Wednesday, January 31, 2007

MALCHA MALL

From my living room window I can see the Malcha Mall and beyond that the neighbourhood of Gilo.

Everyone in Jerusalem goes to the Malcha Mall. It's actually a great mall. Restaurants, coffee shops, supermarket, shops, stations where children of all ages can play and build things, and yesterday we added a new attraction. Yesterday we added a killer!

Mr. X who is 77 years old ran into his estranged wife Mrs. X who was 75 by the water fountain just beyond the supermarket. Right beside the escalator.

They started to argue right there by the fountain when suddenly Mr. X pulled out a knife and began stabbing Mrs. X!!! She died either on the way to the hospital or in the hospital.

Where's Bubbie? Zaidi killed her!?!

What the hell is wrong with these guys? Seventy-seven! Is there no age where women are safe?

Here's my biggie question. How the hell did he get into the mall with a knife? Israel is a country where every door is checked by a guard. The mall has two securty people at each car entrance checking cars. Every person walking in has their purse checked and has to go through a security arch. Does not make me feel safe knowing that this man has been carrying that knife in his pocket for almost forty years and walks in and out of our mall without being stopped. Boggles, no?

I am very glad that I wasn't there at the time. I am even more relieved that my babies weren't there.

How scary!!!

I was in the mall today. Twice a week I teach a student there. He is partially sighted and the mall is halfway between our two houses. At nine in the morning in the Fast Food Court the place is empty and we manage to study for two hours before the hungry hoards invade our space.

I am very grateful not to have been a witness to the murder. Thank you God.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

IF YOU WANT SOMETING DONE, GIVE IT TO A BUSY PERSON

I had the entire day free. I was going to do nothing. Stay in my housecoat. Didn't need to go to the Makoket (7-11). Cold and raining out. Perfect day for staying home and writing.

HA!

Well, see it started out like this. A few weeks ago, by mistake, I turned on Fox News just when they had one of those Medical Alerts. And this time they were talking about some poor man who had cancer of the nose!!!! AND NO I AM NOT KIDDING...I guess there really is such a thing and the poor man didn't have much hope.

Of course, a few days later I had a cold/sinus attack and back on antibiotics. And of course they didn't do a terrific job and one of my nostrils stayed plugged by my polyp. And yes I started thinking. And yes I made myself nuts.

And yes I shlepped myself to the doctors.

My poor doctor waits for me to come into the office. I think I'm his comic relief. We tell stories and jokes.

And he never knows what kind of disease I am going to come up with next. Usually I'm there with Bubbie Channah or one of my kids. He's already told me that since my kids all drive and have cars they don't have to come with their Mommy to the doctors.

I just give him 'the look'.

As Bubbie Channah always says, 'So what if he has a diploma. Does anyone know where he graduated in his class?' Oy! I never thought of that. He could be at the bottom...no...not my doctor. My doctor is one of the real good guys. And besides he has a sense of humour.

Well, the good news is that I have allergies. I could have told you that, but see I needed to hear it from the man with the diploma on his wall.

Then I went to the Makolet and got some stuff...shouldn't be a total loss and came home. Made a huha vegetable soup, and potato ravioli, and ketchup chicken. Put the chicken pieces in a pyrex dish...cover with half water half ketchup...a few chopped onions and bung it into the oven. Don't ask how easy and how delicious.

Then my student showed up.

By the time he left and I had a bowl of soup it was already three o'clock!!!

All I wanted to do today was sit around the house and write.

The moral of this story? Don't watch the news...it could kill you!!!

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Monday, January 29, 2007

MY NEWEST FAVOURITEST SAYING

Bubbie Channah says that I started talking full sentences at nine months. And that I opened my eyes and my mouth at the same time.

I think if I would have been an American Indian, (is that still politically correct?) I would have wanted to be the Storyteller. I love stories. I love words. I love reading them, writing them, and listening to them. Especially if they're smart.

So, I started writing them down. What great fun. After using my mouth and ears all day long solving problems, I just sat down at the computer and in the silence used my eyes and fingers and created a network of friends all over the world.

Then I decided that I really really really wanted to write. Seriously write. Oh, trust me, I can tell a humdinger of a story. I can make you laugh, cry, gape in wonder...you name it I can tell it.

But writing takes not only talent but craft. So I started looking around for a writing group. You know the old saying, 'When the pupil is ready the teacher appears' ?. Well, one day two years ago I found David. ..my mentor...the leader of my creative writing group.

And I started writing. Boy oh boy did I start writing.

And added to my collection of owls...of course I do...don't all witches have owls? Where was I? Oh, yes. Added to my collection of owls I decided to add words and phrases.

Here are a few of the thoughts I've gathered along the way:
1. Ever notice that 'what the hell' is always the right decision?...marilyn monroe
2.---ducking for apples---change one letter and it's the story of my life...dorothy parker
3. Be careful abut reading health books. You may die of a missprint....mark twain
4. The toilets have gone anal-retentive again! Dee would shout when they would decline to flush...Sue Monk Kidd (The Mermaid Chair)

AND MY ALL TIME NEWEST AND LATEST BESTEST OF THE BEST:

Just because you have one, doesn't mean you have to be one.

Bada Boom!

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

A FEW THOUGHTS ON A SUNDAY MORNING

First of all a sweet shavuah tov to you all. I hope you have a wonderful week.

Today is my little one's twenty-fourth birthday. I guess I'm so old that all I can think of is 'Where did the time fly?'

The truth is that I love being my age. I love being a Mom of grown up kids and I love being a Bubbie. And I am blessed to still be a Daughter, tfu tfu tfu Bubbie Channah, bless her.

I almost died giving birth to this one and when we both came out the other side, healthy and happy a bond was forged that is still strong to this day.

