You Think They LOOK Good? They Tasted EVEN BETTER!!!

Pirsum Project - First Night, First Light

Our first submission to the Pirsum Project comes from Jonas..... A real "blast from the past".
Jonas originally hails from Germany, though he is currently on a kibbutz in Israel on leave from the Israeli Army.
Jonas came to us as an unexpected guest whom we met via a mutual friend outside of shul on Purim afternoon three years ago and promptly brought home for seudah (and yes, he was delicious ;) .....). Imagine the challenge of quickly getting him his own verse in the traditional grammen!
Having never visited Washington Heights before he was astounded that there were "true Germans" living outside of Germany. In a veritable "bringing coals to Newcastle" story, Jonas had never seen Gruenkern before and promptly took a bag home to his motherland.
Thanks Jonas, for staying in touch and for this lovely photo of the shul in Sde Eliyahu!

More submissions are always welcome: guesswhoscoming2dinner@gmail.com

Make Way for the Kitsch.....

While I should be on a lowfat diet in preparation for all the oil soaked delicacies I am about to indulge in to celebrate a miracle that had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with stuffing one's face, I find myself doing nothing of the sort.

I do find myself rummaging through designated "Chanukah Drawers and Shelves" to locate all the necessary 'accouterments' that grace our home. To that end, the dreidels and gelt are happily swinging from the light fixture, assorted other dreidels are scattered throughout the house on mirror tops and decorative platters, menorahs have been polished, sentimental home-made dreidel signs nearly a quarter century old have been posted on the front door and I have managed to locate one menorah pin and two NON-MATCHING menorah earrings (sigh....).

Gearing Up for the Second Annual "Pirsum Project"

Things at the G6 household are slowly inching forward in the Chanukah spirit.

Once again this year, I welcome your menorah photos, Chanukah "kitsch" photos and any other submissions that might marginally fit the theme of the Guess Who's Coming To Dinner Pirsum Project.

Send submissions to guesswhoscoming2dinner@gmail.com and tell me how/if you would like to be credited.

Now for the big question: Will adding gelt on top of the dreidels be overkill?

Now for the obvious question: Who wants to guess how many dreidels are in the glass?

Remember to check out this photo for sizing.....

Chanukah Approaches - Let The Insanity Begin

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry about this one....


A must have! Menorah kit includes:

• Tin can for used wicks
• Plastic bag liners for tin can
• Scissors
• Wick remover
• Wick adjuster
• Digital timer

It's a wonder we've managed all these years without a dedicated receptacle for our used wicks and a timer (!!) to grace our menorah display. What is next????

Wednesday's Wacky Signs

Spotted on the refrigerator door of a dear friend of mine (and a most capable "Mommy")......



Although I must admit that I myself have once or twice texted my child so as not to have to (a) shout for them or (b) go to wherever they were....

More Tradional and Popular Melodies Sung by the Choir of KAJ

KAJ Choir Sings Bendigamos

The Choir of KAJ went out on a limb yesterday and added an unsual piece to their repertoire when performing at the Moriah Senior Center.

Who would expect that along with the traditional renditions of Mizmor L'Dovid, Lecho Dodi, Tzaddik Katomor and even an old Carlebach favorite, Eilecho, one would hear the beautiful Ladino bentching, BENDIGAMOS?

According to Wikipedia:

Bendigamos is a prayer said after meals according to the custom of Spanish and Portuguese Jews. It is similar in meaning to the Birkat Hamazon that is said by all Jews. Bendigamos is said in addition to Birkat Hamazon. The text is in Castilian (Spanish language). The prayer was translated by David de Sola Pool. … The melody is that of the “Az Yashir".

Bendigamos

Bendigamos al Altísimo,
Al Señor que nos crió,
Démosle agradecimiento
Por los bienes que nos dió.

Alabado sea su Santo Nombre,
Porque siempre nos apiadó.
Load al Señor que es bueno,
Que para siempre su merced.

Bendigamos al Altísimo,
Por su Ley primeramente,
Que liga a nuestra raza
Con el cielo continuamente,

Alabado sea su Santo Nombre,
Porque siempre nos apiadó.
Load al Senor que es bueno,
Que para siempre su merced.

Bendigamos al Altísimo,
Por el pan segundamente,
Y también por los manjares
Que comimos juntamente.

Pues comimos y bebimos alegremente
Su merced nunca nos faltó.
Load al Señor que es bueno,
Que para siempre su merced.

Bendita sea la casa esta,
El hogar de su presencia,
Donde guardamos su fiesta,
Con alegría y permanencia.

Alabado sea su Santo Nombre,
Porque siempre nos apiadó.
Load al Señor que es bueno,
Que para siempre su merced.

Hodu Lahashem Ki Tov Ki L'Olam Chasdo

English:
Let us bless
Let us bless the Most High
The Lord who raised us,
Let us give him thanks
For the good things which he has given us.

