eternal capital city</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Forever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Am Yisrael Chai!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's all for now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have an easy fast.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Feel free to comment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Miriam </span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-15933432749292764342019-04-30T17:01:00.000+03:002019-05-03T06:25:37.312+03:00And We Remember.....בס''ד<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig33ZGUNH0zg4sl3PaqQMM2FvEm3f8hJsoHlmbVrtDtkZzoxbqIlfyF0Ykf9Sr-iApHSEVHrCc8L-C0Cvhyphenhyphen0w0sSOoZdutwuib_SoXoMyRWREjYEmB7bPW-pjD9bzB69Kid_XEEZBzEYw/s1600/Yom+HaZikaron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig33ZGUNH0zg4sl3PaqQMM2FvEm3f8hJsoHlmbVrtDtkZzoxbqIlfyF0Ykf9Sr-iApHSEVHrCc8L-C0Cvhyphenhyphen0w0sSOoZdutwuib_SoXoMyRWREjYEmB7bPW-pjD9bzB69Kid_XEEZBzEYw/s320/Yom+HaZikaron.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The headline from <a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/262627">Arutz 7</a> screamed </span><br />
<span style="color: #054f86; font-family: kalisher, arial; font-size: 31pt; letter-spacing: -0.9px;">23,741 have fallen in Israel's wars</span><br />
<div class="Desc" itemprop="description" style="color: #777777; font-family: kalisher, arial; font-size: 17pt; letter-spacing: -0.5px; line-height: 19.2667px; margin-top: 6px; padding: 0px 0px 6px; position: relative;">
56 soldiers added to list of fallen soldiers in past year.<br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next Tuesday evening May 7th and Wednesday, May 8th, Israel remembers our fallen soldiers who served with pride and honour.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Remembrance Day in Israel is called Yom HaZikaron. This is an official day enacted into law in 1963.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the same time we also remember all the victims of terrorism with ceremonies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yom HaZikaron is totally different from Remembrance Day in North America, and anywhere else in the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Beside the official ceremonies in military cemeteries, all places of entertainment are closed. TV channels have only programming dedicated to the fallen soldiers and their families. Songs about Israel and the IDF are played on the radio.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have two sirens on Yom HaZikaron. A one minute siren at 8:00 pm on Tuesday evening and a two minute siren at 11:00 am on Wednesday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the siren wails, life stops and we remember. On the roads, all traffic comes to a standstill with drivers and passengers standing beside their vehicle. Quite a sight to see.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The day ends with a state ceremony at Mount Herzl military cemetery and starts Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day. This year we will be celebrating 71 years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are many events that take place. Have a look.. <a href="https://www.itraveljerusalem.com/article/independence-day-in-jerusalem/">Yom Ha'Atzmaut Events</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Several years ago I wrote a poem in memory of our chayalim simply called <i>Thank-you....</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Thank-you dear
chayalim and chayalot </b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">of the Israel
Defense Forces.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Thank-you<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>for your
service<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>in defending
our nation.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Thank-you dear
reservist<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>for answering
the call<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>so that our
country will not fall.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Many have
sacrificed their life<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>So that we can
live in our homeland.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Baruch Dayan
HaEmet</b></span></div>
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">May your memory
be a blessing.</b></div>
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>To those who
are now serving<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>all over our
precious land<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>our prayers are
with you.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>May the Hand of
the One Above<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>watch over you<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>night and day<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>and bring you
home safely<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<b style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> into the arms of your family.</b><br />
<b style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's all for now</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Feel free to comment and share.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Miriam</i></b></span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-30297824306085585942019-04-08T18:02:00.001+03:002019-04-08T18:04:40.399+03:00Getting Ready for Pesach...בס''ד<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pesach is one of my favorite holidays, but getting ready for Pesach <b>was</b> a different story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It has taken me many years to learn and more to except the fact that </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">dust is not chametz .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And if the windows are not cleaned that doesn't make my house not ready.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Years ago, when I was younger, Pesach cleaning started the day after Purim. Carefully, I would make a calendar and mark which room and which closet would be done that day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I followed my calendar as if it was holy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everything and I mean everything was scrubbed. In each bedroom and we had three, the walls washed from ceiling to floor. The floor scrubbed. The windows shined. The curtains washed and the furniture cleaned and polished.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When our children were young, their toys and dolls were scrubbed, books wiped down, and stuffed toys went thru the laundry</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My neighbours would laugh when they would see the selection of stuffed toys hanging on the clothesline.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As my girls got older, they looked after their rooms. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I remember my 4 year old son wanting to help. He took a box of cheerios, spread them all over the floor in his room and then called me to see ‘he was cleaning also’’. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lying flat on his stomach, with a rag, he was making piles of Cheerios to pick-up. As tired as I was, who could get angry, the picture was too precious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reaching the living room.... the scene was pretty much the same. A few times we rented the portable machine that cleaned carpets and sofas. It did a decent job, but it was hard work and the mess it made, wasn’t worth the trouble.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Down to the wire, 3 days before Pesach, it was finally the kitchens turn. Everyone helped scrub the appliances. The refrigerator, freezer [no self cleaning], stove, and oven. The appliances were moved so that I could wash the walls behind them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How crazy I was in those days.... Meanwhile with very little chametzdik food in the house [I didn’t want any crumbs], my family starving [they survived], tempers flared. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The last cleaning job was the washing and waxing the kitchen & dining area floor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were now ready to start the foiling, every inch of counter space, the fridge shelves, stove and the sinks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The apartment ready for Pesach, just in time to do bedikat chametz.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shlepping the Pesach dishes up from the basement and unpacking was my husband and children’s job. I don’t know why, but we saved the wrapping newspaper. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Erev Pesach day, was a marathon of cooking, baking and of course the preparation for the seder plate. As my daughters became teens, they loved to go through the Pesach cookbook, find interesting recipes, bake and help with the cooking. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By the time we sat down to the seder, I was exhausted..the kids had many interesting facts to tell and our seder was wonderful. The first night was just our family. The second night was for guests.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today, getting ready for Pesach goes a lot easier and smoother. I still go room by room but I know when to stop. I do have to keep telling </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">myself “that’s not chametz. Move on!” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have the beautiful ‘chametz’ signs the kids made at different ages. They are precious. And when my kitchen is ready, I will hang them up on the cupboards. Each picture brings back a flood of memories...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wishing everyone a meaningful Pesach</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Chag Pesach Sameach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Miriam </span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-11277311319965937442019-03-10T11:02:00.002+02:002019-03-11T06:14:52.859+02:00ENOUGH ALREADY!בס''ד<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAAh6z0yG8nDUfRJUNMXozw6UMgYKl5fkdX7dwsN2UA243a-tNGn_KXgmeZAjlmcWyoD0uWe4BLUoyoP9bXXqS2KOVSwoIrBV6VidJK0EAUkpKtSHqMOAarGpLScfXWOyNi8d8CP5OQM/s1600/Gaza+envelope+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="780" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAAh6z0yG8nDUfRJUNMXozw6UMgYKl5fkdX7dwsN2UA243a-tNGn_KXgmeZAjlmcWyoD0uWe4BLUoyoP9bXXqS2KOVSwoIrBV6VidJK0EAUkpKtSHqMOAarGpLScfXWOyNi8d8CP5OQM/s400/Gaza+envelope+map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the South of Israel,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the Israeli side</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">of the Gaza Strip</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is known as the Gaza Envelope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The South called The Negev</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is the desert land of Eretz Yisrael. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The history it has witnessed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Where our forefather Avraham Avinu</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-walked</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-lived</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-his animals grazed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-and he did business with passing caravans of merchants</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">in the biblical area called Gerar.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today, still called Gerar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Avraham Avinu’s home</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is a beautiful forest</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">where families can enjoy its beauty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is hard for me to believe that</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2 kilometers away</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is where we live.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The fact that we</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-live</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-walk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-shop</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-pray</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">on the same land is beyond belief to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How blessed we are!