July 4th, 2008 by elie
The recipe for aliyah success is a complicated set of characterstics; not because what is required but because I think attaining what is required is seeded way before making aliyah.
I’ve mentioned creativity, open-mindedness and flexibility before. One other major ingredient in this recipe, I’ve discovered, is direction.
Now, direction is an ingredient for many successes: making the move from high school to college, making the move from college to being employed, independent and stable. Transitioning to the next stage of life, whichever that is, is a lot smoother if you know where you’re going, why you’re doing it and that you’re equipped.
Which is why, I find it funny when Israeli-borns are so impressed that in three years, I moved here, started a masters, got a steady job, got married, settled in a suburb, etc. They say, “Wow, I know tons of Israelis who haven’t gone that far…” Right. Because direction matters whether you’ve lived here all your life, or just for a few years.
A lot of people make aliyah because they lack direction. Some work it out, some don’t. Some people don’t make aliyah because they have direction and know it’s not in Israel; that’s not being anti-Israel, it’s honesty.
I also wonder if Israeli-borns view us as wealthy Anglos who obviously got this far because we had money coming into it. It couldn’t be more false; we were/are opportunists who are liberal when there is a knock at the door. Anyone can do that too, whether new oleh or vatik.
Opportunism, creativity, open-mindedness, direction, flexibility and honesty. It all works in hand-in-hand when you make it work that way.
December 2nd, 2007 by elie
Even though it’s been a while since I’ve (really) prayed, I haven’t forgotten the power of prayer or what it can do for a person - believer or not.
This site got me all nostalgic, warm and fuzzy: Siddur Audio. I can’t believe someone was cool enough to post audio recordings of davening along with visuals including נקודות (vowels). Actually, that someone seems to have been Rabbi Mark Zimmerman, who did it because:
“Unfamiliarity with the Hebrew liturgy is an obstacle which keeps many from experiencing the joy and ruach of participating fully in their synagogue services. This website’s aim is to help people acquire the skills to overcome that hurdle.”
Way to go, man. That’s a great use of the internet, tape recorders and… well, rabbis.
December 1st, 2007 by elie
Recently, the Australian residents of Israel had the opportunity to vote by embassy or by mail in their federal elections. It got me thinking - since I live with an Australian citizen - about the 2008 American presidential elections coming up (come on, everyone else is talking about it this early).
Then tonight I found a posting about registering to vote on Janglo: visit the Overseas Vote Foundation website and receive information and steps to register to vote. Easy and efficient.
Why can’t mainland, non-absentee voting be the same?
October 8th, 2007 by elie
I’ve fallen back in love with reading. I’ve been a reading maniac lately. I went on hiatus the past two years, thinking that I didn’t have time because I was in school. Which is funny, because I wasn’t doing much reading for school, either.
But man, do I love it. Reading is my medicine. It soothes me. It helps me survive this insane society. I cope by reading.
I keep a book in my bag. I read on line at the bank instead of getting frustrated. I read waiting for the bus instead of getting impatient. I read at the checkout in the supermarket instead of getting restless.
If you’re saying to yourself that my coping mechanism is actually escapism, well - you are correct. But it’s better than being bitter or flustered or impatient… Like some other folks I can think of…
November 14th, 2006 by elie
I was remembering my wedding - how long six months can feel, how quick six hours can pass… How I missed the people who weren’t there, but moreso, how I enjoyed the people who made it to be there…
It occurs to me, since I like giving advice - actually, passing on knowledge (maybe it’s an eldest child thing) - I should publish the information I collected over six months - research, essentially, for having a wedding in Jerusalem, and also, pieces of advice I was given or formed on my own.
Eliesheva’s Wedding in Israel guide.
General advice:
- * Pack for the hotel the day before: water bottles, food, advil, a brush, etc.
- * Hydrate the week before! Day before! But don’t overdo it day of; you’ll drink plenty while taking photographs (smiles hurt!).
- * Bring socks, extra shoes.
- * Have bandaids at the ready (oops).
- * Sheva brachot cards! So easy. Photocopy-enlarge the brachot from a siddur and cut them up and laminate. Helps along the seven blessers.
- * Make sure your ride has gas…
- * Contacts? Bring extras and your glasses.
- * Brides: Have something to hold on to (flowers) at the kabalat panim… You’re bound to be fidgety.
- * Make sure someone is counting how many times the bride walks around the chatan… (oops).
- * Let the adrenaline kick in and run with it. Love the adrenaline.
- * Try not to spill anything on each other in the Yichud room (oops).
- * Breathe when you’re dancing or suffer the wrath of side cramps or lost breath.
- * There will always be silly mistakes; you probably won’t even notice. Get over that from the start (of wedding planning, if possible).
