In lieu of a phone call

February in Central Park (around lunchtime)

2012-02-05T19:45:00.000-05:00

Merganser duck eating a crayfish?

Sparrow

Red Tailed Hawk by the Tennis Courts

Apparently it caught a sparrow

and seemed to enjoy it!

Winter in Central Park

2012-01-02T20:31:00.003-05:00

One of the convenient things about winter is that there are few leaves, making it easier to get photos of birds...

Happy Hanukkah 5772

2011-12-26T18:18:00.000-05:00

Autumn Photography Practice

2011-11-20T21:13:00.001-05:00

Being that it was beautiful day for a walk and the instructor from the photography course I took last week said that it's important to practice, I went out and took a few photos (and even got a few I'm happy with):

Sky over Riverside Dr.

Squirrel Snacking

Sneaky Buddhist Statue at 105th St.
I just learned from Google that it used to stand near
Hiroshima and survived the atomic bomb!

Yeshiva Ketana d'Manhattan

9-11 at the Firefighter's Memorial

2011-09-11T18:46:00.004-04:00

To mark the anniversary of 9-11 we decided to attend the memorial ceremony at the firefighter's memorial at w100th st.

It was quite moving. There were firefighters in attendance from all over the world including: Los Angeles, Belgium, New South Wales, Los Vegas, Canada, even Mirimar, FL. They read the names of all 343 firefighters who died on 9/11/01 pausing for moments of silence to mark the collapse of each tower and the crash of flight 93. It was very nicely done.

Here were a few photos that I took:

Saluting during the national anthem

Following along as the list of 343 firefighters was read

Listening to Amazing Grace being sung...

Afterwards we went back to see the memorial:

Some people left notes or gifts

including a wreath from the London Fire Brigade

There were lots of flowers

(click to view bigger)

Others were coming too, to see what was left, to contemplate or to take pictures...

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-27T21:36:00.005-04:00

Things that I'm hoping to do tomorrow (but probably won't)

Achieve inbox zero on my personal gmail
Google Reader zero
Finish all the articles in my Instapaper
Create the photobook from our vacations
laundry
finally watch Inception
file all the piles that are sitting around
finish the book I'm reading

I really hope the power doesn't go out...

Red-Tailed Hawk

2011-08-21T18:12:00.000-04:00

Was on my way out to meet a friend at 5pm when I spotted this:

This fellow was just across on the next building's fire escape (around 96th near Riverside Dr.) He was eating something that used to have white feathers.

I had to run out, but Tim snapped the rest of these awesome photos.

Note the blood on its talons!

He posed for a portrait before flying off.

Tenafly Nature Center

2011-07-24T22:04:00.001-04:00

Glencoe and Loch Linnhe

2011-07-12T15:07:00.000-04:00

Taken along the walk to the lost valley in Glencoe

Loch Linnhe

more scotland

2011-07-12T14:32:00.000-04:00

Seagull as seen from the Oban-Mull Ferry

Basalt formations on Staffa

Fingal's cave (0n the right), Staffa

Puffins on Lunga

2011-07-11T18:14:00.000-04:00

I actually took upwards of 200 pictures... but here are a few of the best:

More Scotland

2011-07-10T17:02:00.002-04:00

St. Conan's Kirk

Ferry to Kerrera

Thistle and Gylen Castle (Kerrera)

Foxgloves on Kerrara

England and Scotland

2011-07-10T05:13:00.000-04:00

Robin (the UK kind) sitting in the garden

Some flowers along the Thames

Jedburgh Abby- destroyed in the 1500's

Scottish Highlands along the walk from our B & B

Reflections from Sderot

2011-06-01T10:20:00.000-04:00

Visiting Sderot felt a bit too much like disaster tourism. I kept wondering how those who live there felt when we drove by in our bus. Are they used to it? Do they consider visitors flooding their town to be a second wave of disruption, preventing them from getting on with the normal lives that I’m sure they want to live? I would have liked to ask that question to someone in Sderot, but unfortunately the group wasn’t given this opportunity.

We did however, have a fascinating meeting with the mayor of Sderot, David Buskila. Buskila has the difficult role of trying to restore order to a town filled with constant disruption. He can quickly quote the number of rockets that fall in a given year, and describes vividly the 15 seconds between when an alert is issued and the rockets land. Of the statistics that was most difficult to hear, we learned that 25% of the residents of Sderot are afflicted with post traumatic stress disorder. But what was most surprising was what he said next:

The children in Gaza are also suffering. Do you think they are responsible for this violence either? How can their parents vote freely with guns to their heads? I know them, they worked with my father. They want peace.

Unfortunately I didn’t take down the words verbatim, but I think this summary accurately captures the gist. What it doesn’t capture is the tone, strong, sincere and hopeful. I was not expecting a man who is responsible for a place where even the bus stops double as shelters to have such a perspective.

Often, all that we hear is the rhetoric, sound bites created for media or twitter, their authors perhaps thinking that whichever side has a more catchy or more compelling slogan will be winning the battle of propaganda. At other moments of the trip I found myself wondering if those who utter such statements think them to be compelling arguments. How can you even have a proper argument, one where each side tries to engage with and learn from the other when everyone is just repeating sound bites?

All too often the discussions are about right vs. wrong; us vs. them; religious vs. secular; Jew and non Jew or Jew vs. Jew. But to truly engage with Israel we have to go beyond the catchphrases and tweets. We have to get to know the parties involved and to listen to one another. For a moment, after hearing Mayor Buskila speak, I was able to truly realize the complexity of what Israel is about.

Israel is a place where the mayor of a town who has lost citizens to rocket fire can be concerned about the children of the ones doing the firing. Israel is complicated and deserves more than sound bites.

Israel deserves our engagement.

Love- of what exactly?

2011-05-15T18:07:00.004-04:00

I remember the first time I got off the plane in Tel Aviv. The excitement at every little thing. Falling in love with Israel, my country.
The foreign landscape
The ancient trees
The street signs in Hebrew, Arabic and English
CNN international
Speaking Hebrew to 'real' Israelis
The sense of history
Jerusalem stone

Between that visit and now, I've been in Israel a number of times.
Each visit less and less exotic.

This time, as I sat in the sherut from the airport to Yerusahalyim
with the sun setting golden over the Jerusalem mountains
and the moon, nearly full faintly on display,
It should be more romantic.
Instead I felt empty.

Perhaps it was not Israel that I loved
but traveling.

Since that first visit to Israel
I've seen more foreign landscapes
more ancient trees
street signs in many languages.
I've watched other tv channels
spoken in more languages
and seen more history
and more stones.

There are memories I relish more
and places where I have felt more free.
What is Israel to me?
Why do I feel so empty?

Being Invisible

2011-05-13T12:55:00.001-04:00

This morning- I got to minyan early. I'm standing in the synagogue, reconnecting with someone I haven't seen in years when three others walk into the room. One of them says, "great we have four people."

To be honest I don't remember his exact words, but I do remember math. When does 2+3=4? When one has the xx character trait thereby making her ineligible to count in an Orthodox minyan and apparently rendering her invisible and not a person.

This experience has happened to me before- Unfortunately, I have been relegated to non-person status in cities all over the world, almost always by Orthodox men, who, I hope, don't realize the pain that they have caused . What makes this time different is that I'm at the Siach conference- an environmental and social justice conversation. More info here.

It is certainly a great group of very talented people. Most of the conversations that I've had have been with fascinating people, presenting the challenge of not wanting to extract myself from intense and good discussions. I was having a great time until this moment, and I'm not sure what to do with it. Perhaps I was tired because this morning I just stood there in silence (usually i have use some snarky reply to the effect of "no you need one more man, i'm a person too"). I expected that I might not count in the minyan. But I didn't expect to be rendered invisible.

How can we talk about social justice when we can't even acknowledge the personhood of those standing right in front of us?

Clearly we have work to do.

Scenes from Marrakech

2011-02-24T13:59:00.000-05:00

A few more photos taken on our last day here.

Outside Mosque Mouassine

Mosque de la Koutoubia

Lanterns for sale in Place de Ferblantiers (Tim's favourite place name in all of Marrkech)

Marrakech- מלאכות

2011-02-24T13:42:00.003-05:00

This morning we went to the tanneries and the dyers' market.

Men working leather

Piles of skins mid-process

Trying out the finished product (we ended up buying the scarf)

Newly dyed yarn.

Hiking in the Atlas Mountains

2011-02-23T15:32:00.004-05:00

Today we got out of the busy city and went hiking near Imlil in the Atlas Mountains.

