Lizrael Update: babbling about the expat life since 2004
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Joshua’s messing with us.
“And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.” I remember learning it in 4th grade and it seriously always stuck with me. It was a ‘holy shit, dude’ moment back then, and it remained so for many years. Until one day, walking somewhere in Israel,…
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When you mix Jews, legalities, Facebook…
Facebook + Jew vs Jew + lawsuit? Not the first time this has happened, Mark Zuckerberg(s)! Israeli entrepreneur becomes Mark Zuckerberg to fight Facebook But we had to have known some Israeli would have the balls to do this: Israeli entrepreneur Rotem Guez has legally changed his name to Mark Zuckerberg in response to legal…
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New Israeli homebirth restrictions drafted (where’s midwife trust?)
From Haaretz: Israel ministry drafts new rules to restrict home births A woman planning to give birth at home will have to obtain a letter from her family doctor testifying that she is both physically and mentally sound, under new regulations being drafted by the Health Ministry that many believe are aimed at curtailing home…
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#ImmigrantParentProblems.
So, for just a minute, humor me. I make an ongoing effort to forget how hard this is. I swallow a lot in order to make the daily grind seem easier. And I try to push away my lucky, amazing, beautiful problems because I know so many people have much worse challenges: poor health… empty…
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Running 101: A 10k for beginners.
10k’d, bitches! Last night I ran my first race, the Jerusalem 10k. The plan was to run up to about 6 (my top so far had been 5.3) and walk the rest, maybe attempting to finish the last kilometer on a run. Instead, I ran the whole thing… whoops. How could you not? It was incredible!…
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Jerusalem night run (for mattresses).
Aaand I’m doing this. I was supposed to start the ‘running circuit’ in the Tel Aviv 10k in March 2012, but alas – F it. I’ll probably walk half of it, but it should be a nice and… relaxing? night out.
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Bebe update: Eight months.
I consider this your ‘coming out’ month. Your debutante ball. In the last few weeks, you have sprouted your first two teeth (the bases of them anyway). Just as we were starting to wonder if you’d be a gummy girl forever. You started standing up, holding onto the table, couch, walker, your brother for support.…
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Letting go.
Into my seventh year of aliyah – living in Israel – I finally, finally, finally have been able to start what every oleh needs to do the second they get here. I’ve started letting go. Letting go of my pride. Letting go of my mistakes. Letting go of my fear. Maybe it’s my bilingual kid.…
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Leg warmers. From Beitar Illit.
I gave it all away in the title. Look, I was heading to the Beitar Illit shopping bonanza to find some funky gifts for a friend’s bachelorette – bridal shower. I walked out of one, but did a double-take on the way out when I spotted these: I had to have them. I can’t explain…
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The history of Israeli pretzels.
A short history of flat, flavoured pretzels (bagele) in Israel… true story! If you don’t understand Hebrew subtitles or (exaggerated?) Yiddish, here’s a quick and dirty transcript: The Bagel-Bagel Factory in Poland, 1880 Son: “Father, mother – I have an idea! Thin pretzels – in flavours!” Everyone: “What?!” Son: “Yes, with pepper, chedder, spices!” Father:…
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If you miss what you’re leaf-ing behind…
I discovered a place where you can stroll on Erev Thanksgiving and feel for a second like you’re home in North America: Gan HAPa’amon in Jerusalem. The leaves are colorful, noisy, and abundant. You can crunch them, kick them, and show your kid a lil taste of motherland in just a few steps. While learning…
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We’re doing something right.
Koala spots the new set of Dora’s family members on the shelf. He asks me, “who dat?” “It’s Dora’s ima and abba.” He takes the two plastic parents and puts them up against each other. “Ima… Abba… chibuki!”
Questions? Comments? Advice?