Elazar's Chanukah Gan Party

חנוכה שמח גדול היה פה

Elazar had a Chanukah performance/party in Gan. We were very impressed at how well Elazar did considering we figure he doesn't understand a word his teacher is saying. This is his first time in a Hebrew speaking Gan. It must have been the sufganiah he was promised if he didn't make any mistakes!!!

As I'm sure you know from the older kids it was the usual 'playing music and having the kids dance in circles and do hand motions while holding various paraphernalia'. But of course it was Elazar's first time, so we all have to make a big deal out of it.

Elazar was fabulous and the whole performance went without a hitch...well almost...

Bubby and Grandpa's 'Thankful' Visit

Bubby and Grandpa spent a little over a week with us. They rented a car so they could visit friends and family in Be'er Sheva and Beit Shemesh, later in the week.

Ima took advantage by checking on the new project in Mispeh Yireecho, so they could see 'their guest room'. She showed Bubby and Grandpa around the neighborhood, as well as set them up with a real estate agent to look around Ma'aleh Adumim

On Thursday, we celebrated Thanksgiving the 'Israeli' way -- dinner at Burger's Bar.

Elisheva took Friday off from school and went with them to an Art Exhibition on Rechov Betzalel. They also stopped by the Shuk Machaneh Yehudah to pick up Challahs and Cake for Shabbos

Eli Weiss joined us for Shabbos adding a little from the other side of the family to the balance

Ezra went with Bubby and Grandpa to one of the Jewish Museum in Yerushalayim, which included a stop for ice cream.

On this trip, we made sure Bubby and Grandpa went to the airport on the right night and they arrived in plenty of time to return the rental car 'without a scratch'.

Succos 5772

This year, one of our neighbors was away and offered us their Sukkah, which we happily borrowed and built downstairs in addition to the small Sukkah on our Mirpeset [balcony]. Although we had to walk the two flights down, it was nice to have a Sukkah big enough for the entire family to eat around the table (and room for guests) for the Shabbos and Yom Tov meals.

Fay was able to get some pictures with the kids in their new Yom Tov outfits on Wednesday afternoon, Erev Succos

The kids and I still manage to sleep in the upstairs Sukkah, but we have to rotate nights of "sleeping with Abba". Elazar doesn't quite understand the concept of "rotating" so he has been sleeping in the Sukkah every night while Elisheva and Ezra do the rotating (Noam even slept in the Sukkah on the first night)

On Friday the kids and I took the #2 bus and went to the "giant slide" park in Ezras HaTorah. On the way back we stopped off and visited Rav Azarya Berzon who was in Har Nof for Succos. He sent regards from Uncle Josh and Aunt Lisa from Kew Gardens Hills where he is teaching this year at Lander College.

Motzai Shabbos, Elisheva and Abba attended a Bat Mitzvah of some friends in the neighborhood, a nice family from Passaic, NJ, who are having a trial year in Israel with the hopes to make Aliyah. Afterward we went to the Derech Etz Chaim Simchas Beit HaShoava with Yehudah Katz from Reva LaSheva at the Rosh Yeshiva's Sukkah

On Sunday we entertained our friends the Zeevi (nee Fox) family who usually invite us to their Sukkah every year, so we were delighted to return the favor. Cousin Julius happened to be in Jerusalem (he went to Birkas Cohanim earlier in the morning) and joined us for lunch with the Zeevis

Elisheva and Ezra joined me Sunday night for the Simchas Beit HaShoava with the Bostoner Rebbe at the Boston Shul, as well as a 10th Yahrtzeit Shiur for R' Aharon Soloveichik in the Sukkah of one of our neighbors.

Monday Abba went to visit his Rebbeim, Rav Romm and Rav Koenigsberg, in the neighborhood, but only Noam wanted to go "bye-bye".

The rest of the kids were too absorbed in their "purchases" from their 50 NIS Sukkos shopping spree with Ima at the toy store earlier that morning. Later that night Abba went with our neighbor Mr. Berko to Rav Geldtzailer's Simchas Beit HaShoava. We were hoping Julius would be there but I guess he had gone back to Beitar where he is staying until early December

Tuesday, Elisheva had some of her friends from Sneef [Jewish youth group] as part of their "Sukkah Hop". We hope to fill you in with more happenings after Simchas Torah...

Ima's "Condition"

I decided to publicize Ima's "condition" and hopefully you will all call her or e-mail her and give her some TLC before Succos. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur were tough. I think as the "children" get older it's getting harder for her. Maybe I should help out more...Well, I have to go out to Maariv now...

This is not my creation. All credits and rights reserved by the copyright holder

Bowling Trip with Saba

On Tuesday Saba accompanied us and the kids for a bowling trip.

Elisheva, Ezra and Elazar bowled the first two games, but started to get tired

So Ima Abba and Saba started bowling randomly for them in the third game.

Scores:

Elisheva: 1st Game 81 (2 spares); 2nd Game 93 (3 spares)

Ezra: 1st Game 86 (2 spares); 2nd Game 87 (1 spare)

Elazar: 1st Game 72; 2nd Game 75 (1 spare)

Afterwards we went to the nearby mall and had lunch. Ima picked up her latest and greatest umbrella stroller, Abba picked up his Rav-Kav, and here is some video of some of our bowlers

Saba in Motion

Elisheva's Turn

Ezra's Technique

Saba Comes For A Visit

Saba arrived in Har Nof on Monday with Uncle Lazar, Esti, Tova and Aliza. They stayed for lunch. It was nice for the cousins to get together.