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From the barren land of long ago</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">now sits..........</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">kibbutzim</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">moshavim</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">yishuvim</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">cities</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thousands of Israeli citizens</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">call home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The South has seen much terror.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And once again</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is under attack </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by the descendants of Ishmael </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">who live in Gaza. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They launch rockets, mortars. explosive balloons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They try to infiltrate the Gaza fence</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">with knives and other weapons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They want to maim and kill our brave chayalim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They want the land of Israel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Day and night, life for the border residents is unsettling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Their children are suffering </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They can't sleep </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They have nightmares</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The noise from explosions is deafening</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The rocket siren is wailing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everyone to the bomb shelter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then.........</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">IDF jets are overhead</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">defending our precious land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Enough already!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How much are we supposed to suffer?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s all for now. Feel free to comment and share.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Purim Sameach</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Miriam</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">* </span><a href="http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Map of Gaza Envelope</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aug.2011</span></div>
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The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-6207632714063228932019-03-03T12:09:00.000+02:002019-03-03T12:09:33.170+02:00The Creative Side Of Me................בס''ד<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I haven’t blogged for awhile. Every time I wanted to sit down and blog a few words, there was always something else for me to do...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have always enjoyed hand work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was a young girl, my mother a”H taught me how to knit. I can’t tell you how many scarves I started but never finished. One time I saw a pattern for a sweater and I asked my mother [who could knit quickly and beautifully] to knit it for me. she said “no, you do it, and I’ll help you.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I started my project and guess what, it was harder than I thought, didn’t want to ask for help, so I put it aside...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One day, my Bubby a”H asked me how the sweater was coming along. I told her it was too hard and she being the great Bubby she was, told me to give her the pattern and she would finish it for me. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A week later, she gave me my beautiful finished sweater.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time passed, life went on and when my children were young, I learnt how to needlepoint. I loved do the needlework and made many wall hangings including a large carpet wall hanging. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhHfNd-4qlFhqAljxxA8CKqVxkGyneIn2WqK4VeASfuynKGOqBPQ3txHvHlQmsxs_zeXvxnUl4VXtacNQu4yPQbfKlQ467oIQhRZ1l4MLW44z9TwRiCxAf0eUnyu3Pj6tjYzram1JO4k/s1600/20190303_085233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhHfNd-4qlFhqAljxxA8CKqVxkGyneIn2WqK4VeASfuynKGOqBPQ3txHvHlQmsxs_zeXvxnUl4VXtacNQu4yPQbfKlQ467oIQhRZ1l4MLW44z9TwRiCxAf0eUnyu3Pj6tjYzram1JO4k/s320/20190303_085233.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDCZmW1PWGBHQGVW4EhBsT7-VlmaS_ZCPoXU9jDUxcPF-pe34sHTe-ATGq5tfGQrncm9c0lLX7VNDXWM-5aT8HcEYn4gy5VLeSI1ueWpxNNTTEx16nUpFmj5_hYcrS-BppYIAzvYp9jY/s1600/20190303_085222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDCZmW1PWGBHQGVW4EhBsT7-VlmaS_ZCPoXU9jDUxcPF-pe34sHTe-ATGq5tfGQrncm9c0lLX7VNDXWM-5aT8HcEYn4gy5VLeSI1ueWpxNNTTEx16nUpFmj5_hYcrS-BppYIAzvYp9jY/s320/20190303_085222.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For my young son’s room, I made a little chassidic boy with the sweetest face and long peyot. We named the little boy Shlomie. Today, Shlomie hangs in the bedroom of 2 of my grandsons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mother-in-law a”H had an old Singer sewing machine. When she bought her new one, my husband [who knows how to sew] asked her for the Singer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We made throw pillows, sewed doll and animal patterns and made toys. We also made several curtains. I even managed to follow a pattern and made a couple of skirts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When my daughters were in the Ulpana, they learnt to crochet kippot. I asked them to teach me to crochet, they tried, but I couldn’t catch on.. 😔</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many years passed.....and I became a senior. After much nagging from our yishuv social worker, I joined a 60+ mosaic and ceramic chug at our moetza. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found my passion..I was like a fish to water.. I caught on right away and I created my first mosaic picture</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9N9CjNZtogfVncv9yE5Ffc7TxwmJ2ELPCZaTDRli4CC9CVNOIBhRHLl-A30tW-w1JjMiEzL_yol_vgpXwQeGg1v23NTXnjlbLTdxfizsm8afnGeNpDncAMC60tFawNJOwiA0ke2o5A0U/s1600/sunflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9N9CjNZtogfVncv9yE5Ffc7TxwmJ2ELPCZaTDRli4CC9CVNOIBhRHLl-A30tW-w1JjMiEzL_yol_vgpXwQeGg1v23NTXnjlbLTdxfizsm8afnGeNpDncAMC60tFawNJOwiA0ke2o5A0U/s320/sunflower.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My teacher suggested I try making a piece from ceramics. We had a fabulous supply of broken tiles, cups and plates. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Using my imagination I made an abstract... Have a look.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMDc2lRcxz404YLQWS9QSwc1oDMGqggUI5-lq-VSRceCQBGtHd8PWYpQeOgmzLiUbIxqECfsBiKTJwiH0yKhJkUd7g3mTYygzMYFTX2zqCdX_Mtw3ryH7h997VYpZHEkd77_YrsnVu-Y/s1600/outside+ceramic+wall+hanging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMDc2lRcxz404YLQWS9QSwc1oDMGqggUI5-lq-VSRceCQBGtHd8PWYpQeOgmzLiUbIxqECfsBiKTJwiH0yKhJkUd7g3mTYygzMYFTX2zqCdX_Mtw3ryH7h997VYpZHEkd77_YrsnVu-Y/s320/outside+ceramic+wall+hanging.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was having a blast. I waited for Sunday morning all week... I attended this chug for 2 years...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took my enjoyment one step further, bought wood & stones and started making creations at home...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found that working and creating relaxed me. My son made a comment that I like everything done ‘yesterday’, but for this I could sit and sit and sit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first home creation was a hanger piece for my great-granddaughter’s room. I came out okay, but truth be told, today, I would have made it better....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZySTywG_iBdoSH4ztN6RiacyVURwmr8oLh94fAa9aI6QREbZquA6mZmYniZwktSQ0fDGIsrAToHblwpJNgzZAmKgx-YHMZYJePe8s2luLZ6okA0NLE0J2XgxaYkQwdjtWK_p_C02EbDQ/s1600/Hanger+for+Oriya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZySTywG_iBdoSH4ztN6RiacyVURwmr8oLh94fAa9aI6QREbZquA6mZmYniZwktSQ0fDGIsrAToHblwpJNgzZAmKgx-YHMZYJePe8s2luLZ6okA0NLE0J2XgxaYkQwdjtWK_p_C02EbDQ/s320/Hanger+for+Oriya.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My next creative projects was using cord,wool,fish tank stones, and domino blocks.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtl6R5pK_Rf-uHUrnWKjp3WqUm1256L1q28ZXZVpB0VX5NxUhhyiCYCg_CChNLWXJhcTfz5Wi9OBBKrUdRaTl2m4B6hPJBJ9I0IyFJJC_MOTVfmlL9MPV-fxVk3lFlVFcnmfEKyhw3nE/s1600/wine+bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtl6R5pK_Rf-uHUrnWKjp3WqUm1256L1q28ZXZVpB0VX5NxUhhyiCYCg_CChNLWXJhcTfz5Wi9OBBKrUdRaTl2m4B6hPJBJ9I0IyFJJC_MOTVfmlL9MPV-fxVk3lFlVFcnmfEKyhw3nE/s320/wine+bottle.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5BT4gmI6lT4UWKKlTXzDVHnZAsAU-_E1dfXzcrer2baFsVAt7neLu1sV-At6ExIgrIwqZVmRTUV-MRzJrpDyCqfuCv_rbm4CpwSwW3zF7AveyS8MouM7OZkTD-kfQPM-hPe2_sE2KnE/s1600/flower+vase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5BT4gmI6lT4UWKKlTXzDVHnZAsAU-_E1dfXzcrer2baFsVAt7neLu1sV-At6ExIgrIwqZVmRTUV-MRzJrpDyCqfuCv_rbm4CpwSwW3zF7AveyS8MouM7OZkTD-kfQPM-hPe2_sE2KnE/s320/flower+vase.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do you like my Hot Air balloon? This was fun to make...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJRUVy9NogviKII5_L6KX7B8VyYGgJ_Iai0qlIKySqy9ebOaqYyvJ2F7uUkfDMFBvDKWc5O-uSOIqBBBuoLWW3SVEfda12W1KXoyT3WgXMUUDtNS9p3pacJ8o-fKyHDDoL1q7snhmJuo/s1600/Image2086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJRUVy9NogviKII5_L6KX7B8VyYGgJ_Iai0qlIKySqy9ebOaqYyvJ2F7uUkfDMFBvDKWc5O-uSOIqBBBuoLWW3SVEfda12W1KXoyT3WgXMUUDtNS9p3pacJ8o-fKyHDDoL1q7snhmJuo/s320/Image2086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For my son’s room, I made a peaceful sailboat</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiM3iafyJD4Iz39hR0Gdr18rd_mfyUcDnZP2l2mAKpz69B0_ceeOyURjFfi-nUrRfbR5UAkeoPe080Hx0kqA75IHeBjXlbhKf16hzRxQm7cffXPGYaEfxlton0t07eGbmuR_YFnsqrIog/s1600/For+Eli-Chaim+sailboat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiM3iafyJD4Iz39hR0Gdr18rd_mfyUcDnZP2l2mAKpz69B0_ceeOyURjFfi-nUrRfbR5UAkeoPe080Hx0kqA75IHeBjXlbhKf16hzRxQm7cffXPGYaEfxlton0t07eGbmuR_YFnsqrIog/s320/For+Eli-Chaim+sailboat.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And for one of my grandsons who loves soccer</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For my daughters </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week I finished my abstract pinwheel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have so many more creations, to many to post. Every inch of wall has something...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Creating give me a sense of accomplishment. Like photographs, the pieces are for now to enjoy and for the future. It is leaving a piece of me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s all for now</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feel free to comment</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Miriam</i></b></span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-8569620584610011612018-11-17T20:03:00.000+02:002018-11-18T20:47:38.688+02:00And the Rocket Siren Rang & Rang & Rang...בס''ד<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once again, Israelis living around the Gaza Fence, spent hours in their bomb shelters Monday evening and Tuesday during the day, as Hamas, the terrorists organization, unleashed a flurry of rockets at residents of the South.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This time, Hamas outdid themselves firing 466 rockets. There were many injuries, a lot of damage, direct hits on private homes and an apartment building. Schools and some businesses closed. The train was cancelled and highways and roads were closed to non residents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our Yishuv is 9 km from Gaza [about 5 1/2 miles]. We received 9 rockets sirens with 7 coming every few minutes. The booming was ear piercing. Our house vibrated and the windows rattled.