Shabbat Dinner in Ramla

I woke up this morning around 9 AM and headed to the market and then the Shuk to buy for Shabbat dinner.  After having some lunch, I started cooking around 1PM beginning with a vegetable soup, which I simmered for about 6 hours.  I wasn't able to find squash, but it was still quite good I think.

Nicole and Whitney lit Shabbat candles (almost perfectly on time with Shabbat, I might add, they lit at 6:51 - Shabbat started at 6:48 today according to the sticker on the candles), we said Kiddush and Hamotzi and then went into the first course of the soup.  It was accompanied by homemade baba ghanoush (making the abab ghanoush was a first time for me), a hummus plate with zatar (a green spice) and olive oil in the center.

I made lemon schnitzel (breaded chicken) and stuffed onions for the main course.  There was an israeli salad to accompany the main course (cucumber and tomato with lemon juice and a little salt).

Afterwards, we moved to the living room space (Izy and I put together the dining room table earlier today) which is not much of a move, maybe 5 - 7 feet, where we enjoyed the rest of the wine, strawberries fresh from the shuk today and pecan bars for dessert.

Nicole, decided to nap, so I made Whitney and I some turkish coffee (her first!) and then had some tea and biscuits as we chatted.  Something about dishes and me, it's a neurosis I have so that I decided after a while to do the dishes despite the specific instructions to leave them.  I got into a cleaning mode and did the counters, stove top, floors and cabinets as well.

Jeff and Izy returned from Mazi's (there was a small party there that I skipped so I could make Nicole and Whitney their last shabbat dinner in Israeli together - last shabbat dinner at least for the time being).  They played music, we talked about things, and agreed to make a meal together next week.  I fed Jeff while they waited for a phone call to meet up with friends from Ness Ziona in Tel Aviv later tonight.

BCI Israel Reunion

This evening I went to Tel Aviv for the BCI Israel Reunion. At it, I gained a whole new appreciation for the organization. One of the women there was from BCI in 1945! The head of her program was Shlomo Bardin of the Brandeis Bardin Institute! To be a part of an organization where alumni continue to remain connected after more than 60 years, before Israel was even a country, was quite an amazing thing.

It was great to catch up, to eat, to dance, and sad when it ended. Hopefully though we will find opportunity to come together again soon before we go back to our daily rituals.

Chutzpah

I took these photos during the BFL shabbaton in Jerusalem. We were given a tour of a small community just outside the old city of Jerusalem. When Cholera broke out, people saw that no one was affected in this community, and so began the migration beyond the city walls.

This fountain was designed in Germany by a German architect. Apparently, when the government went to send a bill for the work the Israeli's said, what are you talking about, this is a gift from the German government. And so the commissioned work became a gift.

The artist had an idea of incorporating symbolism with a beautiful and very naked aryan looking female with long blond hair on top of the fountain. But being jerusalem, that was vetoed. He still managed to get his way, if you look closely at the picture below of one of the ducks which are around the base, you can see a long golden braid of hair and a pair of breasts.

No photo of it, but there is also a lion and between his paws is a mouse reminding us of the story of the lion that allowed the mouse, his prey to run free on the promise he would help him someday, and then when the lion was caught in a trap, the mouse chewed through and freed him. Even our smallest ally can help us - I see it as a personal message to the United States, a reminder of the importance of Israel to their own existence.

Trip up North

Went on an excursion up North.  A few weeks ago, I was in the north of Israel and we went to see some caves.  I guess Oranim didn't want to pay the entrance fee, so we didn't see the really impressive caves in the park, which include some awesome wax figures.  In the photo above you can see the typical home life in prehistoric times as per someone's interpretation.  It was really neat to see the archeological markers as well, though I am not sure if they are actual markers or put in for effect.

Looking out from the cave you have a beautiful view.  To the left (due West) is the Mediterranean sea.  The prominent cliff ahead was once completely submerged in the sea many millions of years ago, and was formed from the buildup of small creatures, the name of which I forget.  They were conical things, of that I remember.

After returning the car to Tel Aviv, I caught this beautiful shot of the sunset.  Unfortunately, it doesn't mimic reality at all, some amazing feature in the camera pulled out the colors from the sky.  This reminded me of the DOVE ad for beauty (Evolution)

Post Shabbaton

I returned last night from the Shabbaton, the second of the three BFL seminars.  After arriving back in Tel Aviv, I went to Yonni and Rachelle's apartment where Xan was as well for some Dominion (no Puerto Rico this time) and wonderful home cooked food.  Instead of our typical wine, we drank Mint Juleps.  It really is a full glass of bourbon with the mint and sugar mixed in, being that I don't really drink - I didn't come close to finishing it.

Back home, I met Izy who was still awake.  We chatted a bit with Ben who was here as well, and then I eventually turned in.

This morning I left for the Shuk, where I purchased some basic food supplies.  It was very empty.  When I came back, I noticed our knife was gone, so I called Izy - he let me know it was across the way.  I saw Judita when I went over, and so I invited her for lunch.  We had shakshouka, which was good.  I also baked some eggplant with breadcrumbs and a little flour - but my proportions were all wrong, and they didn't come out so well.  I decided to fry them, anything is delicious fried was my logic, even an old shoe as a friend would often say.  They turned out well after being lightly fried, removing the flour taste.

Arab Kadima this afternoon, and then a meeting this evening.