tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30891334338978311302024-02-22T23:11:15.448+02:00Our Shiputzim: A Work In ProgressThe life and times of an early 21st century American-Israeli wife and motherMrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.comBlogger830125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-52133249515239980052020-03-29T16:25:00.000+03:002020-03-29T16:39:31.221+03:00The Top 10 Signs You’re Living in the Corona Era<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;">The Top 10 Signs You’re Living in
the Corona Era</span></strong>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;"><br /></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;">10)</span></strong> You notice
that the Ministry of Unwritten Regulations has apparently decreed that every
ad – whether in print (<span style="color: purple;">in one of the very few publications that are still being distributed</span>) or online - must
contain either a picture of a mask or an illustration of a coronavirus. Bonus
points if the virus resembles a cuddly cartoon character.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;">9)</span></strong> Another day,
another 17 “davening at home” jokes.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;">8)</span></strong> Shabbat feels like you’re in a Jane Austen novel. Everyone is dressed up in elegant clothes;
there is nowhere to go; you meet the exact same people at every meal; and after
dinner, you retire to the modern day equivalent of the drawing room, where you
all sit around and talk and read. And if you get really bored, you can always
take a turn about the room…
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;">7)</span></strong> “<em>Where/how
are you doing your Pesach grocery shopping?</em>” is the new “<em>where will you
be/who is coming to you for the Seder this year?</em>”
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;">6)</span></strong> Even your
two-year-old grandchildren have been using Zoom to get together with the other
kids from their ma'on (<span style="font-size: x-small;">daycare center</span>).
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;"><br /></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;">5)</span></strong> You’ve lost
track of how many times someone has quoted all or at least part of the
pasuk:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">לֵךְ עַמִּי בֹּא בַחֲדָרֶיךָ וּסְגֹר דלתיך בַּעֲדֶךָ חֲבִי כִמְעַט רֶגַע עַד
יעבור זָעַם</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(“Go, My nation, come into your chambers and close your door
behind you; hide for a brief moment, until the wrath shall pass.” --Yishaya
26:20)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;">4)</span></strong> Over the past
week alone, you’ve attended a bat mitzvah, a hanachat tefilin, a baby naming,
and several weddings, and not one of the other guests noticed or cared that you
were wearing pajamas and slippers the entire time.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;"><br /></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;">3)</span></strong> You have trouble
remembering that only 3-4 weeks ago(<span style="color: purple;">!!</span>), you had never even heard of terms like
social distancing and flattening the curve.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;">2)</span></strong> You go outside
to your backyard for a breath of fresh air, and your next door neighbor greets
you from HER yard. As the two of you stand there catching up, separated by
a wall and significantly more than two meters of space, you get to pretend that
you’re Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor from “Home Improvement” chatting with
Wilson over the fence.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #0080ff;">1)</span></strong> After
shamelessly neglecting your blog for years and years, you’re suddenly inspired
to sit down and write a post.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">😊</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9b00d3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #9b00d3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strong>Wishing you and your families only
good health, and may we all soon be privileged to share</strong>
<strong><em>besurot tovot</em>, <em>yeshu’ot</em> <em>v’nechamot </em>(<span style="font-size: x-small;">good
tidings, salvation, and consolation</span>).</strong></span></div>
Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-60912889535328902162020-03-15T18:11:00.000+02:002020-03-15T18:11:25.952+02:00Book Review: “The Koren Magerman Youth Haggada”<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While slowly adjusting to our new coronavirus-induced reality,
and with nothing else to do and nowhere to go, many Israeli households are
turning their attention to Pesach and its attendant preparations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TRLEOOB (<span style="color: #9b00d3; font-size: x-small;">=The Real Life Equivalent
of Our Blog</span>), which way back in less unsettled times – i.e. two days
ago! – was very much on its way to becoming an empty nest, but which, thanks to
the latest batch of restrictions, is now once again the home base for a
significant portion of the Shiputzim family, is certainly no exception.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But Pesach preparations aren’t limited to cleaning. They can
also involve getting a new haggadah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I first received a review copy of “The Koren Magerman
Youth Haggada,” my initial reaction was: <strong>THIS</strong> is exactly the
haggadah that YZG and I had looked for over the years but had never managed to
find!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because while there are literally countless haggadot out there
for adults, and plenty haggadot designed for younger kids, we always had trouble
finding an appropriate haggadah for older tweens and teens.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We wanted a haggadah that was interesting and entertaining
without being childish, simplistic, or condescending to the reader.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We weren’t looking for a “babysitter” that would distract the
reader from the Seder itself but rather for a haggadah that would encourage the
reader to engage with the text and also with the proceedings.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In short, we hoped to find a haggadah that would enhance the
Seder experience for older kids, but unfortunately, as noted, such a
haggadah didn’t seem to be readily available – until now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like other Koren releases, “The Koren Magerman Youth Haggada”
is beautifully designed; includes an excellent, accessible translation; and is
filled with wonderful, appropriate, and colorful illustrations.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The haggadah is obviously written with today’s kids in mind and
is unapologetically Zionistic. In addition, every page contains questions for
discussion, suggestions for experiential activities, and intriguing thoughts and
stories.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Together, all of these features allow the reader to be an
active participant at the Seder.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In conclusion, I highly recommend “The Koren Magerman Youth
Haggada” and only wish that it was available several years ago!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #9b00d3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: #9b00d3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>May the coming days bring</strong>
<strong><em>besurot tovot</em>, <em>yeshu’ot</em> <em>v’nechamot </em>(<span style="font-size: x-small;">good tidings, salvation, and consolation</span>) for <em>Am Yisrael</em>,
<em>Eretz Yisrael</em>, and <em>Torat Yisrael</em>.</strong></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Note:</strong> I
was not paid to review this book, but I did receive a review copy from Koren
Publishers.</span></div>
Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-79232262157064703422015-09-17T17:17:00.001+03:002015-10-11T15:04:45.927+03:00Book Review: “When God is Near: On the High Holidays”<p align="justify">Shanah tovah!</p> <p align="justify">I hope you too had a wonderful Rosh Hashanah.</p> <p align="justify">The honor of writing the first Our Shiputzim post of the year goes to the one and only YZG (<font color="#800080" size="2">aka “Mr. S.”</font>) – known to veteran readers for his <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.com/2009/02/modern-day-shlomo-hamelech.html">Solomonic wisdom</a>, his <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.com/2009/10/have-succah-will-travel.html">erudite halachic discourses</a>, his ability to <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2010/02/fix-it-friday-oven-edition.html">replace gas oven ignitors</a>, and his previous <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2014/02/review-koren-talmud-bavlitractate-sukka.html">book review</a>.</p> <p align="justify">Take it away, YZG!</p> <p align="center">****</p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000080" size="4" face="Calibri">“When God is Near: On the High Holidays”</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000080" size="4" face="Calibri">by YZG</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">“When God is Near: On the High Holidays” is an incredible collection of <em>sichot</em> (talks) that were delivered by Rav Yehuda Amital zt”l - one of the two founding Roshei Yeshiva of the world-famous Yeshivat Har Etzion and a renowned Jewish thinker of the previous generation - over the course of 40 years.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">The sichot, which were given during Elul and the Yamim Nora’im in the yeshiva, were collected and adapted by Rav Amital’s</font><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri"> son, Rav Yoel Amital, a ra”m at Yeshivat Shaalvim.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">Maggid Books recently released an English translation of the collection. Since I received a review copy of the book just before Rosh Hashanah, and since I want to publish the review before Yom Kippur – i.e. while it’s still relevant - this review will be fairly short.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">Many of the nearly 50 sichot were published elsewhere – in particular, on Yeshivat Har Etzion’s website. However, this is the first time that they appear together.