Chanukah Sameach חנוכה שמח

Chanuka, Chanukah, Hanuka, Hanukah,
Chanika, Chanikah, Hanika, Hanikah, Sameach

or Just חנוכה שמח

hweeeew!!!

It's great to celebrate Chanukah once again is Israel.
If your in America imagine all the Xmas stuff you see everywhere,
Supermarkets, Banks, Post Office, Streets, Rest Stops, etc...
then imagine instead of Santa and all those trees, Chanukiyas Draidles
SUFGANIYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!

It really is cool!!! Everyone is into it. It truly is the one thing that unites everyone in Israel no matter where they live or come from.

Motzash we went to Jerusalem Uncle Aaron and Aunt Feigy Hoch from Toronto were in visiting their kids, so they threw a Chanuka party near Frimmy and Yitzchoks Levies old apartment.

I was nice to see them.

On Mon. I went with my friend Dovid Shirel from Chevron to check out the Sheraton in Ramat Gan by Tel Aviv, for the upcoming Manhigut Yehudit Dinner in Israel. Elkie drove me the entrance of Ramat Beit Shemesh about 3 miles from our house and Dovid stopped at the entrance on Rt 38 to pick me up. We check it out, nice hotel nice people half of the staff are Chareidim from Bnei Brak. I had about 5 sufganioy they were everywhere.

Last years dinner was in Jerusalem. Dovid said it's funny when they were thinking of making the dinner in Tel Aviv he said ehhhhh I'm not sure if I want to do it there who knows what we may have to deal with. Meanwhile when it was in Jerusalem we were dealing mosly with Arabs. The head waiter and other staff members, but in Tel Aviv we are dealing with Chareidim!

Go figure, That's another big lesson of why it's silly to label people and places.

Tuesday Night Yoel Baruchen that's Roni and Aviva Oldest son, got married at Binyame Hauma in Jerusalem to Nechemi Hammer. She is very sweet was very with it at the Kabbalat Panim, Elkie and I introduce ourselves to her, we are the Olim cousins. Oooooooohhhhhh
It's pretty cool we sort of have this celebrate status here. You should try it out some time.

I told her I have seen over 2000 Kallahs at there wedding and she was very PRESENT in the moment, taking it all in. The Chuppah was on the roof and everything was very nice Israeli style wedding. Yossi & Tzipora came in. So far I am the Only Walfish that made both Baruchin kids weddings, I was also at Shiras wedding 6 years ago. You guys can catch up on the next 2 B"H.

Trips:

Most schools are off however, Yosef is in a Talmud Torah. They just finished Bamidbar and will finish Devorim by the end of the year. Then they will finish all of Nach, and Mishnayos.

Suffice to say every day counts. However we took Yosef out on Thurs and went to Masada. Shira and Ariella both took a friend with them. The last time I was there was about 26 years ago. Well it's still there! Shira decided to hike up the mountain with her friend, we decided to take the cable car up and PERHAPS hike DOWN. since the hike up normally takes 1&1/2hours + and the cable car takes 10 min. we decided to kill some time before our assent. So we ate lunch. Elkie liked that. EVERY time we get to ANY place "LETS EAT LUNCH!" can I digest my breakfast???

Noooooo lets eat lunch. My dear Mother is the same way. Well positive side is, less things to shlep around, if you can still move. We took the cable car up and apparently shira made it before we got into the cable car. She made it in 38min! pretty good.

Mount Masada

We met my percussionist from NY Gilad at the top. I haven't seen him in 2 years. I gave him a big hug. He is from Israel was living in NY a few years then came back to Israel. He was touring with some of the top Latin bands in the world and is one of the finest percussionists I have ever seen. Plus he is a real mench. It was a real privilege to work with him a number of years.

I was on on a gig with him and somehow we started talking about the Torah, so he made some sort of face. So I ask him you don't believe G-d gave us the Torah? So he shyly said I don't believe in G-d! I was shocked! I have worked with many Israelis and never heard that, especially from a musician. So I ask him how do you think we got here? so he spit out to crap he probably heard from some high-school or college professor, from Amoebas etc...

