We had a wedding Wed. night for Yerachmiel Ziegler to Rina Walkenfeld at Sdot Haaretz, about a 10 minute drice from RBS. The entire Ziegler family came for the wedding. Parents, Refael, Shmulie, Moshe Aaron and Miriam Newhouse. Mazal Tov to all. It was very Leibadig. The chuppah was real carlebach style it took about an hour. Yerachmiel grew up in Monsey Rina in BoroPark. Their Children B"H will grow up in Israel. Yerachmiel invited lots of people on facebook, and it seems that about 140 guest confirmed just on facebook. Save all your printed invitations soon they will become collectors items:)
Our neighbor Mendy and Malky Newman were there too. They are neighbors of the Zieglers from Monsey. Thanks to Mendy for the video. Enjoy
Today Fri. we met at my gradmothers Kever (Oma) with the family in Israel to say tehillim for her Yortzeit. This is the 1st time our Shira Chana came along. She was the 1st great granddaughter to be named after Oma.
I couldn't resist a picture of Chaim Heinaman and Shira Chana at the Kever of their great grandparents after whom they were named. The Thee's were there, Sharah Epsein was there, Michael Mayer Levi was there he is the official distributer of the Tehillim papers we read from. He is easy to spot in the picture, he's the only one wearing a black hat in 95% weather. This time we did miss Yitzchok and Frimmi and hope they will be back here soon.
Shalom Shalom, Shana Tova, (Belated) Chag Sukot Sameach, a whole lot has happened since the last post and I only got a chance to write about it all now. So please bear with me.
The last post was before Yom Kippur. We went to Tiferet (the girls seminary) everything was nice. By Mincha and Neila I wanted a new inspiration so decided to go to a sefardy minyan. Over here you can just pop in to a shul find a seat on Yom Kippur and join in, no need for a reservation. WOW! the sefardim really have a lot to offer. The basic theme is that they are very interactive. They pray together many parts (communal prayer) and pretty loud too. It’s hard to describe if you’ve never seen how they daven. Their nusach is very personal and direct. It’s kind of feels like they are actually talking to G-d! Isn’t that what Tefillah is supposed to be??? Not that Ashkenazim don’t have anything to offer. We do have better tunes, but the sefardim have an incredible spirit and sincerity. We should both learn from each other and get it right. I would highly recommend popping into a local sefardy Minyan to expand your consciousness and see how others communicate with the same g-d we all try too, but in a very different way. I hope to do so more often.
Sukkot: Good news, and Big news!
I’ll start with the good news. I usually like to get a nice estog, and would spend some time and money to make sure I get a nice Mehudar 4 minim set. This year I could not spend the big bucks so decided to wait till erev sukot that would be Fri. and see what I can come up with last minute. Just like my mom (NOT!) at about 12:00PM Fri. I got to the Merkaz local shopping in RBS, the place was packed. There were lots of vendors and lots of esrogim. I was looking for a taymani esrog which according to my Rav is the closest species to the original. I believe it has a different number of chambers inside. I started making my rounds looking at the options, as the minutes went by you can see some of the vendors desperately trying to move as many esrogim as they could. I was at one table and the guy yells out “Hakol B’eser” everything for 10NIS I was looking though the taymani boxes and found a very very nice one. So I got a Estog for 10 a nice mehudar lulav for 10, Hadasim for 10, Aravot and a lulav holder for 10. That’s 40NIS about $12 for the nicest esrog set I think I ever got. B”H for that.
