2 Minutes of Silence

April 8 Holocaust Memorial Day

At 10:00am the entire nation stood in silence (even on the road) in commemoration of the 6,000,000 Jews who perished under Nazi hands.

Holocaust Memorial Day 10:00am

The boys and I were not in a public area, we stood on our balcony instead like our neighbors. We stood there thinking and most importantly, feeling.

April 15 Memorial Day
Day Remembrance for fallen soldiers

Exodus, the Book and Sort of Like the Song...

Pesach (passover) is nearly here. It begins on the 25th of March this year (2012) and ends on the 1st of April. It coincides with the Christian's Holy Week/Easter and also spring. This holiday commemorates the story of Exodus in which the ancient Israelites, led by Moses, were freed from slavery in Eygpt. 

During Pesach, the Jewish refrain from eating food that contains barley, wheat, rye and oats. Why you asked? Because the Israelites left in such a haste that there was no time for bread to rise. Which also makes Matza, unleavened bread, the food for this holiday. This is also the same reason why items with said ingredients in supermarkets will be off the shelves or covered (expect an update with photos). 

Matza

Pesach is also celebrated with the traditional passover meal (seder) in which families and friends gather together and retell the story of Exodus, read holy scriptures and say special prayers. The dinner, besides eating matza, also includes drinking four cups of wine, and eating symbolic foods placed in a seder plate. The most recent variation to this is an orange, which started in the 80s by Jewish Feminist group to symbolize fruitfulness of all Jews including women.

seder plate

March 25 Passover Eve

March 26 Passover

March 31 Second Passover Eve

April 1 Passover

Exodus By Bob Marley
We're leaving Babylon,
We're going to our Father land.
Exodus, movement of Jah people! Oh, yeah!
Send us another brother Moses!
From across the Red Sea!
Movement of Jah People!

Halloween in February, Valentine's Day in August... part 2 of 2

A few weeks after moving to Israel in mid-July, the holiday Tu B'Av came in full swing (August 3). It is similar to Valentine's Day in the sense of the celebration of joy and love. But unlike Valentine's, Tu B'Av is not of pagan origin, later Christian. Like any Jewish holidays, it is written in the Torah and has historical importance and origins.

Tu B'Av marks the beginning of the grape harvest. Yom Kippur marks the end. It's a Historically, on this day, unmarried women dance in the vineyards donning only white clothes (read excerpt below). And this is why many party goers wear white to Tu B'Av festivities. 

Taanit 26b R. SIMEON B. GAMALIEL SAID: THERE NEVER WERE IN ISRAEL GREATER DAYS OF JOY THAN THE FIFTEENTH OF AB AND THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. ON THESE DAYS THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM USED TO WALK OUT IN WHITE GARMENTS WHICH THEY BORROWED IN ORDER NOT TO PUT TO SHAME ANY ONE WHO HAD NONE. ALL THESE GARMENTS REQUIRED RITUAL DIPPING. THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM CAME OUT AND DANCED IN THE VINEYARDS EXCLAIMING AT THE SAME TIME, YOUNG MAN, LIFT UP THINE EYES AND SEE WHAT THOU CHOOSEST FOR THYSELF. DO NOT SET THINE EYES ON BEAUTY BUT SET THINE EYES ON [GOOD] FAMILY. GRACE IS DECEITFUL, AND BEAUTY IS VAIN; BUT A WOMAN THAT FEARETH THE LORD, SHE SHALL BE PRAISED. AND IT FURTHER SAYS, GIVE HER OF THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS; AND LET HER WORKS PRAISE HER IN THE GATES.

Naturally, Tu B'Av is a popular day for weddings and proposals. It always falls on the 15th day of the 5th month of the Hebrew calendar. And always coincides with a full moon!

For 2013, Tu B'Av is on July 22. 

A good reason to dance under the full moon.  

Tu B'Av Party 2012

Halloween in February, Valentine's in August.... (part 1 of 2)

Halloween in February, Valentine's in August... sort of... let me explain...