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Israel Home Front ordered all residents to stay in or near our bomb shelter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have only 15 seconds to seek safety. Yes! Only 15 seconds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What do families with young children do?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My daughter Devorah, as a mother of 7 children, living in the Gaza Envelope, was asked to make an English video called ‘Life Under Fire’ - What can you do in 15 seconds?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have a look. Devorah will leave you with chills. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XavbdTemDYk&fbclid=IwAR3Ww8rVVNoC_JuVezucugesfSC8gyCOr1P382aQzXJTTYoHiWj-M96sA2M" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life Under Fire</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I challenge you to take the 15 second test. See if you can get your family and pets to safety in 15 seconds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. choose a room in your house to be your safe room</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. set anytime on an alarm clock</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. set a second alarm clock for 15 seconds later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. when the alarm rings, gather your kids and pets and get to your safe room before the second alarm goes off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Did you make it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Gaza Belt has many senior residents made up of families who made aliyah from Europe and Arab countries to escape discrimination. They came from Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Yemen, and so forth, before 1948 and after. The Jewish Agency settled them in the South on a barren piece of land. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With very little food or money, these ‘settlers’ started moshavim, kibbutzim, and businesses. They worked tirelessly to settle the land and make the Negev the beautiful area it is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They turned a desert into rich land that grows vegetables, fruit, wheat, & flowers. As young men and women, they served in the IDF.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today, they are seniors in their 80’s, 90’s and I’m sure some are 100 years old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the siren rings, their lives are literally in danger. Many do not have bomb shelters in their homes and can’t get to a public shelter. There are seniors in wheelchairs, some have serious illnesses and are bed ridden, others suffer from dementia and alzheimers. They just can’t get to safety in 15 seconds. They can’t get to safety in any amount of time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last week, I visited a neighbour who is confined to a wheelchair. She does not have a bomb shelter in her house. I asked her what does she do when the siren rings. She told me, “I just sit here. I can’t go anywhere”. I told her to make sure she is not near any windows. The glass can shatter and fly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is not a way to live. We constantly wait for the next barrage of rockets. Hamas are a bunch of thugs, fickle ones at that. They don’t need a reason to fire rockets. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I would like my government to explain why they allow a bunch of terrorist thugs to call the shots... And I don’t want them to say there is a bigger picture. Residents of the south deserve to be protected by their government.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Miriam</span><br />
<br />The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-91573707893010312922018-11-11T18:03:00.000+02:002018-11-11T18:03:40.778+02:00And The Hate Continuesבס''ד<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My parents were both Canadian born. My father served in the Canadian army during WW2 and was deployed to Europe, where he was stationed for 3 years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Except for telling us about some cousins he met in Paris, he never wanted to speak about his war experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so the horrors of the war weren’t spoken in our home. Only before a <b><i>Yom HaShoah</i></b> program, when our Rabbi spoke about the holocaust, did I learn bits and piece. Truthfully, except for the fact that six million Jews were murdered, I was very ignorant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew that my Bubby’s parents were murdered in a pogrom before WW1. And the only reason I knew this was because we had a kiddush cup that belonged to them. My Bubby hid their kiddush cup and lachter in-between her clothes when she and some of her 14 siblings were able to escape from Minsk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, this 100+year old Kiddush cup, sits proudly on my Seder table, waiting for Eliyahu HaNavi. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first time I heard the word Kristallnacht, was when I was a group leader for NCSY in Chomedey [suburb of Montreal], and our head group leader wanted to do program.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Six teenagers, all Canadian born, sat around the table and said, “a program for what?” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Asking my parents about Kristallnacht, the answer I got was ‘it’s over and will never happen again.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Shabbat and today, November 9th and 10th, is the 80th anniversary of the 1938 <b><i>Kristallnacht</i></b> [also referred to as the Night of Broken Glass] pogroms. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overnight, non Jewish friends and neighbours turned on their Jewish neighbours and friends with delight. That night in Germany, thousands upon thousands of Jews were subject to terror and violence by the Nazis. Over 1,000 Jewish synagogues and over 7,500 Jewish businesses were destroyed, and approximately 30,000+ Jewish men were arrested and taken to concentration camps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They destroyed everything Jewish. Store windows were smashed, shuls were set on fire, holy books and Torahs were burnt to a crisp.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What has the world learned in 80 years? Nothing! Anti-semitism is alive and flourishing world wide. The anti semites are crawling out of the closets, spouting their hatred words.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And what is the world’s answer? Anti-semitic laws are weak at best and not very often enforced. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poland is erasing their history. They say they too were victims...Nonsense..The Poles hands are dripping in Jewish blood. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, <b>BDS</b>, is the modern anti-semitic movement. When someone says, “I like Jews, it is Israel I’m against, that’s an anti-semitic comment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anti-semitic and Anti Israel are one and the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many years ago, when we were still living in Hamilton, Ontario, we had our own personal anti-semitic experiences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One morning, my young son and I were getting ready to go to school. He opened the front door and stepped into a puddle of rotten eggs. He screamed ‘Mommy”. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the walls and front door, in black marker were swastikas and the word Jew. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We called the police, took pictures, and our building super and building managers. They didn’t know what to say. The police sent their race relation team to speak to us. The manager said, go to work and I will have it cleaned up. When we came home there wasn’t a trace of anything. The walls had been cleaned and painted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few days later, the swastikas were back. But this time we had a death threat. On our front door, scribbled in black marker, <b><i>Die Jew. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was a couple of days before Yom Kippur. The building manager set up cameras by our door. We explained to the police about Yom Kippur and they said they would add extra patrols around the building. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had our suspicion on who was responsible, but no proof. To this day, I don’t believe anyone was ever charged.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baruch Hashem, Jews now have a homeland. Eretz Yisrael is calling you to come home. We have room for everyone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feel free to share and comment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miriam</span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-81428980730852894852018-08-12T09:10:00.000+03:002018-08-12T09:10:21.004+03:00The Sitting Ducks of the South...בס''ד<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The caption says <i>‘If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it's a resident of the Western Negev.’</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simple and true words. We, the residents of the South, Israeli tax paying citizens, are sitting ducks waiting for the other shoe to fall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are subjected to the whims of Hamas, a terrorist organization that honours death, lives for death, and has no respect for any life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hamas is a fickle band of terrorists who at any given moment can fire one, two, three or 150 missiles at the South aiming for our destruction. They fly kites, balloons, condoms and drones with a molotov fire bomb attached wanting to burn our land and injure firefighters and soldiers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To date they have burnt thousands of acres of Israeli farm land and forests. These flying firebombs have also landed and started fires on kibbutzim, moshavim, schoolyards, cities, just about anywhere and everywhere. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last Wednesday night, July 8th, from late evening and all night Hamas fired 150 missiles at southern residents. During the day they fired more missiles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The government ordered the IDF to do a full assault and when Hamas cried ‘<i>uncle</i>’ and ran to Egypt to arrange a ceasefire, the IDF was ordered to stop. Instead of finishing the job, we said we will meet terror with actions and calm with calm. Who is our government trying so hard to please?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first duty of an elected government is to protect its citizens. As citizens of the south, we feel we are second class citizens. Why isn’t the government protecting us?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not a military expert, nor do I pretend to be, and it is not my place to tell the government how to answer, it is my place to say to this government "w</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hether it is balloon launchers, terrorists firing missiles or trying to tear down the border fence, every offence must be answered strongly, not with words but with actions."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is not normal for people to wait for the other shoe to fall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s all for now</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miriam</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* Many thanks to Adele Reamer for the use of her duck photo </span></div>
