a balloontwister’s aliya saga

whew. Busy evening. After taking the 2 older ones to see the Scrolls of Fire Sculpture. More about that when I get some more info about it. I drove to the softball game last night. After getting a shelacking from the Black Hebrews, we were all looking to have a big bounce back game.

Well, we got it. Playing against a team that didn’t field all that well…we found ourselves in a game that had alot of offense. Score and then give up a few… back and forth.

In the bottom of the last inning down by a run, DOvid got a key hit to get the rally going.. and I hit the game winning hit that brought home the winning run. It wasn’t a walk off… as the umpire had the game go an extra inning… but I can’t remember the last time I did that. Maybe Camp Dora Golding days… I got a hit every time up.. except my best shot. The outfield that was dropping flies all night just HAD to make a play on me. A line drive to deep right… the guy jumped up and grabbed it… Oh well.

Dovid played a great game as he was killing the ball every time up. Dovid made me bring a camera to email my mother. Looks like I picked a good night to bring it.. as we both played well… as Mendy Newman said “your mother must be proud of you boys”.

Ok, mendy.. just take the picture.. all the guys are watching.

I actually got the game ball. Its not the first time I got a ball. I have maybe 2 dozen from minor league games, but the first in which my good playing got me the ball… as opposed to getting a ball thrown at me due to my poor play.

Unfortunately it will be my last game in Israel for a while as I’m heading to Baltimore Sat. Night. Too bad as I was just getting used to the fast pitching. The key. Just swing like crazy. Weird but I hit better in fast pitch than slow pitch. I was also getting used to left field. On the good side, I will be playing in Baltimore next week I think. Or Rockville, MD. OOps. Mentioned baltimore. I try not to talk or think about it too much when I’m here…. but.. In 3 more days.. its off to the US. We’re actually going to try something a bit different. I’m going to fly back for shabbos. We’ll see how it is flying after only 5 days. From there we have a few Bar Mitzvahs in Israel… and then it will be july… and the family will be heading to the old country. Sat. night will also be the first time I’m flying Israair. Dovid took it once. DIdn’t care for it… but… it is a few hundred dollars cheaper and this time of year the tickets are expensive.

In the Pre Shavuot spirit, last night Penina and Sara B. went to a bake sale to raise money for the school.

Tonight there is an event sponsored by Yoni’s school. Nice to have these events to help bring more attention to shavuot. On the other side….I have to go. Shouldn’t be too bad though. A few divrei Torahs. Singing by a choir from the area. Maybe an hour or so.

Well, I turned down a ride to chevron because I have a ton of work to complete before Shavuot.. so I’m going to get back to it.

Have a great day and remind me to write about the Scolls of Fire.

u.d.

Busy weekend.

Well, Penina came back so things are semi back to normal. She took an early flight home so instead of being home 2 or 3.. she got to RBS at 12…. bearing many gifts.. for the kids… toys.. for the neighbors… Crystal light ice tea. I was never a big ice tea fan… but….it DOES hit the spot. Sugar free… no caffeine… its that time of the year here in Israel… very hot.. It’ll get hotter.. but its already getting there.

I took moshe to little league with Yoni as this is the first time in months that I’ve been able to join the team I was supposed to coach. They actually brought another coach in my stead to help out. The season is almost over but in the next few weeks that have a competition day… races… and things like that, as well as a party and all the kids get a trophy. They try to base the games around building up your skills and making sure the kids have fun. no one really takes the games that seriously.

Shabbos we went to Nof ayalon as we went to cousin rabbi eli reich and family. It was such a great shabbos as the kids really get along so well. All shabbos the kids were occupied as I tried to get Penina some sleep. Didn’t work though. Friday night the meal went to midnight and in the AM the little ones made too much noise.

After davening I went with Tamar to the Kenigs. The not as tall kenig. I learned a few things about the family. This kenig adds something in kiddush and I found out that a kenig is a lubavitch rav in indianapolis. Hmm… wonder why Kenny never told us that. This mrs. kenig though did not have homeade chocolate cake…. but… she had food prepared for the meal and Tamar didn;t hold back as she finished most of the family’s egg salad. Also The Staten Island kenig has better booze. Single malt VS. Orange Brandy.

