בס''ד

A Respite Shabbat in Gush Etzion

We spent this past Shabbat at our daughter and son-law’s home on their kibbutz on Rosh Tzurim in Gush Etzion. After a week of air raid sirens and booming from the grad missiles and kassams that the terrorists were attacking us with in Netivot, we decided to go away, even if it was only for a Shabbat.

Our son had been at the kibbutz for the entire week. We were going to join him and spend Shabbos with our family. We rented a car and left early Friday morning.

My husband said Tefillah HaDerech [traveler’s prayer]with much kevana and we put our lives in Hashem’s Hands.

Because the rockets were landing all along the regular route that we take to the Kibbutz, we had to take a round about direction. Otherwise we would have had to drive thru Sderot, Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat and Kiryat Malachi.

We had another possible problem area on the trip. Just out side of Gush Etzion is the arab village of Tzurif. These arabs are very pro Hamas and they don't need a reason to riot and throw rocks and boulders at Jewish cars passing by.

When we arrived at the check point, my husband asked the soldiers if it was safe to pass Tzurif. They gave us the okay, but said to not to travel past Tzurif at night. That’s when all the trouble was. Passing Tzurif, we could see all the rocks and boulders on the sides of the road. Fifteen minutes later we arrived safely at the kibbutz.

Coming home Moetzi Shabbat was another story. My son said Tefillah HaDerech and we started the trip home. This time we had to go to from Gush Etzion to Jerusalem in order not to pass Tzurif. This was way out of our way. We had the radio on and heard that during the day, Netivot had three sirens and that there were injuries and a house took a direct hit. We also heard the announcement that our IDF ground troupes had entered Gaza.

I couldn’t wait to get home. Our 1 ¼ hour trip took almost 2 ½ hours but B"H we didn't have any problem on the road and thankfully, we came home safely.

Thank-you dear Soldiers

Thank-you dear soldiers
of the Israel Defense Forces.

Thank-you
for your service
in defending our nation.

Thank-you dear reservist
for answering the call
to serve
so that our country will not fall.

Our prayers are with you
for success and good health.

May the Hand of the One Above
watch over you night and day
and bring you home safely
into the arms of your loved ones.

Please say Tehillim [Psalms] 121 and 142 for our soldiers, 130 for our country.

Feel free to comment and pass my blog around.

בס''ד

Kassams, Grads and Missiles......Part 2

To read Part 1 ... click Nov. in the archives and scroll down

On Wednesday, Dec. 25th, at 8:05 a.m., I was busy making breakfast for my family when the first air raid siren went off. Since we have only 15 seconds to get into the safe room or public shelter, I grabbed our dog and my family quickly went into our safe room. Within 20 seconds we heard a loud boom.

A safe room is a special room built in a house that is made with reinforced concrete and steel in between the walls. The outside walls are ten inches thick. In front of the window is a steel plate and the window closes to be air tight. The door is a very heavy door made of steel.

The Israel Home command recommends that we should stay in the safe room for five minutes from the time the siren rings or until we hear a boom. Sometimes Hamas send a cluster of rockets and they all land at the same time or the rocket is just going over Netivot and lands in another community.

That day, Hamas sent 100 kassams, grads and mortars to seam line communities along the Gaza border all the way to Ashkelon.

In Netivot, where I live, we had 4 sirens. Three kassams, one grad missile and one missile went over head.

One of the kassams landed in front of a children’s inside playground where they were having a Chanukah party. There weren’t any injuries only very frightened children.

Friday and Shabbat morning were relatively quiet.

Late Shabbat morning, we could hear jets in the distance.

At 11.30 a.m. just as we were sitting down for our Shabbat lunch the booming was unbelievable. For half an hour all we heard was boom, boom, boom. The windows and door rattled and the apartment shook. We knew the booming was coming from our jets. When you live in the Negev you become an expert on booming...what boom is from our jets and what boom are the terrorists attacking.

After lunch, I tried to lie down for my regular Shabbat afternoon nap, but that was not to be.

We spent the rest of Shabbat going in and out of our safe room. The air raid siren rang about nine or ten times. While husband was at Mincha, there was a siren and all of the men had to go into the stairwell of the shul. That was the only safe place.