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">Each of the sichot offers a glimpse at Rav Amital’s unique style and worldview, and the book’s essence is captured by the younger Rav Amital’s introduction. As he writes:</font></p> <blockquote> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">“<font face="Georgia">My father’s sichot are distinguished by their ability to penetrate the heart while at the same time appealing to the intellect.”</font></font></p> </blockquote> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">For example, one of the sichot on the Slichot prayer provides food for thought by explaining why prayer involves praising God as well as making demands and requests of God. Rav Amital’s intriguing approach gives meaning to Slichot in particular and prayer in general.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">One of Rav Amital’s primary themes is that this time of year is about finding ways to improve ourselves - both in terms of our service of God and also in terms of our service to the Jewish community as a whole. </font><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">I also appreciated his insights on the Biblical sources used to develop his ideas.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">I highly recommend this book. Not only will it make the Yamim Nora’im more meaningful, it will greatly enhance the reader’s understanding of what God expects of us.</font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Georgia"><font color="#000080"><strong>Note:</strong> I was not paid to review this sefer, but we did receive a review copy from Maggid Books.</font></font></p> <p align="center">****</p> <p align="center">Great job and thank you, YZG!</p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-42401538899931678452015-09-13T15:25:00.001+03:002015-09-13T15:26:03.713+03:00Erev Rosh Hashanah 5776<p align="center"><font size="5" face="Arial">.<strong><font color="#0080c0">ת</font></strong>הא <strong><font color="#0080c0">ש</font></strong>נת <strong><font color="#0080c0">ע</font></strong>ליה <strong><font color="#0080c0">ו</font></strong>גאולה</font> <br /><font size="4" face="Calibri"><strong>May 5776 be a year of aliyah and redemption.</strong></font></p> <p align="justify">As you may recall, every year my mother prepares a very special <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2015/01/fine-arts-friday-5775-calendar-edition.html">family calendar</a>. Here is a certain Shiputzim daughter’s beautiful contribution to the 5776 edition:</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA0QiGE-BULt8RcDXmK6suvv4uRueoygPmQzkOWdzQ2Q8DgJaqRP4BSIxaxFDUx2s4Mr16_5k0DO1V7SNVu08coYGKaSIV-q04TXL22NIrSSRLLGko4mciMEY6zV_bS9iQSZZ2vnGunQ/s1600-h/Feb2016%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Feb2016" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Feb2016" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BygLJQtOosk/VfVrKmSjrGI/AAAAAAAADPU/UiMU5HnIEns/Feb2016_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="245" /></a><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><font color="#800080"><strong>Parshat Trumah – February 2016 <br /></strong><em>(Roughly corresponding to Shvat-Adar I 5776)</em></font></font></font></p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><font face="David"><font color="#000080"><font size="6"><strong>לשנה טובה תכתבו ותחתמו </strong><strong>לאלתר לחיים טובים ולשלום!</strong></font></font></font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000080" size="4" face="Georgia">May you and your families have a wonderful, happy, healthy, prosperous, and sweet new year!</font></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-65278972485835612112015-07-05T17:54:00.001+03:002015-07-05T17:56:34.817+03:00Seudah Shlishit… Glidah<p align="justify"><font color="#000080"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><strong>Note:</strong> In keeping with a longstanding Our Shiputzim tradition, the waning hours of a [very long!] fast day are dedicated to blogging about food.</font></font></font></p> <p align="justify">During the summer months here in TRLEOOB<strong><font color="#008000">*</font></strong>, seudah shlishit tends to involve <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2013/12/paam-shlishit-glidah.html">homemade ice cream</a>. (Please consider this post to be an invitation to drop by one Shabbat!)</p> <p align="justify">Initially, our repertoire was limited to <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2013/12/paam-shlishit-glidah.html">chocolate, vanilla, and coffee</a> flavors, but over the years, we’ve added a few more – including:</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0dNvd-oEwNU/VZlE9lAO7GI/AAAAAAAADOg/hApAIdnIZo0/s1600-h/IMG_7550%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7550" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7550" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tgTXKqL68i8/VZlE_CwRwaI/AAAAAAAADOo/lx9uOMIQB3I/IMG_7550_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VnV_WTMdWpQ/VZlFBALEigI/AAAAAAAADOw/D-kwiwsu1so/s1600-h/IMG_7554%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7554" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7554" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5tlgnZkexpc/VZlFCZfJKVI/AAAAAAAADO0/xSxOYKyNlls/IMG_7554_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0">More Homemade (Philadelphia Style) Ice Cream</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><font color="#800080" size="2">Philadelphia style ice cream (as opposed to custard style ice cream) has no eggs. Like our <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2013/12/paam-shlishit-glidah.html">original recipes</a>, the next four were adapted from a combination of several different sources.</font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Milk Chocolate Ice Cream</font></strong></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify">1½ cups whipping cream (<font color="#800080" size="2">i.e. <em>shamenet metukah</em>, for the Hebraically-oriented amongst you</font>)</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">3/5 cup whole milk (<font color="#800080" size="2">we use 3% milk</font>)</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">½ cup sugar</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">2 TBSP cocoa</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">135 grams milk chocolate – coarsely chopped</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">1 tsp <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-vanilla.html">vanilla extract</a></div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">White Chocolate Ice Cream</font></strong> </p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify">1½ cups whipping cream (<font color="#800080" size="2">i.e. <em>shamenet metukah</em>, for the Hebraically-oriented amongst you</font>)</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">3/5 cup whole milk (<font color="#800080" size="2">we use 3% milk</font>)</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">½ cup sugar</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">135 grams white chocolate – coarsely chopped</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">1 tsp <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-vanilla.html">vanilla extract</a></div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Cookies and Cream Ice Cream</font></strong></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify">1½ cups whipping cream (<font color="#800080" size="2">i.e. <em>shamenet metukah</em>, for the Hebraically-oriented amongst you</font>)</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">¾ cup milk (<font color="#800080" size="2">we use 3% milk</font>) </div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">½ cup sugar</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">1 tsp <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-vanilla.html">vanilla extract</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">¾ cup chocolate sandwich cookies – crushed</div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Mint Chip Ice Cream</font></strong></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify">1½ cups whipping cream (<font color="#800080" size="2">i.e. <em>shamenet metukah</em>, for the Hebraically-oriented amongst you</font>)</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">¾ cup milk (<font color="#800080" size="2">we use 3% milk</font>)</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">½ cup sugar</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">1 tsp <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-vanilla.html">vanilla extract</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">½ cup thin chocolate-covered mints – chopped</div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Directions</font></strong></p> <p align="justify">Mix all the ingredients - except the cookies and the mints, when relevant - in a small pot over medium heat until the mixture is smooth and just beginning to form tiny bubbles. Remove from heat and refrigerate for a few hours or even overnight.</p> <p align="justify">Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For the cookies-and-cream and the mint chip, add the cookies/mints when the ice cream is about 75% churned, and continue churning.</p> <p align="justify">Freeze overnight before serving.</p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000080" size="6" face="David">.צום קל ומועיל</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000080" size="4" face="Georgia">Have an easy and meaningful fast.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#008000" size="1">______________</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#008000" size="1"><strong>*</strong>TRLEOOB=the real life equivalent of our blog</font></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-33215516861759845662015-06-17T20:08:00.001+03:002015-06-17T20:08:12.489+03:00How the war was won<p align="justify">Israel’s media outlets have spent the past week obsessing over what they’ve been shrilly referring to as a looming “culture war.”</p> <p align="justify">Except that amidst all the breathless reports and pessimistic hand-wringing, our intrepid analysts and columnists seem to have overlooked a very important detail.</p> <p align="justify">Namely, that their so-called “war” is already all but won… or lost, depending on one’s worldview.</p> <p align="justify">The turning point came about a week ago, and fittingly, it occurred on the evening news itself.