Last year at this time he was on his Quest to South America. I packed him a gift and a card to be opened on his special day and I cried. Today I hugged him and smiled.

Every day is a gift and should be cherished.

So, what's new with me? My chicken and vegetables are roasting in the oven...my astrology column is written and sent out...the beds are made...the sun is shining...and the kid and I are sitting in the living room working on our laptops. He's home because he's studying for exams...law school...Hebrew University. I'm home because I can be. Isn't that lovely? I have one student today this afternoon and then I am meeting A. to work on our children's book.

It is lovely working with someone on a book, especially if that someone is the opposite sex. No...don't go there, silly. The opposite sex sees things differently and since we have both boys and girls in our story it is delicious watching him add tadpoles and sticks scraping along fences...stuff like that.

I got an e-mail from a friend. A cartoon. It showed an old couple. He obviously has just walked up behind her and has grabbed her breasts. The caption reads: 'GUESS WHO', and she answers, ' WHO CARES!'

I laughed like hell. :)))

Now for a serious moment. I don't know what happened to my blogger beta but I can't access all of your blogs. For some reason I can't access Treppenwitz/ Val/Sojourner. I miss you guys and don't want you to think that I have been avoiding you. Anyone have any ideas?

Ok. Off I go. This morning is set aside for writing Emma. My goal is to have the book finished by Pessach.

A sweet shavuah tov.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for droppin in.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

FANTASY ISLAND

As I grow older, more and more I have come to the conclusion that BORING IS BETTER.
I mean it. Just think what I could accomplish if I lived on some fantasy island. Let me describe it to you.

Nice friendly water all around (not like on Survivor where there are snakes and sharks and crocodiles just waiting to do you a damage), soft white beaches where you can put your blanket or chair down and look at the blue water. Dolphins jumping and cavorting to amuse you.

When you decide you've had enough sun, you can walk a few meters and stop for a drink and a meal at Happy Joe's, the local beach restaurant and bar. Charlie, who bought the bar from Happy Joe runs the place now but kept the name. He's put in electricity, so right there on the beach you can plug in your laptop and connect to the outside world.

Everyone on the island cares about their neighbours, but protects and understands the value of giving you your space.

There is a local doctor and dentist on call and even a little clinic, if God forbid, you need it.

People are friendly and everyone manages to make a living.

And then I woke up. Still in Jerusalem. With the words of our ranting, out of control, President Katzav in my ears.

I actually almost felt sorry for him for a moment. We've all done it. Opened our mouths and said too much. But he is in the talking business and should have known better.

And I woke up nervous. Normally, it's difficult to remain happy-go-lucky in this country where the guys across the street are blowing you up and the cousin over the hill wants to get bombs to blow you to smithereens.

But this was different. This was hoping that finally there will be only ONE law in this country and it will apply for the people AND the government.

Someone on TV said maybe we should turn the entire Knesset into one big prison! Oy!

Then, I thought, why the hell not? They're all there already. There are bathrooms, a kitchen, each Chaver Knesset has his own room.

Isn't this awful? But, until we get them all out of the Knesset and into jail there will be no peaceful days and nights. And, I betcha YOU KNOW WHO is watching and waiting.

There is still time to save the store. But we godda hurry. First the President and then the Prime Minister and Lord alone knows who else.

How did we get into this mess? I got one inkling this morning when Rena called and told me that Shimon Peres (I have not liked him for a very long time) announced that he knew in 2000 that Katzav was a womanizer and was doing bad things 'but he decided not to say anything and told his staff to be quiet too.'

NICE. So instead he let this guy become President of our country. See, I think he was pissed cuz he is a man who has never once won an election. So he figured 'why should Katzav only screw a few women, when he can screw an entire country!'

Nice Shimon. Very nice. Doesn't this make you an accomplice?

I wonder if I can open a place and call it Happy Joe's? I think I would like to spend some time there. Oh, by the way...you're invited to come along...the drinks are on me.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

AHMADINADOODLE...OY

I can never remember that mamzer's name. But I can see his farbisseneh punim (miserable face). My good friend John Little just wrote a wonderful post...well maybe wonderful is the wrong word as it tells how Iran is planning to wipe us off the map. And could do it too!

Go visit his blog, Israel Outlook"
John writes about Israel and every post he writes is worth reading. Sweeps out the cobwebs and gives you loads of information and keeps you thinking. Besides all that he is a great friend, and the man who said, 'Marallyn, you need a blog'. And then, bless him set me up with this one! Like I said, one of the good guys.

John, I read your post. I loved hating it. I think it's important and everyone should read it.

Here's what I think.

Do you remember watching Maccabi Tel Aviv, our huha basketball team? I hate watching them. Why? Because they are always losing by a couple of points. Until the final five seconds. Then, from out of nowhere, some player flings the ball from the other end of the court...the thing makes it's way to the hoop...and Lordy Lordy dunks right into the loop, past the ring, through the net and plop onto the floor.

The crowds go meshuggeh. ..the other team stares unbelieving. ..and we party!!!

Somehow, I do not think that YOU KNOW WHO is going to let his Chosen People be nuked. If anyone is going to Beam Us Up,Scotty it ain't gonna be Ahmadinadoodle. Many have tried. God knows, many have tried. But like the first Maccabians...and the second group with the ball, there will be another miracle in the HOLY LAND...And I put my money on the Big Guy.

Don't forget, like the 2,000 year old man said, "There's something bigger than Murray!"

But, in the meantime how do we keep from having a serous nervous breakdown? AHHHHHH that is a good question.

The time for turning the other cheek is way past gone. The time for talking is way past gone. I think what's left is to do what the 2,000 year old man does, "When I wake up in the morning, I drop to my knees and pray fiercely. Twenty-two minutes of prayer every day. That a ceiling does not fall on me and that my heart does not attack me!"

