a balloontwister’s aliya saga

DOvid did NOT serve turkey friday night..

He DID bring out the WIld Turkey though. Im not much of a bourbon fan… but I guess I had to.

DOvid cooked most… or all of the food …. friday night. Chicken, Roast, Peanut butter chocolate cake… yes… you read that right….

We had Jesse Slater from Staten Island over for shabbos. Jesse is in his second year at OJ and it was nice to have him over. He came at a good time. We also had a huge kiddush in out little neighborhood. THe dedication of the park / gan.

In our little area there was a park built that has been completed and has had bushes put in recently. The park was dedicated to Shoshana Heyman / Greenbaum. She was klled a few years ago in a terror attack and her parents decided to make aliya afterwarda and live in our area. She was a teacher and was in a program at Touro in israel when she was killed. Its incredible how parents can make aliya when their only child, who was expecting, was killed here. Mendy Newman spoke at the kiddush and said that many people decided to make aliya as a “tikkun” to the people that were killed in the latest killings. I know that I felt a need to do SOMETHING. Israel needs us. We have to respond by not being afraid and being strong and having faith in H-shem and each other. I think everyone there despite not knowing the nifteres will feel some pride when we pass by the park. At the kiddush there were several former students of the nifteres so it was a pretty emotional kiddush. Her father spoke and a former teacher spoke as well.

Yesterday I took Michal and Moshe to Gan Yehoshua. The park where I took YOni on Friday. I haad NO idea how huge this park was. Its the central park of israel. Boating. Sports. A small zoo. Biking and running paths. A park with a zip line. Mini golf. Basketball / softball / soccer. The kids brought their bikes. I brought my running shoes… whew… an hour and a half later… we went around most of the park. Just a great day. Sunny. Mid 70’s. Alot of fun.

It was sad saying goodbye as I headed back to the airport sunday night. Of course it was worse when the flight from NY to Baltimore was delayed.

Of course it was worse then I landed in Balitimore and found out my luggage was not in Baltimore. SO … It could be a long night if my roomates are not home. Looks like leaving my keys in my suitcase was NOT that great of an idea. I wonder if any windows on the second floor are open… or if I climbed on the roof… I can get in through the bathroom window…hmmm..

So today it was a Planes, Trains (light rail) and automobile day. I think I found out what is worse than sitting next to someone who smells on a plane. Sitting next to a smelly person on the light rail in baltimore who is holding a can of soda… and falling asleep on you…

“um…. you’re kind of …falling over….er..”

Whats the etiquette? Wake the person up? drink their soda?

just awkward….

well… I’m going to have to wrap things up… I am expecting a call from Delta… I hope my luggage arrives….. before my phone and computer batteries die out… hmmm… I think putting the chargers with the keys….may NOT have been that smart either…

J

Happy Turkey day to those in chootz laretz.

Its another Thursday here. Regular davening times… et al.

The only difference is I’ve heard that several families are making a turkey for Friday night. A Bshoora. A zay’cher to the old country perhaps.

Its been a busy week so far. Spent some time with Penina is Tel Aviv and we walked along the beach…. the weather is just perfect. Too cold to go swimming. But warm enough where a sweater is not needed. WE came accross the Etzel house / museum. An interesting place. Get a feel for the battles within the israeli forces Pre-1948. Lechi, Hagana, irgun…. the Altedena ship incident where Ben Gurion fired on the ship that had the forces on Begin. Just mind boggling that is wasnt THAT long ago.

I remarked to Penina that if Israel didnt kick out the brits, we’d be speaking english today in Beit Shemesh.

LAter in the day I took the three older kids to talpiot for a chessed trip. A woman got hold of me and hired me to teach their family how to twist balloons to go to the hospital for a yahrzeit. A good excuse to get out and take the kids on a field trip. We had a great time as the people loved the balloons. IT was also great because the kids are becoming better twisters and are becoming more comfortable in speaking hebrew and in dealing with sick kids. Yoni was making balloons and going around to the rooms while Michal and Moshe went themselves. In the middle of the “gig” Michal and Moshe told me they said shema for a baby boy that was a day away from his bris.

Only in Israel.

2 things struck me as interesting. I was twisting balloons for a little child who looked arabic. In the middle the father said to me Baruch hashem, my child is now smiling. He hasnt smiled in 2 days. SO I thought.. .ok, hes really jewish. Then I heard he called his son by an arabic name. So I was totally confused. Why would be bless Hashem if he is an arab?

Hmmmm….

The second one was a sad incident. I noticed a 10 or 11 yeard old boy on a laptop with his father. THe boy had a bald head. I asked him if he plays soccer and I began to twist a ball balloon.

The father corrected me “Shes a girl”

Without missing a beat I said.”I know. I was asking you” SO I gave the ball to the father and made something else for the girl.

I made some small talk. (not easy for a guy on stilts) and wished them well and went on.

I couldnt get the idea out of my head how horrible it must be for a father to have a child that is so ravaged by cancer and chemo that their daughter is mistaken for a boy. These kids can all pass for each other almost. Bald. SMall. Weak. Makes small problems seem really small. Forget about kids not having their schoolwork on time. These kids can’t go to school and may not see their next birthday. Or get to play outside. Makes me glad I came but sad as well. I leave the hospital a different person every time. Just to say a few words of encouragement to the parents is appreciated.

Our next project is to sponsor a chanuka party at the girls orphanage. There is a group in Jerusalem Kad Vchomer.

They have kids come and the kids make pottery, mugs, plates and they fire them in ovens and a week later the kids pick them up.

