בס''ד
GOODMAN FAMILY MOVES part 1
This title sounds simple enough………
1] You check the newspaper for rentals or get a rental agent
2] Go and look at some apartments….
3] Find the one you like…..
4] Sign a lease…..
5] Order a moving truck…..
6] Pack up and move………
Very straight forward, something that shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks, you would think.
Now let me backtrack a little. We live in Netivot and we were living in our previous apartment for 5 years and were very happy. We had great neighbors, a super location with good public transportation and close to shopping, our medical clinic, and shuls on very corner including one in the building next to ours. So why did we move, you ask?
Our landlady [Yafffa] told us that she was not going to renew our lease as she wanted to move back into her apartment. In Israel, except for not paying the rent, this is the only reason an owner can not renew the lease.
The problem was that she told us on May 25th which gave us only 5 weeks to find a new place to live. Most landlords give 60 to 90 days notice. Our lease was over June 30th. I said to my husband, “no problem. I am sure we will find something in our neighborhood in few days.” Boy was I wrong!
So started the search. In Netivot, as in many other communities in Israel, each Friday, the local magazines are available and they advertise everything from A to Z including several classified sections. Both private people and agents list what rentals and for sells they have. We had decided to find an apartment on our own and not use an agent because agents take a months rent for their service.
Week 1 in the search proved to be unsuccessful. The tenant living in the only apartment that we went to see told us that the drains in the bathrooms were blocked and that the shower in the master bedroom couldn’t be used because it flooded the bedroom. She told me that she has to pour bleach into the drains daily to control the smell.[we could smell the bleach] When I asked her why the landlord didn’t fix the drains, she said that he didn’t want to because it was an expensive job. Scratch that apartment.
We decided to place our own ad ‘Looking for an apartment’ in the largest magazine for the following Friday. Anxiously, we waited for the calls from people who had apartments for rent and were looking for good tenants. The only calls we got were from people who didn’t read the ad correctly and thought we had an apartment for rent.
Week 2 was back to the drawing board. We decided to speak to other people and ask them to keep their eyes opened for us. We take a lot of taxis, and taxi drivers in Netivot know everything. We asked the drivers if they hear about an apartment in our area to let us know and gave them a cell phone number to call. We also placed our ad in the magazine once again hoping for better results.
My daughter told me about an Israeli site for rentals. http://www.yad2.co.il/ We checked out all the rentals but there wasn’t anything in the area where we wanted to live. This site became our ‘favorite site’. Several times a day we would check to see if anyone posted a new apartment listing.
That Friday, the magazines came out ….. we called several ads only to be told that the building didn’t allow internet or televisions. These were haredi buildings. Now I should tell you that we were living in a haredi area…..The project that we lived in had 10 buildings with 6 families in each building. The majority of families in the project were haredi, with some of the buildings totally haredi.
In our building there were 2 haredi families, 2 dati leumi families like us and 1 cholini [secular] family. We all got along very well. Another owner didn’t want any young children in the apartment at any time. We have B"H 12 grandchildren………….
Once again, our ad didn’t result in any calls.
We were now entering week 3. Our computer repairman called us and said that his aunt had an apartment for rent in our project [the building with the shul] and it was available immediately. This apartment was 100 meters, [good size] had the amount of bedrooms we wanted, rent was reasonable. The only drawback was that it was on the 3rd floor. My husband and I are not spring chickens but we decided to go and see the apartment.
We know this building very well and knew that it had problems with the roof when it rained. I had heard that the top floor apartments had a lot of rain damage but I didn’t realize exactly how much damage rain can do.
When we walked into the apartment it looked like a bomb had hit it. The previous tenants destroyed the entire apartment. We were told that they lived there for 2 years but didn’t pay the rent and it took 18 months for the court to evict them. They broke all the trisim, torn the screens made holes in the walls and ceilings, totally broke the 2 toilets and shower hoses, broke the doors of the kitchen cabinets and left the kitchen double sink hanging by one bolt. The floor looked like it hadn’t been washed in the 2 years they lived there.
When we went to see the laundry room, we saw the damage cased by the rain. The apartment had a beautiful layout and I could picture it clean and furnished. The landlady was asking 2000 shekals a month to take it as is and we could fix it ourselves or 2200 shekals a month and she would fix and paint.
We agreed to go and speak to the landlady and arranged to meet her a couple of days later. Our children were very unhappy that the apartment was on the 3rd floor. They told us to remember that we had to shlepp heavy groceries. They and my husband were very concerned about the rain and the damage. My son-in-law said, “who is going to pay for your damage when it rains. You are moving into a freshly painted apartment and when it rains, you will be back to square one.” In the end we decided that this apartment was more trouble than it was worth.
We then saw another apartment where the laundry room was outside on the balcony and since there was a built in stove in the kitchen, I would have to put my stove outside. Since both my appliances are electronic, any dampness would have ruined them.
At the end of week 3 we were not any closer to finding an apartment. We now enter week 4 and we see an ad on yad2 for an apartment on our street. We called the owner and made arrangements to go and see the apartment.
This apartment was just what we wanted….location, number of bedrooms, rent etc. It had a beautiful kitchen with a breakfast nook. The balcony was small and off the master bedroom, [not good], but the master bedroom had a walk-in closet [very unusual in our area]. The apartment needed to be painted but basically it was in good condition. The only drawback was that it was only available for August 1st and we needed it for July 1st.
I really wanted to rent this apartment. We spoke to Yaffa [our landlady] about giving us an extra month, and she went bonkers. My husband told her that if she didn’t stop screaming he would hang up on her. She only screamed louder and so he hung up. Five minutes later, Yaffa called back threatening to show up on the 1st and throw all our furniture of the balcony. My husband just hung up on her.
We broke down and called an agent that we knew and asked him if he had any apartments for July 1st. He took us to see the dirtiest, smelliest and the most expensive apartment that we ever saw. Scratch this apartment. I still wanted the August apartment.
The next day, when Avrham went downstairs to get the mail, who did he meet coming into the building….you guessed it, Yaffa and was she ever ‘hot’. My husband invited Yaffa to come upstairs and talk quietly but once again she had a screaming fit and then threatened to have her friends come and beat him up and throw our furniture in the garbage.
Finally I just opened the door and said to her “Shalom Yaffa”, wow did she get angry at me. She told that this was her apartment and I can’t throw her out of it. I told her that I paid the rent, so it is my apartment until the lease is over so get out. When she finally left, I told my daughter about Yaffa, she said that since this was her second threat, she would call a police detective that she knows and asked what to do. He advised us to report her threat to the police and so this is what Avraham did.
Later that day, Yaffa called Avraham to tell him that she just spoke to an agent that she knew and that he had an apartment available for July 1st.
Avraham called the agent and we went to see the apartment. The apartment was a large 2 bedroom apartment, freshly painted and really in move in condition in a haredi building.
As I mentioned before, haredi buildings don’t allow televisions, internet or dogs. We had all three. We told the agent that the apartment was very nice but that we had a television with a contract from YES, the satellite cable company and a dog. [The dog has since passed away] We wanted permission from the owner to put up the satellite dish. If we got permission we would take the apartment.
He told us the dog wasn’t a problem but he would ask about satellite dish and would let us know the next day. We spoke to the agent early the next day and he told us that the owner gave his permission and agreed to write it in the lease as a clause.
That afternoon we signed the lease. Everything seemed to be coming together. We ordered our moving truck for the day we wanted and finished up packing. Little did we know.................
Until next time….. Im Yirtzeh Hashem next week part 2.......
Our Challenges [an unbelievable story]
Miriam
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
בס''ד
From Two to Nineteen.....
Today on the Jewish calendar is the 17th of Sivan. And why am I writing about this date you ask? Well, today is my husband Avraham and my 43rd wedding anniversary.
