I just finished up the post for Chanukah as well so you can check out the next post too.
I'll get to Purim soon but 1st some catchup.
Uncle Reuvaine and Sacotta Speigel now Shefi-Gal שפי-גל Made a Bar Mitzva for their sons Bar Mitzvah after Chanukah. For those who don't know, when my grandmother Frimmy who'm all the Frimmy's are named after passed away (before I was around) my fathers father Paul Zt'l married Sara Speigel. To us growing up as kids in Monsey she was Bobby Sarah. She had a bunch of children from her 1st marriage some of whom moved to Monsey and davened with us in Beis Yisrael like the 1st Shul in Monsey ever. In particular we Walfish boys always remembered Reuvane and Tolly they were our local uncles. After My grandfather Paul passed away when I was 5 they moved on and we didn't see much of them.
After we moved to the 5 towns sent our girls to Shulamith where Niomi Hishberg (The Older sister) codirects and Yosef to south shore where R. Chanina Hertzberg is the Principal, we became reacquainted and very close with the Hertzbergs. When we moved to Far-Rockaway for 3 years we even popped in to their house from time to time. When I came to check out RBS after we started building the house, I knew Reuvaine was in RBS and Tully had JUST made Aliya. I visited both of them, and over time have become close with them. Reuvain is a very special guy who has a great positive attitude and is always doing things for others. B"H we have already shared in a number of smachot together and look forward to more B"H.
Left to right after the beam; Tully, Marvin Jatkowitz, Friend, Reuvane, Bubby Sara,
Bina, Bar Mitzva Boy, Tirza, Elkie, Sacotta with new granddaughter, Me.
Bina and Elkie
Bina also has a daughter living in RBS so for her this is a natural place to visit when she is a way from the 5 towns.
Our Brother and sisterinlaw Jay and Nehama Blumenreich from Ranana made a Bat Mitzvah at the Azrieli Center Circular Tower in Tel Aviv. Great place great food. They made arrangements to cover everyones parking which made everyones evening. Jay seems to be getting over his Blumenaspendaphobia very well now. Nehama spoke spectacularly as usual. The entire complex if very modern and state of the art. There is a Mall at the bottom of 3 towers. A Square, Triangle and Circle. We were are the top of the circle building, apparently they just completed the square one so now it is complete. Definitely worth checking out if you are in Tel Aviv.
The only thing that surprised me was when I was looking to wash for Motzei. I asked the lady behind the bar where the Netilat Yadayim station was, she said wash in the bathroom! In NY this would not bother me at all, but being that we are in Israel and most people wash before eating, I would have liked to have seen a washing station especially in an upscale nice restaurant but I guess it wasn't in the blue print. On my way to the bathroom I bumped into the Mashgiach, and made a comment to him, he apologized and took me to a restaurant across the hall that had a washing station. He told me most of the parties in the party room are Chiloni so they don't have a station. I told him they should have one and give the people a choice since at least there is a chance someone MAY wash if they can see the station from their table. He agreed with me, I then showed Elkie and the kids where to wash, and we all had a great time.
Top of the tower
Press Play
Mid winter vacation visitors
Ariellas BFFL Naomi Krupka came to Israel for the 1st time. In case you are wondering BFFL is Best friend for LIFE! duhh. They became best friends when we moved to Far Rockaway and remained so even when Ariella went to a different school Kahal, till now. She came as a Bat Mitzva present with her parents. Rayla Krupka is our cousin Heshy Feldmans wife Eves sister. So Ariella and Niomi are kinda related too. They were very happy to see each other. I helped Ariella find a Broken heart necklace on Ebay that says "Best Friends For Life" it's a heart split in half with 2 chains, when you put them together they are complete. Hopefully the Krupkas will be here more often and more permanently so they can match it up all the time.
Ariella and Niomi
Shimon and Yehudis Levi were here for a bit, we were trying to get together but they were busy visiting the children and grandchildren and we were busy with life. We have an open door to anyone visiting and understand when people are busy and can't make it here on a short trip, we managed to meet them Motzei Shabbos and took them to the airport we ate bagels in the car on the way to the airport and and a nice chat.
Aunt Chani Walfish came in for a short visit too, we spoke on the phone but she headed down to Eilat for a few days and ended up settling for the phone chat.
Chavie Epstein popped in one day, she was staying by sisterinlaws in Beit Shemesh, so it was a local stop for her. She came with Sarah who is a regular guest by us. Apparently Chavie and I share a lot of the same opinions about the Chinuch system or should I say LACK of Chinuch system in the the US. She was happy to hear about Yosefs Talmud Torah and how he is doing. He just started sefer Devorim in 3rd grade B"H.
Chavie, Shara Epstein and the boys by the Orange tree
That's it! We officially have a Tipesh-Esrei in the house. Shira just turned 15! She is doing very well in school B"H working very hard, we took her out to Burgers Bar for her Birthday oooooooo'
The Burgers bar in 5 towns and Brooklyn started here, remember that next time you stop by Burgers bar.
The other week we went to a BarMitzva at the Kotel of Elkies good friend Rachel and Seth Kellers son. They had another one last year and we posted pictures then. We got a great parking spot at the top of the Old City before going down. On the way down to the Kotel it started Snowing Hailing Big time, if you look closely at the photo you can see it. Yehuda was laughing it was the 1st time he saw snow and the 1st time for us since we are here. It's NOT like snow flakes in NY they are little white snow balls. Compared to a flake they are big and thicker.