Penina and I are going to have the company being their stuff to the orphange for the kids to make mugs, plates, etc.

If the kids can feel ” regular” for just a day .. or afternoon.. its a big thing for us. 99% of the year they feel like orphans and kids that come from abusive parents. SO for one day, at least, they can feel regular. If anyone wants to be a part of this by contributing, you know how to get hold of me.

Well, its 9pm and penina and Michal went swimming in the Fancy Reishit pool. THe yeshiva opens it up to the public and there are different hours during the day / night for mens/ womens. So they are checking it out. Yoni is at his tutor. Just last Sat. Night I was helping with his homework and he haad to asnwer questions from sefer hamitzvot. I scratched my head. I don’t know when I first read from that sefer… but I KNOW I wasn’ in 6th grade. Michal is also learning halacha and is required to look up different sources. Just tonight we looked up a gemora in gitten and the rashi.. exciting.

Well, thats it for today I think.

Enjoy the day off,

u.d.

SO I’m at JFK at the King David Lounge having some tuna and soda…and I look up and its cousin david Zelig.

David is a oral surgeon who spends 2 weeks in memphis and 2 weeks in Israel. Quite impressive for someone to just head to Israel every 2 weeks… not because of family.. but because of a desire to help people in Israel. Just incredible.

SO after a few minutes, he offers me a sleeping pill to take on the plane.

After a few minutes I notice a friend of mine in the lounge who is also flying home to Ramat Beit Shemesh. David offers HIM a pill.

My friend mentions how he once took the pill in the AIRPORT and was SO knocked out he had to be walked onto the plane. We told him to make sure he doesnt do that… but takes it ON the plane.

Long story short.. .the plane boards and we hear them announce on the plane that the flight is going to be delayed bec. a passenger is missing…. later they announce they are going to be further delayed bec. they have to take the passengers luggage off the plane. We get delayed further due to the storm…I figure.. they stopped calling for my friend so he must have boarded and is sittting in first class or business.

When we land in Israel.. I notice… my friend is NOT there. David and I looked around… but he is no where to be found….

I found out after shabbos that he actually made it to israel and got home 5 minutes before shkiyah. he DID take the pill in the airport and DID fall asleep and missed the flight. He hasa no recolection on how he got past security and despite his flight beign delayed… he made it anyway.

There is a new shul in town a block over that dovid went to. Turns out that its official. Ramat Beit Shemesh is turning into flatbush. Every street now has a minyan.

I may go there next week as they are promising weekly kiddushim. I davened at Aish Kodesh this week and we had our own kiddush. SO I didnt miss anything by staying at Aish.

We actually had a famous person over our house this shabbos. Not just Dovid Pretter from Staten Island… Brother of the Breslover…. We haad Yisroel Sherman.

Who?

Sherman.

The Nephew of Meir Sherman.

Come on… you all know you rocked to meir in the 80’s. BLonde hair. White guitar. Yehi hachodesh hazeh…. Please, moshiach.etc.

It was too bad he had to leave Sat. night after only signing 5 autographs. The shermana does get a mazel tov. YIsroel’s brother had a boy. His first. SO if you’re in maaleh dafnei next week. Stop by for the shalom zachor and bris.

Well, I’m going to head to bed. ANother Jets game… another…well.. you know…

I went jogging in the AM and I’m a bit sore….plus the jetlag.. so Im going to bed early…

Have a good week,

u.d.

Mazel Tov and welcome to the big boys club, dani.

I made the trip from Baltimore to Staten Island and back to go to the big Strauss Bar mitzvah. What a fantastic time I had. From staying at the Litchy’s to the davening and Layning to seeing all the guys.

Also, a Mazel tov to the gordon / Lewin family and the Reves family. This shabbos was the sheva brochos in Staten Island… which meant that The balloon guy had to find a place to stay on the island. Hotel 31 niles was booked.

Well, the lichtsheins loss is my gain. Despite having gum, candy and israeli chocolates stolen b the kids…. I had a great time. And yes… the pecan pie was great.

Now the asparagus…

Shabbos lunch at Lord Kornius was great too. I thought it was a bit weird that they locked the boys outside during the meal.. but it was quiet…and there was plenty of food for the rest of us…

kidding.

The Bar mitzva was fantastic. The strausses despite being Giants fans are really great people. Despite living in Chootz Laretz.. they really have Israel of their minds andthey are very involved in alot of community projects. I;ve dealt with avrumi on different IT and programming issues.. and I learned 2 things.

He really is smart.

I really don’t have much of a clue.

Kidding….(guess which part?)

I also found out that people really DO read the blog. KAzan was upset that I didnt talk about him enough. I mean all he had to do was pay for the chinese meal on chl hamoed in Beit shemesh…. and I wold have dedicated a week to him. The guy thinks he can pay for a pie of pizza and I owe him my life… nerve of that guy.

I am also thankful that I didnt say anything bad about JAck Newman last week. Someone sent him my blog from last week. Its actually a huge deal that Abe and his son mendy as well as uncle jack are gaboim. I did it for a year or so.. and it burned me out. Jack runs a very tight ship. Despite a huge crowd at the 8 am minyan and around 23 aliyahs.. he still kept it quiet and moving along. … of course beign a black belt doesn’t hurt. I hear he once used a gartel as nunchuks when someone was talking once. The guy has black marks on his face to this day.

But the best comment was from Big robbie.

“I love to read the blog and hear how yudie moved to Baltimore”

Thanks robbie.

Have a good night… please stay tuned for tommorrows podcast. My brother dovid will be interviewed on his charity bike tour in the negev and donations are being accepted to raise money for the Alyn Hospital.

J