Friday, November 12, 2004

How to teach children about strangers?

I think it is nearly impossible to teach children about strangers in Israel. Israelis think of each other as one giant extended family as today's story points out.

I was on the bus with both of my young ladies when the woman sitting behind me offered my SIX MONTH OLD a slice of an apple. Excuse me, she doesn't have any teeth.....and I don't know you!!!! So then she handed it to my older daughter (3 1/2 years old). So do I let her have it? I still don't know this woman.

Well right or wrong, I let her have it. Sigh.

This is my only comment on Arafat's demise

Palestinian People here is a cartoon for you.

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Never a dull moment

Not knowing that it was a holiday today. I took my usual Thursday shopping trip. On the way, I saw the busses and remembered is was
Sig'd, well actually I didn't know the name, but I knew there is a Ethiopian holiday where they all gather on the Tayelet. Which is around the corner from my home.

The supermarket was packed with Ethiopian Teenagers. I noticed lots were buying the cheap wine and vodka. I started wondering if there was an alcoholism problem in the Ethiopian community. There was an announcement over the loudspeaker reminding the teens that alcohol purchases are illegal to people under age 18.

I still managed to get out of there quicker than usual, but it was quite a sight.

Update: I went to the ceremony with a friend. It was spectacular. The Kes (spiritual leaders) were up on a stage shaded by colorful fabric umbrellas. The women were in traditional white gowns with bright color embroidery. The Kes lead the prayers in Amharic while the people said Amen.

When the torahs were carried away, they were on people's heads, lead by the Kes. The people crowded around, clapping and drumming. It was a beautiful sight and I feel privileged to see it. There weren't many non-Ethiopians who were present at the event.

Note:
Before they carried the Torahs away, there was a young man who got up to speak. He said he was born in Ethiopia and made aliyah at age 5. His father never came to Israel and his mother died when he was in first grade. He spoke about the problem of the younger generation, and how they were in danger because of alcohol. He said they needed to be shown that they could succeed. I know that the Ethiopians do have problems in school, and this didn't surprise me, but I was glad to see that the community sees there is a problem and are discussing it. That is the first step.


Tuesday, November 09, 2004

Voodoo Handwarmer


Voodoo Handwarmer. Yup, I made this too...it isn't so good, but it is warm. I got the pattern from Knitty an online knitting magazine.
Note to anyone with very tsnius sensibilities, the Summer 2004 might be offensive(no skin showing though). But I kind of like the idea of knitting with licorice.Posted by Hello

Update to Getting Out of Business

Update to Getting out of Business

I'm out I'm out!!!! The electricity was paid, the cleaner was paid...I have 9 shekels remaining from the money I collected.

The last insult was when I collected money from one person who did pay, his response was...it is good you aren't doing this any more...the cleaner wasn't doing a good job! This is the same person who throws his junk mail on the ground rather than throwing it away.

Hmmpf.

Playdough Packaging

This is the package information for the playdough given to my big girl at childcare. The colors were pretty cool...

Glitter..Colorful Plasticity Mud

"To keep the colour mud wetting, please put it into the any immediately after you use it, then cover it. If the colour mud became hard, you can drop some drops of water on it, then mix them in order to re-softer the mud.

Don't wash the clothes at once when they are stainde with mud, please brush them after the mud is entirely dried.

Colorful-plasticity by and mode lling compound is comptetety nontoxic and is not in tanded to be eaten as food"





Look Mom, I can Knit!!!


I knit that sweater...it is the first sweater I ever made! I don't think I'll keep it for the young lady, but I still need buttons. I learned how to make this sweater from Shoshanna...an Israeli woman in the knitting group I went to. Posted by Hello