Ok now for the BIG news. As some of you may know I follow Rav Dovid Bar Haim on many issues especially pertaining to Torat Etretz Yisrael and how that should be implemented in Israel today. I drove into Yerushalayim the Wed before sukkot to hear his shiur “WAVING LULAV ON SHABBATH-SHOULD WE WAIVE THE SHULCHAN ARUCH?” You can hear the whole thing here, or read the source sheet or a short letter about it. Very briefly there are 2 Mishayot that clearly say that you shake lulav on Shabbat when Shabbat is the 1st day of sukkot. The Talmud Bavli initially explains the Mishna the same way and makes it clear that in Bavel and outside of Israel since they are unsure what day is actually sukkot they do not shake lulav when the 1st day of sukot on Shabbat, however in Israel since they do know they shake on Shabbat. Then on the 2nd page the Gemara (which could have was probably written decades later) there is a change of mind, they say forget what was written last page, since we in Bavel can NOT shake and Shabbat they in Israel can not do so either. Rashi explains that they did not want disunity, but the נצ"בNeztiv rejects this idea since in fact for hundreds of years before and after the 2nd Churban, people in Israel shook Lulav on Shabbat, while people outside of Israel did not, and the Jewish world did not fall apart. Plus the Talmud Yerushalmi never suggests we ignore this Biblical Mitzva in Israel on shabbat. Rav Bar Haim says since the largest Torah center today is in Israel we should be following the psak for here not the psak for Iraq or any other Jewish existence. Therefore we should shake lulav this year on Shabbat since is it’s the 1st day of sukkot. He also wrote a psak that people in Israel can eat kitniyot on pesach which I printed and handed out to people. However in this case I kept it more low key and shook lulav in my sukkah together with saying Hallel before I went to shul in Shabbat. Whoever asked me if I shook on Shabbat I told them I did.
In Yerushalyim, Machon Shilo had a minyan so they all shook over there. It is important to understand that in their Minyan everyone left their lulav and estog in shul before Shabbat just like it says you should do so in the Mishna. The Rav does not hold of the eruv too much. I know about 5 people in RBS who shook as well. Perhaps next time we will be able to put together a Minyan. If felt good to be able to perform a Mitzva like this in Israel and be part of a group of people that are trying to restore Torat Eretz Yisrael to what it was intended to be.
Sarah Epstein, came to us with a friend Fri night. She is very open minded and seems to know more tanach and about yehadut then a lot of boys her age. Shabbos Yom tov afternoon Chaim Heinaman asked if some of his friends from “Bais” can come over for a meal. The Bais Boys hit Jackpot, we had 20 sushi rolls, they had no problem polishing off a plate.
Some Bad news; Arabs rioted on the temple mount, so they closed it off the whole week. I was planning and ascending to Har Habayit Wed morning with Moshe Feiglins group. Instead of kicking off the Arabs that make trouble the Police would rather prevent Jews from going as well. Moshe Feiglin said it’s exactly the opposite of with the Government says. They say if we go on the Temple mount there will be violence, it’s because the Police prevent us from going on the Temple mount that there is violence. But it really made me think. As much as I wanted to go in Har Habaiyit what about Hashem? do you think he wants Arabs there plotting to kill Jews? or perhaps his House, his place there. This is what we say in Shemone esrei every day ומבי גואל לבני בניהם למען שמו באהבה
Hashem bring redemption for HIS namesake. True jewish leadership that has the Temple mount on its agenda will solve this problem.
Chol Hamoed:
David Zakheim is in Israel for the Inauguration of parents new apartment near Belz in Jerusalem we spoke on the phone. But did not get a chance to meet.
Motzash:
That’s short for Motzei Shabbat, I Played at a simchat beit HaShoeava for Bais Tefilla. Rav Malinowitz’s shul. He is originally from Monsey. I had my drummer and B”H we did a great job. When we were packing up they told us they are cleaning up for a Galut Minyan the next day sun. I guess that’s for the people who identify more with Galut.
