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{{bheader|Nov 13th|Devar/5770/Chayei Sarah}}  
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{{bheader|Nov 20th|Devar/5770/Toldot}}  
  
 
Hi again!  
 
Hi again!  
  
Lots and lots this week; sorry if it's a long blog this time, you don't have to read it all...
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Another wonderful week in the Holy Land!  It rained several times (even in our desert of a home-town).  I had a lot of success at work.  Sarah is recovered from her head-trauma.  Daniela and Esther are fine. The weather is fantastic right now, and in a short while ''shabbat'' will be here. What more can one ask for?
  
First an update about last ''shabbat''.  We told you last week that we were going to have four girls as guests, two of whom were ChabadIn fact, it turned out that one of the "non-Chabad" girls' father was in fact ChabadThe fourth girl was from a chassidic family (Kloizenburg, not Chabad)They were lovely girls, and the ''shabbat'' was very interesting and pleasant.
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First things first: congratulations to those friends and acquaintances of ours who are making [[aliyah]] in the near term -- you know who you are!  Here are a few points of advice for you as you plan your homecoming:
 +
* Try to improve your Hebrew to the point where you can ask for and understand directions, ''before'' you get hereThe better your Hebrew is, the easier you will find adapting.
 +
* Don't try to compare everything to "the way it was back home".  That's a pointless exercise, as Israel is a completely different country, in a different part of the world.
 +
* Talk to peopleOn the bus, at the store, anywhere.  You never know who will have a job that's just perfect for you.  Or at the least, be able to get you a 'starter' job so you've got an Israeli salary.
 +
* Do make the effort to live within an Israeli salary.  Otherwise, unless you have a lot of money to waste, you will find yourself in trouble sooner or later.
 +
* Don't worry about getting a job before you're on the ground hereIt is highly unlikely anyone will hire you unless they know you are here first.  There are exceptions, but they ''are'' exceptions.
 +
* [https://www.paypal.com/il Paypal] now lets you access Israeli bank accountsHowever, you cannot upgrade or add on to your US account and access an Israeli bank.  But Israeli accounts ''can'' access US bank accounts.  Let's say you want to [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9822630 pay me for my precious advice] … it's easy!
 +
* Don't worry about bringing all sorts of computer equipment.  The prices here are about 20% higher than in the US, but if you buy here you won't have to worry about using transformers, and you will have local service.  That can be worth much more than the 20% premium.
  
Sarah went on her yearly school trip this week, to Eilat.  We expected to have a quiet three days, just the two of us... and ''boy'' were we wrong!  The first day was fine.  But on the second day, we got a call from Sarah saying that during one of the hikes, she fell down a ladder.  As she was laying, stunned, on the ground -- a rock fell on her head!  Apparently, her concerned friends at the top of the ladder accidentally knocked a rock over the edge of the cliff. '''NOTE:''' some of the pictures in the following links are a bit alarming!  The medic who was with them [[media:sarah-mummy.jpeg|bandaged her head]], but my poor daughter left [[media:blood-on-rock.jpeg|blood on the rocks of Eilat]]As you (may or may not) know, head wounds [[media:blood-on-shirt.jpeg|bleed profusely]] even if the [[media:sarah-head-wound.jpeg|wound is not large]].
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I have several relatives who suffered broken bones in the past yearNow an Israeli medical breakthrough [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1258624597066&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull repairs broken bones] in a fraction of the time it used to take.   
 
Thank God, she was not seriously injured, though she is well and truly scraped up.  They ended up taking her to the hospital in Eilat, where her wound was glued shut.  We expected her to complain bitterly about her ordeal; but in fact, she said she had a really good time on the trip, even counting what happened to herAll's well that ends well...
 
  
Our [[media:fruits.jpeg|fruit trees]] produced some [[media:kumquat.jpeg|kumquats]] and [[media:lemons.jpeg|lemons]].  The kumquats are very good, and Sarah and I will be happily snacking on them.  The lemons are very juicy, and Esther will be turning them into nice Sephardi foods.
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Bizarre Israeli news: [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1258624598309&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull the bungling Bamba burglar].  I actually find [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamba_%28snack%29 Bamba] nauseating, but I'm not a kid anymore.
  
Geek alert: if you want to get me a small token of appreciation, I wouldn't mind a [http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/11/mavizens-ttx02-electric-motorcycle-laptop-on-wheels-linux.php Linux-powered motorcycle]In geek news: nothing to be con[http://www.cern.ch CERN]ed about, but the approximately $5 ''billion'' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider LHC] had a run-in [http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2009-11/bread-loving-bird-shuts-down-lhc with a bird], causing part of the machine to overheat.  I would have expected a little more redundancy in critical systems, for that price-tag.
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Less bizarre, but still Israeli news: Intel vs. [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1258624595896&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull ''shabbat'' in Jerusalem]. Besides all the huffing and posturing around the discussion, there are a few salient pointsFirst of all, there is a "Sabbath work law" in Israel, which prohibits requiring Jews to work on ''shabbat'' except in a very few cases (security, medical, critical national infrastructure). This is the ''secular'' law, quite apart from any religious concerns. Intel apparently received an exemption from this law from Olmert (שם רשעים ירקב) for its plant in the south of Israel; but they did not get one for their Jerusalem plant (or so I understand).  Secondly, the Torah prohibits (as do all relevant subsequent ''halachic'' codes) Jews performing certain kinds of work on ''shabbat'' except in the case of a life-and-death matter. Finally, even disregarding the above -- the area all around the Intel plant in Jerusalem is entirely populated with Torah-observing Jews, for whom the plant's operation on ''shabbat'' is an incitement.
  
