Jump & Roll

Ok what's Jump and Roll? is this a fire drill? not exactly I just needed a catchy title that has to do with this post, besides in a fire you get down and roll.

OK 1st Roll. That would be a sushi Roll! In case you don't know Israel has amazing fruits and vegetables that grow here, including avocado, one of the main ingredients in sushi. (the rolls we like). But avocado season was over about a month or 2 ago, so we have been making some mango sushi (ok) but missing out on the avocado. Now avocado is back. Last week it was 35NIS a kilo. No thanks I'm not that desperate, but we just went to the shuk and got them now for 8NIS a kilo. big difference. Fresh sushi grade fish is available here in RBS I usually get it from "Dubi Dagim". They always have fresh Norwegian salmon which is great. However, I like the California rolls which have white imitation crab in it. It's made off a fish called Pollack which they make into surimi, which is available with a Hechsher. "The Talmud teaches us that for every non-Kosher food, there exists an equal and opposite Kosher version (Chullin 109b) So if it's kosher, and I like it, and I can afford it, I’m eating it. The problem is they don't sell surimi in Israel. I have asked a number of people to bring some back, it's available at most Kosher supermarkets in NY, and did not succeed for a FULL year, till NOW! B"H our very nice neighbor, Michal Reit who loves my sushi brought back 2 packs of frozen surimi rolls. WOW thanks Michal you’re the best you made my year. If your coming here don't forget to bring surimi. (Picture of sushi made with surimi by yours truly)

Life in Israel story: Ok so while Elkie and I are in the Beit Shemesh Shuk, we were walking around checking out the produce, most vendors let you taste a bit to see if you like it. After buying from one sefardic looking guy we ask where the cucumbers are from, he tells us a local Moshav. He than asks where we are from we tell him NY. He then says ok so stop by the Moshav sometime to visit us, pretty cool! no one in Costco or Stop and Shop ever invited us to their homes.

Ok now for Jump: Aish Orchestras in NY unfortunately is not as busy as it once was, and we still have bills to pay. I do some fundraising with Manhigut Yehudit but it's a bit slow right now, so I have been looking for a Job. Josh Factor just made Aliya from Monsey he buys and sells businesses we met he can use me to find business for sale. I am trying to do it I need to make calls American hours. It seems to have potential, but pays by commission and may take some time to build up a pipeline of clients. If you know of ANYONE even thinking of selling a business please let me know.

Since we need some money now I was looking for something to do during the day. I sent a resume to a bunch of places even met one company for 2&1/2 hours I knew both owners and probably could have helped them they seemed very interested in me even had an idea what I could do for them, but never ended up calling back. I recently saw a post for a salesperson for a fitness club מרכז בריאות וכושר called “Jump” in Jerusalem. So I emailed them my resume with a letter and got a call the next day asking if I can come over at 4PM. Well I was working the American hour job and asked if we can meet tomorrow thur. She said fine 1:45PM. The Gym is located in Binyame Hauma right at the entrance of Jerusalem across from the central Bus station. I was debating if I should where my tzizit out or not and decided I would, if they don’t hire me because of that too bad on them. So I took the 12:30 bus from RBS got there, walk in and see 4 woman waiting, uhh oooh, I sit down and wait, then 2 more people come in. Apparently we are ALL candidates. Since they were blabbing in Hebrew 1000 miles an hour much better than I could, I did not think I had much of a chance in SALES where you have to talk to people. Well I was going to give it my best shot. One person finished the interview and left and the woman interviewing came out and said ok I'll do short interviews 5 min each she quickly figured out an order then said you and you then the Bachur (that’s me). Ok my turn comes I walk in she asked what I do what I did, I told her I'm a musician and singer she was a bit confused and said what does that have to do with sales, I told her I own a band for over 20 year and sell bands, etc... after a few minutes she seems to really like me and basically tells me I get the job! ok but she need to confirm it and will call me tonight or tomorrow or I should call her. She called later that night, and says ok you got it. She said they had a lot of good candidates but I got it because I was Religious and an American. Go figure in America you can get a Job BECAUSE you are black, over here you can get a job BECAUSE you are religious, pretty funny! I guess the tzizit paid off. The Salary is !@#$%^&*() Ha Ha Ha!!! what a joke, but she said if I can prove myself we can talk about more in 3 months. I said that’s way too long, so she said ok for you a month. See I can be a tough Israeli too.

They want me to sell club memberships to people who come in and call their lists, sell to Yeshiva Bochrim and Seminaries. She wanted me to start working Sunday but would not be there in the morning so asked if I could come in Fri. for briefing. I decide to take Shira with me and we would go to Machane Yehuda when we were done. This time I drove. Basically she was over an hour late, Shira and I went to the Tachana Markazit to hang out a bit, came back, then we met, she was surprised I had an 14 year old daughter. She briefed me, Shira got some exercise on the mountain climber, and I start tomorrow morning 9AM we’ll see how it goes.

Chaim Heinaman from Monsey came for Shabbos with 2 other boys from “BEIS” that’s Beis Yisrael in Nevei Yaakov. Chaim is very sweet and very with it. He is welcome here any time. Shabbos morning I saw one of my neighbors waiting for a new neighbor a recent Oleh from LA, Avraham Bell they were debating what shul to go to, I told to come with me to Aish Kodesh so they both came along. Avraham Yehuda Ben Avraham was born a non jewish colorful man in the USA, he decided to become Jewish and now decided to make Aliya. In Israel we have tons of Ethiopians and are used to seeing Jews in all colors, I'm sure they will feel very welcome here.

So he once WAS an “African American” and now IS an “Israeli Jew”.

I told my neighbor Mendy Newman the Gabbai we have a new oleh, he got an Aliya and everyone sang Vishavu Banim, that warms you up every time. We really do get the best people here in the holy land.

And Finally: Our Orange tree is growing nicely B"H. Orlah (3 years) was over last Shavuos and is now in the neta Revai stage which is the 4th year, from what I understand after Rosh Hashana the year is over, so perhaps we can eat our oranges after R"H. I need to find out for sure.

Gota run to Slichos then catch an early bus to Jerusalem tomorrow morning till next time.