tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-180059932024-03-08T02:02:33.822+02:00Sussmans b'AretzNavigating Life in Israel as an Olah & Working Mom of 6 Boys<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.comBlogger492125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-86257443184810015192017-07-13T14:27:00.003+03:002017-07-13T14:27:55.543+03:00Mazal Tov On Our Bar Mitzvah!<span style="font-size: large;">Today is our Bar Mitzvah Aliyahversary. Nefesh B'Nefesh asked me to share a few words about what our Aliyah means to us 13 years later. Here is what I had to say, which you can also find on Facebook.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9Qav15Z-LRN6mp688SzLxNvFIP-1Z_VzCY6AI4hmBP9KFv1Q7qNdqICfGjB_AVG7txqwljV-J0dHpU1iD6ADgR2_Hlf7d3WPTIF_P38iznHgSmgKMktBkCEv9ZU4eQsAicZF/s1600/aliyahpic.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="597" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9Qav15Z-LRN6mp688SzLxNvFIP-1Z_VzCY6AI4hmBP9KFv1Q7qNdqICfGjB_AVG7txqwljV-J0dHpU1iD6ADgR2_Hlf7d3WPTIF_P38iznHgSmgKMktBkCEv9ZU4eQsAicZF/s400/aliyahpic.PNG" width="317" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'Mommy, can we make Aliyah again?'<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">These were the words my four-year-old asked for months after our Aliyah flight landed. <br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And years later, when my Israeli-bor<span class="text_exposed_show">n
children would hear their older brothers recount the Aliyah experience,
I would often hear them say, 'Mommy, it’s not fair that we didn’t make
Aliyah. Can’t Rabbi <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=899940720&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/yehoshua.fass?fref=mentions">Yehoshua Fass</a> get us on a plane and we can pretend?'</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">These words, out of the mouths of babes, really sum up our Aliyah.<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s hard to believe that it’s been 13 years since we landed at Ben
Gurion airport with all of our hopes, dreams, and plans in place. While
we were scared, unsure and in a new environment, the plane ride and
those first days were filled with so much energy and hope. <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=371262537335&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/NefeshBNefesh/?fref=mentions">Nefesh B'Nefesh</a>
ensured that there was a palpable energy on the plane, and I’ll never
forget the moment when we saw the Land and burst out into raucous
cheers. <br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In the years since we’ve arrived, it’s given us great
pleasure to watch our teenage sons who were 2 and 4 when we arrived on
that flight in 2004, come back to the airport with their Israeli friends
to cheer and dance the new Olim off the plane and into their new lives
as Israelis.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-Vli2wFgn8Rj9TyzbfctgjDHeG8qQpYvyQZwTsNE9F9JzEI0BaGvY2IEkfoxnnqszTV51b1sCbwUvSC63IkUGpgEJ4GAgTRcuVJsJjF8YtJpDu9wDkGMzsQAabLElA3MgfhQ/s1600/aliyah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-Vli2wFgn8Rj9TyzbfctgjDHeG8qQpYvyQZwTsNE9F9JzEI0BaGvY2IEkfoxnnqszTV51b1sCbwUvSC63IkUGpgEJ4GAgTRcuVJsJjF8YtJpDu9wDkGMzsQAabLElA3MgfhQ/s400/aliyah.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we were ready for take-off!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They can’t make Aliyah again; but they can greet new
Olim with the enthusiasm and love with which they were greeted as they
touch down in their new Land; or rather, in the very old Land which is
blossoming with the new promises of our people.</span><br />
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<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-62548523240666270292017-07-10T20:05:00.001+03:002017-07-10T22:14:34.579+03:00In Sickness & In Health<span style="font-size: large;">“If someone told you a year ago that you’d both be here about to get acupuncture, would you have ever believed them?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Beth,” I began, “I can beat that. <a href="http://www.kveller.com/when-i-was-22-i-never-thought-i-would-be-this-person/">If someone said 20 years ago</a> that I’d be living in Israel and raising six kids…My life seems to be filled with actions and outcomes that I never expected.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We all had a good chuckle over that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thus began my acupuncture session with my neighbor and friend, an incredibly talented midwife, Chinese Medicine expert and acupuncture guru.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My road to acupuncture and alternative medicine has certainly been an interesting one...and not one that I ever expected.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Three years ago, a few days before my friend died of cancer, I threw out my back giving the kids a quick bath before I returned to her bedside. I couldn’t find relief through physical therapy, pain medication or anything else. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beth knew that I was hurting, in many ways. “Just come for one session,” she said. “I promise I won’t hurt you, and you’ll see if it works.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I walked out of the acupuncture session completely straight and pain-free.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’d say that this moment made me a believer; but it didn’t. It made me more of a person who was willing to say, “Hmmm…interesting.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I started having <a href="http://www.kveller.com/4-lessons-i-learned-from-my-brush-with-chronic-illness/">chronic problems with vertigo</a> over a year ago, I tried everything that I could imagine. I went back to my general practitioner at least a dozen times, I tried every vertigo medicine on the market, I saw the neurologist and the ENT, and I explored my physical therapy options. And months later, when the room was still spinning and I was feeling lost, my general practitioner recommended that I see Beth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now why didn’t I think of that, I thought to myself? But what could acupuncture and Chinese Medicine possibly do for vertigo? I took myself, and my skepticism, to Beth’s door and she welcomed me with open arms. She is used to people being skeptical and she always says that the facts speak for themselves and she doesn’t have to talk her way through convincing people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It worked. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJ1BhutEE39CIdNeFsiGTAW0VhkYzQF_azkYe2Or2JkIz221mo-4otofBDlxBZSg7eM4iaFh25JifFpHtHzE0ktuaciPElOAZrnDVl4d18VS1DC2ODHnJBK_kWBa-DWYZA-qB/s1600/marigold-2117383_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJ1BhutEE39CIdNeFsiGTAW0VhkYzQF_azkYe2Or2JkIz221mo-4otofBDlxBZSg7eM4iaFh25JifFpHtHzE0ktuaciPElOAZrnDVl4d18VS1DC2ODHnJBK_kWBa-DWYZA-qB/s320/marigold-2117383_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In an entire year, acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been the only – ONLY – thing that has made the room stop spinning. I went twice a week at first, and then moved to once a week. Now, I go back as necessary and I’m always sure before I get onto her acupuncture table that I’ve exhausted this route and will have to find something else that will work. Every time, however, my symptoms abate after the session and soon disappear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A number of months ago, my husband was experiencing neck and back problems, and he, even more of a skeptic than I, decided to see Beth. It wasn’t a magic bullet, but it certainly helped with his recovery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which brings us back to our session recently, where we went to see Beth together. So there we were, doing a dual acupuncture session on two parallel beds in her clinic. It was the first time that Beth had ever treated a husband and wife simultaneously and we all giggled our way through the appointment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I’ve told people what acupuncture has done for me, and I see that skepticism in their eyes, I reply that the facts speak for themselves. I see myself in their skepticism and I’ve tried to analyze what made me change (in addition to the fact that it’s working). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are so many things in the world that we can’t explain; a</span><span style="font-size: large;">nd sometimes we have to envision possibilities for ourselves that we never thought possible. This is something that I try to remind myself, as a look at a life that has taken so many turns, twists and unexpected changes. It’s something that I’m trying to raise my children to understand as well. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47ZDXcqxKvx79ZDsSVbJvZAbGRypRTpGhlTIaAahZKmDp2RpN72cs2v_Fdoq_02ToVcBRCKFPg_iYsDKRx0J02qQyA27LWel__EnxmNcMA5aXriwOLGDoTEO8zrWZqc4heBg0/s1600/yehudasunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="439" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47ZDXcqxKvx79ZDsSVbJvZAbGRypRTpGhlTIaAahZKmDp2RpN72cs2v_Fdoq_02ToVcBRCKFPg_iYsDKRx0J02qQyA27LWel__EnxmNcMA5aXriwOLGDoTEO8zrWZqc4heBg0/s400/yehudasunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son, imagining possibilities through photography.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMldcykURC0VeGBGw83Ysac7X1XeySsnGa9SPuZBf0v0iaOdFjI7Lve6WSGno7DKvite_SEm-gVS6lFZHaSQTrEwD0qm2tbVBE22scUQz8EIurCBeK3Qs4ClO5UCP15m2DWuKE/s1600/yehudasun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMldcykURC0VeGBGw83Ysac7X1XeySsnGa9SPuZBf0v0iaOdFjI7Lve6WSGno7DKvite_SEm-gVS6lFZHaSQTrEwD0qm2tbVBE22scUQz8EIurCBeK3Qs4ClO5UCP15m2DWuKE/s400/yehudasun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, we just have to jump in with both feet and accept that there are forces in the world that are larger than we are, and that not everything needs an explanation that we can understand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our medical issues can’t always be explained away by facts, tests and charts. Sometimes, we just have to put our faith in something extraordinary, something different, and believe that it just might work.</span><br />
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<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-62329092195107091152017-07-03T16:24:00.002+03:002017-07-03T16:30:12.799+03:00Light Up the Night<span style="font-size: large;">Last night, we made plans to take all six kids out for their grades, but in the end, only three came with us (teenagers, they are so busy!) We went to </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beit Hakivun, a </span>restaurant we've never been to before. It's on the bike path at the Old Train Station and we've walked by it a million times. We decided to finally try it out and it was great!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then, it was time for the Jerusalem Light Show. The city pours a great deal of time and energy each summer into creating community activities and one that we enjoy the most is the light show. This year, they've had an added feature on the walls of the Old City for the 50th anniversary of Jerusalem's reunification. For weeks already, they've been showing a 10 minute light show that chronicles the history of the Jewish people up until 1967. It's an incredible display and a very powerful piece of Zionism. Yep, I cried. Would you expect otherwise? There were thousands of people watching with us and almost everyone was singing along and ooing and aaing at the appropriate times. Watch it here - it's quite a treat!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a count-down to the show...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO_nMptLYMaGDIf9IB-8rI1F8nwW1QyezBgEeQlzHjyKmeDusJRcQsak2DcnacfmOcA-AfVVMla3KhAg5yZwrYVwRWUqD7sAhUK0TzDOUuIuZL_WkPyhCafRGEsTckOIwp3jv/s1600/lishgwhosoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO_nMptLYMaGDIf9IB-8rI1F8nwW1QyezBgEeQlzHjyKmeDusJRcQsak2DcnacfmOcA-AfVVMla3KhAg5yZwrYVwRWUqD7sAhUK0TzDOUuIuZL_WkPyhCafRGEsTckOIwp3jv/s400/lishgwhosoon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five more minutes, guys!</td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="313" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fromi.sussman%2Fvideos%2F10212286081763720%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The rest of the Light Show was fun, if not the best this year. If you go, I recommend you see the show on the Old City walls, walk the path to the Hurva and then go home!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's well worth the walk to the Hurva Synagogue where they have done an amazing light display. The rest of the Light Show was fun, but not as fantastic as it has been. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, what a joy to walk around the Old City with three of our boys in tow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaS5b-bZVsdnx-sq1HVxaCh6vWkQG9ftra_2ptZ1l8I5Fo72h4QWVNv4C9OjJ3BPBONrm88ekQejkUEGOW_ehrw0ygNu3g2utCK7X8cYVsfsxCNt-D4S44JaaFLeTMirD6lxfK/s1600/lightshowchor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaS5b-bZVsdnx-sq1HVxaCh6vWkQG9ftra_2ptZ1l8I5Fo72h4QWVNv4C9OjJ3BPBONrm88ekQejkUEGOW_ehrw0ygNu3g2utCK7X8cYVsfsxCNt-D4S44JaaFLeTMirD6lxfK/s400/lightshowchor.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-qZ0yuE31LcGzNSKNHhQReNwUKWQlhQe0jlODFvvvl4zyLROMcIv0EeHNphcz4FSZJ8M_TujvldYlyLgxYORlClwln2l3G7w7Sq4yFu1h0Bd-p3YlyVmk3NDRJwG-8HKAPXr/s1600/lightshowchorva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-qZ0yuE31LcGzNSKNHhQReNwUKWQlhQe0jlODFvvvl4zyLROMcIv0EeHNphcz4FSZJ8M_TujvldYlyLgxYORlClwln2l3G7w7Sq4yFu1h0Bd-p3YlyVmk3NDRJwG-8HKAPXr/s400/lightshowchorva.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK2CM9bYpxRSNbCDiRoUyIup0M_HaYQ9wSnFqnzHKInVJWn7YDTLKhykgnuLjTIU_G85KZw6kwuEH-3_kxcqwNBVoiX3fQcnRIMCGBhJP6wxZCSTioM-qQl3NDZlWbGPidGxy/s1600/lightshowflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK2CM9bYpxRSNbCDiRoUyIup0M_HaYQ9wSnFqnzHKInVJWn7YDTLKhykgnuLjTIU_G85KZw6kwuEH-3_kxcqwNBVoiX3fQcnRIMCGBhJP6wxZCSTioM-qQl3NDZlWbGPidGxy/s320/lightshowflower.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Winner for the cutest moment of the night? That was when we walked by an old building and one of the kids yelled out, "Look, it's a spinner on the side of that building!"</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYM91sH9tFv3N_FgFIA4rwaZKg7XSYDOG7_IXCK2LJMHpdt8tJygyZw0h7Rzpubzab9cSp8JVZ6raVhq6wfnyFAFLK9HKww55mh6Mn-T5Me57bGm6dnORbFPeInKpFWVbFzSq_/s1600/lightshowwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYM91sH9tFv3N_FgFIA4rwaZKg7XSYDOG7_IXCK2LJMHpdt8tJygyZw0h7Rzpubzab9cSp8JVZ6raVhq6wfnyFAFLK9HKww55mh6Mn-T5Me57bGm6dnORbFPeInKpFWVbFzSq_/s400/lightshowwall.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">You can take the kids to the Old City, but you can't take the modern influences out of the kids.<br />
</span><b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-66219172218249642332017-06-28T22:21:00.002+03:002017-06-28T22:41:08.101+03:00Lookout! A Wedding!<span style="font-size: large;">In 2003, there was a massive blizzard in the Washington DC area and we weren't able to get our cars out..or do much of anything...for at least a week. It was great fun, as we lived in a neighborhood with many friends and we played in the street, build snowmen and had a great time together.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But one family found the experience very stressful, since the wedding they had scheduled at the nearby synagogue was not going as planned. The day of the wedding, we got word that this poor family was expecting that most of their guests wouldn’t be there. Josh and a group of our neighbors got on all of their snow gear and walked the mile through the snow to the wedding. They brought joy to a bride and groom that they had never met and made the family quite happy in their time of stress.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Flash forward a decade and a half and a continent, and we come to Neve Daniel in 2017. Yesterday, one of our neighbors put out an email that said “Hey neighbors! A young Russian couple is getting married at our lookout tomorrow! Come and be part of their Simcha. And if you can provide any food that would be great as well.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Josh,” I said, when I read this. "I know where I’m going to be tomorrow! A last minute wedding of people I’ve never met who need strangers to come and join in their Simcha? What could be cooler?!"</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
So today, I found a gift for the couple and drove up to our lookout. The event was fantastic with the bride waiting in her car until the groom and Rav Matanya arrived. There were about 40 of us, including many of the teenagers, singing and dancing the couple to the chuppah. Now, the <a href="http://aineretzacheret.blogspot.co.il/2016/12/1000-meters-of-wonder.html">lookout is 1000 meters high </a>and is probably one of the windiest places in the country. And there were four teenager boys holding on for dear life as the chuppah blew this way and that.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQSXrkSvFblCMDDi8vtW4QTwBr4qVGMXeg6wbmOjY9O9TUCx4N4l4f6-RffCghFdHcHpBh5f8t9X_s_MMPMEdKWWndm01M-V8JZwVXKjAt-IK3cT8ZJ1ub8AchznypgAKN-1l/s1600/bride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQSXrkSvFblCMDDi8vtW4QTwBr4qVGMXeg6wbmOjY9O9TUCx4N4l4f6-RffCghFdHcHpBh5f8t9X_s_MMPMEdKWWndm01M-V8JZwVXKjAt-IK3cT8ZJ1ub8AchznypgAKN-1l/s400/bride.jpg" width="300" /> </a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XPbmdLGB8V_b_1SAgXlYygimUGQEVaZLkB7mYbGqRgReWJIfysc4yKFPf9CFkHSAcw4V0TANs7S7CjE1Tzjz_4fyIs8kQMfNDLM7hWhDdaYSK7QEXegQ2ISuL_ya02fYtTcE/s1600/bridevail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XPbmdLGB8V_b_1SAgXlYygimUGQEVaZLkB7mYbGqRgReWJIfysc4yKFPf9CFkHSAcw4V0TANs7S7CjE1Tzjz_4fyIs8kQMfNDLM7hWhDdaYSK7QEXegQ2ISuL_ya02fYtTcE/s400/bridevail.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bride's veil flew away and the groom caught it just in time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTVbRRRL8SOZ5EuysBi2yy2VkLcei3rveA37rCNMDg_983qQa4AUvVm_jj-MUlN164oCD8bKXlQEol7PoluqyJW2VZF5EwgIhN-dEce9GGyrsUQ3vCnH-6fYri4tO8wBORpir/s1600/weddinglook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTVbRRRL8SOZ5EuysBi2yy2VkLcei3rveA37rCNMDg_983qQa4AUvVm_jj-MUlN164oCD8bKXlQEol7PoluqyJW2VZF5EwgIhN-dEce9GGyrsUQ3vCnH-6fYri4tO8wBORpir/s400/weddinglook.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfVNVEjzSdae2gZEZgjLxxoNkgFxvM7sdgkCcWzGMshr_Eb-lpyySGRQLnAOU80XTusznAimOBbYRr9pYJzmRtrJIY1TxVsrc5mA_64vSzCTYgXoDopDQflIZwCsNCE05Cxxk/s1600/weddinglookout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfVNVEjzSdae2gZEZgjLxxoNkgFxvM7sdgkCcWzGMshr_Eb-lpyySGRQLnAOU80XTusznAimOBbYRr9pYJzmRtrJIY1TxVsrc5mA_64vSzCTYgXoDopDQflIZwCsNCE05Cxxk/s400/weddinglookout.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">There was music, light food, a juggler (thank you Nani!) and a great deal of love to go around for this couple starting out in the most modest and unassuming way possible. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was honored to be part of the joy.</span></div>