The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-34331443954342172672018-07-30T10:17:00.000+03:002018-07-30T10:17:17.833+03:00Who Will Protect Us? Who Will Speak For Us? בס''ד<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This blog is about forest animals, farm animals, birds, bees and molotov firebombs. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m not an animal activist. I’m just a person who can’t stand the fact that innocent animals, birds and bees, which never did anything to <b><i>Hamas</i></b> are being abused in the worse way. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is why I am writing a blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Quick Review </b></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in March, Hamas, a terrorist organization from Gaza, decided that an easy way to do a terror attack was to burn Israeli land in the South. They knew that fire would cause terror among the residents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so they took children’s kites and balloon’s and made them into weapons. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They filled the balloons with helium, which the IDF said they stole from the hospital in Gaza, and attached a molotov firebomb to the tail and let it fly into Israel, fall and start a fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When they ran out of balloons they used condoms. Yes, you read correctly. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Today, they are using both balloons and small drones with gas canisters attached.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thousands of dunams [acres] of Israeli forests and farmland have been burnt. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Burning balloons have landed in schoolyards and private homes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Living in the forests are hundreds of small and large animals, from turtles to deer and everything in-between. These animals are being burnt to death alive trying to escape the fires. The fortunate ones, who do manage to survive, graze on burnt fields and have nothing to eat. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have farmers who have beehives. The last report said that 200+ beehives have been burnt. It is painful to see pictures of the bees trying to escape. A couple of weeks ago, Hamas caused a fire in a cowshed with the cows inside. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Israeli firefighters do everything possible to save animals, but it is really an impossible job. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In one of our Nature Reserve, a dead, burnt Falcon was found. It had a firebomb attached to its body. Its wing had gotten tangled in a tree. Hamas’s plan was to let the bird fly to Israel and have a canister explode. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was the final straw for me. After I saw the photo of the burnt, dead bird, I knew I had to do something. I wanted to know why after so many months, where was PETA? Why were they silent? PETA says they are the voice for animals. They are the protectors. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On June 20th and July 9th, I posted blogs about the molotov fires. I wrote about the burned animals and asked where was PETA ? I was really surprised PETA hadn’t commented, after all they are always complaining about kosher slaughtering. At the end of this blog are the links to my two previous blogs.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Tuesday, July 16th, I sent an open letter to <b>PETA</b> on their Report Animal Cruelty page, explained the situation and asked them to condemn Hamas for the killings of innocent animals.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I then posted my letter to <b>PETA</b> on my Facebook timeline with the contact link. Friends shared and took up the cause. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unknown to me at the time, a reporter took the situation a step further and contacted PETA for a statement. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Wednesday July 18th, in the Jerusalem Post, there was a very sterile statement from <b>PETA.</b> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PETA’s statement<span style="color: purple; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">: As human beings, every one of us at PETA is concerned about human civilians, children, and anyone else caught in the line of fire of any conflict. As an animal-protection organization, PETA notes that animals claim allegiance to no nation, don't choose sides, and can only rely on human beings to show them mercy, and it is unacceptable to use them as weapons of war. </span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PETA did not condemn Hamas by name. I would like them to issue another statement condemning Hamas by name. <b>PETA</b> needs to receive complaints about their sterile statement. I don’t expect Hamas to stop the fires because <b>PETA</b> has named them. They will laugh it off. But <b>PETA</b> has a responsibility to publicly name the persons / organizations abusing animals.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The link to contact <b>PETA</b> is..<a href="https://www.peta.org/about-peta/contact-peta/report-cruelty/"><b>Peta condemn Hamas by name</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you will contact <b>PETA</b>. These animals are counting on us. Thank-you for your time.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until next time, feel free to comment and share.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Miriam</b></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Previous blogs.</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">June 20th <a href="https://miriamswords.blogspot.com/2018/06/rockets-and-fire.html">Rockets and Fire</a></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">July 9th <a href="https://miriamswords.blogspot.com/2018/07/100-days-of-destruction.html">100 Days of Destruction</a></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> </span></div>
The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-2028692559569414342018-07-15T08:53:00.000+03:002018-07-15T15:32:40.203+03:00And How Was Your Shabbat?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmMol7RWCnzMxNcVvuLj7I8He4lAJ4GKh1owECwQitvDJnDc2xTJAtjYlsW399U2JQoq38GfN5ZTDPbIA_8q4qX7nodW11eANs6gMAl0qTVuoEJttsd7OoK-CghqdLLo_2cjddpHMdKQ/s1600/37082456_10216587699743585_3637899675522039808_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="960" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmMol7RWCnzMxNcVvuLj7I8He4lAJ4GKh1owECwQitvDJnDc2xTJAtjYlsW399U2JQoq38GfN5ZTDPbIA_8q4qX7nodW11eANs6gMAl0qTVuoEJttsd7OoK-CghqdLLo_2cjddpHMdKQ/s320/37082456_10216587699743585_3637899675522039808_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">IDF spokesman: Moetzi Shabbat July 14th/18</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>-200 mortars and rockets fired</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>-4 Israeli civilians injured</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>-173 red alerts sirens</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>-30 iron dome interceptions.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And how was your Shabbat?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a very nice Shabbat evening, at 1:30a.m., we were woken up by the red alert siren beeping and showing a missiles was fired at a southern kibbutz.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Southern parents had to wake their sleeping children to go to their bomb shelter. Communities in Otef Aza have between 7 and 15 seconds </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to seek safety, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">depending on how far they are from Gaza. Can you move that fast?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Take the test. Decide on a ‘safe’ room in your house. Using a stopwatch set it for 15 seconds. Have your cell phone alarm ring. Go! Stop what you are doing. Close the stove and oven if you are cooking. Gather your children and pets and get to your ‘safe’ room before 15 seconds. Pretty hard, right! Now imagine this scenario 5, 10, 20 times during the day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so instead of children playing outside on Shabbat, they were stuck in their bomb shelters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A missile exploded in a playground in Sderot. Just image the tragedy if children were playing in the park? A house was hit and a family was injured from shrapnel .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For many hours, Hamas fired missiles up to 7kms into Israel. We live in Ma’agalim, 9 kms. As Shabbat was coming to an end, Hamas fired a grad missile towards Netivot. Our siren rang, our yishuv was in the pathway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Patches, who has very sharp hearing heard the missile before the siren and was at the door. We went to our safe area, and 5 seconds later, heard 2 booms. The floor vibrated. The iron dome had intercepted the missile over our yishuv and we could see the puff of smoke in the sky across the street from us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The IDF was out all day answering. We heard booming from tanks and jets. They did damage. The IDF spokesman said Hamas was hit harder than ever before. Forty plus major hits, including destroying the training headquarters of Hamas and two tunnel from Gaza into Israel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With all the rockets flying and IDF answering, somehow Hamas managed to start 15 molotov fires and burn more Israeli land.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hamas was hurting and called for a ceasefire. International countries struck their nose where it didn’t belong and urged Israel to agree. Shamefully, we did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One hour later, Hamas fired two more missiles. We answered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As of now there is a ceasefire. </span>We say it includes
rockets and molotov kites and balloon and all methods of fire making. Hamas
says it doesn’t include the fires</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Only time will tell how we respond.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is not for citizens to tell the IDF how to do their job. All we can say is FINISH THE JOB for once and for all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I type this blog, it is quiet except for the hum of the drone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s all for now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">M</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">iriam </span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-45699305440129720052018-07-09T06:10:00.000+03:002018-07-11T06:15:54.469+03:00100 Days of Destruction...בס''ד<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">100 days, yes you read correctly. This past Shabbat was 100 days Hamas has been flying kites and balloons with molotov firebombs attached and burning the land in the south of Israel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kites and balloon, children’s toys have become weapons of mass destruction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">678 fires, thousands of dunams [we don’t measure in acres in Israel] of land have been burnt. The conversion is 1 dunam equals 0.247105 acres. Forests and nature parks are badly burnt. Animals have been killed in the most torturous way..burned alive. Once again I ask..where is Peta?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The costs are in the billions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The destruction is monstrous. Where is the outrage from all the environmentalist groups? These fires have serious consequences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last week, an air quality machine was set up by the government to check the air quality in Otef Aza [Gaza belt] because residents are complaining they can’t breathe. Infants, children and the elderly are at risks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Medical costs are going to soar because of lung diseases. Asthmatics are having a very hard time breathing. Particles in the air cause bronchitis and pneumonia. Heart patients have to be monitored more often. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is not just the fact that the land is burnt. Hamas is waging economic terrorism against us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The south has a lot of wheat fields. And from wheat we get flour. With very little wheat available every product that requires wheat is going to be more expensive. From bread, to cakes, to pasta and so forth. Where will we get the wheat that we are short? My guess it will need to be imported. That means higher prices. Just imagine what matza is going to cost. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rosh Hashana is just around the corner. Yad Mordechai is one of the largest honey producers. Many of their bee hives have been burnt. We are already being told that there will be a shortage of honey for Rosh Hashana.