Corona Lock-down Tips, How I'm Surviving

How are you getting through these challenging times? Corona lock-down isn't all that easy. I'm the type who loves getting out, even if it's a walk around the block. Actually, especially in our rather rural area, in theory I can take a walk. But Gd has decided to continue winter a bit longer.

I had to contort myself to get this photo taken earlier.

Now I'll get off the computer after posting this. Here's my little message and plans:

Even when rain resumes, I'll keep the sun in my mind. It's there, even when hidden. I'll dress as nicely as I can, even though I'm not going out. I plan another walk inside while listening to a class, like yesterday. I'll turn on the heat, so I won't suffer from the cold.

I'll finish Shabbat preparations and take out a cake and challot from the freezer.

Gd willing I'll read another children's book or story or poem at 2pm Israel time.

May Gd give us health and sense of humor to survive these difficult challenging times. I really thank Him for scheduling the corona lock-down after Purim, because all the family came here for Purim.

Taught a Totally Original Torah Class

Last week I blogged on Shiloh Musings asking for some "research help" for a Shabbat Torah Class I had committed to give at our Shiur Nashim, Women's Class.

This class I go to every Shabbat I'm home is the most veteran, longest lasting in Shiloh. It began over thirty-eight 38 years ago. We've had the same regulars now for quite awhile and can't manage to attract more women. Most who teach are men, even two generations of the same families, who are much more scholarly than we are. On occasion some of us even try our hand at it. A few months ago, we decided to give the neighbor who recruits speakers a monthly break. A few of us volunteered to give (or bring someone) the shiur, class so she won't have to make the calls. I had plenty of warning that my turn was coming up.

Due to the fact that I did not grow up in a religious home, going to a Jewish school and hearing all sorts of Torah stories from the youngest age, I generally read and learn with a fresh eye. That means I come up with some unique interpretations. Luckily I've found teachers in Matan and Shiloh who don't mind my rather unconventional ideas.

Sefaria

For this talk I had been inspired by the opening words of Parshat Shavua, Weekly Torah Portion Yitro, which was the week before. Since we're not restricted to the weekly parsha, that wasn't a problem.

I managed to get everyone talking and participating, which was quite an accomplishment. Sorry, but I'm not giving more details than you can get in the Shiloh Musings post. Maybe I should "market" myself?

I have another unique shiur cooking in my head...

Cooking for Two Weeks/Shabbatot, Purim in Shiloh

Ever since our house emptied of kids, and I've had jobs that kept me out in the evenings, or coming home without time to prepare dinner, my Shabbat cooking is for the week.

This week, we'll have very few regular evening meals, between my book club, a grandchild's birthday party and Purim. Here in Shiloh, Purim is a long two day holiday, a third day of food change if you count Ta'anit Ester, The Fast of Esther. We celebrate two days of Purim, so next Friday is also Purim, and Gd willing the kids and grandkids will be coming to eat a festive Purim Lunch. That doesn't leave me much time to prepare for the immediately following Shabbat.

So, I cooked a bit more than usual yesterday of chicken and moussaka/meatloaf (using ground turkey) and froze half of it.

This is in the freezer already, made in a double pan.

The two smaller containers are now frozen for next week. 

I'll have to find time to make side dishes before Shabbat, probably after the Thursday night's Megillah reading, which will be our third out of four.

Many people wonder why we in Shiloh have been instructed by the rabbis to celebrate both days. Other Biblical Cities, like Jerusalem only celebrate the second day, Shushan Purim. But even though we are in the same location, which is agreed by Biblical scholars and archeologists alike, the fact that for centuries Shiloh was deserted probably changes its status. Our local Chief Rabbi Elchanan Bin-Nun, in this year's Purim instructions has stated that although we still must celebrate both days and make the blessings only on the first, we should have strong kavana, spiritual intentions recognizing Shushan Purim as our Purim. Maybe in the near, or more certainly distant, future we in Shiloh will be instructed to drop the first day of Purim and only celebrate on Shushan Purim.