</p> <p align="justify">You see, noted journalist Sivan Rahav-Meir was anchoring Channel 2’s 6:00 newscast, and she was interviewing Deputy Foreign Minister MK Tzipi Hotovely (<font color="#800080" size="2">who is – for all practical intents and purposes – the virtual acting foreign minister</font>). The former didn’t hesitate to ask tough questions, but the latter held her own and responded confidently, knowledgeably, and assuredly.</p> <p align="justify">Of course, under any other circumstances, a respected senior politician being interviewed by a respected news anchor on national television wouldn’t warrant a second glance – let alone an entire blog post.</p> <p align="justify">But what made this moment so significant, IMHO, was that although both women happen to be sheitel-wearing, modestly-dressed, and religiously-observant mothers, no one (<font color="#800080" size="2">well, no one except yours truly… :-)</font>) cared or even noticed.</p> <p align="justify">Aside from the fact that one could characterize the exchange as a veritable Kiddush Hashem, it was – as it should be – a complete and utter non-issue, and THAT’S exactly why it was such. a big. deal.</p> <p align="justify">And so, I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, dear media types, but while you were preoccupied with the ineloquent rants of has-been actors and busy confusing a potential removal of state funding with censorship, you somehow missed that Israeli society and culture were quietly evolving in the meantime…</p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-87549624924921729132015-04-15T23:22:00.001+03:002015-04-15T23:22:19.962+03:00Yehi zichram baruch<p align="justify">Yom HaShoah 5775 coincides with the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen on April 15, 1945.</p> <p align="justify">Tomorrow morning, as the siren wails and the entire country comes to a mournful standstill, I will think about the following Holocaust survivors:</p> <p align="justify">- <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2014/02/fashion-friday-1970-edition.html">My great-grandmother z”l</a>, who used her wits, courage, and determination to save her daughters and then survive the Kovno ghetto (where she lost her beloved husband) and then two different concentration camps.</p> <p align="justify">- <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2012/12/zaidy-zl.html">My grandfather z”l</a>. A gifted talmid of both Rav Elchanan Wasserman zt”l and Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, he left behind <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2012/12/zaidy-zl.html">a remarkable letter</a> for his descendants.</p> <p align="justify">- <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2011/05/bobi-ah.html">My grandmother z”l</a>. She was such an important part of my life, and I miss her greatly.</p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><strong><font size="5" face="Arial">יהי זכרם ברוך.</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Calibri">May their memories be blessed; may they be <em>meilitzei yosher</em> for their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, <em>yblt”a</em>, as well as all of Am Yisrael; and may we all be privileged to continue along their illustrious paths.</font></p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><strong><font size="5" face="Arial">ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.</font></strong></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-50702391055351145402015-04-08T21:17:00.001+03:002015-04-08T21:17:27.919+03:00Pesach 5775: Shmitah and brownies<p align="justify">Moadim l’simchah!</p> <p align="justify">I hope you’re having a wonderful Pesach and enjoying the weeklong vacation.</p> <p align="justify">B”H, thanks to YZG and the amazing Shiputzim kids, we had a beautiful seder and yom tov, and we’ve been spending chol hamoed visiting with family and going on various trips and outings.</p> <p align="justify">It was on one of the aforementioned outings that we observed the following #onlyinIsrael sign hanging on the gate of a certain agricultural community:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-u-93Rwi3ans/VSVwmzAjAKI/AAAAAAAADNI/r-TA0HvhGlc/s1600-h/IMG_6834.jpg"><img title="IMG_6834" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6834" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9MFcE_RX6dE/VSVwnnQrymI/AAAAAAAADNQ/qWID4trBupk/IMG_6834_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a><font color="#800080" size="3" face="Calibri">Translation: “Shmitah is observed here!”</font></p> <p align="justify">And speaking of Pesach, I know you won’t be surprised to learn that here in TRLEOOB<strong><font color="#008040">*</font></strong> – as in many other households - we consider brownies to be a Pesach staple. (<font color="#800080" size="2">The Shiputzim kids made 7 batches this year.</font>)</p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#000080" face="Georgia"><quick explanation></font></strong> <font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">As I mentioned </font><a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2009/03/important-questions.html"><font size="3" face="Calibri">elsewhere</font></a><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">, although we don’t eat gebrochts on Pesach, we’re not fanatic about it. Basically, the only thing we avoid is matzah mixed with water. Other liquids are fine, and thus, the Shiputzim family’s favorite Pesach brownie recipe contains matzah meal but no water.</font> <strong><font color="#000080" face="Georgia"></explanation></font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eurXh9Ts008/VSVwo6cq_qI/AAAAAAAADNY/1BlZeJHjjRc/s1600-h/IMG_6705%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6705" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6705" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ngbLYF96uOQ/VSVwpgUvqaI/AAAAAAAADNg/iXynAHO_3-w/IMG_6705_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBM-fLlyKXwepu8IlUOrkT7geNmD7H59FDvWjO3iBQNQzmA7djrzchHXduHsWmz5pDiSSmVBJMsRlz8stjBKIdN3it_cteDzZ85m9lNySjXzNH4Yx4k8daOa4az0U_ViZ6dJuWCusn9Y/s1600-h/IMG_6674%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6674" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwyitjLtEiusnpA4gkJN7QGGsD-xCDgaLq1xFlfQ-WgBCJ8qtG09MKDoLcR2bzLcaCbdIkR4MXyeBHCSeZvuTPH2C_QCJ3_zx8xKnhz_LC5Y75d8gpH9gCDCqT-G5yd8WRnSuIpUf4iQ/?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Az4W0RjGGdo/VSVwrSiAjUI/AAAAAAAADN4/TEjjaeiv0h4/s1600-h/IMG_6694%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6694" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6694" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aC48g6eVu_k/VSVwsNNUt1I/AAAAAAAADOA/dlesm_8Hx40/IMG_6694_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a></font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oCyEwFaIzFQ/VSVwsxEk6ZI/AAAAAAAADOI/ILLi8w4uedQ/s1600-h/IMG_6708%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6708" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6708" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuMQJW3fxMKNUL8wpjxBXgk_5JFBReLivoNnZadSnWlIS14ZqzthzZlKxJmmhF2H-Yj3CVZQlFp1Kjw0s6PHAxNL1QvbpbC9uxDoyPF7OWZa1gwJgy728YtL2crBHnwtXIVv6Sdw7TS0/?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Mezonot Pesach Brownies</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><font color="#800080" size="2">Our electric hand mixer can handle four recipes at a time.</font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Ingredients</font></strong></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify">2 eggs </div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">1 cup sugar </div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">1 envelope vanilla sugar (<font color="#800080" size="2">can be included as part of the cup of sugar</font>) </div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">¼ cup canola oil </div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">½ cup matzah meal </div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">5½ TBSP cocoa</div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Directions</font></strong></p> <p align="justify">Beat eggs and sugars well. Gradually add remaining ingredients, and mix together.</p> <p align="justify">Pour batter into baking-paper-lined pan (<font color="#800080" size="2">we use aluminum pans that are slightly smaller than 9x13</font>). Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.</p> <p align="justify">Let the brownies cool before cutting.</p> <p align="justify">Note: They freeze well. (<font color="#800080" size="2">We freeze the brownies whole and only cut them into squares immediately before serving.</font>)</p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0" size="6" face="David">מועדים לשמחה, חג שמח ושבת שלום!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><font face="Georgia"><font color="#0080c0" size="3"><strong>Have a fantastic chag and Shabbat, and enjoy your </strong></font></font><a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2012/04/soaking-it-all-in.html"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><strong>Shabbat Parshat Shmini/Isru Chag kitniyot</strong></font></a><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><strong>!</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#008040" size="1">__________ <br clear="all" /><strong>*</strong>TRLEOOB=the real life equivalent of our blog</font></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-18179631272760962492015-04-03T16:05:00.001+03:002015-04-03T16:05:58.051+03:00Euphonic Friday: Erev Pesach 5775 Edition<p align="justify">The food is cooked. The table is set. Showers were taken, and here in TRLEOOB<strong><font color="#008040">*</font></strong>, everyone is enjoying their traditional pre-Seder naps while listening to this newly-released song by Gad Elbaz:</p> <p align="center"><iframe style="height: 315px; width: 503px" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A1rH7rYuZQE" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000080" size="6" face="David">!שבת שלום וחג כשר ושמח</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#000080">May you and your families have a wonderful, joyous, and kosher Pesach, and may we all be privileged to celebrate together next year in rebuilt Yerushalayim!</font></strong></p> <blockquote> <p align="left"><font color="#008040" size="2" face="Calibri">______________________ <br clear="all" /><strong>*</strong>TRLEOOB=the real life equivalent of our blog</font></p></blockquote> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-13467356752628253842015-03-30T21:16:00.001+03:002015-03-30T21:16:12.621+03:00Dayenu<p align="justify">Looking for some appropriate music for Pesach cleaning?