a balloontwister’s aliya saga

2 nights ago was a big meeting.
The Va’ad and the issues of Sun Gardens.
For this taking score at home, Sun gardens is 4 streets that have approx 60 familes / housing units where we are renting.
The meeting was to discuss several important issues.
Well, it started out like that… ended up … not sure what…
The City has deemed the area a “private community” due to the dead end where we are living.
No big deal? you ask..
Well, its a huge deal.
because any improvements or construction has to be privately paid for. Any street signs (we have none) or speedbumps… or gardens…etc have to be paid for.
The brick street which after 6 months is starting to fall apart in a few areas will cost US money. If any water or sewer issues come up…yup, we have to pay.
SO Mendy Newman put a meeting together to discuss these issues and the formation of a va’ad.
Things were fine until a family that lives on an outside street mentioned hat he did not want to be included if a project was for an “inside”s street.
I.e. a park or the money to run the street lights. Apparently the original contract mentioned that all houses were included like a co-op, but it looks like lawyers will have to iron things out… fun, fun, fun.
So, besides a monthly fee, there will have to be a seperate fund for emergency costs that can and will come up.
Some have been thinking of retaining a lawyer to try and change the privatr street status. A huge undertaking, but it would save money on the long run.
SOme of the issues of having a private development in RBS.
This Morning I met with a friend of mine who is going to be the distributer of a new type of wall. This would bring the cost of houses down considerably. Once he gets approval from the government and gets a stamp that it is safe, he hopes to sell this to builders. This would make Yishi more attractive as this would make the construction faster and cheaper on new houses.
The good news is we have 4 families that are seriously considering Yishi as a place to live.
Which may be enough to start looking at it more seriously.
Hopefully we won’t have the same “condo” issues that we hear about it Sun Gardens.
Speaking about Sun Gardens, its been quiet today.
For the past few days we have been hearing constant drilling. The neighbor is still doing construction… FRom 7am to 6pm… loud….
This isn’t a huge issue for me, but the neighbor attached to the drilling, runs a small gan and its been difficult for her to run it with all the noise.
I don’t blame her. BUT…
there ARE new houses and it is daytime. Not sure what more could be done… if anything.
Well, I’m off to pick up Tamar and Penina is off to get my mother in law… Sister in law and her boys.
Yalla!
U.D.

Mazel Tovs…
Three Mazel tovs in our little area.
The Baums and the Akselruds all had…CARS…
Oh, by the way, Ellen and David Solomon, had their first boy.
Wow, so exciting… the car that is.
We picked it up in Givat Shaul, the Mitsubishi Grandis
http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/grandis/
We were a bit nervous driving it out of the lot… but its day 2 and bli ayin hara… it still looks new.
We met Gedaliah Kenig, he finally got back to me.. of course it was after I yelled at him from accross the lot… KENNY!
His store is right near the dealer.
The kids are very excited, the car is the Minivan for mitsubishi.. it isnt as high but its a long vehicle.
The kids are excited about the sunroof… it is also a nice looking car.
I hope Penina lets me drive it once in a while.
The Baum’s went for a Mazda Minivan, costs a bit more so we opted for the grandis.
Dovid’s and Sara B’s should be arriving soon from what I hear.
Last night was soccer chug and while Moshe’s team lost. Yoni’s team did well. The chug was split into 4 teams and they had several round robin games.. using 2 balls.
Apparently once a month to help them make decisions faster…. they use 2 balls during a game.
Yoni played well in goal for part of the time and then assisted on another later in the game.
I see why he (like I) play goal. When I used to play with Nik I could ONLY play goal.
I didn’t have the heart to tell Yoni this.
The only difference is, Yoni is new at Soccer so the technique will hopefully come later.
LAter Yoni took his winning streak to Ping Pong. After losing to me once, he beat me in a close game.
I’m running out of people I can beat.
Dovid got me.
A neighbor got me.
and now Yoni is becoming quite a player.
So, its down to Moshe, michal and Tamar.
Yesterday afternoon, Goldie Buchsbaum came in..
Penina stayed in Jerusalem after picking up the car to see her.
Unfortunately, Ms. Buchsbaum did not arrive until later so Penina spent the afternoon with estie B and ended up taking the sherut back to Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Tommorrow, its going to get busy around here….
Mother in law, Sister in law and nephews are coming.
Its going to be quite a shock when they get off the plane to 75 degree weather.
Its 73 in jerusalem so it must be 75 or higher here.
well, signing off..
U.D.

