Passover BBQ תשע״ו/2016

ערב שביעי לפסח תשע״ו

I know this may sound crazy, but i am sitting here on my roof, barbecuing before Yom Tov. Nope. No balcony in my current apartment.

Of course, it is mutar (permissible) to cook on Yom Tov, even for Shabboth, via Eruv Tavshilin. However, after you read this, I believe you will know I chose to doing the על האש/Al HaAish (barbecuing) before Yom Tov.

Pardon the blurriness. It is either due to the smoke, or to the angling of my laptop's
built-in webcam, which wobbled, or both.

First off, I live on the fourth floor, called the fifth floor in the U. S., without an elevator. Since my floor is also the top floor, I thought it would be easier to go up on the roof. I believe I remember seeing it done. Nevertheless, I can see small barbecues like my own on the roofs of neighboring buildings. So, I thought I would give it a shot.

My first mistake was climbing up the ladder to the roof barefoot. At first, I did not mind, but when I starting having to carry things up one-handed, my feet started to hurt. Most of you know that I am not a big fan of shoes, but am willing to tolerate sandals. Although I am not representative of all San Diegeños, this is certainly an artifact from having been born and raised there. Fortunately, we are also no strangers to barbecuing, albeit my friends from Texas may argue about our relative barbecuing skills.

Fellow bloggers Jameel @ The Muqata and Rafi @ Life In Israel may also want to chime in on barbecuing, one of their favor pastimes. Lucky them, they do not have to climb up onto roofs!

But, I digress...

My second mistake was carrying things up, which are going to be a lot harder for me to carry down,...one-handed.

My worries included silly things like the smoke blowing back [down] into the building, disturbing the neighbors, and serious things like falling off the roof and/or burning the building down. The main reason for barbecuing before Yom Tov was safety. I would rather stick around by the coals, and wait for them to burn down, instead of chancing leaving the barbecue on the roof unattended.

The photo also shows pipes running out of a neighbor's dude shemesh (water heater). There are more than a few pieces of equipment up here to avoid damaging.

I was also worried about something falling off the roof, and then being the lucky one to get a citation for littering, something which is not as strange in Israel as you might think. And speaking of life in Israel.

I am not so worried about the time. I am going out tonight, and can just cook everything else tomorrow morning for lunch. Of course, once these hosts of mine read this post, they may regret telling me not to "...worry about bringing anything." (Tee-Hee!)

I am using an particular brand of American charcoal, which is probably even more poisonous, and industrial strength carcinogenic than other brands (...and thus will remain nameless, so that I do not get sued). But, it got started very quickly, saving me some time. Olive wood is recommended.

Now that the grill is starting to cool down, I am going to risk beginning to bring things down from the roof. Before I leave the house, I intend to come back up, and take down the barbecue, just in case.

Needless to say, after the first trip down, I put sandals on.

Oh, and by the way, a bag of mine just fell off the roof. I'll let you know if I get that citation, I mentioned above.

Hag Same'ah and Shabboth Shalom!

Jerusalem Snow תשע"ד/2013

ט' לחודש העשירי תשע"ד

Anniversary of the Deaths of Ezra and Nehemiah

Well, I suppose that I would be remiss if I did not report on the snowfall in Jerusalem.

אֵשׁ וּבָרָד, שֶׁלֶג וְקִיטוֹר; רוּחַ סְעָרָה, עֹשָׂה דְבָרוֹ. תהלים קמח,ח

Fire and hail, snow and vapour, stormy wind, fulfilling His word. Psalms 148:8

Leading up to today, there were mixed reports on weather sites, which quickly turned into unanimous bets on snow to begin Wednesday (last) night. Kicking myself that I had yet to purchase a gas balloon for cooking back-up, in case the electricity were to go, I was told that no one ever remembered the electricity going out during the snow in Jerusalem.

I, too, remembered being snowed in in Ofra, with a crappy electrical system, a product of German Holocaust reparations, I believe. But, I guess it wasn't so crappy, because it didn't go out during the snow. I was stuck in my caravan (trailer) for three days. But, I wasn't going to complain. I had plenty of food, electricity, and Ofra's satellite television, consisting of the three Israeli channels, CNN (gag!), Hallmark, and BBC Prime, and didn't have to go to work. My cellular network was out the whole time, and I didn't have Internet, but that probably made the snow experience even better.