</p> <p align="justify">Here’s the Maccabeats’ latest video:</p> <p align="justify"><iframe style="height: 315px; width: 497px" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CZgDNPGZ9Sg" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0" size="4">Happy cleaning!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEfdxmuAsxf_87gy5yxQENL0E4r3Zr3NrpIgoscy-DXTx7UNa1_pxBfY6M5zVf3aiKwttJyEv0uj5_2NvUeaG1GITM130L7cJ2Z_mU65GlEalUCZzX4zhm0HwLtUSRYeLpHb_yZQk0pw/?imgmax=800" /></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-16510466067975348842015-03-16T18:14:00.001+02:002015-03-16T18:39:28.140+02:00Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and Torat Yisrael<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><font color="#ff0000"><strong>Warning:</strong> The following post <strike>may exceed</strike> definitely exceeds the recommended daily allowance for political essays. Proceed at your own risk.</font></font></p> <p align="justify">In shul this past Shabbat, our community’s Rav declared that he isn’t endorsing any particular party.</p> <p align="justify">However, he stressed that each person should vote for the party that s/he believes would best protect and defend <em>Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael v’Torat Yisrael</em> (<font color="#800080" size="2">the People of Israel, the Land of Israel, and the Torah of Israel</font>).</p> <p align="justify">How should one determine which party best meets this criteria?</p> <p align="justify">The Rav observed that the Hebrew word <em>melech</em> (king) is comprised of three letters:</p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify">Mem – which stands for <em>mo’ach </em>(the brain), which represents the intellect.</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">Lamed – which stands for <em>lev</em> (the heart), which represents the emotions.</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">Kaf – which stands for <em>kaved</em> (the liver), which represents <em>ka’as</em>, anger.</div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify">According to the Rav, it’s not coincidental that the Mem comes first, because when it comes to matters of state, the intellect must take the lead.</p> <p align="justify">Similarly, the Rav continued, when deciding how to vote, one should be guided primarily by one’s intellect.</p> <p align="justify">Therefore, even if one is upset or even angered by something that a certain party did or didn’t do, one should still make a rational, objective calculation about whether or not that party is nevertheless best able and most likely to protect and defend Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and Torat Yisrael.</p> <p align="justify">As I noted above, the Rav was very careful to avoid endorsing or even recommending any particular party.</p> <p align="justify">In contrast, I admit that I have much less compunction, and thus, I will state the following:</p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">1)</font></strong> The would-be duumvirate known locally as “Tzippi/Bouji” has made it quite clear that Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and Torat Yisrael do not play prominent (<font color="#800080" size="2">or perhaps even any</font>) roles in its members’ Leftist and post-Zionist worldviews.</p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">2)</font></strong> Voting for any of the self-styled “Centrist” parties – including Yisrael Beiteinu, Kulanu, and most especially Yesh Atid – will enable Tzippi/Bouji to form and lead the next government.</p> <p align="justify">My dear friends, please keep these two very important points in mind when heading to vote tomorrow.</p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0">May these elections herald <em>besurot tovot</em>, <em>yeshu’ot</em> <em>v’nechamot </em>(<font size="2">good tidings, salvation, and consolation</font>) for <em>Am Yisrael</em>, <em>Eretz Yisrael</em>, and <em>Torat Yisrael</em>.</font></strong></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-51493908791680818392015-03-04T17:30:00.001+02:002015-03-04T23:13:43.601+02:00Heblishization of the Megilah V<p align="center">Shamelessly neglecting one’s blog is certainly no excuse for breaking a long standing tradition, and thus, the Our Shiputzim Editorial Board once again proudly presents:</p> <p align="center"><font face="Curlz MT"><font size="6"><font color="#800080"><strong>The Official </strong><strong>Heblish Translation</strong></font></font></font></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#800080" size="6" face="Curlz MT">of</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0" size="6" face="Curlz MT">Megilat Esther - Chapter 4</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(1)</em></font></strong> <a href="http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16476/jewish/Chapter-3.htm#v=1" name="v1"></a><font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And Mordechai knew everything that was made, and Mordechai tore his clothes, and he wore sack and dust. And he went out in the middle of the city, and he cried a big and bitter cry.</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(2)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And he came until in front of the gate of the king, because there is not to come to the gate of the king in the clothes of sack.</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(3)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And in every state and state, a place that the thing of the king and his religion reaches to, a big mourning to the Jews and a fast and crying and <em>mispeid</em>. Sack and dust were offered to a lot.</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(4)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And the teenagers of Esther and her <em>sarisim</em> came, and they told to her, and the queen <em>titchalchal</em>-ed<em> </em>a lot<font size="4"><font color="#000080" face="Calibri"></font></font>. And she sent clothes to dress Mordechai and to get rid of his sack from on top of him, and he did not get.</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(5)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri"><a href="http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16476/jewish/Chapter-3.htm#v=5" name="v5"></a>And Esther called to Hatach from the <em>sarisim</em> of the king that stood in front of her, and she <em>l’tzavot</em>-ed<em> </em>him on Mordechai - to know what is this and on what is this.</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(6) </em></font></strong><font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And Hatach went out to Mordechai, to the street of the city that is in front of the gate of the king.</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(7)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And Mordechai told to him everything that happened to him and the <em>parsha </em>of the money that Haman said to weigh on the treasures of the king in the Jews to lose them.</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(8)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And the <em>patshegen</em> of the writing of the religion that was given in Shushan to destroy them - he gave to him to show Esther and to tell to her, and to <em>l’tzavot</em> on her to come to the king to beg to him and to ask in front of him on her nation.</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(9)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri"><font color="#000080">And Hatach came, and he told to Esther the things of Mordechai.</font></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(10)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And Esther said to Hatach, and she <em>l’tzavot</em>-ed<em> </em>him to Mordechai:</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(11)</em></font></strong> “<font color="#000080" face="Calibri">All the slaves of the king and the nation of the states of the king know that every man and woman that will come to the king to the inside yard that will not be called - one his religion to kill,  except from that will the king reach out to him the wand of gold, and she lives. And I have not been called to come to the king this thirty days.”</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(12)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And they told to Mordechai the things of Esther.</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(13)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And Mordechai said to give back to Esther, "Do not imagine in your <em>nefesh </em>to escape in the house of the king from all the Jews.</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(14)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">Because if you <em>hachareish tacharishi </em>in this time, space and saving will stand to the Jews from a different place, and you and the house of your father will get lost. And who knows if to a time like this you came to the kingdom?"</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(15)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And Esther said to give back to Mordechai:</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(16)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">”Go, bring together all the Jews who are found in Shushan, and fast on me, and do not eat and do not drink three days, night and day, and I and my teenagers will fast yes. And in yes, I will come to the king that is not like the religion, and when I got lost, I got lost.”</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4"><strong><font color="#0080c0" face="Georgia"><em>(17)</em></font></strong> <font color="#000080" face="Calibri">And Mordechai went over, and he did like everything that Esther<em> l’tzavot</em>-ed<em> </em>on<em> </em>him.</font></font></p> <p align="center"><img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-laughingoutloud" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Laughing out loud" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-POAVJRuTvcM/VPclCTcJlLI/AAAAAAAADMI/ekjXOiqUJMw/wlEmoticon-laughingoutloud%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p dir="ltr" align="center"><strong><font size="7"><font face="Curlz MT"><font color="#000080"><font color="#800080">¡</font><font color="#0080c0">ɯı</font>ɹn</font><font color="#006c00">Ԁ ʎ</font><font color="#800080">dd</font><font color="#0080c0">ɐH</font></font></font></strong></p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><strong><font size="7"><font face="BKcomics"><font face="Guttman-Aram"><font color="#0080c0">ם</font><font color="#800080">י</font><font color="#006c00">ר</font><font color="#000080">ו</font><font color="#0080c0">פ</font> <font color="#800080">ח</font><font color="#006c00">מ</font><font color="#000080">ש</font></font><font color="#0080c0">!