Works for me. But, in the meantime I think we have to make sure we carry a big stick, cuz I do believe that the Lord helps those who helps themselves.

So, wake up little Susie, roll over Beethoven, hit the road Jack and never forget that Israel is the meanest s.o.b. in the valley.

Oy...sigh.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

SO YOU WANNA KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE MY NEW LAPTOP???

There are dog people and there are cat people.

There are carbo lovers and there are the coffee/smoker people.

There are night people and there are daytime people.

And there are laptop lovers and pc lovers.

Guess which of the above list I belong to.

Here's a hint: I love my laptop so much that I cut off my long fingernails so the little letters won't go to that secret place where the one lost sock goes and the stuff you put into a safe place are still hiding.

Now, that is love.

The things we do to stay beautiful...sigh.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Monday, January 22, 2007

THE OLD GREY MAR, SHE AIN'T WHAT SHE USED TO BE...SIGH

Thank you, dear all of you, who thought I was terrific when I wrote my busy schedule yesterday. You have no idea how I hate to burst your bubble, but here are the facts...or as Detective Joe Friday used to say, 'All we want are the facts ma'am.'

By the time I shlepped myself into the house last night and ate a little of my roast chicken with the roasted vegetables, which were fabulous if I do say so myself, and hauled my sorry tushie into bed I fell asleep like an old poop in front of the TV.

And I missed all my good programs that were on: Dancing with the Stars, Israeli version...I saw one dancer and said 'Yahoo I love this' and then fell asleep before the next dancer appeared.

But the truth is that I needed the rest. Still on antibiotics and feeling a whole lot better. Darn sinuses...oy.

Ok. Here is my list of favourite shows on TV, in random order.
1.Ha Shir Shelanu...Our Song, an Israeli soap that is beyond kitchy and I have been hooked so long that I am now into season Four (and you thought I was a classy broad).
2. Dancing with the Stars...any version.
3. House
4. Desperate Housewives
5. Survivor
6.Grey's Anatomy
7.Monkey World...don't ask. Have been watching for so long even I recognize some of the chimps.
8.Amazing Makeover...Home Edition. They find some family who is down on their luck and redo their home from top to bottom. Makes me cry every week.
9.Ice Skating. Even before that Russian did his sexy version of Sex Bomb. I love watching the skaters.
10.All the Cooking Shows.
11. The Actor's Studio.
12.British comedy...Are You Being Served? Keeping Up Appearances...
13.American Idol...best show since The Gong Show went off the air.
14. and if I have to watch the news, then Fox News.
15. I am leaving this spot open cuz I know I forgot something.

And the pitiful thing is that more and more lately I am having to watch the reruns at three when I wake up to 'coffee out'.

Ahhhhhh the joys of aging...sigh.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

THE BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE AND MEN

I knew exactly what I was going to do today. I was going to get up...daven...blog and visit bloggers...write another chapter of 'Emma Shelby is No More' my novel (I am finally into the last third and heading for the post...sigh)and roast a chicken with vegetables...make mashed potatoes...go through my e-mails...wait for my student and then hustle my bustle to pick up sweetsie tootsie from his gan (nursery school). Sweetsie girl is being brought to me by a nice neighbour, thank you very much.

Then the phone rang. And it was my friend Rena. She is HOT and I am YES. No, nothing sexy and/or exciting, HOT is her cable server, and mine is YES. Hot is taking off BBC Prime and mine is not.

Of course she did. She moved to YES. On Thursday. I helped her. But...and here comes the exciting part...they forgot to mention that they were disconnecting her from her internet server and that she had a slew of stuff to do in order to be reconnected. VEY.

Now Rena cooks. She is a great cook. She is even what you would call an expert cook. But Rena knows squat about stuff that has to be plugged in anywhere. Squat/gornisht/nada/klum!

I know a little more that she does and together we manage to limp along in the technical world.

I will make a very long story short by telling you that Rena has now been disconnected, by mistake, from the internet since Thursday.

This morning she called me beside herself and I called YES and we had a conference call. Dontcha just love how that sounds? And I explained the story to Shabbi and he said that he would love to help but she has to go to Bezek ( our version of Ma Bell) and pick up the modum and then connect it.

Connect it? Herself? I don't think so!!!

Add to this mixture the fact that it was pouring rain. I mean pouring.

So picture this, I am standing in my living room in the all together wrapped in a towel trying to talk to Shabbi. Rena is standing in her living room in the altogether and I don't know if she has a towel while she is talking to Shabbi. There is no heat in either of our houses as we don't leave it on at night. Freezing and gorgeous, I mean pictures of lovliness the two of us are trying to get her computer connected.

Nope. Nothing to be done. We have to go to the Bezek Store downtown. She quickly dresses. I quickly dress. We drive downtown to the Bezek Store next to the Central Bus Station and of course there isn't a parking place. Why should there be a parking place?

But am I not the White Witch of Jerusalem? Of course I am. Not only did I steer us to a parking place but I got the rain to stop while we were running from the car to the Bezek Store. Yahooooooooooo I love it when it works.

The bottom line is we got the farkakteh modum, we got back home safely, the chicken and vegetables are roasting in the oven, the potatoes are cooking on the stove, I checked my emails, I'm writing to you, and I still have a half hour to daven before my student arrives.

Ptew! Not a bad morning's work.

So from me to you, a sweet shavuah tov.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

MY SCORE WAS 19

OK enough of the political stuff...here is some fluff for Shabbat.

Shabbat shalom

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Everyone over 40 should have a pretty easy time at this exam. If you are
under 40 you can claim a handicap.

This is a History Exam for those who don't mind seeing how much they really
remember about what went on in their life. Get paper and pencil and number
from 1 to 20.
Write the letter of each answer and score at the end.

Then, best of all, before you pass this test on, put your score in the
subject line!