Its a nice place nof ayalon. All dati. People seemed nice. One interesting thing is they WARN the person getting maftir more than 10 seconds before they call him up. Davening in the beige room (used to be green) I used to get 5 seconds to look over the haftorah.

Today I took Yoni, Moshe and Michal and 5 kids from my balloon chug to a small amusement park as Chayanu (the israel chai lifeline) had an event for their clients / families. We came an hour late and left an hour early… but I eneded up twisting for 4 solid hours. I brought my chug so I could:

a. Give them a chance to participate in the mitzva

b. Give ME a chance to get a break once in a while.

When the kids saw the rides, bumber cars, moon walks… there was a cl0ud of dust and they were gone. Oh well… its the thought that counts. A yasher koach to Rabbi Pinsky who is the director as well as my brother Dovid, who introduced me to him. They do great work and its an honor to be working for them. I noticed a familiar face as I was on my stilts. Chaim silber from sasregan / Rabbi rubin’s shul. Perhaps he is a sponsor. He was shocked to see me and it was good to see a face from the old country. He is a real nice guy and is really leibedic as well.

Well, on a sad note. 2 people in our area had parents who passed away so last night we went to a shiva call and this morning I davened at a shiva house.

On a happy note, we have a bris to go as the berzon family has a new addition. Hopefully we’ll have more simchot in the coming weeks.

Well, have a great day and enjoy the long weekend,

u.d.

Today marks the reunification of Jerusalem as well as our family as Penina is heading back and should be landing in a few hours. We celebrate that after thousands of years of NOT having control over our holiest and most important city… WE FINALLY do. Its only with h-shem’s mercy that we can daven at the Kotel and walk the streets with pride as we all feel a connection to it. First time, 20th time…50th time… when you drive in through the jaffa gate or walk in the cardo… and especially daven at the kotel….its a new experience and we can never take it for granted. Generations of jews were not able to do what we can do today. Whether you said hallel today or not we have to thank H-shem for the special gift we have.

Still, The only issue is… can the cleaning lady Penina have the place ready by the time the wife penina gets here. Its going to be close.

Last night I took most of the kids to the science fair. Yoni didn’t make a project so he hung around the house and went bicycling with some friends. The fair was interesting. They had teachers teach the kids AND parents and make a project. So I sat in a class and listened to something about echos. I had no idea what she was talking about. It could have been the parsha or the mets… I had to ask michal. Good thing she knew. There were no projects that showed how the second grade is better in math than the kenig family. (ask Tali about that one). The most interesting part was projects that yoni’s class did that was supposed to be models of places in JErusalem. The machane Yehuda shuk. Ram Sports (the only good sporting good store in israel). There was actually a model of the kotel made in taffy and some green candy.

This morning davening was interesting. Shachris like shabbos… then full hallel with a brocha in the middle of davening as opposed to the end. Moshe had a tiyul with his talmud torah as they took all the kids to the old city. Yoni and michal are having a party in class today. Tamar.. well.. she went to shul with me again… This entire week she came to shachris. One chair has a few peanut butter stains on it courtesy of you know who. I was going to take the kids to jerusalem but was told to stay away. TOday and last night its too crowded and the streets and infrastructure is not set up to handle all the cars that come in.. so we’ll have to do it another time.

All in all its been a very challenging week. Its difficult enough with the kids but trying to work has been almost impossible. I have to still make up some hours Sat. night. The most difficult part is the work is not easy and I have to be in contact with the people in baltimore on a daily basis. When the kids get to bed and the house finally got quiet.. I was too tired to work. Well, in another few hours… things should get semi back to normal. But Penina felt it was important to be there for her father and family so that was of utmost importance. She came with 2 empty suitcases and I think both were stuffed overweight on the return and she went to costco for the entire RBS.