<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-60618322746115893632017-06-27T13:00:00.000+03:002017-06-28T22:42:50.866+03:00Mommy, There Are No Locks On Da Doors<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;">Typically, as we are trying to put the kids to bed, Yakir
comes up with some deep idea or some gripe that simply must be aired at that
exact second.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Last night was one such night. Here is how it went.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Ok sweetie, get into bed.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“And one other thing,” he begins, even though he wasn’t in
the middle of saying anything. “Mommy, I have to tell you what happened
yesterday. Did I tell you? Well, I got off da bus after school and I had to
poop so, so badly. And I went down da stairs (you know da stairs mommy, with
the windy thing and then you end up at the bottom and then you go down the next
part, right Mommy? Mommy, are you listening!) Ok so then I got to our street but
I knew, I just knew that I wasn’t going to make it home. So I knocked on Rami’s
door and when his Mommy answered I yelled ‘Can I poop here!!!???’ and I barely
made it to da bathroom. Barely.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Ok shoot Yakir. That must have really been stressful for
you. Can you try to poop at school before the last class? So you won’t have
this happen when you get home?”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Well, Mommy.” (I promise these were his words.) “The
bathrooms are NEVER locked. They don’t even have locks! Wait a minute,” he says
pointing his finger at me and schooling me. “Just stay here.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">He runs upstairs and comes back with something in his hand. “Dis! Dis!” he yells, brandishing the accusing object close
to my nose (but not slowly enough for me to see it). “Dis is a lock I found in
da bathroom on da floor. On Da Floor! I brought it home just to show you that
da doors have no locks. No Locks! So I can’t poop there. No way!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, folks. Dis is the lock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Trying to keep my composure in the face of a clearly
frustrating situation, but actually stunned that my son has brought the
evidence home to show me, I start, “Um, ok Yakir. Let’s think this out.”</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Just at this moment, Zeli appears for bed. “What’s going on?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">“Da Bathrooms! Da Bathrooms!” Yakir yells, now having gotten
himself into a genuine tizzy.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Zeli,” I begin, trying to cut Yakir off. “Do you have
bathrooms that you use at school that have locks.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Yes! We have great bathrooms. And all the doors have locks.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now I’m ready to kiss him. “Really?”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Yeah, there are three bathrooms and they all have locks.
Kiri, Kiri calm down. I’ll show you tomorrow. You know where our bathrooms are.
You can use them! Calm down. You can use them!”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And with that, the crisis diffuses and they go to bed.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I took the guilty lock to show to Josh…and to show to
the head of the school.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another day. Another Yakir story.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, and by the way, thanks for the emergency poop help,
friends. You know who you are.</span></div>
<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-91522846462806039422017-06-04T08:00:00.000+03:002017-06-04T17:44:23.549+03:00Romi’s Reading Round-Up for April and May<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><br />
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Name="Normal Indent"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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Name="Smart Hyperlink"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hashtag"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;">It’s time again to talk about books! I’ve been reading a lot of interesting ones lately and I’m exciting to share with you. So, let’s begin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I knew I would love <b><i>The Two Family House</i></b> by Lynda Cohen Loigman and I wasn’t disappointed. I love books that are set at the time that my grandparents would have been raising my parents in New York, and this is the backdrop to this lovely and heart-wrenching look at two families and the irreparable choices that they make. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Sweetgirl</i></b> by Travis Moulhauser was one of those $1 books that I bought on a whim. Wow! It’s an incredible story of a young girl who is challenged to succeed in impossible circumstances. It’s beautifully and realistically written.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The Red Notebook</i></b> by Antoine Laurain was another of those $1 gems. It started from such a simple premise; a man finds a woman’s purse that has been abandoned after a robbery and he tries to reunite the two. The simple story was so beautifully drawn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Try Not to Breathe</i></b> by Holly Seddon was a powerful story told by an admittedly unreliable narrator. I love unreliable narrators. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcDUISBy_S7CyHgAgdVDMwtgZEg_fa3Z2C_MR_Y_RVAGDB0QnjmpcMWYfCVM3Rv5-3mSZHZaUUPTqD3W73xMLdF04B4J3rnGhtslIn2Jc06smm_Cqhu2hyzI99rQmp1YCa1BA/s1600/trynottobreathe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="230" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcDUISBy_S7CyHgAgdVDMwtgZEg_fa3Z2C_MR_Y_RVAGDB0QnjmpcMWYfCVM3Rv5-3mSZHZaUUPTqD3W73xMLdF04B4J3rnGhtslIn2Jc06smm_Cqhu2hyzI99rQmp1YCa1BA/s320/trynottobreathe.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, I loved <b><i>The 28<sup>th</sup> of Iyar</i></b> by Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, and I’ve written a <a href="http://aineretzacheret.blogspot.co.il/2017/06/a-snapshot-into-history.html">separate blog </a>all about this book.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can’t love every book that I read, but if I don’t want to throw it across the room, it was probably at least worth the ride. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Mrs. Kimble</i></b> by Jennifer Haigh was an interesting idea. It’s a look at three women who end up marrying the same man (not at the same time, of course) and the psychological toll he takes on them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I finished <b><i>Following Atticus</i></b> by Tom Ryan (which I mentioned in the last blog). I loved the idea of a depressed, overweight middle-aged man transforming his life by hiking with his dog. I didn’t love the repetitive nature of the hikes and I definitely didn’t want to hear about the dog’s cancer story. Sorry people – but we all have our breaking points.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>An Invisible Thread</i></b> by Laura Schroff was a lovely true story of a wealthy businesswoman who befriended a young destitute child and the relationship they formed. There were definitely places where I wanted to sit the author down and yell at her (as apparently many people did if you look at the book reviews) but it was an inspirational story overall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you want to be tortured and have trouble going to sleep at night…then <b><i>Behind Closed Doors</i></b> by B.A. Paris is for you. A bit over-the-top for me, but as thrillers go, I guess it was a pretty good one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>In the Light of the Garden</i></b> by Helen Burch tried much too hard and fell flat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>This Beautiful Life</i></b> by Helen Schulman wasn’t the greatest book, but it was certainly interesting to see how one mistake can lead to so many problems; it was quite timely a piece as I raise young boys in this social media infatuated age.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The Doctor’s Wife</i></b> by Elizabeth Brundage was a bit overdrawn but it was an entertaining psychological thriller about an interesting topic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Ten Thousand Lovers</i></b> by Ravel Edeet is certainly not my typical book since it was about a leftist visitor to Israel in the 70s and her experiences, but I did enjoy it quite a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Provenance </i></b>by Donna Drew Sawyer: Good lord! I loved the idea of this book about what it would have been like for a black man passing as a white one. But could this book have been more poorly written or more stupidly plotted?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>A Change in Altitude</i></b> by Anita Shreve : Oh Anita. This book had so much potential about a terrible accident that happens during a hiking trip and how it pulls apart the people who were there. Except that description only accounted for about 5% of the book. The rest made me want to throw it across the room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>A Reliable Wife</i></b> by Robert Goolrick: It was hard to care about any of the characters here. Period.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Next Up</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m currently reading <b><i>Allie and Bea</i></b> by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I’m enjoying this book, although it’s not one of her best. If you’ve never read anything by her – do so! Her books are beautiful and cover poignant topics (and incidentally, she’s very accessible on Facebook and writes great posts!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m also reading <b><i>The Healing</i></b> by Jonathan Odell and loving this story of black midwives during the slave era.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Reading Everyone! Love to know what you have cooking!</span></div>
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<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-34699411709299205742017-06-01T20:22:00.000+03:002017-06-02T06:24:47.077+03:00A Snapshot Into History<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve read many accounts of the Six Day War, as I’m sure many
of you have, but I’ve never read a first- person account – until now. Rabbi
Emanuel Feldman’s 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary edition of his book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/28th-Iyar-Dramatic-Day-Day/dp/1680252941/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496338158&sr=8-1&keywords=the+28th+of+iyar"><i>The 28th of Iyar</i></a>, is an excellent addition to the canon of literature about this pivotal
moment in history. Rabbi Feldman brings a fresh perspective with his book, written as a first-hand account through the eyes of an American in Israel. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhP4WiIgmk65z6ILtNxWQMwBTlL6yLfg5oS99PzMYS2gfRUqwcsHw4LEi4-p2SAw0wewWyRRRp8DyShzWv3ZgNpdiwT9XQIcQvkCMWNuxdDvIG8Ko7-Akw3htKJMTY7_S0cqH/s1600/the-28th-of-iyar-50th-anniversary-edition-by-rabbi-emanuel-feldman-book-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhP4WiIgmk65z6ILtNxWQMwBTlL6yLfg5oS99PzMYS2gfRUqwcsHw4LEi4-p2SAw0wewWyRRRp8DyShzWv3ZgNpdiwT9XQIcQvkCMWNuxdDvIG8Ko7-Akw3htKJMTY7_S0cqH/s400/the-28th-of-iyar-50th-anniversary-edition-by-rabbi-emanuel-feldman-book-cover.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are many details here with which most of us are
familiar. We know about the call-ups, about the streets empty of able-bodied
people for weeks as everyone waits. We are familiar with the dread that people
felt and the overwhelming feeling of betrayal that Israel faced, realizing that
no other country cared enough to help.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What Rabbi Feldman brings to the stage is his unique
perspective. He lived through these days as an American on sabbatical in
Israel. He could have left at any moment, and was actually encouraged by his
family in the States and by the American government to get out. Yet he and his
family stayed; in doing so, they lived through some of the most significant, terrifying,
exhilarating and ultimately victorious days in our history.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">While reading his journal, I was moved and surprised by how much
I related to many of his experiences, as an American Olah living here 50 years
after the war. At the beginning of the book, writing about the efficiency with which
the call-up takes place, Rabbi Feldman writes, “In view of the pathetic
bumbling, hopeless red-tape, and buck-passing bureaucracy of almost every
aspect of public and governmental life in Israel, the remarkable efficiency of
the mobilization is miraculous.” While the bureaucracy has certainly improved, I’m
often surprised by the juxtaposition of inefficiency and efficiency in our
daily lives. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are so many anecdotes with which I can relate, even so
many years later. I’ve always been touched by the news we still hear every
hour, on the hour, in Israel. It amazes me that the country is still small
enough to have a national news review, and that the situation here is still
ever-changing enough to need this review hourly. In the middle of the book, he
wrote, </span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Every few hours the radio carries messages to and from the soldiers and
their families: ‘Chaim Zohar’s wife and daughters from Ein Hanetziv wish Chaim
well and ask him to write.’ ‘Yosef Kohen is fine and sends love to his family
in Haifa and tells them not to worry, everything is b’seder.’”</span></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Even with today’s hyper-connected world, I can picture this
happening.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In one humorous account, he recalls going to the post office
to send a telegram, and watching as the post office clerk changes every person’s
message to include only positive alerts. As Rabbi Feldman explains, “He edits
and deletes and rewrites and censors – a word here, a phrase there. If the
outside world this morning is receiving unusually ecstatic messages from a
country at war, they have this clerk to thank.” </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Short and easy to read, the book is uplifting and
inspirational. It’s certainly a great reminder to those of us who have moved to
Israel and set our future with this tumultuous, miraculous country. It’s a
life-affirming account of one family’s tenacity and victory, along with a
nation’s.</span></div>
<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-7871494539452786282017-05-28T19:27:00.000+03:002017-06-01T08:02:09.550+03:00Miracles Just Below the Surface (and an Awesome Manicure)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
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Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
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Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
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Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
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Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
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Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
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Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
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Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
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Name="Mention"/>
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Name="Hashtag"/>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;">Shavuot is in a few days, and you know what that means. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Time for my Shavuot nails. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was actually considering not getting my nails done in such a fancy way and just getting a regular manicure, but Josh thought that the kids would be so disappointed and I should do it for them. What a funny life I lead. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">While some people prepare for Shavuot by running around finding cream cheese and making cheesecakes, and others prepare with the Torah learning they are planning for that evening, I prepare like this:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4U4EerMM2i3xsLx83V0Vsg5M-KbumIptApgoE-5fWOH3EACtFRoO1bRYvmXUywjJmSwm4TT17DYvq1mRb-lL1Y9RAop8WhNDc6-7R-qPPsVrW8KXc5iAn2YhKqTAH5qnmIXe/s1600/shavuotnails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4U4EerMM2i3xsLx83V0Vsg5M-KbumIptApgoE-5fWOH3EACtFRoO1bRYvmXUywjJmSwm4TT17DYvq1mRb-lL1Y9RAop8WhNDc6-7R-qPPsVrW8KXc5iAn2YhKqTAH5qnmIXe/s400/shavuotnails.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">That is some manicurist that I've found! Look at the details! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">While I enjoy being playful and having my nails reflect my life, I'm also trying to take some time to get ready for the holiday. I recently read a <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Metro/Festivals-of-the-harvest-493903">beautiful piece</a> about it. Les Saidel, a master baker and CEO of the <a href="http://saidels.com/">Saidel Artisan Baking Institute </a>discussed the transition from Passover to Shavuot. He explained that
at Passover we have unleavened bread. It is straight-forward, bare-bones and
made of only flour and water. The miracles at Passover are straight-forward as
well. You can see the plagues; you can see the Jews escaping Egypt; you can see
