Bubby and Grandpa's Visit

For vacation, Bubby and Grandpa spent a fortnight at Hotel Gersten on the scenic mountain of Har Nof (translation: Mountainview). They arrived the day before the Bris and stayed long enough to miss the first blizzard in NJ, but got back in time for the second one.

Grandpa and Bubby took turns holding Noam, so that Ima could rest and Abba could do all the things that Abba does all day.
Aside from a day trip to Ramat Beit Shemesh and an overnight to Be'er Sheva, Bubby and Grandpa spent most of their afternoons were with Elisheva, Ezra and Elazar.

Thank you Grandpa for making sure the fridge was always stocked with Strawberry-Banana juice and thank you Bubby for tidying up the house, even though you promised us you wouldn't.

Saba...Stay Just a Little Bit Longer

Saba arrived Wednesday afternoon. Abba picked him up at the airport with Elisheva and Ezra. After Maariv and dinnerAbba went with Saba to the Kotel that night. The next morning was the bris, afterwhich Saba spent a day in Beitar with Uncle Eliezer and family.

Saba returned to Har Nof on Friday, and played a little ball with Ezra and Elazar before Shabbos. Friday night, Saba went with Abba to meet R' Romm's at his shul for Maariv. After dinner Abba took Saba to R' Ozer's shiur on the Melacha of Carrying on Shabbos. Shabbos Day Saba and Abba woke up early to learn before davening and after lunch played with the kids in the house.

Motzai Shabbos Saba learned with Ezra at Avot U'Banim. Next Abba took Saba to the Bostoner Rebbe's Tisch, where he was honored with the seat right next to the Rebbe. Finally, Saba joined Abba and Moshe Jensen on there weekly Chavrusa on Motzai Shabbos. Abba woke up early with Saba for his 5:00 Sheirut to the airport and waived l'hitraot as the van pulled away.

Because Saba was only here for a short time we really had to pack it all in. We barely had time to take this picture on Motzai Shabbos before the kids got ready for bed. We hope Saba will visit us more often in Eretz Yisrael now that he is an experienced traveler.

U'Vayom HaShmini Yimol B'sar Orlato (VaYikra 12:3)

Thursday, January 28th, 13 Shevat 5770
Derech Etz Chaim, Har Nof, Jerusalem, Israel

Abba davened from the Amud and leined the Torah, keeping a good pace to start the bris on time at 8:30. Cousin Eli was honored with Kohen, R' Moshe Eliyahu Rosenbaum with Levi and Uncle Stefan with Yisrael.

The Mohel, R' Baxt, who lives across the street, was on time in keeping with British tradition. But no baby! Bubby arriving by car said Ima was spotted walking with the kids and was a few blocks behind. So Abba in his tefillin started walking up Ibn Danan with Uncle Stefan to literally "L'Hachniso B'vriso Shel Avrohom Aveinu".

After arranging the baby on the bris pillow, Bubby handed over the baby to Kobi Schwarzbaum. Kobi, shana bet student at Derech Etz Chaim, heeded the call at 3:30 AM to hustle over to the apartment so Abba and Ima could go to Sha'arei Tzedek, and was honored with Kvaater.

Uncle Eliezer was honored next with LaKisay shel Eliyahu; and Eliyahu Weiss was honored with removing the baby from the Kisay. Next Abba said Shema Yisrael, Ana Hashem and She'hechiyahnu.
Saba, who arrived from the US the day before, was honored with Sandik
Next, Grandpa Blashka was honored to hold his grandson for the naming.
R' Polakoff, the Rabbi of Great Neck Synagogue, who fortunately was in Israel at the time, was honored with naming Noam ben Betzalel
After Mazal Tovs, Aleinu and Mourner's Kaddish, we all headed downstairs for the double Seudas Mitzvah. Abba made a siyum on Mesechet Makkos, in memory of Savta, which ends with the fitting words "Akiva Nechamteinu, Akiva Nechamteinu". Abba also spoke a little bit about Savta and about the statement in Yoreh Daaeh 394:4 that the birth of son provides healing for the entire family after a period of mourning.