Loads of fun!

Mosque Bab Doukala from the rooftoop of the riad (just around sunrise)

The view on the hike

Women doing laundry- taken from the rooftop when we had lunch

villages along the hike

view on the way down.

Marrakech day 1.5

2011-02-22T17:18:00.002-05:00

Saw more of the city, but most of it is moving so quickly (or so dark) that it's hard to get sharp photographs. Here are a few highlights:

Donkey and cart- these negotiate the alleyways along with mopeds and motorbikes and lots of people.

Stork with the High Atlas mountains (we're going there tomorrow)

Stork on the walls of Palais El Badi- It was in use for less than 100 years! Now it's a home for storks and pigeons.

Marrakech Day .5

2011-02-22T17:15:00.004-05:00

We're arrived safely, and all is (insha alla) well. Here are a few pics to prove it:

Tim waiting for the train at Casablanca airport- enjoying the station's free (!) internet

Details at Medrassa Ben Youseff

Chair at Medrassa Ben Youseff

Tim at Medrassa ben Youseff

Details at Medrassa Ben Youseff

Tim's parents are here too (admiring the details at Medrassa ben Youseff).

We're all having a good time

Kafka comes to NYC Part II

2011-02-08T15:55:00.003-05:00

Thanks to MyUpperWest for covering this story.

Here are a couple of pictures taken at 8:50 this morning at Riverside and 96th st.

don't be deceived by the fact that you can see the sidewalk.... this hasn't been cleared since last week's ice storm, so the sidewalk is very slick.

Though the city can't work out which agency is responsible for clearing the ice, I'm sure that there are many lawyers who would be happy to work out who is responsible if someone gets hurt.

Kafka comes to NYC

2011-02-07T10:18:00.007-05:00

This section of sidewalk where Riverside Drive passes over 96^th street, on the east side of the road is still icy and dangerous (especially for those who need to run to the bus).

Riverside drive and 96^th street

For the second time this year, I called 311 to file a complaint to ask the city to clear the sidewalk. Instead I was treated to an excursus about how, since there is no private or commercial property around the sidewalk, the city is not sure which of it's own department is responsible for snow and ice removal but they were starting an investigation to figure it out.

I explained that I don’t care which city department is responsible, as a tax paying citizen of NYC, I expect the city to work out its issues and shovel the sidewalk. I was told that though it is reasonable for me to have no vested interest in who does the job, the folks at 311 can't enter it into the system until they can assign it to a department. Though I was assured that after my first complaint, they sent an officer to look at the sidewalk and he noted that there were no violations.

Thanks. I'm not trying to get someone a ticket, I'm trying to get the sidewalk shoveled! In the end, my complaint was put on a list of complaints that they were collecting as they look into the matter further. Not helpful.

Anyone have any practical or creative suggestions for getting the city to do its job?!

Ice Storm 2011

2011-02-02T09:59:00.004-05:00

It was a treacherous walk to work this morning. Many buildings hadn't done anything at all about the sheet ice coating their sidewalks. It was, perhaps, stupid to walk to work, but I'm pleased with a number of the photographs I got.

The photo above and below were taken right outside my building.

This photo (above) was also on my block. PS 75 hadn't yet shoveled or salted and I almost slipped as I was taking it.

Taken on West End around 102nd

Taken on West End around 104th

Taken on Broadway around 113th

NASA and Galveston

2010-12-26T22:57:00.000-05:00

lovely shabbat at congregation Or Ami

Sunday at NASA and Galveston.

At the Saturn V hangar

Pier at Galveston

Carriage driver at Galveston

Houston- Day 1

2010-12-26T22:55:00.002-05:00

Downtown is not much of an attraction. We also saw Rice and the Rothko chapel - where these pictures are from.

Barnett Newman's Broken Obelisk at Rothko Chapel

Ginger cat with Bluejay

(shortly after, the bluejay got loose and flew straight towards us. We thought it was dead and it really gave us a start. But we were glad that we didn't get to watch it get eaten!)

merit of tinokos shel beis raban??!

2010-11-30T17:51:00.008-05:00

Went for the weekend to pick up my mail- and I received a letter from these guys.

The gist of the letter is really something that can't be described, so I copied it from their website:

"Our Torah leaders have recognized the increase in worldwide travel accidents. That's why they are so enthusiastic about this powerful, protective measure: Shemirah Bidrachim - Protection on the Road.

In this revolutionary initiative, thousands of people just like you are protecting themselves with an effective method that has proven itself throughout our history: the merit of pure Jewish children whose prayers and Torah study keep the world in existence

To quote Hagaon Harav Shmuel Halevi Wosner, shlita, "The pure and holy prayers of Jewish children have the ability to cease the casualties of vehicle mishaps!"

For just a few pennies a day, you too can gain this protection for yourself and your family.

In exchange for a contribution made to the Ashdod Mercaz Chinuch Project, the pupils will study and recite pirkei tehilim daily, and entreat G-d to protect and save the insured from any trouble and distress and lead him toward peace, emplace his footsteps toward peace, and have him reach his desired destination for life, gladness and peace, and send blessing and success in all his endeavors, wherever he may turn."

Seriously?! This raises a number of questions:

How did I get on your mailing list? (no idea)
Will they insure females, or since they should be at home anyway, they won't be covered?
Who takes this seriously? (from their website, Rav Eliyashiv, Ovadya Yosef and others)
Do people buy this? (at least a couple people with a faulty sense of logic)
Are they aware that their claim that the prayers of children studying torah might not work?

Apparently so, their website includes the following disclaimer:

This agreement is a spiritual agreement! It does not constitute any grounds for the Insured to claim money from the Ashdod Mercaz Chinuch Project.

I guess the prayers of tinokos shel beis raban are not as effective at protecting against lawsuits.

Levantine Pizza Roll

2010-06-23T18:24:00.004-04:00

-conceived and cooked by Tim.

Ingredients:
1 laffa (now available at Fairway)
olive oil
fresh mozzarella
zatar

Method:

Preheat oven to ~400 F
Brush laffa with olive oil
Place thin slices of mozzarella on laffa
Sprinkle with zatar
Bake in oven until cheese is melted but not brown
Carefully roll laffa
Hold for a few moments so it sticks together
Slice into three inch peices and serve

It looks something like this shortly after it's finished cooking:

Day at the Beach

2010-06-14T20:49:00.002-04:00

A couple of photos taken at Jones Beach, LI

Philadelphia 5. 2010

2010-05-30T21:04:00.000-04:00

Springtime in New York

2010-04-20T20:50:00.005-04:00

Taken in Riverside Park in the low 90's

Taken at W95th and Riverside Dr.

Parhsat Vaera- 5770

2010-01-16T18:29:00.003-05:00

Shabbat Shalom.
Parshat Vaera opens with these words:

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ וָאֵרָ֗א אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶל־יִצְחָ֥ק וְאֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב בְּאֵ֣ל שַׁדָּ֑י וּשְׁמִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לֹ֥א נֹודַ֖עְתִּ לָהֶֽם׃

"G-d Spoke to Moses and said to him "I am Hashem, I appeared to Abraham, Issac and Jacob as El Shaddai, but I did not make Myself known to them by my name Hashem..."

If you are not following the saga closely, you might think that Moses is standing with his shoes off at the burning bush, and G-d is trying to persuade him to return to Egypt and save his people. You might not be aware that the dialog at the burning bush took place last week and that Moses has since packed up his shepherding robes and staff and headed to Egypt. Moses has convinced the leadership of Israel that he has been sent by G-d and has already broached the topic of freeing the Israelites with Pharoah, but Pharoah replied by making circumstances harder for the people. Moses has just experienced his first letdown, his first moment of doubt.

This puzzles me. Moshe is often touted as an example of leadership. He has received direct revelation from G-d and surely must has a sense of mission. Yet, after the first setback, Moshe comes back to G-d dejected asking:

"למה הרעתה לעם הזה, למה זה שלחתני, ומאז באתי אל פרעה לדבר בשמך הרע לעם הזה והצל לא הצלת את עמך"

Why did you bring harm upon this people? Why did you send me? Ever since I

came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name he has dealt worse with this people and still You have not delivered Your people?

Has Moshe forgotten the revelation at the burning bush? Has he lost faith in G-d's omnipotence? What is the source of his doubt and why express it now?