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And the vegetables that we grow for domestic use and exports. Some farmers are trying to harvest whatever crops they have left. We have a farmer near us that has sheep and goats. He grows hay for his animals so that they will have food for the winter months. We saw him harvesting his fields day and night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some farmers have lost their parnassa [livelihood]. And the people they employ, Israelis and foreign workers, have also lost their parnassa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And from our government the silence is deafening. It is like they are wearing ear muffs and blindfolds. Why are they twiddling their thumbs and doing nothing about it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The citizens of the south have had enough. <b><i>On Thursday, July 12, at 7:00 p.m. there will be a demonstration at the Sderot Junction [near the train station]. Everyone across our wonderful country is invited. Show your support for the South and send a strong message to our government. Enough is Enough. Do something to stop the fires!</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s all for now</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Feel free to comment and share</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Miriam </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Recommendation:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you are on Facebook, I would like to recommend you follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2143241082619946/">Black South Photography</a>. This is a page of photos of the south after a fire taken by professional photographers. The pictures are hard to look at, but show the entire picture. </span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-6766107158512269422018-06-20T19:30:00.000+03:002018-06-21T07:31:49.590+03:00Rockets and Fire...בס''ד<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since 2001, Palestinian terrorists have fired fifteen thousand plus rockets and mortars at Israel from the Gaza Strip as part of their plan to drive Israelis out of Israel and drown in the sea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In 2005, in the month of August, the Israeli government of the time, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, ordered the IDF to expelled 10,000 Jewish citizens from their homes and land in Gush Katif.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Sharon government was convinced that if they move the Jewish residents out of Gaza, and improve the lives of the Gazans, Hamas would stop firing rockets and become good citizens. He was also out to please the American President and the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The government destroyed their homes, but left community centers, schools, land to build apartments, greenhouses, all to improve the lives of the Gazan people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How did Hamas say thank-you, “we will build apartments for our people”, by firing thousands of rockets at communities in the South.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And the land for apartments, well it became terror training camps. The everyday people received no improvements to their lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Being a terrorist is a job and a well paying job at that. There is a set monthly allowance for injuring and maiming Israelis and if you kill an Israeli, there is a big bonus. If you are arrested and while you are in prison, your family will receive a monthly allowance. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you are killed, your family will be looked after for life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hamas has no respect for life. Young children act as human shields for cowardly terrorists, dig tunnels, have bomb belts strapped to their little bodies and become suicide bombers when the bomb goes off remotely. Nice people right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Women are dispensable and are told by their husbands to be terrorists. They hide knives under their clothes and stab Israeli soldiers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Donkeys have had bomb belts attached to their body and when they get near a soldier they are blown up. Where is PETA when you need them?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The newest terror weapons are children’s kites. Hamas terrorists build kites, attach a Molotov firebomb to the tail and let the wind gently float across the Gaza fence and when it falls in Israel, it explodes on Southern farmers fields and starts a fire. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And when they ran out of kites, Hamas used balloons. They fill the balloon with helium, that they stole from hospitals, attach a molotov bomb to the string and again let the wind blow it to Israel and explode.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No more kites or balloons, no problem, Hamas is now using condoms as balloons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">According to reports, because of kite terrorism, approximately 400 fires have consumed more than 30,000 hectares of crops, forests and nature reserves. The damage to the farmers and their property is estimated at more than NIS 7 million and growing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sheep and goats have nowhere to graze. Fox, deer and many small animals that live in the forest are suffocated and burnt alive to death because they have nowhere to run and hide. It will take years for the land to be rejuvenated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On Tuesday, after a day of many fires, at 1:15a.m., when everyone was asleep, Hamas fired 45 rockets at southern communities until 5:30a.m. Many families slept in their bomb shelters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One rocket exploded next to a kindergarten. The explosions of rockets broke windows in houses and cars and caused other damage. B”H there weren’t any physical injuries reported, but emotional injuries, I ‘m sure there were many.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The IDF answered the rockets with 25 hits in Gaza. We had booming all night and the iron dome did its job. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I write this blog there are fires still burning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am posting a video of the burnt land. It is heart breaking to look at but very necessary to understand what Israelis are living with. The video has some Hebrew, but the truth is no language is necessary. The video speaks for itself. After you view the video, please share it. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAohrpqvR4Q&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop%20%20That%E2%80%99s%20all%20for%20now%20Feel%20free%20to%20share%20and%20comment" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two Months of Fire</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's all for now. Feel free to share and comment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Miriam </span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-58392727348074091262018-05-29T11:28:00.001+03:002018-05-29T11:28:50.711+03:00Coffee Talk Ladies on the Go...בס''ד<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I belong to a Facebook group called ‘Coffee Talk Ladies’. For a description of what our group is about please read a blog I wrote when we had our <a href="https://miriamswords.blogspot.co.il/2012/10/even-facebook-can-be-kosher.html">first face to face</a> .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Travelling from the South to Jerusalem with my friend Esther, we arrived in good time to meet up with the rest of our friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our visit started with hugs and kisses, happy to see each other and meet a couple of Ladies who were new to our group.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking the <a href="https://www.itraveljerusalem.com/ent/jerusalem-light-rail/">Light Rail</a> and then a mini bus which had to navigate the very narrow streets of the </span><a href="https://www.touristisrael.com/jewish-quarter-jerusalem/6896/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jewish Quarter of the Rova</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, one of my favorite areas of Jerusalem. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our first stop was to visit <a href="http://www.gojerusalem.com/items/1022/The-Plugat-Hakotel-museum/">The Plugat HaKotel Museum</a>, also known as "the Western Wall Squad” Museum and tells the story of a group of young heroic Betar members who risked their lives to keep a Jewish spark alive at the Western Wall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their story is often forgotten and seldom mentioned in the story of the Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel. Recommend to visit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwebwB3xPAcsfGp3-IZsHiN2nTDRmd5sNQvG63PdfBOQAbX8DOWWjSDnLLigO4XZ6jbNpCMQGr7cTVSBD0eW_NgQ_piNrOC6TVLrw6nv_vNw1RmYI2Vzl1cOfClhedljTkPbz9ZI5bynw/s1600/Entrance+to+the+museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwebwB3xPAcsfGp3-IZsHiN2nTDRmd5sNQvG63PdfBOQAbX8DOWWjSDnLLigO4XZ6jbNpCMQGr7cTVSBD0eW_NgQ_piNrOC6TVLrw6nv_vNw1RmYI2Vzl1cOfClhedljTkPbz9ZI5bynw/s320/Entrance+to+the+museum.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone was hungry! It was time to go to the <i>Holy Cafe</i>, a small restaurant in the Rova, close to the museum, where we had lunch reservations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The staff had set up a long table for us. The food was tasty, prices reasonable, but the noise level from blenders etc every few seconds, was unbearable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After taking a group photo, some of the girls headed for home and the rest took a short walk to <a href="https://english.thekotel.org/">the Kotel</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The weather was perfect for a visit. Not too hot, fluffy clouds to cover the sun and a nice breeze.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Kotel, what can I say... its beauty, its holiness, a place where you feel the closest to Hashem. When you touch the ancient <i>Wall</i> and pray for family and friends, the feelings you have are magnificent. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBx5p5ChSXtCl324otXIP_prbnKnYfmSRWmudUshSOQYeEi_z0a24KvqV3G92cuxR-OXr38JgRcqwAWksvH_Ccuhma7G7QIyyNBq9MxhJLnIv0WLprgE_7PhNDtU3fjzNL3EBti80YP0/s1600/The+Kotel+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBx5p5ChSXtCl324otXIP_prbnKnYfmSRWmudUshSOQYeEi_z0a24KvqV3G92cuxR-OXr38JgRcqwAWksvH_Ccuhma7G7QIyyNBq9MxhJLnIv0WLprgE_7PhNDtU3fjzNL3EBti80YP0/s320/The+Kotel+wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Placing some notes into the cracks, I stood in front of the <i>Wall</i> and just marveled how honored and privileged I was to live in Eretz Yisrael. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWLNv0h93viH5AalLWvBxNDPEQGEEBY1Ta0i4Md0IvJvfKdToLrcZRzbJryW9o-9sKLNM_6nP-juPUP8syjeVaKdl1jHqFgnU_pJSq0zyepdAD-OWTXwtPdKzseK8MYLft7SeEByF-fU/s1600/Notes+in+the+cracks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWLNv0h93viH5AalLWvBxNDPEQGEEBY1Ta0i4Md0IvJvfKdToLrcZRzbJryW9o-9sKLNM_6nP-juPUP8syjeVaKdl1jHqFgnU_pJSq0zyepdAD-OWTXwtPdKzseK8MYLft7SeEByF-fU/s320/Notes+in+the+cracks.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Kotel was just a bus ride away. I told myself, I must make it my business to visit the <i>Wall</i> more often.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m not sure if it is halacha or tradition, but when you leave the <i>Wall</i>, you walk backwards to your seat, in other words you don’t turn your back to the <i>Wall</i>. After saying Tehillim and davening mincha, we said goodbye to our friends and left for home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The day was fabulous. I came home tired but it was a good tired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sure enough to ruin this perfect day, less than 1/2 hour after our bus left <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/rocket-siren-blares-in-southern-israel-as-tensions-on-gaza-border-leap/">Sderot</a>, the incoming missile alert blared... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s all for now. Feel free to comment</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miriam </span><br />