We were married on June 25 1967 which was 17th of Sivan 5727 at the Young Israel of Chomedey, in Chomedey, Quebec. For those who do not know, Chomedey is a suburb of Montreal.
Believe me when I write that back then, it never occured to me that we would be blessed with 3 amazing kids, 2 daughters and a son, 2 super son-in-laws, 12 precious grandchildren, make Aliyah and live in Israel.
Oh yes, another fact that I would have never believed would happened is that I would have a pet dog. Truthfully, I am a little afraid of dogs, but for the last 15 years Rocky has been part of our family and a good friend.
My parents were married in Montreal in 1943. Three weeks before their wedding date, my Father a"h, who was a soldier in the Canadian army was called up and received orders to be deployed 72 hours later to Europe to fight in the war.
They didn't know what to do. The time was during the nine days in Av, when weddings do not take place.
After asking a she'elah [question] to the Chief Rabbi in Montreal, the answer was that they must get married before my Father left and that he [the Chief Rabbi] would do the ceremony. The ceremony was arranged for the next day. Twenty-four hours later, my father was deployed for 3 years.
My mother told me that a couple days after my father left, the bridle store called to say that her wedding dress was ready and she told them to give it away. She didn't want to see it finished.
My parents's engagement pictures. Being the 9 days, the Rav wouldn't allow them to take a wedding picture.
My parents were only married for 37 years. My father passed away a month after their anniversary.
So much water has passed under the bridge since that wonderful Sunday in June.
May we be blessed to welcome great-grandchildren!
Our special family.
My husband Avraham and myself
The Horevs
The Pollacks
Eliezer, Itamar, Naomi
Oshri, Dvir, Bat-El, Itamar Pollack
Michael Pollack
From Two to Nineteen.....
Today on the Jewish calendar is the 17th of Sivan. And why am I writing about this date you ask? Well, today is my husband Avraham and my 43rd wedding anniversary.
We were married on June 25 1967 which was 17th of Sivan 5727 at the Young Israel of Chomedey, in Chomedey, Quebec. For those who do not know, Chomedey is a suburb of Montreal.
Believe me when I write that back then, it never occured to me that we would be blessed with 3 amazing kids, 2 daughters and a son, 2 super son-in-laws, 12 precious grandchildren, make Aliyah and live in Israel.
Oh yes, another fact that I would have never believed would happened is that I would have a pet dog. Truthfully, I am a little afraid of dogs, but for the last 15 years Rocky has been part of our family and a good friend.
Rocky
Our wedding was almost put on whole, because of the 6 day war in Israel. http://www.zionism-israel.com/dic/6daywar.htm and shuls were not allowing weddings with music to take place.
Fortunately for us and many other couples, Israel won the war in 6 days and our wedding was a happening.....
My wedding was a real princess wedding. You know the kind with all the trimmings. Being the only daughter, I was the princess of the family. Sometimes I think that my Mother a"h planned my wedding to make up for her wedding having to be just a chuppa [ceremony] in the Rabbi's study.
My parents were married in Montreal in 1943. Three weeks before their wedding date, my Father a"h, who was a soldier in the Canadian army was called up and received orders to be deployed 72 hours later to Europe to fight in the war.
They didn't know what to do. The time was during the nine days in Av, when weddings do not take place.
After asking a she'elah [question] to the Chief Rabbi in Montreal, the answer was that they must get married before my Father left and that he [the Chief Rabbi] would do the ceremony. The ceremony was arranged for the next day. Twenty-four hours later, my father was deployed for 3 years.
My mother told me that a couple days after my father left, the bridle store called to say that her wedding dress was ready and she told them to give it away. She didn't want to see it finished.
My parents's engagement pictures. Being the 9 days, the Rav wouldn't allow them to take a wedding picture.
My parents were only married for 37 years. My father passed away a month after their anniversary.
So much water has passed under the bridge since that wonderful Sunday in June.
May we be blessed to welcome great-grandchildren!
Our special family.
My husband Avraham and myself
Our son Eli-Chaim and me
The Horevs
Devorah, Adi, Gilad, Hagai, Nadav, Netta, Talia, Chen
The Pollacks
Eliezer, Itamar, Naomi
Oshri, Dvir, Bat-El, Itamar Pollack
Michael Pollack
Itamar, Yoni Pollack
Until next time..........
Miriam
Monday, May 10, 2010
בס''ד
An Anniversary of Sort..........
My journey with diabetes one year later.....
Last year, on May 15th, my world was turned upside down. It was an ordinary Sunday morning except for the fact that I had an appointment with my doctor to go over the results of the yearly blood work I had done a couple of days earlier.
As my doctor scanned my results and he came to glucose he shook his head and said, "this must be a mistake. The reading is much to high. Maybe you have an infection." And with this he sent me to the nurse to manually check my blood sugar. My number was 410. It should never be more than 126, so he ordered more tests including the Hemoglobin A1C .
A couple of days later with all the blood work back, my doctors suspicions were confirmed. I had diabetes type 2. So started my battle with diabetes.
My primary care doctor introduced me to Yifat the dietitian and Dalia the diabetic nurse and expert. Together, they became my team. A week later, I met the diabetic doctor. He was very gentle, reassuring and non threatening to speak too.
If I tell you the shock, fear and frustration that I felt those first few weeks, it would be an understatement. Desperately in need of information I spent hours checking out web sites of the Israel Diabetes Association, American Diabetic Association, Canadian Diabetes Association and British Diabetes Association . I was determined to learn as much as I could about diabetes.
The main thing that I learnt was that type 2 can be controlled with exercise, diet and meds.
I decided that diabetes was my project and that I would do whatever was necessary and beat it. I printed out information that I felt was important for me to remember and made myself a diabetic journal to refer too.
Over the early weeks, I pricked my finger 4 times a day and slowly watched my blood sugar number go down.
Three weeks after my initial appointment, my diabetic doctor said to me, "I don't know what you are doing to have these great results so quickly, but obviously whatever you did was the right thing, so keep on doing it."
I faithfully followed all the instructions and advice of my team. I watched every mouthful I ate and I was losing weight. My clothes were getting big on me. I told my husband that I have to go and buy new clothes.
After 3 months, my doctor took me off my medicine. Every evening, no matter how tired I was, my husband, our dog Rocky and I religiously went for a walk. We still go walking at least 4 times a week. When we first started walking, it took us 20 minutes to go around the block. [It is a long block.] Now we can walk it in 9 minutes. It amazes me how far I can walk without getting tired. Truth be told, it is Rocky who has trouble keeping up.
At my last appointment, my doctor said to me "you are proof that type 2 diabetes can be beaten. You took the diagnosis seriously, followed instructions and today you are diabetic free."
Life with diabetes has been a major adjustment for me. I check every product that I buy for its sugar content and where the sugar is in the list of ingredients. I watch the glycemic index [G.I.] trying to eat only low and medium foods. I have given up some of my favourite foods even though I still make them for my family. I stopped noshing junk and I watch my portions because I know that if I cheat, I am only cheating myself. And pricking my finger to check my blood sugar is still no picnic. Fortunately, I only have to do it 4 times, 1 day a week, every 2 weeks.
Sometimes, I still get nervous thinking that I ate the wrong food or that I had too much and I check my sugar after 2 hours of eating. [the waiting period]
It is now one year since that Sunday morning and I lost around 15 kilos [33 pounds] and have able to maintain my weight and keep my blood sugar number in check. Today I am B"H healthy!
Diabetes is a serious health issue. The truth is diabetes, unlike many other illnesses can be controlled. Proper nutrition, close and individualized follow-ups, physical activity and proper medication can prevent complications and offer people with diabetes a better quality of life. I know this statement is true...I proved it!