the sea parting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">At Shavuot, however, we eat leavened loaves. The wheat
harvest that occurred right at the time of Shavuot was celebrated by bringing
two loaves as Temple offerings. These loaves were leavened wheat loaves mixed with
a mature sourdough starter and then baked in the Temple ovens on the day before
Shavuot. The loaves have hidden ingredients in them (the sourdough yeast) which
works in mysterious ways to make them rise; so, too, do the miracles of Shavuot
work in hidden ways. At Shavuot, we celebrate the giving of the Torah at Mount
Sinai which includes so many hidden miracles. We never see HaShem directly;
there are many gifts in the Torah that we don’t fully understand; and there is
much learning to be done throughout our lives with this gift.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We spend the 49 days from Passover to Shavuot counting. Why
are we counting? We are counting in anticipation of the date when we received
the Torah. We are counting as we move from the barley harvest to the wheat; we
are moving from a spiritual plain where we have miracles that we can see and
understand towards ones that are much more hidden. As the flat bread eaten on
Passover rises over these 49 days into the leavened loaves offered for Shavuot,
it is our job to rise up spiritually and to try to attain a level of
appreciation fitting for a people who receive the Torah.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I love this image of the bread slowly rising from Passover to
Shavuot, as we slowly rise in our appreciation for the miracles we have in our
lives, both ones that we can see and those that live just below the surface or
beyond our reach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is not always easy to appreciate everything that we have;
it’s not easy to be grateful for things that we don’t readily see or for events
that don’t appear to be going our way. But there are many hidden miracles being
offered to us all the time, and if we dig deeper within ourselves, if we count
our blessings, we just might be able to start to see more of the miracles that
surround us.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hopefully, if we’ve gotten in the habit of counting in
these 49 days, we may continue to count our blessings, the miracles in our
lives and the wonders of the world that live just below the surface of what we
see.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">May it be a sweet and uplifting Shavuot and the beginning of a beautiful harvest season and summer for
everyone.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-44694058758332637662017-05-24T21:25:00.001+03:002017-05-25T08:02:59.586+03:00The Ancient to Modern Story of Jerusalem<span style="font-size: large;">Josh and I had such a gloriously fantastic day today. My office very generously gives us the day off for Yom Yerushalayim (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_Day">Jerusalem Day</a>), and this year we took full advantage of that opportunity. We left first thing in the morning and headed for the city. We wanted to enjoy the vibrancy that is modern Jerusalem by walking from the new, to the old and then to the really old before returning home to the warm embrace of Gush Etzion. We ate breakfast at a great little cafe at the First Station (which has been beautifully remodeled in the last few years and has turned into a real center of entertainment ) and then walked toward the center of town. We had the opportunity to join a number of different tours that were taking place, but this year we decided to just go to our favorite stomping grounds and to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city we so dearly love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As we were heading towards Ben Yehuda...the first person that we ran into was son #2! He was in town for the day with school (as was son #1) and there he was with his entire grade. It was a great surprise and fun to give him a hug before he headed on his way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As we got to the center of town, there was a great energy. Most people were dressed in the traditional white and blue and there were groups of school kids everywhere, people singing and musicians playing. We walked around for a while and I went for two of my favorite activities - a pedicure and shopping!</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Armed with my bright red toes and a cute shirt from Klafti (a store that employs at-risk women), we were off to the <a href="http://en.machne.co.il/">Mahane Yehuda</a> Shuk.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">We've never been to the restaurant that everyone is raving about, so we decided to check out <a href="https://www.timeout.com/israel/restaurants/crave-gourmet-street-food">Crave Gourmet Street Food</a>. It was a fun, delicious experience. Their hook is that they offer food from a large variety of cultures in an eclectic atmosphere. Highly recommended.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next, it was off from the new (pedicure and shopping in the modern city) and the somewhat old (shuk) to the really old. We headed through Mamila to the Old City and the Kotel. But first, of course, in the city swarming with thousands upon thousands...we ran into our first born with his friends. I gave that one a kiss, and told him to be smart and to have fun at the afternoon parade. Look how cute these kids are...our Zionist future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we got to the Old City it was hopping with old people, young people and everyone in between. It's almost impossible to imagine what it was like 50 years ago as the paratroopers descended onto the Old City and managed to secure it, and the Temple Mount, for our people.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">If you've never listened to the radio broadcast as the soldiers went through the gates to the Old City and onto the Kotel, you should listen here with some tissues. It's amazing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But here we were, 50 years later, relishing the unbelievable opportunity to simply walk in the streets of the Old City to the Kotel Plaza. There were large groups of young boys singing at the top of their lungs behind us and people flooding the restaurant and the stairs leading to the Kotel...it was a sea of humanity all celebrating together! We davened at the Kotel and then sat in the Rova for a bit, soaking up the ambiance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a huge parade in the afternoon every Yom Yerushalayim that fills the streets of the city with flags and music and dancing. We've never participated (since our kids have school on this day and we haven't ever driven in after school) and we vowed that next year we will come in with the kids and enjoy the day together. Just as we got home, I saw that a friend had shared this video from Stand with Us as the parade warms up. And there, with their enormous flag, is Susya and our older two boys dancing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We dashed back home to our younger kids, and topped off the perfect day by taking them to dinner in the Gush. At the Gush Etzion junction there is now a mall and shopping area. Just this week, a sushi restaurant opened and we ate there, marveling at the expansive view of the rolling hills that face the road to Hebron. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On this day, we celebrate Gush Etzion and all of Yehuda and Shomron as much as we do Jerusalem. In 1948, the entire Jewish population of the area was completely wiped out. The children of these heroes spent 19 years waiting to return to Gush Etzion and hoping that they would be able to resettle the area some day. When you speak to the founders of Neve Daniel, they describe sleeping in tents, driving convoys through Bethlehem to get to the area, and looking out on the barren land.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Fifty very short years later we dined in a sushi restaurant, in a mall in the middle of Gush Etzion. Even when we made Aliyah only 13 years ago it was beyond our wildest dreams that the area would soon be the site of restaurants, shops and activities for the entire family. We are living in the most amazing of times!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Miraculous.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">And that, really, is the end to a perfect day of celebrations.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">May we continue to grow and build and flourish in the modern State as we remember those who have secured it for us. To our past and our future...for all of us.</span><br />
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<br /><b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-86163326300489875172017-05-04T21:50:00.002+03:002017-05-05T07:01:46.062+03:00The Gel That Binds<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;">As many of you know, I’m the main representative female of the species for my sons. Of course, they interact with other women and girls; but they get most of their understanding of how the whole girl world works from me.<br />
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Talk about pressure.<br />
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And I’m not the most girly-girl out there, so they know almost nothing about hair products, perfumes, make-up and the like. It cracks me up, however, when they do latch on to something that intrigues them about my appearance.<br />
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Take my nails. I’ve never understood wearing nail polish because it takes approximately 52 seconds for it to chip or peel with my busy life. Within minutes of sitting there, bored in the chair for a manicure, I’ve ruined it with dish washing, laundry folding, sandwich making and glue sticking. I’ve always loved to get pedicures, but I’ve just assumed the manicure world wasn’t for me.<br />
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And then recently, I decided that maybe I would try this whole gel manicure thing. I’ve noticed friends in the States who enjoy a good gel manicure and I’ve shied away from it thinking that I don’t have the time, or that it’s too frilly for me. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I have found myself, over the years, enjoying adding a bit of extra sparkle to my appearance. There are so many ways that life can be difficult, and it's fun to weave in sparkles to the things that I can control and to brighten up my own little area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I carved out the time and had my nails done like this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You should have seen the conference when I got home. “Look at Mommy’s nails!” “Oh, Mommy, they are purtty!” The best, however, was when my ten year old thought I had dirt stuck to my nail and tried to brush off..the cute little silver heart that was there. We both got a good laugh about that.<br />
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When it was time to take the polish off and to potentially do it again, there was a family conference, of sorts, held. With Israel Independence Day approaching, everyone wanted something that had to do with Israel. “You need an Israeli flag!” “No, Fireworks! Fireworks!” I went to Pinterest and we all started looking through the 4th of July pictures for ideas. Yes, my 6, 8, 10 and 12 year old sons were holding a conference about my next manicure.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Show me! Show me!” They each yelled when I got home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“What happened to the fireworks?” the little guy asked. I explained that the fireworks were a bit complicated but that I had the sparkly silver fingers and the flags, and that seemed to satisfy the masses.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I didn’t realize, however, just how much the kids enjoy being involved in these processes until today. As my ten year old headed out the door, he said, “Mommy, I’ve been thinking about it and with Shavuot coming up, I think you need nails that have barley and grains on them. Then you can have a cow on this one, and a Sefer Torah on that one….”</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Laughing, I said, “You know, buddy, she can’t do everything. But we’ll come up with something together, ok?”</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">That seemed to satisfy him enough to go off to school.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">And I marveled at the ways that my boys surprise me and the energy with which they approach things that you would assume wouldn’t interest them. My nails have become a bit of a family project. I assume the kids will grow bored of them at some point, but for now they are a “gel” that binds us together in pursuit of fun, creativity and beauty. I enjoy seeing their enthusiasm and having something silly that brings us together; and I enjoy teaching them that there are many simple ways to have fun and that I don't take myself too seriously.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I’ll let you know how the Shavuot nails turn out. Moo.</span></div>
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<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-52571815538757552262017-04-24T10:27:00.000+03:002017-04-25T11:46:25.948+03:00Carrying the Torch of our Futures<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I created a new file today for the file cabinet. It says “Army Stuff” on it. And as I filed it away, with<a href="http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-first-for-our-first-tzav-rishon/"> the first of my first son’s army papers</a> in it, I just couldn’t believe that we had come to this stage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight, I stood in the Neve Daniel hall with hundreds of my community members and watched the Yom HaShoa (Holocaust Memorial Day) ceremony. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I couldn’t help but marvel, with the typical tears meeting beneath my chin to drop and pool on my sweater, at the juxtaposition. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, this son who will be the first of my many to enter the army, stood in as a substitute basketball coach for his younger brothers. They played and laughed on the court in Neve Daniel, in the mountains of Judea, here in Israel.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight, I watched as the kids putting on the event came on stage dressed in clothes from the 1940s, with stars ablaze on their garments. They posed, as if they were part of a picture from long ago; and it hit me that the six million people that we think about in a massive, unimaginable number, were each someone’s friends. They were Arbel and Stav, Yehuda and Amichai. The faces of the faceless, nameless 6 million became real to me as I saw them on stage. And of course we all know that they were real people, but they are so hard to conceptualize and to fathom. Here, standing in front of me, were 8 teenagers who I know and love – and I could suddenly visualize the horror, the terror and the reality.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, my children burst in the door, making arrangements to gather wood to get ready for Lag B’Omer.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight, I listened as one of our yishuv members recreated the last Seder in the Warsaw Ghetto. He sang a piercing melody of longing, of fear and of hope at their dining room table, sitting across from his eight year old who wondered who would sing “Ma Nishtana” next year, and who would remember.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, my children sat at the dining room table doing their math homework and their science homework in Hebrew; in the language in which they are most comfortable; the language of their people, their nation and their country. They sat at the dining room table where just last week my six year old belted out “Ma Nishtana” and my eight year old shared a Dvar Torah about our escape from Egypt. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We remembered.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight, we stood for Kaddish, and then we sang Hatikva as the same teenagers who had been dressed as Holocaust victims changed into blue and white and waved the Israeli flag.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And I thought about that new file sitting in my file cabinet. I can’t bring back the six million who died; I can’t make up for the pain of those who lived and remembered and carried on.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I can create this file.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And I can sign the papers that allow my son to try out for the units of his dreams, and to envision himself as part of the future.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our Future.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">That file is our future.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s a future where a Jewish child, wearing a green uniform and not a yellow star, will strap a gun over his shoulder and not a sack with his worldly belongings, and defend his people. In his Homeland.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We can’t bring them back. But we can use our minds to remember, and we can use our bodies firmly planted here in Israel, or supporting the country from wherever we may be, to declare Never Again.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We can watch our children, our confident, bold, Zionistic children take up the torch of our future with their files.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: small;">This <a href="http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/carrying-the-torch-of-our-futures/">post first appeared last night</a> on the Times of Israel blog. </span></i></div>
<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-74287488158539346162017-04-07T10:31:00.000+03:002017-04-24T10:36:22.535+03:00Pausing to Remember Elhai Teharlev<span style="font-size: large;">It’s four days before Passover and I’ve been busy juggling work,
housework, watching the kids…all the things we are all doing this week.
So when I heard this morning that there was yet another car ramming — a
ramming outside of Ofra — and that someone was killed, my heart sank.
Because my heart always sinks when I hear this. </span><br />
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">And I thought, Oh dear Gd, not again.