Well, I’m going to take advantage of the quiet house for a few hours…. Penina is going to be mad at me about something. shoes… papers.. theres always something that is out of place… Soon I’m off to little league with Yoni and then we are spending shabbos at Cousin Eli and Not as tall kenig in Nof Ayalon.

Shabbat shalom and chag sameach.

Jerusalem is ours….

u.d.

big softball game last night. Beit shemesh first place B division…(us) against Dimona first place team in the A division.

Apparently this year they split up the teams into 2 divisions, so we only play the division a guys once.

Good thing.

These guys smoked us. On the bright side with the courtest rule we got to go home a bit early.

Yup.. 15-0.

As I was getting a ride up I was told that these guys are the Black Hebrews. Which meant. These guys are faster and we had to lock our doors. Apparently its an event playing these guys as they bring a bus of people from the town and have a rooting section. Only a few of the wives were there and maybe 10 kids. I started the game in centerfield and was the designated fielder. MEaning I didn’t hit. I was dissapointed until I saw this yellow blur. Turns out it was the softball. This was was firing smoke. We got 2 runners on base the first inning and that was just about it. I actually did get to bat next time around the the batting order. FOuled off a bunt. Fouled 3 more and then hit one straight back which the pitcher couldnt handle and I wound up on first. Unable to sit still as the bottom of the order was coming up.. I took off for second… and got thrown out as the catchers throw was on target and the tag was right on my head.

I hate say anything bad about the hold land of Israel… but….

The dirt did NOT taste sweet. It tasted like american dirt as I caught a mouthful sliding head first into second. dirt in my mouth. Eyes. pants. helmet and cap rolling away. It was so bad that 2 innings later I got sick of the dirt in my gum and I had to throw it out.

SO I think we had three hits. in 5 1/2 innings. We didn’t play that bad…but alot of hits fell in the outfield and they ran and stole bases on us at will. Weird. They have these big kippas. Fringes on their red jerseys. They have names like yehuda. Shmu-el. Shlomo…. but.. they didnt hang around for ma’ariv after the game. We davened with Blue after the game (slang for umpire). I actually had an interesting shaylah maybe the rabbi can answer this. During the game one of the players had some signs… 38…. 41….. I remarked afterwards that perhaps he can’t count with a brocha, bec. last night WAS 41. Well, the good news is… I didn’t get hurt and not I have a good excuse to shower on friday.

Tonight the balloon chug resumes as we have to get the guys / girls up to speed on flowers and flowers baskets perhaps.

Well, thats it for today… so far.

u.d.

Got a call last night from the cleaning lady.

Sara baila mentioned to her that since penina was in the US, maybe she didnt have to come and clean the house.

“oh no. We DO need you. More than if she was here. Trust me.” So at 7:30am the lady shows up 1/2 hour early and gets to work. The place after only an hour or so looks alot cleaner. I’m not sure if she will ever come back.. but.. thats for another day. There were around 5 paids of shoes, sandals, slippers in the living room. Rice that was in the oven from yesterday. Stuff all over the place. Its going to work out perfectly. The other cleaning lady comes friday so when Penina comes back… it will be all nice and clean. Yay.

TOnight I hired a babysitter so I can get out and play softball and Doovid invited us for dinner. Last night I did 2 car pools to soccer and fed Sruli and the kids leftovers from shabbos. Dovid called me around 5ish asking me to call if I see sruli. When I saw sruli an hour later I assumed he had been home so I gave him supper along with the kids. An hour after that Sara Baila calls asking if I’d seen him. He’s quiet and sneaky I guess. Doesn’t say much. SO its difficult to know his comings or goings.

I was going to plan a tiyul for today, being that the kids get out at 1pm… but… the #1 priority is toilet training the terror… er… tamar. Yesterday I literally locked her in the house and got her to go… today no tiyul until she ….. in other words… We don’t go… until she GOES.

So its the 3rd day without Penina and so far, thank G-d, we’re surviving. I even remembered to give the kids water today.

Speak to y’all later.

u.d.

Baruch dayan emes.