Feel free to comment and pass my blog around.
Until next time..........
Miriam
An Anniversary of Sort..........
My journey with diabetes one year later.....
Last year, on May 15th, my world was turned upside down. It was an ordinary Sunday morning except for the fact that I had an appointment with my doctor to go over the results of the yearly blood work I had done a couple of days earlier.
As my doctor scanned my results and he came to glucose he shook his head and said, "this must be a mistake. The reading is much to high. Maybe you have an infection." And with this he sent me to the nurse to manually check my blood sugar. My number was 410. It should never be more than 126, so he ordered more tests including the Hemoglobin A1C .
A couple of days later with all the blood work back, my doctors suspicions were confirmed. I had diabetes type 2. So started my battle with diabetes.
My primary care doctor introduced me to Yifat the dietitian and Dalia the diabetic nurse and expert. Together, they became my team. A week later, I met the diabetic doctor. He was very gentle, reassuring and non threatening to speak too.
If I tell you the shock, fear and frustration that I felt those first few weeks, it would be an understatement. Desperately in need of information I spent hours checking out web sites of the Israel Diabetes Association, American Diabetic Association, Canadian Diabetes Association and British Diabetes Association . I was determined to learn as much as I could about diabetes.
The main thing that I learnt was that type 2 can be controlled with exercise, diet and meds.
I decided that diabetes was my project and that I would do whatever was necessary and beat it. I printed out information that I felt was important for me to remember and made myself a diabetic journal to refer too.
Over the early weeks, I pricked my finger 4 times a day and slowly watched my blood sugar number go down.
Three weeks after my initial appointment, my diabetic doctor said to me, "I don't know what you are doing to have these great results so quickly, but obviously whatever you did was the right thing, so keep on doing it."
I faithfully followed all the instructions and advice of my team. I watched every mouthful I ate and I was losing weight. My clothes were getting big on me. I told my husband that I have to go and buy new clothes.
After 3 months, my doctor took me off my medicine. Every evening, no matter how tired I was, my husband, our dog Rocky and I religiously went for a walk. We still go walking at least 4 times a week. When we first started walking, it took us 20 minutes to go around the block. [It is a long block.] Now we can walk it in 9 minutes. It amazes me how far I can walk without getting tired. Truth be told, it is Rocky who has trouble keeping up.
At my last appointment, my doctor said to me "you are proof that type 2 diabetes can be beaten. You took the diagnosis seriously, followed instructions and today you are diabetic free."
Life with diabetes has been a major adjustment for me. I check every product that I buy for its sugar content and where the sugar is in the list of ingredients. I watch the glycemic index [G.I.] trying to eat only low and medium foods. I have given up some of my favourite foods even though I still make them for my family. I stopped noshing junk and I watch my portions because I know that if I cheat, I am only cheating myself. And pricking my finger to check my blood sugar is still no picnic. Fortunately, I only have to do it 4 times, 1 day a week, every 2 weeks.
Sometimes, I still get nervous thinking that I ate the wrong food or that I had too much and I check my sugar after 2 hours of eating. [the waiting period]
It is now one year since that Sunday morning and I lost around 15 kilos [33 pounds] and have able to maintain my weight and keep my blood sugar number in check. Today I am B"H healthy!
Diabetes is a serious health issue. The truth is diabetes, unlike many other illnesses can be controlled. Proper nutrition, close and individualized follow-ups, physical activity and proper medication can prevent complications and offer people with diabetes a better quality of life. I know this statement is true...I proved it!
Feel free to comment and pass my blog around.
Until next time..........
Miriam
Saturday, May 1, 2010
בס''ד
Shepping Nachas
Last Shabbos, Parsha Acharei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16-20), Saba Avraham and I joined our family to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of our grandson Itamar Pinchas, at his kibbutz in Gush Etzion. Itamar is the son of our oldest daughter and son-in-law, Naomi and Eliezer.
Itamar leined his double parsha with ease, confidence and his voice was loud and clear. Itamar's many months of practicing had paid off. Truthfully, he was totally wonderful.
Itamar practicing with his brother Yoni.
After shul I asked Itamar how he felt and all he could do to breathe a sigh of relief.......
Five weeks ago, Saba Avraham had the honour of davening at the Kibbutz's shul when Itamar put on his Tefillin for the first time.
Proud Abba with Yoni, Itamar and Dvir.
After davening, Itamar invited his class to come to his house for breakfast.
Back to Shabbos. The Shabbos meals were in the Beit Medrash and for seuda shilshi, Naomi and Eliezer invited their friends and neighbours to join the simcha. At each meal, one of Itamar's great uncles gave a shiur. Itamar gave his shiur at the seuda shilshi.
The Bar Mitzvah celebrations continued on Tuesday when Naomi and Eliezer took Itamar's classmates and his kibbutz friends to Elk Farm Land in Gush Etzion,[click English link] where everyone had a blast rope climbing and doing other activities. Itamar on the ropes [turn on your speakers]. The Bar Mitzvah celebrations ended with a bar b' que.
All in all, the celebrations were very successful.
Mazal-Tov Itamar! You are a very special young man with a good heart and a beautiful smile. Saba and I are so very proud of you. We wish you much success as you grow and continue your learning.
Naomi and Eliezer, Mazal-Tov to you! You have a beautiful family and have given us wonderful grandchildren. May you both be well and shep nachas from your family! You have what to be proud of! Three more years until the next one...............
Im Yirtzeh Hashem, after Succot, on Parsha Noah, we will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of our grandson, Gilad.
May Saba and I be well attend many Bar Mitzvahs and dance at our twelve grandchildren's weddings....
Simchas Only!
Miriam
Shepping Nachas
Itamar leined his double parsha with ease, confidence and his voice was loud and clear. Itamar's many months of practicing had paid off. Truthfully, he was totally wonderful.
Itamar practicing with his brother Yoni.
After shul I asked Itamar how he felt and all he could do to breathe a sigh of relief.......
Five weeks ago, Saba Avraham had the honour of davening at the Kibbutz's shul when Itamar put on his Tefillin for the first time.
Proud Abba with Yoni, Itamar and Dvir.
After davening, Itamar invited his class to come to his house for breakfast.
Back to Shabbos. The Shabbos meals were in the Beit Medrash and for seuda shilshi, Naomi and Eliezer invited their friends and neighbours to join the simcha. At each meal, one of Itamar's great uncles gave a shiur. Itamar gave his shiur at the seuda shilshi.
The Bar Mitzvah celebrations continued on Tuesday when Naomi and Eliezer took Itamar's classmates and his kibbutz friends to Elk Farm Land in Gush Etzion,[click English link] where everyone had a blast rope climbing and doing other activities. Itamar on the ropes [turn on your speakers]. The Bar Mitzvah celebrations ended with a bar b' que.
All in all, the celebrations were very successful.
Mazal-Tov Itamar! You are a very special young man with a good heart and a beautiful smile. Saba and I are so very proud of you. We wish you much success as you grow and continue your learning.
Naomi and Eliezer, Mazal-Tov to you! You have a beautiful family and have given us wonderful grandchildren. May you both be well and shep nachas from your family! You have what to be proud of! Three more years until the next one...............
Im Yirtzeh Hashem, after Succot, on Parsha Noah, we will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of our grandson, Gilad.
May Saba and I be well attend many Bar Mitzvahs and dance at our twelve grandchildren's weddings....
Simchas Only!
Miriam
Monday, April 19, 2010
בס''ד
Our Precious Israel
Today is Yom HaZikaron , Israel's memorial day, when we remember the 22,684 fallen soldiers, who gave their livies defending our precious country.
Tonight we usher in Yom Ha'atzmaut, our Independence Day, celebrating 62 years of the modern State of Israel. A land where Jews everywhere in the world can call home.