</span></div>
<div class="b300x250" data-google-query-id="CKuI6rzJvNMCFc1FGwodyPoGow" id="div-gpt-ad-BTF_MPU_1">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">But there isn’t much information for hours as
they process and tell loved ones and arrange and deal and…I don’t really
know what else they do (thank Gd).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">So I went back to my work and my cleaning and my watching my kids destroy the house while I work and clean.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then around lunchtime, I glanced at Facebook. I
saw a picture of a beautiful, strong young man rappelling. My oldest
son is out rappelling today. So I thought — hey, I don’t know that kid,
but I guess Matan sent me a picture of the fun they are having today. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM0oJowqSdpJf4UPqa1j_x0iMRcjpOpKAiw-NztHoIplTslsaIG2nmoGGZ289DoBsIim6bVyI0qpKuxkEVHo-P1DPJmkT7mIZjwnDKvuSrBdWhGAcfEp4eTalM-CQNp8h3Rw6/s1600/elhai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM0oJowqSdpJf4UPqa1j_x0iMRcjpOpKAiw-NztHoIplTslsaIG2nmoGGZ289DoBsIim6bVyI0qpKuxkEVHo-P1DPJmkT7mIZjwnDKvuSrBdWhGAcfEp4eTalM-CQNp8h3Rw6/s320/elhai.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a gorgeous kid. They look happy.</span><br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">And then I realized that the picture was from
Moshe Saville, the head of the community council of Gush Etzion. It took
me a minute to jump from my son, who is currently rappelling down a
mountain, to this son.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">This son, who is rappelling in the picture.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">But isn’t rappelling right now in real life.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">Because he was murdered today.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">And then my day fell apart, as well it should.
Because while Matan is rappelling and enjoying his life with his
gorgeous friends on a beautiful day, Elhai Teharlev isn’t.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">They both set out this morning. One is gone
for no reason other than a terrorist woke up this morning and decided to
target that bus stop, at that moment. He decided to kill that Jew, that
soldier, that son.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now I can’t get Elhai’s parents, Rav Ohad and
Avital, out of my mind. What was Avital doing this morning when she
heard about the car ramming? How many lists did she have in her head of
things she had to do to get ready for Passover? How many chores had she
sent her other six children to do? Who was coming over for seder? How
close were they to turning over the kitchen? Did they plan to take a
trip during Chol Hamoed?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">These tapes run and run and run in my mind.
And as I try to get back to my cleaning, I think about them dressing for
their son’s funeral.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">The only reason that they are dressing for a
funeral for their gorgeous, strapping young son who was rappelling not
long ago, and I am not doing so for my gorgeous, strapping young son who
is currently rappelling is because…of nothing.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nothing.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">And I have to get back to my cleaning; I don’t
have the time to write this, just as you probably don’t have the time
to be reading it.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I don’t have the ability not to write it.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elhai must be remembered; we must pause from
what we are doing to scream and write and question and cry. We must
pause to help his family in any way that we may be able to do so. And to
think about the never-ending question about how the hell to move
forward. Again.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">May Elhai’s memory be a blessing, always. May
his family find comfort among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. The
seemingly never-ending list of mourners.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This piece was first published at <a href="http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/pausing-to-remember-elhai-toharlev/">Times of Israel</a>.</i></span> </span></div>
<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-22086372713299548122017-03-29T20:44:00.000+03:002017-03-29T20:49:58.901+03:00Romi's Reading Round-Up for February and March 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since I wrote my last reading round-up in January, I have read some amazing books – and some really bad ones. As you get ready for Spring Break, Easter, or Passover, I figured it would be great to have a new book to enjoy! Here is the rundown of my latest finds.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Books I Loved </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When last we chatted in January, I had just started <i>The Sleepwalker</i> from Chris Bohjalian. This book was a bit different than many of his others, but it was a fascinating look at sleepwalking and the havoc it can create…and it had a great surprise ending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Behold the Dreamers</i> by Imbolo Mbue was incredibly appropriate in the Trump world. It’s a story of American immigrants who have overstayed their welcome and what happens to them. Beautifully portrayed. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpJGo-tgZo67Akj3BchVNQxF1eodsZD4gXvTTVKncv5dMX6WAWCWfd6kPBGjUgwMoisrxveVkOG4HVAXEaaZ-OwO45h5nwlpEk051xwHoWARs_a6ZscPqz1BGnIStQesU5-5l/s1600/dreamers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpJGo-tgZo67Akj3BchVNQxF1eodsZD4gXvTTVKncv5dMX6WAWCWfd6kPBGjUgwMoisrxveVkOG4HVAXEaaZ-OwO45h5nwlpEk051xwHoWARs_a6ZscPqz1BGnIStQesU5-5l/s1600/dreamers.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>News of the World</i> by Paulette Jiles is an excellent, short read about an aging man in 1870 who rides around Texas reading the news to people, and is tasked with getting a white girl captured by Indians back to her family. Really good read. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another fantastic book is <i>Bone Gap</i> by Laura Ruby. Now, I don’t like magical realism much, and I don’t know what possessed me to buy this book. With that said, wow was this a trip! It’s a beautifully written tale filled with magic, but it’s also a story about family and finding where you belong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Opposite of Everyone</i> by Joshilyn Jackson was a really nice surprise. It’s the story of a high-powered divorce lawyer whose whole life goes for a tailspin when someone shows up on her doorstep. The main character was very believable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: lime;">Books I Enjoyed</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are always those books that you don’t absolutely love, but that you enjoy while you’re reading. So, <i>Mrs. Kimble</i> by Jennifer Haigh was one of those. It was an interesting look at three women who were all married to the same man at different points in his life and what became of them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Learning to Swear in America </i>by Katie Kennedy was hysterical and adorable. It wasn’t the best book ever, which is why it’s not in the section above, but it was definitely fun. America's West Coast is about to be obliterated when a massive meteor hits the Earth, and the 17 year old Russian boy-wonder is brought in to save the day. Certainly not the typical read for me, but it was adorable and creative. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Pennies from Burger Heaven</i> by Marcy McKay isn’t a book I would recommend lightly. It was the very sad story of a 12 year old homeless girl and what she does when she realizes her mom has disappeared. It was quite gory, which was the main thing that turned me off, but her character was well-developed and I cared about what happened to her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Rage of Plum Blossoms</i> by Christine Whitehead was a mystery and I don’t usually read this genre. Now, it was highly, highly entertaining but so incredibly far-fetched and ridiculously drawn that I was shocked by the high ratings on Goodreads when I finished it. As long as you suspend all disbelief and just enjoy a fun ride – it’s entertaining. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I could have enjoyed <i>The Book of Moon</i> by George Crowder more. It was slow reading at times, but it was a nice coming-of-age story of a boy growing up in LA dealing with his parent’s divorce and his own development.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Books I Threw Across the Room</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let’s start with <i>Dumplin’</i> by Julie Murphy. Seriously. If you’re going to describe your book as one that is body positive and that celebrates every woman where she is – then maybe you should write a book where the main character likes herself and her body. Hmmmmm. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I finished about 10% before I threw it down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Judy Blume – Oh Judy...I expect so much more from you than <i>Smart Women</i> had to offer, since none of the women in the book appeared to be smart. Rather, they were whinny, annoying middle-aged women and at about 40% I realized that I didn’t care what happened to a single one of them. Shame. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love Wally Lamb, so when Yakir found a copy of <i>She’s Come Undone </i>next to the trash and brought it to me with a huge grin on his face (how cute is that?), I figured I’d read it again. I rooted for the heroine the whole book and kept hoping she was going to pull her life together, but when she did so about 92% of the way into the book, did Lamb really think we would still care what happened to her?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was also disappointed by Fannie Flagg with <i>The Whole Town’s Talking</i>. I’d love for the whole town to be talking if Flagg is on her game with her endearing characters and funny mishaps. But the town seemed to be talking about nothing…absolutely nothing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m never sure whether to bother with Anne Tyler, and when it comes to <i>Back When We Were Grownups</i>, I know the answer. Wow, this was boring. I finally let myself put it down at page 100. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, sometimes I don’t know what to do when Goodreads gives a book a 4.16 rating and I give it a 1. <i>Forever is the Worst Long Time</i> by Camille Pagan definitely proved the point that forever feels like the worst time when you’re reading this book. Enough said!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Next Up</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m currently juggling a few books. I’m in the middle of <i>The Handling and Care of Roses with Thorns</i> by Margaret Dilloway which I love so far. I’ve started <i>Following Atticus: Forty: Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog and an Extraordinary Friendship</i> which is very sweet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m putting Atticus down, however, for the library book that just came off the waiting list, <i>Pachinko</i> by Min Jin Lee. I’m not sure how I’ll do with this book because I can’t keep track of tons of characters and centuries of history…so I’ll let you know how that goes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And what are you reading?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-48446129493789684312017-03-28T17:46:00.002+03:002017-03-29T06:43:10.908+03:00Cyprus You Say? Well, Yes, We've Got Advice to Offer<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve been asked five times in the last week about the trip
that we took last summer to Cyprus. I don’t know if there is something in the air…or people
are just looking for some creative ideas for this summer…but I realized that I
uncharacteristically didn’t write about our adventure last summer. The horror!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And, of course, if I had written about it, I could have just
sent the link to the blog and helped others to plan their trips. So, I’m here
to rectify the wrong and to help all of you antsy souls looking for somewhere great to go for an amazing trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We loved Cyprus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We thought it would be fun to take the kids somewhere new
and different and to explore another country. But we didn’t realize just how
great this little place, so close to home, could be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The flight was all of 37 minutes long, which cracked us all
up. </span><span style="font-size: large;">It took us longer to check our bags and go through security than it did to fly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We arrived in Limassol to our 8 seater van (driven on the other side of the road!) and
started our journey to our rental house. We wove up into the mountains higher and
higher until we arrived at a tiny village called Eptogonia. As we drove through
the village I had that feeling of “Uh oh...what have I done?” There were mud and
straw homes that looked like they were a hundred years old. I had royally
messed up with our <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/10707163">Airbnb
reservation</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then we arrived, and Nikkos, the young homeowner, was there to welcome us to his gorgeous three bedroom home. There were
original antiques everywhere from his family’s history (yes, we told the kids
to stay in the backyard the entire trip)! The house was equipped with a fully modern kitchen and we had a large, comfortable pool
and yard all to ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In addition to basking in the sun by the pool and enjoying time in the house, we had many activities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We went on a 3 or 4 kilometer hike at Caledonia Falls. It
was a lovely hike, although we weren’t so sure how we were going to get to our
car at the end; turns out you could ask someone to call you a cab at the bottom and they
would drive you back to your car. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9D30DYpLarf0aT2l9TOC20PsHp42S4e9CT6JW0oER3oAsOnuWf3Gra_TiNltdMZSemR3_jPPJiBhJ_KCPGyzji6Pm7MBspJYQ8lczDFWpuButtypxw3viDMHPlM-V8v5h25z/s1600/cyrpuskaledonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9D30DYpLarf0aT2l9TOC20PsHp42S4e9CT6JW0oER3oAsOnuWf3Gra_TiNltdMZSemR3_jPPJiBhJ_KCPGyzji6Pm7MBspJYQ8lczDFWpuButtypxw3viDMHPlM-V8v5h25z/s320/cyrpuskaledonia.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From the end of the Caledonia Falls there was
an amazing ropes course nearby called the <a href="http://www.spartipark.com/">Sparti Adventure Park</a>. It was an incredibly well organized course where each kid was
able to challenge himself at his own level for 2-3 hours of adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZsUf8rc5HhCsb8EAkFn1e-CBUbfFjVjdGFgF_1lsk-6fl2O_6UH0hdfGuYaqLpiOIGL08OIlNEd7-g6knzitf2KcWa3MV95p9kiTVpzSjpgqt2BFGhqRPKOv0dI6d6E7HbFI/s1600/platres-adventure-park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZsUf8rc5HhCsb8EAkFn1e-CBUbfFjVjdGFgF_1lsk-6fl2O_6UH0hdfGuYaqLpiOIGL08OIlNEd7-g6knzitf2KcWa3MV95p9kiTVpzSjpgqt2BFGhqRPKOv0dI6d6E7HbFI/s320/platres-adventure-park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another day we went to Ayia Napa where we surprised the kids
with a boat ride on the <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g262055-d3397433-Reviews-Yellow_Submarine_Boat_Trip-Ayia_Napa_Famagusta_District.html">Yellow
Submarine</a>. There are a lot of British people living in Cyprus who
own water-related businesses. In Ayia Napa we had a blast on their boat which navigated the sparkling blue water to a snorkeling destination in the sea caves. The boat also had a slide attached to
the side of it and three diving platforms, so when we stopped at the sea caves, everyone had a blast sliding down and jump off of a diving
board. Kid heaven!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFtTZPsoemi07VnYRDdH-cFd1qymIxJzpX6C3ouhA_jNwWEQ30MRHD7iG6kOzwibaIk4OMaCkP9GOoD-g5M3Oj1vmWU1vZi4TDgUnF1fQXS3wfGDI-tjUDYWM2jXK4OEXk4p2/s1600/cyrpus5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFtTZPsoemi07VnYRDdH-cFd1qymIxJzpX6C3ouhA_jNwWEQ30MRHD7iG6kOzwibaIk4OMaCkP9GOoD-g5M3Oj1vmWU1vZi4TDgUnF1fQXS3wfGDI-tjUDYWM2jXK4OEXk4p2/s320/cyrpus5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2-g49EuwGVr-4VF3nAaSodcn0otj6NYolFCOPAcXbSHZNyZ52pDCsDkqLaRdoak02wF7C8S63kxb2NVThK0ZWEcvTFTcKmXy85B_HSe21TCNW_rTD-UZRs3PmHyljYfYjzyM/s1600/the-yellow-submarine-180002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2-g49EuwGVr-4VF3nAaSodcn0otj6NYolFCOPAcXbSHZNyZ52pDCsDkqLaRdoak02wF7C8S63kxb2NVThK0ZWEcvTFTcKmXy85B_HSe21TCNW_rTD-UZRs3PmHyljYfYjzyM/s320/the-yellow-submarine-180002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We went to Aphrodite’s Rock which was a gorgeous little
alcove where the waves crashed around us and people came to learn about the
myth of Aphrodite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVtYK1k_ltXfMsVX975h-lGgdw74i1jrq6vAuRjJRaOAIrgUHfQoO8HUQL2exvq30Ys2bjeCooQsuo5nD8IwNC3bPZy9QGMzi2qDzsH94GQu-G_LsV4EKd4PoBCz2tDzDk8f2/s1600/cyprus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVtYK1k_ltXfMsVX975h-lGgdw74i1jrq6vAuRjJRaOAIrgUHfQoO8HUQL2exvq30Ys2bjeCooQsuo5nD8IwNC3bPZy9QGMzi2qDzsH94GQu-G_LsV4EKd4PoBCz2tDzDk8f2/s320/cyprus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next up was jet skiing in Pissouri. A sweet British family
owns a water activity center there and we had a half day of fun. There were
beautiful, unusual rocks along the water and we collected them and enjoyed the beach. We jet skied and the kids enjoyed being pulled by