Part of the beauty of relocating to a foreign country is being able to celebrate its holidays and customs (double the fun). This includes Purim which is the happiest of the Israeli holidays. Celebrations for this are underway. People dressed up in festive, non scary costumes adorn the streets including a full monkey suited man riding a scooter (I was not quick enough to take a photo). But I was able to take the photo below.

peacocks...

Purim is the celebration of the story in the Book of Esther (Megila). In the story, Mordecai is a member of the King's court in Persia and a relative of Queen Esther. Haman is the grand vizier  of Persia and an anti-semite. He was plotting to get all Jews killed with in the kingdom but his plans were foiled by Mordecai and Queen Esther. At the end, the Jews were saved from the evil plans of Haman and he was executed in the gallows that he created himself for Mordecai. 

Goodness prevailed!

With Purim also comes hamantaschen and mishloach manot. 

Hamantaschen

Hamantaschen are triangular filled pastries. Traditionally with poppy seed filling, now these yummy goodness are available with a variety of fillings including dates and chocolate. Haman as you now know is the villain in the story and wore a three cornered hat. Mantaschen is a popular type of pastry. Mashed together  you get Haman Taschen. It's also known in Hebrew as Oznay haman, which means Haman's ears. This might have come from the old tradition of cutting criminal's ears before execution. Some also say that the triangle shape symbolizes the strength of Queen Esther and the founders of Judaism; Jacob, Isaac and Abraham. 

Mishloach Manot

There are certain guidelines to follow in the giving of Mishloach Manots ("sending of portions") or purim baskets. This gift giving ensures there is enough food for the Purim feast and it also improves love and friendship among the Jews. 

According to the Halakha (religious laws for the Jews) these gifts must consists of two different types of ready to eat foods. And should be given to at least one person. The gifts must be sent during the daylight hours of Purim (February 24). Giving to more than one person is praiseworthy but it's best to give more to charity instead. 

So... 

Wear fun, happy costumes.

Read the Megila.

Eat some hamantaschen.

Give a mishloach manot to at least one person.

Donate to Charity.

Be Happy Be Merry. Happy Purim!

Beach... P-lease!

Bamboo Village, Netanya

At some point, we all have wished to have lived by a beach. So imagine my delight when I was told we'll be living by the sea if we relocate to Israel. 

A wish come true. 

We have been here for 6 months and the beaches of Israel do not and can not disappoint. Whether you're gay, straight, single, married, with children, young, old, religious or secular, there is a beach somewhere within the 116 miles of Israel's Mediterranean coastline. 

Of course, the best beach is Poleg which sits right across from our building and pictured above. 

Below are a few random coastline pics I have taken through out our travels.

Tel Aviv

Caesarea

Yafo (Jaffa)

Sironit Beach Netanya

Eilat

Northern Qesariyya

Arsuf

Argaman Beach, Netanya

In addition to the Mediterranean Sea on the west, Israel also has the Red Sea in the south, Lake Kinneret (Galillee) and Jordan River in the north, Dead Sea in the east, and other springs.

If you love water, you'll enjoy Israel.

So yes, Beach.... p-lease!

For a list of beaches in Tel Aviv, click here.

For a list of beaches in Netanya, click here.

Petrol ???????

When in a foreign country, regular errands can turn into daunting tasks. Take for an example, filling up your car with gasoline/petrol. It took us a couple of weeks to figure it out. After a few trial and errors and multiple conversations with multiple people, petrol attendants included, we proudly reached a successful "put gas in your car" moment. That's the reason for the smile below. 

smile of success

Here are the steps to success***

Step 1. Swipe your preferred credit card. 
Step 2. Punch in your license plate number, then green button.
Step 3. Punch in your Israeli ID # (1234567 for non-Israelis), then green button.
Step 4. Pull out the nozzle of the correct petrol grade.
Step 5. Pump it up! BUT only to 199NIS**** (approximately $50). if using an international card. 

Easy peasy when you know what to do. Why did it take so long to get it right? Please refer to the next photo.

screen says it all ??????????