</font></font></font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0080c0"><strong>_______________</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0080c0"><strong>P.S.</strong></font> In case you missed them, be sure to check out the Heblish translations of <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2011/03/heblishization-of-megilah.html">Esther 3</a>, <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2012/03/heblishization-of-megilah-sequel.html">Esther 5</a>, <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2013/02/heblishization-of-megilah-iii.html">Esther 7</a>, <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2014/03/heblishization-of-megilah-iv.html">Esther 10</a>, and <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.com/2010/03/heblishization-of-seder.html">Mah Nishtanah</a>.</p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-27648780847040980732015-03-03T20:27:00.001+02:002015-03-03T20:27:36.759+02:00Netanyahu’s speech to Congress<p align="justify">Earlier today, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu delivered a brilliant and very effective speech to a joint session of Congress.</p> <p align="justify">Like many Israelis and also many of our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, I confess that tears came to my eyes during the speech – especially when the prime minister cited a pasuk from Sefer Devarim:</p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><font color="#000080" size="4" face="David">חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ אַל תִּירְאוּ וְאַל תַּעַרְצוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם כִּי ה’ אֱלֹקיךָ הוּא הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּךְ לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶךָּ.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Georgia">“</font><a href="http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9995#v=6" name="v6"></a><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Georgia">Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid and do not be dismayed of them. For Hashem, your God, is the One Who goes with you; He will not release you and He will not forsake you.” <br clear="all" />(Devarim 31:6)</font></p> <p align="justify">For those who missed it, here’s the full speech:</p> <p align="center"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lELXynhbS84" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p align="justify">Two excerpts:</p> <blockquote> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve come here today to tell you we don’t have to bet the security of the world on the hope that Iran will change for the better. We don’t have to gamble with our future and with our children’s future.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">“We can insist that restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program not be lifted for as long as Iran continues its aggression in the region and in the world.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">“Before lifting those restrictions, the world should demand that Iran do three things. First, stop its aggression against its neighbors in the Middle East.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">“Second, stop supporting terrorism around the world.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">“And third, stop threatening to annihilate my country, Israel, the one and only Jewish state.”</font></p> </blockquote> <p align="justify">And also:</p> <blockquote> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">“We are no longer scattered among the nations, powerless to defend ourselves. We restored our sovereignty in our ancient home. And the soldiers who defend our home have boundless courage. For the first time in 100 generations, we, the Jewish people, can defend ourselves.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">“This is why — this is why, as a prime minister of Israel, I can promise you one more thing: Even if Israel has to stand alone, Israel will stand.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">“But I know that Israel does not stand alone. I know that America stands with Israel. I know that you stand with Israel.”</font></p> </blockquote> <p align="justify">As we head into Taanit Esther and then Purim, may we be privileged to witness <em>besurot tovot</em>, <em>yeshu’ot</em> v’<em>nechamot </em>(<font color="#800080" size="2">good tidings, salvation, and consolation</font>) and also<strong> </strong>the fulfillment of the Megilah’s words:</p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><font color="#000080" size="4" face="David">כַּיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר נָחוּ בָהֶם הַיְּהוּדִים מֵאֹיְבֵיהֶם וְהַחֹדֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר נֶהְפַּךְ לָהֶם מִיָּגוֹן לְשִׂמְחָה וּמֵאֵבֶל לְיוֹם טוֹב לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹתָם יְמֵי מִשְׁתֶּה וְשִׂמְחָה וּמִשְׁלֹחַ מָנוֹת אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ וּמַתָּנוֹת לָאֶבְיֹנִים.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Georgia">“As the days on which the Jews rested from their enemies and the month which was turned about for them from grief to joy and from mourning to a festival; to make them days of feasting and joy and sending portions to one another and gifts to the poor.” <br clear="all" />(Esther 9:22)</font></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-73286947223851671542015-03-02T21:20:00.001+02:002015-03-02T21:21:36.304+02:00Netanyahu’s 2015 AIPAC speech<p align="justify">Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed AIPAC’s 2015 Policy Conference earlier today:</p> <p align="center"><iframe style="height: 315px; width: 496px" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/45lyp8EeBNs" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p align="center"><font color="#0080c0"><strong>May the prime minister’s dedication, commitment, and efforts be blessed with success, and may they lead to</strong> <strong><em>besurot tovot</em>, <em>yeshu’ot</em> v’<em>nechamot </em>(</strong>good tidings, salvation, and consolation<strong>) for <em>Am Yisrael </em>in <em>Eretz Yisrael </em>according to <em>Torat Yisrael</em>.</strong></font></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-76077785829913477282015-01-28T16:54:00.001+02:002015-01-28T22:24:41.764+02:00Baruch Dayan Emet<p align="justify">Israel mourns the terrible loss of Major Yochai Kalangel HY”D and Staff Sergeant Dor Chaim Nini HY”D, who were killed by our enemies in the North. May Hashem avenge their blood, and may their families be consoled among the other mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim.</p> <p align="justify">Seven other soldiers were wounded in the same incident, and may they all have a speedy and complete recovery.</p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><font color="#000080" size="4" face="David">מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת חַיָּלֵי צְבָא ההֲגַנָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הָעוֹמְדִים עַל מִשְׁמַר אַרְצֵנוּ וְעָרֵי אֱלקינוּ מִגְּבוּל הַלְּבָנוֹן וְעַד מִדְבַּר מִצְרַיִם וּמִן הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל עַד לְבוֹא הָעֲרָבָה בַּיַּבָּשָׁה בָּאֲוִיר וּבַיָּם. יִתֵּן ה' אֶת אוֹיְבֵינוּ הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ נִגָּפִים לִפְנֵיהֶם. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִשְׁמֹר וְיַצִּיל אֶת חַיָלֵינוּ מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה וּמִכָּל נֶגַע וּמַחְלָה וְיִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם. יַדְבֵּר שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ תַּחְתֵּיהֶם וִיעַטְרֵם בְּכֶתֶר יְשׁוּעָה וּבְעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחוֹן. וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם הַכָּתוּב: כִּי ה' אֱלֹקיכֶם הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם לְהִלָּחֵם לָכֶם עִם איבֵיכֶם לְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם וְנאמַר אָמֵן.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">May He who blessed our fathers, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, bless the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over our country and the cities of our God, from the Lebanese border to the Egyptian wilderness and from the Mediterranean Sea to the approach to the Aravah, whether on land, in the air, or at sea.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">May Hashem deliver our enemies who rise against us stricken before them. May the Holy One, blessed be He, protect them and save them from every calamity and peril and from every affliction and illness, and may He send blessing and success to all their endeavors. May He subdue our enemies beneath them, and may He crown them with the coronet of salvation and with the crown of victory. And may the verse be fulfilled through them: "For Hashem, your God, walks with you, to fight your enemies for you, to save you." And let us say: Amen.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">(The Prayer for the Welfare of the IDF)<strong><font color="#800080">*</font></strong></font></p> <p align="center"><iframe height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_LsIAFVJhLU" frameborder="0" width="420" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p align="center"><font color="#0080c0"><strong>May we soon be privileged to witness </strong><strong><em>besurot tovot</em>, <em>yeshu’ot</em> v’<em>nechamot </em>(</strong>good tidings, salvation, and consolation<strong>) for Am Yisrael.</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#800080" size="3" face="Calibri">____________ <br clear="all" /><strong>* </strong>Special thanks to the official Our Shiputzim <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2012/06/hitnaari-revisited.html">Hebrew-English translator</a> for providing the above translation. For more information, please contact me at OurShiputzim at gmail dot com, and I’ll gladly forward all serious inquiries to her.</font></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-3790934958238010162015-01-23T00:48:00.001+02:002015-01-23T00:48:55.276+02:00Euphonic Friday: Open Your Heart Edition<p align="justify">Six months after Eyal Yifrach HY”D, Gil-Ad Sha’ar HY”D, and Naftali Fraenkel HY”D were kidnapped and brutally murdered by terrorists, their classmates and families released a beautiful song in their memory.