1. In the 1940s, where were automobile headlight dimmer switches located?
A. On the floor shift knob
B. On the floor board, to the left of the clutch
C. Next to the horn

2. The bottle top of a Royal Crown Cola bottle had holes in it. For what was
it used?
A. Capture lightning bugs
B. To sprinkle clothes before ironing
C. Large salt shaker

3. Why was having milk delivered a problem in northern winters?
A. Cows got cold and wouldn't produce milk
B. Ice on highways forced delivery by dog sled
C. Milkmen left deliveries outside of front doors and milk would freeze,
expanding and pushing up the cardboard bottle top.

4. What was the popular chewing gum named for a game of chance?
A. Blackjack
B. Gin
C. Craps!

5. What method did women use to look as if they were wearing stockings when
none were available due to rationing during W.W.II
A. Suntan
B. Leg painting
C. Wearing slacks

6. What postwar car turned automotive design on its ear when you couldn't
tell whether it was coming or going?
A. Studebaker
B. Nash Metro
C. Tucker

7. Which was a popular candy when you were a kid?
A Strips of dried peanut butter
B. Chocolate licorice bars
C. Wax coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside

8. How was Butch wax used?
A. To stiffen a flat-top haircut so it stood up
B. To make floors shiny and prevent scuffing
C. On the wheels of roller skates to prevent rust

9. Before inline skates, how did you keep your roller skates attached to
your shoe s?
A With clamps, tightened by a skate key
B. Woven straps that crossed the foot
C. Long pieces of twine

10. As a kid, what was considered the best way to reach a decision?
A. Consider all the facts
B. Ask Mom
C. Eeny-meeny-miney-MO

11. What was the most dreaded disease in the 1940s?
A. Smallpox
B. AIDS
C. Polio

12. "I'll be down to get you in a ________, Honey"
A. SUV
B. Taxi
C. Streetcar

13. What was the name of Caroline Kennedy's pet pony?
A. Old Blue
B. Paint
C.. Macaroni

14. What was a Duck-and-Cover Drill?
A. Part of the game of hide and seek
B What you did when your Mom called you in to do chores
C. Hiding under your desk, and covering your head with your arms in an
A-bomb drill.

15. What was the name of the Indian Princess on the Howdy Doody show?
A Princess Summerfallwinterspring
B. Princess Sacajawea
C. Princess Moonshadow

16. What di d all the really savvy students d o when mimeographed tests were
handed out in school?
A. Immediately sniffed the purple ink, as this was believed to get you high
B.. Made paper airplanes to see who could sail theirs out the window C.
Wrote another pupil's name on the top, to ! Avoid their failure

17. Why did your Mom shop in stores that gave Green Stamps with purchases?
A. To keep you out of mischief by licking the backs, which tasted like
bubble gum
B. They could be put in special books and redeemed for various household
items
C. They were given to the kids to be used as stick-on tattoos

18. Praise the Lord, and pass the _________?
A Meatballs
B. Dames
C. Ammunition

19. What was the name of the singing group that made the song "Cabdriver" a
hit?
A. The Ink Spots
B. The Supremes
C. The Esquires

20. Who left his heart in San Francisco ?
A. Tony Bennett
B. Xavier Cugat
C. George Gershwin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWERS

1. B) On the floor, to the left of the clutch. Hand controls, popular in
Europe , took till the late '60's to catch on

2. B) To sprinkle clothes before ironing. Who had a steam iron?

3. c) Cold weather caused the milk to freeze and expand, popping the bottle
top.

4. a) Blackjack Gum.

5. b) Special makeup was applied, followed by drawing a seam down the back
of the leg with eyebrow pencil.

6. a ) 1946 Studebaker.

7. c) Wax coke bottles containing super-sweet colored water.

8 a) Wax for your flat top (butch) haircut

9. a) With clamps, tightened by a skate key, which you wore on a shoestring
around your neck.

10. c) Eeny-meeny-miney-mo.

11. c) Polio. In beginning of August, swimming pools were closed, movies and
other public gathering places were closed to try to prevent spread of the
disease.

12. b) Taxi. Better be ready by half-past eight!

13. c) Macaroni.

14. c) Hiding under your desk, and covering your head with your arms in an
A-bomb drill.

15. a) Princess Summerfallwinterspring. She was another puppet.

16. a) Immediately sniffed the purple ink to get a high.

17. b) Put in a special stamp book, they could be traded for household items
at the Green Stamp store.

18. c) Ammunition, and we'll all be free.

19. a) The widely famous 50's group: The Inkspots.

20. a) Tony Bennett, and he sounds just as good today..



SCORING

17- 20 correct: You are older than dirt, and obviously gifted with mental
abilities. Now if you could only find your glasses. Definitely someone who
should share your wisdom!

12 -16 correct: Not quite dirt yet, but you're getting there.

0 -11 correct: You are not old enough to share the wisdom of your
experiences.

Send this to your friends with your score in the subject line!

JUST BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW...

Exclusive: Jimmy Carter Interceded on Behalf of Nazi SS Guard
09:14 Jan 18, '07 / 28 Tevet 5767
by Ezra HaLevi Israel National News
www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=119732

A former U.S. Justice Department official disclosed to Arutz-7 that former
U.S. President Jimmy Carter's advocacy extended beyond the PA Arabs, when he
interceded on behalf of a Nazi SS man.

Neil Sher, a veteran of the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Special
Investigation, described a letter he received from Carter in 1987 in an
interview with Israel National Radio's Tovia Singer. The letter, written and
signed by Carter, asked that Sher show "special consideration" for a man
proven to have murdered Jews in the Mauthausen death camp in Austria.