***Disclaimer: These steps are only proven successful to one particular petrol station, Dor Alon (one with the clawed tree emblem). We have tried other stations but surprisingly... on a second thought... unsurprisingly they do not all operate the same way. But in case of trouble, no fret, a petrol attendant should/could/would be able to assist you.

foreign credit cards' limit

**** With the 199NIS limit, we hardly have a FULL tank of gas unless we fill up two days in a row which is probably best as to not induce any cardiac arrest. Petrol Price: 199.00nis/25.84ltrs = 7.70nis/litre x 3.785 = 29.14nis/gallon = $7.3gallon

Dor Alon Petrol Station

Happy Pumping.

Update: The other day, a stranger approached me and he seems to be having problems with the pump. So didn't hesitate in helping me since I know these sort of things now. As I'm helping him, I realized, with the help of the stranger who reads hebrew and knows some english, that I have been putting the wrong order of numbers for 7 months! It's Israeli id first then license plate. Putting two and two together, the numbers don't matter. Since then I've been punching in 1234567 then 1234567. Sheesh... 

Doughnuts for the Holidays...

This December we'll be celebrating not one but two holidays, Christmas and Hannukah.

Christmas in Israel is definitely not any thing like Christmas in the states. It's nearly non-existent. This is not a surprise since only 2% of the Israeli population are Christians. But there is no need to be sad. And, just what I told my boys, "Christmas is here (pointing at my head) and here (pointing at my heart)." Plus 2% of Israeli's population do celebrate Christmas.You can purchase Christmas items in Christian Arab towns and in stores that cater to the expat community like Tiv Taam in Netanya and Bimbi's in Kfar Schmaryahu. And best of all (for Christians), living in Israel gives you the opportunity to be in Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day! More of "Christmas in Israel" on another post.

Santa items at Tiv Taam

Meanwhile... let's celebrate Hannukah. This year it starts on the eve of December 8. Yes we are not Jewish but we are in Israel after all. So, why not join in the celebrations? We are looking forward to spending one of the 8 nights of Hannukah with Jewish friends. It will be a night of new experiences.

Hanukkah Decorations in a shopping center

Here's my educational bit...

Hannukah (חֲנֻכָּה), also known as the festival of lights, is the celebration of the Maccabean Revolt led by Judah Maccabee around 125 BCE. The revolt was against the Seleucid Empire (Greek related) which forbade Jewish practices. It is also the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It's not the most celebrated or important (Yom Kippur) holiday of the Jewish faith (kids are off school but parents don't get the time off) but it is the most known Jewish holiday worldwide.

unique hanukkiah, (9 branch, the possibilites are endless)

This holiday is celebrated for 8 days to signify the miracle of the oil. After the revolt, olive oil was needed to burn the menorah (7 branch) in the temple. There was only enough oil for a day but it miraculously burned for 8 days. Hence 8 candles in the menorah or hanukiah (not to be confused with the menorah, mentioned above, which is an ancient symbol of Judaism) . The 9th candle, shamash, is the lighting candle. The lit candles symbolize not the "lighting of the house within", but rather the "illumination of the house without,". This is why hanukiahs are placed by windows so passerbys are reminded of the holiday.

Israel's emblem, notice the menorah (7 branch)

Hanukkiah at the Wailing Wall

It's also customary to play Dreidels during Hannukah. Dreidels have the letters נ (Nun), ג (Gimel), ה (Hei), ש (Shin). It's an acronym for the (read left to right) נס גדול היה פה, romanized to Nes Gadol Hayah Poh which means "A Great Miracle Happened Here" in reference to the burning of the oil. Click here if you want to know how to play with Dreidels.

Dreidel made of Platinum and Diamonds

Oil, if you have not noticed, is a major symbol of this holiday and with it comes fried foods like potato latkes and the ever popular doughnuts or properly called, sufganiyots. These sufganiyots make their appearance a few weeks before Hannukah. You'll find them in every grocery store and bakery. Roladin Bakery definitely have the best looking sufganiyots, but I can't really say anything about the taste as I've only had the ones from Neeman's. Seems like a perfect time and reason for research, more sufganiyots for the holiday please.

Neeman Sufganiyot

Roladin Sufganiyot

Hanukkah Sameach!