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The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-42898352411941390672018-05-06T08:51:00.000+03:002018-05-06T08:51:21.618+03:00And the Jets Roared...בס''ד<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shavua Tov!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the past 24 years Eretz Yisrael has been our home. We have had many ups and downs, but we have never regretted making Aliyah. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life in Israel is good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since 2004 we have lived in the Negev, in the South of the country, 9 kms. from Gaza.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have a couple of airbases not far from us and we are used to hearing helicopters, jets, tank fire, booming. Sometimes all the activity is the IDF doing a targil [practice], sometimes our neighbours are misbehaving and our brave chayalim go to work defending our nation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unless necessary, IAF aircrafts do not fly on Shabbat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That being said, yesterday morning, our Yishuv was quiet. We were relaxing, reading the newspaper, when suddenly the quiet was broken with the roar of several jets soaring across the sky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sounds of jets, Shabbat morning is very worrisome. We waited for a boom, to know if they were heading to Gaza. No boom came. Problems in the North or did something cross our airspace? Who knows. We waited for the sounds of our jets returning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two hours later, we heard jets again. I’m so in tune to the sounds around me, that I heard them from a distance, and said to my husband, “jets again”. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you remember Radar, in the 1960’s TV series MASH, when Radar would shout incoming helicopters several seconds before anyone else heard them flying. That’s me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Late in the afternoon, I was getting seuda shlishi ready, when once again we heard jets. Three times in one Shabbat, what was happening in our precious country? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May the Hand of Hashem protect our chayalim and chayalot who so bravely defend our nation and may He protect our precious homeland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s all for now</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miriam </span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-78644426553321011372018-04-29T10:38:00.000+03:002018-04-29T10:40:23.815+03:00Ode to the English Language and more..בס''ד<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because of the tragedy in Israel last week, and everyone feeling so down, I thought I would post something light to put a smile on our face, even for just a couple of seconds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ode to the English Language. Google describes the word<b> ‘ode’</b> as <i>a lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style, manner and written in varied or irregular meter, or a historical a poem meant to be sung.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many years ago I came across these wonderful pieces. I don’t know who authored them but he/she was certainly quick wit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">English is a strange and fun language.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The bandage was <b>wound</b> around the <b>wound</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The farm was used to <b>produce produce</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The dump was so full that it had to <b>refuse</b> more <b>refuse</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We must <b>polish</b> the <b>Polish</b> furniture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The soldier decided to <b>desert</b> his <b>dessert</b> in the <b>desert</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since there is no time like the <b>present</b>, he thought </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">it was time to </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">present</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">present</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A <b>bass</b> was painted on the head of the <b>bass</b> drum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When shot at, the <b>dove dove</b> into the bushes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I did not <b>object</b> to the <b>object</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The insurance was invalid for the invalid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There was a <b>row</b> among the oarsmen how to </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">row.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They were too <b>close</b> to the door to <b>close</b> it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <b>wind </b>was too strong to <b>wind</b> the sail.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Upon seeing the <b>tear</b> in the painting I shed a <b>tear</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let’s face it, English is a funny language.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is no <b>egg</b> in <b>eggplant</b>, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>ham</b> in <b>hamburger</b>, <b>pine</b> or <b>apple</b> in <b>pineapple</b>. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>English muffins</b> weren’t invented in <b>England</b> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">or <b>french fries</b> in <b>France</b>. <b>Sweetmeat</b> are <b>candies</b> and <b>sweetbreads</b> which aren’t <b>sweet</b>, is <b>meat</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We take English for granted, but if we really explore we will find that </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>quicksand</b> can work <b>slowly</b>, <b>boxing rings</b> are <b>square</b> and a <b>guinea pig</b> is not from <b>Guinea</b> or a <b>pig</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If the plural of <b>tooth</b> is <b>teeth</b>, why isn’t the plural of <b>booth</b> <b>beeth</b>? </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One <b>goose</b>, two <b>geese</b>, so why not one <b>moose</b> two <b>meese</b>? </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If a <b>vegetarian</b> eats <b>vegetables</b>, what do <b>humanitarians</b> eat?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In what language do people <b>recite</b> at a <b>play</b> and <b>play</b> at a recital? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Ship by truck and send cargo by ship</b>? <b>Park </b>in a<b> driveway </b>and<b> drive </b>on a<b> parkway? </b>Have a<b> nose that runs </b>and<b> feet </b>that<b> smell? </b>How can<b> a slim chance </b>and a<b> fat chance </b>be the same<b>, </b>while a<b> wise man </b>and a<b> wise guy </b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">are opposite</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And why does an <b>alarm go</b> <b>off</b> by <b>going on</b>?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">English was invented by people, not computers and it reflects </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the creativity of the human race. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That is why when the <b>stars are out they are visible, but when the lights are out they are invisible.</b> And the last word, why doesn’t<b> ‘Buick’ rhyme </b>with<b> ‘quick’</b>? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> *********************</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then we have the <b>Tate Family</b>? A very unusual family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The father is <b>Dictate</b>, who wants to run everything and Uncle <b>Rotate</b>, who wants to change everything around. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is sister <b>Agitate</b>, who stirs up everything and her brother <b>Irritate</b> who helps her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whenever something new is suggested, <b>Hesitate</b> and his sister <b>Vegetate</b> always pour cold water on the suggestions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then there is <b>Imitate</b>, who tries to have the organization the same as everywhere else he has been. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everybody tends to quake if <b>Devastate</b> stands up to speak at a meeting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And of course there is his brother <b>Potentate,</b> who wants to be a big shot in the organization.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The twins <b>Cogitate</b> and <b>Meditate</b> are always delightful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Facilitate </b>is very helpful and is often supported by <b>Felicitate</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And there is <b>Resuscitate</b> who gives people all the help they need. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But one family should not run the organization, bring in those other members <b>Activate</b> and <b>Participate</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Please pass along for others to enjoy! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Until next time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Miriam </span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-14763075328289219072018-04-17T09:03:00.001+03:002018-04-17T16:39:02.433+03:00Thank-you..............בס''ד<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Tonight </b>[Tuesday]<b> and tomorrow is Yom HaZikaron</b>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">23,645 Israeli soldiers have fallen. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Yom Hazikaron was declared by the Israeli Knesset in 1963 and enacted into law, as the national Remembrance Day, to be observed in Israel on the 4th of Iyar [April], for all Israeli military personnel who served our country with pride and honour and lost their lives in the establishment of the State of Israel and for those who have been killed while on active duty in Israel’s armed forces. IDF</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are also remembering the Victims of Arab Terrorism. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yom Hazikaron begins at sundown when a siren is sounded across the country for one minute. The official state ceremony will then take place at the Western Wall (the Kotel) in Jerusalem. The following day, a siren sounds for two minutes, at 11.00am.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In our house, after the siren, we light a yartzeit candle in honour of those who paid the ultimate price so that we can live in our Jewish homeland. We will be forever grateful to them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yom Hazikaron ends Wednesday evening with a state ceremony and Yom Ha’atzmaut begins. This year, we are celebrating our 70th year of independence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A couple of years ago I wrote a poem for our chayalim and chayalot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">Thank-you!</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;"><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">Thank-you dear chayalim and chayalot</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">of the Israel Defence Force.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">Thank-you for your service</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">in defending our nation.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;"><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">Thank-you dear Reservist</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">for answering the call to serve</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">so that our country will not fall.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;"><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">Many have sacrificed their lives</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">So that we can live in our homeland.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">Baruch Dayan Emet</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">May your name be honored. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;"><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">To those who are serving</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">all over our precious land</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">our prayers are with you.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;"><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">May The Hand of the One Above</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">watch over you day and night</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">and bring you home safely</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: blue;">into the arms of your families.