In Netivot on Shabbat, the kassams made a direct hit on a house, landed in the shuk [outdoor market] and a man was struck and killed when he was standing outside. Other kassams landed in fields.

My daughter who lives five minutes from us had a kassam land in back of a house a few doors away from her. My grandchildren are having a hard time with the noise.

Sunday was mostly quiet in Netivot, but yesterday we received a couple of kassams. The first one was at lunchtime and it hit a house. The second attacked was at 11.50 p.m.

Although Netivot is on the receiving end on many rockets, the amount we have received is far less than other communities. Rockets are landing as far away as Ashdod.

On Tuesday late in the evening, I was in a very deep sleep, when the siren went off, my husband woke me up. Subconsciously, I walked into our safe room, I heard two booms and I went back to sleep. Scary........Am I getting used to the sirens and booms?

We have jets and helicopters over head all the time and the booming is another story.

As of yesterday, the military has designated the western Negev as a closed military zone. That means, only residents whose address on their Tuedat Zahut [identity card] says that they live in one of the communities can enter. Everyone else will be turned away.

All schools, kindergartens and day cares have been cancelled until further notice. Residents are told to only go out if necessary and know where the public shelters are. Many businesses are also closed.

Our brave IDF pilots are doing a magnificent job. Their accuracy is 98%. We certainly have the best air force in the world. We pray that they are successful in completing their missions and that everyone comes home safely.

May the Hand of Hashem guide our pilots and protect Am YISROEL!

בס''ד

Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah..........

At this time of the year, kids of all ages are busy making beautiful menorahs in school. Whether your family uses candles or oil to light the Chanukah menorah, every child loves to gather around the table and have their turn. At our gatherings, each child lights their own candles and recites the brachot, their sweet young voices brings a smile to my face and happiness in my heart. After candle lighting the family sings Maoz Tzur together.

Here is another popular children’s Chanukah song which can be sung in English, Hebrew or Yiddish.

Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah
come light the Menorah
let's have a party
we'll all dance the Hora.

Spin the whirling dreidels
all week long
eating the sizzling latkes
sing a happy song.

Now light them tonight
the candles all in a row
we tell the wondrous story of G-d in all His glory
the wonders of long ago.

****************************************
For our family, Chanukah is an especially happy time. Our first born grandchild, Yoni, was born on Rosh Chodesh Tevet, the sixth night of Chanukah and is a tenth generation Israeli.

We were still living in the old country, Canada. Our daughter and son-in-law live on a kibbutz in Gush Etzion. It was a Monday evening. I had lied down to rest before heading out to my shiur. The phone rang, my husband answered and all I could hear was "mazel-tov, mazal-tov!" How is everyone?

One minute later, my husband came to me and said, “mazal-tov Safta, we have a grandson!”

I can’t describe the feeling that came over me. It was incredible. I was bursting with happiness and profound gratefulness to be granted this Bracha. I couldn’t wait to come to Israel and meet my little grandson. Three weeks later, I was holding my little grandson.

Yoni’s Pidyon HaBen and the start of the first Gulf War were thirty days later. Since there was a travel ban, my son-in-law's parents, who lived in B’nei Brak and his family in Jerusalem couldn’t come. Some of the food that had been ordered from Jerusalem also couldn’t be delivered.

My son-in-law didn’t know what to do. His Rav said that the Pidyon HaBen mustn’t be cancelled. All their friends and neighbors pitched in to help make the simcha. They raided the kibbutz fridge, baked some cakes and set up a beautiful table. One of the kibbutz’s kohens had the honour. Yoni was redeemed and the simcha was just wonderful. For a few minutes, everyone sang and danced outside on the lawn, forgetting about the siren and scuds that had landed during the night.

On the occasion of Yoni’s Bar-mitzvah I wrote this poem to him.

It was the seventh night of Chanukah,
Rosh Chodesh Tevet.
A kick or two you gave your mother
on that cold wintery night.
Let me out! Let me out! Let me out!

After some time
A beautiful boy emerged.
The nurse handed you to your Mother
Your Father phoned Saba Avraham.