So I looked at him and said "Gilad tell me something, how is is possible for you to play with SUCH soul if there is no G-d???" He was speechless and smiled. If you've ever hear Gilad he is not just a Great Percussionist (and drummer) I know plenty of Top Broadway show percussionist as well, Gilad plays with soul, even if your not a musician you can hear it. He knows that more and Anyone. We have been very close since then. I just wish I had some larger gigs here in Israel so I can call him and jam with him again.

Elkie Yehuda Yosef and Shira and friend took the cable car down, Ariella her friend and I walked down, it took over an hour and Yes at my age it is not easy. But B"H we made it.

Friday Yosef was off. We had a local group of people in Beit Shemesh getting together to take an office tiyul hike/tour of the mountains south of Ramat Beit Shemesh. I toolk Yosef and Yehuda. Our guide was Gil a fellow Israeli I know a bit who davens at the Carlebach shul. He knows the mountains cold. We walked around and saw the old ruins of entire old civilizations that used to live right here in RBS. They dug 20 Meter wells and dug water collecting systems out of the bare rocks. It is pretty amazing, he wanted us to all make sure they don't just bulldoze over the entire area which is officially a national park and nature reserve to build new housing.

Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef in the background

Very Ancient Water systems carved in the Rocks

I have very mixed feelings, on one hand he is right we want to preserve the past, on the other hand if they said the same thing about RBS A where we live there would be a town there now.

There have to be a way that both can work. Perhaps build in the lots of places that do not have ruins there 1st, then if you do go into certain areas and find some thing of significance, perhaps preserve it even in the middle of a modern new city. I met the Mayor of beit Shemesh Moshe Abutbol at Yehudas play in gan, I told him about an old mikvah right up the block from the gan, and that people just though garbage in it, It should be cleaned up and preserved. He said he will come back with his antique guy and look into it. Well see what happens.

Till next time.

Uncle Moshe's back in town!

Sorry I did not post in at least a month, I'll try to make up for it.

The big news is Uncle Moshe is in town
Town as in RBS or Israel. That's Moshe Karash my brother-in-law. I'll get to that soon but 1st.

Sun I had a gig playing at the Bar Mitzvah of Tani Polansky. He gave a siyum and read from the book Bilvovi Mishkan Evne by Rabbi Itamar Schwarts an incredible new sefer on building yourself. Rabbi Moshe Weinberger from Aish Kodesh Woodmere give a shiur on it.

http://www.aishkodeshaudio.com/Department/Lecture_Series/Personal_Growth/The_Bilvavi_Mishkan_Evneh_Series.html

It was nice to see and Bar Mitzva Boy who can understand and appreciate such a sefer.

http://bilvavi.net/content/view/361/29/

A new Rabbi is in town his name is R. Joel Padowitz. He was running Aish Hatora in England and just made Aliya to RBS he started a Mishna Shiur in the morning at Beis Teffila and will finish the whole thing in 2 years. I started to go in he morning, he is very good, but I recently started a new job (more on that soon) so I can't make it for now. He does record it and put in online every day so perhaps I can hear it on the way to Jerusalem, and even go back to it live when things settle down a bit. If you are interested in getting though Mishnayot you can download the Shiur and some charts at http://shiurim.btya.org/MishnayosShiurim.html

We had the Hilula for the Aish Kodesh at Aish Kodesh RBS. Reb Shapiro the Rav is the nefew of Harav Kalonymus Kalman Shapiro of Piazeczna. He was the Rav of the Warsaw Getto, and a special neshoma. Shlomo Katz played guitar and sang I played with him on Keyboards and some Djembe The place was packed, Rav Shapiro and a few other people spoke we all sang danced ate and had a great time.

