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Help [[tsedaka|feed the hungry]] in Israel!
 
Help [[tsedaka|feed the hungry]] in Israel!
  
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Lost in translation: many of you know of my Mishne Torah translation project, and probably can assume (rightly) that I am interested in "getting translation right".  This week I received an email, which was a copy of an interesting article published on the internet. The article was a translation of [http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/871/037.html?hp=1&loc=33&tmp=3251 this article from Ma`ariv], talking about fake kashrut certifications.  Everything was fine, until I got to this sentence: "This story perhaps highlights the difficulties being faced by the Chief Rabbinate, which continues to wage its war on illegal and unauthorized kashrut supervisions that ''arise like Patriot missiles in the rain''".  Huh?  "Patriot missiles in the rain"?  What is that supposed to mean?
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This week: getting ready for pesach, the blessing on the sun, the pesach seder... a super busy week.
  
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I guessed the original used the word {{hebs|פטריות}} (''pitriot'' = mushrooms), which would make sense.  And indeed, the original was:
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The holiday of ''pesach'' (Passover) grips the entire country in its clutches.  Everything important is set aside until ''acharei hachagim'' -- after the holidays.  The Kinneret's water level descends half a meter, as everyone in the country washes everything in sight to get rid of the dreaded ''chamets'' (leavened grain or byproducts thereof).  Stores are packed with every conceivable variety of "kosher lepesach" products, and with shoppers looking to stock their pantries for the week-long festival.  The pre-holiday frenzy builds to a fever pitch, until finally D-Day arrives: the day before pesach, when this year we had more to do than usual.
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:{{heb|סיפורו של "בד"צ בלקר" מבטא יותר מכל את המצוקה שבה נמצאת הרבנות הראשית לישראל במלחמתה בגופי כשרות קיקיוניים שקמים כמו '''פטריות אחר הגשם'''}}.   
 
  
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Those of you who know Hebrew will have noticed another failing in the translation, e.g. "illegal and unauthorized" is not what {{hebs|קיקיוניים}} means! The Hebrew ''kikayoniim'' = like a ''kikayon'', [http://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1704.htm#6 the plant which grew next to Jonah] to shield him from the sun (that sprouted one day and died the next), hence the proper translation should be something like "fly-by-night".  Though Esther and I laughed a lot after reading the translation, it brings up a serious point, which is that translations are only as good as the comprehension of the translator.  Don't forget that!  N.B.: Mercifully, the original site changed the online content to reflect the original more accurately -- I wasn't the only one who pointed out their error to them.
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First, there was the usual morning prayer.  Then, the [http://www.torathmoshe.com/2009/04/the-%E2%80%98zohar%E2%80%99-controversy-a-crisis-of-priorities/ once-in-28-years] blessing on the sun (see also my [[Devar/5769/Pesach|''devar torah'']]).  Then destruction of the ''chamets'', and finally [[media:seder1.jpeg|preparing everything]] for the upcoming ''seder'' night.
  
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We were honored to have a visit from our Rabbi and his family all the way from Bellevue, Washington.  We hope to see them again before they return to the Exile.  I hope they enjoyed their visit to the Wild West Bank...
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When night finally fell, we were ready for the requisite four cups of wine -- and b"h, our guests had brought us some nice vintages to imbibe while we retold the story of our people's descent into slavery, redemption therefrom and prayer for the future ultimate redemption.  We had a very pleasant group, mostly fellow "new immigrants", who generally made the effort to read the ''haggadah'' in Hebrew rather than in the easier (for them) English.  After the reading and discussion we had the seder meal, which was -- of course -- incredibly delicious.  Even the [[media:matsa.jpeg|''matsah'']] was good. My home-made horseradish was extremely spicy, Esther's various dishes were splendid, the company was convivial.
  
