Blog/April 2017/Apr 7th

April 7th

This week has revolved around trying to get ready for pesaḥ while also dealing with a lot of other things. Such as: work, Dinah’s wedding, her “sheva’ berakhot”, Daniela and Jeremy’s arrival, and other such incidentals. It was a hellishly busy week for us, we’re really looking forward to shabbat!

Esther and I both worked (she worked, I tried to work). Sarah was also working. And yet, pesaḥ waits for no man, so we had to try to fit in various preparations as we went along. For instance, I already “kashered” the ovens mid-week, but I still haven’t done the rest of the kitchen surfaces or stove-top, since this shabbat we’re eating “normal” rather than “KLP”. For another instance: Esther and I went to the shuq to get all the produce we need for the next week or so. It won’t suffice, but it’s what we can do.

Dinah’s wedding was held in a place called Kfar Etzion. We were tasked with picking up the rabbi on our way to the event, which was actually a real pleasure for us. But Sarah had to go there much earlier, to help Dinah; so I was tasked with transporting her to Efrat (near Kfar Etzion) in the morning. So I ended up driving, in one day, more than I had driven in a year. All for a good purpose, no doubt.

The bride was radiant, as all brides are. The groom appeared to be contemplating losing conciousness just before the ceremony commenced, but he made it (as most grooms do). The setting was beautiful, in a scenic part of the Judean hills. We encountered old acquaintances from the Exile; mostly Russians. We seem to have an affinity for Russians. Or perhaps they’re hacking us.

In any event, the long commute getting there and back again confirmed us in the wisdom of our decision not to live in that area.

All said and done, we were not yet done with Dinah: there was still the matter of the traditional meals of “sheva’ berakhot”. One of those (seven days of meals with seven blessings) was held Thursday evening at the home of the parents of the bride. They own a really nice home here in Ma’ale Adumim though (for reasons known only to them) they still live in the Exile. Other Russians of our acquaintance (many of whom actually work in computer security) were there, and an entertaining time was had by all. And then they hacked us (not really, Mom; that was a lame joke).

This shabbat the bride’s family has invited us to have the second meal at their house. So we’ll have seen their home twice in three days. Will more Russians be there? Only the NSA knows for sure…

Jew Haiku:

Russians tap your line
So you are led to believe
NSA knows all

I made a significant new release of 8th this week. It was important to me to get a release done before the upcoming holiday, so I could relax fully and enjoy the company of my family. One comment someone posted on a forum about 8th made me happy: “8th is an ambitious, innovative, and very serious Forth platform for the 21st century; everyone with a deep interest in Forth owes it to themselves to have a look at its design and capabilities!”. Now, if the currency-exchange would only convert “praise” to ILS…

Daniela and Jeremy’s flight was delayed by two hours leaving Newark, and it’s arriving here almost two hours later (as of the latest update). Very fortunately for all of us, they took the earlier flight so they’ll get here well before shabbat, B”H. Traveling on Friday for a religious Jew is fraught with peril!

This shabbat it’s the five of us! As mentioned, we’ve been invited to dine with Dinah and her family for lunch, but for the rest we’ll cook up:
chicken with rice, vegetable soup, artichokes, other food — to be determined, various salatim, and chocolate cake.

Until next time,
shabbat shalom and ḥag sameaḥ!

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