But, I digress....

View from my balcony:
The lights on the sukkah still haven't been taken down, and are collecting snow.

Today, when I left for work at 8:30, it was still snowing. I had already received a phone from my boss, letting me know that we would be open today as usual,...just in case I was in any doubt. I continued my trek to the bus stop. I several buses going a different way than their usual routes. Uh-oh, I thought. Now I have to figure out the detours, or just give up and walk through the snow and slush. Fortunately, I had my fantastic galoshes and rain slicker (with shtreimel-shaped hood), purchased last year.

As I panned the area to see that less than half of local businesses were open, I noticed some buses on their regular route trying to turn around. Some drivers were at a stand still, and on their phones. Still other buses had their hazard lights on, their drivers absent, probably out getting something warm to drink.

The snow started to come down even harder. At that moment I heard my phone. It was my boss. I had already missed two of her calls. She said to forget it. Whoo-Hoo! When she was going into work, she was already almost in an accident herself. I reminded here that it would become even more dangerous when the snow started to melt. Native Israelis in the center of the country hardly have any experience driving in snow, slush, or ice. She shouldn't take any chances. Even though as a former New Yorker, she didn't need the reminder.

Screen Shot: Live Kotel Cam
9 Teveth, 5774/December 12, 2013, 12:30 PM

I was certainly not going to argue about having the day off from work, especially since I work much farther away from home than my former five-minute walk. I figured that while I am out, I might as well finish my last bit of shopping for Shabbath. Depending on how I feel tomorrow, dessert and snacks may or may not happen.

So now, here I am, snuggled up in front of my space heater and computer screen, with hot coffee and a friend egg sandwich with tehinah.

The snow subsided at around 11:30 AM. But, now at 1:30 PM, it's on again, off again.

Yaakov Cantor, Jerusalem meteorologist reports:

Israel weather update: Major winter storm in progress and will continue through Shabbat morning... 

Temperatures have cooled faster than expected in Jerusalem, Shomron, Gush Etzion area. Snow is currently being reported in Israel above about 650 m elevation. Total accumulations are likely to be higher than earlier expectations, 20-40 cm by Shabbat morning in Jerusalem, Gush Etzion, and Shomron.

Although locally heavy snow has fallen so far, it has been a wet snow. The heaviest accumulations are likely to be tonight (Thursday) when the coldest air aloft arrives and snow becomes a little drier.

Stay tuned!

I Caved

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parshath Ki Tissa 5768

Remember my "Macho Settler Sandal Shitah?" Last year I reported that I hadn't worn regular shoes for quite some time, only sandals with the exception of rain boots during last year's week of snow in Jerusalem.

Well, I caved.


A neighbor [felt sorry for me? and] gave me some shoes. He claims they were a gift from his credit card company, but they turned out to be too small for him.

Now, why would a credit card company send out a gift without checking the size? Maybe it did, but put the wrong pair in the box.

Maybe it's time for me to stop asking questions, and just say thank you.

Anyway, my feet were cold even with two pair of socks and sandals. So, I started wearing those shoes. There have been a few hints of spring this week, and temperatures have been around 17 C (62.5 F). Tonight it's expected to drop only down to 6 C (43 F). So I can handle the walk down from the hill in just Shabbath sandals.

Kenesset Bans Sandals!

10 of the Eighth Month 5768

Knesset Bans Sandals in Addition to Jeans

(4 Cheshvan 5768, October 16, '07)

(IsraelNN.com) In addition to a new regulation banning denim jeans in the Knesset building, sandals - the classic Israeli footwear - have now been banned as well.

Journalists and citizens invited to testify before Knesset committees bitterly complained Monday that they had only been informed of the jeans ban and not that on sandals.

Exemptions were granted after committee heads called the head of Knesset security to ask that entry be granted to the sandal-footed visitors.

Then this news flash was posted about 11 hours later...

Knesset Relaxes Dress Code for Disabled

Well, I'm glad, someone showed some sense.

Apparently, the durability of denim is ideal for those wearing leg braces. Other fabrics would not last very long, with the constant rubbing of the braces.

Back to the issue at hand, those of you who know me, know that I do not own standard shoes, and haven't owned shoes in years. I have two pairs of sandals, one for during the week, and one for Shabbath and Yom Tov (shown right). I even polish them liKhvod Shabbath Qodesh.