This doubt might be explained by the Ramban who writes that Moshe thought he was being brought in to do a quick job. Go down to Egypt and tell Pharoah to let the Jews go. Moses does not expect it to be simple, but he does expect G-d's miracles and plagues to occur in quick succession. That immediately after pharaoh says that he does not know G-d, G-d demonstrates ultimate power and would set the record straight. Moses is expecting his return to Egypt to trigger a rapid series of events that result in Bnai Yisrael leaving Egypt.

Though at first glance it does seem strange for Moshe to react in this way... I identify with him. I too want immediate gratification. When I work up the courage to do something about a bad situation I want to see the effect immediately. Is this not what we all want, when we finally decide to help others or to counteract injustice would it not be great to know that it was our involvement that made the difference?

Though of course we all know that the world is more complex, and that such things are never easy, we often act as if this is so. What does it take to convince us to write a letter to our representatives, or to give צדקה? Though at times we may feel inspired, the feeling passes and we move on, knowing that we haven't solved the problem, and living the same way that we did before we were aware of the cause..

In some ways, we have to do this, We can't continue to exist if we have horrific images of death and destruction in our head all the time. The pictures and stories coming out of Haiti are horrible. But we've seen pictures like this before, an earthquake in Sichuan, a Tsunami in 2004. They made their impact at the time, but each disaster surprises us anew. How can we engage with such experiences and continue living our lives?

Perhaps an answer to this question can be found in Shmot Rabba (3:1): Rabbi Yehoshua HaKohen bar nehemia: When G-d appeared to Moshe, Moshe was a novice at prophecy. God said: if I reveal msyself in a loud voice, I'll scare him, if I speak in a soft voice, he won't take the prophecy seriously.

This is how I feel, when I hear that "loud voice." When tragedy strikes, I am scared and put off, and I think that no matter what I do, it won't make a difference. There is so much destruction and despair and so maybe I do something symbolic and give away an amount of money that I won't miss, and move on with my life.

When it is a "soft voice" calling, I find it all too easy not to listen. There are so many competing causes that vie for my attention, that the quieter ones don't just stand a chance.

The midrash ends in the following way: What did G-d do? G-d chose to use the voice of Moses' father. And Moshe responds.

This is the key.

Family has an immediacy to which it is easier to relate. It is a call to action that seems to work. In a time of need, it helps to find a personal connection and perhaps offers us the chance to really be moved by what we see. What immediate connection might we find to an earthquake miles away? Each of us might have a different answer. Each of us has a different point of connection.

Moshe responds to the voice of his father and learns that he has been tasked with saving his people. He dutifully sets off, but even he is overwhelmed with the size of the task. Throughout the rest of the story he returns to G-d for further support and encouragement ultimately fulfilling his life's mission.

And so it is with us.
Even when we are able to connect personally to tragedy, and we start on a path towards action, we need further encouragement and a continued source of support to face the task at hand.

May we be like Moshe, finding that connection and seeking the support and encouragement to truly make a difference in this world.

(Given at Kehilat Hadar, January 2010)

A few more pictures from California

2010-01-05T21:30:00.002-05:00

View from our hotel window

Golden Gate Bridge in the fog (this was taken in color)

Tide Pools at Moss Beach in Sunset

San Francisco Day 1

2009-12-31T13:19:00.001-05:00

Church of St. Peter and Paul

Anna's Hummingbird near Coit Tower

The view that made Tim dizzy

Misc pictures from last few days

2009-12-29T23:27:00.001-05:00

Long Nose Common Dolphin- Monterrey Bay

Mission San Carlos Borromeo

Lonely Cyprus- 17 mile drive

View off of CA Hwy 9

Sea Lions in Monterey Bay

2009-12-28T23:35:00.000-05:00

There were many of them

Monterey

2009-12-28T01:25:00.003-05:00

A few pictures from Monterey

Harbor seals in Monterey Bay

Jellyfish in Monterey Aquarium

Sea Dragon in Monterey Aquarium

Barnacles looking for plankton in Monterey Aquarium

Anemones in Monterey Aquarium

Central part of PCH

2009-12-24T23:31:00.002-05:00

California ground squirrel- Morro Bay

Elephant seals

Elephant Seals fighting

California Condor

Red Tailed Hawk

View from trail at Point Lobos

California vacation

2009-12-24T00:28:00.002-05:00

For those who are following, here's a few quick pictures from the last couple of days:

Ocean at Santa Monica

Pelican at Santa Monica

Sunset at Santa Monica

Monarch Butterflies at Pismo Beach

More Monarchs- in Eucalyptus

Skipping Stones at Sunset (Pismo Beach)

Sunset at Pismo Beach

Defensiveness

2009-12-21T11:53:00.002-05:00

After checking in for our flight we decided to davan at the synagogue in our terminal. JFK is strange in that it has separate chapels for different religions. I hadn't seen this before. To be honest, I think I might be more comfortable doing my airport davaning in a space that is not dedicated only to Jews. This eliminates the problem of someone else thinking that they have any right to be judgmental about my observances. Also, the room looks like a shul, complete with mehitza. You can see pictures here. This doesn't bother me when I don't have to stand behind it, but as I walked towards the end of the hallway where the synagogue was, it became clear that also headed in the same direction was a haredi gentleman, who was headed to the same place.

Uh Oh.

We got there first and we proceeded to do our thing. The haredi enters and quickly figures out that A Girl Is Wearing Tefilin!!!.

Uh Oh.

Actually he says hello and is just curious. He has never heard of this, let alone seen it. He asks if he can take pictures. I sigh and reluctantly say okay.
His English is weak and he asks if we speak Hebrew. I answer in the affirmative and the conversation switches to Hebrew.

He's from Bnai Brak, and his mind is spinning, trying to process what is happening.
-Are we Reform?
No Conservative.
-Do we keep halakhah?
Yes.
-Everything?
Yes shabbat and kashrut and everything.
-You don't eat milk and meat together? You keep the rules of family purity?
Yes... everything.
-And you put on tefilin?
Every day... well except for shabbat.

He tells me that his wife is careful to davan three times a day, and actually seems to be quite understanding about women taking on extra mitzvot.

-So how are you different from Orthodox?
Well, we're egalitarian.
-Apart from that?
Well, we tend to rely on leniencies in halakhah from time to time... (I hadn't had this converstion in a while, so I did not answer as articulately as I would have liked).
-So do you follow the shulkhan arukh?
Yes, most of the time. Except for places where we don't.
-Do you have other books that you use?
Yes, we have teshuvot and other codes.

I start to davan, and soon he comes over to interrupt and ask:
-Wait, so you wouldn't say the blessing that thanks G-d for not making you a woman?
No I don't. I use a different liturgy (and start to explain the historical origin of the positive brakhot).

He stops me. He's just trying to figure out how this works. If Judaism doesn't have to be the way he is familiar with, what has to change and what has to stay the same?

-Are there communities of people like you?
Yes, the shul that I go to gets 150 people regularly.

He asks if we have a problem with assimilation and intermarriage. I answer honestly that intermarriage isn't generally accepted in the community, but some people do it, and not everyone observes kashrut and shabbat the way that I do.

Throughout the entire exchange he was pleasant. Smiling and not mocking. His questions were genuine and not antagonistic. In fact, much of the time he was unhappy with my answers not for the content, but because I was being defensive- like I had something to prove.

Walking away I was relieved but also sad. I used to be able to have these conversations without being defensive, without preconception for the way that others would react to me.

I'd like to get back to that. I'm glad to be wrong in the way that I think of haredim. I hope that when I run into other haredim, I will be able to assume they are as open-minded as this man. Reading the radicalization of Jerusalem in the press has had an impact on me. Clearly there is no substitute for face to face encounters.

Omens

2009-12-21T11:27:00.003-05:00

When I called for a car service to the airport last night, I was told by the Carmel dispatcher that they were all booked up. The only thing I could think to say in reply was: "For real?". "For real," was his reply, and it was the same story with Dial 7. I didn't even know that those car services could be booked up.

This didn't bode well, nor did the fact that there had been serious delays the last two days. With snow on the ground and an early departure planned, we didn't want to worry about catching a cab and possibly getting stuck in traffic. So we planned to take the train at 7, meaning a 5:45 AM wakeup.

We planned ahead and packed as much as we could last night. This morning, I actually woke up before my alarm, and everything went smoothly. Caught the trains right away, saw a beautiful sunset and a lovely view of NYC with the sun on the buildings against a dark sky.

The LIRR to Airtrain system is great. No worrying about catching a cab or sitting in traffic watching the clock until you know that you will not make your flight (this has happened to me.) It is actually quite pleasurable and smooth.

