Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
THE WEDDING
Pictured are my sister Cindy, her husband Shlomo, and daughter Bracha. The wedding was in B'nei Brak, about 45 minutes from Jerusalem.
Kiryat Telz Stone
Cindy's family owns two apartments on the floor below them, which they rent out for the income. Mom and I stayed in the larger, lovely apartment.
For the next few days Mom and I stayed in Telz Stone, and family members came to visit us.
The town is very small, consisting mostly of apartment buildings and a few private homes, and very few commercial businesses. One building houses a large grocery store (makolet); a general store (kol-bo); a deli which is mostly takout but has a few tables; and a health clinic. There's also a beit hachlama, or convalescent center for women who were discharged from a hospital after giving birth. There the women, nearly all Orthodox (very observant Jews), and babies are pampered for a few days, before they return home, often to a very busy house.
On our first day in Telz Stone, Mom and I walked the two blocks down a hill to the makolet (grocery store). It's really a mini supermarket, crammed with just about anything you might want. It's unusual for a food market in Israel to have the variety found in this makolet. But in this community there are many immigrants, especially from the U.S., South Africa, England and some from Latin America. So there are many products not found in most markets in Israel, such as Ortega salsa and a bag of tortillas. However, the selection of fresh vegetables and fruits is limited. We stocked up on items for out 10-day stay, though we didn't need much since Cindy's family would supply Shabbat meals, and we would be away for a few days at the wedding, and visiting friends.
For the next few days Mom and I stayed in Telz Stone, and family members came to visit us.
The town is very small, consisting mostly of apartment buildings and a few private homes, and very few commercial businesses. One building houses a large grocery store (makolet); a general store (kol-bo); a deli which is mostly takout but has a few tables; and a health clinic. There's also a beit hachlama, or convalescent center for women who were discharged from a hospital after giving birth. There the women, nearly all Orthodox (very observant Jews), and babies are pampered for a few days, before they return home, often to a very busy house.
On our first day in Telz Stone, Mom and I walked the two blocks down a hill to the makolet (grocery store). It's really a mini supermarket, crammed with just about anything you might want. It's unusual for a food market in Israel to have the variety found in this makolet. But in this community there are many immigrants, especially from the U.S., South Africa, England and some from Latin America. So there are many products not found in most markets in Israel, such as Ortega salsa and a bag of tortillas. However, the selection of fresh vegetables and fruits is limited. We stocked up on items for out 10-day stay, though we didn't need much since Cindy's family would supply Shabbat meals, and we would be away for a few days at the wedding, and visiting friends.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
EL AL
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| We flew on EL AL airlines, the national carrier of Israel, from JFK airport in New York City to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. |
Kiryat Telz Stone, Israel
I've been to Israel several times. The first time was with my family. We lived there for one year, my junior year of high school, when my father had at temporary teaching position at the University of Haifa. Other trips involved sightseeing with my husband; taking my 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter to visit my sister; visiting my daughter who was in a volunteer/study program and later enlisted in the Israeli army; a Hadassah (Jewish women's group) conference and tour; the wedding of my oldest niece.
Back to this trip. Mom and I arrived in Israel on August 8 after a 10 hour flight from New York. We were met by my sister Cindy, along with her daughter Sara and her family. It was an adventure for Sara's three little ones: taking the train to the airport to meet their great-grandmother and great-auntie! They took the train back home, and Mom, Cindy and I took a sheirut (shared taxi) to the town of Telz Stone.
Telz Stone is a 20 minute ride from Jerusalem (without traffic). It's a very religious Jewish gated community. There's a guard at the entrance. The gate remains closed Friday night and all day Saturday because no driving is permitted, in observance of Shabbat (the Sabbath). So on the Sabbath everyone dresses up, gets together for festive meals, strolls down the middle of the street to visit each other, take the children to the playground, and more.
Monday, October 1, 2012
My sister's family
Last summer my mom and I went to Israel for nearly two weeks. The focus of the trip was the wedding of my niece.
My sister Cindy Golub (who changed her name to Shulamis when she became very religious Jewish) has lived in Israel for about 30 years. She is married to Shlomo (formerly Scott). They have 8 children: 7 girls and one boy. This wedding was for her fourth child, Bracha. The older three are married already. Sara, age 27, has 3 children. Moshe, age 25, has 2 children. Tova, age 23(?) just got married last December. All three of them (including Moshe's wife, that is) are expecting and are due within a few weeks of each other. 4 more still at home: Heni, Shira, Ahuva and Leah (the youngest, age 10).
I bought a camera for the trip and haven't uploaded the photos yet, and have no experience doing so. But I plan to use my photos in this blog, so I'll have to learn quickly.
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