Several arba minim related thoughts:
(1) If our local email discussion group is any indication, the Shiputzim sons are among the very small minority of boys and young men in our neighborhood who are NOT selling arba minim…
(2) Growing up in the States, most boys – including my brothers (who will – I’m sure - correct me if I’m wrong :-)) - didn’t get their own 4 minim until they were relatively old. (YZG was the exception to the rule, because his father was in charge of supplying 4 minim to their entire community.)
Yet, here in Israel, where prices are significantly lower, even young kids have their own sets.
For instance, we start purchasing sets for our boys as soon as they commit to coming to shul every morning (i.e. 3rd or 4th grade).
(3) And finally, as you may recall, after shmitah, our aravah tree was extremely overgrown, and thus, immediately after Succot, we pruned the tree.
However, based on my training and well-deserved reputation as an internationally-acclaimed gardening expert, as further proof of my ignorance, I believed that we had cut off way too much. Indeed, I was convinced that this year, we wouldn’t even have enough aravot for ourselves.
But, shockingly, to no one’s surprise but my own, the aravot soon grew back, and B”H, we once again are blessed with a bumper crop:
And so, I reiterate our offer from last year: We would be glad to provide any readers who happen to be near TRLEOOB* with aravot. If you are interested, please contact us at OurShiputzim at gmail dot com.
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*TRLEOOB=the real life equivalent of our blog
I don't think it is PC to boast about a bumper crop of Aravah's. Thet use A LOT of water. However, I am sure you are using grey water, so its fine. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, what a tree. We have a little aravot tree growing in our backyard. This year I said it was big enough that someone could use a bit of it as a backup. But then my son said no, wait another year.
ReplyDeleteDo they take lots of water? No problem in NJ - we got the rain. Wish we could ship some your way.
Miriam - Yes, we only use grey water (i.e. the run-off from our A/C) in our garden. It's been at least a year since we last turned on our watering system. Instead, we have a big pail under the A/C. It takes about 24 hours or so to fill up, and then "we" (that would be the royal we) use the water in the garden.
ReplyDeleteLeora - They do, but we decided to give priority to the trees in general and - over the past few weeks - the aravah tree in particular. Of course that means that the grass isn't in very good shape...
:-)
Grass? You are growing grass in Israel? That should be illegal. ;-). I'm trying to get rid of all my grass in the front. Flowers take less water. And our backyard probably has more weeds than grass, anyway.
ReplyDeleteChag Sameach.
Leora - The original type of grass in our backyard was completely taken over by a more weedlike grass. (We think the spores from our neighbor's yard blew into our yard.) And in front, our grass is not exactly green anymore...
ReplyDelete