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s all for now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Miriam </span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-34772923997990499272017-12-18T09:46:00.000+02:002017-12-18T09:46:27.401+02:00The Raindrops of Rocketsבס''ד<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I have blogged my times before, my family and I have been living in Israel for 23 years and for the past 13 years we have lived in the Negev, in the South.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The yishuv [community] where we live is 5 minutes from Netivot, 12 minutes from Sederot, half an hour from Beer Sheva and 9 kilometers [5 1/2 miles] from Gaza. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The most common question I am asked from people who do not live in Israel and some Israelis for that matter is: why do you want to live so close to Gaza? It is so dangerous. Aren’t you afraid of missiles and terror attacks? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My answer is: Why wouldn’t we want to live in the Negev? The South is a beautiful part of our country.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just imagine living on the same land that our forefather <i>Avraham Avinu</i> lived. A couple of kilometers from where I live, Avraham Avinu set up his tents, made purchases from passing merchants and where his sheep grazed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The land that we walk on today is the same land Avraham Avinu walked. <i>Amazing!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In <i>Parshat Breshei</i>, my area is referred to as <i>Gerar</i>. Today, there is a National park on this land called <a href="http://www.kkl-jnf.org/tourism-and-recreation/forests-and-parks/nahal-grar-gerar-river-park.aspx">Nahal Gerar</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My grandchildren love to visit and walk the trails.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we decided to live in the Negev, the arabs in Gaza were never a consideration. We are not heroes. We don’t have our head in the sand and during war time we followed the instructions of the IDF. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But on the other hand, we will never allow arabs to dictate where we live or where we go. And yes, Grad missiles have exploded in our backyard and on streets not far from us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hamas and company, the different factions that live in Gaza and Sinai are once again firing missiles towards the southern communities of Israel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our yishuv had an incoming missile warning siren two weeks ago, just as we were finishing our Shabbat meal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other communities have had almost nightly sirens.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night a rocket exploded next to a home where a family was home. B”H there wasn’t any physical injuries but there was extensive damage to the home and their car was totaled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been awaken during the night to the incoming warning siren where we have only 15 seconds to go to safety. My grandchildren who live on my yishuv attend a fortified school and Yeshiva 3kms from Gaza. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could go on and on...but I will end by saying, if you are planning a visit to Israel or planning to make Aliyah, consider visiting / living in the south. You won’t be sorry. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Negev is a great place to raise a family and call home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s all for now. Feel free to share and comment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miriam</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Post Script</i></b>: I have a Facebook group page. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To join our group page</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/awarenessofthesouth/members/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Klal Yisrael Under Attack Everywhere</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-7520187431041614132017-10-17T15:41:00.000+03:002017-10-17T15:41:34.442+03:00Memories are a Wonderful Gift......בס''ד<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We made Aliyah [moved to Israel] twenty-three years ago and our only regret was that we didn’t come earlier....even though earlier wasn’t the right time, but that’s for another blog. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Living in Israel, our homeland, with its ups and downs, is an honour and privilege. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the very few things that I miss from my birth country Canada is autumn. Israel has only two seasons, winter and summer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Growing up in Montreal, by the middle of August, the weather was changing and so was the season. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The arrival of Autumn meant summer vacation was almost over and we would go back to school. The chagim [the Jewish High Holidays] were not far away and my mother <i>a”H</i> would be busy baking and cooking. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The best part of autumn for me were the leaves changing colours. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I loved to stand on our apartment balcony and see how many colours I could count. Red, orange, yellow, orange, brown leaves, the combination producing a magnificent sight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a child, a Sunday afternoon treat, was when my parents would take my brother <i>a”H</i> and I for a drive to the <a href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/canada/laurentian-mountains-quebec/">Laurentian Mountains</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The fallen leaves lined the mountain tops and the highway. Along the route were look-outs where you could stop and enjoy the view.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jumping into piles of leaves was so much fun. My brother and I would race to see who could gather more leaves to make the bigger pile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For years, usually on Labour day. [first Monday in September] we would have an extended family adventure to the Laurentians. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My dad and uncles would plan where we could stop to have a picnic and my mom and aunts would make sandwiches and bring thermoses filled with hot water. The adults had their coffee and we kids enjoy hot chocolate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I remember having so much fun playing ball and tag with my cousins. While my mom and her sisters sat, talked and knitted, my dad and uncles would take us on a walk on one of the trails to look at the scenery. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each family had a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_(camera).">Brownie camera</a> and we kids had fun taking pictures of each other, rocks and of course the trees </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By the middle of the afternoon, the wind would pick up and it was time to go home. We said our good-bys with hugs and kisses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many autumns came and went, I grew up, got married and had kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My dad’s greatest pleasure was to take his <i>grandchildren</i> on a Sunday afternoon drive to the Laurentians to see the Autumn leaves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Typing this blog, I am smiling, remembering my parents, my brother and our childhood. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Memories are a wonderful gift.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s all for now. Feel free to comment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Miriam </span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-30893460977772511762017-07-30T09:42:00.001+03:002017-08-01T17:10:44.015+03:00The Loss is Great!בס''ד<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKxNs60Vl63J-dyQA9qS7xgxS0E10a19L9nh9slGHcuFvsUQdkVXwI0JGg4CFuOg7_968E3opGGy-A-TFNdQy_HB1e_bTtPoJkFpl7a3n9kx3pHM05l-hDp9JzORmjudGJTWfZJtfJcM/s1600/20247877_10154782547002688_3820469849190783280_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1280" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKxNs60Vl63J-dyQA9qS7xgxS0E10a19L9nh9slGHcuFvsUQdkVXwI0JGg4CFuOg7_968E3opGGy-A-TFNdQy_HB1e_bTtPoJkFpl7a3n9kx3pHM05l-hDp9JzORmjudGJTWfZJtfJcM/s320/20247877_10154782547002688_3820469849190783280_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In memory of: <b><i>Esther Rochel a”H </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Yitzchak Shalom HaKohen a”H</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As many of you know, I just got up from sitting shiva. During the shiva I thought a lot about my brother and sister-in-law, trying to make any sense of these tragedies. I couldn’t. They were both so young and had so much to live for. But, I know that Hashem makes decisions that we don’t understand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I decided to put pen to paper and blog about my thoughts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Three years ago my dear sister-in-law Esther a”H told me she had been diagnosis with lung cancer. Esther wasn’t just my sister-in-law, she was my sister and best friend. Esther was a fighter. She wanted to live for her husband Yitzchak a”H, their children, and grandchildren. Whatever treatment was offered she agreed to try. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With all her pain she tried not to complain. Her faith in Hashem was strong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And by her side day in and day out was Yitzchak, all their children and their spouses and the older grandchildren.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The kids would go with her to doctor appointments and treatments. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Their home was filled with kindness and humility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But Esther’s illness had consequences and took a toll on Yitzchak.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On 28th of Av 5776 [September 1 2016] Esther returned her neshama to her maker.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Eleven months later, 29th of Tammuz 5777 [July 23rd, 2017] Esther’s beloved husband, returned his neshama to his maker.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In eleven months my nine nieces and nephews and their spouses and children lost their parents and grandparents and I lost my brother and sister-in-law. I feel empty. The loss is great.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My nephew asked me if I would like to speak at the funeral. I said yes. These were my words.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yitzchak, I was 6 years old when you were born and I was so excited to have a little brother. In those days mothers and babies stayed in the hospital for 10 days and your brit was in the hospital. I didn’t get to meet my baby brother until your brit. It was love at first sight. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last week when I visited you, your eyes were wide open and I remembered a story from 60 years ago. You were 4 years old and I was 10. We were on a vacation at Old Orchard Beach Maine. We were getting ready to go somewhere and mommy told us to wait in the hotel lobby but not to go outside. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One second you were with me, the next second you were gone. We looked everywhere. The hotel manger called the police and described you as the sweetest little boy with big round brown eyes and a patch on your knee. They found you 15 minutes later. When asked why you went outside you said “I saw a little puppy go by and it was alone so I went to see if it was okay.” And this is how you led your life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yitzchak, you had a heart of gold. If someone needed help, you were the first person to help. I want to thank-you for being my little brother and I want to thank-you for bringing Esther into our family. She wasn’t just my sister-in-law, she was my best friend and I miss her so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Together you and Esther raised a beautiful family. Your children are so very special. The respect they had for you and Esther and the way they care about each other is heartwarming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yitzchak when you see mommy and daddy please tell them I love and miss them. Tell them about their beautiful family. About all their grandchild, about the many great-grandchildren they have and that they have a little great-great granddaughter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yitzchak you and Esther have earned your places in Gan Eden. I love you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Miriam</b></span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-71438285346040336042017-07-16T15:34:00.000+03:002017-07-16T15:34:54.359+03:00The Best Three Hours of the Week....