Oma passed away. Penina’s Grandmother died friday and it turned a happy homecoming into a sad one. I was not in the house 1 hour when the news came. Several hours later, we were listening to the hespedim as my father put his cell phone near the speakers so we could feel a part of the hespedim and hear about the life of oma.

Although she was a few weeks from 99… it was still a shock as she fought all the time and came back from every illness.

Rabbi weiss spoke last and mentioned that if we could always be sameach bchelkoy… we have taken a page from her life. This REALLY hit home. I’ll always remember that. next time when I get on a 11 hour flight or have to drive hours to make a connection flight I’ll do it without cringing or making a big deal. This woman went through 2 world wars, being widowed for most of her life, came to a new country etc….and always had a smile on her face. Despite not understanding what I was saying many a times.. she always laughed (when my father in law transalated what I was saying into hungarian) and I think we have to really be thankful for what we have and realize that H-shem is doing what is best for us ultimately.

Shabbos we ate home and then went to a friend for the next day seudah. Vitamlansky (I have no idea..sp..?) He is a rabbi at lev hatorah and will probably be buying at ramat shilo. He is a good friend of cousin Eli (rabbi eli) Reich and is a terrific guy. Penina and Mrs. Mlansky are becoming good friends and they have been inviting us for weeks… unfortunately .. I was not home for a bit… so this was the week… too bad for them they didn’t get the regular Yudie .. they got the Jet lag yudie… which may not be a good thing.. .regular yudie is more annoying .. but more alert… Jet lag yudie just came from a kiddush and getting only a few hours of sleep and having 2 shots of single malt…. makes for a sleepy yudie. I wonder if they were thinking.. wow, we waited for this? sometimes the waiting for something is better than the actual thing. i.e. ketchup, summer camp, …er….easter?… (sorry, I had nothing)…Well, I dont think I’ll be allowed back. There are actually several families that never had me over… but are always inviting penina and the kids… hmmm… wonder why that is…..

Today was the day that we were all supposed to go somewhere. Penina flew back sat. night to Staten Island for the shiva. So it was ME with the kids. I have no idea how Im going to make it through friday when she comes back. I have to work 40 hours. Get the kids up for school. Prepare meals. Rides. Soccer car pool. clothes. Taking the crust off the bread. Water. Other stuff. ANY work 40 hours. Kind of what penina does except for the 40 hours of work. I’m not sure I’ll have a job past this week. But If I do.. I think I’m going to try walking on water. safer than trying to deflect bullets I guess. Well, once penina promised a tiyul. I had to deliver so we went to the safari in Ramat Gan. We had such a great time. Its fun having the animals come to the door… but when the kids scream when the windows suddenly open… its just priceless.

An ostrich was slamming his beak against the window and an Crowned crane was looking at himself in the side mirrors and pecking the tires. Tamar is even scared to see the pictures of the crane. But it was great, as it was a safari plus a zoo with dozens of species of animals.

Well, theres more to report.. but I have onyl a few hours of sleep until Tamar wakes me up.

U.D.

Let’s go O’s… and go home….
Well, cross another thing on the things to do while you’re in baltimore list.

Camden yards. What a nice place. Beautiful place to catch a game. Makes it almost embaressing to call shea a major league ballpark. Of course the orioles aren’t much of team… I mean. If you can name more than 5 orioles players.. I’d say you’re followign baseball TOO much. I went to the game and I don’t think I can name more than 5 or 6 players. In any event, The o’s won and avoided getting swept by the sox.

What made the game so good was the amount of Sox fans. It was similar to when the Cyclones fans come to Staten Island to watch the SI yanks play the clones. Here you had a passive orioles crowd and a loud red Sox contingency. In the later innings you had alot of noise as the game got close… and more tense. In the end it was The o’s over the Sox as a former SI yankee got thrown out trying to steal second… ending the game. The same thing happenned in our Israeli League. We were down in the last inning and our catcher was thrown out trying to steal second. Gives you a sick feeling as the game ends on kind of a down note.

The stadium not only had kosher franks but its own stand selling hot pretzels, Fried chicken, French fries… and some other stuff. Some of you may remember when baltimore became the first place to sell kosher franks… I think it was in the older stadium.