Despite my concerns, the terminal was not crowded (though there were many people sleeping on benches who probably had not been able to secure hotels last night). It was simple to drop off our bag. The security line was quick, and all went well.

Hopefully this is an indication of adventures to come.
Will try to keep up with posting...

Snow in NY!

2009-12-20T01:23:00.001-05:00

Just trudged back through the snow from a friend's birthday party. (We had a lovely time.)

Arrived in the apartment to find:

and

and

Funny thing is we live on the 4th floor.
Guess it's time for vacation.

Shame on Switzerland

2009-11-29T10:22:00.004-05:00

Top of the news this morning- a referendum in Switzerland on whether to ban building new minarets- and the exit polls seem to be projecting that this measure might pass:
BBC
MSNBC
This is an initiative of the Swiss People's Party which aims to "stop Switzerland from turning into an Islamic nation". But it calls to mind the medieval restrictions on the height of synagogues. In many countries both Christian and Muslim, synagogues were not allowed to be built higher than other religious structures. This was a part of other religious persecutions that happened in many of the same communities which included restrictions on where Jews could live, what clothes they could wear, and sometimes what jobs they could take.

Restricting anyone from building a religious building is bad news. Feel free to make terrorism, hate crimes, and inciting violence illegal, but leave people to worship in peace. Religious repression doesn't work and opens the door to further hatred and bigotry, and that's something that most of Europe should have figured out by now. I'm disappointed to see that the residents of Switzerland can be so easily swept up in racist nationalism. I hope that history has taught them a few lessons since medieval times, or at least since WWII, but I fear that fear mongering and bigotry have once again reared their ugly head.

New York Botanical Gardens

2009-11-02T08:01:00.000-05:00

Jenn and I took a trip to play with our cameras.

In this photo below, I was struck by the color of these berries, and was learning how to configure fstop.

This one makes the boulder seem more interesting than it did in real life

I wonder what the squirrel is thinking...

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

2009-10-25T22:00:00.001-04:00

Check out the zoom on this new camera.

Thanks Tim!

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

2009-10-22T22:01:00.002-04:00

A trip to visit my parents and a new camera made for a constructive combination...
anyone have any ideas what kind of bird is above?

I caught this one just at the right moment.

One legged glossy ibis

a helpful map

2009-10-13T21:23:00.002-04:00

Not enough chocolate chips in the house to make cookies, so we look up Dunkin Donuts to see if they were still open. I came across this helpful map.

Why would one set the default setting in this way?

I don't heart NY

2009-08-21T16:43:00.006-04:00

Had one of those moments today; a counterpoint to my normal happiness living on the UWS.

Left work early, and thought I'd walk home despite the ominous grey clouds.
I stopped in to Morton Williams to buy canned chick peas, but they only had ones in sauce, and I'm rushing to get home before the rain, so I don't look too carefully.

Continuing my walk, I felt the drizzle start and heard thunder. But I caught a bus almost immediately. A few blocks later the skies open up, and I'm grateful that I caught the bus when I did.

The bus stops to let in a woman in a walker. Only after she gets on the bus, the electric lift won't fold up again. The driver spends at least 5 minutes trying to get it to fold up, the whole while an annoying beep is sounding informing us that the lift is closing. Or trying to.

The lift finally closes and we are on our way. I get off at 97th street to stop in Gourmet Garage for the can of chick peas. They only have non hekshered (both regular and organic), so it is back into the rain to try Gristedes.

Before I even get in the door I can see two police officers there and a man lying on the ground. One officer opens the door for me and I ask if I can come in. "Sure," he says, "he's only resting." I step over the handcuffed man and resume quest for can of chick peas. I'm glad he didn't kick me, and I wonder in what why they don't just direct people to the other door or at least put the arrested man somewhere that isn't in my way.

Finally! Success. I have located kosher, overpriced chick peas. I get in the too long line to wait to overpay.

The line would be moving faster, if only the cashiers were working instead of watching the crazy guy get arrested. He's cursing now and calling the cops other unpleasant things.
Finally it is my turn to pay. I leave the store, step over a huge puddle and get drenched heading home, where.... the elevator is still broken.

Walking up the stairs I think to myself:

NY- we're in a fight. You better make it up to me.

Audioguide Travel Tips

2009-06-26T03:26:00.003-04:00

I discovered quite by accident two tips which served us well on this last trip to Rome, and saved us money.

The first is to search the iTunes store and the web for free audioguide downloads for the sights that we were going to see. Not all audioguides are created equal, and there is the disadvantage that they don't corrispond to the numbers posted on the site, and they don't come with a map (usually) but, they are often given by tour guides who do give tours at that location, and they are often more brief and give more interesting and relevant information. Also, sometimes free audioguides cover places that don't have official ones. We found free audioguides for the Colloseum, Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, Fountain of Trevi, and the Pantheon.

The second is, in places where we couldn't find a free audioguide, we realized that many of had a place to plug in headphones and we had purchased a stereo splitter for us to listen to my ipod together. So we did the same thing, plug in splitter and two sets of headphones and have two people listen to one audioguide. For some sites, it probably helped that we have noise-isolating headphones, otherwise it might hav ebeen difficult to hear. One implication of all of this is that you have to stick close together. This isn't a problem for us as we like being able to discuss what is talked about, so we found it a good thing to be listening to the same thing at the same time.

Happy traveling

Cats

2009-04-28T22:09:00.002-04:00

(This post was initiated by my organizing my pictures on my computer. I haven't been to Israel recently, but I thought in honor of Independence Day, I'd post something relevant.)

When I was in Israel, I came up with the idea of taking pictures of cats. This is not because I am a cat person. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a dog person either. But I've always looked at those calendars with cute cats and kittens on them and wondered at the disparity between what they depicted and the cats I've seen in real life. After living in Israel, I can certainly say that no Israeli cats would have ever been depicted on a calendar. And thus was born the hobby of taking pictures of cats as they appear to me.

As a sample of this I will post the follow picture that was taken in Yaffo:

Note the fish skeleton and the dead fish smeared on the cat's nose. And can't you see that expression on the cats face? I think it's saying: "One more picture of me and I'll scratch your eyeballs out." I know, adorable right?

The Kashrut of Swine Flu

2009-04-27T09:41:00.005-04:00

Israel must call new disease Mexico Flu, as swine unkosher
Come on Yakov Litzman. You're Israel's Deputy Health Minister. Shouldn't you know that you get swine flu from being near live pigs. Why are you bringing kashrut into this?

Besides, don't you have other things on your mind at the moment rather than semantics? Perhaps you might spend your time containing a potentially fatal global outbreak and protecting the health of your citizens. Or did you think that if you rename the disease "Mexico Flu" it would realize that it wouldn't feel comfortable in your country and would go and infect a different region? Or were you simply not thinking?

My taxes at work

2009-04-26T20:13:00.002-04:00

There was a street fair this morning. We were walking along and heard and then saw a fire truck. Then another, and then another. Obviously something was wrong. As we walked along, we saw the people around up start to stop and look up. An apartment on 100th and Broadway had caught fire. There were flames shooting from the windows.

There were already at least 5 fire engines at the scene and more were pulling up. Then came the ambulances. Hopefully they were just there as a precaution.

By this point there was a crowd gathering around, and everyone was watching. It wasn't so much gawking. There was a palpable sense of concern from those watching. We watched as the fire trucks put up their ladders to try and reach the floor where the fire was.

We could see debris falling from the window and water shooting out the window and dripping out the other side of the building. A few windows blew out, and smoke started coming out other windows.

Soon the smoke changed to white, which I remember hearing somewhere that it means that the fire is no longer burning stuff, but is steam from a fire being put out. Below you can see the building and the white smoke, and the top of the street fair.

Eventually the smoke clears and we see fire fighters sticking their heads out the windows. The original window is gutted and the facade is burnt, or at least covered in soot.

Throughout the whole time, my thoughts wandered between the hope that there was no on inside the building and that the owners and neighbors had insurance. I was also so appreciative that New York is a city where there is a great fire department, and amazed at the courage that it must take for a person to run into a burning building. What I can say is that the firefighters we saw on the street afterward certainly looked heroic.

I've been looking on the web for details of what happened. How did the fire start, and if anyone was hurt, but so far, I haven't found anything yet. I'll post an update if I find anything.

esitmations are supposed to mean something

2009-04-25T21:23:00.006-04:00

I bought a book for a friend's birthday. It shipped April 24th. Currently UPS shows it as being in New York, NY. Yet for some reason, the estimated arrival date is May 12th.