בס''ד<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last November I joined an over 60 mosaic class run by our Moetza, Sdot Negev. We finished for the summer at the end of June and resume after the chagim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have always like working with my hands and creating. When I was a young mother, I learned how to needlepoint and I made many beautiful wall hangings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Interesting fact is that I can copy a picture and then make changes adding my own thoughts about I wanted to see in the design but I can’t trace a picture. It comes out all wrong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Using my imagination to create a mosaic totally relaxes me. Instead of thinking about everything at home, I think only about my picture. What colours I want to use, what shape to cut the glass, which glue to use and where am I going to hang the finished work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our chug is 3 hours once a week. It is the best 3 hours of the week for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had several sessions learning about ceramics and I had an opportunity to make a wall hanging.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was so much fun to go outside and hammer piece of pottery and tiles for my abstract. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once again I saw myself. I like structure and I need to have a place for everything. My husband goes crazy when I get upset because he put something in the fridge on the wrong shelf or in the wrong place. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After I finished my abstract, I saw me...the stones, shapes and colour were so balanced. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Netivot, we have a couple of stores that sell mosaic stones. I purchased a variety of stones and have created pictures at home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My son made a comment to me that is really so true. He said “you have very little patience to sit around and you do several jobs at the same time. You finish everything so quickly, but when it comes to your mosaic, you have all the time in the world. You have patience to cut the stones, and figure where they will fit perfectly. It is like you are doing a jig saw puzzle to create your picture. It’s amazing!”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now if you don’t mind I would like to show off my work.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6nyv_0PcsWqyR_-WAZn9RsphwlFb0IMWigoG0ZX5T3T-SKWC0DQ_PTcod8m1CBZhAkx8ofCEAhJFhUAAODQOSUwslPoMrB6CV_VH8eneEcrr-PnxlHmvvh1Fn-HlbX-qlH17S9gkE1I/s1600/sunflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6nyv_0PcsWqyR_-WAZn9RsphwlFb0IMWigoG0ZX5T3T-SKWC0DQ_PTcod8m1CBZhAkx8ofCEAhJFhUAAODQOSUwslPoMrB6CV_VH8eneEcrr-PnxlHmvvh1Fn-HlbX-qlH17S9gkE1I/s320/sunflower.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first creation</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyikiGNlMcVUfONz-nW69VCOdq2ta_ld-DAQW2P8FJYg8FKUFZbCpJoExKieyo4nP-INQQwiEmUQBEBnkyKh4Tq0Ri65ZP2rP1OElEYYHuGQASqK61HKQVK8Z3H2d8GAKlVILWSviGtOA/s1600/coasters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyikiGNlMcVUfONz-nW69VCOdq2ta_ld-DAQW2P8FJYg8FKUFZbCpJoExKieyo4nP-INQQwiEmUQBEBnkyKh4Tq0Ri65ZP2rP1OElEYYHuGQASqK61HKQVK8Z3H2d8GAKlVILWSviGtOA/s320/coasters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coasters</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS-hfvyv-MNrIfbx3eXnKi9YtzwVA8LkFM3MAA1h4dCHTxgo6JPYQRqVp-bPY33RRKdNZsTvLesobat8QoaLae3K7SzM-tAwa0__8m2AKZ5Z236NP-QE_59IR7S5U_8K6b-l-Vjg_R4Q/s1600/Hanger+for+Oriya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS-hfvyv-MNrIfbx3eXnKi9YtzwVA8LkFM3MAA1h4dCHTxgo6JPYQRqVp-bPY33RRKdNZsTvLesobat8QoaLae3K7SzM-tAwa0__8m2AKZ5Z236NP-QE_59IR7S5U_8K6b-l-Vjg_R4Q/s320/Hanger+for+Oriya.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A hanger wall hanging for my great-granddaughter Oriya.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCOAwXAVS4sje-vVhGmBBCNPzj2MGTHgiR-Nob-RXvdw6HgZSX8ycdBdva7mxKdUf6mt8-Y_LF6LvUUYkscb7llCiAy501tIZ1_alEFTWxLv1iE37ARO_ru20rOo99HshFyOre7YmdzI/s1600/hot+plates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCOAwXAVS4sje-vVhGmBBCNPzj2MGTHgiR-Nob-RXvdw6HgZSX8ycdBdva7mxKdUf6mt8-Y_LF6LvUUYkscb7llCiAy501tIZ1_alEFTWxLv1iE37ARO_ru20rOo99HshFyOre7YmdzI/s320/hot+plates.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hot plates</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyB7184wj1bg8UQG_9s7hi-QOwe4_b63gxKTRzxmkd65xcfk9wuT5mlb3UF4wqdKnk7R6qiCvDyCo9xmQD2rbDqww064Lb8Bfs3HAmq-VSmsCAArs2pEkG-NNyBssjkjKRda5D93DPP_E/s1600/Shabbat+Candles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyB7184wj1bg8UQG_9s7hi-QOwe4_b63gxKTRzxmkd65xcfk9wuT5mlb3UF4wqdKnk7R6qiCvDyCo9xmQD2rbDqww064Lb8Bfs3HAmq-VSmsCAArs2pEkG-NNyBssjkjKRda5D93DPP_E/s320/Shabbat+Candles.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shabbat candlesticks</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdXJ2CGhnl6wySToBmib1HGA5yE9yqhTatLup0FEmtQrM4U8y_9Idav5s0xRjwlZ1tF4aM7uXFG6xlFakyClXBA6K4FeO3EYp-bQEajbo1WZbkbfUpoXx2b_TiMuVXxNZZu4fwRhGRBI/s1600/outside+ceramic+wall+hanging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdXJ2CGhnl6wySToBmib1HGA5yE9yqhTatLup0FEmtQrM4U8y_9Idav5s0xRjwlZ1tF4aM7uXFG6xlFakyClXBA6K4FeO3EYp-bQEajbo1WZbkbfUpoXx2b_TiMuVXxNZZu4fwRhGRBI/s320/outside+ceramic+wall+hanging.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My ceramic abstract wall hanging</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOk0ouvjF3asdZNyCaTk7Q0yeMcagXa7MpQYHvhpDP-QESKNWh5TQ2udhGJcp7DhkJN_gto5G6RW6XOCP9UknxHlk4RMUrfpmTatAMk8-IGRaHIp8xnYCKsHOwZ5B9XmUbqFQFxhnCSs/s1600/Jewerlery+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOk0ouvjF3asdZNyCaTk7Q0yeMcagXa7MpQYHvhpDP-QESKNWh5TQ2udhGJcp7DhkJN_gto5G6RW6XOCP9UknxHlk4RMUrfpmTatAMk8-IGRaHIp8xnYCKsHOwZ5B9XmUbqFQFxhnCSs/s320/Jewerlery+box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jewellery box</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICCtE3YnvIyQuvg0UGwgiQHoq2LNJMN8vKwur4NjNDFEWneWcZdduxdIbDq-2Uz51TJ6NSbexMB6XFEEZ_S0Xe_ZGBs2jsIPU2SvwI6mFNrkaTav_8Ur77WiI6L6C76MLZE2ynQZGV6U/s1600/Image1720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICCtE3YnvIyQuvg0UGwgiQHoq2LNJMN8vKwur4NjNDFEWneWcZdduxdIbDq-2Uz51TJ6NSbexMB6XFEEZ_S0Xe_ZGBs2jsIPU2SvwI6mFNrkaTav_8Ur77WiI6L6C76MLZE2ynQZGV6U/s320/Image1720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A nameplate for our front door</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBNF-d5doP-9Saf8ZcfFDuCq9yWG9g4uT6WtPPVbWBN7V7iSmPuYL1M_qsfVLlxMS0HRgplv_CbiYQM5a4vPar-sIqDcwzWURVzGt5vpUoEatjO0H_QIEK576rfpwW3qpQL4fPzFyJts/s1600/Image1736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBNF-d5doP-9Saf8ZcfFDuCq9yWG9g4uT6WtPPVbWBN7V7iSmPuYL1M_qsfVLlxMS0HRgplv_CbiYQM5a4vPar-sIqDcwzWURVzGt5vpUoEatjO0H_QIEK576rfpwW3qpQL4fPzFyJts/s320/Image1736.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A wall hanging</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's all for now. I have a couple of other projects I want to try during the summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feel free to comment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miriam</span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675909413199524374.post-69688130412713995852017-06-11T20:45:00.003+03:002017-06-11T21:01:25.055+03:00Fifty Years....Where Has The Time Gone?בס''ד<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fifty years ago, as a young woman, never did I realize the life adventure I was embarking on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You see, 50 years ago, on the Hebrew calendar, 17th of Sivan, my parents a”H, proudly walked with me down the aisle at the Young Israel of Chomedey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Standing under the chuppah, my chatan Avraham’s parents had already escorted him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our two little flower girls dropped rose pedals as they walked down the aisle along side our sweet 4 year old page boy, who carried my wedding ring on a velvet pillow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The secular date was June 25th, 1967.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Israel’s six day war was a couple of weeks earlier, and the Rav of the Shul told my parents that if the war continues, we couldn't have any music or dancing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We listened to every newscast to hear what was happening in Israel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The day they announced the war was over and Jerusalem had been liberated, I was so happy. I told my parents, one day I am going to Israel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The shul was beautiful. The chuppah was decked out with gorgeous white orchids with green ribbons, the colour I chose for my theme. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From the souvenir kippot, to the match boxes on the tables to the benchers, everything was a lovely shade of green.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My mother a”H and mother-in-law a”H and maid of honour wore light green gowns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wearing white dinner jackets, our ushers lined the aisle. Both father’s a”H, Avraham and his best man wore tails with top hats and white gloves. Avraham still doesn’t know how I managed to convince him to wear tails. Those were the days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our wedding was a fairy tale wedding. Everything was perfect. When one of our guests called me “Mrs. Goodman”, I said “that’s my mother-in-law.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Avraham’s parents were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary the next day, and my parents surprised them with an anniversary cake. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The band and singer serenaded them with the ‘Anniversary Song’. As they danced, my mother-in-law was so over whelmed, she couldn’t stop crying. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">During the past fifty years, we have had our ups and downs. We have been blessed many times. Even when life looked black, Hashem was always there for us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He blessed us three beautiful children, two fabulous sons-in-laws, thirteen precious Sabra grandchildren, and two years ago, a grandson-in-law. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last year we were blessed with Oriya, our first great-granddaughter. What a precious gift. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A month ago, we celebrated 23 years since our aliyah. Definitely one of our better decisions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our grandchildren are growing up. Some have served in the IDF. Another is serving now. We have a grandson in Hesdar and will serve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have 2 grandchildren in higher learning. We have a grandson in high school yeshiva and three granddaughters in the Ulpana.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have grandchildren in elementary school and our youngest grandson is finishing gan [kindergarten] and will start kita א [grade 1] in September.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are now retired. I still tutor a couple of hours, one afternoon a week. I joined a mosaic and ceramics group from our moetza, and I am enjoying using my imagination and creating pictures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Avraham and I are shepping nachas from our family. We are Truly Blessed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s all for now</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Miriam </b></span>The Blogging Saftahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713305306852476766noreply@blogger.com6