(one of the most wonderful dates in my life
I had a little girl
And she had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
And when she was bad,
She wasn't very bad,
At least nothing like rhymes with "horrid."
And when she grew up,
She bought a little pup,
And the pup grew up to be a dog.
And then she moved away,
And then I moved away,
So here's the way I'll say
"Happy Birthday" to Mercy--
On my blog.
April 23, 2010
April 14, 2010
Don't cook your food in a violin.
Today was test day. It was a hard test, but I think I did well. The first time through I got most of the answers down, but when I went through it the second time I found several mistakes. I went through it a third tme and found more mistakes. At the last minute, just before I turned it in, I found another mistake. Whew! I burned up a lot of calories taking that test!
I got back a story that I wrote in Hebrew, about a page and a half long, about Ethiopian Jews. Again, I proof-read it at least three times, and each time found more errors -- but not all of them! I think the teacher liked it, even though she marked in about 60 corrections! And she may have let a few things slide that weren't quite the way an adult would speak. (But hey, you have to start somewhere!)
Most of my mistakes were spelling mistakes (1 through 7).
List of errors (I love lists!):
1. writing "heh" for "xet" or "xet" for "heh
2. writing "kaph" for "qoph"or "qoph" for final "kaph"
3. writing "zayin" backwards (which makes it a gimmel)
4. writing "ayin" for "aleph"
5. writing "tav" for "tet"
6. writing "samech" for "shin"
7. leaving out alef or ayin in several verbs
8. wrong gender of "this"
9. wrong gender of adjective
10. leaving out the subject pronoun
11. using a wrong verb
12. wrong preposition
13. leaving out the definite article
14. singular instead of plural verb
15. several others
When you learn your first language, you first learn to hear, then speak, then read, then write and spell. So I guess I shouldn't be worried if I can't spell yet--it's only been 5 months.
It's fun to learn a few new words in class or out of the dictionary and then the very same day hear someone using the same words. Is it providence or just "odds?" Of course I know that "odds" are really providence, too.
When I get on the bus these days sometimes there is a strong smell of fresh vegetables. Meaning, onions. People sometimes have huge bags of produce that they got at the market. Today I sat by a lady who had a big bag full of nice-looking big leaves, sort of like sycamore leaves or grape leaves. She said she rolls them up with rice and spices and some other words I didn't know. Then I asked her if she cooked them in the oven. Only I mistakenly used the word "kinor" (violin) instead of "tanur" (oven). She didn't let on that she noticed my mistake, but explained that she cooks them over the gas. I mentioned my mistake, and she again explained that she cooks them not in the oven but "on the top, over the gas." (I just learned the word for "up" or "on top" today.)I spoke to her in a mixture of English, Hebrew and Spanish. There's no point in killing myself trying to speak Hebrew when a lot of people speak perfect English and a lot of them speak Spanish. But she answered me in Hebrew and a few hand gestures. (Whew! That short conversation burned a lot of calories, too!)
I wonder if most people here have gas stoves rather than electric, and if they have electric, do they still call it gas? Just like in Canada they call their electricity water (hydro) because it's hydro-electric power.
I got back a story that I wrote in Hebrew, about a page and a half long, about Ethiopian Jews. Again, I proof-read it at least three times, and each time found more errors -- but not all of them! I think the teacher liked it, even though she marked in about 60 corrections! And she may have let a few things slide that weren't quite the way an adult would speak. (But hey, you have to start somewhere!)
Most of my mistakes were spelling mistakes (1 through 7).
List of errors (I love lists!):
1. writing "heh" for "xet" or "xet" for "heh
2. writing "kaph" for "qoph"or "qoph" for final "kaph"
3. writing "zayin" backwards (which makes it a gimmel)
4. writing "ayin" for "aleph"
5. writing "tav" for "tet"
6. writing "samech" for "shin"
7. leaving out alef or ayin in several verbs
8. wrong gender of "this"
9. wrong gender of adjective
10. leaving out the subject pronoun
11. using a wrong verb
12. wrong preposition
13. leaving out the definite article
14. singular instead of plural verb
15. several others
When you learn your first language, you first learn to hear, then speak, then read, then write and spell. So I guess I shouldn't be worried if I can't spell yet--it's only been 5 months.
It's fun to learn a few new words in class or out of the dictionary and then the very same day hear someone using the same words. Is it providence or just "odds?" Of course I know that "odds" are really providence, too.