Sunday:
Annie & Mark Hoshander from Kew Gardens Hills (Annie Parilis from Monsey) are here at their parents’ apartment in Jerusalem. Sun. We met them at Beit Guvrin an underground city of caves 20 min from us. Then went back to RBS for a BBQ. Annie brought surimi, (imitation crab) Thanks. Even though they live in the US they held 1 day since they were here. There is a story about a shul in Israel that was making a Galut Minyan the 2nd day of Yom tov, they asked Rav Kook to speak. He said no way. So they asked one of his students who needed the money. The student ask Rav Kook what he should do. Rav Kook said, tell them that if they advertize that you will be speaking followed by a performance from the Haifa band for the blind you will agree to speak. I guess he did not get the gig. The Hoshanders liked RBS so much they decided to come for the last day Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
Monday:
I had a Bar Mitzva gig at Ramat Rachel in Jerusalem. That’s a beautiful Mosav with a Hotel and catering hall just north of Beit Lechem and across from Talpiyot. I was speaking with the manager about where I would be playing in the sukkah and asked him for pricing for someone making a Wedding here soon. Then I asked if their pool was open he said until the end of the week. So I asked if I can bring my family along he said sure. So I brought along the family set up, they went swimming most of the day in a great pool. On the way to the gig my drummer called that his car broke down on the Hill up to Jerusalem. He wasn’t sure if he would make it. GREAT! I spent about 20 min in the car trying to get a replacement. Then my drummer called back he got it to a gas stating and is in a cab on the way. B”H. After Shacharis Before Elkie and the kids went swimming we joined the Bar Mitzva Party for a tour of Ramat Rachel. From the roof you can see Herodian, looking south to Beit Lechem and almost to Chevron, and north to the Temple mount and entrance of Jerusalem. Heshy and Eve Feldman our 2nd cousins from Englewood were there as guests. They were in Israel staying in their new apartment in Yemin Moshe outside the old city. We spent some time schmoozing with them on the tour. When we were all done, we went to Bowling at Talpiyot. It was Packed and at least an hour wait. So we played pool, and went home.
When we got back there was a MAJOR Music festival in Beit Shemesh. It’s like a Jewish Woodstock at an outdoor Amphitheatre. This is was the 10th year, there were buses from all over the county and thousands of people 75% of them teens. Shira was making us nuts to get there on time so she can meet all her friends. We bumped into Chaim Heinaman, I asked if his Yeshiva lets them go, he said no way! So I said so why are you here? He said are you kidding! this is the best concert anywhere I won’t miss it for nothing. Apparently about half of the Bais Boys were there as well. It’s Very nice that teens in Israel can do something Fun, Cool and KOSHER with Jewish artist singing, Jewish words and plenty of adults around. For something this big in the states teens would have to go someplace most Jewish parents would not approve of.
Tuesday:
We went with Manhigut Yehudit on a trip of the Shomron. They were all meeting at the Citidel Hotel in Jerusalem, but I had a feeling that it would be very hard to get there from RBS and park in the morning. My friend Aryeh Sonenberg said you can park free at Ammunition Hill, near Frimmi’s old apartment in Ramat Eshkol. So I asked Shmuel Sackett if the bus can pick us up from there on the way. He said ok which made things Much easier.
We went to a Golani Army Base had a snack in their sukkah, watched them practice shooting.
Then we went to view Shchem from the mountain above. Jews are not allowed into Shchem for our PROTECTION! Ahaaa... Real Jewish Leadership will change that problem. You can see Kever Yosef in the mix of all the building below.
We then went to a winery in Yitzhar tasted some Jewish made wine, davened Mincha in Ben Landas new Shul.
Then lunch at Moshe & Tzippy Feiglins house in Nevei Aliza Karnei Shomron. We had Pizza and a Kumsitz in the Shukkah.
Then Kaiver Binyamin, then back home. I did not make it to Kaiver Binyamin see pict. below for why.
Wednesday:
We drove to a Shilo Festival, this time NOT in a bullet proof bus. We were going to go with a few families but most backed out, and one of them found out his Avis car rental would not cover him going to Shilo. (thanks Avis) Elkie was not thrilled about going. But I told her 6000 people will be there it’s ridiculous not to go. I got good directions, you have to drive though Pisgat Zev to get to highway 60. At a gas station I filled up the tires with air and handed the air pump to the next guy waiting. He did not have a kippah on his head. He said "Toda Chag Sameach". That is another thing I love about Israel even a “Chiloni” stranger can say Chag Sameach at a gas station in a completely natural way. We got to Shilo fine B”H ate lunch RIGHT AWAY in the sukkah as per Elkies orders. They had many chugim, like making lafa, spices, leather making, bamboo flute making, basket weaving, coin minting, and more. Plus we made a hike up to where the Mishkan used to be.