“It’s a boy! It’s a boy!”
All choked up your father managed to say
“Naomi will call you later,
I want to go see my son.”

Eight days later a brit you did have
Yonaton David was the name called out.
Yonaton, the brave Macabee
David, your great-grandfather.

Thirteen years have passed quickly.
Where has the time gone?
Today you have reached a milestone
Saba and I are so very proud.

Mazel tov Yoni, your Mother and Father too.
May the whole family celebrate
many more simchot with you.

Our precious grandson, will G-D willing graduate from his Yeshiva in June and at the end of the summer will start his army service in a Hesder Yeshiva.

****************************************

In Israel, the most popular treat after candle lightning are donuts. Bakeries can’t bake them fast enough. Every type of donut and every topping you can imagine are produced.

My daughters make donuts with caramel filling. This is no time to watch the scale. One of my daughters is married to a Tunisian. She makes the most fabulous Tunisian donuts topped with a gooey sugar glaze. It’s a bit of a ‘patch’ to make...but the results are worth it.

Sfinja

1 kilo flour
3 level tablespoons dry yeast
¾ cup sugar
¼ tsp. salt
¾ cup oil
3 eggs.
warm water

Mix dry ingredients, add oil, eggs
Slowly add warm water until dough is soft.
Knead dough to form ball
Oil hands & rub top and sides of dough & bowl.
Cover with plastic wrap to seal
Let dough set until double in size [app.1/2 hour]

Knead dough again & cut 20 /25 even sized balls.
Shape each ball to look like a ring with a large hole in the center.

Allow to rise again on a greased tray or plastic tablecloth. Do not use flour, as the donuts will be heavy.

Deep fry in hot oil until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel.

Sugar glaze

1½ cup sugar
¾ cup water
2 packages of vanilla sugar or a good squirt of liquid vanilla
2 squirts of a lemon
Mix together and boil on medium to low flame for 7 minutes.

Cover donuts with glaze

ENJOY!

Please feel free to comment and pass the blog around.

בס''ד

Being a Mother..................

Reminiscing is a wonderful past time. Looking at old pictures of when my daughters were babies and growing up. Today they are each mothers of six children. Yesterday, my son was a toddler looking for cookies. Today, he is all grown up with broad shoulders and who towers over me. Where has the time gone?

I don’t really know why, but the other day I was thinking back to the early days of our marriage. I remember how much I wanted to be pregnant and start a family. I would dream about the little girls and little boys we would have.

One day, I wasn’t feeling so well and I went to the doctor. After a couple of test, the doctor told me I wasn’t sick, I was pregnant and going to be a mother. I was so excited I couldn’t believe my news. I told my husband that I was going to have the best pregnancy. I read every piece of pregnancy information that I could fine. No internet then! I had to rely on books. Just thinking that there was a miracle inside of me, a new little person, growing and developing would bring a smile to my face.

I would sit and wonder is my little baby a son or a daughter. Now, I am going back 39 years, before the days of ultrasound, when the doctor’s guess was as good as anybody else. The old thought that if you carried high and pointy, you had a girl and if you had major back pains and carried low, that was a boy. I wonder how many times these old tales were correct?

What would our child be like? Who would our child look like? Would my child be laid back or a ball of fire? What kind of mother will I be? Will I be anxious or relaxed? So many unanswered questions. Nine months is a very long time. You never stop thinking. There is so much to do. Looking, but not buying anything until our baby was born, thinking on possible names, dreaming on how I would fix up a nursery. Time moved very slowly.

I’m getting bigger and bigger. When I sit, I rest my arms on my stomach, while talking and patting my baby. I know my child so well and my love is indescribable.

Oops, was that a contraction? Not sure. I think I will go and lie down. There! It happened again and again. Oh, oh my water broke. My bed is drenched. Time to go to the hospital. The anticipation that first part of the journey is almost over. My husband calls my parents to come right away. He tells them he is too nervous to drive. I remind him to call the doctor and hospital.

Contraction after contraction and then it was time. The doctor said, “one big push,” and the lights went out. The anesthesiologist had put me out for the last couple of pushes. That was how they did deliveries in my day.