- * Get into the calm mindset the week before; pump it up the day before.
- * However you are is how the guests will react; stay fun and calm and that’s how the guests will feel…
- * HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR!!!
- * It’s just a party. A really big one. The marriage is going to last longer and be way more expensive.
Quick checklist (in not so much of a coherent order):
• Date selection (keep in mind shkiyah if you want a special Hebrew date)
• Venue selection
• Photography
• Videography
• Engagement party
• Engagement ring
• Guest list
• Flights for foreigners
• Décor design
• Music
• Dress
• Invitations
• Pre-invites for out of towners (advanced notice)
• Floral arrangements
• Make up/hair stylist
• Wedding ring
• Transportation to the wedding (for you and guests if it is far out of town)
• Hotel/apartment bookings (you and out of towner guests)
• Kalla/Chatan classes
• Rabbanut:
- o 3 passport pics of each
- o teudat zehut and sepach
- o birth certificates
- o ketubah of both sets of parents
- o 600 NIS (40% discount if one is an oleh or student)
- o 2 witnesses for each (who know you, male)
- o a Rabbi conducting who is registered with the Rabbanut (or register yours)
- o 02-621 4800/4811
- o Rechov חובהצלת, #12, near Yaffo street
- o Sun-Thurs 8:30-12:30/3-4:30
• Registry
• Birchonim
• Menu selection
• Appoint/hire someone a ‘wedding coordinator’ so your parents and friends can enjoy
I also highly recommend this website for wedding planning all over Israel.
Venues:
Beit Shmuel: 02 6200 3405, 02 620 3403 – view of Old City behind, it’s outdoors on the roof (or could be inside)
BibleLand Museum: 02 561 1066 contact@blmj.org (Caterer: Shlomo at שק אירועים 0505234220
Achuza: 02 538 7151 gorgeous set up, Ramat Rachel feeling, might be less money, .
Har Tzion: 02 568 9555 really really pretty, local, different set up options.
Mul HaHar: Ilan: 0504005401 tayelet set up, chupah can go however you want, no minimum, great view behind you.
Novotel: 02 5320000 Idit – 0524470165, swimming pool, porch
Shulchan David – right outside Old City. Yehuda 050 521 7325/026732770
Ein Yael – (by the Zoo) 02 645 1866, outdoors, hidden, quiet
Shoresh – outdoors, pretty, there’s a website
Photography & video:
Sass Video – excellently recommended, great service, great product.
Dov Yarden – great work, great custom albums. 02 676 4223, 0545691123
Itamar Ben Harav: 0546472656
Bands:
Ariel Goldsmith – 052 641 3326
Shlomo Katz – 02 570 9945, 054 316 9888 (Yedidyah, manager)
Adom Atik –
Inyan Acher –
Menachem Herman – mhmusic@netvision.net.il 02 991 8314, 0524704063
Wedding Planners:
Shmuel Bloom: 0547587089
Shani Falik: shoshanafalik@gmail.com
Adina Buchs – B’Rosh Shaket – 0523803048
Dressmakers:
Tamar: 02.538.8558
Elise: 054.498.4540
Aviva: 052.545.5895 or 02.654.1697
Chagit: 054.533.9051 or 02.561.7316
Esti: 054.747.1778 or 02.571.0777
Malka: 02.540.1745
Nora: 052.848.9964 or 02.624.6963
Dorit: 02.651.4840
Tel Aviv bridal:
*It’s all over Dizengoff street, starting from around the 190s. Hard to find classy + modest dresses though. Also a bit more $$.
*Veronic: www.Veronic.co.il - very talented, she can do chic modest dresses
Gmachs:
* Shalshelet/Chasdei Yaela
King George St. They have more than 200 dresses that the bride can use for the minimal price of 400 -800 NIS + dry cleaning. Call for appointment: Racheli: 054-647-2611 or Naomi: 054-630-1189
* Gemach Shoshana
– established in memory of 19 year old Shoshana Zaguri z’l killed in a bus bombing
– to ease some of the financial pressures of making a wedding
– MODEST bridal gowns available
–located in Bayit Vagan
–Please call Paula Mazal Zaguri at 02-6411-795 or 0544-781-293 to schedule an appointment
* Gmach
Rechov Shmuel HaNavi.
For an appointment please call: Pesha Rosenson- 02 582 7936 / 052 478 3675
You may also call Rachel for an appointment: 625-7936 or 0546-472-611
* Wedding dress g’mach
With hundreds of beautiful wedding dresses to choose from. Call Tehilla at 0506 343942 or (02) 625 2924 or e-mail: tiftufya@walla.com
You can always email me for more or to get this in a readable format.