</p> <p align="justify">Entitled “Ptach Libcha B’Rachamim” (“Open Your Heart With Mercy”), the song contains poetic allusions to the three boys’ names, focuses on the incredible unity that we all experienced during the summer, and serves as a heartfelt prayer that the unity be rekindled.</p> <p align="justify">Noted Israeli artists David D’Or and Ilan Kenan wrote the lyrics and music, and the song was recorded by renowned singers Koby Aflalo, David Broza, Yishai Ribo, Yonatan Razel, Avraham Fried, and David D’Or.</p> <p align="justify"><iframe style="height: 315px; width: 503px" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aVj0zXznJvM" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p align="justify">Here are the moving lyrics:</p> <p dir="rtl" align="justify"><font size="3" face="Arial">פתח ליבך ברחמים על בניך <br />קולם לדורות ישמע <br />בשמים ניצבים לעד דבריך <br />ובארץ המצא לנו נחמה <br />איכה היו השלושה לאחד <br />וציוו לנו חיים <br />עלו לתומם כאייל נעקד <br />על מזבח הבנים <br />שמים בכו מעל לגלעד <br />והארץ רעשה <br />מתוך נפתולי הלב שרעד <br />חייכו בתמונה השלושה</font></p> <p dir="rtl" align="justify"><em><font size="3" face="Arial">פתח ליבך.......</font></em></p> <p dir="rtl" align="justify"><font size="3" face="Arial">ובין מייצרים בקרוב עלי מרעים <br />התגלו במסך האבק <br />שקרים שבתוך מנהרות מסתתרים <br />מזימות שנורו למרחק <br />הרוח נשבה ישנה חדשה <br />וקרבה לבבות רחוקים <br />מתוך תעצומות הנפש ביקשה <br />לא ליפול גם כשלא מבינים</font></p> <p dir="rtl" align="justify"><em><font size="3" face="Arial">פתח ליבך.......</font></em></p> <p dir="rtl" align="justify"><font size="3" face="Arial">ובתוך הטירוף בין מרדף לנרדף <br />תעלה זעקה לשלום הנכסף <br />והעם שעייף משינאת החינם <br />יתאחד בחיבוק אחים</font></p> <p dir="rtl" align="justify"><em><font size="3" face="Arial">פתח ליבך......</font></em></p> <p align="center"><font color="#0080c0"><strong>May the coming week be filled with </strong><strong><em>besurot tovot</em>, <em>yeshu’ot</em> v’<em>nechamot </em>(</strong>good tidings, salvation, and consolation<strong>) for Am Yisrael.</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0" size="6" face="David">!שבת שלום ומבורך</font></strong></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-84030346177260623352015-01-09T14:43:00.001+02:002015-01-09T14:43:35.733+02:00Fine Arts Friday: 5775 Calendar Edition<p align="justify"><font color="#ff0000" size="2"><strong>Warning:</strong> The following post may exceed the recommended daily allowance for maternal boasting. Proceed at your own risk.</font></p> <p align="justify">So, in case you were wondering – and I can’t imagine that you weren’t - here’s the thing about neglecting one’s blog:</p> <p align="justify">It turns out – and yes, this came as quite a surprise for me, too - that when one allows <strike>days</strike> <strike>weeks</strike> months to go by without making time for blogging, one finds oneself with a rather extensive collection of partially-written posts.</p> <p align="justify">I mean, consider the following images, which have been rattling around my Drafts folder since before Rosh Hashanah.</p> <p align="justify">As veteran Our Shiputzim readers will no doubt recall, every year my mother puts together a <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2013/09/erev-rosh-hashanah-5774.html">family calendar</a>, and the various grandchildren prepare the artwork.</p> <p align="justify">Here are the Shiputzim kids’ beautiful contributions (<font color="#800080" size="2">I warned you that there would be boasting… :-)</font>) to the 5775 calendar:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xv6BOPZDC4s/VK_M6C2S2PI/AAAAAAAADLg/KeBnfy9pMEs/s1600-h/Jan201512.jpg"><img title="Jan2015" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Jan2015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tV2H93mECNg/VK_M68enoWI/AAAAAAAADLo/naow46ebEtE/Jan2015_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="298" /></a><font color="#800080"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><strong>Parshat Shmot - January 2015 <br clear="all" /></strong><em>(Roughly corresponding to Tevet-Shvat 5775)</em></font></font></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zO_jO7rxbZQ/VK_M8kXJ6HI/AAAAAAAADLw/tWVYkS4F9to/s1600-h/May20153.png"><img title="May2015" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="May2015" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s2h2o2gwjVg/VK_M9dIoziI/AAAAAAAADL4/YbT28BuyoTI/May2015_thumb1.png?imgmax=800" width="419" height="298" /></a><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><font color="#800080"><strong>Bikurim (Shavuot) - May 2015 <br clear="all" /></strong><em>(Roughly corresponding to Iyar-Sivan 5775)</em></font></font></font></p> <p align="center">As always, please be sure to click on the pictures for a much better view.</p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0" size="4">Stay safe, warm, and dry, and have a wonderful Shabbat! <br clear="all" /></font></strong><strong><font color="#0080c0" size="7" face="David">!שבת שלום ומבורך</font></strong></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-19985348831554294492015-01-06T17:22:00.001+02:002015-01-06T21:31:27.806+02:00Pre-storm housekeeping<p align="justify">As the entire country stocks up and braces for last year’s major winter storm – <font color="#800080" size="2">because why shouldn’t we take it for granted that this week’s storm will be an exact copy of the blizzard of December 2013? </font>– now’s probably a good time to take care of some blogging housekeeping by finally sharing some post-Chanukah thoughts.</p> <p align="justify">But first, I hope you all had a wonderful, joyous, and light-filled Chanukah!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--Ykl3ltSCEo/VKv9ssWUYnI/AAAAAAAADLA/b29EefhwCNM/s1600-h/IMG_61993.jpg"><img title="IMG_6199" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6199" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UB6AAEos39Q/VKv9thJxyII/AAAAAAAADLI/ZY8z14Fpu74/IMG_6199_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="253" /></a><font color="#800080" size="3" face="Calibri">Zot Chanukah 5775</font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">And now without further ado, some post-Chanukah notes:</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">1)</font></strong> Before he summarily and abruptly resigned, the former education minister decided, for reasons best known to himself, to shorten Chanukah vacation – to the dismay and indignation of schoolchildren across the country.</p> <p align="justify">And since it soon became apparent that the change was – like many of the former minister’s <a href="http://choppingwood.blogspot.co.il/2014/12/what-do-coming-elections-in-israel-mean.html">so-called reforms</a> – hastily conceived and poorly implemented, the kids weren’t the only ones who were annoyed.</p> <p align="justify">Because the result was that no two Shiputzim kids had the exact same vacation schedule, and thus, your humble blogger spent much of Chanukah asking, “<em>Remind me again. Who is off tomorrow?</em>”</p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">2)</font></strong> Due to a bit of car trouble (<font color="#800080" size="2">hopefully more about THAT in an upcoming post</font>), we found ourselves homebound more than we originally planned.</p> <p align="justify">But it turned out that our unintended staycation had a silver lining.</p> <p align="justify">With nothing else to do, the younger Shiputzim kids had a chance to watch both “The Princess Bride” and “Singin’ in the Rain,” and now YZG and I can say that we’ve fulfilled two of our essential parental obligations…</p> <p align="center"><img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rrPvZhCynTk/VKv9uDS3ZDI/AAAAAAAADLM/RPiKTXLHb7k/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile2.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Stay safe, warm, and dry, and enjoy the snow</font><font color="#0080c0">!</font></strong></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-25449672389923582782014-12-11T23:21:00.001+02:002014-12-12T00:07:10.119+02:00Fine Arts Friday: Shmuel I Edition<p align="justify"><font color="#ff0000" size="3" face="Calibri"><strong>Warning:</strong> The following post may exceed the recommended daily allowance for maternal boasting. Proceed at your own risk.</font></p> <p align="justify">In lieu of an unconvincing apology or even a lame excuse for my prolonged blogging absence - <font color="#800080" size="2">and with your permission, of course</font> - I think I’ll just jump right back in. Here goes:</p> <p align="justify">A certain Shiputzim daughter had to make a diorama for her Navi class this week and decided to focus on the following psukim from Sefer Shmuel I: </p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Arial">“וַיַעֲשׂוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים כֵּן וַיִקְחוּ שְׁתֵּי פָרוֹת עָלוֹת וַיַאַסְרוּם בָּעֲגָלָה וְאֶת בְּנֵיהֶם כָּלוּ בַבָּיִת. וַיָשִׂמוּ אֶת אֲרוֹן ה’ אֶל הָעֲגָלָה וְאֵת הָאַרְגַז וְאֵת עַכְבְּרֵי הַזָהָב…”</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Georgia">“And the men did so, and they took two lactating cows and hitched them to the wagon; and they confined their calves in the house. And they placed the Ark of Hashem on the wagon, and the box and the golden mice…” <br clear="all" /><font face="Calibri">(Shmuel I 6:10-11)</font></font></p> <p align="justify">As always, please feel free to click on the pictures for a much better view:<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ecXJ4P7yRug/VIoKpxh8GCI/AAAAAAAADJg/clIXZvEtPRE/s1600-h/IMG_5836%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5836" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5836" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqDWZVJg4xDNuUFp-Ji1MCFQS3Fd1K0xfr-WupEPUMERuy8YWhnwiBnufbLZI-VqSR9BMViwcqAwNj-8uR_5ds4G0li1vpP7LeVaLgGWjDnPRvPOjKdQ9DXQ2dsHoYC2iUL9xOSbM1pM/?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4XwmDgiQch4/VIoKrZlsWEI/AAAAAAAADJw/k2_RgzNUc6I/s1600-h/IMG_5840%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5840" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bgZyt-NeglTMBSyaGqei-zxtqYKe8OhFRWrreOOU4XuSEMe5-eTmjI6IdR4j4zHQ-ccZZrVorMBd0CaN69YaIE7oo2NyIvsKxnRncS7-MVxBPRySCFtUw1d_zQ4gnTgMWxLDuevW2T4/?