Waking up a few minutes later, all alone in a small room, a nurse entered and I asked about my baby. “You have a beautiful, healthy little girl and you can see her when we move you to your room,” she said so matter of fact. What was only a few minutes seemed like a lifetime. I felt so sad, here I was a mother for the first time in my life and I haven’t yet met my daughter. It was such a let down. This was not right. A mother should never be separated from her child. I promised myself, if I ever became pregnant again, the delivery would be different.

And so it was. Two years later. I experienced the most beautiful delivery. I was awake and from a mirror over my head, I could see my precious second daughter being born.

My daughter is crying and so am I. She is lying on my stomach still attached to the umbilical cord, a little snip and I hear the nurse saying “here Mom, hold your new baby.” All I can do is hug and kiss her. She feels so good. Soon she will have a bath and I will feel her soft pink skin next to my cheek. I tell my daughter how much I love her.

The old saying that a mother’s love is forever is such a true statement. We mothers may get annoyed at something our child has done and scold them, but we never stop loving our child.

Mothers have the responsibility and obligation to raise her children from newborn to adulthood.

There are all different types of mothers. Biological mothers, adoptive mothers, step-mothers, foster mothers. Regardless what type of mother you are, your child looks up to you and counts on you to have their best interests at heart.

I have had the privilege to be a biological mother and an adoptive mother. Let me tell you except for giving birth, the biological mom and the adoptive mom is one and the same. The love you have for your adoptive child is no different than the love you have for your biological child.

It is interesting to me how little girls like to play mother. It is almost like they are practicing for their future role in life. So carefully they dress their dollies, feed them a bottle and cover their ‘baby’ snug as a bug in a dolly stroller. When they take their dolly out for a walk, they look like proud mothers. If only motherhood was so simple.

*****************************************
Stay at home mothers take on different jobs. In a news article dated June 2nd/08 on CNN.com the headline read................ Mother's love worth $117,000 per year, study says.
Stay-at-home moms perform $117,000 worth of work per year Moms with outside jobs would receive $68,405 for motherly tasks, study says. Stay-at-home moms report working 94.4 hours per week “A lot of people think we sit and home and have a lot of fun," says mom of two.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/05/09/mom.salary.ap/index.html

**************************************

While surfing the internet, I found some profound mother quotes.

This is for all the mothers who have sat up all night with a sick toddler
In their arms, wiping up spit-up laced with hot dogs, birthday cake and fruit juice saying “it’s okay honey, Mommy’s here.......’’

For all the mothers who have run carpools and made dozens of cookies
for school teas and sewn costumes.......

And all the mothers who haven't because they are at work trying to
earn enough to keep on top of the bills....

This for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took these babies and gave them homes and all their love.

*****************************************

My mother a”h did many things in her life time. She was a stay at home mom who felt her place was at home and ‘not to go to work’. She believed that taking care of her family, being home when her children came home from school and preparing a good meat super meal for her husband & children was her role in life.

With all this, my mother believed that you had to help your community. She volunteered delivering hot meals to the elderly, sewed costumes for my school and ballet plays and baked cookies, pies and cakes whenever she was asked.

My mother was famous for her cheese cake.

CRUST
2 tablespoons of butter [I use canola oil] 1 cup brown sugar
2 cups crushed cornflakes
1½ cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder [1 Israeli package]
Mix together and put aside

FILLING
-1 lb of wet cheese [I use 1 container of baking cheese from Tnuva]
-2 eggs separated
-¾ cup milk
-½ cup white sugar
-2 tablespoons flour
-squirt of vanilla

-Beat egg whites stiff. Combine all the ingredients except
egg whites and beat well.
-add egg whites and beat until mixture is totally combined

Using approx. 9x13 baking pan cover the bottom with half of the crust. Pat down. Pour the filling and cover with the remainder of the crust. Bake for 1 ¼ hours 160c. When finish baking leave the cheese cake in the over with the heat turned off for 30 minutes. This will set the cake and not allow it to fall. Cool and refrigerate for several hours before serving.

Toppings
Optional......strawberry yogurt, sour cream, strawberry sauce made from frozen berries.