"In 1987, Carter had been out of office for seven years or so," Sher
recalled. "It was a very active period for my office. We had just barred
Kurt Waldheim - he was then president of Austria and former head of the
United Nations - from entering the U.S. because of his Nazi past and his
involvement in the persecution of civilians during the war. We had just
deported an Estonian Nazi Commandant back to the Soviet Union after a
bruising battle after which we were attacked by Reagan White House
Communications Director Patrick Buchanan.

"Also around that time, in the spring of 1987, we deported a series of SS
guards from concentration camps, whose names nobody would know. One such
character we sent back to Austria was a man named Martin Bartesch."

Bartesch, who had immigrated to the U.S. and lived in Chicago, admitted to
Sher's office and the court that he had voluntarily joined the Waffen SS and
had served in the notorious SS Death's Head Division at the Mauthausen
concentration camp where, at the hands of Bartesch and his cohorts, many
thousands of prisoners were gassed, shot, starved and worked to death. He
also confessed to having concealed his service at the infamous camp from
U.S. immigration officials.

"We had an extraordinary piece of evidence against him - a book that was
kept by the SS and captured by the American armed forces when they liberated
Mauthausen," Sher said. "We called it the death book. It was a roster that
the Germans required them to keep that identified SS guards as they extended
weapons to murder the inmates and prisoners."

An entry in the book for October 10, 1943 registered the shooting death of
Max Oschorn, a French Jewish prisoner. His murderer was also recorded: SS
guard Martin Bartesch. "It was a most chilling document," Sher recalled.

The same evidence was used by the U.S. military in postwar trials as the
basis for execution or long prison sentences for many identified SS guards.

"We kicked him out and he went back to Austria. In the meantime, his
family - he had adult kids - went on a campaign, also supported by his
church, to try to get special treatment. In so doing they attacked the
activities of our office and me personally. They claimed we used phony
evidence from the Soviet Union - which was nonsense. They claimed he was a
young man of only 17 or 18 when he joined the Nazi forces, asking for some
sympathetic treatment and defense from our office, which they claimed was
just after vengeance."

The family approached several members of Congress. "The congressmen would,
very understandably, forward their claims over to our office and when they
learned the facts they would invariably drop the case," Sher recalled.

But there was one politician who accepted the claims without asking for any
further information.

"One day, in the fall of '87, my secretary walks in and gives me a letter
with a Georgia return address reading 'Jimmy Carter.' I assumed it was a
prank from some old college buddies, but it wasn't. It was the original copy
of the letter Bartesch's daughter sent to Carter, after Bartesch had already
been deported.

"In the letter, she claimed we were un-American, only after vengeance, and
persecuting a man for what he did when he was only 17 and 18 years old.

"I couldn't help thinking of my own father who returned home with shrapnel
wounds after he joined the U.S. Army as a teenager to fight the Nazis and
hit the beaches at Normandy at that same age on D-day.

"On the upper corner of the letter was a note signed by Jimmy Carter saying
that in cases such as this, he wanted 'special consideration for the family
for humanitarian reasons.'

"I didn't respond to the letter - the case was already over and he was out
of the country - but it always stuck in my craw. A former president who didn't
do what I would expect him to do - with a full staff at his disposal - to
find out the facts before he took up the side of this person. But I wasn't
going to pick a fight with a former president. We had enough on our plate."

Now, following Carter's book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, Sher has
decided to go public with the hope that a public made aware of Carter's
support and defense of a Nazi SS man will help illustrate why the arbiter of
the Camp David Accords came out with a book defending the Palestinians after
the landslide election of the Islamist Hamas terror group.

"It always bothered me, but I didn't go public with it until recently, when
he wrote this book and let it spill out where his sentiments really lie,"
Sher said. "Here was Jimmy Carter jumping in on behalf of someone who did
not deserve in any way, shape or form special consideration. And the things
he has now said about the Jewish lobby really exposes where his heart really
lies."

Click here to listen to Tovia Singer's interview with Sher on Israel
National Radio.
www.israelnationalnews.com/data/radio/asx2007/01/17/rl_560.asx

Click here for our free Daily News Report from Israel
http://subscribe.israelnationalnews.com/subscribe.asp


Published: 18:23 January 17, 2007
Last Update: 09:14 January 18, 2007



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Tuesday, January 16, 2007

COMFORT FOOD...OR HOW I LOST TEN KILO AFTER DIETING FOR 53 YEARS

Comfort food. When things get tough what do you reach for?

Here is my list:
chocolate
cream of wheat
serious chocolate...for extra special tension
anything with yeast
peanut butter
pasta
pecan pie

And any combination of the above. For example, did you know that pop corn and chocolate are wonderful together?

During the first intifada I perfected my list. I added to it and subrtracted from it. I shared it with friends and listened to their list.

See, on October 4, 1994 I quit smoking. Just like that. Well, not exactly just like that but in 24 hours I was a new man...er I mean...you know what I mean.

So, no more cigarettes. Tried gum for awhile till it started pulling out my crowns and I had them staring back at me in my hand. Not a pretty sight. And the diet candy works like beans if you eat enough of them. That's more information than you need to know :).

So, all of you will be extremely proud of me when I tell you that last night, with my swollen face and plugged up sinuses, and antibiotics three times a day I did not reach for my list.

Maybe it was that I figured, 'What the hell, I can't taste anything anyway...'
Nah! That never stopped me before.

Whatever it is, I have to tell you that I was so full of tea with lemon that I didn't even think of anything else.

Am I going to be an alfalfa person? Will I drink carrot juice and those little watercress sandwiches without the crust?

You should see the look of amazement on everyone's face when I walk into the health food stores. HAHAHA.

See, my idea of a great sandwich has pastrami and cole slaw involved or grilled cheese as one of the ingredients.

I don't know if I have kicked the list, but I think I have got it on a back burner for a bit. Yahoooooooooo for me.