Aish HaTorah put out an excellent video that says it all...........
Israel: Defying the Odds.
http://www.aish.com/jw/id/90073102.html
Our Flag
Our flag, our flag...
Oh, what a sight!
To see you proudly
dance in the wind.
Your blue and white colours
so very distinctive,
makes us grateful
we live in this wonderful land.
Our history is short,
many wars we have known.
The Hand of Hashem
guides our brave young soldiers,
to diligently defend your honour.
Oh flag, oh flag
What a proud and beautiful sight!
Until next time
Miriam
Our Precious Israel
Today is Yom HaZikaron , Israel's memorial day, when we remember the 22,684 fallen soldiers, who gave their livies defending our precious country.
Tonight we usher in Yom Ha'atzmaut, our Independence Day, celebrating 62 years of the modern State of Israel. A land where Jews everywhere in the world can call home.
Aish HaTorah put out an excellent video that says it all...........
Israel: Defying the Odds.
http://www.aish.com/jw/id/90073102.html
Our Flag
Our flag, our flag...
Oh, what a sight!
To see you proudly
dance in the wind.
Your blue and white colours
so very distinctive,
makes us grateful
we live in this wonderful land.
Our history is short,
many wars we have known.
The Hand of Hashem
guides our brave young soldiers,
to diligently defend your honour.
Oh flag, oh flag
What a proud and beautiful sight!
Until next time
Miriam
Sunday, March 21, 2010
בס''ד
Pesach, My Favorite Chag........
Pesach is coming
hurray, hurray!
For us to remember
and celebrate our freedom
so long ago.
We were slaves in Egypt
to Pharaoh and his gang
working day and night
with cruel taskmasters watching over us
we built cities and pyramids.
One day Princess Batya
went down to the water.
A basket was floating
and a baby boy was crying.
Fishing the basket out from the water
Batya recognized he was a Jewish child.
Said she would call him Moshe
and raise him in the palace
as her own.
From behind the bushes
Miriam, who was watching her brother
appeared
telling Princess Batya
that she knew a good midwife.
Yocheved the midwife
also known as Puah
went to live in the palace
where she raised her own son.
And because of Pharaoh's decree
to drown Jewish baby boys
Puah and Miriam
the Jewish midwives
were able to save the lives of
many, many baby boys.
Moshe grew up in the palace
and he saw our hard life.
He struck and killed a taskmaster
who was beating a Jew.
Moshe ran away in fear
but G-D told him to return.
And tell Pharaoh
let My people go!
Each time Pharaoh said no
another plague did come...
blood, frogs, lice,
wild beast, pestilence, boils,
hail, locust, darkness
slaying of the firstborn.
Finally Pharaoh said go!
Take your people and animals.
Just go!
Moshe told the people
we will go at midnight.
There was no time
for their dough to rise,
and so from that time
until today
we eat matza, unleaven bread.
Moshe led the Jewish people
to the Red Sea.
"We are going to drown"
the people shouted.
Behind them came
the chariots of Pharaoh
the Jews were scared.
G-D told Moshe
to stretched out his arms
and the sea split in two.
The Jewish people
walked to freedom
between the towers of water.
They were saved
but Pharaoh's men
were all drowned.
When the house is all Pesachdik
and we sit down to our Seder
we recount our liberation
as though we were there.
We begin with singing the Seder order
and making Kiddish.
A piece of celery, potato or onion
we do eat.
Four questions we ask.
Four cups of wine we drink.
Hiding the afikoman
for the desert we will eat.
Washing our hands
and making the Bracha
matza, maror charoset
we eat to remember
how hard our lives were.
Then comes the meal
so yummy and traditional.
Enjoying the guests at our table,
thankful we have reached this season.
Time to look for the afikoman
the children squeal with glee.
Who will find it.......
"I did, I did", said the little child so proud.
Eating the afikoman
bentching and Hallel.
We invite Eliyahu HaNavi
and welcome him
to our home.
The Seder is almost finished
all that is left
is to sing
לשנה הבאה בירושלימ
Next year in Jerusalem.
Wishing everyone a Chag Samaech v'kasher Pesach........
Feel free to comment and pass my blog around.
Miriam
Pesach, My Favorite Chag........
Pesach is coming
hurray, hurray!
For us to remember
and celebrate our freedom
so long ago.
We were slaves in Egypt
to Pharaoh and his gang
working day and night
with cruel taskmasters watching over us
we built cities and pyramids.
One day Princess Batya
went down to the water.
A basket was floating
and a baby boy was crying.
Fishing the basket out from the water
Batya recognized he was a Jewish child.
Said she would call him Moshe
and raise him in the palace
as her own.
From behind the bushes
Miriam, who was watching her brother
appeared
telling Princess Batya
that she knew a good midwife.
Yocheved the midwife
also known as Puah
went to live in the palace
where she raised her own son.
And because of Pharaoh's decree
to drown Jewish baby boys
Puah and Miriam
the Jewish midwives
were able to save the lives of
many, many baby boys.
Moshe grew up in the palace
and he saw our hard life.
He struck and killed a taskmaster
who was beating a Jew.
Moshe ran away in fear
but G-D told him to return.
And tell Pharaoh
let My people go!
Each time Pharaoh said no
another plague did come...
blood, frogs, lice,
wild beast, pestilence, boils,
hail, locust, darkness
slaying of the firstborn.
Finally Pharaoh said go!
Take your people and animals.
Just go!
Moshe told the people
we will go at midnight.
There was no time
for their dough to rise,
and so from that time
until today
we eat matza, unleaven bread.
Moshe led the Jewish people
to the Red Sea.
"We are going to drown"
the people shouted.
Behind them came
the chariots of Pharaoh
the Jews were scared.
G-D told Moshe
to stretched out his arms
and the sea split in two.
The Jewish people
walked to freedom
between the towers of water.
They were saved
but Pharaoh's men
were all drowned.
When the house is all Pesachdik
and we sit down to our Seder
we recount our liberation
as though we were there.
We begin with singing the Seder order
and making Kiddish.
A piece of celery, potato or onion
we do eat.
Four questions we ask.
Four cups of wine we drink.
Hiding the afikoman
for the desert we will eat.
Washing our hands
and making the Bracha
matza, maror charoset
we eat to remember
how hard our lives were.
Then comes the meal
so yummy and traditional.
Enjoying the guests at our table,
thankful we have reached this season.
Time to look for the afikoman
the children squeal with glee.
Who will find it.......
"I did, I did", said the little child so proud.
Eating the afikoman
bentching and Hallel.
We invite Eliyahu HaNavi
and welcome him
to our home.
The Seder is almost finished
all that is left
is to sing
לשנה הבאה בירושלימ
Next year in Jerusalem.
Wishing everyone a Chag Samaech v'kasher Pesach........
Feel free to comment and pass my blog around.
Miriam
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
בס''ד
eagerly waiting
for the phone to ring.
The chime clock
ticked
minute by minute
but still
the phone
doesn't ring.
In her younger days
while raising her family
a devoted mother she was
making sure
the needs of her children
and family
always came first.
But now
the children are grown
with families of their own.
Their lives
are so busy
there is just no time
for them
to pick up the phone.
The loneliness she feels...
where did I go wrong
is my usefulness really gone?
These are her constant thoughts
as the tears
run down her winkled face.
There's a knock on the door
slowly she gets up to answer
her daughter is standing there
with hands filled
with a beautiful bouquet.
"Hi Mom," she says
"thought I would surprise you
and drop in to say hello.
I saw these beautiful flowers
and I know how much
you love flowers."
"Let's have some tea
I have some thoughts
I want to share with you."
"Your grandchildren are wonderful
and miss you so much.
They want to know why
you live alone
and they never get to see you."