Feel free to comment and pass my blog around.

בס''ד

Kassams, Grad Missiles and More......

Shalom and welcome back!

A loyal reader suggested that I write a blog about living in an area where kassams and grad missiles are landing. Since it has been very noisy for the past couple of days, I decided to write this blog.

My family & I live in Netivot, a city in the Western Negev. We are located 10kms from Gaza. Our neighboring communities are located within the regional councils of Sedot Negev, Eshkol, and Shaar Ha Negev. The community of Sderot is about 10 minutes from us by car.

We have grandchildren that live in Ma’agalim and go to school in Kfar Maimon, part of the Sedot Negev communities.

Each of the children's classrooms is a fortified bomb proof room with a security door. Before they moved into these classrooms, they had an unprotected classroom.

Children in North America have fire drills, these children have kassam drills. Every child knows that when the alarm goes off, they have to quickly go under their desk and roll up like a ball. They know that they have to stay away from windows and follow the teacher’s instructions. They understand this is not child’s play. With these new classrooms the children have protection from kassams

The army comes to the school to visit, teach and reassure the children. In the playground there are bomb shelters in case the siren rings during recess. Unfortunately, Kfar Maimon is on the receiving end of many Kassams.

We, in Netivot, have had over the past couple of years several grad missiles fall. Kassams can’t reach us, as they can not be aimed and can only go a few kms. Grads on the other hand are directed and can go 20kms. They usually land in or near the cemetery of the Baba Sali which is on the perimeter of the city.

We have had grads land in the center of town, near a gas station, in the shuk [market] and two have landed not far from our apartment. One was in a farmer’s field. We could see the smoke rising from our balcony. The other was a little to close for comfort. It landed in a construction site in back of our apartment. Fortunately, there were no injuries or damage from these attacks.

Netivot, as with other communities, is hooked up to a warning air raid siren. When the siren rings, you have 40 seconds to go into your safe room or a public bomb shelter.

When the kassam or grad missile lands it makes a very loud boom and the windows and sometimes the floor vibrates. The hole in the ground is deep and black.

Life goes on. We are not afraid to leave our apartment. We take buses, go where we have to go and do whatever we need to get done.

Living in this area, you get used to the different sounds. We sometimes have helicopters hovering and circling over our neighborhood for hours, waiting for orders. You learn the sounds of booming in the distance, which are the terrorists and which is the army responding.

By far, Sderot and the moshavim and kibbutzim close by, have had the most attacks. Sderot can be targeted up to 30 to 40 times a day. It is only 2kms from Gaza. The property damage is extensive. Many residents have been seriously injured. One child lost his leg. Children and adults are suffering from mental anguish. There have been deaths to both children and adults. Parents are afraid to send their children to school as the schools are not fortified. Kassams have landed near kindergartens and day cares. One kassam landed in a shul, beside the Aron HaKodesh, five minutes after a dedication of a new Sefer Torah and everyone had left. Unemployment is very high and dispair is everywhere.

But with every tragedy there is sunshine. Mitzvot are happening all the time.Everyone cares.

In Beer Sheva there is a Challah project where you can order your Shabbos challahs from Sderot. This past Pesach, buses filled with women from Jerusalem and area came to Sderot to do their Pesach shopping. During the summer, a convoy of cars from the North came to visit the residents and shop.

The Sderot Online Mall [link on side of blog] is a private initiative of people from the center of the country, trying to give new business opportunities to the citizens of Sderot & all the other moshavim and kibbutzim that are close to and surrounds the Gaza strip. The residents of Sderot have to know that they are not alone.

As I sit at my computer typing this blog, I hear a very loud boom in the distance. When will it end.....nobody knows.

May the Hand of Hashem protect us all.

Here is picture of a kassam.

Several months ago I wrote a poem about Sderot.

Sderot's Pain

The siren is blaring

people are shouting

red alert, red alert

kassams are coming!

Mothers and fathers

Hold on to their precious children

run to the shelters

Saying Tehillim, that all will be well.

The children are screaming.

The noise is deafening.

Their parents want to know

When will this all stop.

Suddenly, there is aloud boom!