What's your list? There is still room on my dance card to add more and who knows, in a case of emergency I may only have your stuff in my cupboard. Be a sport. Share.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Monday, January 15, 2007

SEE, IT'S ALL 'CUZ I RAISED THEM RIGHT

I love being a mom. I love being a bubbie, but I love being a mom. Well, most of the time. There is an Arabic expression that goes like this: 'Raising children is like chewing on a stone.'

My brother Dovidle used to go sailing and when I asked him what it was like he said,' Hours of unending bordom interrupted by moments of unbelieveable terror!'

Raising kids is something like that. But when they look up at you and say, Imma, I love you, all is forgiven and you have the strength to carry on another day.

I taught my kids not to lie. Not to steal. Not to write on the walls, except for one interesting day when my little daughter decided to decorate the wall with what was left of her half-eaten apple. (Remember invisible ink? Don't ask!)

And, I taught my children to share. My two oldest are twenty months apart and then ten years later we had the baby. So, the baby virtually grew up with two sets of parents...one set was cool and the other set were the lawmakers.

Now my babies are all grown up and my oldest son has two babies of his own...sweetsie tootsie and sweetsie girl. And they are teaching the babies the same values that they grew up with.

Ask me how I know? Go ahead!

Well, the first time I got sick this winter was when I went to take care of my daughter who was sick with the flu. She shared.

The second time I got sick, sweetsie girl kissed me and again we shared.

This week, my youngest coughed in my direction and we shared again.

Right to the sinuses! But this time I woke up this morning with my cheek swollen and my eye kinda funny. Called the doctor (of course I did...Bubbie Channah says about doctors...'Big deal he has a diploma on the wall...ask him where he graduated in his class!' :)

What can I tell you? Here I am, back again on antibiotics. I'm a vision of lovliness.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

THANKS SO MUCH, MR. BELL

Last night, at about eight-thirty, my cell phone rang, and a little voice asked me in Hebrew, 'Who is this?'

I told him and he yelled, 'Bubbie! It's me! I called you! I called you all by myself!'

And then we both laughed with glee. My sweetsie tootsie is four and a half and loves talking on the phone. Whenever we are together he takes my cell and pushes the appropriate buttons (quick dialing) to phone his father, my daughter, my other son, and of course his sabba (my husband, his grandfather).

In a flash he learned how to do that. And every time the right person answers he is tickled pink.

All kids love talking on the phone. And now that sweetsie is old enough to have conversations he has extended his world to include the phone.

Like a little old man he holds the phone and starts walking all over the house as he speaks. Hmmm, I wonder who he got that from, lol?

Last night's conversation went something like this:
'Bubbie, last week you promised you would pick me up from the Gan (nursery school).'
'Yes, honey I did, but I told you that I had students and couldn't come and get you.'
'Bubby, are you a teacher?' ( awe in his voice)
'Yes, honey, I am and when you get a little older I'm going to teach you English.' (awe in my voice that he knew if I had students, then I was a teacher)
'So, can you come get me tomorrow?'
'No, honey, I can't. But I can on Tuesday.'
'Wait, I have to check my scehdule, Bubbie. See, I may have work at the gan that needs to be finished.'
'Ok, honey. You let me know.'
'Bubbie, when you come pick me up are we going to go to your house or are you going to come to my house?'
'Whatever you'd like.'
'Ok, Bubbie. I'll let you know.'

At that point my son got on the phone.

'Imma? That's really you? He really phoned you?'

And we all laughed again. I guess the kid hit 'redial' and I was the last person the kids called before turning off their phones for Shabbat.

What a great way to start the week. A phone call from a little kid who needed to talk to his Bubbie.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. We couldn't have done it without you.

Shavuah tov(a good week).

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Labels:

Friday, January 12, 2007

I WANTED TO BE SOPHIA LOREN

shabbat shalom!!! Everyone here is either getting over the terrible veeroos (virus) that attacks your throat and makes your nose do an immitation of Niagara Falls...don't ask...or infecting their loved ones. Me? Tfu tfu tfu, I have had it twice...brother Dovidle got it...now my youngest has it. We are doing our best not to reinfect each other, so keep your fingers crossed.

Maeshey, my other brother, not by blood but by choice, sent this to me. I thought, 'Ok, I'll try.' Of all the movie stars in the world, I ended up Grace Kelly.

Now, I always thought of Sydonia as Grace Kelly. The Guv as Lainie Kazan, and me like an Israeli comedian Tsipi Shavit (picture Totie Fields speaking Hebrew). But Grace Kelly???

Ok, you try. And let me know how you came out. Oh, for the men out there, you can try too, it won't hurt you to get in touch with your feminine side. Actually, it might be nice for a change.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

WHICH MOVIE STAR ARE YOU?

Ever wonder which movie star you are most like? Don't read ahead please! Well, a team of researchers got together and analyzed the personalities of movie stars.

The gathered info has been incorporated into this quiz. There are only 10 questions so it doesn't take long.

Number your paper from 1 to 10, then Answer each question with the choice that most describes you at this point in your life, and then add up the points that correspond with your answers. Send this to all of your friends (including person who sent it to you) with your star's name in the subject line.