"Mom, as a family
we made a decision
to ask you to come
and live with us."
"We have plenty of room
so you can have your own space
but you never
have to be
alone again."
"So what do you say?
Hope it will be yes.
You can move in
whenever you wish."
"Mom, we love you so much
it would be our honour and privilege
to have you grace our home.
So will you say yes?"
With tears streaming down their faces
both mother and daughter
embrace.
"If you are sure
it won't be a problem
and I won't be under foot
the honour will be all mine."
Please feel free to comment and pass the blog around.
Until next time......
Miriam
The Third Generation
The elderly woman
sits by herselfeagerly waiting
for the phone to ring.
The chime clock
ticked
minute by minute
but still
the phone
doesn't ring.
In her younger days
while raising her family
a devoted mother she was
making sure
the needs of her children
and family
always came first.
But now
the children are grown
with families of their own.
Their lives
are so busy
there is just no time
for them
to pick up the phone.
The loneliness she feels...
where did I go wrong
is my usefulness really gone?
These are her constant thoughts
as the tears
run down her winkled face.
There's a knock on the door
slowly she gets up to answer
her daughter is standing there
with hands filled
with a beautiful bouquet.
"Hi Mom," she says
"thought I would surprise you
and drop in to say hello.
I saw these beautiful flowers
and I know how much
you love flowers."
"Let's have some tea
I have some thoughts
I want to share with you."
"Your grandchildren are wonderful
and miss you so much.
They want to know why
you live alone
and they never get to see you."
"Mom, as a family
we made a decision
to ask you to come
and live with us."
"We have plenty of room
so you can have your own space
but you never
have to be
alone again."
"So what do you say?
Hope it will be yes.
You can move in
whenever you wish."
"Mom, we love you so much
it would be our honour and privilege
to have you grace our home.
So will you say yes?"
With tears streaming down their faces
both mother and daughter
embrace.
"If you are sure
it won't be a problem
and I won't be under foot
the honour will be all mine."
Please feel free to comment and pass the blog around.
Until next time......
Miriam
Monday, February 15, 2010
בס''ד
Chodesh Tov!
A Purim Tale....Junior Brides.....
Every little girl dreams about being kallah [bride] and looking like a queen in her wedding dress. She dreams that she will fall in love with a handsome prince and together they will build a beautiful home and be the pride of their families.
My daughter Naomi was no exception. One Purim when she was about 9 or 10 years old, Naomi asked me if she could wear my wedding dress complete with the veil as her Purim costume. I said okay, and when she was all dressed-up, the sight of my young ‘kallah’ brought a lump to my throat. [I get emotional easily].
My Kallah & her friends.
Was I seeing the future? Ten years later, my junior kallah was a beautiful for real kallah. Naomi and her prince Eliezer were married Rosh Chodesh Nisan 5750, [March 27/90] on Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim in Gush Etzion. B”H they are parents to 6 beautiful children.
Going back to that Purim....Naomi and my younger daughter Devorah went to our Shul’s Purim party as a Chatan and Kallah. Naomi wore the wedding dress and Devorah wore a pant suit complete with tzizit and a hat.
"The Chatan"
Chodesh Tov!
A Purim Tale....Junior Brides.....
Every little girl dreams about being kallah [bride] and looking like a queen in her wedding dress. She dreams that she will fall in love with a handsome prince and together they will build a beautiful home and be the pride of their families.
My daughter Naomi was no exception. One Purim when she was about 9 or 10 years old, Naomi asked me if she could wear my wedding dress complete with the veil as her Purim costume. I said okay, and when she was all dressed-up, the sight of my young ‘kallah’ brought a lump to my throat. [I get emotional easily].
My Kallah & her friends.
Was I seeing the future? Ten years later, my junior kallah was a beautiful for real kallah. Naomi and her prince Eliezer were married Rosh Chodesh Nisan 5750, [March 27/90] on Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim in Gush Etzion. B”H they are parents to 6 beautiful children.
Going back to that Purim....Naomi and my younger daughter Devorah went to our Shul’s Purim party as a Chatan and Kallah. Naomi wore the wedding dress and Devorah wore a pant suit complete with tzizit and a hat.
"The Chatan"
The happy couple won first prize, a stuffed monkey.
About twelve years later, Devorah was a gorgeous kallah. She and her prince Hagai were married in Netivot, 5th Kislev 5752 [Nov.11th/91] and are B”H parents to 6 fabulous children.
Just before we made Aliyah, a friend called and said that she knew of a very needy Russian kallah and would I lend her my wedding dress. I had the dress cleaned, handed it to my friend and I heard that the kallah was just beautiful. I told my friend to hold on to the dress and pass it around as necessary.
I wonder how many brides wore my dress...........
It is now around thirty years since that Purim party.... and a few weeks ago, my granddaughters, Adi [9] and Talia [8] asked their mother Devorah, if they could try on her wedding dress.
Devorah told me that they were beautiful. May my husband and I have the Bracha to dance at their weddings.
Until next time.........Feel free to comment and pass my blog around.
A Happy Purim to everyone!
Miriam
Sunday, January 31, 2010
בס''ד
My Pet Peeve Blog..In other words sounding off........
As I have written in the past, last May I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. B”H, today my diabetes is in control and I am free of any symptoms. But, and this is a big but....as long as I look after myself, exercise, watch my weight and how much sugar products I consume daily, my diabetes will be in check. If I cheat and I know I am only cheating myself, the diabetes will be back.
I like to use some diabetes products that have the little red symbol from the Israel Diabetic Association.
I have a pet peeve and maybe if some of my readers who are also fellow diabetics have the same pet peeve. Why are products that are either sugar free or contain a sugar alternate more expensive than the same product that contains sugar? Do manufacturers think that they have a right to charge more because they are catering to a specific population?
I will give you an example. I picked up some regular strawberry jam for my husband. The same company makes a sugar free strawberry jam in the same size bottle. My jam was 1 shekel more. Do I have to pay a penalty just because I am a diabetic? If this was just one product I wouldn’t be so upset but there are dozens of products on the shelf where the regular product is one price and the diabetic product costs more. This is just not fair!
The next question is it the manufacturer or the grocery store that jacks up the price? I have checked in several stores and it seems to me that they all play the same game. What is the shopping like in your local stores?
When I mentioned my pet peeve recently, the person I was speaking to said that he believed that because the cost of artificial sweeteners costs more than sugar, production is less, making the product not profitable.
While this statement alone could be true, I believe that when you have a good margin [in other words profits] on your main products, the fact that you take advantage and up the price of a specialty product is not being a good corporate citizen. Now I am not talking about luxury products, but about everyday foods.
Where I shop, some products that are imported from the UK or Italy are cheaper than products that produced locally. I have one question. Why?
Now don’t get me wrong, I believe that every company has the right to make a profit on their products, but not on the backs of people who buy diabetic or other specialty health products.
If I were not a diabetic, I would not buy diabetic products. I would buy the regular product. I buy diabetic products because these are products that will help keep me healthy. Why am I being penalized and have to pay more? True, the difference in cost per product is small, but when you shop for several products, added up together, the difference is significant.
To be fair, the main grocery store where I shop recently had a 2 for 1 sale on diabetic foods. This was just before the store inventory. Guess they didn’t want to have to count all their products. In a couple of days, the shelves were bare, and the products were only replaced a week later at the regular high price....after inventory.
Now that I have said my two cents, the question is who do we complain to: the store, the manufacture or consumer groups.
I am going to pose my question to the Israeli Diabetic Association. If I get an answer, I will write about it.
Until next time........
Feel free to comment and pass my blog around.
Miriam
My Pet Peeve Blog..In other words sounding off........