Place of the Mishkan
The sun going down from Shilo
Thursday: Everyone was pooped so we just hung out at home in the morning. We were invited to emily Hoscahnder's Bat Mitzvah that night at Little Italy, a restaurant in Yerushalayim, right across the street from the inbal Hotel (formerly the Laromme). We decided to go earlier on in the day with the kids to walk around ben Yehuda. Yosef decided to stay back home with some neighbors so we took Shira, Ariella, and Yehuda. we parked behind the Inbal, by the Liberty Bell Park and walked up towards the hotel. At the entrance to the hotel we saw our Woodmere neighbors, the Finks. they were getting off a van from Efrat. They are staying in the hotel for Yom tov. We stayed and shmoozed with them for about an hour then we walked up to Ben Yehuda with the kids. it was a beautiful night. the weather was great so we walked around for about an hour then we needed to get to the bat mitzvah so we put the kids n a taxi that took them to the Central bus station in Jerusalem and they took the bus back home. Shira and Ariella took care of Yehuda and managed to get him to sleep when they came home.
We went to the bat mitzvah which was in the sukkah of the restaurant. It was dairy and the food was good. We ate eggplant parmagian and fettacini alfredo. everything was going well until the waitress was serving dessert and spilled the tray of hot coffee on Elkie. B"H she is fine but it was a scary moment!
Friday:
Was sushi day. Shira and I made a bunch of rolls. The Hoshanders come. Fri. night we started off at Aish Kodesh then did some shteeble hopping to check out Hakafot in other places, they were all great.
Shabbat: We went to Aish Kodesh
Motzash:
Hoshanders left, after we cleaned up, Elkie and I went to Hakafot Shniyot at the Sport center. My friends from Soul farm were playing, Shimon Lanzbaum and Noah Solomon. They were great as usual; Shimon was the guitarist for Aish Orchestra for 3 years, and Noah sings backup on my CD. We said hi to them they were happy we are now in Israel. Noah thinks I look all Israeli now.
Sunday:
I asked Elkie if the kids have school she said not it Issru Chag. They are all off. I said we should really do something with them since they have a lot of school and few days off. I called table to table and organization that collects food from Caterers, restaurants and more and gives it to people who need food. They also get access to farmers fields who are not picking their produce or just want to donate it. They always need volunteers to help pick fruits and vegetables. Usually people go as a group but I just called the main office and told them we would like to volunteer. They got back to us and with the phone number of Yedidya the guy in charge of the fields. He said come at 1:30PM bring hats and water, we are picking onions today. The kids were Kvetching they didn’t want to go. I told them they spent a whole week having fun they can spend some time doing some chesed. I told them if they go we will go Bowling in Modian when we are done. They reluctantly agreed to come. We went to Kibbutz Kvutad Shiller, just south of rechovot, met Yedidya followed him to the fields and started picking onions out of the ground. The kids really had fun. Just out family picked 275 kilos of onions that’s about 600lbs. quite respectable for one family for one hour. We got along with the 2 workers there, they gave us T shirts and told us to come back anytime. I think they are starting peppers soon.
See video below:
We then went to Modian for bowling. When we got in it was a 50minut wait. So we put our name down got some shawarma for lupper walked around a bit them went bowling. For 5NIS I got the massage chair.
Hwwwweeeeeeeeeeeewww!!! That kind of covers things till next time.
When we post an update about 1 time a week you will get an email that there is a new post. This way you do not have to keep on checking for updates.
You will NOT! get spam from signing up to "Follow", and can unsubscribe any time. Also feel free to post a comment any time it makes things more interesting.
Posts