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8-Okpl8oB6ms3jIzysZy_EO2F_YP7u0ISj_ztQrITPnWKSI2qJlXEfH2aB6x9kktbPOpy0BECYsUhhQQd7sWJciN2Da5waaUe_SQ-IORVs8qHo50Nbjes6dadET4P-kaebahRrV8GAM/s1600-h/IMG_5841%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5841" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5841" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-PABnEFHrqv0Ow01i45MTEJ8tLV9M8Idfbc3Yqz81acGKVxbxVhCF-Ukxz5v_wyHHWBt2ueUFXtYU-h6aopdIbEEAYwly6oN9uApldzyacTfZQbCCdC1r-LLGotMpRt48p4LRIIsZ2g/?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vpkV-3QYWC4/VIoKthfbSpI/AAAAAAAADKQ/_mum_jPFq3A/s1600-h/IMG_5844%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5844" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5844" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Am__z18rjco/VIoKuHU_q2I/AAAAAAAADKY/5VD6jIAYrA0/IMG_5844_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Eu3xswxqwhM/VIoKu_q_zMI/AAAAAAAADKg/I1MVhCNr9Is/s1600-h/IMG_5845%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5845" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5845" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z5xUoPxir4g/VIoKvhIU6NI/AAAAAAAADKo/mP6PTLD49tA/IMG_5845_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a></p> <p align="justify">My favorite parts are the golden mice in the box and also the Kruvim on top of the Aron.</p> <p align="justify">And yes, cows DO <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2014/05/little-bo-peep-has-lost-her-cows.html">seem to appear</a> in many projects here in TRLEOOB (<font color="#800080" size="2">=<strong>t</strong>he <strong>r</strong>eal <strong>l</strong>ife <strong>e</strong>quivalent <strong>o</strong>f <strong>o</strong>ur <strong>b</strong>log</font>). Why do you ask?</p> <p align="center"><img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qLUpfEW03Ks/VIoKwOujqWI/AAAAAAAADKw/ARBnCilw_cs/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0" size="6" face="David">!שבת שלום ומבורך</font></strong></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-4600189153379001912014-11-30T00:21:00.001+02:002014-11-30T13:56:51.092+02:00Taking a stand<p align="justify">Every few years, without fail, there comes a point during Chodesh Irgun when the typical Anglo parent decides that he or she is fed up and isn’t going to take it anymore.</p> <p align="justify">Helpless in the face of paint-splattered clothes, late nights, and kvetchy kids, said Anglo parent finally declares that it’s time to take a stand.</p> <p align="justify">After all, online griping or even commiserating with other beleaguered parents in real life only goes so far. </p> <p align="justify">Unfortunately, however, seeing as we don’t live between the covers of a melodramatic Gothic novel, locking the kids in their rooms and forbidding them from participating in Chodesh Irgun isn’t really an option. And given the <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2014/11/much-ado-about-nothing.html">current political climate</a>, neither is demanding that the Education Ministry, the Knesset, or even the Supreme Court outlaw the entire endeavor.</p> <p align="justify">But one is determined not to give up without some sort of fight, and so one makes a tiny, insignificant gesture that fools no one but oneself.</p> <p align="justify">For instance, as one’s beloved offspring head out to the snif (<font color="#800080" size="2">the inevitably rickety caravan or lean-to that serves as the youth group’s headquarters</font>) to “paint walls,” “rehearse,” or whatever it is that they’re calling it these days, one demands, “<em>Call me when you get there! A</em><em>nd don’t forget to take your umbrella!</em>”</p> <p align="justify">If all goes according to plan, the offspring in question obligingly groan and hopefully even roll their eyes before shrugging and doing as they’ve been told.</p> <p align="justify">“<em>Ha! Take THAT, Chodesh Irgun!</em>” one secretly exults.</p> <p align="justify">Of course, since it’s been raining rather steadily all week, and since making a phone call isn’t a big deal, deep down one is well aware that the kids would have taken the phones and umbrellas with them anyway.</p> <p align="justify">But then again, during Chodesh Irgun, even the most meaningless parental “victory” is as good as it’s going to get…</p> <p align="center"><img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-openmouthedsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Open-mouthed smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rMad8zzJCNE/VHpG-BEtLpI/AAAAAAAADJQ/DCzDmLHybGY/wlEmoticon-openmouthedsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0" size="5" face="David">!שבוע טוב ומזל טוב לשבט החדש</font></strong></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-55484966801518906302014-11-25T23:19:00.001+02:002014-11-25T23:21:14.671+02:00Much ado about nothing<p align="justify">To read the international press over the past few days, or to listen to the ranting and raving of certain members of Israel’s political and chattering classes is to be told that liberal Western values - <font color="#800080" size="2">democracy, equality, civil rights, nondiscrimination, and so on</font> – have come under attack.</p> <p align="justify">Over and over, the self-styled protectors of all that is good and noble intone that any version of the proposed law to define Israel as the Jewish national homeland is a despicable piece of legislation being shoved down Israel’s collective throats by racist and fascist right-wingers.</p> <p align="justify">But as Haviv Rettig Gur demonstrates in his <a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-the-jewish-nation-state-kerfuffle-much-ado-over-very-little-substance/">excellent analysis</a>, the reality is very, very different. And in fact, what is actually going on is far more disturbing:</p> <blockquote> <p align="justify"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Calibri">“Ministers shouting untruths about a constitution-altering bill at the cabinet table and then proudly leaking news of their bickering; an attorney general lecturing ministers against approving private member bills on constitutional matters, without mentioning that that was precisely how previous constitutional revolutions, ones with which he more readily agreed, had been passed; centrist legislation that is transmuted through sheer political posturing and media ignorance into a far-right proposal...”</font></p> </blockquote> <p align="justify">If you haven’t yet done so, be sure to read <a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-the-jewish-nation-state-kerfuffle-much-ado-over-very-little-substance/">the whole thing</a>.</p> <p align="center"><font color="#0080c0"><font face="Georgia"><font size="3"><strong>May we soon be privileged to witness <em>besurot tovot</em>, <em>yeshu’ot</em> v’<em>nechamot </em>(</strong>good tidings, salvation, and consolation<strong>) for Am Yisrael!</strong></font></font></font></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-55174082097178492452014-11-21T00:10:00.000+02:002014-11-21T14:37:10.249+02:00Euphonic Friday: Yearning For Hashem’s Salvation Edition<p align="justify">In light of recent events, the conclusion of Yaakov Avinu’s blessing to his son Dan in Parshat Vayechi perfectly encapsulates Am Yisrael’s collective mood – especially here in Eretz Yisrael:</p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><font color="#000080" size="5" face="David"><font face="Arial">“</font>לִישׁוּעָתְךָ קִוִיתִי ה’.<font face="Arial">”</font></font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000080"><font size="3" face="Georgia">“For Your salvation I yearn, Hashem!”</font> <br clear="all" /><font size="2">(Breishit 49:18)</font></font></p> <p align="justify">Shlomo Katz recently released a hauntingly beautiful rendition of this pasuk:</p> <p align="center"><iframe style="height: 315px; width: 507px" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cFwpU3BJhwo" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><font color="#800080" size="3" face="Calibri">From Shlomo Katz’s new “Likrat Shabbat” album</font></p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0" size="6" face="David">שבת שלום וחודש טוב!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><font color="#0080c0"><strong>Shabbat shalom, and may the coming week and month be filled with </strong><strong><em>besurot tovot</em>, <em>yeshu’ot</em> v’<em>nechamot </em>(</strong>good tidings, salvation, and consolation<strong>) for Am Yisrael!</strong></font></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-30175230635482151712014-11-20T17:31:00.001+02:002014-11-21T01:33:49.540+02:00Baruch Dayan HaEmet<p align="justify">It’s the dark flip side of living in a <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2013/07/counteracting-meraglim-v.html">small, remarkably interconnected country</a>.</p> <p align="justify">It’s the sobering, solemn fact that nearly every terror attack is bound to affect someone separated from you by a mere degree or two of separation.</p> <p align="justify">And as the number of victims of a specific terror attack increases, the likelihood that you have a personal connection with the victims and/or their families increases as well.</p> <p align="justify">Because each and every victim encompasses an entire world, and the holy victims HY”D of the shocking massacre in Har Nof were no exceptions.</p> <p align="justify">The four Torah scholars, who died al kiddush Hashem, and the heroic Druze police officer, who gave his life for Am Yisrael, were husbands, fathers, grandfathers, sons, brothers, uncles, and cousins.</p> <p align="justify">They each left behind beautiful families and close-knit communities, neighbors and friends, coworkers and fellow congregants.</p> <p align="justify">In this particular case, we know the brother and parents of one victim very well, and sadly, we also have direct and indirect ties to several of the other victims.</p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><font color="#000080" size="5" face="Calibri"><strong>ה’ יקום דמם ויהי זכרם ברוך.</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Georgia">May Hashem avenge their blood; may their memories be blessed; and may their dear families be consoled among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim.</font></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-81604035147544608402014-10-22T21:12:00.001+03:002014-10-22T21:19:49.884+03:00Vegetarian Vegetable Quiche<p align="justify">In the wake of the three-day Rosh Hashanah weekend and bored – <font color="#800080" size="2">as we all were</font> - by our usual yom tov fare, the Studentit graciously offered to make something “different” as a side dish for lunch on the first day of Succot.