Residents, still shaking

look for the injured and the damage.

B"H, this time there were no deaths.

Where is the government?

Why aren't they doing anything?

These are the questions on everyone's tongue.

Oh, why has our government abandoned us?

Hashem, Sderot is in Your Hands.

I pray the day will come

when our army

will be sent to do its job.

And Sderot will be once again QUIET!

I hope that you found this blog to be informative. Please feel free to pass it along.

Epilogue:-

It all started around 8:05 in the morning, the third day of Chanukah, Dec. 24th, when the first siren went off. We went to our safe room, my husband closed the metal window & then boom..... 10 minutes later we were in our safe room again.

This repeated 5 or 6 more times. In between, we could hear the siren from a distance goings off in other yishuvim.

My daughters live in Ma'agalim 5 minutes from me......She also had many trips to the basement of their house. Devorah spoke to the kids and told the 3 golder kids [11,7,6] that when they go downstairs they must bring one of the younger children with them. [2,3,4]

The 3 older kids are used to the siren going off because they go to school in Kfar Maimon, that borders Gaza and have sirens 3 /4 times a day. Even still Adi who is 7 was very upset. Home is supposed to be a safe place.

We are not leaving Netivot. The attacks are annoying, but I will never allow arabs to scare and make me run from our home. That's what they want. To rid Jews from the Negev.

I hope today will be quieter......but if we don't go and clean up Gaza this will be a rewinding story.

בס''ד

Reaching a Milestone

Last week, our grandson Nadav, reached a milestone in his young life. Nadav turned three years old and had a halake in Hebrew or upsherin in Yiddish party. He reached the point in his life where our tradition says now is the time to cut a boys hair.

Why at three and not two? The third birthday is a significant stage in the life of a Jewish boy. It is the time that he begins his Torah education, Nadav is in a Torani gan and starts to wear a kipa and tzitzit.

On an emotional level, a child is born a baby and totally dependent and grows and develops into a toddler ready to be trained. At three he is ready to be more independent, separating from his Mother, visiting friends alone and going to gan. [nursery/kindergarten]. Cutting his hair at this time makes a very strong emotional impression. He knows he is growing up.

We learn that the mitzvah of cutting a boy's hair at three years old is derived from the mitzvah of orlah. The Torah says that if you plant a tree, all the fruits which grow during the first three years are orlah, off limits and can't be eaten. [Leviticus 19:23]. Just as orlah fruit is off limits for three years, we leave a child's hair alone during this time.

Nadav's third birthday was a special event for our family. For the haircut ceremony, it is customary for friends and family to take a snip of his hair. Nadav's two sabas had the honor of taking the first snips. His two saftas snipped next, followed by aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and even Nadav's older brother and sister took a turn.

With each snip, Nadav received many brachot to grow up to be a Ben Torah and to learn Torah with success.

The last cut went to Nadav's mother, who cut his long braid. When she showed him how long his hair was, Nadav's eyes just opened so wide and his smile was from ear to ear.

He proudly tried on his new tzitzit, that had a picture of a train with the aleph bet letters. Across the tzitzit it said A'nei Ben Shalosh. I am three.

Nadav enjoyed opening and playing with all his gifts. When the party was over, Nadav's father gave him a sweet boy's haircut. While he was cutting his hair, Nadav closed his eyes and fell asleep.

May we only shep nachas and simchas from Nadav!

Here are some pictures from the party.

בס''ד

Next week is my birthday!

My secular birthday date is on November 7^th and my Hebrew birthday date is 13 Cheshvan...a week later on November 11^th. I celebrate both days. My husband and son usually wish me happy birthday on my secular date and my daughters and grandchildren send their wishes on my Hebrew date.

I have a lot to be thankful for. I’m healthy and I’m happy. I have great children, twelve super grandchildren and my husband, whom I have been married to for more than forty years. Wow! I really am getting old.

I have reached a point in my life where I’m old enough to start receiving my old age pension from Israel, but not old enough to receive my old age pension from Canada. Still have to wait another three years for that.

When I think about some of my accomplishments I have to say that raising my family was at the top of the list. I look at my married daughters and see how special they turned out and how they are raising their families, I shep nachas and know I did something right.

