FOOD FOR THOUGHT

No, this time it isn't about food...but about prayer.

I say Tehilim, Psalms, every morning. For a few minutes every day the world is blocked out and I sit and talk with God. Now, God and I have had a running conversation going for since forever, but this is different.

This isn't the 'That's cute God' kind of conversation when the egg or oil spills on the floor and I have to figure out how to get it up so no one slips and does themselves a damage.

No, this is serious, in Hebrew, talking. Between us, sometimes I hate putting what I need aside to daven, but the moment the first page is opened a peace fills me and I'm glad I'm taking the time.

Then, a few days ago I got an email from a friend in the States. We have never met. She is one of the wonderful list of people who found me and have been praying for me and mine and Israel. I love these new friends. And, in my heart, I feel that their prayers are like an umbrella. How wonderful, no?

Well. What I received was an email titled Five Finger Prayer.

The truth is that at first I thought, 'Oh no. Another one of those 'send this off to your list or else' emails. But I love this woman and opened it and read it.

Now, after I have added this to my davening. It is so simple and makes so much sense. \\

So, I decided to share it with all of you.

1. YOUR THUMB-is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones, is, as C.S.Lewis once said, 'a sweet duty'.

2. THE POINTING FINGER is next. Pray for those who tack, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and religious leaders. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. THE TALLEST FINGER. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the leaders of our countries, leaders in business and industry, and administrtors. These people shape our nations and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. THE RING FINGER. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any pioan teacher will testify.l it should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need our prayers and we can't pray too much for them.

5. THE LITTLE FINGER. The smallest finger of all which is where we should remember to think about ourselves. By the time you ahve prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

My fingers remind me of all the people I want to remember and sometimes forget.

Anyhow, I just thought you might like to see this.

Thanks for praying for me and wanting me and mine to be safe. I want you and yours to be safe too.

Shabbat shalom.

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

SCATTERGORIES

Well, I could take the time to write about our Prime Minister...is he nuts?

And since I wrote about my feelings about Obama, I got lots of mail...pro and con.

So, instead I'm going to send you out a list I got from Chavaleh.

I had fun with this. A lot more fun that talking about our Prime Minister. Does he really think that the Syrians are going to give up terror and be nice guys? Maybe I should sell him a bridge. No, where he's going, he needs a saw. Sigh.

No more Prime Minister.

This is alllllllllllll about me.

Called SCATTERGORIES – it’s harder than it looks, but oh such fun.
Use the first letter of your first name to answer each of the following.
They have to be real places, names, things - nothing made up. You
can not use your own name for the boy/girl names.
yahooooo!!!!

If you'd like you can send me your answers via my email. marallyn@gmail.com

1. What is your name? marallyn
2. A 4 letter word: mind
3. A vehicle: mustang
4. A city: melasurej…ok, moscow
5. A boy's name: merlin
6. A girl's name: morgan
7. Alcoholic drink: manhattan
8. An occupation: musician
9. Something you wear: moccasins
10. A celebrity: marilyn monroe
11. A food: marshmallows
12. Something found in a bathroom: misty mirrors
13. Reason for being late: missed the bus
14. Something you shout: merde!
15. An animal: monkey
16. A body part: muscles
17. Word to describe yourself: mystical

Shabbat shalom

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

ANOTHER MIRACLE IN THE HOLY LAND

Well President Bush and Laura and all the fancy people have gone home after a week of meetings and ceremonies celebrating Israel's 60th.

I listened carefully to what everyone said. I watched the body language and smiles and tears. And, I cried along with them.

But, the man who stood out for me was our Presidnt Shimon Peres.

Now, I am, and never have been, a fan of our President. My wariness of him goes back a long way.

But...let me tell you he is brilliant in this job. Brilliant.

I recently watched a YouTube clip where he spoke to a graduating high school class. It was held in the school's gym and was very informal. The only sign of importance was that there were security men in the background.

Peres spoke softly to these kids. He told them not to listen to their parents or teachers or friends. That this group of people found fault, looked for what was lacking, or was simply jealous.

Instead, the kids should look into their own hearts and see how special they all are. Even more special then they, themselves knew.

He told them not to pay attention to history! That history was in the past and dead. But, instead, to look towards the future. To dare...to trust themselves...to dream and not worry if anyone was laughing at them.

He spoke of the future revolving around technology, water, and nanotechnology. And what their role would be in shaping the world.

I was spellbound. Me! Peres!!!

Then I watched him this week and listened to his speeches.

The truth is that only Shimon Peres could have attracted this amazing group of people to come here for the President's Conference. You know who they were. You read the articles in your newspapers and watched TV.

And I listened and watched President Bush. He was touched and he touched me.

And I listened to Bibi...our Leader of the Opposition. Great speeches.
And Dalia Itzik...our Speaker of the Knesset. She used to be my neighbour and she is not a woman to be taken lightly. But, she gave some great speeches. Strong words. So, I'm watching her carefully too.

And then Obama tried to steal the limelight and point a finger at President Bush. My Daddy, AH used to say, 'Marallyn, every time you point a finger at someone, remember that you are pointing three more back at yourself.'

Since when is the American election so personal and how come everyone is pussyfooting around this terrible man? I still have absolutely NO idea why anyone would vote for him. Can you explain this to me? Ok, I get the idea about CHANGE...but has he said what change? The man is surrounded by bad guys. The man and his wife are scary.

And for the cherry on the ice cream...Hamas LOVES OBAMA!

Sigh.

Ok, back to my miracle. I think I fell in love with Shimon Peres this week. I guess the old Yiddish expression...Ahz mehn lebt, derlebt mehn is right. If you live long enough you can experience everything.

