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After almost 50 years in the workforce I am finally retiring. People having been asking how I’ll fill my time, and that is yet to be seen. I hope to pursue some of the things I have missed, like gardening, having more time to read, taking some trips, seeing friends, and taking better care of […]
The past few days have been filled with worry, not always at the forefront of my mind, but ready to surface at any given moment. As Hurricane Irma began to pound Florida, those of us who are far away feel powerless, and all we can do is stay-tuned and pray for the best. My sister […]
Recently my sister asked me if I ever think about our mother. I was more than slightly surprised by the question, but Anita explained that I don’t often bring her up in our conversations. She’s right, I don’t speak of her very much, but still she is never far from my thoughts, especially around the […]
My daughter Shira and one of her oldest and closest friends Alex, have been traveling through Morocco for the past two weeks. Shira has sent detailed e-mails about their adventures, and this one was perfect to share just before Shabbat. As we begin planning our Rosh Hashana menus, I love the idea of having something […]
My sister is in town, and it isn’t surprising that the conversation often turns to our mother, hers and mine. The discussion typically begins with Anita recalling how, “our mother used to say…” ,”used to prepare…”, “used to pronounce…” or “used to like…”, and ends when I respond by saying, “not my mother.” There are […]
Nir and Guy arrived at my home early Sunday afternoon, carrying shopping bags filled with fresh groceries they had just purchased at the local Persian market. Although we hadn’t met before, these young Israelis, full of personality and charm, quickly made themselves at home. Promoting their company, Puzzle Israel, (which provides a unique approach to […]
They are almost like characters in a book, these relatives that I have heard so much about but never had the opportunity to meet. The baker, the grocer, and the tanner. Yisroel (Isser) Gutman, my maternal grandfather, the one who I know the most about, owned a tannery in Mogielnica. Is it coincidence or […]
Bamitbach 