Tuesday's bowling trip will be a separate post

On Wednesday Abba, Ezra and Saba went to Geula to pick up a new Talis for Saba. Then we headed to the Kotel for Mincha.

Saba and Abba learned some Mishnayos in the enclosed Beis Midrash area at the Kotel. Ezra took this picture

and while we were learning Ezra took the opportunity to capture some interesting images around the Kotel Plaza.

Saba was in the mood for a good falafel, so we took him to Shalom Falafel, the 'best in town'.

Just in the neighborhood...

Sorah Yitta and the kids happen to be in the neighborhood so they dropped by. Oh my how the kids have grown. We offered for them to join us for dinner, but they had already eaten at Jerusalem II down the block...

Even though Sorah Yitta and David live relatively close by in Ramat Beit Shemesh, it seems like ages since both families got together last.

Noam and Bayla Sima practiced their 'tango'

Devorah and Shaul entertained us with puzzling riddles

and Tzvikee enjoyed playing with Elazar and his toys

Just drop by anytime you're in the neighborhood...

Jessica Felber Comes for Shabbos

Jessica was in Israel this summer for a couple of months on a learning program. She has been staying in the Old City and commuting to Har Nof each day. She contacted us last week that she as "in town" so we invited her for Shabbos.


Jessica came on Friday afternoon bearing gifts of Marzipan and fresh cherries (much more Chasuv than the classic 'flowers' or 'bottle of wine'). As expected the kids pounced on her immediately and didn't leave her side the entire Shabbos. We went for a nice walk on Friday night after dinner. Jessica read books and played board games with the kids throughout Shabbos. She even taught them the 'finger' game and the 'cup on the table' routine.


Jessica is in Yerushalayim for another month or so and she promised us she would be back before heading back to California.

Elisheva's Concert

Elisheva played her recorder at the year end concert at her school, representing the 3rd grade. I can personally attest that Elisheva has been practicing and practicing and practicing around the house for a long long time.

Elisheva brought home a note that parents should provide 'Ugah Beitit' for the reception after the concert. While all of the Israeli parents brought in their store-bought Osem cakes known as 'Ugah Beitit', Elisheva's American Ima figured that she was supposed to bake a 'homemade cake' just like the note translates into English. Naturally, Elisheva was the pride of her class when she presented one of Ima's delicious chocolate cakes, with whip cream for the entire class

Elazar's Gan Party

Well, the school year is coming to and end, and Elazar had his Gan Party at Morah Chani to finish up the year

Elazar makes such a lovely flower...

Having a grand time clapping along...

And cutting up the rug with his dance partner

Noam Making Himself Comfortable

So this is what Noam does when he is home alone with Ima and everyone else is out of the house all morning......

Yom HaAtzmaut in Gan Sacchar

Elisheva, Ezra, Elazar and Abba met up with Zeidy and Aunt Rochelle in Gan Sachar for a Yom HaAtzmaut Picnic. It's a national holiday, the equivalent of July 4th in the States.

The public parks are packed with families from all over the Yerushalayim area who come to picnic, barbecue, etc. Vendors come from all over to sell everything from silly string, to noisemakers, to 'giant blowup Israeli Flag hammers'. Ima and Noam decided to sit this one out, but we managed to have fun without them.

Aside from the picnic that Aunt Rochelle prepared, Abba, Elisheva and Abba kicked around the soccer ball.

Even Elazar found what to do to entertain himself

Zeidy, Aunt Rochelle and Elisheva took strolls around the park down the shady trails and we were all treated to ice cream and cotton candy by Zeidy.

Before we went home we visited Farfar, whose apartment happens to be across the street from the park, with a nice view of the Park and the Yerushalayim skyline.

Ice Skating in Yerushalayim

No, it's not Parkwood Ice Skating Rink, but it's about the best you're going to find in Yerushalayim. -- and certainly in April during Pesach vacation.

Elisheva after finishing her "gold medal" routine

Ezra looks like a bird on ice -- I guess that makes him a penguin

Sessions are only a half-hour and it's better not to think how much they're charging you or you won't even enjoy the half-hour you have.

Elazar is a Big Boy Now

Ezra's and his entire Gan went to visit the Bostoner Rebbe shlit"a of Yerushalayim at the end of Adar. The Rebbe taught Elazar the aleph-bet and made the hebrew letters "as sweet as honey". Elazar put on his first pair of Tzitzit and made a nice brocho.

The Rebbe sang Dayenu and Mah Nishtana with the children. Thus concluded the formal part of the program

Afterward we all returned to Morah Chani's Gan for the more festive part of the program, where Ezra had his traditional "chair ride" with refreshments and "pekalach".

Purim: When Things Are Not Always As They Appear

For some reason the kids don't like to get dressed every morning of the year, nor do they like to get into pajamas, but for some reason they can't wait to get dressed for Purim. They even talk about it for months before.........Kids - go figure!!

I haven't figured out why a baker needs a pocketbook when she takes hamentashen out of the oven...

This reminds me of the commercial for Frosted Mini Wheats when I was growing up.



You want to clip my fingernails? Let me show you how it feels!

We might have put a little too much itching powder in Ezra's beard...

Everybody, come together for one group shot! Where's Ezra?

Okay, fine, one silly picture!

Noam's Got a New Way to Walk

It's official....

Noam just received his license to walk...

Noam's first birthday

Back to back birthdays for Noam (1) and Ima (29+1) brought a Pizzaleh dinner, cupcakes for dessert (and balloons) all courtesy of Grandpa and Bubby.

Noam, the birthday boy, seemed to be more interested in the clown figurine on top of the cupcake than the cupcake itself.