a balloontwister’s aliya saga

The voting is in….
Surprise .. surprise.. MOST Akselruds WANT to stay in Israel. Not telling who voted to go back…

Today was a very.. very … busy day. 2 balloons gigs so far…one more to go.

This morning YOni and I went with the hermensteins and yad Eliezer to Sharei Zedek to give out toys and balloons to the kids there. We davened at the Kotel first and then made our way to the hospital. It is the worst thing to see kids and babies in such a bad matzav. Hooked up to machines. Loy aleinu. The worst part was making balloons for kids in the dialysis room. TO see kids hooed up to these machines was almost too much to handle. Can you just imagine if you knew kids that had to go back weekly.. terrible… The staff had donuts for the kids and one nurse dressed up like a clown… but still its horrible to be here during chanukah. After that Gig we went to the Koby Mandel Carnival at Reishit. ITs for the kids who are victims of terror.. A club you DO NOT want to be a part of. I saw the kids from the Cohen family, the family that people in Staten Island send money too. Chaim Dovid sang and there were over 200 kids from all over israel. Not religious. Charadi, leumi… all they have in common is that they were victimized by arab terrorists. I felt honored to be a part of the event and that I made some kids smile. These kids are our karbonos. The yeshiva boys REALLY put on a great show. JEffrey goldgrab and Eli Shmuckler helped out with the food, like in Staten Island… and it was alot of fun. We all tried to give them a “regular” chanuka… but we know that after tonight they will go back to their homes and miss their family member that was either killed or injured in a bombing attack.

Well, I gotta run.. third gig. Charidei gig in Beit Shemesh…

Chag Sameach!

Mazel tov Ari Joffe.

By the way, we would have come anyway. you didn’t have to say. “come to the davening, Mordy is counting on Yudie for Levi”.

Im walking up to get an aliya… and its ya’amode… blah.. blah…ben blah… i.e. NOT me.

Hmmm, sneaky trick to get israeli people to wake up early to deal with traffic to come to the Kotel. Next time just be up front… ” please come, we have a levi…. but come anyway”… some nephew who wasn’t even invited gets the aliya… At least I’ve grown. I’m not going to harbor ill feelings and broadcast my grievences throughout cyberspace. After a nice breakfast, we split up camp. I went to a balloon gig, hosted by hamodia newspaper, story and balloons. and the rest of the family went to (where else) the mall. I had a great time. I made up a story about a girl fighting elephants and was doing great until I clocked a kid in the face with a mike. I think I’m in the clear. The receipt I gave has someone else’s business on it. So if Magic Eugene gets sued. you’ll know why. Speaking about the mall, yesterday the older kids went to see harry potter, in english with hebrew subtitles, and the best part was the kosher popcorn. Michal also liked the hafsaka. Intermission. I feel its healthier with the break. Less stress on the bladder. Just a few…minutes…more… As the kids were at the movies I was in Modi’in running balloon races and twisting balloons. “can you speak in hebrew?” “sure Ein Baya”. Of course there WAS baya when they heard me… so I had to get one of the kids to help me out. worked out ok. Well, I’m heading out. Mincha. Take care and Chag Sameach

Wow, it is raining again here. Rain and more rain. Its not Summer anymore. ITs not THAT cold but its damp and chilly. I guess it beats snow.
In our area everyone lights chanuka lights outside in small menorahs / chanukiyahs covered with these lucite boxes. Last night the kids had a chanuka party sponsored by the misrad kaklita, the absorbtion ministry. SO we got to see some familiar faces that made aliya with us. They had some skit and a dude with a guitar. It was in Hebrew so the kids understood some of it. It was good to be on the OTHER side… you know making fun of the guy who has to entertain the kids. Tonight is a different story. Actually the rest of chanuka is a different story.
I have 7 balloon gigs in 5 days. It is going to be a bit tough working in family things with the gigs. Easier with a car though. TOnight I’m teaching kids in Rana’na how to make balloons and then have them go to a hospital on chanuka. Sponsored by the kollel there. Instead of shlepping 2 times, I gave them a good deal and I’m there 2 hours tonight. In israel FYI, an hour travel in alot and the gas makes it a very expensive trip. SO by doing 2 hours its actually a good deal. I also thought the kids would have off the entire week. Not the case, thank goodness. Moshe has school half day almost the entire week as he is a “talmud torah”. The big kids I think are off starting tuesday. I’m going to start researching into the museums in Jerusalem and other places.. Indoor stuff is the way to go.
ALthough I heard thursday will be nice. Oh well, I’m going to sign off and try to boook another gig in Jerusalem.
Chanukah Semeach!