By now you will have heard all about the horrific shooting in Ft. Hood.  What I find difficult to digest is how anyone who was not lobotomized can [http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YTg2NjkyOGE1OTY2YjhhOTI0NWU3MjA5OWU0YTI4ZDg= wonder what the motivation] of the shooter was!  Most especially since he yelled ''allah-hu-akbar'' during the shooting. By the way, that phrase means "(our) god is greater (than yours)", and not "God is great" as it is usually renderedJust in case, you know, you were wondering.  There are some in the press [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704402404574525831785724114.html?mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular who also wonder as I do], but by far the majority of mainstream media have reported that Hasan was deranged (of course he was)This is not the first such, nor will it be the last, ''jihadi'' attack on the US.  It is time for America to [http://www.youtube.com/user/patcondell#p/a/u/0/KjSjpNe1-Vc wake up], and soon!  Interesting too, that the current Commander-in-Chief did not see fit to visit the site of the shooting, while the [http://www.examiner.com/x-21300-Rasmussen-Polls-Examiner~y2009m11d9-George-W-Bush-visits-Fort-Hood-before-President-Obama previous one did].
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I understand that Intel is loathe to suspend operations in the plant during ''shabbat''.  I also understand that the Israeli government doesn't want to lose the revenue Intel brings in, as well as the prestige of having some of their products "made in Israel".  However, in my not-so-humble opinion, they miss entirely the point of their own (secular) Sabbath work law -- which is to preserve the Jewish character of the only Jewish state in the worldHaving Gentiles man the plant on ''shabbat'' (as has been proposed), is problematic for a number of reasons I won't go into now. But our government, it seems, is only interested in keeping Intel happy so they can continue to rake in the benefits; and to hell with the "Jewish character of the State"!
  
If you are wondering what lay ahead for America if she ''doesn't'' wake up, listen to [http://www.youtube.com/user/patcondell#p/a/89FA1CBCAF670D2E/0/ciOGS6r97oE Wafa Sultan].  Especially you women out thereThis is the fate awaiting those who ignore [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134289 illegal Iranian arms shipments] to Hizbollah and general creeping IslamismAt the risk of under-statement, I'll echo Wafa's statement that ''Islam is the problem''.  It needs to be dealt with soon, for everyone's sakes.
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The commemoration ceremonies for the late {{wiki|Yitzhak Rabin}} were held recently.  And as usual, the Left took the opportunity for the {{wiki|Two Minutes Hate}} against anyone to the right of Lenin.  I was somewhat surprised, however, to hear Bill Clinton opine that were it not for Rabin's assassination, we would have had [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1258027287540&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull peace within three years].  I guess he ''did'' inhale, after allFollow-up to my rant last week about the ''jihadi'' attack in America: here is how it was [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHM0Av5-EKc&feature=player_embedded perceived by Israeli comics].   
  
The Left in Israel is fond of denigrating the "Haredim" as being "leeches", "vermin" and other such fine sentiments.  A new economic study helps explain why [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1257770024300&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Haredim are under-represented] in the workplace.  Imagine, the same Lefties who despise the Haredim ''also'' try to avoid hiring them in the first place!  I am ''shocked'', I tell you!
 
  
I recently found [http://www.ornery.org/ this site], which is run by {{wiki|Orson Scott Card}} (I am a fan of his writing)An acquaintance of mine posted an article there a number of years ago, explaining [http://www.ornery.org/essays/2002-01-24-1.html what "peace" means] to Muslims, as distinguished from what it means to, say, Westerners.  An interesting and still timely piece.
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We're having a "new immigrant" family over this ''shabbat''.  Besides the usual salads, chicken, roast etc, we are having [[Recipes/Red Lentil Soup|Red Lentil Soup]] in honor of [[Devar/5770/Toldot|this week's torah portion]].  I also made [[Recipes/Hummus|Hummus]], and something new: [[Recipes/Kumquat-pepper relish|kumquat-pepper relish]], from our home-grown kumquats.
  