The Oranges from our Orange Tree are ripe! When they were bluming last tu Bishvat there were dozens of tiny little oranges, but only five made it. Next year I need to spray it with a pesticide. I wonder if I can find and Organic one. They came out beautiful very BIG. The big question was whether we can eat from them or not. The tree was planted 2 years ago before Shavuot and was one year old at the time. From before shavuot to Rosh Hashana is considered like one year. Orla is 3 years, but then the 4rth year is Neta Rivaya. Confused yet? Rav Bar Haim was in Australia so I asked Rav Saleveitchik, he said it's fine but I should redeem the fruit with some money. When Rav Bar Haim came back he said we can eat it as well. They were very tasty, they are Washington Oranges. I asked my friend Tzafrir Ronen Alav Hashalom what Oranges are like California Navel Oranges and he told me to plant a Washington Orange tree. Thanks for the great advice Tzafrir.

See how big the Orange is next to a Basket ball! HUGE!!!

Yosef by the orange tree

Just kidding, that was a mini basket ball above:)

But this really is a normal size orange to its left.

Yeuda Picking one

Uncle Moshe is back in town!

Ok the big new is Moshe Karash Elkies Brother came for his other brother and sisterinlaw, Kenny and Elinor Sheffs twin boys Bar Mitzvah. The last time he was here was 20--- years ago. We were all very excited he was coming. We picked him up at the airport.He brought a suitcase full of stuff for us. That right if you visit us and bring a suitcase full of stuff we'll pick you up at the airport too!

Moshe stayed in Shiras room, Shira stayed downstairs in my office, my office moved up to the dinning room table, couch, kitchen and bathroom. B"H for laptops. He spent some time in Yerushalayim met up with some old friends and really had a great time. Sun. we went to Kever Rachel and Mearat Hamachpala in Hevron.

Elkie and I have not been to Hevron since we made Aliya there is no bus from RBS and if you don't know how to go and get lost, you can find yourself surrounded by lots of Arabs. I said it's time we have to go. It was the sunday after Parshat Chaya Sarah and I reasoned there will be plenty of soldiers around. I printed directions from Google spoke to a friend or 2 and got the basic idea. We drove though Kiryat Arba a large city then out and into Hevron. There were lots and lots of Arabs ALL around, kids and teens in the street. It could be a bit scary for some people, B"H we were all pretty cool. We passed one Chayal with his gun among the many arabs. drove some more then as asked 2 more chayalim where it is, he pointed right to it. We parked went in met some people, davened Mincha.

Looks like a fake picture huuu??? That's the real deal!!!

It is really cool that in 45 min. we can visit the keiver of our forefathers and mothers. When we were done we went to Gavne in the Gush near Bat Ayin. That's a very nice Dairy restaurant overlooking the hills of the Gush and Beitar. They have a winery and excellent food. Thanks Moshe for treating us. You are welcome back anytime, as well as everyone in CHU"L in we can take you to Gavne too (if your treating:)

Ok now the Job no big deal. I've been looking for a job if you remember I had the one at the gym in Jerusalem that lasted about a day. Now someone called me who saw my resume and wanted to meet me in Jerusalem. If you remember I don't like the bus. This is a sales job and he wasn't opposed to me working from home eventually after I knew what to do, which was a big one for me. I had a gig the next night in Bayit Vagan at 7:00PM. I got there and set up at 4:00PM at 5:00PM I went to the interview it's in Migdal Hair (City Tower) the big tall building on King George and Ben Yehuda. They liked me and asked if I'm in on the spot. Since I do not have any other job offers, and the Guy who called me lives in RBS and said I can go with him every day, and for all I know if I said let me think about it, it may not be open the next time I speak with him, I thought quickly and said "sure". The job is from 4PM-12:00AM most of the time, selling mortgage audits on commission. Definitely an interesting concept and idea. The bottom line is I gota make money doing it. I survived the 1st week getting some leads B"H lets see what happens and if I can close some deals. The company is called Certified Mortgage Audit if you know someone in foreclosure tell them to contact me we may be able to save their house. While taking a falafel dinner break on King George I bumped into Yishai Fleisher from Kumah.org and radio show host on Arutz 7 he gave me some chizuk and wished me luck, he emailed me that he posted my story of Aliya to the Temple Mount on the Israelnationalnews.com blog check out Yishai he's great! and thinks like a real Jew.