</p> <p align="justify">Here’s what she came up with:</p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1FWkMhBHOY3Fn6MMkmpnA-jveonW5aoMtoWeolhoi5NkorWz9JSiJLuBsqJHDep8ewOXQeIAJqfLBnN9mxPJnzI3-rkPeiQ3cEQ4J6ICQb1x9SSuy6ZorYTxN891_r_yv2cYv70zbjM/s1600-h/IMG_5371%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5371" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5371" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jTanI1TwFgo/VEfzaqbvipI/AAAAAAAADIs/fanQ2MBJgpk/IMG_5371_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Vegetarian Vegetable Quiche with No-Roll Oil-Based Crust <br clear="all" /></font></strong><font size="3" face="Calibri"><font color="#800080">The filling recipe comes from YZG’s aunt, and the crust recipe is adapted from</font> </font><a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/my-no-roll-pie-crust-51537"><font size="3" face="Calibri">here</font></a><font color="#800080" size="3" face="Calibri">. <br clear="all" /><strong>Yield:</strong> <strong>Two quiches.</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Filling Ingredients</font></strong></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify">800 grams mixed frozen vegetables – Cooked and drained</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">½ cup water – Reserved from the vegetables</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">3 eggs</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">½ cup mayonnaise</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">1 TBSP canola oil</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">1½ TBSP flour</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">Salt, pepper, and spices to taste (<font color="#800080" size="2">the original recipe calls for 2 heaping TBSP onion soup mix</font>)</div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Crust Ingredients <br clear="all" /></font></strong><font color="#800080" size="3" face="Calibri">Yields two crusts.</font></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify">3 cups flour</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">1 tsp salt</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">4 tsp sugar</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">1 cup oil</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">4 TBSP water</div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Directions</font></strong></p> <p align="justify">Prepare the two crusts: Mix half of the dry ingredients together in each of two lightly-oiled pie pans. Make wells in both centers, and add half the oil and half the water to each pan. Mix the ingredients together and form a ball in each pan. Flatten and press against the pans to form crusts. If you want to be fancy, you can flute the edges with your fingers or with a fork.</p> <p align="justify">Combine the cooked vegetables, the reserved cooking water, the eggs, the mayo, the oil, the flour, and the spices in a large bowl.</p> <p align="justify">Pour half the mixture into each crust. Bake the two quiches at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes (<font color="#800080" size="2">or until the crust is golden brown</font>).</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iI9Fsi-nzV8/VEfzbQv2BuI/AAAAAAAADI0/371wPItTS8o/s1600-h/IMG_5370%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5370" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5370" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UrGZqss-r58/VEfzcFscTRI/AAAAAAAADI8/0BAclYNK6ag/IMG_5370_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0" size="7" face="David">!בתאבון</font></strong></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3089133433897831130.post-25095282140707441882014-10-19T23:54:00.001+03:002014-10-20T12:47:05.701+03:00National Parks: Castel Edition<p align="justify"><font color="#ff0000"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><strong>Warning:</strong> The following post may exceed the recommended daily allowance for other people’s vacation pictures and videos. Proceed at your own risk.</font></font></font></p> <p align="justify">And so, <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2011/10/succot-5772.html">the succah</a> is put away; the younger kids have gone back to school; and we’ve reached that elusive time of year known here in Israel as אחרי החגים (<font color="#800080" size="2">literally, “after the holidays”</font>).</p> <p align="justify">B”H we had a wonderful Succot. We spent time with family and friends and enjoyed various activities and outings – including, as promised, a <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2014/10/the-circus-is-coming.html">repeat visit to the Circus Festival</a> and, of course, the requisite trip to one of our beautiful country’s <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.com/2009/09/membership-has-its-privileges.html">many national parks</a>.</p> <p align="justify">This time our destination was the Castel (<font color="#800080" size="2">aka Har Ma’oz (“Stronghold Mountain”) for the Hebraically-oriented amongst you</font>).</p> <p align="justify">Originally a Roman-era fortress known as Castellum, it was subsequently renovated by the Byzantines, who called it Castellum Belvoir and appreciated its proximity to similar fortresses in the area (<font size="2"><font color="#800080">such as</font> </font><a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.co.il/2011/04/national-park-ein-chemed-edition.html"><font size="2">Ein Chemed</font></a> <font color="#800080" size="2">and others</font>).</p> <p align="justify">Soaring above and dominating Route 1 (<font color="#800080" size="2">the main highway leading up to Yerushalayim</font>), the Castel was the site of a key battle during the War of Independence. Many brave men and women gave their lives during the heavy fighting.</p> <p align="justify">At one point, the situation became so desperate that the Palmach company commander and his deputy famously ordered the privates to retreat – shielded by their commanders, who remained behind and continued fighting.</p> <p align="justify">When the war finally ended, the newly-formed IDF dug a number of bunkers and communication trenches around the Castel, which overlooked what was then the Jordanian border.</p> <p align="justify">And now, without further ado, the <strike>threatened</strike> promised pictures: (<font color="#800080" size="2">As always, please feel free to click on the pictures for a much better view.</font>)</p> <p align="justify">First, the traditional view of the price list… to show how much money we WOULD have saved, if we hadn’t allowed our <a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.com/2009/09/membership-has-its-privileges.html">National Parks membership</a> to lapse:</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MZi74bwn-Uo/VEQkz50SG6I/AAAAAAAADG8/rLtlBYCgkTg/s1600-h/IMG_5410%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5410" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5410" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xAkFiLmeGTw/VEQk0jfnyNI/AAAAAAAADHE/AqRM734Ohzk/IMG_5410_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" height="332" /></a></p> <p align="justify">Looking up at the fortress:</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kDK-AU-kF1s/VEQk1brMowI/AAAAAAAADHM/5YcKAXwYh1o/s1600-h/IMG_5451%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5451" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5451" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rzgX3bb-5YQ/VEQk2HcO3EI/AAAAAAAADHU/qfBF_VpSXgM/IMG_5451_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a></p> <p align="justify">Inside one of the tunnels:</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XoiVQhzSo2I/VEQk2z7BO9I/AAAAAAAADHc/rDk64XXKQ9I/s1600-h/IMG_5475%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5475" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5475" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AFMwwF-a7TQ/VEQk3UOkZwI/AAAAAAAADHk/5947cMwNgG4/IMG_5475_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" height="332" /></a></p> <p align="justify">The view from the top:</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nNc8Alcscko/VEQk4L75NbI/AAAAAAAADHs/yybLy4UgISs/s1600-h/IMG_5483%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5483" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIV4wd8ClkfWpRHdsJVye7emt7eMyFVwWHfc5hEFIz6pIthhzHhs7oYajIdp-SgagucS0so0y1c_99QrTNLyspU3inZoZLiaXMrHO4MarYt3GuakJFbdW1hCM7SOWT5Co5oDSuPKy6QA/?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-amsIH5Z4A9c/VEQk5b48SCI/AAAAAAAADH8/I6jDl98IOb4/s1600-h/IMG_5484%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5484" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tvrB75hG0l4/VEQk57vQQhI/AAAAAAAADIE/f2yJeMx3kzw/IMG_5484_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DCti82exhHs/VEQk6zrgXCI/AAAAAAAADIM/-RIahV98tgc/s1600-h/IMG_5485%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5485" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5485" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U2HGGyV3uLg/VEQk7aUNpKI/AAAAAAAADIQ/chXSTgkT0jk/IMG_5485_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a></p> <p align="justify">And finally, a video showing a walk through one of the communication trenches:</p> <p align="center"><iframe style="height: 315px; width: 500px" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LpqXk5GHYh4" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p dir="rtl" align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0" size="6" face="David">חורף טוב, בריא וגשום!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#0080c0">Have a wonderful, healthy, and rainy winter!</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#800080" size="3" face="Calibri">________</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#800080"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><strong>P.S.</strong> The latest HH blog carnival is available </font></font></font><a href="http://shilohmusings.blogspot.co.il/2014/10/after-chaggim-holidays-havel-havelim.html"><font size="3" face="Calibri">here</font></a><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><font color="#800080">. Special thanks to Batya for including my</font> </font></font><a href="http://ourshiputzim.blogspot.com/2014/10/reasons-3721-and-3722-for-making-aliyah.html"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Reasons 3721 and 3722 for making aliyah</font></a><font color="#800080" size="3" face="Calibri">.</font></p> Mrs. S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14649082640953110457noreply@blogger.com4