Umm... isn't the point of estimating to give you an idea of when the package will arrive. And if it will really take more than two weeks for a package that is already in the city to reach me... I don't even know what to say to that. Even if you only make right handed turns, a shipping company should still be able to deliver within the city in less than two weeks!

***Update: according to UPS.com, the package was delivered to my apartment today (4/27). No idea why they couldn't predict that on Friday.***

Fare tracking

2009-04-24T11:26:00.002-04:00

Starting to plan our summer, though it is a bit difficult still not knowing where we'll be at the end of it, or when we'll be starting work. Stay tuned for more details on that front.

In the meanwhile, as a public service to others who are also making travel plans, here are two websites that are worth knowing about. Both of these track the data of the cost of flights and hotels.

Farecast will give you a prediction about whether the price of a domestic ticket will rise or fall. I have used it successfully to wait to buy tickets, or to comfort me that the price that I was paying was not likely to go any lower. Yapta will track a specific flight and email you when there is a deal, or if after youv'e bought it, the price drops enough to make you eligable for a voucher. It also can track flights that you can use for frequent flyer awards. I haven't used Yapta much yet, but it seems useful.

When I've made my travel plans, I'll get the word out, and will be in touch with those who live in proximity enough to make visiting reasonable. Meanwhile, hope you find these sites useful...

Fern

2009-04-23T10:31:00.002-04:00

I've been going through my old pictures, and editing them.

I found this picture I took of a fern at the Brooklyn Botanical garden in May last year.

I think it is a pretty good photo.

Maybe when I'm done with school, I'll have more time for amateur photography. It's something that I really enjoy.

NY subway time maps

2009-04-22T11:00:00.001-04:00

Another reason why facebook is amazing is because I found out about this:
http://www.triptropnyc.com/

You can put in your address and it will create a map to show you how long it will take you to reach destination, or any destination in the city. It is pretty cool, check it out...

(hat tip to Alan B.- who always seems to know about any exciting map news...)

Possible explanation for why mourners don't wear shoes...

2009-04-21T20:55:00.002-04:00

Went to a funeral today. Father of a family friend... these things happen. Everyone did a nice job of shoveling in the grave, no easy task because it had been raining for days and most of it was waterlogged clay. I find it ironic that people dress up in nice suits and such for a funeral, and then end up getting mud all over their pants and shoes. I suppose it does honor the deceased, but would they be less honored if people wore khaki and work boots? It sure would be much more conveinent.

When we got to the shiva house, there was no way I was taking my shoes and half the cemetery inside with me. So I took of my shoes and left them outside the front door. As did pretty much everyone who came in after me. After a while of hanging in the shiva home with no one wearing shoes, it occurs to me that this could be the origin of the custom of mourners:

Family members got dirty while digging out the grave, and so when they came back home they removed their shoes. And there was no need to put them back on for the rest of the week because they did not go outside.

bored of flowers

2009-04-19T21:00:00.003-04:00

I went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens today. The weather was lovely and some of the cherry blossoms were out. But it was hard to take pictures because there were so many other people taking pictures who kept wandering into my shots. This setting presented me with the perfect opportunity to take pictures of people that I don't know, as there was so much to look at, that one would surely assume that I was taking a picture of something else. Having an excuse is crucial because usually I can't bring myself to take pictures of people I don't know.

Enjoy the slides, you might even notice that there are some flowers in the background.

NYtimes

2009-04-05T06:20:00.000-04:00

Ok. I'll admit that I'm a bit biased, as I'm related to a web developer at the Times. Like the new Global Edition? That's his project. Very exciting, though I hear something even more exciting is in the works.

But for the moment, the best Times feature is the Article Skimmer. Go ahead, try it out. It is like reading the Sunday paper, only without the pain of trying to figure out how to keep refolding the pages. Oh, and of course it is free. Unlike the regular NYtimes homepage, you can find what you're looking for, and decide if you are interested in the article without having to read the whole thing or scroll through clutter.

So go ahead, get yourself a cup of coffee or some breakfast and read the paper. Let me know what you think, and if you like it, tell your friends.

Question?

2009-04-01T14:34:00.002-04:00

Why is the Queen carrying her handbag on her arm when she is at home? Do you think she does that when the Obamas aren't visiting as well? Just wondering...

Tim as the Electoral College

2008-11-03T19:24:00.003-05:00

If Tim's sheer presence in a state is any indication, then, according to the NYtimes' map widget, Obama will win in a landslide:

Uncolored states are ones that he's interested in visiting...

Here's to hoping.

Protection of Marriage?!

2008-10-12T23:32:00.002-04:00

I just opened my Florida absentee ballot and was surprised to discover that there is a protection of marriage amendment in it. What?!

How is this even up for discussion or dispute?

Instead, can't the State of Florida invest its effort on making sure that voting machines are reliably working and that my vote will be counted?

America is showing her age

2008-08-10T12:25:00.000-04:00

First a major arch collapses in Arches National Park,
Then a 'witness tree' falls on the Gettysburg battlefield.

The USA is just falling apart.

It is amazing to me how much we simply take natural objects for granted. Old trees, stone arches, etc... they all have to fall down at one time or another. Yet we often never think about these things falling apart. Until they do.

Danger- we mean it:

2008-05-26T16:21:00.002-04:00

The following sign was seen on the baggage claim belt at La Guardia airport:

I think what really makes the sign is the droplets of blood. But even worse, I'm not convinced that this is an accurate representation of what having your fingers severed by a baggage claim belt would look like. Maybe when La Guardia airport updates their signs they'll consider using an accurate photograph.

Or maybe this sort of thing is better left to the imagination

The president's crib

2008-05-11T20:55:00.003-04:00

On the White House webpage President George W. Bush gives a tour of the oval office (see link on right). It seems that he was under the impression that this video was to be edited, otherwise I can't think of an explanation for why he repeats and rephrases many of his introductions to the paintings and artwork in his office.

An interesting way to procrastinate writing final essays for almost 8 minutes, and very informative about the artistic choices of our president.

Coincidence?

2008-05-07T11:35:00.005-04:00

This poster advertising a movie is hanging in Penn Station. I walk by it on the way to the train for my internship.

And every time I see this freakish hand reaching up to the sky, I'm reminded that I've seen this image before, in real life...

This is the holocaust memorial in Miami Beach, Florida. I remember going here while an elementary student and being totally freaked out. I wonder if anyone associated with the movie had a similar experience. Can two such similar things actually be arrived at independently?

The Nature Conservancy- hey guys, maybe you should start by conserving paper

2008-04-14T21:01:00.002-04:00

Just a few days ago, I criticized the Sierra Club for sending me an excessive amount of paper in order to encourage me to join their organization. It seems that they are not alone. Just today, the Nature Conservancy sent me the following letter:

I suppose I should at least give the Nature Conservancey credit, after all, a significant part of the contents of their envelope was relatively 'useful.' Yet, somehow, I doubt I will even live in this apartment long enough to get through all of those address labels. And, you never know, maybe one day those stickers of jaguars and cougars might prove useful.

In the meanwhile, my only recourse is feeling pleasure in putting the contents of such solicitations in the recycle bin. At least I'm doing my part in helping to save the planet. I wish environmental organzations would do the same.

Black River Trail, NJ

2008-04-13T20:08:00.001-04:00

Despite weather.com's threatening that it would rain, we elected to hike anyway. This was also possibly due to the fact that one cannot cancel a Zipcar reservation the morning of...

Cloudy conditions meant that there were no amazing photographs to share, except one:

Seeing as this bathtub has no legs, I have no idea how it got here. Though not impossibly far from civilization, there are much more interesting things to do in the area than shlep rusty, moldy tubs all over the hillside. I suppose I ought to be generous and assume that it is for this very same reason that those responsible for maintaining the trail have not shleped it away.

In summary, though in the city the magnolia are blossoming, on the Black river trail it is still winter. It was nice to get out and take a walk, but (and perhaps this was just due to the time of year) this seemed like a one-time-only-trail. Fortunately, there are still 59 more trails within 60 miles of NYC to explore. Hopefully by the next time we set out, it will actually be spring.

Save the polar bears at the expense of the trees

2008-04-10T19:58:00.003-04:00

So the Sierra Club send me a mailing, they want me to join, and to sign a petition to save the polar bears. As you can see, there were a total of 13 pieces of paper that came in that mailing...