Good morning folks.
Had a great day yesterday.
Yoni’s rav volunteered me for a class trip to the senior center where I went a few months ago.
Yup, balloontwisting.
Out of a class of 27, alot seemed to know how to twist balloons a bit.
Several are in my balloon chug and I think kids have been bringing balloons to class so the class is really into it.
I think the seniors were a bit overwhelmed with the twisting and popping…. It was a balagon.
But it was great.
There is nothing better than bringing some life and color to the place. They were so happy to see all the kids and the kids were happy to get out of school and twist some balloons. There is something so cute seeing a 10 year old fit and place a balloon hat with a dog on it, on a 70 or 80 year old man / women.
Huge smiles all around.
The rav thought is would be great for Yoni’s ego as well. As he assisted me in the demonstration.
I met a bunch of Yoni’s classmates and they are all very nice.
Perhaps 3 or 4 out of 27 did NOT know english.
Most are either olim or children of Olim.
And almost all of them live in Beit Shemesh.
SO if we end up in Yishi, he would still have his friends only a few minutes away.
I hope to recruit a few to the balloon chug… .so my motives were not 100% chessed….
I also got 2 balloon jobs from referrals from the last time I did balloons at this senior center.
I also saw a fe familiar faces from the last time.
I especially remembered Roza.
She was the spanish woman who was pinching and touching me last time.
She left me alone this time.
I think I’m feeling a bit depressed about that.lol.
well, I’m signing off.
Work.. work..work..
U.D.

whew…
what a shabbos.
THe Akselruds and Akselrud took a Van to Jerusalem Friday afternoon to participate in the Bryk Bar Mitzvah.
What a great time we all had.
From Chevron on thursday to the restaurant in Talpiot culminating in the Shabbos at the King Solomon Hotel located right outside the Old city.
Friday night we all walked to the Kotel for davening.. Everyone except Michal who wasn;t feeling 100%. we thought she had strep throat so she stayed back. Dovid’s Girls volunteered to stay behind to keep her company, so Penina was able to come.
This sounds great… except for the fact that we brought Tamar.
Unfortunately when Suleiman built the city walls… he neglected to put in elevators or escalators.
Which means the stroller had to be brought up and down approximately 500 steps.
Tamar also did not seem to care about decorum as she cried the entire time. SO penina could have stayed back and davened at the Hotel.
In any event, it was a great davening. The weather was great and it was a huge crowd despite the thousands that were in Chevron. Apprarently with Thanksgiving weekend, many came to Israel and all of them davened at the Kotel.
At the hotel the food was tasteful and the speeches were also tasteful, expect for a Yossi Zelig joke. For details email me “offline”.
Joel made it a point to introduce every speaker with a joke.
Not an easy task when you figure in there were several at every meal.
Moshe / Mark layned like a seasoned pro. A nice pace. a clear voice. I was told, he knew how to layn from a klaf from age 8.
He’s quite talented. As he can also play piano very well. He also shows promise as a stiltwalker and balloontwister.
Unfortunately, Joel allowed him to become A Jets fan.
Oy.
I will not allow that to happen to My children.
Why have them grow up with the pain and suffering… its not needed.
The most impressive thing was the planning and the details were all done b’deyuk.
Estie Bryk really did a tremendous job in making sure everyone had a great time. From Making sure the kids all had candy shabbos afternoon to ordering an anniversary cake for us. I do not know how she knew… but it arrived Sat. night as we were leaving the Hotel.The cake barely made it home in one piece..it did finally got home with several pairs of fingerprints… not mine of course…. with the entire top layer of cream gone.
It was great spending shabbos with the US cousins… Israeli cousins.. and some cousins that we met for the first time.
Hopefully, we’ll see the Zeligs / Bryks more often as the “aliya” word was thrown about more than once.
Its refreshing to see people that really have a love for Eretz Yisroel.
Last night after we returned to RBS, we went to an open house discussing the Moshav Yishi developement.
Unlike other developements, here you buy the land and then you deal with a builder.
SO you get more say as to what you want in your house.
We were impressed in the fact that the moshav is only minutes from Beit Shemesh / Ramat Beit Shemesh. SO its part of the area, but you’re away from the hustle and bustle, so it has a moshav feel to it.
They also are selling huge plots of land that can be broken down and sold off.
If anyone is interested….
Well, I’m signing off.
Enjoy the day off.
U.D.