We had a delicious breakfast at "Between the Arches" behind the Kotel great food again! When we were done we headed up towards our car, I said let check out Aish Hatoras new building. They just finished it and put a Large model of the 2nd Temple on the roof. We walked around a bit and found it, went in and asked to see the roof, the woman asked if we were with a group I said no just us, BUT Aaron Hoch is my uncle. She said ohhh he was just here, sure no problem. Like they say it's not what you know but who you know. "Protexya" Thanks Aaron. If your ever want to check out the Aish roof just say you know Aaron:)
They did a great job with the place, and you have a nice view of the temple mount with the golden dome currently occupying it. B"H we should be around to watch them build the 3rd temple on it. We hen went shopping in Geulah for some Purim stuff. That was lots of fun. Yosef stayed in Yeshiva that was more important.
When we were all done we tried calling Rav Chaim Pinchas Sheinberg since we wanted to stop by and get a bracha with the kids. He is Bli Ayin Hara 99 years old. One of the Major Tzazikim alive today. He was living in America in the early 1928's ]went to Europe to learn in the Mir. He met with the Chofetz Chaim and is well known for wearing 100 pairs of tzizith for secret reasons. He was married to his late wife for over 80 years one of the longest marriages in recorded history. We have our own history with him. When Elkie went with a few friends to get a bracha for Shiduchim, he only told Elkie she will meet her Bashert soon. When Elkie get back to her room THAT night, her mother told her Moshe Fruchtandler called while she was at Rabbi Sheinberg about me. We have other supernatural stories with him as well. Suffice to say he is the REAL deal. I think Elkie just wanted her money back:)
We found his place in Matisdorf were waiting outside a few minutes till 4PM when he meets people. Then we knocked on his door. There was no answer. After a few minutes we figured perhaps he is not in. As we were leaving a young bachur came out of the elevator to go into the apartment, he told us the Rav is in ENGLAND at 99 years old doing some fundraising for his Yeshiva Torah Ohr!!!
I told the kids I don't want to hear any more complaints about anything ever until they are 100! He gave us his cell phone and said Motze Shabbos is a good time call first.
So we took a picture of his door and left. We called back Motzei Shabbos and he said come on over. We all jumped in the car including Yosef this time and zoomed over. He is very alert for someone 99. Apparently he doesn't sleep much at night since he doesn't want to miss shachris at Netz. After he gave us brochos I told him I give him a bracha Until 120.
Menachem Lerer that's My Brother Menachems nephew called he was in Israel and wanted to pop in. We get friendly with him when we were in Far Rockaway all the kids know him.
He jumped on the 417 bus from Jerusalem and was here in an hour. Yehuda found a new buddy.
And FINALLY Purim!
Purim in RBS really Rocks! Har Nof and Bayit vagan were the Major places in Jerusalem but RBS has now rightfully become a major attraction on Purim. People used to go flocking to Har Nof but now Shira had a friend from Har Nof sleeping here. Since Jerusalem celebrates Shushan Purim the next day Shira go to go there as well. I have a friend in Shul R. Ari Enkin who claims that The Ancient Tel Beit Shemesh was a walled in city at the time the Jews entered Israel. Since it is connected to Modern Beit Shemesh we should celebrate Shusham purim too. He does both days. Chaim Heinaman was at us a few weeks ago telling us his Yeshiva Beis Yisrael is sending 3 buses to RBS that's the whole Yeshiva!
The days before Purim it RAINED and Rained and Rained! we needed that, but were all hoping it would stop on purim. One of my friends said we need rain let it rain. I said if Hashem waited this long he can put it on pause for a bit and resume after purim. Fri night like clockwork it stopped raining so people can go to shul. It rained while we were in shul, then stopped so we can get home dry, then all Fri night poured buckets. After seeing this happen many times in the US as well it's amazing that people can think Hashem doesn't get involved in our lives.
I was supposed to play the Aish Kodesh Purim Party After Shabbos OUTDOOR with a 3 piece band, Rain would kill it and there is not enough room inside. I think our Rebbi Rav Shapiro (The Piazezna Rebbi) was davening that it should pause Motzash. Considering that he is a real Tzadik, I think his teffilla was answered it stopped enough for a great purim party, it was a bit cold but I got some heaters blowing on my hands which helped. LOTS of people came from all over. It was great.
Shira was a Show girl, Ariella a tie-die thing, Yosef a Ninja and Yehuda a Chayal, I was Breslav and Elkie was a Mommy.
Purim day it did not stop. People were knocking on the door all day. Yeshiva Boschrim coming in the house dancing. People collecting, Our block was packed with people. Cars with people hanging out if it. Yosef found a pirate walking down the street and challenge him to a dual.
Pirate vs. Ninja
When Chaim Heinaman and the boys came it started raining pretty hard so they hung out by us a bit. He grew his hair long so he could shave it and look like and old man. We eat the seuda by our friends the Michaels, I took an hour nap then had to run to Jerusalem for a Shushan Purim party gig for Shalavim for Woman in Bayit Vagan. I played for them last year I guess they liked it.
I'll TRY to post more often and shorter.
Till next time Shalom.
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