Please don't be a butt and ruin it by not responding and don't look ahead or you will ruin the fun! ;o)

1. Which describes your perfect date?
a) Candlelight dinner for two
b) Amusement Park
c) Rollerblading in the park

d) Rock Concert
e) Have dinner & see a movie
f) Dinner at home with a loved one

2. What is your favorite type of music?
a) Rock and Roll
b) Alternative

c) Soft Rock
d) Classical
e) Christian
f) Jazz

3. What is your favorite type of movie?
a) Comedy
b) Horror
c) Musical
d) Romance
e) Documentary
f) Mystery

4. Which of the following jobs would you choose if you were given only these choices?
a) Waiter/Waitress
b) Sports Player
c) Teacher
d) Policeman
e) Bartender
f) Business person

5. Which would you rather do if you had an hour to waste?
a) Work out
b) Make out
c) Watch TV
d) Listen to the radio
e) Sleep
f) Read

6. Of the following colors, which do you like best?
a) Yellow
b) White
c) Sky blue
d) Teal
e) Gold
f) Red

7. Which one of the following would you like to eat right now?
a) Ice cream
b) Pizza
c) Sushi
d) Pasta
e) Salad
f) Lobster Tail

8. Which is your favorite holiday?
a) Halloween
b) Christmas
c) New Year's
d) Valentine's Day
e) Thanksgiving
f) Fourth of July

9. If you could go to any of the following places, which would it be?
a) Reno
b) Spain
c) Las Vegas
d) Hawaii
e) Hollywood
f) British Columbia

10. Of the following, who would you rather spend time with?
a) Someone who is smart
b) Someone with good looks
c) Someone who is a party animal
d) Someone who has fun all the time
e) Someone who is very emotional
f) Someone who is fun to be with

Now total up your points on each question:

1. a=4 / b=2 / c=5 / d=1 / e=3 / f=6
2. a=2 / b=1 / c=4 / d=5 / e=3 / f=6
3. a=2 /b=1 /c=3 /d=4 /e=5 /f=6
4. a=4 / b=5 / c=3 / d=2 / e=1 / f=6
5. a=5 / b=4 / c=2 / d=1 / e=3 / f=6

6. a=1 / b=5 / c=3 / d=2 / e=4 / f=6
7. a=3 / b=2 / c=1 / d=4 / e=5 / f=6
8. a=1 / b=3 / c=2 / d=4 / e=5 / f=6
9. a=4 / b=5 / c=1 / d=4 / e=3 / f=6
10. a=5 / b=2 / c=1 / d=3 / e=4 / f=6


NOW, take your total and find out which Movie Star you are:

(10-17 points) You are MADONNA:
You are wild and crazy and you know it. You know how to have fun, but you may take it to extremes. You know what you are doing though, and are much in control of your own life. People don't always see things your way, but that doesn't mean that you should do away with your beliefs.Try to remember that your wild spirit can lead to hurting yourself and others.

(18-26 points) You are DORIS DAY:
You are fun, friendly, and popular! You are a real crowd pleaser. You have probably been out on the town your share of times,yet you come home with the values that your mother taught you. Marriage and children are very important to you, but only after you have fun. Don't let the people you please influence you to stray.

(27-34 points) You are DEBBIE REYNOLDS:
You are cute, and everyone loves you. You are a best friend that no one takes the chance of losing. You never hurt feelings and seldom have your own feelings hurt. Life is a breeze. You are witty, and calm most of the time. Just keep clear of back stabbers, and you are worry-free.


(35-42 points) You are GRACE KELLY:
You are a lover. Romance, flowers, and wine are all you need to enjoy yourself. You are serious about all commitments and are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday, and never forget a Birthday. Don't let your passion for romance get confused with the real thing.

(43-50 points) You are KATHERINE HEPBURN:
You are smart, a real thinker. Every situation is approached with a plan. You are very healthy in mind and body. You don't take crap from anyone. You have only a couple of individuals that you consider "real friends". You teach strong family values. Keep your feet planted in them, but don't overlook a bad situation when it does happen.

(51-60 points) You are ELIZABETH TAYLOR:
Everyone is in awe of you. You know what you want and how to get it. You have more friends than you know what to do with. Your word is your bond. Everyone knows when you say something it is money in the bank.You attract the opposite sex. Your intelligence overwhelms most. Your memory is the next thing to
photographic. Everyone admires you because you are so considerate and lovable. You know how to enjoy life and treat people right.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

AMO AMAS AMAT...OR HOW TO BECOME A LATIN LOVER

I don't know about you, but when I was in high school we studied Latin. Lovely language btw and like solving a difficult puzzle or algebra problem, when you finally got it translated the feeling of joy was amazing.

I love language. Nu, so why are you suprised...does a fat person love food? Does an extrovert need words? Of course we do!!!

So you can imagine my surprise the other day when I got the following email from my friend Cecil:

The Centers for Disease Control has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of Sexually Transmitted Disease. This disease is contracted through dangerous and high-risk behaviour. The disease is called GONORRHEA LECTIM .

It seems that this highly contagious disease started in the States and now it is spreading to Israel and Europe. OY.

After ten days at Bubbie Channah's watching Fox news 24/7 I almost caught it myself!

So, I quickly washed my hands with soap, turned off the television and picked up a book instead. VENI , VIDI, VICI :)

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE...

I don't know about you, but I have always found it difficult saying 'goodbye'. I noticed it for the first time when I was Sixteen. My friend, Rozzie and her mother and sisters were moving from Windsor to California. Her Dad had passed away and her mom felt she needed a change.

I hated it. See, way back then, in the Dark Ages of the fifties, we didn't have internet...skype...email...cheap phone rates. We had snail mail and Ma Bell. And no one made a long distance call unless it was an emergency. Yes, my friends, although I don't remember the Pony Express, I am really that old.

Then nine years later I did my own version of Tevya at the train station. You remember that scene where his daughter is off to Siberia to join her love who was banished there? And they are standing at that little stop never knowing if or when they would ever see each other again? Of course you remember...how could anyone forget? Not a dry eye in the audience.

Where was I? Oh, yes, Anatevka...I mean Windsor. When I decided to move to Israel it was only for one year. My Dad AH took me to the airport. Bubbie Channah stayed home. She never ever went to the goodbye airport...only the hello one. So, I had said my goodbyes to my mother and we drove to the airport in Detroit. The trip took an hour. I had a headache. For a month I had a headache. And then it was time. We hugged and kissed and cried and said goodbye. My two girlfriends and I were off to Israel. (funny how once I was on the plane my headaches disappeared.)