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Everyone is getting ready for Pesach.  Everyone -- not just "religious" people. We decided that we need a small vacuum cleaner to help control our dust situation, so this week we went to the local mall and tried to find something cheap.  The stores were bursting to the seams with shoppers, desperate for cleaning supplies and food and who knows what.  Today I finally went to the local "Ace" hardware store, which had an "ok" price on a small vacuum -- and I thought they must be giving things away for free, there were so many people there.  It turns out that not only were things not free, they didn't have half the things they normally did -- but they did have a vacuum, so B"H we can now control the dust a little better (assuming the machine holds up, about which I have doubts).  At first I went to a store near where I work, thinking that the price would be better.  The owner told me he would give me a "discount for Pesach" on one model of vacuum, only 1,000NIS!  When I went to the Israeli price-comparison size [http://zap.co.il Zap], I found the same model he was offering, for 750.  What a deal!  That was still much more than I was willing to spend, but it just shows that ''caveat emptor'' applies here as much as it does anywhere.
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The only thing which would mar my otherwise perfect ''pesach'' was -- you guessed it -- ants. Since we had seen ants in one of our cupboards before the holiday, I was determined to get rid of them so we wouldn't have any unwanted intruders in our food.  I got various poisons and set forth with a will to destroy them.  At first, they seemed under control; but towards the end of the holiday day itself, we opened a cupboard and saw a veritable army of six-legged creepers in our cupboard.  They were attacking our sealed bags of food -- and I don't think they succeeded in penetrating the plastic -- but I flipped out.  Like Captain Ahab, I became obsessed with destroying my enemy -- but how?  Poison didn't work, intense cleaning didn't work.  Essential oils didn't work... what now? So today I took a can of expanding foam insulation, and sprayed it into various holes from where the little creeps may be entering the house. I caulked the cabinets with silicone sealant.  And for good measure, I sprayed a bit more poison -- but to be honest, I think the spray actually ''attracts'' the ants.  Further updates next week, should I survive the experience emotionally intact...
  
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(almost) Everything is now marked as "kosher for Passover", including such non-edibles as oven-cleaner and soap.  I'm not the only one in Israel who knows that such things don't need a ''hechsher'' (of any kind, let alone one for Pesach), so why do they have one? Do consumers who are waffling as to what brand to buy really go for the soap with the ''hechsher'' over the one without?  Probably, probably.
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Stuff you can't make up:
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* A ''chareidi'' man was arrested [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/130779 for stripping in a supermarket] in protest of their selling ''chamets'' products during ''pesach''
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* Near the Machane Yehuda ''shuq'' is a store which is called "Grill, charcoal and watermelon".  Yep, that's ''all'' it sells -- talk about seasonal!
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* On my way to work every day, I pass [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jan-mcgirk/israelis-line-up-for-pizz_b_158558.html Pizza Obama] (kosher, thank you very much). I think it may be unique in the world.
  
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Now that I'm taking the bus instead of driving, I'm more calm and relaxed. But for those of you still driving: here's a [http://xkcd.com/562/ parking solution] you might appreciate.
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I do hope that Obama did not order from Pizza Obama for the [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1238562942442&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull seder he hosted] on Thursday night.  What's next?  A presidential Simchat Torah? No, probably not; he's also got to [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/130813 make nice with the muslims].  
  
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Those fun-loving Arabs!  First we have [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1238423651844&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull the new Arab MK] who advocates Iranian nuclear weapons development.  Then there's those happy-go-lucky Arabs who disapproved of [http://drybonesblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/strings-of-peace.html the "Strings of Peace"] and seized their instruments and disbanded the orchestra.  And just yesterday, in the town one of my coworkers lives in, [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/130730 a terrorist brutally killed a 13 year old with an ax] and seriously injured a seven year old.  If the government would change its policy and require all able-bodied Jews to carry sidearms and keep in practice, instead of making it very difficult to get a carry license, the situation would improve.  Knowing that the "sheep" are all armed and dangerous would make even a ''maniak'' Arab hesitate.
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In the usual anti-semitic news roundup, [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1238562905981&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Chicago's DePaul University] wants to outdo Hamas.  And the geniuses in Turkey were shocked by the [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/130771 extremely low number of Israeli tourists] this year.  Surprise!  When your president runs off at the mouth in anti-Israel tirades, why would you expect Israelis to ignore it?
  