a jet ski on floating sofas and boats. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtikntKKPRdnLtrzDdqXo2nO1e-xAKR-7sGMYfa9R2Pb6-92aB8cwSAIbMD0VDGwDjatMpk4r26NahwGtDk8EpJTG1y2UI2FgI-YjtBWcb2AOS599hfrfBtlzi6sYL5SPm3t86/s1600/cyprus4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtikntKKPRdnLtrzDdqXo2nO1e-xAKR-7sGMYfa9R2Pb6-92aB8cwSAIbMD0VDGwDjatMpk4r26NahwGtDk8EpJTG1y2UI2FgI-YjtBWcb2AOS599hfrfBtlzi6sYL5SPm3t86/s320/cyprus4.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpSL0hEkSktkRPYy2UOPPI4euGkc1AT2bURX_IBmL1tNzpP6oRxR9FDDPZAaZtqhUV6EK1E8ZZP2wsmNgjlDsS1QeppWr3POX_l2cozEa537Asg8OahOHuruGPehy_RwC8Pio/s1600/cyrpus3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpSL0hEkSktkRPYy2UOPPI4euGkc1AT2bURX_IBmL1tNzpP6oRxR9FDDPZAaZtqhUV6EK1E8ZZP2wsmNgjlDsS1QeppWr3POX_l2cozEa537Asg8OahOHuruGPehy_RwC8Pio/s320/cyrpus3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pissouri, by the way, has a large
concentration of British people and the neighborhood grocery store was filled with
British, kosher treats. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yahoo! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">About an hour from our house were the Troodos Mountains where there
were loads and loads of gorgeous and well-marked trails. We hiked on two
different days here, including around Mount Olympus, admiring the beauty and having a great time. They had a quaint
town center that was fun to walk around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Zj8xMwNR7YjEnHTMjlKd-Xf4294IyOCYKlLKtfal4OeArI5megUyilopNklWwIYugfE90h2pXah3i6HswtRzOeygjhCIPEwNmiXMPFDgAMYdLy7O170DY7xyEGudOEbPepc/s1600/cyprusolympus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Zj8xMwNR7YjEnHTMjlKd-Xf4294IyOCYKlLKtfal4OeArI5megUyilopNklWwIYugfE90h2pXah3i6HswtRzOeygjhCIPEwNmiXMPFDgAMYdLy7O170DY7xyEGudOEbPepc/s400/cyprusolympus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another day it was time to enjoy some mall fun. But the mall
in Limassol isn’t just any mall. It has a full size, virtually empty skating
rink in it and brand new bowling alleys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We spent one day, as well, on the ancient activities including
the Kourion, Limassol Castle, and the Kolossi Castle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvDj67J2GOaAFMNO4YjuHafaphByGcwqFgXoOvl85jIbBy93hL3xumzyBt62CmV8nW1sXwDha-xJT4uxiHeMAXEhYdWYACLiKSo-LGs-sx7-XtHklHgpVREYgKE39d0zm9Zwf/s1600/cyprus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvDj67J2GOaAFMNO4YjuHafaphByGcwqFgXoOvl85jIbBy93hL3xumzyBt62CmV8nW1sXwDha-xJT4uxiHeMAXEhYdWYACLiKSo-LGs-sx7-XtHklHgpVREYgKE39d0zm9Zwf/s320/cyprus2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5cYniCAP22eOyltZdbYj3n6QFpb9LABYfpUBFGDcTDFXRUM_Q9lp5RrIjVafz2YcUl4ACec6uBOUJ8zUpfJXtleiQt80b9ekKXXXEPHYk22eAYy4AwkcOe3x2aGJtZnj2EL7/s1600/cyrpus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5cYniCAP22eOyltZdbYj3n6QFpb9LABYfpUBFGDcTDFXRUM_Q9lp5RrIjVafz2YcUl4ACec6uBOUJ8zUpfJXtleiQt80b9ekKXXXEPHYk22eAYy4AwkcOe3x2aGJtZnj2EL7/s320/cyrpus1.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had so much fun in Cyprus that we actually ran out of
time. There is an entire, less traveled section of the country in the western
area called Paphos. There are half day and full day tours that can
take you to all of the sites…and there are many things you could do there on
your own as well.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was such a beautiful get-away and such a great way to spend time with our kids. We love showing them Israel and enjoying trips together here, but it was also fun to go somewhere new and different! Everything was incredible inexpensive, by the way, and we found many great kosher selections at the local grocery store from a list that Chabad puts out.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMunN3Z5DUu1i-YQp9mNJ4kyU3F2Mk0Yz8mNNhAd8x1H8eWuRw-Hhs4dKhpiXX9DcWiERofPwgASndzSBs2wxKQoqdBYIP5LYk17MbSHxgdgzOXlxyUCSOfFKarYDW0Q1gy3BH/s1600/cypruscoffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMunN3Z5DUu1i-YQp9mNJ4kyU3F2Mk0Yz8mNNhAd8x1H8eWuRw-Hhs4dKhpiXX9DcWiERofPwgASndzSBs2wxKQoqdBYIP5LYk17MbSHxgdgzOXlxyUCSOfFKarYDW0Q1gy3BH/s320/cypruscoffee.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqa0BkiZSjrEr_oePyY8ETeVV5rqTjgac1JamOESs9IfGyMN32aXieRtR_q4T6jDvd2fFnZuB561h7uSR1lXD9TXVtziFrJ0T8SDliwLLjyiMdaTIqrLvsBd_w-luQRwIVWZN/s1600/cyrpusshabbat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqa0BkiZSjrEr_oePyY8ETeVV5rqTjgac1JamOESs9IfGyMN32aXieRtR_q4T6jDvd2fFnZuB561h7uSR1lXD9TXVtziFrJ0T8SDliwLLjyiMdaTIqrLvsBd_w-luQRwIVWZN/s320/cyrpusshabbat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> Say hi to Nikkos if you go and have a great time!</span></o:p></div>
<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-66844347169695351332017-03-26T22:33:00.002+03:002017-03-26T22:33:56.431+03:00Eliav's Soldier<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Before Purim, my ten year old told me that they had a
project to do at school. The school put together care packages to deliver to
soldiers on their bases before Purim, and his class was in charge of writing notes to accompany the packages.
Eliav wrote his note to his soldier with his full name and email in case the soldier wanted to
get in touch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That was the end of the story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Until it wasn't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I thought it was a very sweet activity. And as kids do
around the world, our children were saying thank you to soldiers for all that
they do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eliav didn’t hear from the soldier, but he didn’t really
expect to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then, right before Shabbat, our neighbor and close friend's son, Zvi, showed up
at the door with his wife. “We have a message for Eliav,” they said, and he hand
delivered a note from a soldier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“What??” we all said in unison. “What’s going on? How could this be?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Turns out that Eliav got assigned to a soldier whose family
lives in Efrat (the next town over) and that the soldier is
friends with Zvi. He was with Zvi recently and said, “You
know I got this adorable note from someone in Neve Daniel. Do you happen to
know Eliav Sussman?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Zvi proceeded to laugh, and to explain that our families
have been friends for almost 20 years and that we are neighbors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVA_-2K8moySTt-YwhuTv4PELRu48pgsXi8-20g2eR9QwctC5WAELB36B1JQDCeS8AaPlbtrakIG6vYzkSw2ltleLfKEGnRX-m_Qwkuq_FftLPwC5cNMHmToOYF39gAs1HL0h3/s1600/IMG_5241-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVA_-2K8moySTt-YwhuTv4PELRu48pgsXi8-20g2eR9QwctC5WAELB36B1JQDCeS8AaPlbtrakIG6vYzkSw2ltleLfKEGnRX-m_Qwkuq_FftLPwC5cNMHmToOYF39gAs1HL0h3/s640/IMG_5241-1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The soldier wrote the sweetest note to Eliav, explaining how
the army is often hard and it’s difficult to keep your focus on what’s
important; he said that with Eliav’s note it reminded him that he’s working hard to
protect kids like Eliav and to work for our nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Kids around the world send packages and notes to soldiers. Sometimes the soldiers write back and sometimes the kids never hear from them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When we deliver food to the Pinat Chama (the Warm Corner for
soldiers) near our home, I see the notes that kids from other countries send to the
soldiers. The notes are so sweet, but there is a certain feeling of disconnect,
of thanking the soldiers for what they do <i>there, </i>in another country<i>. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s so indicative of our lives here in Israel that Eliav
should get a hand-delivered note in a situation of this sort. There are simply no degrees of separation here, and
when a little fifth grader writes a note to that nameless, faceless big
soldier, it just might be that the soldier lives nearby and is friends with a family down the street.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, sweet soldier, for your service, for taking the time to write back to and inspire a 5th grade boy down the street, and for all you do for our nation.</span></div>
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<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-38433184474271859482017-03-06T17:14:00.001+02:002017-03-06T17:14:17.829+02:00An Only-In-Israel Purim Emergency<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As many of my friends know, we’ve had a unique opportunity this year to reconnect with a student of mine from Churchill High School. It just so happens that he’s a professional basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem. Yeah, it’s been wild.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, of course, as Purim started to roll around, my two
little guys decided that they had to be Jerome Dyson. We went to the
Hapoel website with plenty of time before Purim and ordered up two jerseys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-eOc-XgV0KklXCLs2dypu7Jo3_8QO4LyFikX6_TGCQPB2vVAlJwKE5QsCv85X3gcEm08Bj_faoT-LREu9eMk0lXE9vHQX1SfMoNrB5vhto5c_5WZZK69bo_mQ5lmosjcWuhyphenhyphen/s1600/IMG_5009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-eOc-XgV0KklXCLs2dypu7Jo3_8QO4LyFikX6_TGCQPB2vVAlJwKE5QsCv85X3gcEm08Bj_faoT-LREu9eMk0lXE9vHQX1SfMoNrB5vhto5c_5WZZK69bo_mQ5lmosjcWuhyphenhyphen/s320/IMG_5009.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what the jersey looks like. But this one is mine - hands off little people!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5zEnxy93zkyGpO2BakrWu2nsIsG8Z6D_ngvNUWW-8XcZN8B_2miUADRC7GthzCHcT9AzWNd1-uS9N4mAQsCeNsCDisFL_hy6BiLbJJOsjgGBr6Wa4LZg3gMZIZCtU6js50NL/s1600/IMG_5010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5zEnxy93zkyGpO2BakrWu2nsIsG8Z6D_ngvNUWW-8XcZN8B_2miUADRC7GthzCHcT9AzWNd1-uS9N4mAQsCeNsCDisFL_hy6BiLbJJOsjgGBr6Wa4LZg3gMZIZCtU6js50NL/s320/IMG_5010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then the waiting began.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As the date for them to dress up approaches, they are
getting more and more nervous that those jerseys just aren’t going to make it
in time. We’ve had a few meltdowns about it already, but there isn’t much that
I can do except to keep calling the Hapoel office and keep begging the post guy
in Neve Daniel to miraculously find those jerseys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We aren’t known for having the best post office on the
planet, and when I go back each day (during the one hour that the post office
is open) the guy keeps laughing. Still looking for those jerseys, huh? And I
would laugh with him, if it weren’t getting to be a dire situation and if I
didn’t have the sneaking suspicion that those jerseys are buried beneath the
12000 boxes of Better World Books and other packages that he has in that disorganized, tiny space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, today, with four days left before the grand meltdown, I called the Hapoel office and sent them an email. I got a
quick reply to my email, with Uri explaining that they mailed the jerseys six
days ago. He gave me the tracking number and he told me that they should
definitely be in our post office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was impressed with his quick reply, and sure that the
blame now sits squarely on the shoulder of our postman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then, this afternoon, I received a phone call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Romi? It’s Uri from Hapoel. Did
you check your post office?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Well, Hi Uri!” I said, giggling just a bit in surprise that
he had called. “I can’t check until tomorrow, because, well, you see, the post
office was open from 7-8 this morning and then they aren’t open again until
tomorrow night at 6. So I’ll be there tomorrow to check.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Are these jerseys for Purim,” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Yes. Yes, they are Uri.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Ok,” he said, as he became a man with a plan. “When do they
want to wear them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“So, the kids want to wear them to school on Friday.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Ok Romi. Here is the plan. When you check the post office
tomorrow night, if they aren’t there, then you call me Wednesday morning. I’m
going to get two more jerseys in the right sizes and I’ll have them waiting for
you in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Can you get here for them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Uri,” I said. “I’ll go just about anywhere if you’ve got
those jerseys for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We both had a good laugh about that and the lengths that we will go for Purim, and our kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Ok
Romi. Call me either way on Wednesday morning. We will make sure those kids
have Hapoel jerseys. Ok? Ok!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hung up smiling from ear to ear. While this
was great customer service, I knew that his call wasn’t about looking good or
about customer service. It was about Purim and about the absolute joy, almost
zeal, with which Israelis approach this holiday. And how precious they
understand that it is to the children in our tiny country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’ll let you know how our “Only In Israel” story ends in a
few days. But I'm guessing that it's going to end with a few happy little Jerome Dysons.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-60977592867495275862017-02-09T12:38:00.000+02:002017-02-09T19:55:58.111+02:00Why I Had a Book Party for My 1st Grade Son<span style="font-size: large;">We just had a little party for my first grade son. It wasn’t a
birthday party or a welcome home party or any other type of party with
which you might be familiar.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a book party.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m not sure where I first heard this idea, but I assume that I
didn’t just come up with it myself. When each of my early-readers
finished his first real book all by himself, we threw him a party. My
youngest guy started reading this year and about a month ago he picked
up a 50-60 page book and declared that he was going to get through it
himself. We watched him meticulously sound out word after word, and we
watched as the reading became smoother and more decipherable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then he finished the book.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And we were so excited for him. To convey our excitement, we invited
six friends from his first grade class to his book party. They came to
our house, just for an hour, and made bookmarks, had lunch, and played a
game about books to celebrate with my son.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuJSlKF-hfkRH_vwMIQ8oSlzGE17sqlJZnrg6MAw3GEAaYj_oMLpuLlf8CoI3y7z-LqiD8mW6neTe-ZVEXnISa9Tb2SbPdTGtOg52KZQABpdc2VL4PQWBelQRz83tIFEu_WSI/s1600/IMG_4681%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuJSlKF-hfkRH_vwMIQ8oSlzGE17sqlJZnrg6MAw3GEAaYj_oMLpuLlf8CoI3y7z-LqiD8mW6neTe-ZVEXnISa9Tb2SbPdTGtOg52KZQABpdc2VL4PQWBelQRz83tIFEu_WSI/s320/IMG_4681%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a tradition that many Jewish schools have kept for
generations: to give honey to children on the first day that they are
introduced to the Aleph-Bet, the Hebrew alphabet. My boys have all
experienced this tradition and have dipped their spoons (or their
fingers) into that honey, mingling the sweet taste with the sweet sound
of their first letters. I’ve always loved this idea.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I want to cultivate this type of love for reading, this thirst for
knowledge, and this understanding of the sweet taste of literacy in my
children. It’s not always easy to convey a love for reading. I’ve tried
to implement ideas like the book party to try to impart this love and
this feeling of the celebration of literacy to my boys.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf617rQKgadVMkxK-fQCLRC5yijVgPQPh_hMGSRwVWAXhp_3wU-WKyu-vbb3gUGkVBRNsb5z12WFzh6_H1EUvHkdscOoJRZ_qsV9ZP8HroXUFB2Nz_DntGNhtlkvzCxTkojDkp/s1600/IMG_4720%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf617rQKgadVMkxK-fQCLRC5yijVgPQPh_hMGSRwVWAXhp_3wU-WKyu-vbb3gUGkVBRNsb5z12WFzh6_H1EUvHkdscOoJRZ_qsV9ZP8HroXUFB2Nz_DntGNhtlkvzCxTkojDkp/s320/IMG_4720%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5PnZ1RgolPmxX7PTJCBYYZ2ygWNXE4t7FX2urcfYbgFSVV3aD39w-MS0VYce7kIrQUoJlUyxDAio2R2Nz20cQZYrRPUT_6d0gv-2pSqUV4O24bdIvmk9UNLmNW9lTAiKKZ5P/s1600/IMG_4723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5PnZ1RgolPmxX7PTJCBYYZ2ygWNXE4t7FX2urcfYbgFSVV3aD39w-MS0VYce7kIrQUoJlUyxDAio2R2Nz20cQZYrRPUT_6d0gv-2pSqUV4O24bdIvmk9UNLmNW9lTAiKKZ5P/s320/IMG_4723.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I did find it interesting that I was hesitant this time when I called
the parents of the kids we were inviting. In the back of my mind was
the worry that some would see competition in the invite. <em>Oh</em>, they might think looking down on my son’s progress, <em>MY son has been reading for ages</em>. Or, on the other end of the spectrum, they might think, <em>Well, my son hasn’t read a full book yet. They are bragging about their son’s accomplishments.</em>
But I quickly disregarded this fear, reminding myself that parenting
isn’t a competitive sport. My son is reaching this milestone now, in his
own time and in his own way. And that’s cause for celebration.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is just one of the many ways that I can convey to my children
that reading, literacy, and the thirst for knowledge are so important.