When I get on the bus these days sometimes there is a strong smell of fresh vegetables. Meaning, onions. People sometimes have huge bags of produce that they got at the market. Today I sat by a lady who had a big bag full of nice-looking big leaves, sort of like sycamore leaves or grape leaves. She said she rolls them up with rice and spices and some other words I didn't know. Then I asked her if she cooked them in the oven. Only I mistakenly used the word "kinor" (violin) instead of "tanur" (oven). She didn't let on that she noticed my mistake, but explained that she cooks them over the gas. I mentioned my mistake, and she again explained that she cooks them not in the oven but "on the top, over the gas." (I just learned the word for "up" or "on top" today.)I spoke to her in a mixture of English, Hebrew and Spanish. There's no point in killing myself trying to speak Hebrew when a lot of people speak perfect English and a lot of them speak Spanish. But she answered me in Hebrew and a few hand gestures. (Whew! That short conversation burned a lot of calories, too!)
I wonder if most people here have gas stoves rather than electric, and if they have electric, do they still call it gas? Just like in Canada they call their electricity water (hydro) because it's hydro-electric power.
April 13, 2010
Holocaust Day
Monday was Holocaust Day. At 11:00 the sirens started going, and kept going for two minutes. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stood still. Cars stopped on the road and people got out and stood beside their cars.
A small number of people did not stop. They just went on about their business as usual, as if it didn't pertain to them.
Ecc 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh ; a time to mourn , and a time to dance;
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice , and weep with them that weep.
Job had much wealth, but he did not take his ease, but rather remembered the less fortunate: -- Job 30:25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was [not] my soul grieved for the poor?
Solomon was heard because of his tender heart and humility: -- 2Ch 34:27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard [thee] also, saith the LORD.
It is not only right for us to weep with/for others, it might be very bad for us if we don't: -- Luke 6:25 Woe unto you that are full ! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
Many others also have suffered. When you read about the BlackHawk Wars or Chief Joseph or the Trail of Tears, or about one child who suffered and died, or even one old person who simply died of old age, you can't not be moved. Even if you have not yet experienced at close hand any great sorrow of your own, you can Stand in Awe. And there are also those whom no one even knows about.
"Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward."
And Ecc 7:2 [It is] better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that [is] the end of all men; and the living will lay [it] to his heart.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced , and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold , the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Luk 6:21 Blessed [are ye] that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed [are ye] that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
A small number of people did not stop. They just went on about their business as usual, as if it didn't pertain to them.
Ecc 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh ; a time to mourn , and a time to dance;
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice , and weep with them that weep.
Job had much wealth, but he did not take his ease, but rather remembered the less fortunate: -- Job 30:25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was [not] my soul grieved for the poor?
Solomon was heard because of his tender heart and humility: -- 2Ch 34:27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard [thee] also, saith the LORD.
It is not only right for us to weep with/for others, it might be very bad for us if we don't: -- Luke 6:25 Woe unto you that are full ! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
Many others also have suffered. When you read about the BlackHawk Wars or Chief Joseph or the Trail of Tears, or about one child who suffered and died, or even one old person who simply died of old age, you can't not be moved. Even if you have not yet experienced at close hand any great sorrow of your own, you can Stand in Awe. And there are also those whom no one even knows about.
"Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward."
And Ecc 7:2 [It is] better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that [is] the end of all men; and the living will lay [it] to his heart.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced , and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold , the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Luk 6:21 Blessed [are ye] that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed [are ye] that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
April 6, 2010
The Old Synagogue
About all I know about history is that what once was isn't now, at least not like it was. From a brochure of this place I read that the synagogue was built at the beginning of the third century CE in the shape of a trapezoid and had a black and white mosaic floor. Later it was repaired and remodeled and a new mosaic floor added. The synagogue as we see it now was built in the mid-fifth century. It was finally destroyed around 530 CE during the reign of JustinianI.
Part of the floor was accidentally discovered in 1965.
The minute I saw this plant I thought, it looks like a giant milkweed. And when I broke off a piece of a leaf it sure enough had milky juice in it. It's actually a Sodom Apple, and is related to a milkweed.
Biggest milkweed I have ever seen.
Most people don't come here to see milkweeds (I do), but rather this:
A miqveh, for ceremonial bathing.
Not a rug. Pieces of stone.
Mosaic floor with birds. (I don't think it was really quite this shiny--the camera thought it was.)