One would think that an organization that considers itself to be environmental would take more care not to be so wasteful.

On the other hand, they (mostly) did print double sided.

"Hell" from the Catholic Encyclopeida

2008-03-27T20:25:00.003-04:00

I've recently come across this gem from the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913):

"The existence of hell is, of course, denied by all those who deny the existence of God or the immortality of the soul. Thus among the Jew the Sadducees, among the Gnostics, the Seleucians, and in our own time Materialists, Pantheists, etc., deny the existence of hell. But apart from these, if we abstract from the eternity of the pains of hell, the doctrine has never met any opposition worthy of mention."

I wouldn't have framed my beliefs as an "opposition" to hell, though now that they mention it, I do think that eternal damnation is an idea that could use some improvement...

Green Card Application

2008-02-28T12:32:00.001-05:00

This somewhat explains my lack of blogging recently:

Next up: Wedding album.
Have to have something to take to the interview...

I heart NY

2007-11-25T14:05:00.000-05:00

Went to Duane Reade to buy a toothbrush, and found a shelf of channukah candles, chanukiot, gelt, and dreydle themed potholders.

What? I thought that the drug store carrying Judaica supplies was an "only in Israel" type of thing. For a split second I was very confused. What's next? Am I going to have to push my way to the front of a line only to be "helped" by a cashier who has no change?

But thankfully, I'm in New York. And I've never been so pleased to wait on line in my entire life.

P.S. candles at Duane Reade cost $4.95- the nice ones that burn for an hour. Or get them starting at $10 and up at your local Judaica retailer.

Did you know?

2007-11-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

The refrigerator repair person came today. He was totally useless, except for the fact that I found out that ice can sublimate. Wikipedia confirms it so it must be a fact.

Meanwhile, he has no explanation for why there is the intermittent problem of stuff in the freezer not being frozen.

At least his visit to this apartment wasn't a total waste. Anyhow, I suspect he (or hopefully someone more useful) will be back.

Soft Foods

2007-11-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ice cream (preferably Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie)
Scrambled eggs (with cheese)
Oatmeal (apple cinnamon)
Couscous in vegetable stock
Bananas
Red lentil dal with basmati rice
Thin spaghetti (Barilla plus)
Mushroom Risotto

stay tuned as I bravely experiment with the consistency of other food items

peas

2007-08-28T17:01:00.000-04:00

A fact that I came across that was just begging to be shared:

"The oldest pea ever found was nearly 3,000 years old and discovered on the border of Burma and Thailand." peas.org

arm wrestling recall

2007-08-21T17:44:00.000-04:00

This just in from the BBC:

Japan recalls arm wrestling game

A Japanese arm wrestling game is being withdrawn from arcades across the country after three players broke their arms, company officials said.

Arm Spirit, which is distributed by Atlus, is to be removed from 150 game emporiums as "a precaution".

"We think that maybe some players get over-excited and twist their arms in an unnatural way," a spokesman said.

An investigation has been launched into the incidents and the machines are being checked for any malfunctions.

"The machine isn't that strong, much less so than a muscular man. Even women should be able to beat it," company spokesman Ayano Sakiyama told AP news agency.

Arm Spirit gamers advance through 10 levels, pitting their strength against a French maid, a drunken martial arts master and a Chihuahua dog before reaching the final challenge - a professional wrestler.

It is not available outside Japan.

---
"Even a woman should be able to beat it"? Who talks like that anymore? And who thought that arm wrestling a machine would be entertaining? Talk about contrived. It wouldn't take much effort to design a machine that was stronger than any human. In fact, this has already been done. Who wants to try out their wresting skills against a bulldozer? Anyone? How about a wrecking ball?

If I worked for Atlus, I'd recall the game too, not becuase its dangerous, but because it's stupid.

hedgehogs

2007-08-13T17:43:00.000-04:00

To be honest, I haven't given much thought to hedgehogs over the past few years. Once, Tim told me that he saw one, and once I confused one with a gopher. But then this article crosses my eye:

Teens use hedgehog as hurley ball

By Bryce McGarel
BBC News

The hedgehog, pictured here, lost an eye as a result of the incident

A group of youths who used a hedgehog as a ball during a hurley game in a Ballymena car park have been condemned by an animal charity.

The hedgehog was rescued by a woman who saw the group of 10 to 15 teenagers hitting the animal with hurley sticks in the car park in the Dunvale area.

The animal, which is being looked after at the Happy Hedgehog Rescue Centre in Belfast, lost an eye in the incident.

Nigel Reavy from the centre said he was "totally aghast" at the attack.

"From what the woman told us we are surprised that the animal is still alive," he said.

"We get some hedgehogs which are badly injured in road collisions, but to think this was done deliberately is horrific."

Mr Reavy said that because of its injuries the animal, which has been named Harry, will not be able to be released back into its natural environment once it recovers.

"The animal will be too vulnerable to be returned to the wild, so the best we can do for it is return it to an enclosed garden where it can be looked after," he said.

Police have appealed for anyone with information concerning the incident, which took place at about 2300 BST on 3 August, to contact them.

---------
And though there must be some pretty sick kids in Belfast to torture animals like that, the main thought that crossed through my mind as I read this article was:

Belfast has a Happy Hedgehog Rescue Centre? That's random? Does each small mammal have its own organization or is it hedgehogs in particular?
Hmm....

A good thing about living in a pre-war building

2007-07-15T15:25:00.000-04:00

In my recent adventures, I've spent a week each in four cities on three continents, and haven't had much time or energy for sitting with my computer. Now that I am getting settled, I'll try to be more vigilant about posting.

Mostly I've spent the past week furnishing what is soon to be "our apartment." This is the view from our window:

Apart from a lovely tree (a rarity in NY) we also noticed the above sign adorning our fire escape. For those too lazy to enlarge by clicking let me transcrbe:

NOTICE
ANYONE PLACING ANY ENCUM
BRANCE ON THIS BALCONY
WILL BE FINED TEN DOLLARS

While I am thankful to the city of NY for ensuring that me and my neighbors are able to make an unencumbered exit on the fire escape in the unlikely event of a fire, it concerns me that neither the sign nor the fire escape has been updated since $10 was considered enough of a sum to deter someone from encumbering an escape. Though I'm sure (read: hoping) the fine has since changed with inflation, I'd be more reassured if the fire escape wasn't visibly rusting away before my very eyes.

Nevertheless, it is quite quant.

United Jerusalem?

2007-05-16T16:49:00.001-04:00

I can't let today go by without recording my ambivalence with respect to the celebrations taking place in Jerusalem. The signs posted by the municipality proclaim that the celebrations are to mark "40 years of a united Jerusalem."

This is a farce. How can we claim that Jerusalem in united when a wall/fence is being built though it in order to exclude the inhabitants? How can we celebrate unity when half the population doesn't vote? Since when is a city whose inhabitants still do not cross the from the West to the East or the East to the West called unified?

I hope that one day, in the not too distant future there will be celebrations in Jerusalem describing actual unity between all the inhabitants of this "holy" city. On that day, there will be real cause for celebration.

Good ol' America

2007-05-13T11:41:00.000-04:00

I'm back from my last excursion across the Atlantic. My time there, as well as this past weekend enabled me to reflect on things that I forgot I missed about America:
-Ben and Jerry's ice cream (from the store)
-customer service
-toasted challah with cream cheese
-clean public restrooms
-sunday mornings with no school
-hotel rooms with those curved shower curtain bar things
-people who pick up after their dogs
-Florida sunshine
-my family

only 37 more days in Israel!

stupidest street sign ever

2007-04-23T01:48:00.001-04:00

Walking home from school a week ago I saw this sign:

"Our beloved cat, cheetah has disappeared.
We would be very very appreciative if you would help us to find her
A financial prize in the amount of 1500 NIS to who finds cheetah... Call day or night..."

First of all, why would anyone own a cat in Jerusalem. Haven't you all had enough of the feral garbage bin cats? But even though no doubt some of you readers will comment on the redeeming nature of cats as pets, how would any Jerusalemite know if X cat on the street is beloved cheetah.

Second: who names a pet cat cheetah? You live in Jerusalem which is not quite in Africa.

Third: who pays 368.125261 USD for the return of their cat? Maybe cheetah was a miracle cat, but your best chance of getting your cat back is to describe their miracle qualities in the poster. Perhaps then people might bother looking.

