A Parent in Israel

Aviv’s Bar Mitzvah

March 25, 2011

It’s been an incredible few weeks around Aviv’s bar mitzvah. Family came in from overseas, we had a slew of great activities (from a lovely walk in the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens to a treasure hunt in the Old City – more on that in an upcoming post) all leading up to the big day. The […]

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The Pause that Refreshes?

March 23, 2011

Purim in Jerusalem…and all the restaurants are booked solid. That didn’t stop our party of 11 from joining the merrymaking mosaic of Israeli society out to celebrate the defeat of the evil Haman some 2,000 years ago. My wife Jody had the foresight to reserve a table at the uber-popular Caffit café far in advance. […]

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Hairdresser Offers Unkind Cut

January 6, 2011

My daughter’s no dummy I’ve written before about how our family has become addicted to GroopBuy, the Jerusalem-based knock-off of the uber-popular Groupon in the U.S. (which just raised a ton of money this week). The GroopBuy service offers a single “deal a day” with a big discount – say, a coupon for a NIS […]

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War Over the Airwaves in Eilat

December 16, 2010

Resting at the top of the mountain In 1947, the U.N. partition plan designated the sleepy port of Eilat as the southernmost tip of the new Jewish state. It wasn’t until the final days of the War of Independence, however, when Israel took control of the town in an operation that surprised the small platoon […]

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A Prickly Suprise

December 1, 2010

Hiking along the Israel Trail from Mitzpe Missua They looked so ripe and delicious. How were we to know that eating sabra fruit in the wild is an adventure intended only for the foolish – animal, human or otherwise? We were in the middle of another wonderful family tiyul in Israel. This one started at […]

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The Eternal Optimist

November 1, 2010

Rivka Matitya z’l My wife Jody recently attended her 30-year high school reunion in California. She remarked on her return to Israel how at the 10-year reunion, everyone was still in high school party mode. At 20 years, her friends were all talking about their families and careers. At her 30th, many of the attendees […]

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The Most Terrifying Tiyul

October 28, 2010

Plunging into the abyss I am not generally considered a timid man. I have jumped out of an airplane (without it being part of a mandatory army exercise) and fondly recall my youth hurtling down the tallest of roller coasters. But I don’t plan to go back to Nahal Og any time soon. It was […]

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“And Twice the Marrow of Her Bones”

October 13, 2010

Timora Avitzour, z’l UPDATE: Sara has renewed posting to her blog under the name “Loving, Losing and Living.” She will be focusing in particular on the theme of resilience – how we go on in the face even of unspeakable tragedy. Last week I attended a book launch and reading by Sara Avitzour, a friend […]

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The Jody Blum Culinary Institute

September 28, 2010

Jody in the kitchen of her Culinary Institute Growing up, my mother refused to let my brother and me into the kitchen. While this created a carefree cooking-neutral childhood, it hasn’t served me so well as an adult. Whenever my wife Jody goes away – whether for an evening activity or an overseas trip – […]

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Turning 50

September 8, 2010

“Today I become a man.” That’s a declaration more commonly associated with a bar mitzvah boy but, as I turn 50 today, I feel I am passing a milestone even more auspicious. For what does one really know about being a grownup at a mere 13? Perhaps, once upon a time, that was closer to […]

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