As I have written in the past, last May I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. B”H, today my diabetes is in control and I am free of any symptoms. But, and this is a big but....as long as I look after myself, exercise, watch my weight and how much sugar products I consume daily, my diabetes will be in check. If I cheat and I know I am only cheating myself, the diabetes will be back.
I like to use some diabetes products that have the little red symbol from the Israel Diabetic Association.
I have a pet peeve and maybe if some of my readers who are also fellow diabetics have the same pet peeve. Why are products that are either sugar free or contain a sugar alternate more expensive than the same product that contains sugar? Do manufacturers think that they have a right to charge more because they are catering to a specific population?
I will give you an example. I picked up some regular strawberry jam for my husband. The same company makes a sugar free strawberry jam in the same size bottle. My jam was 1 shekel more. Do I have to pay a penalty just because I am a diabetic? If this was just one product I wouldn’t be so upset but there are dozens of products on the shelf where the regular product is one price and the diabetic product costs more. This is just not fair!
The next question is it the manufacturer or the grocery store that jacks up the price? I have checked in several stores and it seems to me that they all play the same game. What is the shopping like in your local stores?
When I mentioned my pet peeve recently, the person I was speaking to said that he believed that because the cost of artificial sweeteners costs more than sugar, production is less, making the product not profitable.
While this statement alone could be true, I believe that when you have a good margin [in other words profits] on your main products, the fact that you take advantage and up the price of a specialty product is not being a good corporate citizen. Now I am not talking about luxury products, but about everyday foods.
Where I shop, some products that are imported from the UK or Italy are cheaper than products that produced locally. I have one question. Why?
Now don’t get me wrong, I believe that every company has the right to make a profit on their products, but not on the backs of people who buy diabetic or other specialty health products.
If I were not a diabetic, I would not buy diabetic products. I would buy the regular product. I buy diabetic products because these are products that will help keep me healthy. Why am I being penalized and have to pay more? True, the difference in cost per product is small, but when you shop for several products, added up together, the difference is significant.
To be fair, the main grocery store where I shop recently had a 2 for 1 sale on diabetic foods. This was just before the store inventory. Guess they didn’t want to have to count all their products. In a couple of days, the shelves were bare, and the products were only replaced a week later at the regular high price....after inventory.
Now that I have said my two cents, the question is who do we complain to: the store, the manufacture or consumer groups.
I am going to pose my question to the Israeli Diabetic Association. If I get an answer, I will write about it.
Until next time........
Feel free to comment and pass my blog around.
Miriam
Sunday, January 17, 2010
בס''ד
The Day of Rest...........
For my family, Shabbos is a restful, peaceful day. It is the day when I’m not yapping on the telephone, I’m not on the computer checking my e-mail, surfing, blogging, looking at my Facebook page or finding worksheets for my students.
It is the day when I relax. I can daven, say Tehillim or just read the Hamodia [newpaper] without having to get up a hundred times. My husband and I go for a long walk almost everyday, but on Shabbos, when we are not rushed, the walk is so much more enjoyable.
The Shabbos food is all prepared. The mouth watering aroma of the cholent warming on the plata [Shabbos hotplate] permeates the entire house.
The table is set with a beautiful white tablecloth, our once a week dishes and cutlery that belonged to my mother-in-law a"h. The Kiddish cup is shining, but the most beautiful and meaningful item on the table is the little ‘yellow pepper salt shaker’ that my granddaughters, Adi and Talia bought for me.
When the Shabbos day comes to an end and before Havdalah, I say a very beautiful Tefillah [prayer] three times, that my Mother a”h and Bubby a”h use to say. “Gott Fun Avroham” [G-D of Avroham]. This Tefillah, written by Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, known as the Defender of the Jewish people, asks Hashem to grant us a good week filled with good health, children, kindness...........
Several years ago, I wrote a poem about this Tefillah.
Gott Fun Avroham
This beautiful Tefillah
my Mother a"h would say
at the end of Shabbos
so many years ago.
Composed by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
in Mama Loshen
a language
many Jewish children today do not know.
Several years ago
while buying a new Siddur
I came upon my Mother’s Tefillah.
Reading its powerful words,
immediately I knew,
these were the words I wanted to say
at the end of Shabbos
and to start the new week.
G-D of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov
protect your people Israel……..
is the first sentence of this Tefillah.
The Tefillah continues to ask
Ha Kodesh Baruch Hu
that the coming week bring
perfect faith, love and attachment
to the Creator, friends and scholars.
We request at the end of the Tefillah
that the coming week should bring
kindness, good fortune, success,
good health, wealth, honor,
children, life and sustenance
for us and all Israel.
So ladies don’t delay
when the Shabbos ends
and just before Havdalah
take a few minutes
and recite this Tefillah three times.
You will see,
you will feel
a special warmth
and a new meaning
to the start of a new week.
This Tefillah can be found in the English / Hebrew The Complete ArtScroll Siddur both Nusach Sefard and Ashkenaz.
Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
1740-1809, Chassidic leader, one of the foremost disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch; renowned for his all-encompassing love and compassion for the Jewish people and for every individual Jew.
For more information about Rav Levi Yitzchak:
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1007604/jewish/A-Brief-Biography.htm
http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/rabbis/berditchev.htm
This past October was 200 years since his passing and on the Arutz Sheva site there was a very inspiring article.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133822
Until next time......
Feel free to pass my blog around.
Miriam
The Day of Rest...........
For my family, Shabbos is a restful, peaceful day. It is the day when I’m not yapping on the telephone, I’m not on the computer checking my e-mail, surfing, blogging, looking at my Facebook page or finding worksheets for my students.
It is the day when I relax. I can daven, say Tehillim or just read the Hamodia [newpaper] without having to get up a hundred times. My husband and I go for a long walk almost everyday, but on Shabbos, when we are not rushed, the walk is so much more enjoyable.
The Shabbos food is all prepared. The mouth watering aroma of the cholent warming on the plata [Shabbos hotplate] permeates the entire house.
The table is set with a beautiful white tablecloth, our once a week dishes and cutlery that belonged to my mother-in-law a"h. The Kiddish cup is shining, but the most beautiful and meaningful item on the table is the little ‘yellow pepper salt shaker’ that my granddaughters, Adi and Talia bought for me.
When the Shabbos day comes to an end and before Havdalah, I say a very beautiful Tefillah [prayer] three times, that my Mother a”h and Bubby a”h use to say. “Gott Fun Avroham” [G-D of Avroham]. This Tefillah, written by Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, known as the Defender of the Jewish people, asks Hashem to grant us a good week filled with good health, children, kindness...........
Several years ago, I wrote a poem about this Tefillah.
Gott Fun Avroham
This beautiful Tefillah
my Mother a"h would say
at the end of Shabbos
so many years ago.
Composed by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
in Mama Loshen
a language
many Jewish children today do not know.
Several years ago
while buying a new Siddur
I came upon my Mother’s Tefillah.
Reading its powerful words,
immediately I knew,
these were the words I wanted to say
at the end of Shabbos
and to start the new week.
G-D of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov
protect your people Israel……..
is the first sentence of this Tefillah.
The Tefillah continues to ask
Ha Kodesh Baruch Hu
that the coming week bring
perfect faith, love and attachment
to the Creator, friends and scholars.
We request at the end of the Tefillah
that the coming week should bring
kindness, good fortune, success,
good health, wealth, honor,
children, life and sustenance
for us and all Israel.
So ladies don’t delay
when the Shabbos ends
and just before Havdalah
take a few minutes
and recite this Tefillah three times.
You will see,
you will feel
a special warmth
and a new meaning
to the start of a new week.
This Tefillah can be found in the English / Hebrew The Complete ArtScroll Siddur both Nusach Sefard and Ashkenaz.
Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
1740-1809, Chassidic leader, one of the foremost disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch; renowned for his all-encompassing love and compassion for the Jewish people and for every individual Jew.
