This past week marked the yahrzeit of my great-grandmother z”l, a valiant Holocaust survivor from Kovno, Lithuania, and an incredibly talented seamstress.
Here we are, admiring the latest in December 1970 fashion:
.יהי זכרה ברוך
May her memory be blessed, and may she be a meilitzat yosher for all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, yblt”a.
!שבת שלום ומבורך
It was one of those rare confluences of events.
B”H, we had plenty of lemons on our tree; we were in the mood for something more substantial than lemonade; and the Studentit had some time on her hands in between studying for finals.
<brief cultural observation>
Back in the Old Country – or at least back in the part of the Old Country centered around Midtown Manhattan’s 34th and Lexington – four weeks typically separated the fall and spring semesters: a week to study (aka “reading week” בלעז); an intense examination week, which often involved two finals per day; and then two blissful weeks of vacation.Meanwhile, here in Israel, intersession (i.e. chofshah bein hasemesterim, for the Hebraically-oriented amongst you) also lasts four weeks, but the difference is that finals are spread out over the entire month. In other words, although one never really gets to enjoy an actual vacation, one is spared the stress and pressure of having all the exams in a single week.
But I digress…
</observation>
All this is to say that to the delight of the denizens of TRLEOOB*, the aforementioned convergence had a delicious result:
Lemon Cake
Adapted from “Kosher by Design”
Ingredients
Glaze
Directions
Mix sugar, flour, and baking powder. Add juice, oil, and vanilla. Beat in eggs and mix well.
Pour batter into oiled and floured bundt pan. (We used a tube pan without a removable bottom.) Bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until done.
As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, use a toothpick to poke holes all over the top of the hot cake, and immediately pour the glaze all over the cake and especially into the holes.
Let cool in pan before serving.
!בתאבון ושבת שלום ומבורך
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*TRLEOOB=the real life equivalent of our blog
Back by popular demand, YZG (aka “Mr. S.”) – known to veteran Our Shiputzim readers for his Solomonic wisdom, his erudite halachic discourses, and his ability to replace gas oven ignitors – graciously agreed to write a book review.
Take it away, YZG!
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“Koren Talmud Bavli – Tractate Sukka (Noé Edition)”
by YZG
Koren Publishers kindly provided us here at Our Shiputzim with a review copy of their newly released “Koren Talmud Bavli – Tractate Sukka.” We received the standard-sized hardcover edition (“The Noé Edition”), which includes full-color pictures and diagrams.
The timing was perfect, since I am currently learning Masechet Succah with my chavruta. We used the “Koren Talmud” during our next learning session.
The Gemara is beautifully designed and divided into two parts.
When you open it as a Hebrew sefer (i.e. from the right), you will find the traditional Vilna Shas layout. However, vowels and full punctuation have been added to both the Gemara and Rashi texts. That by itself is a significant aid to learning, and for many, that alone will make the Gemara worth getting. Of course, as can be expected from Koren, the printing is clear and a pleasure to read, and the text is printed on off-white paper, which is easy on the eyes.
When opened as an English sefer (i.e. from the left), you will find the text of the Gemara alongside an English translation. The translation is brand new and based on the principles set out by Rav Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz and overseen by the editor-in-chief, Rav Tzvi Hersh Weinreb. The translation is clear, concise, and easier to follow than other English translations I have used. For instance, words that are literal translations of the Gemara’s Aramaic text are shown in bold, and words that are derived from other languages have interesting sidebars (called “Language”), describing their etymology along with more in-depth explanations of their meaning.
In addition to the “Language” sidebar, there are other sidebars called “Notes,” “Background,” “Personalities,” and “Halakha.” My chavruta and I found these sidebars to be very helpful. In particular, we liked that the sidebars were divided into different types, because the divisions make it clear where to look for different types of information:
The “Koren Talmud Bavli” includes full-color photographs and diagrams, which prove that a picture really is worth a thousand words. For instance, when the Gemara talks about fibers growing around a palm tree, a photograph of a palm tree shows exactly what these fibers are. Also, Masechet Succah famously discusses many different succah configurations, and the clear diagrams help make sense of it all.