In part of the mosaic are listed names from Adam to Jacob, and also Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and also the names of the signs of the zodiac, and a curse on those who start quarrels, et al.
Two layers of floor.
Number 8 shows the location of the Holy Ark. Number 9 is the "seat of Moses."
Looking out of the tent you can see remains of little buildings. I'd love to be an archaeologist and pick away one pebble at a time to see what else can be found.
The fence around it is made of wire with rushes or something planted in it.
Owl made out of mud.
Kitchenware.
Something made out of a palm leaf.
I was trying to take a picture of this little bird, but when I looked at the picture I noticed the bags. Any guesses what they're for?
Part of the floor was accidentally discovered in 1965.
The minute I saw this plant I thought, it looks like a giant milkweed. And when I broke off a piece of a leaf it sure enough had milky juice in it. It's actually a Sodom Apple, and is related to a milkweed.
Biggest milkweed I have ever seen.
Most people don't come here to see milkweeds (I do), but rather this:
A miqveh, for ceremonial bathing.
Not a rug. Pieces of stone.
Mosaic floor with birds. (I don't think it was really quite this shiny--the camera thought it was.)
In part of the mosaic are listed names from Adam to Jacob, and also Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and also the names of the signs of the zodiac, and a curse on those who start quarrels, et al.Two layers of floor.
Number 8 shows the location of the Holy Ark. Number 9 is the "seat of Moses."
Looking out of the tent you can see remains of little buildings. I'd love to be an archaeologist and pick away one pebble at a time to see what else can be found.
The fence around it is made of wire with rushes or something planted in it.
Owl made out of mud.
Kitchenware.
Something made out of a palm leaf.
I was trying to take a picture of this little bird, but when I looked at the picture I noticed the bags. Any guesses what they're for?
Dead Sea
Finally I'm getting back to pictures.
While the Goldby's were climbing mountains,
the Hembds were lazing on the beach.
The water was very slippery. I have always been just barely able to float on my back, provided I take a deep breath and keep my hands moving, and even then my face just barely stays out of the water and my feet drag way below the surface. In this water, however, I can float while holding my hands and feet out of the water! One woman was floating and reading a book.
See the guy way out there?
People buy this black stuff that you coat yourself with. I managed to get some that somebody left behind. It made my skin feel great for about three days afterwards.
Two nice little girls were playing nearby. They spoke mostly Hebrew. But I did hear one of them saying, as she smeared herself with black stuff, "I love it, I love it!"
Al didn't have a nice hat, so I didn't bother to take his picture.
While the Goldby's were climbing mountains,
the Hembds were lazing on the beach.
The water was very slippery. I have always been just barely able to float on my back, provided I take a deep breath and keep my hands moving, and even then my face just barely stays out of the water and my feet drag way below the surface. In this water, however, I can float while holding my hands and feet out of the water! One woman was floating and reading a book.
See the guy way out there?
People buy this black stuff that you coat yourself with. I managed to get some that somebody left behind. It made my skin feel great for about three days afterwards.
Two nice little girls were playing nearby. They spoke mostly Hebrew. But I did hear one of them saying, as she smeared herself with black stuff, "I love it, I love it!"
Al didn't have a nice hat, so I didn't bother to take his picture.Frosted rocks. With salt, though, not sugar. I wouldn't eat one either way.
We stayed there quite some time and didn't get any sunburn. I'm not sure how to explain that. The altitude (i.e. lack of it)? Salt in the air?
A hyrax. They sit very still so it's easy to get a picture.
An odd plant covered with tiny hairs. I didn't touch it, fearing it might be the stinging kind.
Another odd plant. This one has little spongey berries on it. They taste good--slightly sweet and very salty.
We stayed there quite some time and didn't get any sunburn. I'm not sure how to explain that. The altitude (i.e. lack of it)? Salt in the air?
A hyrax. They sit very still so it's easy to get a picture.
An odd plant covered with tiny hairs. I didn't touch it, fearing it might be the stinging kind.
Another odd plant. This one has little spongey berries on it. They taste good--slightly sweet and very salty.
April 5, 2010
Passover and Easter
Passover, by the feeling in the air, is a nice, pleasant, quiet time. But it isn't really a passover at all. And there are so-o-o many regulations.
