Shabbat in the Old City

It is going to be hard to put into words what the Shabbat at the Kotel experience was like. It was like nothing I have ever experienced before and until I go back and do it again, never again.

Before we brought in Shabbat (with candle lighting) we were treated to an amazing pre-Shabbat concert from Rabbi Yom Tov Glaser. He is a rockin' Rabbi living in Israel transplanted from the surfing beaches of California. On the outside he looks like any Rabbi - black hat, full beard, pais and black coat - but on the inside a true surfing beach bum at heart.

He started with a song Shabbat Shalom (surprised?) but it was more a song 'in the round' where the left side of the room had one part of the song and the right side another part. Very participatory. A lot of fun. He moved into a few more songs, and introduced a song that was new and available on Itunes (modern times). It is called Letter in the Torah, and it is quite an emotional song about where you may going, what is your purpose - what is YOUR letter in the Torah. I remember the words really hit me, because being on this trip, everyone has a reason to be there.




After the concert was over, we all had the chance to light Shabbat Candles and say prayers for our loved ones, and then it was time....to go to Kotel and really 'bring in Shabbat". It really something you have to see and experience for yourself.

We all went down to the Kotel and as a group tried to move into the centre of the women's section. It was hard because it was wall to wall women, teens on birthright, soliders, and other groups. But there we were - creating our own prayer and song circle, with so many other prayer and song circles. Hundreds of women, singing, dancing, praying and bringing in the Shabbat.

The men on the other side of the separation wall were doing the same thing, praying on Shabbat eve, also chanting, and dancing and connecting all Jewish people around the world welcoming in the Shabbat. I couldn't see them, but I could hear them, and I wanted to see, so I left our area to go out see the men in prayer.

You can see again, hundreds, standing shoulder to shoulder praying for Shabbat - older men, younger men, soliders. It was something to see. Of course it was Shabbat so I have no photos or video, but the memory will be in my memory forever.

I had to take a step back away from the Kotel to take it all in. The Kotel is the last remnant of the Holy Temple, and the holiest site on earth, and there I was, able to share it's glory on Shabbat. If you ever have the chance to experience what I had the chance to experience - you cannot let it pass you by. If you have experienced it in your lifetime, then you know what I mean.

Shabbat Pretty

I was excited to celebrate Shabbat in Jerusalem. There seemed to be a buzz in the air in the old city. We had two classes in the morning and then we had free time until we had to be back in the old city for bringing in the Shabbat.

Our morning classes were all about Mitzvahs for women - "Light up your life - the Mitzvah of Candle Lighting" and "A Mitzvah of Body and Soul: Challah baking"

Mitzvah definition:
mitzvah [ˈmɪtsvə (Hebrew) mitsˈvɑ]

n pl -vahs, -voth (Hebrew) [-ˈvɔt] Judaism

1. (Non-Christian Religions / Judaism) a commandment or precept, esp one found in the Bible

2. (Non-Christian Religions / Judaism) a good deed

There are 613 Mitzvot and only three of them are for women:

1. Candle Lighting

2. Separating Challah

3. Going to the Mikvah

Shabbat is a very special time. It is a time to stop creating and recognize your creator. That the world keeps turning without us. 

Lori explained that Judaism is like a tree - it has blossoms, fruits and roots. 

On Shabbat you need to remember the blossoms of the tree - your children, challah, songs. The roots of the tree are connecting to G-D. If you don't connect your roots to G-D, your tree will die. 

We discussed that the hotel would have a Shabbos elevator (one that stops on every floor automatically so you don't have to touch any of the buttons) and if you didn't plan on turning on and off the lights in your room, you had to decide before you left the room what you were going to do. 

Since the hotel had free wifi, I had been on line every night keeping in touch with family and friends at home. I decided that for Shabbat I wouldn't use the Ipod or blackberry. It wasn't that hard and I was happy that I said I wouldn't do it, and I didn't. 

We learned from Rebbitzen Raizy Guttman about the mitzvah of Challah making, the significance of breaking off a small piece to say the prayer, and how that piece is supposed to be burned. She explained that the flour symbolizes the earth and the water symbolizes the sky and how the physicality and spirituality combine. 

We learned how to braid the dough, and make flowers with the dough to create beautiful loaves of challah that we would enjoy at dinner. It was fun, and everyone participated making their own loaf design to be baked off.

 After the two sessions in the morning we had free time until we had to be back in the old city for a pre shabbat concert and Shabbat at the Kotel. By the early afternoon the shop keepers were closing early, going to the shuk - where there are 250 vendor selling fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, nuts, flowers and more. Everyone is getting ready for Shabbat and you can feel the excitment.

We had time for lunch, shopping, buying wine for dinner that night, and then getting ready for Shabbat. The dress code for that night was "Shabbat pretty". It was nice to see everyone getting a little more "spruced up" for our special night at the Kotel.

"Shabbat is the sign of the Jewish People" 

Journey

Where do I begin?

The Oxford dictionary defines "Journey" as:
noun (plural journeys)

• an act of travelling from one place to another:

• A long and often difficult process of personal change and development:

I would agree with both.