In a similar vein, it was brought to my attention that there exists a "Jerusalem society for the protection of street cats". Why? I have no idea. In doing a small amount of research I found out that there is in fact a website for the "Cat welfare society of Israel" be sure to visit the poems and haikus section. There you can also buy a shirt "I helped save a holy cat". Which is good because I needed more T-shirts. More amusements (albeit unintentional) there, go see for yourself.

And to be honest, I'm not sure I'd actually prefer cats to mice. True they don't live in the walls of your building, but they also don't tear apart garbage bins and scream, fight and mate all night long. And you can't buy a cat trap in your local hardware store...

But... feel free to come to the holy city of Jerusalem and make your own decision regarding street cats.

I've been here too long

2007-04-01T02:29:00.000-04:00

I was wearing a black zippered sweater, grey cargo pants and open toe Naot sandals. It was in the 40's and pouring and I was waiting for the bus. I was feeling stupid for not having the appropriate clothing for the weather, but mostly I was cold and wet.

No longer could I feel contempt for those young Israelis who seem to think that a sweatshirt and a raincoat serve the same function. They are usually seen waiting at bus stops or running down the street as if their clothes weren't already soaked through. Seeing such creatures makes me wonder if the raincoat or umbrella will ever make it to this Mediterranean country. The answer to this, only time will tell.

But I have now joined the ranks of many Israelis, and am no longer allowed to laugh at their misfortune. On top of this to add insult to injury, I later found myself walking home wearing socks and sandals.

I've been in Israel WAY too long.

Tiyul Troubles

2007-03-22T03:06:00.000-04:00

Today was supposed to be a tiyul to Yad Va'shem. We had been told about this "mandatory" tiyul over a month ago and so I had today marked in my calendar for it. Unfortunately, due to some sort of misunderstanding, we won't be able to take our private guide into Yad Va'shem. Apparently they told our guide this a month ago, but he somehow left the meeting with the impression that things were all set. I'm not quite sure how two people leave the same meeting with opposite conclusions, but I guess you had to be there.

What appears to be at issue is the policy at Yad va'Shem that says that groups to the museum have to use their guides. This makes sense to me, and I can see why a museum wouldn't be so happy for groups to bring their own guides, especially a museum about The Holocaust, unfortunately still a contested event. The thing is, we weren't brining in a guide because we doubt the Holocaust or anything, we wanted to bring in a guide because the goal was to look at the "meta-message" of the changing narative of the shoa in Israeli society. The reason for this was that many of us had been to Yad vaShem (though not all of us since it's recent renovations) and in light of our complaints about tiyulim not being appropriate for our level, our program actually tried to accommodate us and plan on something more advanced. Alas this is not to be the case this time. Nevertheless, you don't have to go to Yad va'Shem in order to note some of the ways that Israelis perceive the Shoa.

First you might note the word Shoa itself. Israelis tend to prefer this word over the more ubiquitous "holocaust" because the meaning of holocaust is "a sacrifice consumed by fire." This connotation doesn't sit well with Israelis. It's fair to think that the death of millions did not serve to sanctify G-d's name. Though there are people who believe that about the Shoa.

Another prevalent view of the Shoa is that as horrible as it was, it demonstrated to the world that the Jews need a state of their own. You could consider this making lemonade out of lemons or quickly picking up the pieces of Europe after Hitler was done with it, but I think that connecting Israel's purpose for existence with the Shoa is highly problematic. Real Zionists should think that Israel has a purpose beyond being a place for displaced or persecuted Jews. After all, this reasoning does not necessitate a Jewish State in Israel, such purpose could be fulfilled by creating a Jewish state anywhere. Furthermore it perpetrates the victim mentality all to common among modern Jews. Everyone is out to get us, and if we don't have Israel we'd have no place to go. There are much better arguments that one could use to justify Israel. Resorting to "the Holocaust" is not a very compelling one.

In spite of this there is still some measure of disdain in Israel towards Holocaust survivors. At an earlier point in Israel's history survivors were even mocked with the taunt "sheep to the slaughter." Israelis forget to take note that the whole reason they feel so superior is because their parents learned precisely this lesson from the Holocaust. This is perhaps why Israelis tend to prefer specific stories of physical resistance to the Nazi regime over reports of the global scale of the disaster.

I'm still not convinced that the Holocaust/Shoa should be perceived as part of the long history of Jewish persecution, or if it should be set apart from it. There are good arguments on both sides of this debate. Many persecutions, including the Shoa, did not target just Jews. One thing I am sure of is that we do ourselves a disservice when we forget that such tragedy's are not only ours, and belong to other minorities who also were persecuted, tortured, and murdered for the same reason as we were. And we do ourselves a further disservice when we neglect to do anything about the plight of similar groups still suffering such persecution in the world today.

Good Dogs

2007-03-06T15:58:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, on the way to a friend's house for a purim get-together, I came across this sign:For those who don't read Hebrew it says:

A GOOD DOG DOES NOT MAKE A MESS
There is no choice
You must bend down
gather it in a plastic
bag and put it
in the nearest
garbage can
----
Admittedly I am not a dog person, but even dog lovers have to admit that by the standards of the Jerusalem municipality, there are no such things as good dogs.

And from my experience walking the streets of this glorious city, there isn't such a thing as good dog owners either.

Peace Tree

2007-02-28T08:43:00.000-05:00

Near the Parliament for the European Union in Brussels we came across this plaque at the base of a tree. Admitedly, I have never read the writings of Sri Chinmoy, though I've just learned that you can access it for free on http://www.srichinmoy.org. This may explain why I don't know what a "Oneness-World Peace- Family" is.

In any case, if you had to pick a tree to represent "humanity's aspiration for World Peace" would you pick this one?
I don't know about you, but I would have chosen to plant an evergreen.

משנכנס אדר

2007-02-25T15:21:00.000-05:00

Upon return to my apartment I was greeted a two slips of paper, the first indicated that I had a package that needed to be picked up. The second was similar only it had the "second warning" box ominously ticked.

I decided that I had better go to the post office pronto to see to this mysterious package. I couldn't think of anyone who would have sent me a package. I didn't think that I had put in an order for maps from the Belgian embassy, and my birthday was ages ago. But the inability to think of a rational reason for me to be getting a package only made the inevitable trip to the post office seem more urgent. I decided that I would go first thing sunday morning.

I woke up this morning not excited about the first day of second semester. Instead I was wondering about those mysterious package slips and what would be waiting for me when I arrived at the Emeq Refaim branch of the post office this morning. I wake, shower, dress, davan and head out.

Upon arrival, I present the package slip to postal attendant and tell myself that it will probably be an envelope with financial aid information from JTS or something similarly mundane. I shouldn't get excited, I remind myself, it is probably nothing exciting. Imagine my surprise when the woman brings back a brown, battered, cardboard box about the size of two gemaras stacked.

Now I am seriously confused. but I retain my composure enough to walk calmly out of the post office before tearing open the package. I cut open the tape and the first thing I see is:

a draydel. This was no ordinary package, this was a hannukah package! The rest of the box included:

a letter from my father- rabbi of large synagogue in the midwest
two draydels
gelt
microwave popcorn
assorted candy
two pamphlets with Jewish related themes
inflatable beachball
hannukah decorations
and newspaper to keep the contents of the package from sloshing all over the box.

Not a bad hannukah package as these things go. The only problem is that it is almost purim.

My roommate suggested that I save it for next year, but I figure, better late than never.

I did take the time to call said synagogue and tell them not to bother sending a passover package. I simply won't be at this address in time to receive it durring Rosh Hashana.

Belgian food and drink

2007-02-24T16:11:00.000-05:00

I can't tell you much about the vruchtendranken but we particularly enjoyed that in Belgian grocery stores they sell beer and water in the same aisle.and the fact that you can get the local lager in vending machines in any train station was also a plus.
Shame that the waffles were all made with animal fat.

Rice in the Middle East

2007-01-13T11:56:00.000-05:00

Caption: "George just let me use the official plane for my winter vacation"

burkas- comming soon to a haredi community near you

2007-01-11T13:06:00.000-05:00

I've posted before about opression of women, but the innovations happening right here in Israel should not pass without noting them.
-----
In the last week, apparently for the first time in the history of rabbinical supervision, Bnei Brak rabbis distributed a list of 30 stores with a stamp of approval, as places where ultra-Orthodox women are allowed to shop. The list was distributed to all the teachers and students at the ultra-Orthodox school system for girls, Beit Yaakov, and was plastered on poster boards across town.
...
The rabbis also took the opportunity to emphasize the prohibition against women and girls wearing "immodest dress." They don't mean tight-fitting shirts or pants, but long shirts, skirts and dresses the rabbis feel deviate from the permissible. No sanctions will be imposed on the "unkosher" stores, but the message is clear: The ultra-Orthodox woman should not enter.
...
What does the stamp of approval include?