They are important enough that they get their own party—their own
celebration. In the digital age, when we are so quickly losing our
footing in the face of electronic temptations, we need all the
reinforcement and celebration of education that we can get.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This article first appeared on <a href="http://www.kveller.com/why-i-had-a-book-party-for-my-1st-grade-son/">Kveller</a>.</span><b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-81240413937885286732017-02-02T12:22:00.000+02:002017-02-02T12:22:31.591+02:00Romi's Reading Round-Up: January 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This year, I’m going to try to write a book review at the end
of each month. That’s assuming, of course, that I’ve read enough books in the
month to make it worthwhile. I’ve noticed a pattern in my reading. I’ve
developed quite an affinity for the older-man-who-struggles-and-overcomes-odds
type of book. Is that a genre? It seems to be one since all of these delightful and touching books fit
into the category: <i>The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye, A Man Called Ove</i> and <i>The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper</i>. I recently stumbled upon another
similarly-themed book, <i>Norwegian By Night</i> by Derek Miller, and I was sure, before
I even started it, that I would love it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMoL2-72OBkI3On2BZEVpAyK2oZmH-5hOuglEwTOnZ3ycggF2if1EpLKapTT_qIxD-j7s9GT5DjIjzZxDpM_BKftpi62v6mpqPMj9AGf9oemp7wNghSxCjacWG4dO9hGlAzT1/s1600/norwegian_545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMoL2-72OBkI3On2BZEVpAyK2oZmH-5hOuglEwTOnZ3ycggF2if1EpLKapTT_qIxD-j7s9GT5DjIjzZxDpM_BKftpi62v6mpqPMj9AGf9oemp7wNghSxCjacWG4dO9hGlAzT1/s320/norwegian_545.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My, oh my. Love it I did. I can’t tell you how beautiful
this book was. It’s the unlikely journey of an older, Jewish man and the way that
he grapples with his life’s regrets and tries to put them right. It was
incredible. And I found myself laughing out loud while rooting for him and the
boy he helps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another go-to favorite of mine is Catherine Ryan Hyde. This
woman can do no wrong. Her books are also about the struggles of broken souls
and the ways that their friendships and loves help to patch their wounds. Her
latest is called <i>Say Goodbye for Now</i> and it is full of grace and love, hardship
and racism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This month I read <i>Gold</i> by Chris Cleave. (Cleave wrote the
incredible book <i>Everyone Brave is Forgiven</i> about London during World War II.) <i>Gold</i> was about three Olympic gold medal contenders and their pursuit of
excellence. It was powerful and I felt like the characters stuck with me even
after I finished the book. <i>The Bookshop on the Corner</i> by Jenny Colgan was another surprisingly good book. It started a bit cliché, with the unhappy girl picking
up to find a new life for herself. But it was done quite well and I found myself rooting for Nina until the very end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Burying the Honeysuckle Girls</i> by Emily Carpenter was a nice
mystery. Nothing earth-shattering, but a well-drawn story (well, until the end
when the author appeared to get tired and wrapped everything up before you
could blink!). <i>The Mothers</i> by Brit Bennett dragged at times, and I wish it had
given more play to the voice of the mothers. In general, it was well written
and an <span class="readable">interesting look at the choices we make</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In a very different vein, I read <i>An Exaltation of Larks</i> by
Suanne Laqueur. This was a real surprise
read and very different from the types of books I usually read. I loved it and
couldn’t put it down, but speak with me privately if you’re thinking of reading
it. There are certain themes you’ll want to know about beforehand so that I don’t
steer you wrong in your book selections!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This leaves the books I hated. There have to be a few of
these each month, don’t there? First of all, I have to admit that I put down <i>A
Gentleman in Moscow</i> after reading about 10% of it. This book has received some
of the highest ratings I’ve ever seen on Goodreads and I think I’m embarrassed
that I abandoned it. I found the book very dry and I don’t know enough
Russian history to enjoy it. But everyone else in the world seems to be loving
it – so please let me know if you have enjoyed it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The two worst books on my list this month were <i>Faultlines</i> by
Barbara Taylor Sissel and <i>Life After Coffee</i> by Virginia Franken. <i>Faultlines'</i> <span class="readable">characters were as flat as pancakes and its conflicts were never-ending and begged for me to care about them. I raced
through the pages just because I was curious about how she would wrap it up and
put me out of my misery. And so she did</span>. And <i>Life After Coffee</i> is
hysterically pathetic. It had a nice premise of the workaholic mom who works in
the coffee industry (which I thought would be fun to learn about) who finds
herself unemployed and in charge of her children. But how impossibly pathetic
can you be in raising your kids and how ridiculously implausible a story line
can you create? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy6aGgQ00t37CbUDZTUNfwZGTW0k1RO_pTT6f6iL-HmeJLjOKaFWnMiKKqkn_BSTfBMG4aMcRsiTiKOWndPt-h4OR4tDq9NN1O6KgBDUAMdPvRNixumyWdbyGNc_wESSG4xtY/s1600/coffee-770272__180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy6aGgQ00t37CbUDZTUNfwZGTW0k1RO_pTT6f6iL-HmeJLjOKaFWnMiKKqkn_BSTfBMG4aMcRsiTiKOWndPt-h4OR4tDq9NN1O6KgBDUAMdPvRNixumyWdbyGNc_wESSG4xtY/s1600/coffee-770272__180.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoy your coffee. Forget about this book!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I’m currently reading <i>The Sleepwalker</i> by Chris Bohjalian (who
can do no wrong in my eyes) and <i>Back When We Were Grown-Ups</i> by Anne Tyler (because
I found it in Amy’s lending library). I also bought myself a gift and ordered
three books from Better World Books that should be here soon. They are: <span class="m-6390100171896056426cs2caa79f6"><i>Love in the Present Tense, The Healing</i> </span>and
<span class="m-6390100171896056426cs2caa79f6"><i>The Care and Handling of Roses with
Thorns</i>. If you’ve never ordered from Better World Books, you should just to get
their email. The email was written "by my books" and was all about how they can’t
wait to meet me. I’d like to meet their marketing manager. Adorable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="m-6390100171896056426cs2caa79f6"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="m-6390100171896056426cs2caa79f6"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Reading!! </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-80389982388437940782017-01-19T09:59:00.000+02:002017-01-19T19:47:49.599+02:004 Lessons I Learned from My Brush with Chronic Illness<i>This blog was first published on <a href="http://www.kveller.com/4-lessons-i-learned-from-my-brush-with-chronic-illness/">Kveller</a> last week. I like to make sure to share here as well.</i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you don’t suffer from a vast, almost never-ending list of
psychological and physical ailments, then you simply don’t get it. You
can’t possibly know how it feels to awaken each morning battling the
same problems you fought as you struggled to go to sleep; you can’t
imagine the debilitating feeling of helplessness and angst that come
with such issues.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And that makes you lucky.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While I’ve considered myself part of this lucky group for my first 44
years, I have recently had an unusual glimpse into how the other group
feels.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Since April, I’ve been coping with vertigo. And I don’t mean the type
of vertigo where the room spins for a few minutes and then all is fine.
I mean the seemingly never-ending feeling of being off-balance; the
type of off-balance where you can’t drive because the road in front of
you keeps moving, the type where talking to someone makes you nauseous
because people move too much as they gab.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As my symptoms have ebbed and flowed, been unexplainably exacerbated
and mercifully diminished, I’ve come to appreciate and recognize for the
first time what it must be like to struggle with a chronic condition.
What I’ve experienced doesn’t even come close to what some people
endure, of course, and I couldn’t possibly understand everything they
tackle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But I have become more sensitive to certain things that I believe are worth sharing:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>1. The spoon theory is alive and well, and boy is it true.</strong> I’ve heard about the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory">Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino</a>
for years, but I had never lived it until this year. The theory is that
people dealing with chronic illness feel like they get only so many
spoons each day—and they don’t know when the spoons will run out. And
once they’ve run out for the day, they are finished, usually with no
warning.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On days when I’m not feeling well, I wake up wondering just how much
energy I will have that day and how much I will be able to accomplish.
By the time I get the kids out of the house and do my job, I’m often
totally spent. And that means that the grocery shopping isn’t getting
done after work; the errands aren’t getting accomplished; the dinners
aren’t getting made, and more.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Prior to my illness, I often thought, “Oh please. Just dig into
yourself and find a bit more energy and then you’ll be able to get
things done.” But when you’re grappling with illness, you hit a wall and
there is literally no way to continue. Period. What I’ve learned from
this is that I have to listen to my body and be gentle with it. And I
have certainly learned to let go of my judgement about how others
manage their days and how much they accomplish.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>2. Feeling sick is incredibly isolating</strong>. It doesn’t
matter if you’re sickness is a physical or psychological issue; it makes
you feel very alone. While people want to be helpful and they try to be
patient, they can only understand what you’re going through a little
bit. And this creates a feeling of isolation. Similarly, if you look
fine on the outside, people really can’t understand what you’re
struggling with, and they don’t always know how to interact with you.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This reminds me that we absolutely never know what other people are
going through—and that comparing ourselves to others and assuming that
others have things easier is fruitless. And misguided.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>3. I’ve learned to reach far and wide for the help I need and not to settle for good enough.</strong>
I’ve been to just about every specialist imaginable and some of them
have made me feel like my issues are all in the head and I’m crazy. But I
know when I’m seeing double and when I can’t get out of bed because the
room is spinning. And I know there must be a way to help me. So I’ve
continued looking for answers, sometimes traditional ones and sometimes
less traditional ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My continued pursuit sends out a message to my heart that I’m not
giving up on myself. And hopefully other sufferers aren’t giving up on
themselves either. There are answers to be found for many ailments; and
where there aren’t answers there are coping mechanisms. We are worth it
and worthy enough to pursue these.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>4. The most important take away that I think I’ve learned
from this challenge is to understand just how heroic so many people are</strong>.
When you’re sick and you share this about yourself, people come out of
the woodwork. They share their suffering, their sister’s suffering,
their cousin’s vertigo, etc. I’ve come to see this past year that there
are so many people who battle with physical illnesses and handicaps,
emotional issues, and psychological ones. On the days when I’m feeling
well, this makes me incredibly grateful to be me. It reminds me of how
sacred our bodies and minds are and of how much we have to respect them.