My husband & I adopted our son when he was two and half years old. He was called a special child because he was over six months when he became available for adoption. The first time I set eyes on him, I knew he was the right child for me. We bonded immediately. The only difference between him and the girls is who gave birth to whom.

Making Aliyah was another major accomplishment. We wanted to make Aliyah for years, but there was always an excuse, you know, it was never the right time. From the moment we stepped off the airplane at Ben Gurion, we knew we were home. Our daughters picked us up at Ben Gurion and the first thing they said was, ”let’s see your Tuedat Oleh.”

Living in Israel was a privilege and we took things one day at a time. Who can ever forget the balagan when we went to Misrad Ha Panim. [interior ministry]. We were told to only use photcopies in government offices, as they loose everything. I brought a photocopy of my Ketuba instead of the original and they would't except it. They made us come back the next day. After 14 years, I have to say, our Aliyah has been a success.

Writing is a fairly new hobby. I write as a release when I am stressed out over something or someone. I started writing poems in 2001 and now I write short articles, some which have been published in Hamodia and on The Jewish Woman site of Chabad. You can read my articles at

http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword_cdo/kid/11808/jewish/Goodman-Miriam.htm

The thrill of seeing one of my stories published on line or in print, to me is a personal accomplishment.

My favorite type of writing are stories that I write for my grandchildren. You can read one of my stories on Jewish book town site. Scroll down to the center of the page.

http://www.jewishbktown.com/st/Jewish_Children%27s_Stories_The_Buried_Treasure.htm

In starting this blog to express my personal thoughts, I found another side of me. I side that I really enjoy. I have ‘met’ some very nice people who have written some very nice notes and comments.

The internet was a wonderful invention. It allows you to socialize, learn and connect. I have found some lost relatives and friends. I would never have been able to start writing as a hobby and get published without it. It gives you a new type of freedom.

When surfing for this blog, I came across several descriptions of ‘What is a Jewish birthday’.

This is what I learnt: One's Jewish birthday is, of course, the date upon which one was born according to the Jewish calendar. Far from considering it incidental, Jewish tradition regards one's Jewish birthday to be celebrated with meaning and relevance and, in some ways, even a mini-Rosh Hashanah!

The Talmud informs us that on our Jewish birthdays our mazal (good fortune) is dominant.

The Jewish birthday is the perfect day for reflection about our lives as Jews and is an auspicious time to make new resolutions, to perform good deeds and to deepen our commitment to Torah and the role it plays in our lives.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/144345/jewish/What-is-a-Jewish-Birthday.htm

Another opinion said:- When a person is born, all of shamayim (the skies) open up in order for his soul to come down to earth. Then, every year, once again, all the skies open up for his soul. However, this time, there is no soul coming down. Instead, it is an opportunity for his soul to cry out to God.

http://www.tzipiyah.com/2008/02/my-jewish-birthday.html

On Aish.com I found a page that tells you what your Hebrew name means. I don’t know if the meanings are true, but they are fun to read.

http://www.aish.com/a/myhebrewbirthday/

Since raising my family was my greatest accomplishment, I would like to introduce them to you.

My Mishpacha

Avraham and I

Married on June 25^th

17^th of Sivan, in Chomedey, Que,

With dreams and hopes

of raising a mishpaca.

Our first born was Naomi.

Our second born was Devorah.

Ten years later,

we were blessed with

our son, Eli-Chaim.

We welcomed to the family

our sons-in-laws

Eliezer and Hagai.

Our oldest grandson is Yoni.

Our oldest granddaughter

is his sister Bat-El.

Our other precious

grandchildren are..

Michael, Itamar & Gilad,

Dvir, Adi and Talia,

Oshrei, Chen,

Nadav and Neta.

Our family is growing.

How thankful we are

to think that we started out as two.

So many blessings we have received

each one perfect in every way.

, Hashem please continue

tto guide our family

aand listen to our Tefillah.

Our faith is strong,

our lives are in Your Hand.

May each of us celebrate our birthday

ad 120 together with our family in

good health and happiness.

Feel free to comment and pass my blog around.