No one had any money. Overseas phone calls were a fortune. And besides, in 1970 you just couldn't pick up the phone and make a phone call to America. We had to go to the Central Post Office on Jaffa Road near the Old City and book a time...usually at two in the morning, oy, and stand in line waiting for our turn.

Then one day we met C. at the beach in Tel Aviv. Hot. Humid. Sitting on the sand everyone talked to their neighbour, just like they still do on the busses. C. spoke a little English and was so happy to practice with us. We asked her to please watch our stuff while we ran into the water to cool off and we before we left that day we had become friends.

What we didn't know was that C. worked for the phone company. And not just the phone company...but for the long distance part of the phone company. One night in the middle of the night our phone rang. We jumped up and a familiar voice said, "Marallyn, your long distance call is ready." My heart started klapping and within a couple of seconds my mom and dad were on the line.

Once a month or so, we would get a phone call like that. And whoever's mom was on the line, after she hung up she would call the other moms.

Wadda life!

Yesterday, my brother Dovidle left to go back to Boulder.

You know how sometimes things are simply bashert (meant to be)? The first blizzard in Denver/Boulder that left them with three feet of snow happened just days before he was to fly to Israel, leaving him stranded for a couple of nights at his office. Then a window of clear skies and the airports opened and he was able to fly out. Then the snow started again leaving another couple of feet of snow. And a minor earthquake (never happens in Colorado). So even if his clients had wanted to keep their appointments they couldn't have gotten to his office. Yahooooo. But the avalanche on the highway yesterday was a bit too much already.

Since he had such a long stopover, he got a room at the airport for the night and will be flying home shortly, and should be arriving tfu tfu tfu in about twelve hours or so.

So we had to say goodbye. But my brother Dovidle always has to have a plan. Wanna hear ours? OK. When he gets back he's going to tell us how the trip was after breaking it up by spending the night in Europe. That way, maybe this summer, if we have the money and if we can, then I'll take Bubbie Channah and we'll go to the states for a visit.

Up until now I didn't think I could go because I didn't want to leave Ma for too long on her own. She's a pip but still 83 is 83 bli ayin ha rah ( that's Hebrew for tfu tfu tfu). And I didn't think that shlepping her on a long overseas flight was smart either.

Maybe now we will hop a plane, grab a room, and go visit America for a bit. Ahhhh, the stuff that dreams are made of.

So, with that thought in mind it wasn't so terribly awful saying goodbye this time. And besides, I have internet...email...skype...and cheap phone rates.

Wadda world!!!

Last night I slept in my own bed and was happy to be home. And last night I fell asleep full of ten days of bonding and healing with my mom and brother. Wadda gift!!! Thank you, God!

Thanks for being patient with me and I hope to get back to writing my blog every day again now. I missed you too.

Shavuha tov...a good week.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Friday, January 05, 2007

ONE...TWO...THREE...

It's just me counting my blessings. One, Bubbie Channah is great and it has takkeh been a pleasure spending these ten days with her at her place.

Two, my brother Dovidle is here and what a special treat that is. Every year when he comes it's like recharging a battery. We fill up with love and memories and tales of today and dreams for tomorrow. Together. How wonderful that is!!!

Three, today is Friday and the weekend is here. Tomorrow Dovidle will be leaving for Boulder...and I will be moving back home...and Bubbie Channah will be left alone but hey, that only means we will be on a countdown, counting off the days until tfu tfu tfu Dovidle will be back again next year.

How lucky we are.

Shabbat shalom to you all.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

THOUGHTS FROM ABROAD

No, I haven't left Jerusalem. But, whenever my brother Dovidle comes to town and I move in to Bubbie Channah's for the week and a half he's here, it's just like being on vacation. No responsibilities...no cooking/shopping/cleaning/laundry...like living in a little bed and breakfast. And even more fun, it's like being kids again.

When was the last time you moved in to your Mom's place and had your sibling there with you? It's amazing.

So, wanna know what we have been doing? Get this...absolutely nothing. Now, is that great, or what? I have read a book and a half...Bubbie Channah has knitted a sweather for Dovidle's granddaughter, her great-granddaughter...Dovidle has been on the computer playing some game he loves ( boy oh boy and you thought 'bubbles' was addictive ) and since Bubbie Channah lives right in the middle of town (just above Hamashbir and a block away from the Mahaneh Yehudah, the shuk) we don't cook!!!

We lounge around in 'house clothes' and watch TV. My three kids and the babies come to visit. My husband and his brothers have taken Dovidle out for coffee and re-bonded like they do every year when he comes. Our cousins Sheldon and Tsiril surprised us one day with hot pizza and diet coke and a lovely evening of stories from today and yesterday. Sheldon and Bubbie Channah are in the Lottery business together. They buy/they try/ and one day they'll win, tfu tfu tfu.

But the truth is that I'm ready to go home. Back to my own bed...my own life. Back to teaching my students ( davka this week they are all in Eilat on school trips, yahoooo), and would you believe it back to cooking and laundry and stuff.

I guess the best part of a vacation is that it's just that...a vacation. I always think that it's made up of three parts...the planning/the doing/and the memories.

Dovidle will be returning to Boulder, Colorado on Saturday. I miss him already. And don't ask how sad Bubbie Channah is. But we are so lucky. One that he was able to get away and come visit and two that we still have each other.

Dovidle's wife takes this time to fly home to be with her own mom and sister in Springfield, Illinois. So, it works out great for both families.

I am sorry that I haven't been writing every day and visiting your blogs, but give me a couple of days and I'll be back on track.

When I thought of the title for this post I had to laugh...abroad or an old broad? I'll leave that one for you to decide.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.