In summary, I highly recommend the “Koren Talmud Bavli – Tractate Sukka,” and my chavruta and I look forward to using it as we continue learning the Masechet.
Note: I was not paid to review this sefer, but we did receive a review copy from Koren Publishers.
****
Great job and thank you, YZG!
In the spirit of Facebook’s recent spate of “Look Back” videos, here’s a really beautiful one:
אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹאֲלוֹ, בָּרֵךְ אֶת מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, רֵאשִׁית צְמִיחַת גְּאֻלָּתֵנוּ. הָגֵן עָלֶיהָ בְּאֶבְרַת חַסְדֶּךָ, וּפְרֹשׂ עָלֶיהָ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ, וּשְׁלַח אוֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ לְרָאשֶׁיהָ, שָׂרֶיהָ וְיוֹעֲצֶיהָ, וְתַקְּנֵם בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ. חַזֵּק אֶת יְדֵי מְגִנֵּי אֶרֶץ קָדְשֵׁנוּ, וְהַנְחִילֵם אֱלֹקינוּ יְשׁוּעָה וַעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחוֹן תְּעַטְּרֵם, וְנָתַתָּ שָׁלוֹם בָּאָרֶץ, וְשִׂמְחַת עוֹלָם לְיוֹשְׁבֶיהָ.
וְאֶת אַחֵינוּ כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, פְּקָד נָא בְּכָל אַרְצוֹת פְּזוּרֵיהֶם, וְתוֹלִיכֵם מְהֵרָה קוֹמְמִיּוּת לְצִיּוֹן עִירֶךָ וְלִירוּשָׁלַיִם מִשְׁכַּן שְׁמֶךָ, כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה עַבְדֶּךְ: אִם יִהְיֶה נִדַּחֲךָ בִּקְצֵה הַשָּׁמָיִם מִשָּׁם יְקַבֶּצְךָ ה’ אֱלֹקיךָ וּמִשָּׁם יִקָּחֶךָ. וֶהֱבִיאֲךָ ה’ אֱלֹקיךָ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יָרְשׁוּ אֲבֹתֶיךָ וִירִשְׁתָּהּ וְהֵיטִבְךָ וְהִרְבְּךָ מֵאֲבֹתֶיךָ.
וְיַחֵד לְבָבֵנוּ לְאַהֲבָה וּלְיִרְאָה אֶת שְׁמֶךָ, וְלִשְׁמֹר אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תּוֹרָתֶךָ, וּשְׁלַח לָנוּ מְהֵרָה בֶּן דָּוִד מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֶךָ, לִפְדּוֹת מְחַכֵּי קֵץ יְשׁוּעָתֶךָ. הוֹפַע בַּהֲדַר גְּאוֹן עֻזֶּךָ עַל כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵּבֵל אַרְצֶךָ, וְיֹאמַר כֹּל אֲשֶׁר נְשָׁמָה בְּאַפּוֹ:
ה’ אֱלֹקי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֶלֶךְ וּמַלְכוּתוֹ בַּכֹּל מָשָׁלָה, אָמֵן סֶלָה.
(Tefilah L’Shlom HaMedinah – The Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel)
As you may recall, our almond tree (i.e. our shkeidiyah, for the Hebraically-oriented amongst you) is, how shall I put this, um, well, rather, um, flower-challenged.
I mean, it got to the point that the only way we could sing the classic Tu B'Shvat song about the blossoming almond tree was with a healthy dose of irony and a great deal of snickering.
But as it turned out, the tree would be the one to have the last laugh.
Because sometime last year, we suddenly noticed that somehow, we were now the proud owners of a second – and more flourishing – almond tree. Apparently, seeds from the first tree had landed on the ground and had started growing.
And as if two almond trees weren’t enough, this year we discovered that there is now a THIRD – albeit still very small - tree on the premises!
Which means that we may have to rename TRLEOOB* to the Shiputzim Family Almond Orchard (i.e. pardes shkeidim, for the Hebraically-oriented amongst you).
But I’ll let you be the judge of that:
(As always, please click on the pictures for a much better view.)
!שבוע טוב וחודש טוב
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*TRLEOOB=the real life equivalent of our blog