Oy.

DOes anyone know why Im going by Yudie?

BEcause in HEbrew “Jay” is Gay with a little ‘ that gives the J sound to the gimmel. Well, it finally happenned my transport certificate which is a temp. Passport says Akselrud -> Yudie -> Gay.

(insert joke here).

Im serious I just saw it. Says it 2 times. I think The Israeli Government thinks I am. Not that theres anything wrong with that.

TOday I finished a 3 day project at Nevey Jerusalem and I learned many things.

One, Its boring reviewing and critquing other peoples work.

Two, It was the easiest and best paying gig Ive had in a while.

Three, someone who isnt that good in math probably shouldn’t be reviewing Calculus and Calculus 2 classes. But I go tthrough it and things went ok. The free lunch didn’t hurt.

I also just got hired for another balloon gig. I think I have 7 or 8 and there still is a few days to go.

Gigs ranging to Hospitals to charitable orgs. TO family parties… should be fun. Tonight we had 2 chuggim and tries to make menorahs or as they say here, chanukeeyahs.

Note to self: When a ten year old makes a menorah, it looks like a Lobster on Steroids. Im not sure the kids parents are going to know what their sons / daughters made. Oh well.

Oh, Last night I did balloons for boys in Reb Chaim’s Yeshiva. I had a great time as it was a huge zechus to meet him and the guys were great. I have to publicly ask mechila as I referred to them as teens at risk. I thought it was. There are really good kids who are in the yeshiva and are looking to improve themselves and perform chessed. SO I am sorry about that. I feel bad for the other patrons who were just trying to have a quiet dinner. It CAN be anoying to have a guy on stilts twisting balloons and have 5 boys also twisting and popping balloons. We ended up giving them some extra balloons as a way of apologizing. It was actually a cold day yesterday. Rain, Drizzling… maybe in the mid 40’s to 50’s…. not freezing, but in Jerusalem with the cold damp air and slippery stones.. you do feel the cold rain. I also davened in the old city NOT by the kotel. I had no idea this shul existed until last night. I left Guy Rozen’s shop (didnt shoplift this time) and I noticed a long narrow shul. SO I put down the pumps and stilts and davened. Alot of Jews in the old city. Well, I’m going to sign off. I hope you are all surviving the transit strike.

See you soon!

U.D.

Good day today.

WOrked in Jerusalem today for ACT.
They hired me for a few days to review the classes at Nevey Jerusalem, the girls yeshiva.
They offer classes that some students want to use for college credits, so ACT reviews the classes as well as other institutions around the world so colleges can use ACT to see if the classes taken are worth beign transferred over.
Made some american money, which is always a bonus.
TOnight, Penina made a BBQ for her friend Elana Schwartz who is visiting from NY and for her friend Elke Kagan and family who live in Beit Shemesh.
American Hot Dogs, which is always a bonus.
Tommorrow night after the jerusalem ACT gig,
I have a balloon gig in the old city for a teens at risk program, ever hear of Reb Chaim of Jerusalem?
Please see http://www.rebchaim.com/.
well, I’ll see how it goes… and report here.
See Ya!
U.D.

Shabbos started out wet… VERy wet… Rain .. finally friday night.. that went throughout the night.

Shabbos was dry though. CLoudy but dry. SO I guess we could have gone to yishi after all. Sara Baila is planning a chanuka “fun day” at yishi to try and get a few families to see the place and perhaps get the ball rolling.