Praised be his Holy Name,
Because he always took pity on us.
Praise the Lord, for he is good,
For his mercy is everlasting.

Let us bless the Most High
First for his Law,
Which binds our race
With heaven continually,

Praised be his Holy Name,
Because he always took pity on us.
Praise the Lord, for he is good,
For his mercy is everlasting.

Let us bless the Most High,
Secondly for the bread
And also for the foods
Which we have eaten together.

For we have eaten and drunk happily
His mercy has never failed us.
Praise the Lord, for he is good,
For his mercy is everlasting.

Blessed be this house,
The home of his presence,
Where we keep his feast,
With happiness and permanence.

Praised be his Holy Name,
Because he always took pity on us.
Praise the Lord, for he is good,
For his mercy is everlasting

More videos from this event will follow shortly, but I'm interested to know who of my readers are familiar with or sing Bendigamos at their table.

How NOT to Perform Bikur Cholim

This one made me literally LAUGH OUT LOUD!
Enjoy.
HT: Rafi

Shabbos Flowers

I love natural beauty - Hashem's artwork if you will.

I appreciate brilliant flowers and eye catching stones.

With the new vase I bought, we can meld the two for a beautiful Shabbos table arrangement. The vase is a piece of quartz sliced from an unassuming rock, cloaking unbelievable beauty within, mounted on a hidden base.
...'מה גדלו מעשיך ה

Challenges Everywhere

I can't tell you what it is like to run a marathon. That is a challenge that I have as yet not attempted. The only thing that I can write about, is what it is like to be the proud mother and mother-in-law of marathon runners.

We too feel anticipation of the day, though our hopes are a bit different. We don't focus on a specific finishing time. We want our loved ones to be safe and feel good about themselves at the end of the race. In short - we continue to be "Jewish Mothers".

I spent the day racing around the city, from downtown Brooklyn to Williamsburg (the New York Times caught a better shot, but I had fun trying to get a photo of the natives trying to dodge the runners as they crossed the street {now THERE'S a challenge!} - see my photo below), then on to the Bronx and Manhattan's East Side. I think I covered more miles on the subway than Joey did on the course, and I made WORSE time (I actually missed him in one location and near missed him in several others...). I couldn't have done it without a certain person who hates to be mentioned on blog but who knows the NY Subway system like nobody's business. So you know who you are - thanks a LOT!!

We were there to cheer on the runners, provide sustenance in the form of bananas and "goo", and rejoice in the spirit of goal setting and accomplishments.

... and the end result? Two very happy runners who are eager to push themselves again to achieve newer and greater heights.

Cristoph Niemann of The New York Times, embarked on a project to "live illustrate" the marathon as he ran. He completed the course, and 46 sketches in an undisclosed amount of time but the results are quite entertaining. You can see his works here.

After Months of Training - NYC Marathon Day Arrives

G6 Jrs. Get Ready for Race Day

Technology is finding more and more ways to become a part of Marathon Sunday.

Aside from being able to track your favorite runner with cool smartphone apps that pinpoint their locations with surprising accuracy all along the route, Asics, one of the race’s sponsors, is allowing people to send a message, video or text to specific runners that they will see as they pass giant screens along the route.

Message submitted at SupportYourMarathoner.com will be seen by racers in three spots along the course, because the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag in their bibs that track their time will also send signals to the big screens and trigger the messages at the exact time that the runners approach.

Here's one that my granddaughters made to cheer on their father as he triggers the sensors along the route:

Food Photo Friday - Marathon Birthday Cake

My daughter Erica is totally rocking the buttercream transfer technique. That little marathon runner on the birthday cake she made for Moshe (shhh ... it's a surprise...) this weekend (complete with his actual bib number for Sunday's race) is not fondant, but buttercream.

I reall need to try this out!

In Others' Words: Why Joey and Moshe Will Be Out Running. Why I'll Be Out Watching

Mary R. Wittenberg, president, New York Road Runners Club:

"A marathoner is a marathoner regardless of time. Virtually everyone who tries the marathon has put in training over months, and it is that exercise and that commitment, physical and mental, that gives meaning to the medal, not just the day’s effort, be it fast or slow. It's all in conquering the challenge."

Kathrine Switzer, women's marathoning pioneer:

"If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon."

The New York City Marathon will be held this Sunday.

Both my son and son-in-law will be running.

I will be dashing madly through the NY Subway System from mile marker to mile marker, ringing a big orange cowbell in support.

They are covering this 26.2 mile course to raise money for the Blue Card Fund. It is not too late to donate to this worthy cause which helps holocaust victims.

It's also not too late to make plans to be somewhere along the route to cheer the runners on.

Thanks to Steve Jobs, I will hopefully be able to pinpoint Joey's location with incredible accuracy throughout the run. Shoot me an email if you'd like to be kept updated.

And to everybody, everywhere who refuses to remain content with the status quo in their life and insists on challenging themselves constantly to achieve new heights and accomplish greater goals - I Salute You!