This was the first time I bought tickets from perhaps unconventional means. I checked out stubhub.com but I eventually bought from wehaveseats.com. Stub hub only had the option to buy an even number of tickets, while wehaveseats had the option to buy an odd amount. With the shipping and handling, the tickets were cheaper than getting it straight from the team, so it worked out well. Perhaps the most interesting thing was watching a blind guy getting led in by his friend around 10 rows ahead of where we were sitting. Figure out seats were going for 27 at face value. His seat was 40 dollars.

Can you guess where I’m going?

I mean. The guy was blind. Don’t you think he could have sat further up and used the difference to buy dinner or something? If you had to close your eyes and go to a ball game.. wouldn’t you feel safer sitting further away from getting hit by a ball. Don’t laugh I got hit by one 2 years ago. He could have given his ticket to a kid and sat in a cheaper area. He could have been sitting in the parking lot to be honest. When I mentioned this to my coworkers who came to the game as well I got these horrified looks … but… I’m sure there is someone out there who agrees with me. Maybe Korn. Maybe Yossi. Not sure anyone else.

Well, I’ve got another few hours and then the journey begins.

Baltimore to NY to Israel.

I actually have a few stops in the middle. I have to get a few balloon supplies in brooklyn to prepare for an upcoming balloon gig in Jersey. Hopefully I’ll still have time to catch my flight… or you may have an unexpected guest for shabbos.

Have a great day,

j

Well, its the big day… lag baomer… LAst night in rabbi goldbergers shul here in Baltimore they sang bar yochoi and made a bonfire. I debated whether I should stay for it…. well, I stayed 10 minutes and then I booked. It wasn’t so much as leaving but rather being chased. Who knew that bringing marshmellows to the bonfire would get these seemingly friendly people so upset.The toughest part of being here isn’t shabbos.. but rather being here for days where it would be a huge event in Israel. Yom hatzmuot. Election Day. Today. I made aliya to get the israeli feel of these events. Its been a bit easier this week and last for the most part. Work is good. The people are nice. Had a great shabbos in Silver Spring. They finally showed me where the men’s rom is at work. But…. Like I tell people.. Its a different ballgame in Israel. Well, while its been a bit weird today… I’ve been rather busy. I started Ulpan here in Baltimore and the teacher thinks I’m not that bad and shes confident that I can learn thew language.

I think when she sees me… I see a look in her eyes like she looking at her meal ticket. I’m paying here by the hour… so I think after 5 minutes she’s thinking… I think all my car payments are going to be taken care of by this guy. SO I’m not sure if she is being totally objective. Oh well. I actually learned a few rules…. and a few words. I wonder how you say cash cow or meal ticket…. Kartis seudah perhaps… hey, not bad….

Tonight I’m going to practice in the park softball with a new team that I may join. IF nothing else it gives me a good excuse to wear my baseball pants. Wearing it to the aguda in the morning hasn’t gone over that well.

TOmmorrow night, 7 of us are hitting the ball game at Camden Yards to watch the Red Sox beat up on the orioles. I think we’re taking the light rail from work to the game.

In Israel penina and the kids did go to netanya and had a great time. Seems like when things are going well, she’s too busy to speak to me… I only get the calls when the kids are being difficult or when they cook one of the hamsters.

Well, have a great day… and keep a safe distance from the flames… and flamers..

j

Back at work…. trying to dry myself….

Well, it finally rained. WE were promised rain in Baltimore all weekend… and it finally came sunday night… Good thing for my airplane earplugs… as the rain was coming down and making the loudest noise as it was hitting the Air Conditioning unit. LOUD…. Very loud. But… if the earplugs can block out the loud crying babies on the plane… it can drown out the rain drops.