We had a big bar Mitzvah shabbos. The son of the Rebbi so the place was jam packed and I ended up davening outside for mussaf. It was actually a nice experience. Davening by a stone wall was like davening at the Kotel. There was a nice kiddush afterwards and all the big wigs were there. Rav Soloveichik was there. I was shmoozing too much so when I got close to the kiddush area, the glenlivit was gone. You snooze you lose. oh well, Dry kiddush is ok. The rebbi joked that he was looking for the balloons on Monday night at the party. ( I think he said that, he said it in hebrew). Joking bec. he told the gabbai that I should NOT bring balloons. I was not surprised as some of the schools here have rules that restrict the “shtick” and entertainment. In Ramat Beit Shemesh there is huge range of affluence… or lack thereof. Some have alot, but many have nothing. I’m not talking about people with only 1 car or a house without a big lawn. There are people that have to take tzedaka and that can’t pay the electric bills… so I don’t have a problem with the takanah that some yeshivot have. It worked out ok, as I was able to leave early as I had a shiur that night.

After shabbos Dovid hosted a melva malka for the benefit of Chayenu, the Israeli Chai Lifeline. He had approx 18 people and while it was a bit small I was very impressed keeping in mind that we’ve only been here a few months. Dovid spoke, made alot of the food and it was very nice. Its not easy to “shakedown” people that you’ve just met. Rabbi Pinsky, the director spoke and there was a 10 minutes video from Rabbi Weinberger from Woodmere who spoke at the woodmere Chayanu melave malka which was put together by Robbi and fishy Shonfeld.

Well, I’m signing off. Enjoy your sunday…

U.D.

Well, the shabbaton in yishi is NOT happenning this week.
All week we were looking forward to spending shabbos in Moshav Yishi with Dovid and family at Sara B’s cousin who lives there.
For those taking score at home, Yishi is a moshav right outside of Beit Shemesh that is selling 64 plots of land and we are seriously thinking of moving there. We are trying to spread the word around and we wanted to spend a shabbos there to get a feel for what is is like.
Rain is expected tonight and shabbos so we decided to push it off. This announcement of the cancellation came late thursday night so I think we’ll be eating at Dovid’s tonight and they are coming to use tommorrow for the seudah.
Ein Baya.
Looks like we will be eating take out food from Kibbutz lamed hay.
(shnitzel and more shnitzel..)
Brrr… Just came back from the post office… wow it is cold here… Must be in the 50’s…. Sorry I HAD to mention that.
Kids had to bundle up in their jackets this morning.
Its 10am which is 3am for you folks and I’ve been listening to WCBS radio and so far there is no strike.
I have a party in NYC in which I have 4 balloontwisters heading to a party in the World Financial center and I am hoping there is no strike so things can go smoothly.
In Israel if there was a train strike, it would perhaps affect 100 people.
There are not that many trains and besides rush hour, they are practically empty.
If there was a BUS strike then it would be chaos.
The government has a great way how to stop strikes.
If you strike.
They shoot you.
Haven’t been too many.
Also people get to strike only ONCE.
Well, I’m going to sign off and do some work..
good shabbos…
U.D.

This appeared in Hamodia Newspaper on December 14th, 2005

Balloon Twisting and Chessed Chug Twists at Hadassah

On Thursday, December 9th, the Balloon twisting and Chessed Chug with its 20 members, ages 7 to 12, hailing from Beit Shemesh and Ramat Beit Shemesh, made its second visit to the hospital and third chessed trip overall.

Headed by Oleh Chadash, Yudie Akselrud, “Yudie Ballooney” of balloontwister.com, the chug aims to bring youngsters to perform cheesed and bring smiles to those who need it. Teaching balloon sculptures to children and then going on Chessed trips in Israel.

“I want to show kids, including my own, that with some air and a little latex, you can bring smiles and really make someone’s day”

Akselrud, who has been a balloon twister in the US for over 8 years, has performed at a wide range of events. From Birthday parties to the Women’s World cup. From Hospitals in the US to senior centers in Beit Shemesh.”

“Its great seeing the faces of accomplishment on their faces as they learn and perfect new sculptures and really brighten up the faces of either sick children or the seniors that we twist for”.