On the days when I’m not feeling well, it reminds me that I’m not
alone. And that counts for a lot as well. I’ve also learned to be a
better listener and I’ve gained so much respect for people and what they
endure and accomplish.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Someone with a chronic illness can probably write a book listing and
explaining the daily battles they experience, the lessons they’ve
learned, and those they wish they didn’t have to. In comparison, this is
but a small list of the things I’ve learned so far on this journey of
sickness and health. Perhaps, and hopefully, this journey is making me a
better person to myself and others.</span><b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-59426462309339541142017-01-16T20:15:00.000+02:002017-01-16T20:15:28.459+02:00The Echo After the Flash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNHScCd2nBkUEeVBkQwFzuakrGZbOwl_dibGQILrIG6EBDkkHFi_qjpicNvoRQ5yvmrT_jrI_V5LHoMlB4M20LKk4B6DPsM4bj7ascB6p-n_u_9x2YputLkNLGPbfVWVOvWgs/s1600/hearts-671975_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNHScCd2nBkUEeVBkQwFzuakrGZbOwl_dibGQILrIG6EBDkkHFi_qjpicNvoRQ5yvmrT_jrI_V5LHoMlB4M20LKk4B6DPsM4bj7ascB6p-n_u_9x2YputLkNLGPbfVWVOvWgs/s320/hearts-671975_960_720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">People often say that life is in the details. They said that it’s the little things that matter. While these statements make sense, it’s not always easy to illustrate them or to understand what type of impact they could have on our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last week, while at a wedding of our friends’ son, I was privy to witness a moment in time that illustrated this point so beautifully. The wedding ceremony ended and everyone yelled “Mazal Tov!” Most people had turned to their partner to share a moment, or they had turned away to find their table, or maybe they were going to greet a friend they hadn’t seen during the cocktail hour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I, well I’ve learned with time, and I had my eyes glued to the chuppah and the bride and groom. As they finished embracing, and before all of their eager family and friends could get to them for hugs and congratulations, the groom’s younger brother shot up onto the podium. And without a word, he tilted his head in front of his brother. The groom, stopping everything else that he could have been doing, put his hands over his younger brother’s head, closed his eyes and offered up the most heart-felt bracha (prayer) for his brother’s well-being.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The entire room melted away and they were the only people there. Just the brothers for a moment. The scene was so endearing, so tender and glorious, that I stood there with tears streaming down my face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My husband, witnessing the moment as well and knowing me to the core, turned to me and said, “Wow. The bracha got you, right? You’re going to need a few minutes to collect yourself, aren’t you?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I asked many people that evening and the next day if they had seen that brief moment, and no one had. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They all explained that they had turned away from the chuppah, or they had started walking towards it to dance the bride and groom off the podium, or that they were heading to the bathroom. Whatever it was, they had watched the big event (which was beautiful) but had missed the little one that came so quickly after and that held so much meaning, so much love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I have reflected on this moment over the last few days, I’ve been brought back to another moment. This one was, ironically, at the conclusion of another wedding ceremony a few years ago. Our neighbors married off the last of their three boys. The wedding ceremony ended and most of the guests were singing and clapping for the bride and groom as they walked away from the chuppah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I remained, however, standing near the chuppah and watched one of the sweetest moments. The music was still playing, and the groom’s father took hold of the groom’s mother, under the night stars and the crisp, white canopy. They were the only people still standing on the platform, and the two of them began a dance; it was a dance of love, hope, joy, renewal and promise and they appeared to be in a universe all their own. Under the inky night sky, they danced to their accomplishment as parents, to the ending of one chapter and the starting of another, and to the mysteries that their future together would now hold. It felt like the dance of their lives, and I was honored to witness it and to watch their love.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFSOyJvBen96cI_U8ItneyhWNeTRJL5PQJ29yIrQ9nYCjCA95DlJxMU0OJydHpV3_caOMmes0Rb2Re9wkllSgiBJW7nTm0drZaptXc8-g0CcOrx0YNK3gh_aEQYiJIZZxvSRw/s1600/dancing-28749_960_720.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFSOyJvBen96cI_U8ItneyhWNeTRJL5PQJ29yIrQ9nYCjCA95DlJxMU0OJydHpV3_caOMmes0Rb2Re9wkllSgiBJW7nTm0drZaptXc8-g0CcOrx0YNK3gh_aEQYiJIZZxvSRw/s320/dancing-28749_960_720.png" width="169" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes life is lived best in the big, flashy moments. But often, the true gems are the hidden glances; the times that shadow those dramatic, flashy circumstances and that hide just inside the echo after the flash. Those, those are the moments that we get to enjoy when we are quiet and still, and observing life unfold around us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And those, truly, are the most special moments of our lives. </span></div>
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<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-62981549244883401672017-01-10T11:43:00.001+02:002017-01-10T17:31:11.727+02:00This Video is My Israel<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Please stop talking, for one minute, about what did or did not happen on Sunday when a terrorist drove a truck over our children on a beautiful promenade overlooking the Old City in Jerusalem killing four of them and injuring many others. Stop talking about Elor for one minute and the state of the Army, the future of the military, the ways that you think this case does or doesn’t change our children. Stop talking about the despicable people handing out candy on the streets in celebration and about the fireworks blasting in their towns each time they take one of ours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wasn’t at any of these events, and I didn’t witness what occurred. What I’d like to talk about, instead, is this video. Because I was at the funeral for Erez Orbach, a sweet, soft-spoken 20 year old who was buried in the military section of the Kfar Etzion cemetery yesterday. I was there to hear his grandmother eulogize him. His grandmother, whom he should be eulogizing someday in the distant future when she has finished a long and healthy life. But instead, she was eulogizing him. She finished her sweet, touching eulogy with the words “Thank you for being you, Erez. And thank you for allowing us to be part of your life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was there to capture this moment when the funeral ended. A moment in time that transcends almost every moment I’ve ever seen in my life. A moment of tenderness, unity, hope.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E9MBYCS3N-w" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know how it started. When the funeral ended, I left the area for a few minutes to pay my respects to the far-too-many people whose graves I wanted to visit in Kfar Etzion. As I kissed the final rock that I lay on the foot of one of their graves, I turned back to Erez’s funeral. I approached the area where he was buried to find a few hundred people surrounding Erez’s family. They were standing in a large circle swaying together and singing. Two of my sons are in yeshiva with Erez’s brother, Alon, and the entire yeshiva was there to pay their respects. The entire yeshiva – the entire yeshiva of 150 plus boys – was surrounding their friend and holding him up in song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can’t, or I won’t, comment about many things. Some of them because I wasn’t there, and others because I don’t have enough knowledge. Some because they are so profoundly disturbing that they make it difficult to continue living in our glorious Land, and some because they are too terrifying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But this, this I will comment on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have never, in my many decades, seen something like this at a funeral. I have never seen such hope and faith and strength being shown to someone who could, at that very moment, feel like the world was ending. But Alon’s friends – our future and the future of our army – were standing there holding him and his family up and showing him that they are literally surrounded by love. That together they will get through this terrible time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And this, this is My Israel. And these, these are <i>MY</i> people…my hope for a better day today and tomorrow, and for all of the tomorrows to come.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>This article was first published today on <a href="http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/this-video-is-my-israel/">The Times of Israel</a>.</i></span></div>
<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-67148118443536391532016-12-21T14:42:00.000+02:002016-12-21T16:10:14.246+02:00Romi's Reading Round-up: December 2016<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve read some very interesting books lately that are
certainly worth recommending. Here is my latest round-up for your holiday
reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Books I Loved<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Last Will</i> by </span><span style="font-size: large;">Bryn </span><span style="font-size: large;">Greenwood: Sometimes I find a gem
out of nowhere. I’m on a few lists that show me when books go on sale for less
than a few dollars, and I tend to snap these up sight unseen. <i>Last Will</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">was one of these books. This started off feeling like a <i>Rosie Project</i></span><span style="font-size: large;">,
but turned into a deeply moving look at how one damaged man learns to cope and
love. I truly loved this book.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpgMiV9Ju8A5OtUlDGLj5uJg3SMmObpb2NbG7N8cn2jdnSTDmvP-luVagisSkoXnOA76mIJb6_vYeoYVuj-tZEOM7hZ9aVyNYq8ExYjIDsXwd2I8UyXSa1jA33eDJ-yqCgXeZ/s1600/last+will+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpgMiV9Ju8A5OtUlDGLj5uJg3SMmObpb2NbG7N8cn2jdnSTDmvP-luVagisSkoXnOA76mIJb6_vYeoYVuj-tZEOM7hZ9aVyNYq8ExYjIDsXwd2I8UyXSa1jA33eDJ-yqCgXeZ/s320/last+will+book.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Long and Faraway Gone</i> by Lou Berney: This was one
of those books that I stayed up far too late one night finishing. The ending
was awful – why can’t authors take their time and realize that everything doesn’t
have to be wrapped up in a nice little bow? But the book was fantastic despite
the lame ending. I really liked both of the main characters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Moonglow</i> by Michael Chabon: It’s hard to go wrong
with Chabon. The book was beautifully written and it was a lovely story. I didn’t
like the back and forth chronology of the book…sometimes I couldn’t figure out
what decade we were in with the main character or what was going on! But despite
this, it was really well done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Whiskey Sea</i> by Ann Howard Creel: This was another
of those $1 finds. The book is about a tough and fascinating woman during the
Prohibition Era who gets involved in rum running. Certainly not a topic or era
I’ve read anything about before. Loved it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Truly Madly Guilty</i> by Liane Moriarty: Sometimes it’s
a good thing when I don’t listen to the Goodreads reviews before jumping in.
Wow they were harsh on this book, but I really enjoyed it. Yes, there were
parts that dragged and yes, I think she played with the reader’s emotions a bit
too much with her use of suspense, but I really loved the book. I felt for four
of the main characters and I think that, perhaps, only someone who has been in
the situation that the book outlines would realize just how realistically she
wrote about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Everything, Everything</i> by Nicola Yoon: What a gem. I’m
finding that I disagree a lot these days with Goodreads. Not all readers liked
this book but I just loved it. Don’t read too many reviews or you’ll spoil the
book. Just pick it up and read it. Wow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Books I Enjoyed<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Almost Moon</i> by Alice Sebold: About a third of the
way into the book I realized that I’d read it already. Whooops! But I still
found it fascinating. Yes, it was torn apart on Goodreads, but I thought it was
an interesting look at the struggles that the narrator went through with her
mother and where she ended up as a result. Not really for the faint of heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Color of Water in July</i> by Nora Carroll: This was
a nice read. Nothing earth-shattering, but I definitely enjoyed the story of a
confused woman going back to her childhood home to try to sort out things that
had happened to her and misunderstandings that had taken place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss and Hope in an African Slum</i>
by Kennedy Odede and Jennifer Posner: We have a lending library in the yishuv and it caught my eye.
It isn’t my style or something I would ever think of reading. It was very eye
opening about how some people are forced to live and quite inspiring. It was
definitely a bit crazy, and if I were the girl’s mother I would have had a
heart attack reading it (and watching her live through it), but it is amazing
what some people are able to do in the worst of situations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Gd5-FqiD5Weh8IGYzR8Xf9C-98HLAxgSjnJx6greFCjKGwbcKWDloW8PnRu0XChensf-uUalpJcO50qt98RIbdBx0oQ9vofz8m8VKR2Ub1ksEPdf6MDS4BBPgJN0qUrnxSpK/s1600/unafraid+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Gd5-FqiD5Weh8IGYzR8Xf9C-98HLAxgSjnJx6greFCjKGwbcKWDloW8PnRu0XChensf-uUalpJcO50qt98RIbdBx0oQ9vofz8m8VKR2Ub1ksEPdf6MDS4BBPgJN0qUrnxSpK/s320/unafraid+book.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Britt-Marie Was Here</i> by Fredrik Backman: Well, she
certainly was here…on every single page. I love Backman’s writing style and I
really did enjoy this book, but I felt like it took a lot of work to get to the
enjoyment. It was very slow going and seemed, at times, to be going nowhere. It
really did have a lovely message and looking back on the book it was beautiful.
But it was work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Books I Could Have Done Without<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Buried Book</i> by D.M. Pulley: This could have been
a great book, but about half way through I started laughing at how ridiculously
implausible it was. While the historical backdrop was interesting, way too many
things happened to this poor boy and it became ridiculous. It was also
difficult to read because it was sooo dark. I'm sure some people would love
this book (as the reviews appear to show) but it wasn't one of my favorite
ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Everything We Keep</i> by Kerry Lonsdale: If you like
clever twists and interesting turns then this book would entertain you. But I
tend to expect more from my reading time. It was fine...but I never really
connected with the main character or felt that I could feel what she was
experiencing. And the big answer to the book's question was a bit of a
let-down. Very much just so-so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Commonwealth</i> by Ann Patchett: This is when you wonder
if you’re insane, or if all of the people who rave about a certain book are
insane. I love Patchett and I was looking forward to this book. I was looking
forward to it so much that I had Josh buy it for me in a real bookstore in the
States….for $30! Holy smokes. But what a terrible journey this was. The book
centered around a tragedy that was sort of brushed under the table and never
really the focus on the book. But the focus…that in itself is the question.
What was the focus? Why were we meant to follow this and then follow that, and
then jump to this instead? What was Patchett thinking? I thought this was
dreadful. Anyone else agree?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What's Next?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I’m reading another little $1 find called <i>An Exaltation
of Larks</i> that sounds incredibly odd and unlike my usual reads. I’ll let you
know how I like it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love to hear what you’re reading and enjoying as well! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy
reading in 2017!!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-84718977591550150172016-12-15T15:05:00.000+02:002016-12-15T15:05:10.931+02:00A First for our First: Tzav Rishon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">At sixteen, I came to Israel on a teen tour. I enjoyed the 6
week experience, the tour of the country and the beauty of the Land. And then I
went home. But something had stuck, had connected, had pulled me. I returned as
a 20 year old college student, and then for a year in a post-college program.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Each time, there were many things that struck me; stuck with
me; made me choke up. But perhaps none more so than the soldiers that I saw. I
remember thinking to myself – these kids are the same age that I am. And if I
believe in the State of Israel – if I believe that it should exist and continue
existing – then why should they be serving and I shouldn’t be? Why is that
fair?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The years trickled by, or flew by as they sometimes do, and
I was raising two beautiful little boys in Maryland. As we started to think
about how we wanted to raise them, who we wanted them to be, it was hard to get
away from the Zionist calling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">People said, “Are you crazy? You know they are going to have
to be in the army one day, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn’t quite understand them. Yes, I would think. That’s
exactly it. Why should I be raising my boys to love Israel, to respect Israel,
to want an Israel to exist…but not to have to be part of that experience? To
not be part of that commitment?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course the story ends, or begins, with our Aliyah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But now, those two beautiful boys are not so little and they
have been joined by 4 brothers. Yes,
I’ve known in the most metaphorical and theoretical sense that someday I would have
to stick by that commitment, to the conviction that I had; that I would have to
lend my boys to the army.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When the day comes, however, it’s no longer theoretical. The dawning of that first day came on Friday
when my oldest got his Tzav Rishon (first call up to the army) in the mail. The
feeling was like none that I’ve experienced before. Well, perhaps it was akin
to the day we boarded the plane to make Aliyah. We knew we were doing the right
thing for ourselves; we were excited and enthusiastic, bright eyed and eager.