Wow, what a Bar Mitzvah.
SO far parts 1 and 2 are in the history books.

Morning at Chevron and Evening at the Mul Ha’ahar restaurant in Talpiot.
Dovid and I took the cab at 6am to meet up with the bus at the King Solomon Hotel.
The driver was a divorced woman who Penina met somewhere that gives rides to make ends meet.
all was fine until she said “The king solomon? That’s in GIvat Sha’ul”, right?”
Um… no…
not even close.
SO the 30 minute ride took close to an hour as we got lost and asked directions.
I think besides the actual driving a car service driver should also be familiar with the destination.
Like a pilot know how to fly a plane, but an important part is knowing where to go and land.
“Attention passengers, We’re 30,000 feet off the ground… Does anyone know exactly where Newark is? Is it New Jersey or Newark, Delaware?”
Its like renting a car… HOLDING the reservation is as important as TAKING the reservation (seinfeld reference).
Well, in either way, it was good to help someone out who needs the parnasa.
The trip to chevron was great.
Davening, hearing my Uncle Moshe Levinger give an impromptu Dvar Torah.
Seeing the cousins.
Seeing my Aunt Levinger.
And getting a tour of Yeshiva Sha’arei Chevron.
You don’t understand the heroism of the Jews there until you go on the roof of the yeshiva.
Its in the center of the valley and from the roof you see the ENTIRE city.
YOu see the mountains / hills and the valley and the “cave at the edge of the field.” The reference to the posuk on how avraham described it.
The only thing you see are arabs and arabhouses. 250 yeshiva boys and 90 families amongst… thousands of arabs…
and people are living in carvans WAITING to get their hands on arab houses so they can move in.
From start to finish it was great as there was a “tour guide” who is actually a menahel of the yeshiva that “arranges” these trips. SO any Bar Mitzvah or simcha can be coordinated. FRom bussing to food to getting a walking tour of Avraham Avinu, he handled it all.
It is the same fellow I met At Eli Gelb’s house in Wesley Hills, he was collecting money for the yeshiva.
IF anyone in the listening audience is thinking about making a simcha in Chevron, a “co-ordinator is needed”.
I actually had a very scary moment.
At my aunt house in chevron, we were talking about the large family she has and how some kids married sephardic boys…etc.
She remarked how when moshe was in prison, depending on which son in law spent shabbos, the kiddush was either ashkenazik or sephardic..
I heard my father in my head remark, “Which time?”.
I looked around because that is EXACTLY what he would say (and has said) when talking about Uncle Moshe.
Scary.
Besides the physical similarities, now the same style of jokes.
I only wish I had more.
If you do not know of Rabbi Levinger, just type in his name in yahoo or google and you’ll find information on this Hero that is the reason why people can even visit or daven at the meoras hamachpealah.
We finally got back to Jerusalem at 1:30 pm…
I hopped a car service, to a sherut… to Beit Shemesh, then a car service home…
Then it was mincha and off to the balloon chug and then off to talpiot for the evening bar mitzvah portion.
We had such a nice time as the kids were invited and behaved.
SO they got to meet some new cousins and some who they’ve only met once or twice before.
This morning michal mentioned how nice Estie Bryk, the mother of the bar mitzvah boy was.
She kept asking the kids if they were alright, if they needed anything.
Usually people are only concerned with their friends… or the adults..etc.
The bryk’s are incredible people.
Joel gives a shiur
and Estie GOES to more shiurim than any man or woman. She goes to Israel for learning programs.
We had a great time. Cousin shmuli was there with his wife. Cousin shmuel was there with his wife. ELi Reich and Family and Yitzy Fisher and family were there.
The israeli contingency was in full force.
They actually had a turkey at the shmorg. (not that great) for the thansgiving portion and some mystery meat that was supposed to be corned beef.
“Yes kids, the mystery meat from last night was… veal.” Anyone know which movie that was from? First right answer gets you an israeli hot dog.”
This morning tamar is feeling fine. Michal may have strep.
Theres a stomach virus and strep going around here…
In a few hours, we’re taking a van to the King Solomon hotel as we are spending shabbos there.
Updates after shabbos…
Take care and have a good shabbos,
U.D.
P.S. Devorah Feit’s call came AFTER our Anniversary.

