a balloontwister’s aliya saga

Gone.
The succa is gone.
Last night and this morning we were treated to hurricane style wind.
At 1am we made the decision to Cut our losses…
We are succaless…. so is half of ramat beit shemesh.
This morning there is still wind and all of the succas have some damage.
Either the schach is down, or the walls are ripped….etc.
In our 2 foot backyard I received a new bamboo mat…
Courtesy of our neighbor’s succa and the wind.
DOn’t worry, I took it in before he could see where it went.
This way I save money on next year’s… One of my mats got ripped so I have a new one already.
Don’t tell abe newman… its his son’s… er…WAS his son’s bamboo.
Last night we had a very interesting experience.
Dovid, ALiza, Avi went to jerusalem for a concert. Blue fringe…some others… in the Great Synagogue.
I took Ruthie and Zehava to a biet hashoava featuring Dov Shurin.
I wasn’t THAT familiar with his “music / Politics” but some of you I’m sure are.
He is what Kahane and Carlebach are in one person.
Very right wing politics and his songs reflect that.
Nekama.
Down With arafat.
Are just 2 of his songs.
He is banned on the radio and politicians do not want to be aligned with him.
He was in a succa in our neighborhood and approx. 70 people were there to hear him sing / speak..
Besides other things, he said how when carlebach wrote songs we were “winners” of the wars…etc.
Now, we are “losers” and we have given and given to murderers and liars.
Shabbos was very nice.
DOvid who was with chabad.
Then OUT of chabad is back IN.
“They keep pulling me BACK” - Michael Corleone.
They started talking about the simchas torah kiddush and Dovid volunteered the Kugal.
He doesn’t buy it.
He makes it.
Dovid has become very handy in the kitchen.
He makes a mean Potato Kugal among other things.
I told hm to just add vodka and the chabad dudes will love it.
TOday, if the wind calms down, we hope to end up at the Carlebach Festival in Moshav Modiin.
It was established by Rav Shlomo with his followers.. and I hear its a real happenning place.
We also hope to go to neot kedummim.
It is where they have the succas mentioned in the mishna.
We’ll see.
Alot to do and see here.
Shabbos was nice.
We had Estie Buchsbaum… again with a different friend.
It was incredible. she had Avi had an discussion if the women can make their own mezuman.
She pulls out a gemora berachos and the friend pulls out the Rambam..
Wow.
I was very impressed.
I was too tired to get in the middle.
So I just pulled down the mattresses and went to sleep.
This year I slept in the succa 3 nights. MY previous high was 2, I think.
well, I’m going to sign off. Tamar is making a mess and I think the door is open…
Cach her before she leave…
U.D.