Last summer a group of friends that I know were going to Israel. They were going with a women's group on a "Transformation and Grow" mission with and organization called JWRP (Jewish Women's Renaissance Project). I wasn't really involved with them when they applied and never thought about going, until they were all there and posting pictures on facebook, that I was envious and thinking I should figure out a way to get on one of these trips.

It was while they were there that another friend of ours messaged me that a trip was open for October 2011 and that she was going to apply. I applied as well. There is a process where you apply, you go for an interview with the city leader from your group, and then you wait to see if you are accepted for the trip. There are qualifications and specifications to being approved for the trip.

I don't want to work backwards in my life's journey, but what I know now, that I wasn't able to really appreciate then, was that I was not "meant" to go on the trip in October. I was going to get my chance and I just had to wait for it to happen for me. When you are disappointed about something in your life, who thinks like that? I didn't at first, but I know that now.

Back in February this year, through another friend (completed unrelated to the women who already attended the trip) I found out she was going to be going on the SAME trip this June. She told me her trip was not full and I should apply. I was hesitant to do so, knowing what I had already gone through previously, but thought, what the heck....this trip seems to keep coming up in my life, I should listen to the signs, and I applied.

I was very lucky to meet my city leader for the interview. She is a kind, compassionate women who saw something in me that allowed me to go on this journey. She accepted me right away at my interview, and within 24 hours, I had booked my ticket and paid my deposit for the trip.

Just have to jump ahead for a moment.

Lori Palatnik is the co-founder of the JWRP and our host for the mission. On our very first day in our very first class with her she told us that the Talmud says it takes merit to come to Eretz Israel (the land of Israel) and whatever we did last Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur has allowed us to come on this trip at this time.

And here I am. I have gone to Eretz Israel and have now returned. I have posted pictures on facebook, but really haven't talked much about the trip yet (I have been sick since I got home).

I hope you will read along with me as I share with you what I learned from my "Transform and Grow" mission to Israel with JWRP. They say that just going to Israel you come back a changed person. I think that is true, on so many levels. Stay tuned folks, lots more to come!!!

What colour is your grass?

This post has actually been sitting in my drafts folder since November of last year. I started to write it, and then wasn't sure if I wanted to post it or not. I am still not sure, so let's see how this goes.

Through facebook re-connects, work friends, friends through different groups, I have had so many conversations about life, loves, loss, hardships. One thing I can say forsure, is that the saying of the "grass isn't always greener" has never been so clear to me than after these conversations. I have always believed that, but it is clear as we are getting older and living our lives and different experiences.

I remember one year after I went on a med cruise with my aunt I was having dinner with a friend and showing her all the pictures. She was happy for me, and envious at the same time, commenting on how great it was that I could travel and see different parts of the world with no worries other than myself. I agreed, but commented, you are married, you are expecting a baby and you have just bought a house. I don't have any of that. At that time, I wasn't living in my condo at that time. She thought the grass was greener in my single yard, and I thought her grass was greener in her married with children yard. I am sure that either one of us was right or wrong. It all depends on what side of the fence you sit on.

I know I am very lucky in my life. I have good friends, I have a job, I have a great relationship with my parents and family, and being an aunt is truly the most rewarding part of my life. Not everyone I know has the chance to see their nieces and nephew on a weekly basis. I am lucky enough to have them close to me and now the girls are old enough to call me on their own and want to see me and their parents can drop them off. It is the great joy in my life.

I have had a job that has taken me around the world (literally) and back over the last 21 years. The industry hasn't been as rewarding as it once was, but I am still fortunate to have been and seen as much as I have over the years, and will always have that. Wherever my life may take me, I will always have my travels. What I have seen and learned over the years has been invaluable. I will never forget any of it. I consider myself very wealthy in the life experiences I have been able to have because of my job.

Never judge a book by its cover....we all learned that, didn't we?


Life changing....every day life is a roller coaster - some days we want to get off the ride and other days, we scream with excitement and want more. Tomorrow is another day - get back in the line to ride the ride again!

Sally Vs. What a bagel

I am not a picky eater. I am not, but my mother thinks I am. Trust me, I am not. But...I do like what I like and if I am going to enjoy what I eat, just like the next person I want my food cooked a certain way. I don't like my steak well done when I go to a steak house, I don't like my yolks hard when I order eggs, and I don't like my wing burned when I go to Swiss chalet. I don't think that is too difficult, do you?

For some strange reason, when I go to What a bagel near my condo, there is almost always an issue with my food. I don't know what it is, but it happens there all the time.

Bagel World (also near my condo) has 'flagels' which are flat bagels. They use their flagels to make bagelinis. It is basically like taking a bagel, putting tuna, cheese, onion and tomato and putting it in the panini press and pushing it down into a yummy gooey sandwich of goodness. They have three or four different options of bagelinis to choose from. If you haven't tried one, the next time you are there, you should.

A few weeks ago, I made plans with friends to have lunch at Bagel World. Because the two bagel places are so close together, a mistake was made and we ended up at What a Bagel. I was VERY disappointed because I wanted my tuna bagelini from bagel world.