BRRRR….
If you’re coming to Israel, Bring your heavy jackets….
The wind is howling…. but… its sunny…
Its getting nice and busy around here.
THe Bryk Bar Mitzvah weekend kicks off tommorrow with davening in Chevron, a tour of Avraham avinu neighborhood and a bicycle tour from kiryat arbah to the meoras hamachpayla.
We hope to have security for this… I think their getting someone.
There is a brunch and then its thursday night party at a resutant in jerusalem.
I’m especially looking forward to this as I am twisting balloons… FOR DOLLARS… WOO HOO..
Green Stuff.
Cash.
Moolah.
None of this shekel or NIS.
I asked joel about the dress code. you do NOT want to be the only one in a suit.. big faux pas…BIG.
Then its Shabbos in jerusalem at the King Solomon Hotel, starting with Friday night davening at the Kotel, of course shabbos this week in jerusalem is 3:56pm… so after shachris… its right to candlelighting.
I spoke to Joel Bryk last night, so the family has landed and I was told to bring alot of balloons. Ein Baya!
Yesterday moshe went to the dentist for round 2… Root canal part deux.
I’m surprised he really took it quite well. Better than me I think.
Its not easy as a parent seeing your child go through these things… he’s only 6… but he was fine.
He has to go back for round three in two weeks.
Its interesting, the dentist has jewish CD’s Miami boys, Shweky….
The dentist, Ari Stern, went to that Siyum I told you about .. turns out NO one was able to stump the Chaburah. NO one won a shas.
They were allowed to be tested on Shaklah vtarya and Rashi throughout Beitzah,..and they knew it all… ba’al peh.
Today, Sara B and either Penina or myself are going to look At Yad Benyamin.
ITs a new developement which is near Kibbutz Chafetz chaim.
We decided to slow things up with Ramat Shilo. The houses aren’t running out (or away) and we haven;t seen enough of the Land to make a firm decision. We also have alot on our plate at the moment.
Car Is coming.
Mother In law in Coming.
Sister in law is coming. With Doovid and Hillolly.
Mrs. Buchsbaum is coming.
Milch is coming.
Sister in LAw #1 is coming next succot but Penina is starting to prepare for them already… well maybe not yet…
Tutors.
School.
So for sanity’s sake we’ve held up on Ramat Shilo.
oh, another developement.
The Balloontwisting and Chesed chug is now opening up a new chapter in Beit Shemesh.
So its starting to take off… which is good.
Well, take care and enjoy the Turkey.
U.D.

