Photos That Move Me (to tears....)

For some photos there ARE no words...

Oh Nuts! Oh No!

I'm not the sort of person that you would describe as super sensitive about this sort of thing.
Which is why, when I find myself having a viscerally negative feeling, I wonder what others must be feeling.
I open this up to discussion from you.
Does the above website offend you?
Why or why not?

On Opening Presents Early

When I was younger I had a bit of a problem waiting for presents.

I have a vivid memory of sitting with my grandfather in his living room and the postal carrier rang the doorbell with a package for him. My grandfather was a generous supporter of a certain Yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel and as a "thank you" to him each year, they would send him a hand selected, especially fine esrog from there. My grandfather was always so happy and proud.
"Aren't you going to open the box right now Opa?", I asked as he sat back down peacefully in his chair with a smile playing on his lips.

"In a little while", he answered.

"But how can you wait??!", I asked incredulously, knowing how special this gift was for him.

He chuckled. "When you're my age, everything can wait."

I'm not sure all these years later whether he said more, or whether it was implied or even learned later on my own, but sometimes the wait and anticipation is part of the fun.

Of course I didn't learn this lesson immediately.... Ask Avram about the year (I'm guessing about 22 years ago...) when Avram bought me a blouse that I had admired in a store but was too frugal to buy for my birthday. I not only found my gift's hiding spot prior to my birthday, but TRIED IT ON, with the skirt I had imagined it going with! (I rationalized that in case I didn't like it, I should have my "game face" prepared...)

So we can agree that I've come a long way. I no longer even LOOK for my hidden presents, let alone open them. I truly have learned that anticipation is more than half the fun.

So you can forgive me this one minor indiscretion.

I bought myself a Yom Tov present. I've admired it for a long time (and therein lies my fulfilled anticipation) and when I was out Yom Tov shopping for my family, I decided that I deserved to buy this for myself as well.

It's a beautiful, yet simple, hand made glass challah board.

Tonight we have a full table for dinner.

I couldn't help myself.

It looks so pretty........

The Sounds of Elul

I cannot begin to tell you the calm, satisfied feeling that washed over me last night, as I was elbow deep in preparing enough stuffed cabbages to hopefully last through Simchas Torah while simultaneously turning two roasts in my oven, as I listened to Avram preparing his Yom Tov davening in the other room.

Call me sexist but my first inclination was, "This is how things should be....".

Growing up, my father being the shul's Baal Tokeah, the first sounds of Elul were of course the sounds of tekias shofar. The deep tones of my father's yekkish teruos easily conjured up sounds of repentant sobs. (For those new to the blog, I will once again embed my shofar video at the end of this post.)

Shortly after I got married, the sounds changed a bit. They were the haunting melodies of the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur davening that Avram was preparing.

(Click the link below for a nice rendition of Lewandowski's Zocharti Loch)

http://www.ask-choir.org/mp3/ask-choir.org-Zocharti-Loch.mp3

Of course in later years as my son took on the tradition of his grandfather, the house was once again filled with both sounds.

And through all this, my kitchen provided the olfactory evidence that Yom Tov was on its way.

Sounds and smells.

Two powerful triggers.

I like it this way.

On Mesiras Nefesh....

Some people truly confound me.

I was at a simcha last week and found myself sitting next to someone who should definitely know better. I was introduced to a woman who has strong familial ties to Washington Heights and to the Breuer's community.

Our conversation went something like this:

Her - "So where do you live?"

Me - "Washington Heights."

Her - "Wow! Washington Heights? That's so wonderful! Such MESIRAS NEFESH!!!!....."

Mesiras Nefesh?

Seriously?

I questioned this woman as to when the last time she had even set foot in the Heights. I've lived here all my life and frankly find it cleaner, nicer and safer than when I was growing up. Yes, the shul is quite a bit emptier, but does that constitute mesiras nefesh??

I have merely chosen to stay in a shul that I feel comfortable with, in a community that has "cradle to grave" service that is unparalleled. I have stayed close to my roots, because it works for me. I chose to raise my children in surroundings where rich and poor live side by side and I dare you to tell them apart - and where the most silent chesed abounds. I didn't leave "just because everybody else was doing it". You may have noticed but I've never been an advocate of doing something just because the masses were.

I think it was a little bit of escapee guilt talking if you ask me.

