Lizrael Update: babbling about the expat life since 2004
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Happy Australia Day!
Nah, I’m not Australian just because I’m married to one… But the Aussie I’m married to was given Lamingtons today by an Aussie coworker in hono’u’r of Australia Day this Saturday, and he brought one home for lil ole American me. Another benefit to “mixed” marriages. The Lamington is an Australian pastry consisting of sponge…
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Sahlab! The Israeli winter milkshake.
It’s been unusually freezing here in Jerusalem the last few weeks… or maybe it’s because we have no heat in our building. Either way, there are tons of way to warm up (piles of blankets? heated argument with Mizrachi neighbor? watching the news?) but my favorite at the moment is Sahlab. It’s a warm, milky…
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Today's word: שנאת חינם
Here’s a backup to my last post in case it wasn’t enough to get my point across. I proudly observe my own brand of Jewishness – and consider it great, holy and everything else – if my alternative for spiritual ‘climbing’ is this: U.S. immigrant beaten up in ‘pogrom’ by ultra-Orthodox gang “An American immigrant…
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On high school reunions, halacha, nostalgia and everything in between.
Between running into my high school principle, the recent Flatbush fiasco and my friend attending her ten-year reunion couple nights ago, I’ve had high school on the brain in the last few weeks. High school is something I have successfully managed to block from the forefront of my mind. Part of it was my own…
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Someone has to heal Oren Zarif’s marketing campaign.
Sometimes, we have to heal the healer. I’m referring, of course, to Oren Zarif. And by healing, I mean help him out with his horribly cheesy marketing schemes. Sounds familiar? Not sure who I’m talking about? Sure, you do! Here’s a clue: There are plenty of healers out there in the world, across cultures. There…
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Danger ahead: Israelis with car.
On Thursday, we gained control of one of the most dangerous Israeli weapons in the rather wide arsenal. No, we don’t have shwarma breath… We got a car. Or, at least, we’re babysitting one for a coworker for the next month until we begin leasing one of our very own from my company. Either way,…
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Tzur Hadassah in the Jerusalem Post – look at her grow!
I haven’t even moved there yet, but I feel like I’m already getting cheerleader-syndrome for Tzur Hadassah. Looks like the Jerusalem Post is either reading my stuff or recognizes the quickly-growing settlement: On Location: Between chalets and minarets The feature article starts off like this: “Nestled somewhere between the hills of Switzerland and the mosques…
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Aliyah reason #213: Shabbat leftovers.
Reason #213 to make aliyah: When you work in an all-Jewish company, lunchtime on Sundays smells (and tastes!) like Shabbat all over again. Although – shhh – I’d take Sunday off in a heart beat.
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Sephardi synanogues of Katamonim.
Something I’m going to miss about my little Jerusalem hometown of Katamonim are the amazing Sephardi beitay knesset that pepper the streets: Most of the residents in this neighborhood are some strain of Mizrachi, mainly Kurdish, Bucharian, Moroccan or Yemenite. The synagogues carpeted and fluorescently lit, reflect that. I feel 100% comfortable attending services at…
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City feature: Tzur Hadassah
Finally, I have some photos to share of Tzur Hadassah, the yishuv we are leaving Jerusalem for at the beginning of February. The small town is southwest of Jerusalem, settled in the quiet hills. It’s close to Beitar Illit and Hussan but is within the Green Line. It’s home to about 1,000 families, or 5,000…
Questions? Comments? Advice?