When I made the cholent was raw comment yesterday, I used it as an example.. I didn’t mean it literally…. Please..
What goes on in the Blog STAYS in the Blog.
Let’s not collide worlds.
Well, its gone.
The Elvis Sideburns… gone.
1 year of “I hate it” “you look rediculous”…etc.
Still have the goatee though.
Last night we went to the comedy show.
The first guy started talking in english with a thick russian accent.. I’m thinking.. wow, not bad.
He’s going to pull an Andy Kaufman and start talking in english in a minute.
ok, minute is up….
ok, its 5 minutes..
Sweet Fancy Moses… he talks like that… oy…
With a room of 15 people… it was very uncomfortable. You have to smile at least.. the guy is 5 feet from you.
After 15 minutes of this he walked off and the headliner did around 20 minutes.
He was ok. The guy we went to last time was a bit better but it was OK.
I just felt so bad for the first guy. Someone HAS to tell him that perhaps in russian he’s bob Hope or Seinfeld. But in English he’s… hmm… he’s… well, he’s someone that isn’t that good.
We had more rain this morning. and it hasn’t stopped for 4 hours.
Good thing the BMW project ended early. I don’t think I would have been able to watch a 27-0 Jets Loss… wow.
Thankfully it was a 4pm game so I couldn’t even listen to it on the radio.
well, I’m signing off.
Have a good one,
U.D.

When I made the cholent was raw comment yesterday, I used it as an example.. I didn’t mean it literally…. Please..
What goes on in the Blog STAYS in the Blog.
Let’s not collide worlds.
Well, its gone.
The Elvis Sideburns… gone.
1 year of “I hate it” “you look rediculous”…etc.
Still have the goatee though.
Last night we went to the comedy show.
The first guy started talking in english with a thick russian accent.. I’m thinking.. wow, not bad.
He’s going to pull an Andy Kaufman and start talking in english in a minute.
ok, minute is up….
ok, its 5 minutes..
Sweet Fancy Moses… he talks like that… oy…
With a room of 15 people… it was very uncomfortable. You have to smile at least.. the guy is 5 feet from you.
After 15 minutes of this he walked off and the headliner did around 20 minutes.
He was ok. The guy we went to last time was a bit better but it was OK.
I just felt so bad for the first guy. Someone HAS to tell him that perhaps in russian he’s bob Hope or Seinfeld. But in English he’s… hmm… he’s… well, he’s someone that isn’t that good.
We had more rain this morning. and it hasn’t stopped for 4 hours.
Good thing the BMW project ended early. I don’t think I would have been able to watch a 27-0 Jets Loss… wow.
Thankfully it was a 4pm game so I couldn’t even listen to it on the radio.
well, I’m signing off.
Have a good one,
U.D.

Just to clear things up.
This blog is just an attempt to be funny. If any offense is taken I truly apologize as I mean no ill will or harm to anyone.
I am not poking fun at anyone…. just want to point aliya.. the good, bad, and ugly…
I leave out pieces that can be damaging to me (i.e. undercooked cholent, if I mention it, I would be damaging my face.. as Penina would take a hammer to it..)
Shabbos was different. Being home. Back in my shul. Back with the family. Funny, other people’s kids seem louder when you are away from your own. Back in RBS, I forgot how loud my kids are / were…. Welcome to the Jungle.
Friday night I learned with my chavrusa.
We learned daf 2 and 3 and I haven’t seen hime since…
SO we continued… on daf 44…
Simon is a pretty smart guy… he didn’t break out the scotch until we were almost finished.
On Shabbos we had cousin Zanvy and his roomate over for the seudah, shabbos morning. HE called Thursday to invite himself over.
Made me feel good.
In yeshiva we are had a family that we can count on last minute for a good meal and company.
I’m glad that we are that family for Zanvy, Like we are for Estie Buchsbaum, who was here succot.
The weather is just tremendous.
Just picture the best spring day.
70’s… sunny.. slight breeze… That was friday, Shabbos and today… just tremendous.
Last night at Beis Tefilla I took moshe to Avos ubanim / father son learning. Yoni was at his tutor.
Its like Staten Island, except instead of Pizza … they have a “krembo” … Cream filled pastry with a cookie on the bottom.
Instead of a bunch of toys… they raffled off three seforim.
I’m not sure if Moshe will be so eager to go next week.
I’ll have to bring my father if I want to go I guess.
There was also a siyum of the AMud Yomi program.
At Beis tefilla they have a program where an amud is learned a day, and the ba’al habatim are tested every week or so… under a certain score, and you get tossed out.
The participants, around 40, know practically the entire shakla vtaryah of beitzah. SO well, that they were tested by Rav Shteinman of Bnei Brak. Who asked how many Arguments were between beis hillel and Beis Shammai… and the chaburah went through the entire beitzah and knew the answer. He was amazed that they knew the gemora so well.
A shas was offered to anyone who can stump them in a pshat question. I wonder if it was given away. I was too tired to go to the siyum.
This morning was a regular work day.
Kids up to head to school. NO late shachris minyan…
This morning we actually had several visitors.
People fixing the ceiling in the kitchen and living room… Water leakage from the showers from upstairs.. there is plaster peeling on the floor and beautiful new mosaics forming in the shape and color of water stains (nice roisy way to look at things, no?)
So, the fix up continues…. people in and out ..muttering in hebrew and arabic.. and getting weird looks from non understanding anglos….
You are fixing the what? And you are not wearing underwear? huh?
I also got a gig next sunday at a senior center.
Yoni’s rav called and wants me to teach the class and the seniors as a chesed trip.
Apparently Yoni who brought balloons to class and made some for his friends and teachers, made a big impression on his rav and insists on having Yoni teach the crowd as well.
Tonight there is a comedy show at Not just bagels.
I went last time with Scott the Juggler.
This time its scott, me, and Penina .yay..
well, I’m signing off… in the middle of work….yay… well, not so yay…
beware of the falling plaster…
U.D.