Shabbat shalom to you all.

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

HAPPY YOM HA'ATZMAUT...OR HOW I DID MYSELF A DAMAGE

After nearly 40 years in the country, I am still a sucker for anything Israeli. The Matas (the flyover) happened to circle my apartment and as I watched it from my parking lot, I teared up...and my heart kvelled. And then I gave a quick prayer that the pilots all land safely.

Rena picked up Bubbie Channah and off we went to our annual picnic at my brother-in-law's place. He has a beautiful garden and full patio that is perfect for housing all the family and friends who show up to eat and enjoy.

The night before, Sweetsie Tootsie who will be six in June, and Sweetsie Girl who will be thirteen in ten years...you get it...slept over. This was her first time and my kids were a bit nervous about her. My husband picked up the babies and took them downtown for the festivities and to see the fireworks. Me? I pooped out and watched the history of Israel on TV. Ha Gashash Ha Hiver...songs from before we were all so modern and fancy...great trip down memory lane.

Cinderella came home just after midnight with my husband and her brother stayed downtown with Joe College...they all met someplace in the middle of the celebrating throngs.

She waited for Joe College and ran to sleep with him. Sweetsie Tootsie asked to watch an action movie and fell asleep before the hero fired off his first shot.

How absolutely marvellous for one and all. At seven in the morning my oldest son called, 'Nu, Imma, are the kids all right?' I told him that they were just fine and still asleep and to go back to bed himself. He was amazed that all went so smoothly. Why not? They have the best of both worlds here. I tell stories and feed them and my husband takes them all over the place.

When they finally woke up, right on cue, hubby asked them if they wanted to go to THE MIFLETZET...the monster. It is a huge head of a monster with a very long red tongue that is a great slide.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! they shouted and quickly showered and got dressed.

While they were all sliding and having fun, I made a huge Arab salad...tomatoes and cucumbers and onions diced into itsy bitsty teensy weensy little pieces. I made enough for 40 people. Then I made kabobs.

See, by us, the picnic isn't food. It is MEAT. A few pitas, the salad, some hummous, tehina, and eggplant salad...just for show...and then meat.

Hubby bought steaks, and lamb chops and hot dogs and chicken livers and ground meat (the kabobs) and cubes of lamb fat...very bad for the arteries and very delicious for the mouth.

And Rena brought marinated chicken wings.

Here is my very best ever kabob recipe: I made two kilos...four pounds of meat
2 kilo of chopped meat
2 large onions diced very fine
1 bunch of parsley chopped very fine
4 large cloves of garlic pressed
4 teaspoons of paprika
4 teaspoons of salt (I used three as the meat was koshered)
4 teaspoons of cumin (I used two teaspoons cumin and 2 teaspoons of hawayaz...a Yeminite spice)

Mix this all together and either form into hamburger shapers or hot dog shapes.

The best kabobs ever.

Well, everyone congregated...we were about 20 people...and around noon we started to eat. And we ate...and ate...and ate...and...

Around four, I cut up the huge watermelon my husband brought and the sweet fruit helped slide the calories down to our hips.

Who cares? One day a year we celebrate Israel's Independence Day with good friends, family and food.

Wish you were here. Nexy year in Jerusalem.

That's a plan!!!

Shabbat shalom.

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

A QUICK UPDATE

Just a quick note...well maybe not so quick to thank you all for your emails and phone calls. We are doing much better and grateful for all we have. The love of family and friends helps heal wounds and although they are still there, they aren't nearly as raw as they were.

So ask me what's new?

Last week my husband phoned and said he's bringing home a turkey. Well, actually he asked if I wanted a turkey. I said SURE.

When my babies were very young, they started selling turkeys in Israel and I bought one. My oldest, who was about fourteen at the time thought it was a pretty huge chicken. The other two kids looked at me as if I'd lost my mind and we were stuck eating turkey for over a week.

That was the end of the turkey in my house.

Instead, I go to Rena's every year for Thanksgiving...not a huge holiday in Canada but a biggie in the US of A. And every year we 'pig out' you should excuse the expression on turkey/stuffing/mashed potatoes/sweet potatoes/two kinds of cranberry sauce/pecan pie/corn bread/gravy...and a gazillion other things that I can't remember right now that Rena makes. Each dish is gorgeous and to die for...trust me on this one.

Well, when my husband called I was at lunch with Bubbie Channah, Rena and a friend of hers from England. I immediately covered the phone and asked Rena if she would give me her recipe for turkey and she said SURE.

Rena and I share recipes all the time. We both spend a great deal of time being creative in the kitchen.

So, I told my husband to bring home the bird. Actually a big bird. Fifteen kilo of turkey for Joe College, hubby and myself is a lot of turkey. Then I figured if we cut it in half lengthwise we will not be chewing and swearing for a week.

Well, my dears. I spent yesterday morning plucking the feathers that were still on the bird and then I roased it, made a bread stuffing (again Rena) and mashed potatoes (I know how to make those all by myself).

It came out gorgeous! Wanna come for turkey? I've got lots.

It was fun making something new and watching my family enjoy their meal.

Godda go. Have to write the astrology column for the Jerusalem Post and then forge ahead with Emma. It is much easier now that all the characters are in place and their personalities re-defined. Re-writing is hard...like putting new pieces into an already established puzzle. But, it is sure worth the effort. I'll let you know how it's coming. Hope to have the entire re-write finished by the end of this months. Tfu, tfu, tfu.

Hope you have a wonderful shabbat.

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