Finally!

H1N1 To Vaccinate or not to Vaccinate. That is the question?

I have a lot to say on this topic. I usually keep this blog to things relating to Israel, however this is an exception. People believe what they want to believe. If you are considering taking or giving your children the H1N1 vaccine I HIGHLY suggest you listen to the people who are warning about the dangers of it. like the interview of Tamar Yona with Dr. Rima Laibow

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Radio/News.aspx/1515

Some people said to me, ohhh I'll just ask my doctor. Sorry buddy that's not good enough!

If you don't care about having more children or grandchildren, take it!

You need to understand, Doctors are compensated by the government to give vaccines. So lets say about 25% of their income comes from that, the government and FDA gives the doctors some bogus report that they commissioned stating that it's safe. Unfortunately most doctors do not have the expertise and or time to seriously research what is really in the vaccine, and most of them are really not interested in giving up 25% of their income. It's not that they intentionally want to harm you, the medical system is set up in a way that it is in THEIR best interest to give it to you and your children. They are human beings and this is human nature. You may have an honest and knowledgeable doctor who knows the truth about the H1N1 vaccine, but this is unfortunately VERY rare!

Ask your doctor if he will give the vaccine to his children??? ask him why Obama and the Vaccine manufactures wont give it to their children.

You can say to me "what do you know, your not a doctor!" correct, but I am B"H very good at finding the truth, and detecting a lie. I have listened to honest doctors, I know about the politics behind this and read a lot about it. The vaccine is being pushed by the World Health Organization which is basically a branch of the UN and have called for a reduction in the world population by like 90%! I'm sure you know how trustworthy the UN is.

The US had the same Swine flu scare in 1976 and put out propaganda that people should take the vaccine. 1 person died from the Swine flu, hundreds died from the vaccine and thousands developed neurological problems such as geon barre syndrome.

The H1N1 vaccine is much worse it contains squalene which sterilizes people (makes impotent) and thimerosal which contains mercury and has been proven to cause geon barre syndrome, autism and other problems, plus who knows what else in it. The one tested by the CDC is NOT the one going out to the public.

Great source of information:

http://swineflu.mercola.com and http://falseflagflu.com

in particular:

Dr. Larry Palevsky board-certified pediatrician trained at the New York School

and

Dr. Mercola Interviews Barbara Loe Fisher, founder of the National Vaccine Information Center

Don't trust me, but DON'T trust the government propaganda, the media or sorry to say even your doctor.

Look into this for yourself!

Do you know about whistle blowers like Josef Moshe???

The Government and Media does NOT want you to hear what he has to say.

On Aug 13 2009 Josef Moshe and Israeli biological scientist was surrounded by a swat team in Westwood California for calling into a radio show and saying that he worked for Baxter and has evidence that the H1N1 vaccine is a bio weapon designed to kill millions.

http://www.unfictional.com/joseph-moshe-mossad-bioweapon-swine-flu-vaccine-westwood

WAKE UP!

They just passed a law in Massachusetts that if THEY (the evil ones) declare a state emergency, you must take the vaccine, or go into quarantine like (in a FEMA camp) if not you face a $1000 fine per day, and they can take away your children from you and inject them against your will.

This is the LAW in Massachusetts NOW!

In NY they want to pass a law that people in the medical field must take it. I would be quicker to quit my job and pull my children out of school if they tried to force me or my children to take take it.

Stay informed and healthy, get lots of vitamin C & D to build up your immune system, & spread this information to everyone.

Rock'n wedding

Just a quick update post.

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.

Shabbat Shalom

Chag Sucott Sameach

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 1^st 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 1^st day of sukot on Shabbat, however in Israel since they do know they shake on Shabbat. Then on the 2^nd 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"ב Neztiv rejects this idea since in fact for hundreds of years before and after the 2^nd 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 1^st 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 10^th 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.