well, so much for a vacation after the BMW NJ gig.
I got a call from the fellow who got me my last job and he wants me to work for him. A bit more money and I get to work from home.
I have to write marketing flyers for a company that designs secure card readers, the kind that we get that has our name on it and we hold it up to a box that buzzes us in…
“The Rosslare has done it again with its AYM25 that allows users to use their PIN codes AND can read Secure cards up to 50 mm”… or something like that…
The technical writing is filling my head with such useless information… its not like writing for artscroll I’ll tell you that.
I’m also committing the cardinal sin ..by working on Friday..
NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
I think people observe the Friday no work clause more than the Shabbos one… just a guess.
“Work on Friday? What are you goyish?
Tommorrow, I’m heading to the beach….”
IN any event, the house is quiet so I can get some work done.
Yesterday I was home alone while Penina went to pick up our driver’s licenses… please.. hold your applause.. ok.. keep clapping…
I was supposed to wait for the guy to come and fix the Ping Pong table… at 12ish I decided to take a shower and according to Murphy.. the doorbell rang… while I was in the shower.. I ran out…ran back to get my pants… and at the door was..
Shlomie Walfish’s in laws… Shlomie for those taking score at home owns the house we live in.
Oh, you just popped in to see the house without calling first? Sure, a problem? No.. of course not… I’m sure people just waltz into your house unannounced all the time.
Penina was a shtickle upset… but… I didn’t care.
Gave them the tour and they gave me a ride down to the MErcaz.
Nice people.
“I was the first one to use the upstairs bathroom when I visited here while it was being built” Mr. In law said.
I did not know what to respond.
a. That explains alot
b. Oh nice.
c. Just change the subject.
I chose c.
I also had a nice time at the bank.
As I went to the ATM to get some money, after entering my PIN code… the machine took my card.
NO warning.
No 3 wrong tries at the code.
Just took it.
I went to explain to the people inside what happenned.
They returned the card.
I asked them why this happenned.
“No Idea” was the answer.
That’s Israel.
It just happenned and I could really care less about you to investigate and waste my time, Anglo. That’s life.
That seems to be the attitute with some things around here.
Although I hear customer service IS getting better. It still has a way to go.
In any event the card works.
Well, I’m going to sign off.
I have some work to do….shh… don’t tell anyone and if I look busy maybe I can get out of coaching little league this week..
Good Shabbos.
Shabbat Shalom.
U.D.

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