You start by cleaning house. It takes several weeks to do it right. Then you get authorization to sell your chametz. Chametz includes anything made from wheat, rye, barley, oats or spelt (and sometimes rice, corn, peanuts, and beans) that has not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after coming into contact with water. Chametz can not be owned, eaten, or even fed to pets or cattle during Passover. All chametz, utensils used to cook it, and animals whose diet cannot be changed must be disposed of or sold to a non-Jew (and bought back after the holiday). After dark on the first day you do a search for chametz. Any that isn't sold by a certain time has to be burned at a certain time. Meals are regulated, with certain symbolic foods served. Hands are washed at certain times. You might be required to recline on your left side and eat with your right hand (even if you are left-handed). The food would be prepared in such a way that you could eat it with your hands rather than using a fork. Reclining symbolizes that you are a free man and not a slave. The right blessings have to be said at the right time (or in some cases, not said), and the right prayers and praises said, and the right scriptures read. Candles have to be lit at the right times. Certain questions are asked and answered. Certain foods are eaten and certain ones not eaten, so many cups of wine drunk, certain amounts of bitter herbs eaten, a certain amount of work allowed or not allowed on each day. There are synagogue services every morning for a week, and people walk to them. There are games and teaching tricks for the children, quite commendable.
While reading about passover I ran across a recipe I might like to try. It's Charoset. There are many different recipes. Ingredients might include pears, nuts, apples, cinnamon and sweet wine, and sometimes figs, dates, coconut, orange juice or grape jelly. It may be cooked or not. It is supposed to remind one of the mortar the Israelites used when building for the Egyptians. One recipe uses forty ingredients to symbol the forty years of wandering in the wilderness.
I could see how some (a few) of the customs could sort of grow on you, but on the other hand, what a chore to have to be sure to do everything right. And there is so much missing.
Easter I haven't noticed. We're not near any churches. I've heard that some Christian churches take the Jewish ceremonies and traditions and re-interpret them for their own use. What a balagan! (mess, confusion)
Deut. 33:26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency: and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Heb. 3-10
Heb. 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were stangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
But now they desire a better country, that is, and heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Heb. 11:28 By faith he [Moses] kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood...
Heb. 11:39-40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.
Heb. 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
For our God is a consuming fire.
Heb. 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
You start by cleaning house. It takes several weeks to do it right. Then you get authorization to sell your chametz. Chametz includes anything made from wheat, rye, barley, oats or spelt (and sometimes rice, corn, peanuts, and beans) that has not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after coming into contact with water. Chametz can not be owned, eaten, or even fed to pets or cattle during Passover. All chametz, utensils used to cook it, and animals whose diet cannot be changed must be disposed of or sold to a non-Jew (and bought back after the holiday). After dark on the first day you do a search for chametz. Any that isn't sold by a certain time has to be burned at a certain time. Meals are regulated, with certain symbolic foods served. Hands are washed at certain times. You might be required to recline on your left side and eat with your right hand (even if you are left-handed). The food would be prepared in such a way that you could eat it with your hands rather than using a fork. Reclining symbolizes that you are a free man and not a slave. The right blessings have to be said at the right time (or in some cases, not said), and the right prayers and praises said, and the right scriptures read. Candles have to be lit at the right times. Certain questions are asked and answered. Certain foods are eaten and certain ones not eaten, so many cups of wine drunk, certain amounts of bitter herbs eaten, a certain amount of work allowed or not allowed on each day. There are synagogue services every morning for a week, and people walk to them. There are games and teaching tricks for the children, quite commendable.
While reading about passover I ran across a recipe I might like to try. It's Charoset. There are many different recipes. Ingredients might include pears, nuts, apples, cinnamon and sweet wine, and sometimes figs, dates, coconut, orange juice or grape jelly. It may be cooked or not. It is supposed to remind one of the mortar the Israelites used when building for the Egyptians. One recipe uses forty ingredients to symbol the forty years of wandering in the wilderness.
I could see how some (a few) of the customs could sort of grow on you, but on the other hand, what a chore to have to be sure to do everything right. And there is so much missing.
Easter I haven't noticed. We're not near any churches. I've heard that some Christian churches take the Jewish ceremonies and traditions and re-interpret them for their own use. What a balagan! (mess, confusion)
Deut. 33:26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency: and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Heb. 3-10
Heb. 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were stangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
But now they desire a better country, that is, and heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Heb. 11:28 By faith he [Moses] kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood...
Heb. 11:39-40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.
Heb. 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
For our God is a consuming fire.
Heb. 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
Sunday or Monday
I just noticed that my blog post for Monday says Sunday. There's probably a way to re-set that somehow.
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