The chug has grown from 3 members in Ramat Beit Shemesh to over 20 members in 4 chuggim in Ramat Beit Shemesh and Beit shemesh – and is looking to expand to include other areas in this Mitzva.

If anyone is interested in joining or organizing a chug in your area, please contact Yudie Akselrud at jayaxe2@yahoo.com.

Yudie Ballooney is also available for parties, Bar / Bat Mitzvahs and other simchas.

Well, I got the call…
Its a car!
Dovid and Sara B. got a car same as ours, except the color.
We went Silver.
They went Purple / silver…
The car dealer called our house by mistake.
So I found out about the new delivery before the mother did.
I also drove them to Jerusalem as I was taking the balloon chug to another Chessed trip.
Yesterday, being tuesday and a half day at school, I got us a gig at a girls orphanage in Geula / meah shearim. I think its girls town Jerusalem. THe building is real old and decrepit.
We had to be out of there by 3pm, so we hightailed it out of RBS so we can twist for a nice while. We had 2 cars going. Instead of shlepping 20 kids to twist for 35 girls I just had 7 kids go with us.
We had a very nice time. Suzy Fingerer, who once lived in Staten Island and now lives in RBS drove several kids down as well and distributed stickers to the girls there.
Its very sad knowing these kids are orphans. Its also weird because the backyard of the building is adjacent to other backyards so these kids must see kids their own ages with their parents. Well, in any event, it was great to bring a little fun into their lives. Even for just 40 minutes or so. I brought Michal, Yoni, and Moshe along. They had a nice time as they are starting to see the power of the balloons. The kids here REALLY go crazy over it. Here, its out of the price range of most. Especially kids in the orphanage.
I hope to go back there sometime soon.
Well, I dropped Dovid and Sara B. and baby natan off in Jerusalem on the way to the orphanage so they could get their car.
Well, he did it again.
Yup, throw up.
Barf.
Ta-key (hebrew for throw up…)
Losing his lunch.
Last time it was in the rental.
This time it was in the new Grandis.
Talk about losing the new car smell.
Good thing he didn’t lose it on the way there or our grandis would be smelly.
I think they may have to put him in the trunk next time or put him on the bus.
well, I’m signing off….
Have a good day.
U.D.

Kids update…

Youngest to Oldest.
Tamar is being weaned off the DVD’s. After days and days of Little Rascals and other movies, we’re trying to wean her off of them. She is doing ok in her Gan and bursts out in song every once in a while… modeh ani or something. She thinks every number is 2.

Moshe has started to be interested in learning hebrew. We got a picture book that has hebrew words and sentences and for a marble a word he has become interested. We’re up to the Alephs… Abba Eebade avatiach…..Going to be a long road with that one. We don’t send him to a tutor but he’s able to do the work in his math book.

Michal has told me that she wants to live in jerusalem. So I think shes counting the days until she gets older and lives there. I told her to have a room for me when I visit. She is coming along nicely as she is very keen on seeing what is going on around her. Whether its twisting balloons at the hospital or davening at the Kotel or touring with the lichtsheins. She is really taking it all in. She was a bit upset when I insisted that the tooth fairy needed a note in Hebrew or he / she wouldn’t be leaving any shekels.

Yoni has totally amazed us. He is doing great with his hebrew… and ping Pong. On shabbos I helped him prepare reading a dvar torah. In Aish Kodesh the children read a dvar torah in hebrew for the shul during shalosh seudos. Of the New olim, Yoni is the first one to do it. It is not easy for a 10 year old to speak in a shul, let alone in hebrew without the nekudos. But he did a good job. I was so proud of him. Most adults speak in english in the shul. He has really gained so much since he started going to his tutor. Of course he is the same old Yoni in which he doesnt know what is going on in class at all times. Even the English class. But Ein baya. He is also becoming quite a Ping Pong player. He beat a nevei student on shabbos and he beat me twice already. I have to almost play at 100% to beat him.
Maybe Im just not that good… possible I guess.
Well, thats that for the kids update.
Gotta run,
U.D.