Miri, the owner of an eponymous clothing store, earned approval, but only after she removed a substantial portion of her goods from the shelves. "Anything made from jersey, spandex and denim is prohibited," she explains. The rabbis' inspectors granted her their stamp of approval after making sure all the skirts and dresses fell well below the knee, too.
...
Bnei Brak also has a local Bleach Underground. The desire to be fashionable exacted a price from Bnei Brak resident D.: "At the end of a day around town I discovered three large bleach stains on my new skirt," she reconstructed. "The next day I heard from friends that women with syringes and baby bottles are spraying bleach on clothing they don't like for some reason." According to D., her sin was that her "skirt was pretty, not particularly short."

Several respected rabbis weighed in on the matter last week, writing, "Recently a variety of foreign garb has spread among the women and girls; this is immodest clothing. Knitted fabrics are not appropriate for daughters of Israel." At that time, the list of dozens of approved stores was published.

Click here for the full article from Haaretz

Friday's lunch

2007-01-06T11:08:00.000-05:00

One of the things that I love about Israel...I admit it. We actually did buy it because it said "vegetal" cutlets.

Some things just can't be passed up...

Cyprus antiquities

2007-01-03T04:11:00.000-05:00

Spending Hannukah in Cyprus was surreal at times. We would visit ancient temples and "holy" sites, and then would return to our hotel room to light hannukah candles to celebrate the triumph of Judaism over Greek culture. (see the previous post regarding our continued influence from this culture) Al Hanisim certainly takes on a different meaning when on one hand, some of the sites we saw were certainly impressive, but on the other hand, it is hard to imagine past enemies of the Jews as having been mighty and threatening when you have just spent a sunny day climbing all over the ruins of their important sites.
Which, to be honest, was one of the most fun things about Cyprus. Many of the ruins were in archeological parks or other places where they weren't blocked off. It was possible to walk right over or around, or even to climb on the ruins. And because it was the off season, we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Greek riddle

2007-01-01T17:02:00.000-05:00

As I have been repeatedly reminded that I have not updated recently, I hereby present an update in the form of a riddle.

The following two pictures were taken on the plane from Tel Aviv to Larnaca. I took them becuase I am easily amused. Two points to the first person who makes the connection between the two pictures. (Post your answer in the comments section below)
It was a good trip. Hopefully I'll find some time to post about it at some point...

see title of blog

2006-12-11T15:21:00.000-05:00

See- no stone. Told you so.

Stick figures with skirts

2006-12-04T14:17:00.000-05:00

This picture was taken from the BBC website from an article about Fuenlabrada, Spain which decided recently to change half of their stick figures on signs and crossing lights to figures wearing skirts. The reason for this, according to the article, this will serve to help the society create a "gender-balanced experience." I'm not sure that this will serve to fix the society, but it is a step towards acknowledging that the generic "person" doesn't have to be a wearing pants.

Are they sure that the ratio of men to women is exactly 1:1? Perhaps they should do a census to make sure that the signs are a better reflection of reality. Perhaps, as not all women wear skirts, they should do a study to figure out the percentage of women who do, and then only change that percentage of street signs. They should probably also include in the skirt wearing category, any men who choose to wear skirts as well. Perhaps they should simply ban skirts for everyone and not change any signs at all. Or perhaps we should just get over petty distinctions between men and women and just respect the aspect of the divine in each human being.

Giving Blood

2006-12-04T10:05:00.000-05:00

Today, Machon Schechter hosted a very poorly advertised blood drive. Suddenly at 11:15, everyone was kicked out of the beit midrash to make room for four cots and the usual blood drive material. Since it has been more than 3 months since last time, I decide to give.

I've given blood in Israel before. They are all professionals here, and from experience I know that being stuck with a needle hurts a lot less when the person doing it is good at it. This was the case today as well, though there were some things that I did miss about America.

- filling out the form in Hebrew was a bit of a challenge. I could easily understand what all the issues were, but I couldn't always be sure, from the wording of the question, if they wanted me to answer yes or no. This can be important when the issue at hand if if I've ever slept with a man whose had sex with a man before 1977. (This particular question seems outdated to me, but that's a topic for another time) On the other hand, they didn't go through my form and ask me all the questions again (though perhaps in this instance they should have...)

-I was glad to see that the people dealing with blood were all wearing gloves. I am not sure if they were so aware of this however, as the person working with me, instead of changing her gloves between people, simply used sanitizer. Perhaps this is just as effective as changing gloves, perhaps we are all family here in Israel, or perhaps she wasn't aware of the fact that she was wearing gloves. I doubt this though, as she was aware enough to question me repeatedly to make sure that I knew what I was doing when I was writing my name in Hebrew.

-I miss the stretchy things they wrap around your arm after they are through so that you can actually use your arm in the next half hour. Instead I had to put pressure on the gauze, with my arm in the air for two minutes. After I put my arm down, it became clear that this wasn't effective, and I was reprimanded for not putting pressure on it. Thankfully, she did agree to change my bandage and put a piece of tape on it. But what I really wanted was one of those cool arm bands in a disgusting color that have to be left on for at least 6 hours.

After being asked about a thousand times how I was feeling, they made me promise that I wouldn't smoke for at least half an hour. I told them it would be hard, but I would refrain from the smoking and drinking (this was 1:oopm) for at least the recommended half hour. Then they insisted that I eat a disgusting sesame cookie and sit for a while before I left. Which I did, as soon as they would let.

Groundbreaking?

2006-11-28T15:56:00.000-05:00

Today, instead of studying torah, the Schechter Institute hosted a "Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New Campus" Of course if your read the Hebrew, it might occur to you that this ceremony was actually a:
תקס הנחת אבן הפינה לקמפוס החדש (Cornerstone Ceremony for the New Campus) And when you consider the following, you might realize why calling it a groundbreaking doesn't make sense.
It seems that someone managed to sneak in and break ground ahead of the ceremony. I hope they find whoever is responsible and deal with her/him appropriately.

At same Groundbreaking/Cornerstone ceremony, someone thought it would be a good idea to choke all the sea creatures found in the Mediteranian. The plain was accomplished by releasing balloons.
But seriously, it was a nice event. The speeches were good and short, and the ground was indeed broken.

Tiyul to South

2006-11-21T13:58:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posting recently. I've been away. Here's the proof:

Off in the distance you can see Eilat and the Red/Reed/Whatever Sea.
This picture is just fun, and you can see the fun rock formations.
If you want to see more pictures from the tiyul, you can email me.

What is wrong with this picture?

2006-11-12T12:09:00.000-05:00

Bottle of toilet cleaner spotted at Machon Schechter:Here's a closeup:
Translation:

Kosher
Checked and Permitted by
The Kashrut Committee of the Righteous Beit Din
of the Adat haHaredit of Jerusalem

ACID!!

Warning Not for Consumption
Keep out of hands' reach
of children

A more recent proclomation from the geonim at the BaDaTz of the Adat haHaredit of Jerusalem forbade throwing only "dangerous" objects at those participating in the gay pride parade...

New look

2006-11-11T20:31:00.000-05:00

For lack of things to post at the moment, I've updated to the Blogger beta- one of the good things that has come out of Google buying Blogger.

Sorry if the new format startles you, but it it likely to keep changing a few more times until I get the hang of all the new options.

Apart from the color scheme and new layout, you might also notice that Blogger beta lets you label the posts. So from now on, it will be easier to tell what a post is about- just by checking the labels.

Any feedback, as usual, is always welcome.

Class lineup- fall semester

2006-11-11T20:09:00.000-05:00

It has been a long time since I've posted. But in case there is someone who was desperately wondering what classes I'm taking this semester- here is the lineup:

Philosophy of Halakha -Yosi Turner
Poskim - Rabbi Avi Deutsch
Advanced Talmud (מס' גיטין)- S. Friedman
Practical Halakha (אבן הזעזר)- Diana Villa
Mikra (במדבר)- Frankel
Hebrew lit -Spitzer
Biblical criticism and Jewish Faith - Frankel
Talmud Bikiut (כתובות) - Josh Kulp
Israel seminar
Bikiut midrash (אסתר רבה)- Golinkin

To save you the trouble of counting- that's 10 classes. No wonder I haven't been updating my blog more. They're mostly good though.