I look through the menu at What a bagel and see that they have a "tuna melt". Here is how the conversation went down with the server:

Me: The tuna melt - how is it made?
Server: it is an open faced sandwich.
Me: Is it possible to have it in the sandwich press as a closed sandwich.
Server: sure, we can do that.
Me: Can you put red onion in it?
Server: sure, not a problem.
Me: Great. That is what I will have.

So, the runner brings the food for the table, and she brings my tuna melt - an OPEN FACE sandwich with the tuna and then the crispy melted cheese on top. I look at it and say, "this is not what I ordered". She takes it away.

The server comes back with the same plate and I repeat, "this is not what I ordered, you said it wasn't an issue to put it in the press. And as well, there is no onion." She takes it away, and I look at my friends and say, "all they are going to do is close it and shove it in the press.

She brings it back and that is exactly what she did. and the raw onion in a bowl on the plate. I take one look at it and say, "that is not what I ordered and I don't want it." The reason why I didn't want it is because when you make a sandwich in the panini press, the cheese gets soft and melted and if the onion was "in" the sandwich, it would have been cooked. This sandwich the cheese was crispy and hard from being stuffed in the broiler and the onion was raw.

I wasn't trying to be difficult, but if I am going to pay $10.49 for a tuna sandwich, I want it the way I ordered it and the way you said it could be done. I hated sending it back, but I really didn't want to eat it the way it was cooked.

In the end, I ended up with a rye bagel and creamed cheese. A far cry from the craving for a bagelini that I wanted. I still haven't had my bagelini. If you want to meat for lunch and try it out, let me know, I would love it!

Have you sent back food at a restaurant, if so, let me know what is was and why, I am curious.

Support your local businesses!

As I mentioned in my earlier post today, we had a lot of DONATED support for our fundraising tea. For those of you who volunteer or work in the world of fundraising, you understand the importance of donations and donors. Donors are also people who not only donate products or services, but their own time to make sure an event is successful.

I would like to share our donors contact details here in my blog. These are amazing women and services within our community. People are always asking on facebook, "does anyone know who makes custom cakes, or cake pops, or gluten free baking" I have the answers to all of those questions here in this post.


Little Bakers - Your Cupcake Makers
Haley and Chay Kerbel - Creators
Haley - 416-930-0094
Chay - 647-448-8985
Place your order at hc.kerbel@littlebakers.ca

M'or Sweets
Gift baskets, Nut-Free Chocolates and cakes
Mandi Ross - Owner

905-508-0690

http://www.morsweets.com/

info@morsweets.com

Kake Kreations

"Your perfect Cake for your Perfect event"

Karey Anne Large - Creator

905-493-8855

http://www.kakekreations.ca/

karey@kakekreations.ca

Imagine - Custom Cakes

Haim Ben-Ary

416-949-4373

hbenary@gmail.com

The Cake Bomb

A burst of flavour in every pop

416-627-8549

Cathy Alfano - Creator

thecakebomb@gmail.com

thecakebomb.blogspot.com

Wheelie Sweet

Desserts and Catering

Karen Fleisher-Sheffer

416-428-2563

karen@wheeliesweet.com

http://www.wheeliesweet.com/

Custom Cake Creations

For any event, occasion or special celebration

Tali Nahmias - 416-738-4099

tali_nahmias@hotmail.com

Sarah Bodnya - 416-358-0236

sarahbodnya@gmail.com

I hope that one of these amazing creative baking artists can make something for you in the future.

I also wanted to mention our amazing decorations that we had for the tea. We worked with Cody Party and they were amazing to work with and provided a great selection of supplies and donated some products as well. Here are the details:
http://www.codyparty.com/
1450 Clark Avenue West
Coulters Mill Marketplace (the Vibe plaza)
905-669-0060
thornhill@codyparty.com
Make sure you ask for Jacqui!

If you need any business cards, let me know, I have cards for all of the vendors.

Hadassah Tea and Fundraising event 2012

Last year I was asked by my friends to take over the fundraising chair postition of the Hadassah Chapter. They know that I enjoy volunteering, charity work, fundraising and event planning and thought it would be a good fit for me. I accepted the challenge and now was part of the exec.

I was in BBYO growing up and part of a chapter and it was a great learning tool as a teen to learn about how executives work, meet, plan, delegate and execute. As an adult, it is also more challenging, because you are now dealing with adults and every changing lives, families, situations. It certainly proves to be more challenging in adulthood.

So, our main fundraising event for the programming year was put into motion - a fundraising tea and purse auction. What is a purse auction you may ask? Well, it is easy actually - you ask everyone you know if they have gently used purses that they want to donate, and then you put together a silent auction to raise money (full post on executing to follow).

As fundraising chair I also asked everyone to ask people that they knew that were in the baking fields to donate baked goods and services to our tea. The contributions were OUTSTANDING and ABUNDANT. You cannot imagine the amazing aray of baked goods that were donated to our amazing tea. (Post to follow with all the names of the providers).

I am happy to report that our efforts netted out over $600 to CHW - Hadassah - Children Healthcare and Women - who have been helping in Canada and Israel for almost 100 years.

I know that this was the first and hopefully to become an annual event for our chapter.

Thank you to all of those who helped make the event a success!