Most inclement weather does not deter my sandal-wearing either. Last year I continued in the tradition of my Macho Settler Sandal Shitah, wearing sandals throughout the winter, with the exception of the week of Jerusalem snow, and periodic days of heavy downpour. On those days, I must admit that I did wear rain boots.

But, I digress....

Where are the Israel sandal companies? Why aren't they crying "foul?" Israeli cultural pride aside, what about the possible financial implications?

If the U. S. Congress were to ban sports trainers, there is no doubt that athletic shoe companies and civil rights groups would cause such an uproar, the ban would be reversed before day's end. Cries of freedom of expression would no doubt be accompanied by the proclamation that trainers have a firm place in American culture, and are now considered part of traditional American dress.

Furthermore, where are all of the groups who traditionally call for unity among Israelis? Is this not an issue affecting religious and secular, right and left, Jew and Arab?

Have they caved into their Euro-philia, shunning their traditional footwear for one more acceptable to the West?

Forget the Annapolis Conference! This issue of the Kenesset's ban on sandals has the real potential to bring down the current government.

And so, I put it out to you, my fellow Israelis. Let us not be stepped upon (pun intended)! Let us rise up, and take action!

...In the meantime, the next time I visit the Kenesset on official business, I suppose I could just take my sandals off. After all, I saw nothing in the ban regarding bare feet.

Macho Settler Sandal Shitah

Mossa'ei Shabbath Parshath Hayyei Sarah 5767

It is the middle of fall. I have not seen any seasonal forecasts, yet, but it certainly feels like it's gonna be a much colder winter than last year. Last year, IMHO, was actually pretty mild, so much so that I wore sandals throughout the entire winter. The question is, will I be able to make through this year?

Recently at work, in Jerusalem, I was greeted with raised eyebrows when I mentioned that I only owned sandals. I do have a pair of slippers, as well as a pair of rain boots with a hole in one of the soles, but my primary footwear are sandals. I have a regular pair for the week and a nicer pair for Shabbath and Haggim. As my regular pair has pretty much fallen apart, my Shabbath pair has defaulted to my only pair. But, they're also falling apart.

So, the next question is, now that winter approaches, and I need some new shoes, will I break down and buy a pair of "real" shoes, as my colleagues might call them, or will I buy another pair of sandals?

My colleagues continued the now escalating confrontation, "What do mean you only own sandals?!"

Beginning to get a little annoyed, as work ended for the week, and I needed some serious sleep catch-up, I replied in a very sarcastic manner, "We 'settlers' wear sandals even in the winter."

I hate that word "settler," not because we're doing a misswah (ie. what we're supposed to be doing), but because our name-calling "brethren" in illustrious, limousine leftist communities like Ramath Aviv and K'far Shmaryahu refuse to wake up to the fact that they, too, are view as "settlers" by an increasing number of so-called, "international community" members, such as Muslims, their brainwashed, European lackeys, self-hating Jews, and other assorted self-destructive fools.

But, I digress....

My colleagues: "Oh, c'mon! Every one knows that all settlers own at least one pair of work boots! You can wear boots in the winter!"

This is obviously not true, as at least one "settler," myself, does not. However, his stereotype does have basis in truth. Work boots really are a necessity as a protection against nails, broken glass, and scorpions. That doesn't stop the kids in my neighborhood from running around with bare feet, though. Most every one involved in the building industry does own a pair of work boots.

Back to the set of questions at hand, to sandal, or not to sandal?

Certainly, it would assur (prohibited) to do anything which would be of detriment to my health. According to many, if not most, opinions, "Fashion Hallachah" dictates that I have reached an age at which it is mutar (permissible) for me to wear socks with my sandals. But, still....

Well, today, I suppose I was let off the hook from playing "macho sandalled-settler" this winter, as I saw my teen-aged, "Hilltop Youth" neighbors all wearing boots and other assorted close-toed footwear. Things change....

But, the bottom line is that between work, commuting back and forth from the Shomron to Jerusalem, and finding time to sleep a few measly hours per day, I have to find the time even to get to a shoe shore, regardless of my ultimate decision.

So, when it gets cold enough, and I can't take it anymore, I'll probably make the time to get to a shoe store.

I'll let you know....