And yet, there was a part of me giving pause. We were leaving everything behind
and taking a leap of faith that seemed crazy - and yet natural as well. It was
terrifying and exciting; gratifying and completely nerve-wracking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The feelings of pride and anticipation didn’t erase the
fear, worry and apprehension.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My son groaned when I wanted to take a picture of him with
his Tzav Rishon. “Mommy,” he said while trying to check his phone and eat,
“It’s just the first paperwork. It’s nothing. Everyone gets it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, sweetheart, everyone gets it. And that, as well, is a
miracle to me. I don’t believe I’ll ever stop seeing the miracle as long as I
live here. It’s amazing to me that he sees it as no big deal, as just something
that everyone does, as a commitment that he will obviously be making. A no
brainer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I see it as an amazing commitment. A chance to join with his
people and connect to thousands of years of history – through his body and his
being. And while he takes it for granted because it’s all he knows, I never
will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My grandfather, Jerry Weinhouse, was the last person in my
family to don a uniform. He fought for America in World War II, earning two
purple hearts. And now, his first grandson will be putting on a uniform that
didn’t exist when he was fighting the Nazis. A uniform that was just a dream, a
2000 year old prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And that is now a reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our reality. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><a href="http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-first-for-our-first-tzav-rishon/">This article was first published on Times of Israel</a></i></div>
<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-73161725004982083212016-12-11T17:43:00.000+02:002016-12-11T19:03:34.204+02:001000 Meters of Wonder<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">On Friday while I was taking a walk around the yishuv, I laughed as I saw the busloads of tourists pouring onto the road towards our water tower. They were headed, as they always are, to our lookout, </span><a href="https://roundme.com/tour/48996/view/123319/https://roundme.com/tour/48996/view/123319/" style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mitzpor HaElef</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FWPEKipDNr6VpJwHnguUSmKOrouIkzTbY3fYDXkcxhoNmzSMmUDVaOWVp_B_RosIn0MQ53j9y5SMK7mtqLrikDXSo62nIHekWXAelFCT_Gv_zFc8iX6tCs4-WCD5xXD_bpqw/s1600/mitzpor7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FWPEKipDNr6VpJwHnguUSmKOrouIkzTbY3fYDXkcxhoNmzSMmUDVaOWVp_B_RosIn0MQ53j9y5SMK7mtqLrikDXSo62nIHekWXAelFCT_Gv_zFc8iX6tCs4-WCD5xXD_bpqw/s400/mitzpor7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Little did the producers of the movie “Field of Dreams” realize how true their expression would become for little Neve Daniel. “If you build it, they will come.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And come they have.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2J30-UBb-CXO_6fXqRQ8hqo41hyphenhyphen6u1ZCuuSKPK7ZiF-1DHSJ8BniwdfSNnJesNWI6kM2kfAXDyH21qDfhLNArHj72WDxpZWcgzElzbn0Nh8FWTgZVwnKCYd4pl9B5zd7oG-n/s1600/watertower.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2J30-UBb-CXO_6fXqRQ8hqo41hyphenhyphen6u1ZCuuSKPK7ZiF-1DHSJ8BniwdfSNnJesNWI6kM2kfAXDyH21qDfhLNArHj72WDxpZWcgzElzbn0Nh8FWTgZVwnKCYd4pl9B5zd7oG-n/s400/watertower.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0Iq7pMgC3d3fNrYFLnRbQzKEc8XOsuIswV8XU1pfEybasXPLHghGA0Z6jBc2-OK2FWwlkBoah-oxLFhA69Wd98Rc-YoSezgp4mMv0hei5ZzqpDIpEBbG9ZwxF-hm3s-sxJcn/s1600/mitzpor8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0Iq7pMgC3d3fNrYFLnRbQzKEc8XOsuIswV8XU1pfEybasXPLHghGA0Z6jBc2-OK2FWwlkBoah-oxLFhA69Wd98Rc-YoSezgp4mMv0hei5ZzqpDIpEBbG9ZwxF-hm3s-sxJcn/s400/mitzpor8.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When the project for this lookout was getting underway, we kept wondering what in the world was going on up there. What could they be building? When the lookout was finished, I will admit that I said to Josh, “A lookout? All that money for a lookout? Why in the world do we need that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But obviously I’ve never been a tour guide in Israel, and as Josh recently pointed out, tour guides LOVE having somewhere to point....and boy can they point from here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The site was developed with the Jewish National Fund in conjunction with the Gush Etzion Regional Council and Neve Daniel. It is dedicated to the memory of Sam and Frieda Makovsky of Pueblo, Colorado, family of one of Neve Daniel's founders, Chaim Makovsky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmB_FMrWjSLDXvLVTq-6yErhEwytQoJ2u1l_O957hO1G0UNls4HqXZhVFh-tflWrzULCTAhnhxjxIq3cQ97IihYjfclNowdbgUrTxswQe3CkBLbwIusQet7cJtei7IZGFrg2Vt/s1600/mitzpor5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmB_FMrWjSLDXvLVTq-6yErhEwytQoJ2u1l_O957hO1G0UNls4HqXZhVFh-tflWrzULCTAhnhxjxIq3cQ97IihYjfclNowdbgUrTxswQe3CkBLbwIusQet7cJtei7IZGFrg2Vt/s320/mitzpor5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s called Mitzpor HaElef. "Mitzpor" is a lookout and "Elef" is 1000. Our lookout is 1000 meters above sea level; it’s one of the highest points in the country and certainly the highest point from anywhere nearby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Mitzpor is the perfect place to start or end a trip to Gush Etzion. Clearly, many agree. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuYdCYvnyPIpShUsp3UApZ-TdoXhF6-Z_kqHMXOTPYVL1eTqVyUiv6Dyb4zJKsyVbXKnozBb9dKKxP3AnqNp8vR4zWetsqZ43KtL2sLlRi0LO1N63IBNFqvYS36-kjJlXlziR/s1600/mitzpor2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuYdCYvnyPIpShUsp3UApZ-TdoXhF6-Z_kqHMXOTPYVL1eTqVyUiv6Dyb4zJKsyVbXKnozBb9dKKxP3AnqNp8vR4zWetsqZ43KtL2sLlRi0LO1N63IBNFqvYS36-kjJlXlziR/s400/mitzpor2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1w-unAXbW8uPv-08aPUbkTUbzQ1eKU9h5bUAdkLHX0U-hJjXv27cG9aJ2_MQ4Bb_GTQoNNres8E2C__KIFF99CqapxEUDnHS8_wIriwg-UGXAGTqL1NXt-o6nDj7m_yqs2jP/s1600/mitzpor3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1w-unAXbW8uPv-08aPUbkTUbzQ1eKU9h5bUAdkLHX0U-hJjXv27cG9aJ2_MQ4Bb_GTQoNNres8E2C__KIFF99CqapxEUDnHS8_wIriwg-UGXAGTqL1NXt-o6nDj7m_yqs2jP/s400/mitzpor3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZH7XSnhytf3Y0NO61zYqvWnGETHQiCUE5Pqu5rLeaCHyB4AFK5IqOPjkeLd5ZU2Jif3-eJ0x_v6ZRD5NVwBBq0nrh7GIzvYt13f5062d3bn4vBdP6QB1JsTw1zp2qQ6VwRSK/s1600/mitzpor4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZH7XSnhytf3Y0NO61zYqvWnGETHQiCUE5Pqu5rLeaCHyB4AFK5IqOPjkeLd5ZU2Jif3-eJ0x_v6ZRD5NVwBBq0nrh7GIzvYt13f5062d3bn4vBdP6QB1JsTw1zp2qQ6VwRSK/s400/mitzpor4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you look far out to the east you’ll see the mountains of Jordan, Harei Moav. Moshe talked to the people in this spot before he died, pointing to our area and saying that this would be the land that HaShem promised to give to our people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the eastern foreground you can see Efrat and just beyond that, Herodian, a fortress built by Herod. You can also catch a glimpse of Derech HaAvot, the Path of the Patriarchs, the road that leads to Hebron from the Mitzpor. Avraham walked on this road on his way to the Akeidah (sacrifice of Yitzach) and Yaakov fled along this road many years later. If you look to the west, you’ll see the coast of the Mediterranean from Gaza to Ashkelon and Ashdod and up to Tel Aviv. Finally, if you look north you’ll see Jerusalem and Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <a href="http://myisraeliguide.com/tag/neve-daniel/">Mitzpor HaElef </a>is packed all the time with army groups, tourists, Yeshiva students and more. It’s been used for wedding proposals, for family gatherings and for a quick afternoon view of the amazing Land that we get to call home. Just a few days ago, a friend in Neve Daniel told me that her cousin got engaged in front of the Mitzpor HaElef...sort of. See, the couple doesn't live in Israel but she said that she wanted to get engaged in that spot. So, he had a huge picture of the Mitzpor, of our lookout, made, and he put it up in New York and asked her to marry him. Second best is better than nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you haven’t been here, come and relish the view and breathe in the air of Gush Etzion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of our home.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeGRxfCAE2Cv8zAvLAvqEXvk1LXdaUjiu6IawSTEm07Gi-UfNcdnuWuE2aAMQF6d85CxCtv0O3J72T-IyuonxSMdMHMJaW-AN2It6SfACbekxm2_CmXAuRSSprRSB6XohSEA5/s1600/mitzpor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeGRxfCAE2Cv8zAvLAvqEXvk1LXdaUjiu6IawSTEm07Gi-UfNcdnuWuE2aAMQF6d85CxCtv0O3J72T-IyuonxSMdMHMJaW-AN2It6SfACbekxm2_CmXAuRSSprRSB6XohSEA5/s640/mitzpor.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18005993.post-61319307128767666062016-12-04T16:00:00.000+02:002016-12-04T17:29:52.977+02:00When Zionism Looks Like a Basketball Game<span style="font-size: large;">The modern State of Israel is a complete miracle. With all of its complexities, problems and issues, it is a miracle that we've come home after 2000 years and that we are a thriving and free democratic society. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">When most people think about Israel, an image of the Kotel comes to mind; of the Old City Walls; perhaps of Tzfat and its mystical blue doors. This week, however, I was introduced to an entirely different image that represents the State.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Here it is:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk4vLYz9Bp9bdBpbstwnOVysEPWuMKyVtFPlHFHwm9Dx5MO2J7cyiKlEsgQ_7TN0Jlnw5udpPg1r56UYGwPOTo5sUU4adqlKoI5y3U3s8_z-UtQ_-KS8G4FkyaJ0t6Q-cvoUB/s1600/hapoel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk4vLYz9Bp9bdBpbstwnOVysEPWuMKyVtFPlHFHwm9Dx5MO2J7cyiKlEsgQ_7TN0Jlnw5udpPg1r56UYGwPOTo5sUU4adqlKoI5y3U3s8_z-UtQ_-KS8G4FkyaJ0t6Q-cvoUB/s400/hapoel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And here it is:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oshs-ESFbPrWe5ypzFmBo3yDq31lAD_IkEslDeIinyjmN2JdPctDWaA2IZl3Xr06GRhKpZX6H_Quxwe8BvPwW2v9EEuoWKLb96NvoE2vOZ3V4YC1CIBqACZgCCOYmSa8A0Gf/s1600/hapoel.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oshs-ESFbPrWe5ypzFmBo3yDq31lAD_IkEslDeIinyjmN2JdPctDWaA2IZl3Xr06GRhKpZX6H_Quxwe8BvPwW2v9EEuoWKLb96NvoE2vOZ3V4YC1CIBqACZgCCOYmSa8A0Gf/s400/hapoel.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Um, you might be thinking. What the heck do pictures of basketball games have to do with the miracle of Israel? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">A lot.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Recently, I attended my first Hapoel Jerusalem basketball game, and the energy in the stadium was absolutely mind blowing. Of course, fans around the world go crazy at soccer games. And there is energy and fun to be had at all sporting events. But the energy here and the love of the team and the players felt unparalleled to me.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I happen to cry just about every time that I hear our national anthem, Hatikva. Hearing it at a basketball game, with everyone holding up their Hapoel scarves, was incredible. </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y48OBooV9_8" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Before the game, I asked Josh if it would look silly for me to wear the scarf. He said, "You have no idea where you're going." Everyone had on something Hapoel and half the crowd used their scarves throughout the game to show their love of the team and their enthusiasm.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: large;">They have a section at the game for the particularly energetic fans, the Malcha Brigade, and they jumped and sang the entire game.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8bCjoJwBnW2KRY5ahmPkaaH-v7S7Az2wwdaXGBUN_OfakDz15LNXM7waKvebat8t2vKo0fWo4ogDIUZ_hm7IgMbfmOZZ3sKa6xOYYmVLkBysgruIeE-wnn0YQflURFqF4dJP/s1600/IMG_4106%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8bCjoJwBnW2KRY5ahmPkaaH-v7S7Az2wwdaXGBUN_OfakDz15LNXM7waKvebat8t2vKo0fWo4ogDIUZ_hm7IgMbfmOZZ3sKa6xOYYmVLkBysgruIeE-wnn0YQflURFqF4dJP/s400/IMG_4106%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyq2z-jPayptb4V2HC2fXAznEZwM-h9ah939upkj2u2zRBScYGQzb4DIXyQPATn2QM0tDeCqrsmmvsqIWhff_b_lUJqgQimIo_KSExRcpx5ug7oIVc_Gwmeqo3_b9SXN18kZvO/s1600/IMG_4103%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyq2z-jPayptb4V2HC2fXAznEZwM-h9ah939upkj2u2zRBScYGQzb4DIXyQPATn2QM0tDeCqrsmmvsqIWhff_b_lUJqgQimIo_KSExRcpx5ug7oIVc_Gwmeqo3_b9SXN18kZvO/s400/IMG_4103%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was kept laughing throughout the entire game by my neighbors at the game. The guy behind me takes his basketball very seriously and spent the entire game telling people to sit down or move. He told the security guard in front of us to please move over. He yelled at the mascot, "Yalla! Lion! Move out of the way!" And he even yelled at the opposing team's players as they were warming up in front of us. Now, they were from Slovenia and didn't know a word of Hebrew; but never mind, as the guy was yelling, "Yalla! Players! Warm up somewhere else."</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqkqktWrXQwPYuX9kZEq20uU8xleMifDGEm1bG5RjTeFfQii9N610m9S_j6tjJ9wzxnjzd92CDZ3Qk7tmV6yoldE-cjfYDqSVpALdmcs7HKxup-G9QTFLJmaAa1ngnS5hsBHJ/s1600/hapoellino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqkqktWrXQwPYuX9kZEq20uU8xleMifDGEm1bG5RjTeFfQii9N610m9S_j6tjJ9wzxnjzd92CDZ3Qk7tmV6yoldE-cjfYDqSVpALdmcs7HKxup-G9QTFLJmaAa1ngnS5hsBHJ/s400/hapoellino.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yalla! Lion, sit down!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDDrda3kw1W_0FbPiaTJUAlA1qSAMpgHG4ThJL6Eq30TIL8DE1PfSwouGFKXrOxJ0hW7ejUP2cHAniw2e_hZV5xKPVrSa4k5qy4zqAdvjvHEaTgiXNsc8yg8YDka6MNXVuqY_/s1600/hapoelplayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDDrda3kw1W_0FbPiaTJUAlA1qSAMpgHG4ThJL6Eq30TIL8DE1PfSwouGFKXrOxJ0hW7ejUP2cHAniw2e_hZV5xKPVrSa4k5qy4zqAdvjvHEaTgiXNsc8yg8YDka6MNXVuqY_/s400/hapoelplayer.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yalla! Player in green. Can you warm up somewhere else?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The game was a blast from beginning to end. As the brigade section broke into a modern version of <i>Yerushalayim Shel Zahav</i> (Jerusalem of Gold), waving their scarves over their heads, I couldn't help but think about Herzl, Ben Gurion and Ben Yehuda. How in awe would they have been to see the ancient language of Hebrew being used in its modern form at a basketball game and to see thousands of people coming together for something so mundane and profound?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I find that living here very often turns the mundane into the profound. This is exactly the point of our country; that we can live in a Jewish homeland and enjoy the regular, everyday events and activities that people enjoy all around the world. But do it here, at Home.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">We have come so far in Israel in such a short amount of time; we have achieved so much. And while most people don't enjoy a Zionist take-away from a basketball game, I was left bursting with pride over what we manage to accomplish on a daily basis here. And in awe of what Zionism can look like. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, it looks like a basketball game on a regular Wednesday night.</span><br />
<br /><b>The Sussmans b'Aretz</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/17394066296577078801noreply@blogger.com1