Matzo Ball Soup

Bialik's house

Hayyim Nahman Bialik  ((1873-1934) is the national poet of the state of Israel, did you know that? now you do…his poems are threaded in every Israeli childhood memories for many many generations. In commemorating his birth day, the girls, my sister, her children, and my self went to visit his house located on 22 Bialik Street in the city of Tel Aviv. Yes, I wanted to see his house, but truthfully, I thought this was a great excuse to visit the city which is one of my favorites besides LA, New York, and Paris (of course).



^{That's not his house, thats the house across the street from his. I just really liked it.}
His house in Tel Aviv was a real treat, just like a colorful box of chocolates, every room we visited, every story we have heard on the tour (must take the tour) was like eating another bonbon from the box. When we left his house, I had lingering flavor of chocolate in my mouth with a strong taste for more.

I loved hearing all the inside stories of his life. I could easily imagine him sitting in his office writing, and reading. I could see him looking through the window seeing his little neighbor Chamotal, that inspired him to write a poem (which I love) titled: ”Chamotal” (obviously); Visiting his house, seeing where he worked made me feel more personal with his work.
^{that's his office window on the second floor, right across from Chamotal's.}

Children’s literature especially poems are a great way to improve a language and get a better understanding of a culture. And if you tie-in a creative activity, the poems become a live.

In the next couple of posts I will be suggesting some activities for some of Bialik’s poems. So please stay tuned. And I hope you try your best to read them in Hebrew (I will try my best to translate, I may ask my friend Anat to do that, she is an expert…)

In the mean time, If you want to read more about Bialik, wikipedia is one way

some of his translated children’s literature:
Knight of Onions and Knight of Garlic
English: New York, Hebrew Publishing Co., 1934, 1939

Far Over the Sea - Poems and Jingles for Children
English: New York, Union of American Hebrew Congreg. Press, 1939

And It Came To Pass
English: New York, Hebrew Publishing Co., 1938

This is if you can read in Hebrew:
Rutz ben susi

And some pictures from his house: via tchochkes
(I couldn’t take any photos my self)

till next time, have a great week

tali

A reminder: don't forget your sketch book

We have concluded our - lazy, cozy, indoor - Chanukah break with a great bang. after staying home for 2 days (I wasn’t joking when I said - lazy), we finally changed our pj’s, packed a delicious picnic basket, got all the kids in their sits, didn’t forget sketch books and some drawing tools, and off we went - once again - to visit the caves of Beit Govrin in the Judea desert (how symbolic for Chanukah). We had the most beautiful day.
While spending some time in the bell cave waiting for a fire act to start, Erel (my niece) pulled out her sketch book and started drawing the carved rosettes on the walls of the cave. She was soon to be followed by Zoe, Ori, Yonatan, Daniel, Shira, and another Erel, sharing tools, drawing what they see.



It was nice to see the kids follow each other into doing something creative. Kids love to draw, they are not afraid to make marks on a paper. a little different from most of us - the adults, who watch our kids from the side afraid to try and show our lacking skills.
So make sure your kids turn out different. Make sure they have confident with making a mark.
One way of doing that is by carrying a sketch book (a drawing pad) and a pencil everywhere you go:
Place it on the restaurant table while waiting for your waiter to serve your meal. Make some doodles while you wait.
Take it with you on nature walks, encourage your child to record what he/she sees
Take it to the beach and try and draw the waves
Take it to a museum and draw the art you like.

When you draw a space, a view, a thing, you start to see and understand all the different details that make it special and unique. 
“I have learned that what I have not drawn, I have never really seen, and that when I start drawing an ordinary thing, I realize how extraordinary it is, sheer miracle.” Fredrick Franck the Zen of Seeing, 1973.

So, my reminder: when you go out, always have a sketchbook and some drawing tools with you. It is a great habit to have. kids will always be thrilled to use it.
Encourage your kids to simply draw what they see.
Make sure you draw some your self, even if you don’t think you can.



tali

Read more about keeping a sketch book.

Too much stuff

We have moved a while ago, and only this week we have finally received our shipping container. Now, all I can see is lots and lots of boxes, containing lots and lots of stuff; half of which I don’t even remember we had. The funny thing is that my family and I have been living without our belongings for a while and did just fine (although some friends may say different…).

Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled to sleep on my bed and not on a leaking air mattress; the girls are more than exited to hug their long lost bears. The joy of lounging on my favorite vintage sofa (which almost everyone else hates) with buttons pushing down my back, sipping tea from my favorite mug is with no doubt priceless. Every box we open feels like its Xmass Hanukkah.

This week is a week of new beginnings, a new home, a new year, and a new kitten. 

Inspired by Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater article and The Story of Stuff (a movie), this year I hope to buy less and make more with what I already have. shop for closets (which I have non, quite pathetic for someone with stuff…) at the flea market, visit my local library before I log into Amazon, go back to sewing some of my own clothes now that I am reunited with my long lost sewing machines. I will also start posting Eco Kids Craft tutorials as part of my other blog - growing up creative.

This is going to be a great year.

What are your hopes for next year?

Shana Tova
tali

Celebrating love on Tu B'Av

Night has fallen on the city of Jerusalem. A cool desert breeze is a relief from the hot summer day of the month of Av.  All the unmarried women of Jerusalem are dressed in simple white clothing; rich could not be distinguished from poor. Giggling and chattering, they are ready for the dance that will possibly help them find love, on the night of Tu B’ Av.  The unattached men are groomed and determined to find the girl they will marry. The surrounding vineyards of Jerusalem are transformed on that one fool moon night, on the 15 of the month of Av, back in the days of the second temple.

2000 years later this holiday is once again celebrated in Israel.
On one hand, instead of the simplicity that blurred the boundaries of wealth, it is a highly commercialized holiday, characterized with stylized heart shape chocolates, heart shape helium balloons, heart shaped cookies, and heart shaped everything (highly influenced by Valentines Day).
On the other hand, if this is what it takes to help us pause from our fast pace life and schedule in our busy calendar a day to celebrate love, so be it!

2000 years later there are vineyards once again, on the surrounding hills of Jerusalem. You may not be able to find dancing bachelors waiting for the love of their lives on Tu B’ Av, but some tasty wine is becoming part of the landscape signature. The ongoing drought  have led farmers to scrap their high consuming in water orchards such as kiwi and apples and replace them with wine making grapes that are native to the area and are very low in water consumption read more.

Israel may be running low on water, apples and kiwis but it is filling up with delicious wines that are perfect for a celebration of love.

In the US you may find some of the Israeli wines at the local liquor store, or on line at:

www.israeliwinedirect.com

www.onlinekosherwine.com

Other posts about hearts:

The origins of the heart symbol

Heart for dinner