Ron at 10:24, 30 November 2007

2007-11-30T10:24:10Z

Ron: Blog006 moved to Blog/September 2007/September 7th

2007-10-13T16:12:25Z

Blog006 moved to Blog/September 2007/September 7th

Ron: New page: '''September 7th 2007''' Shabbat update: I went to the Temani shul, and really enjoyed it. It was a nice surprise that the siddur I've been using for years is finally the right nusach ;)...

2007-10-11T11:17:21Z

New page: '''September 7th 2007''' Shabbat update: I went to the Temani shul, and really enjoyed it. It was a nice surprise that the siddur I've been using for years is finally the right nusach ;)...

New page

'''September 7th 2007'''

Shabbat update: I went to the Temani shul, and really enjoyed it. It was a
nice surprise that the siddur I've been using for years is finally the right
nusach ;)

This week started off on a very strong positive note. Last Friday we got a
notice from the Israeli Social Security (Bituach Leumi) telling us we owed
about 24,000 NIS (about $5,800). That's a lot of money, and it is money we
didn't have - so getting such a notice just before Shabbat was unpleasant to
say the least. Sunday morning, we marched down to their offices in Jerusalem
and managed to get all but 600 NIS (about $145) removed - that was a major
victory for us, and really the first major thing to go our way with the Gov't
offices.

So, flush with victory, we went to the Kupat Cholim (sick fund) office where my
wife and daughter are covered, and tried to sign up for "travelers" insurance
for me (since I'm not eligible for the regular insurance yet). I told the
clerk my story, and what I wanted, and he checked his computer. I nearly fell
off my chair when he told me that I was in fact eligible! So I signed up, and
made an appointment to see a doctor the very next day. I got to the doctor,
did what I needed, and everything was fine. But - alas! - it was too good to
be true; the head office informed them I was NOT eligible, and so my membership
was rescinded after only one day. At least I did get to see a doctor...

Anyway, I'm trying to get private insurance; but the doctor I saw told me he
would be happy to see me outside the auspices of the fund, and he just wanted
to "make sure you're not getting screwed over" (his words). Esther has so far
sent three emails to the Minister of Absorption (no response) and I just sent
an email to the former Ambassador of Israel to the US, who happens to be at the
top of the Nefesh B'Nefesh organization. We'll see if anything comes of any of
these efforts; my cynicism can be forgiven, I think.

In further news from officialdom, I got my Israeli driver's license without
having to do much of anything (since I had one in 1980). Esther, however,
needs to take a driving test before she can get a license.

Our house in the US did actually sell, since the money showed up in our bank
account this week. Finally! One less thing to worry about, and one less
"hook" to try to pull us back to the States.

So far there is no particular news on the job front, though I did have yet
another interview (my third) with the small company this week - and they are
supposed to give me an answer before Rosh Hashanah. The big company is still
fighting over which group I should be in. So for now, I am still unemployed
but hopeful that the New Year 5768 will see me fruitfully employed. Esther has
signed up for a course to become a "doula" (you'll have to look that one up on
your own).

It's interesting to note that whereas Chabad has a very strong presence in the
US, here it's almost an afterthought. Despite the ubiquitous posters with the
Rebbe z"l's picture proclaiming him mashiach, almost noone actually goes to a
Chabad shul. As a point of reference, out of 40 shuls in this town, there is
exactly one Chabad shul (there are two Temani shuls). Further, the Chabadnikim
one encounters here are more likely to be unhinged in some way than the ones in
the States. There is one in particular, living not too far from us, who has
the yellow "Mashiach" flag hoisted over his house, and ... a goat on his
porch. A real goat. I don't know, but the goat's name might be "Shawarma"...

ALERT: there is no powdered cocoa (for baking) in Israel! So a very earnest
employee of the local supermarket informed us Thursday. Unfortunately for him
and his claims of being "a professional chef", there was in fact cocoa, right
next to the coffee (don't ask why it's there, it just is). His exact words
(translated) were, "such a thing doesn't exist at all!". And that is one of
the more endearing things about Israelis - they are experts in everything.

ALERT: proof that being non-religious damages your health! Unfortunately, we
have noticed that many non-religious Jews have severe problems judging
distances and sizes. There is a direct correlation with religiosity, since we
have seen that the religious girls and boys have no problem buying clothing
which covers their bodies properly. Sadly, there is an epidemic of poorly
clothed secular Israelis, with shirts which don't reach their pants or skirts,
as well as pants which are woefully inadequate to cover the owners'
hindquarters. Perhaps the Gov't will create a new Ministry of Shmattes.

ALERT: cause for longer lifespans in Israel found! Many of you remember that
before we moved here, I did a small research of relative risks and lifespans
and found that (according to official documentation) Israelis live a couple
years longer than Americans do. Until now, the precise cause has remained
uncertain - but no longer! My trip to the doctor's office (during my single
day of eligibility) indicated my blood pressure was an athletic 100/70, when it
had been 115/80 in the US. Then I realized that I had spent a great deal of
time dealing with government officials since our move, and it hit me! Dealing
with the Gov't is just like aerobic exercise - your blood-pressure soars for a
couple hours, and then relaxes back to normal. This stretches the arteries and
veins, and gives you better cardiovascular condition! Who would have thought
something good could come from the Gov't?!

COOL MANLY THINGS: Last week I made a special trip to get a transformer from a
guy who winds them by hand. Esther's heavy-duty kitchen appliances need a
heavy-duty transformer, and boy, did I get one! 800W of manly iron-core
voltage transformer! It weighs 10 kilos, but it does the job. We were finally
able to enjoy Esther's home-made Challah this past shabbat!

MORE COOL MANLY THINGS: There is a patio just outside our kitchen, where our
patio furniture is. We would like to use it on Shabbat, but since the area is
not enclosed, and the ''eruv'' here is not reliable, we had to find a way to
enclose it. So with the advice of a friend, I put together a "shabbos fence"
which consists of two poles and metal eyelets spaced along it. The poles
attach to existing fences, and I run nylon cord through the eyelets so that I
have four parallel cords - and a fence which is a real fence according to the
halacha. The poles can be easily detached and stored away during the week. So
now, we can enjoy a meal outdoors on Shabbat should we desire.

This week, we've ordered "Challa from Sderot" - Sderot being the town in the
south of Israel which has been under frequent rocket attack by our partners for
peace in the Gaza strip. So by ordering the challot from them, we are doing
something to support them even as the Gov't does nothing (not even wringing
it's collective hands). I'll let you know next week if this was really mesirut
nefesh on our part or no...

Our daughters are apparently fine; we don't see much of either of them.
However, Daniela will be staying with us this shabbat and bringing with her two
friends from her school. I hope they like the heat.

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Blog/September 2007/September 7th - Revision history

Ron at 10:24, 30 November 2007

Ron: Blog006 moved to Blog/September 2007/September 7th

Ron: New page: '''September 7th 2007''' Shabbat update: I went to the Temani shul, and really enjoyed it. It was a nice surprise that the siddur I've been using for years is finally the right nusach ;)...