For more information about Rav Levi Yitzchak:
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1007604/jewish/A-Brief-Biography.htm
http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/rabbis/berditchev.htm
This past October was 200 years since his passing and on the Arutz Sheva site there was a very inspiring article.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133822
Until next time......
Feel free to pass my blog around.
Miriam
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
בס''ד
Friends..........
We made Aliyah [moving to Israel] from Hamilton, Ontario, fifteen and half years ago. Although making Aliyah is the start of new beginnings, we left behind family and many good friends.
One couple in particular that we said good-bye to was Rabbi Zev Eisenstein ad120 and his dear wife Esther zt”l.
Rabbi Eisenstein was the principal of the Hamilton Hebrew Academy, the day school that our three children attended and where I worked in the preschool for seventeen years.
Esther was the Baalanit [in charge of the mikvah] for our city and she looked after the mikvah with love and devotion. She taught many kallahs [brides] the Halacha [Jewish laws] of Tahara HaMishpacha [family purity] and introduced the beauty of using the mikvah to women who were becoming Baala Teshuva.
Her kind words, warm smile and gentle eyes made the mitzvah very inviting. Esther respected everyone and she never considered herself better than anyone else.
Although we keep in touch by e-mail, the other day I had the opportunity and pleasure to speak on the phone to Rabbi Eisenstein, who was visiting his children here in Israel. It was very nice to catch-up.
We moved from Chomedey [suburb of Montreal] to Hamilton, Ontario in the summer of 1977. This is when we met the Eisenstein family, Rabbi & Esther and their children Chaim, Chani, Bitzy and Shayna who was just 6 weeks old. Today all the children are married and Rabbi E. is B”H the Zaida to many grandchildren.
Our daughters were enrolled in the day school and we came to have a look around. Rabbi Eisenstein gave us the tour of the school and spoke about its qualities. He welcomed our daughters so warmly that they were really excited to go to a new school.
Since this is a small world, I must mention that both the Rabbi & Esther were mentors to my sister-in-law also Esther when she was a teenager in St. Louis Mo. several years earlier. Rabbi E. was my sister-in-law’s principal and he married my brother Yitzchak and Esther in St. Louis.
For several years, once a week a group of women would meet at the Eisenstein home and the rabbi would teach us Chumash. [5 books of the bible]
Every Shabbat afternoon our daughters loved to go to 'the Rabbi's Shabbat groups.' They would come home and tell me, "we heard the best Shabbos story today."
On a personal note, the Eisenstein’s were good friends of my husband and myself. Esther and I spent many hours on the phone [Bell Canada must have loved us]. We spent many Shabbat afternoons enjoying Seuda Shlishi [the third Shabbat meal] together. Since we lived in an apartment building and didn’t have a sukkah, for years they would invite us to their home on the second night of Sukkot.
We celebrated together their sons Bar Mitzvahs and our daughters Bat Mitzvahs, Chani & Moish’s wedding and when our son’s adoption was finalized, his bris and seuda mitzvah.
Rabbi, you and Esther are in many ways responsible for who I am today and I will always be grateful to you both.
Our family wishes you many more years of nachas and simchas from your children and eyniklekh.[grandchildren]
Come home sooner than later!
Until next time.............
Miriam
Friends..........
We made Aliyah [moving to Israel] from Hamilton, Ontario, fifteen and half years ago. Although making Aliyah is the start of new beginnings, we left behind family and many good friends.
One couple in particular that we said good-bye to was Rabbi Zev Eisenstein ad120 and his dear wife Esther zt”l.
Rabbi Eisenstein was the principal of the Hamilton Hebrew Academy, the day school that our three children attended and where I worked in the preschool for seventeen years.
Esther was the Baalanit [in charge of the mikvah] for our city and she looked after the mikvah with love and devotion. She taught many kallahs [brides] the Halacha [Jewish laws] of Tahara HaMishpacha [family purity] and introduced the beauty of using the mikvah to women who were becoming Baala Teshuva.
Her kind words, warm smile and gentle eyes made the mitzvah very inviting. Esther respected everyone and she never considered herself better than anyone else.
Although we keep in touch by e-mail, the other day I had the opportunity and pleasure to speak on the phone to Rabbi Eisenstein, who was visiting his children here in Israel. It was very nice to catch-up.
We moved from Chomedey [suburb of Montreal] to Hamilton, Ontario in the summer of 1977. This is when we met the Eisenstein family, Rabbi & Esther and their children Chaim, Chani, Bitzy and Shayna who was just 6 weeks old. Today all the children are married and Rabbi E. is B”H the Zaida to many grandchildren.
Our daughters were enrolled in the day school and we came to have a look around. Rabbi Eisenstein gave us the tour of the school and spoke about its qualities. He welcomed our daughters so warmly that they were really excited to go to a new school.
Since this is a small world, I must mention that both the Rabbi & Esther were mentors to my sister-in-law also Esther when she was a teenager in St. Louis Mo. several years earlier. Rabbi E. was my sister-in-law’s principal and he married my brother Yitzchak and Esther in St. Louis.
For several years, once a week a group of women would meet at the Eisenstein home and the rabbi would teach us Chumash. [5 books of the bible]
Every Shabbat afternoon our daughters loved to go to 'the Rabbi's Shabbat groups.' They would come home and tell me, "we heard the best Shabbos story today."
On a personal note, the Eisenstein’s were good friends of my husband and myself. Esther and I spent many hours on the phone [Bell Canada must have loved us]. We spent many Shabbat afternoons enjoying Seuda Shlishi [the third Shabbat meal] together. Since we lived in an apartment building and didn’t have a sukkah, for years they would invite us to their home on the second night of Sukkot.
We celebrated together their sons Bar Mitzvahs and our daughters Bat Mitzvahs, Chani & Moish’s wedding and when our son’s adoption was finalized, his bris and seuda mitzvah.
Rabbi, you and Esther are in many ways responsible for who I am today and I will always be grateful to you both.
Our family wishes you many more years of nachas and simchas from your children and eyniklekh.[grandchildren]
Come home sooner than later!
Until next time.............
Miriam
Monday, December 21, 2009
בס''ד
From Evil Came Beauty..........
This past Shabbos [20/12/09] was one year since Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli invasion into Gaza to stop the daily rocket attacks on Sderot and the other Negev and Southern communities targeted by Hamas. There were more than 10,000 kassams and grad missiles sent to these areas.
I live in Netivot with my family and wrote about our experiences living in a war zone. You can read the blogs by clicking the archives. The titles are:
Kassams and More, Kassams part 2, Respite Shabbos, Kassams part 3
An Israeli artist named Yaron Bob, of Moshav Yated, has hand sculpted these evil rockets into beautiful roses. http://www.rocketsintoroses.com/index.html
During the war there was a shortage of bomb shelters. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the roses will be donated to Operation Lifeshield http://operationlifeshield.org/ to build new shelters.
To see these beautiful roses................. http://www.rocketsintoroses.com/products.html
More Creativity.............
My daughter bought some very plain clay plant planters and two of her children, Bat-El and Yoni, decided to decorate them.
Until next time..........
Feel free to pass my blog around
Miriam
From Evil Came Beauty..........
This past Shabbos [20/12/09] was one year since Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli invasion into Gaza to stop the daily rocket attacks on Sderot and the other Negev and Southern communities targeted by Hamas. There were more than 10,000 kassams and grad missiles sent to these areas.
I live in Netivot with my family and wrote about our experiences living in a war zone. You can read the blogs by clicking the archives. The titles are:
Kassams and More, Kassams part 2, Respite Shabbos, Kassams part 3
An Israeli artist named Yaron Bob, of Moshav Yated, has hand sculpted these evil rockets into beautiful roses. http://www.rocketsintoroses.com/index.html
During the war there was a shortage of bomb shelters. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the roses will be donated to Operation Lifeshield http://operationlifeshield.org/ to build new shelters.