 
Until next week,<br>
 
Until next week,<br>
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Shabbat shalom!
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Shabbat shalom and mo`adim lesimcha!
  
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Latest revision as of 12:59, 17 April 2009

April 10th (See this week's devar torah)
Send Ron feedback on this blog


Hi again!

Help feed the hungry in Israel!

This week: getting ready for pesach, the blessing on the sun, the pesach seder... a super busy week.

The holiday of pesach (Passover) grips the entire country in its clutches. Everything important is set aside until acharei hachagim -- after the holidays. The Kinneret's water level descends half a meter, as everyone in the country washes everything in sight to get rid of the dreaded chamets (leavened grain or byproducts thereof). Stores are packed with every conceivable variety of "kosher lepesach" products, and with shoppers looking to stock their pantries for the week-long festival. The pre-holiday frenzy builds to a fever pitch, until finally D-Day arrives: the day before pesach, when this year we had more to do than usual.

First, there was the usual morning prayer. Then, the once-in-28-years blessing on the sun (see also my devar torah). Then destruction of the chamets, and finally preparing everything for the upcoming seder night.

When night finally fell, we were ready for the requisite four cups of wine -- and b"h, our guests had brought us some nice vintages to imbibe while we retold the story of our people's descent into slavery, redemption therefrom and prayer for the future ultimate redemption. We had a very pleasant group, mostly fellow "new immigrants", who generally made the effort to read the haggadah in Hebrew rather than in the easier (for them) English. After the reading and discussion we had the seder meal, which was -- of course -- incredibly delicious. Even the matsah was good. My home-made horseradish was extremely spicy, Esther's various dishes were splendid, the company was convivial.

The only thing which would mar my otherwise perfect pesach was -- you guessed it -- ants. Since we had seen ants in one of our cupboards before the holiday, I was determined to get rid of them so we wouldn't have any unwanted intruders in our food. I got various poisons and set forth with a will to destroy them. At first, they seemed under control; but towards the end of the holiday day itself, we opened a cupboard and saw a veritable army of six-legged creepers in our cupboard. They were attacking our sealed bags of food -- and I don't think they succeeded in penetrating the plastic -- but I flipped out. Like Captain Ahab, I became obsessed with destroying my enemy -- but how? Poison didn't work, intense cleaning didn't work. Essential oils didn't work... what now? So today I took a can of expanding foam insulation, and sprayed it into various holes from where the little creeps may be entering the house. I caulked the cabinets with silicone sealant. And for good measure, I sprayed a bit more poison -- but to be honest, I think the spray actually attracts the ants. Further updates next week, should I survive the experience emotionally intact...

Stuff you can't make up:

  • A chareidi man was arrested for stripping in a supermarket in protest of their selling chamets products during pesach
  • Near the Machane Yehuda shuq is a store which is called "Grill, charcoal and watermelon". Yep, that's all it sells -- talk about seasonal!
  • On my way to work every day, I pass Pizza Obama (kosher, thank you very much). I think it may be unique in the world.

I do hope that Obama did not order from Pizza Obama for the seder he hosted on Thursday night. What's next? A presidential Simchat Torah? No, probably not; he's also got to make nice with the muslims.

In the usual anti-semitic news roundup, Chicago's DePaul University wants to outdo Hamas. And the geniuses in Turkey were shocked by the extremely low number of Israeli tourists this year. Surprise! When your president runs off at the mouth in anti-Israel tirades, why would you expect Israelis to ignore it?

Until next week,
Shabbat shalom and mo`adim lesimcha!


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