And now Esther wants me to post the recipe for "modest radish salad" {{hebs|סלט צנון צנוע}}, which is really tasty and easy:
 
* 1 cup coarsely shredded radish (the large Israeli kind, not the small American kind)
 
* 1 small hot red pepper, chopped fine
 
* 1/2 cup raw peas (or thawed frozen peas)
 
* 1/4-1/2 cup whole cashews
 
* 1/2 cup chopped raw green beans
 
* 3/4 cup cucumber cut in thick slices
 
* tehina-soy sauce or tehina salad dressing:
 
:*2 tbsp mayonnaise
 
:*5 tbsp raw tehina
 
:*4 tbsp soy sauce
 
:*4 tbsp lemon juice
 
:*1 tsp finely chopped garlic
 
: mix it all together until smooth
 
 
Mix it all together with the dressing.
 
 
''NEWS FLASH:'' it is raining again!
 
  
 
Until next week,<br>
 
Until next week,<br>
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{{nav|Blog|Blog|Blog/November 2009/Nov 13th|Nov 13th|Blog/November 2009/Nov 27th|Nov 27th}}

Latest revision as of 15:04, 27 November 2009

Nov 20th (See this week's devar torah)
Send Ron feedback on this blog

Hi again!

Another wonderful week in the Holy Land! It rained several times (even in our desert of a home-town). I had a lot of success at work. Sarah is recovered from her head-trauma. Daniela and Esther are fine. The weather is fantastic right now, and in a short while shabbat will be here. What more can one ask for?

First things first: congratulations to those friends and acquaintances of ours who are making aliyah in the near term -- you know who you are! Here are a few points of advice for you as you plan your homecoming:

  • Try to improve your Hebrew to the point where you can ask for and understand directions, before you get here. The better your Hebrew is, the easier you will find adapting.
  • Don't try to compare everything to "the way it was back home". That's a pointless exercise, as Israel is a completely different country, in a different part of the world.
  • Talk to people. On the bus, at the store, anywhere. You never know who will have a job that's just perfect for you. Or at the least, be able to get you a 'starter' job so you've got an Israeli salary.
  • Do make the effort to live within an Israeli salary. Otherwise, unless you have a lot of money to waste, you will find yourself in trouble sooner or later.
  • Don't worry about getting a job before you're on the ground here. It is highly unlikely anyone will hire you unless they know you are here first. There are exceptions, but they are exceptions.
  • Paypal now lets you access Israeli bank accounts. However, you cannot upgrade or add on to your US account and access an Israeli bank. But Israeli accounts can access US bank accounts. Let's say you want to pay me for my precious advice … it's easy!
  • Don't worry about bringing all sorts of computer equipment. The prices here are about 20% higher than in the US, but if you buy here you won't have to worry about using transformers, and you will have local service. That can be worth much more than the 20% premium.

I have several relatives who suffered broken bones in the past year. Now an Israeli medical breakthrough repairs broken bones in a fraction of the time it used to take.

Bizarre Israeli news: the bungling Bamba burglar. I actually find Bamba nauseating, but I'm not a kid anymore.

Less bizarre, but still Israeli news: Intel vs. shabbat in Jerusalem. Besides all the huffing and posturing around the discussion, there are a few salient points. First of all, there is a "Sabbath work law" in Israel, which prohibits requiring Jews to work on shabbat except in a very few cases (security, medical, critical national infrastructure). This is the secular law, quite apart from any religious concerns. Intel apparently received an exemption from this law from Olmert (שם רשעים ירקב) for its plant in the south of Israel; but they did not get one for their Jerusalem plant (or so I understand). Secondly, the Torah prohibits (as do all relevant subsequent halachic codes) Jews performing certain kinds of work on shabbat except in the case of a life-and-death matter. Finally, even disregarding the above -- the area all around the Intel plant in Jerusalem is entirely populated with Torah-observing Jews, for whom the plant's operation on shabbat is an incitement.

I understand that Intel is loathe to suspend operations in the plant during shabbat. I also understand that the Israeli government doesn't want to lose the revenue Intel brings in, as well as the prestige of having some of their products "made in Israel". However, in my not-so-humble opinion, they miss entirely the point of their own (secular) Sabbath work law -- which is to preserve the Jewish character of the only Jewish state in the world. Having Gentiles man the plant on shabbat (as has been proposed), is problematic for a number of reasons I won't go into now. But our government, it seems, is only interested in keeping Intel happy so they can continue to rake in the benefits; and to hell with the "Jewish character of the State"!

The commemoration ceremonies for the late Yitzhak Rabin were held recently. And as usual, the Left took the opportunity for the Two Minutes Hate against anyone to the right of Lenin. I was somewhat surprised, however, to hear Bill Clinton opine that were it not for Rabin's assassination, we would have had peace within three years. I guess he did inhale, after all. Follow-up to my rant last week about the jihadi attack in America: here is how it was perceived by Israeli comics.


We're having a "new immigrant" family over this shabbat. Besides the usual salads, chicken, roast etc, we are having Red Lentil Soup in honor of this week's torah portion. I also made Hummus, and something new: kumquat-pepper relish, from our home-grown kumquats.


Until next week,
Shabbat shalom!




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