To see these beautiful roses................. http://www.rocketsintoroses.com/products.html
More Creativity.............
My daughter bought some very plain clay plant planters and two of her children, Bat-El and Yoni, decided to decorate them.
Until next time..........
Feel free to pass my blog around
Miriam
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
בס''ד
Taking Charge..........
This past May, I was diagnosed with Diabetes type 2. It is now 6 ½ months later, I’m off all medication and I’m thankfully free of any diabetes. I had a doctor’s appointment today and he told me that I am living proof that if you take your diagnoses seriously, you can beat diabetes.
My secret, I took charge. I did research on diabetes, checking out the diabetes associations of the Israeli, American, British and Canadian Associations. I read and reread information on what is diabetes, learnt about the G.I. index [glycemic index] http://www.glycemicindex.com/, how diet and exercise play an important part in controlling diabetes and what symptoms to be aware of and to speak to the doctor about.
I followed the advice of my family doctor, my diabetic doctor and my dietician. I started to eat healthy, started walking and lost weight. I check my blood glucose level on regular bases and do my blood work tests as necessary. My numbers are terrific, well within the normal range.
I just read an online article from the Toronto paper, The Globe and Mail, that said the number of Canadians living with diabetes will rise dramatically over the next decade, spurring an “economic tsunami” that will be felt well beyond the health system. Today there are 2.5 million Canadians who have been diagnosed with diabetes either type 1 or type 2. To read the entire article, the link is:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/diabetes-called-a-brewing-economic-tsunami/article1390792/
The amount of people diagnosed with diabetes is mind boggling. In the States, approximately 21 million Americans have been diagnosed and millions more are undiagnosed. Here in Israel, according to the Israel Diabetic Association almost 400,000 Israelis have been diagnosed and another 200,000 Israelis are undiagnosed. This makes a lot of people with this disease.
The questions on hand now are: how do we, the diabetic, make family and friends aware of diabetes and its potential life altering effect? Are the medical ministries of each country spending enough money to bring diabetes to the forefront? Does the general public understand that diabetes type 2 can happen to anyone, not just those who have a family history? Is there an awareness campaign? So many questions but not enough answers..........
Personally, I have suggested to my husband and children that when they do blood work, they should also ask to have glucose and Hemoglobin A1c added to their blood tests. This way they will know where they stand and if they have to start to take any precautions.
To change the topic........
This Friday evening and for the next eight days is Chanukah.
Chanukah is about miracles and celebration, when the Temple Menorah was rekindled during the re-dedication, only enough oil to last for one day could be found, however this small amount burned for eight days and nights until more oil was made.
To remember and celebrate the miracle of the oil, we eat a variety of foods fried in oil. For a diabetic or anyone else watching their weight this is difficult to do. The most common treats are potato latkes [pancakes] or any other latke and doughnuts.
Here are a couple of recipes for latkes and doughnuts that are diabetic friendly.
Latkes Recipe
2 large potatoes unpeeled [option.. substitute 1 potato for 2 zucchinis]
1 small onion
2 eggs (whites only)
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
½ tsp baking powder
4tsp Canola oil
Top with low fat sour cream, yogurt or unsweetened applesauce.
Finely shred potato and onion and place in sieve press to remove excess moisture. In a bowl whisk together egg whites, flour, salt and baking powder until smooth stir in potato mixture. In large non-stick skillet heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. When water drops splatter on skillet spoon potato mixture about 2 tablespoons at a time onto the skillet to form 3 inch latke. Fry until brown and drain, drain, drain. ENJOY!
Doughnuts recipe
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
4 tablespoons sugar replacement
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 cup flour
1/8 tsp baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. nutmeg [optional]
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
salt
oil for deep frying
Combine sugars, buttermilk, egg beat together add remaining ingredients except oil and beat until blended. Heat oil 375F drop dough into hot oil and fry until golden brown. Drain well. ENJOY!
‘Chanukah Samaech’ to you and yours.
Miriam
Taking Charge..........
This past May, I was diagnosed with Diabetes type 2. It is now 6 ½ months later, I’m off all medication and I’m thankfully free of any diabetes. I had a doctor’s appointment today and he told me that I am living proof that if you take your diagnoses seriously, you can beat diabetes.
My secret, I took charge. I did research on diabetes, checking out the diabetes associations of the Israeli, American, British and Canadian Associations. I read and reread information on what is diabetes, learnt about the G.I. index [glycemic index] http://www.glycemicindex.com/, how diet and exercise play an important part in controlling diabetes and what symptoms to be aware of and to speak to the doctor about.
I followed the advice of my family doctor, my diabetic doctor and my dietician. I started to eat healthy, started walking and lost weight. I check my blood glucose level on regular bases and do my blood work tests as necessary. My numbers are terrific, well within the normal range.
I just read an online article from the Toronto paper, The Globe and Mail, that said the number of Canadians living with diabetes will rise dramatically over the next decade, spurring an “economic tsunami” that will be felt well beyond the health system. Today there are 2.5 million Canadians who have been diagnosed with diabetes either type 1 or type 2. To read the entire article, the link is:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/diabetes-called-a-brewing-economic-tsunami/article1390792/
The amount of people diagnosed with diabetes is mind boggling. In the States, approximately 21 million Americans have been diagnosed and millions more are undiagnosed. Here in Israel, according to the Israel Diabetic Association almost 400,000 Israelis have been diagnosed and another 200,000 Israelis are undiagnosed. This makes a lot of people with this disease.
The questions on hand now are: how do we, the diabetic, make family and friends aware of diabetes and its potential life altering effect? Are the medical ministries of each country spending enough money to bring diabetes to the forefront? Does the general public understand that diabetes type 2 can happen to anyone, not just those who have a family history? Is there an awareness campaign? So many questions but not enough answers..........
Personally, I have suggested to my husband and children that when they do blood work, they should also ask to have glucose and Hemoglobin A1c added to their blood tests. This way they will know where they stand and if they have to start to take any precautions.
To change the topic........
This Friday evening and for the next eight days is Chanukah.
Chanukah is about miracles and celebration, when the Temple Menorah was rekindled during the re-dedication, only enough oil to last for one day could be found, however this small amount burned for eight days and nights until more oil was made.
To remember and celebrate the miracle of the oil, we eat a variety of foods fried in oil. For a diabetic or anyone else watching their weight this is difficult to do. The most common treats are potato latkes [pancakes] or any other latke and doughnuts.
Here are a couple of recipes for latkes and doughnuts that are diabetic friendly.
Latkes Recipe
2 large potatoes unpeeled [option.. substitute 1 potato for 2 zucchinis]
1 small onion
2 eggs (whites only)
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
½ tsp baking powder
4tsp Canola oil
Top with low fat sour cream, yogurt or unsweetened applesauce.
Finely shred potato and onion and place in sieve press to remove excess moisture. In a bowl whisk together egg whites, flour, salt and baking powder until smooth stir in potato mixture. In large non-stick skillet heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. When water drops splatter on skillet spoon potato mixture about 2 tablespoons at a time onto the skillet to form 3 inch latke. Fry until brown and drain, drain, drain. ENJOY!
Doughnuts recipe
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
4 tablespoons sugar replacement
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 cup flour
1/8 tsp baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. nutmeg [optional]
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
salt
oil for deep frying
Combine sugars, buttermilk, egg beat together add remaining ingredients except oil and beat until blended. Heat oil 375F drop dough into hot oil and fry until golden brown. Drain well. ENJOY!
‘Chanukah Samaech’ to you and yours.
Miriam
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