Blog/September 2008/Sep 5th

August 29th (See this week's devar torah)
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Hi again!

Daniela has been at Stern College for a week, almost; and is getting acclimated slowly. She was a bit shocked at the prices of things in NYC - but we're sure she'll find a way to make it work. Sarah starts school next week, and is not really looking forward to changing from "vacation" mode to "study" mode. Last week I mentioned Esther's going to the doctor -- I got so many concerned responses, I feel the need to mention that "it's not serious", so while we thank you for your concern, you really don't need to be worried.

Aliyah advice: Israel is not the USA. It's not England. It's not even France! Try to keep that in mind, when you move here. You are not just moving, you are changing your life -- and if you insist on living here as you would in the US, you will be bound to have a disappointing and difficult time. Yes, you can live the same lifestyle you had in the US -- if you are willing to spend three times as much money to do so. On the other hand, if you live "like an Israeli", you will not only fit in better, you will have an easier time. More advice next week...

The item which prompted the preceding public-service announcement: Osem-brand "Chinese-style soy sauce". It resembles actual soy-sauce as much as I resemble Michael Jackson (Heaven forbid!). The Osem ketchup is very good, pretty close to "Heinz" brand in the US. But the soy-sauce is actually revolting. Going to the store here can be a crap-shoot, when you don't know which brands are "good" or not. Here's a clue: stick with the middle-eastern kinds of foods -- they're usually very good. Fake American-style foods are often pretty bad. And fake Asian foods are even worse. On the other hand, dairy products are excellent, and vegetables and fruits are superb. And some things just have to be experienced.

In an ironic twist of fate, a friend of mine -- whom I first met twenty years ago when I worked at Traveling Software in Seattle, has also moved to the desert. The Sonoran desert, while we're in the Judean desert. We're having real desert weather now -- 40+ degrees, but it's a bit humid so it is really uncomfortable. It was supposed to cool down... but the weather people here are not better than anywhere else..

As we are led down the left-wing path to peace and prosperity, it appears that thoughtcrime is being outlawed in the Israeli Defense Forces. Perhaps the Ministry of Truth will install monitoring devices in our homes, next? I don't think Rabbi Rozen's comparison of "Peace Now" to the halachic category of mosrim (informers) will endear him to MiniTru -- but I don't think he cares, honestly.

In further bizarro-world news, our "friend" and "ally" the US is asking for more goodwill gestures from us towards the Fakestinians. Excuse me? Why is the "goodwill" only expected from our side? When have "they" ever displayed "goodwill"? Oh, I got it! When they continue to launch missiles at Sderot even though they declared a cease-fire? No? Oh, wait ... I know! When they attack vehicles with firebombs and metal objects? No? Well, what then? C'mon, they're our partners for peace for cryin' out loud! The most "goodwill" we should show them is to give them exit-visas for the actual "Fakestinian" homeland -- the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (where they are not welcome, and whose leaders have no qualms about giving them the respect they so richly deserve).

Until next week,
Shabbat shalom!

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