Chanuka is one of my favorite holidays. Eight days of fun, with almost no restrictions. Lots of food, lots of presents, what's not to love?
Latkes are the best.
Doughnuts--not bad, though the icing sugar gets really messy. The songs are great.
Cleaning and preparing the candles are a pain in the neck.
What's my favorite part of Chanuka? Standing around with family after the candles are lit, just before digging into the latkes. It's a special feeling.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Israel
You may have noticed I've been neglecting this blog. Sorry.
To me, a blog is a big party. If you're interested in being a contributor, just give me a shout (offthed@gmail.com) and you're in.
I spent a year and a half in Israel a few years ago, and thought I'd share some of my positive memories.
- The weather. I loved how it never rained in the summer, and you barely ever needed a coat in the winter. Loved it.
- The food. Okay, lots of it was crap, but lots was great. Like bread for fifty cents a loaf (seriously). During bein hazmanim, I lived off of that stuff. Also hummus (a kilo tub for like two bucks). Oh, you know those shoko bags kids take to school? Those rock.
- Buses, tiyulim. Loved the buses, and how you were never too far from your next tiyul. Went on lots of tiyulim. LOVED Ein Gedi! Didn't go to Masada:(.
- Shabbos. LOVED it. People were always inviting us to their homes for the meals, and had LOTS of fun. Also, walking around Yerushalayim Friday night was pretty cool. It sometimes seemed like the whole city's population was walking down Shmuel Hanavi, cracking garinim.
- Carefree attitude. A lot of Israelis are mad chilled. Lots of unique personalities to hang out with. You never know what you're getting yourself into; the place is one big balagan, and it's a laugh a minute. Basically, what I'm saying is it's a lot of fun:).
To me, a blog is a big party. If you're interested in being a contributor, just give me a shout (offthed@gmail.com) and you're in.
I spent a year and a half in Israel a few years ago, and thought I'd share some of my positive memories.
- The weather. I loved how it never rained in the summer, and you barely ever needed a coat in the winter. Loved it.
- The food. Okay, lots of it was crap, but lots was great. Like bread for fifty cents a loaf (seriously). During bein hazmanim, I lived off of that stuff. Also hummus (a kilo tub for like two bucks). Oh, you know those shoko bags kids take to school? Those rock.
- Buses, tiyulim. Loved the buses, and how you were never too far from your next tiyul. Went on lots of tiyulim. LOVED Ein Gedi! Didn't go to Masada:(.
- Shabbos. LOVED it. People were always inviting us to their homes for the meals, and had LOTS of fun. Also, walking around Yerushalayim Friday night was pretty cool. It sometimes seemed like the whole city's population was walking down Shmuel Hanavi, cracking garinim.
- Carefree attitude. A lot of Israelis are mad chilled. Lots of unique personalities to hang out with. You never know what you're getting yourself into; the place is one big balagan, and it's a laugh a minute. Basically, what I'm saying is it's a lot of fun:).
Monday, December 8, 2008
Davening
By: Margo
I sometimes miss davening. Not the praying to an invisible God, nor the mandatory aspect of it, but I miss the intense concentration and meditation. I felt like I was delving deep into myself and simultaneously drawing closer to what I thought of as God. That part was lovely; it helped me reach self-knowledge, it brought me to a self-centered place, it enabled me to focus. Even after I stopped believing that the Torah is divine, I would talk to "God" intensely, just talk. That was great. Then I realized that God almost definitely wasn't there, and I stopped talking to myself.
Maybe I'll look into meditation. Or maybe I'll just resume talking to myself. It was easier when I thought I was talking to another being, though. Now I just feel crazy, except that it's crazier to talk to yourself and believe you're speaking to an invisible being than it is to just talk to yourself, fully knowing what you're doing. ;) Maybe I'm not so crazy, after all.
I sometimes miss davening. Not the praying to an invisible God, nor the mandatory aspect of it, but I miss the intense concentration and meditation. I felt like I was delving deep into myself and simultaneously drawing closer to what I thought of as God. That part was lovely; it helped me reach self-knowledge, it brought me to a self-centered place, it enabled me to focus. Even after I stopped believing that the Torah is divine, I would talk to "God" intensely, just talk. That was great. Then I realized that God almost definitely wasn't there, and I stopped talking to myself.
Maybe I'll look into meditation. Or maybe I'll just resume talking to myself. It was easier when I thought I was talking to another being, though. Now I just feel crazy, except that it's crazier to talk to yourself and believe you're speaking to an invisible being than it is to just talk to yourself, fully knowing what you're doing. ;) Maybe I'm not so crazy, after all.
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