This woman really needs to contemplate what TRULY qualifies as mesiras nefesh.

Living in Washington Heights without a backyard (or living in Monsey without a pareve dishwasher), does NOT qualify!

Gut Chodesh

For more details on how to make either of these challah styles, check out my blog posts from last year regarding Croation Star Challahs and Hashtag Challahs.

"Go Get The Dictionary...!"

I'm not sure that I've ever mentioned this before on the blog, but the title of this blog post was a familiar refrain heard at many a family dinner in my house growing up.
It was often to settle a dispute about the correct usage or pronunciation of a word among family members that prided themselves on making the most of our glorious language.
The phrase was most often uttered by my father, and if the dictionary proffered did not agree with his stance, he insisted that the complete Oxford English Dictionary (a set of two volumes) be removed from its slipcase and examined with its included magnifying glass (I kid you not! In order for it to fit into two volumes, the print was MINISCULE!) for the definitive answer to the question at hand.
In our house we rely on Mr. Webster most of the time, but last weekend a dispute broke out that I feared would not end well.
It centered around the definition of one word.
Two members of our family had definitions for the word.
The two definitions were WORLDS apart.
Who was right?
The word? PORTMANTEAU
The definitions:

• A suitcase
• A word derived from combining two different words

So who was right?

They both were!

I wonder how such a word can have two such divergent definitions.... chortle.... (that's a portmanteau, by the way.... chuckle+snort)

A Suspect Siyum Scavenger Photo

(HT: Yekke Wannabe)

First Siyum Scavenger Photo

We've got a non-white shirt sighting.
What can you knock off from the list?

Siyum Hashas Photo Challenge

It has been suggested to me that I conduct a Siyum Hashas Photo Scavenger Hunt to keep my readers occupied during some of the longer speeches. (A good Mommy always comes prepared with a bag of activities....).

You know.... challenge you to get photos of such things as:

• The guy in the colored shirt
• The guy holding the most feminine umbrella
• The guy sleeping
• Best use of Siyum Hashas Poncho
• Best concession stand photo
• Anyone caught on the wrong side of the mechitza
• Anyone scalping tickets or selling souvenirs
• Any man entering a restroom marked Ladies, and vice versa
• Picture of the guy trying to start "the wave"
• Best overall photo of the evening

Send all entries, along with how/if you want to be credited to guesswhoscoming2dinner@gmail.com

Happy snapping!

(suggestions for scavenger photos will be updated throughout the day. Please feel free to email me suggestions to the address above, or post in the comments section)

What It's All About....

I'm not quite sure why this story moved me so much more than the myriad of other touchingly beautiful videos shared on YouTube and the like.
Maybe it's because I work with seniors.
Maybe it's because I value the family unit so much.
Or maybe just because this is what it's all about......

Sergey Kadinsky is a "good boy". He could be spending every Shabbos doing what is fun and convenient for him. Instead he's doing what is right.

I hope you find this as touching as I did.
I hope it inspires all of us to go out and do something meaningful.

The Nine Days Cooking Conundrum

My family doesn't eat a lot of meat as a rule, so our dinner menus this week look much like they do every week.

Yet, all over the world, Jewish cooks are scouring recipe websites and consulting their friends for 9 Days Ideas. What I find puzzling, is that many people are going out of their way to prepare elaborate and sumptuous dairy treats - many people even borrowing from their Shavuos menus.

I don't know. Maybe it's just me. But doesn't this sort of contrary to the POINT?

Thoughts?

All Ready For That Special Feeling That Only Shabbos Brings...

Food Photo Friday - Sweet & Tart Summer Refresher

Hot summer Friday nights simply beg for cool, refreshing desserts.

I love the look of this one:

Trader Joe's Vanilla Soy Cream (I have no stock in the company, but on this product alone, I should! You'll never TOUCH Toffuti ever again....) topped with fresh blueberries. On the side is my quick and easy Strawberry Rhubarb dessert - crisp and tart, which a few diced peaches for color.

So save room for dessert! Or better yet - eat if first!!!

Scene Around Town - Subway on the Street

I love photos of the unexpected.

I've seen these subway cars being hauled down the street at night, but the photos I managed were never quite good enough.

Now, I'm not quite sure why they couldn't transport these trains on the existing underground rails that they ride on, but I thank the MTA for a wonderful and interesting photo op ;)