Shabbos was really nice as I spent shabbos and mothers day at my cousins David and Shoe Lesnoy (only david calls her that… but …..), Little zanvy and Charny. I actually pulled a costanza inadvertantly. Remember when he leaves the fur hat at a girl’s apartment so he will get a second date? Well, I left my shabbos suit and my Enron shirt.. and I think my eye mask. Was it on purpose? Hmmm…. Well, in any event I kind of guaranteed myself a second shabbos or a dinner at the very least… or a soda. While Silver Spring is not that close to Baltimore, I come down to play softball a few minutes from their house.

Shabbos was very nice. I had a 4th birthday party as a pecan pie AND an apple pie was brought out to the tune of happy birthday… I guess if nothing else this Blog DOES serve at least one purpose. I’ve had more birthday cake this year than any other year. But the best part was seeing the little ones and seeing the family down in Silver Spring. With my wife having few cousins the family is closer. So despite being my wife’s second cousins, the grauman clan and the waldman (lesnoy and Akselrud) are very close. I felt very at home as Shulamit (or shulamith… or shoe) made me feel veryt at home. SO much so that I had no problem raiding the fridge and eating with my fingers… I hope they dont read this. Usually I feel weird doing that at peoples house. My in laws. Shul. 7 eleven. But I had no problems using my fingers as I took out some matzo balls out of the soup with my hands or eating Ice cream. I did feel a bit old as I took a jog around a loop near the house. As I came back David remarked. “Back so soon?” I guess I’m still out of shape as after 10 minute run… I was just about done. Shulamit (or shu) thought it was funny that I almost made a wrong turn and was about leave the area and end up near the Capitol.

Penina and the kids are doing well, thank G-d. Tonight is Lag B’omer and they are going to have dinner with Litchy in JErusalem and then head to Ramat BS to see the bonfires. Tommorrow they will head up to meron. Litchy that is. Penina and 2 other families are going to a friends house in netanya. The other 2 families also have their husbands either working or out of town. Turns out that its a regular work day in ISrael but schools are out.

The question that remains ….is… which pecan pie was better. Szu’s or Mrs. Litchy’s? Well, I think I’m going to have them at least another time to make my final judgements… maybe 2 times.

Have a great day and stay dry,

j

Well, I found the baltimore Aish Kodesh.

Rabbi Goldberger’s shul accross the street from the agudah on PArk Heights. Friendly rabbi and friendly people. Also a mix of people. Bearded fellows. Serugi guys. A black dude. Kids with the large israeli kippas. The gabbai gave me an aliya and when I told him I had to bentch gomel he said.

“Just got out of jail?”

I thought… oh my… I look more like a ex-con than an israeli.

That may be true.. so …

Well, it IS a switch than going to the other places I’ve been here. The aguda is more of a minyan factory and without a hat and jacket… I think I stick out more than the brother we had at our minyan this morning. The rabbi asked about my shabbos plans…etc. Turns out a boy in the minyan just came from Ramat Beit Shemesh as he learned in LEv Hatorah.

We had a 3 hour meeting last night which included a catered meal. The project lead told me I can get myself kosher food and I would be reimbursed. So I went to the famous David Chu chinese bistro. The newmans said this is the best chinese place and has huge portions. Well, it was decent. Not the best I’ve had, but it was good and the portions were pretty big. The lunch special was big enough for supper. So thumbs up. I also went to dunkin donuts and had my first DD coffee in a long while. (no biggee…).

Today is thursday which is going away day for the consultants here. At 3:01pm… the place should be mostly empty. I have some work to complete and a few more hours to get to 40.. so I’ll be here on friday as well. I was going to drive up to the Kazan Bar Mitzva… but.. I have to hit 40 hours and get alot of stuff done here..

I also have to revisit my past comments about my cousin who didnt call me on my birthday. Tuesday night I was playing softball and when I got back and checked my voicemail I saw that she called me on my birthday and gave michal a message to give me a happy birthday. Does that count? Anyone want to comment? Sometimes giving a message through someone takes away, no? Once I did balloons for someone at a simcha for free….and the person called penina and told HER to tell me thank you. I did not accept. If you have to thank someone …. call THAT person. I guess a birthday wish may count… I have to think about that one. We’ll talk about this again.

Well, have a nice day,

j