After decades of living in Shiloh, since 1981, we've gotten used to a Two Day Purim. It's certainly a lot easier than having two Pesach Passover S'darim. There are no travel restrictions on Purim, and one can be extremely creative in terms of menu. Having two days for the feast gives a lot of flexibility for family and friends. When we host, we have a choice of days, according to what our children prefer. The most difficult of the Purim logistics is making sure to hear the megillah four times.

Have a Truly Joyous Purim

Chag Purim Same'ach

Havdala Spices, Cloves and Etrog

We needed new besamim "spices" for Havdala, the ceremony that separates Shabbat from regular days.

Shabbat havdala consists of:

1. Beverage: Wine, Grape Juice, or Chamar Medina

1. Wine is always the preferred beverage for all havdalas because it is prestigious.

1. Spices

1. The extra soul we are given on Shabbat leaves after Shabbat is over, so we sniff a pleasant odor to cover for that loss.

1. Flame

1. The Shabbat havdala flame commemorates that Adam HaRishon (the first man) created fire after the first Shabbat.

The jar of "spices" had begun smelling absolutely awful, at least in my opinion. So, my husband assigned me with the job of finding a replacement.

Over the years I'd heard of using cloves and the etrog from Succot. Since we still had this year's etrog lying around, I bought some cloves and decided to make clove-etrog besamim. Of course, I hadn't the vagues idea how to do it.

Sticking the cloves into the already hardening etrog wasn't easy. I had to poke holes first. But as you can see, I did manage somehow to do it. This may not be your ideal etrog-cloves besamim,  but it's better than we had before. I do have a feeling that I need to make a box for it, to keep it fresh. That's another project... 

Suggestions and corrections very welcome, thanks.

Tefilat Chana, 2018, תפילת חנה 5778, Here in Shiloh

Last night was the annual Tefilat Chana תפילת חנה at Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh. Thousands attended, mostly high school girls. Over the years, when Tel Shiloh was under different managements, there were other programs called Tefilat Chana תפילת חנה.  I believe that last night's basic program featuring an inspiring talk by Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi followed by female singers was the seventh.

Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh opened for the event from 5pm, and Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi gave her talk at 8pm, so there was plenty of time to walk around, buy food and noshes, jewelry, clothes and various Judaica. And there was also a special prayer program at the site of the Mishkan, Tabernacle.

To be honest, I didn't check out the prayer at the Mishkan, Tabernacle site. I looked at the crafts and jewelry and even bought myself some gorgeous earrings made and designed by Miriam Feyga Bunimovich. She's selling her jewelry and her husband's woodwork in the First Station to day and tomorrow. Hint...

There were other stands with jewelry, but most were the same you'd find anyplace. I was impressed by the practical Judaica, like the covers for Shabbat hotplates. I received one years ago and still use it on Shabbat and Jewish Holidays.

I also met with friends who were attending. The weather was perfect. What surprised me was the amount to attendees who said that it was their first time in Shiloh.

Tefilat Chana is held the week before Rosh Hashanah. Please try to attend next year.

Shabbat Shalom and Shanah Tovah

Well-Used World Book Encyclopedia

My parents bought us World Book Encyclopedia in around 1960, the first edition that had the human body with a special layered plastic section. I loved going through the volumes. And for a number of years, they also ordered the supplements. World Book was readable and accessible even for younger kids.

So, when not long after we returned to Israel from shlichut in London, a salesgirl showed up (1977 or 1978) selling World Book, I grabbed the opportunity. I even joined the sales team a few years later but had trouble countering people's

"...but it's so expensive."

So, I didn't last long nor sold much.

My kids grew up with World Book. I would tell them to use it for school projects and research even when they couldn't read much or any English. During the period of time we had new immigrants from the USSR over for Shabbat meals, our trusty World Book proved very helpful in explaining and illustrating. I even remember being shown the breed of dogs one liked from the Dog section of the encyclopedia.

In recent years it hasn't been opened much. I was thinking of just giving it to the kids and even letting them cut it up for projects, but then...

As we were talking on Shabbat with guests, there was a bit of a debate about some location in Israel. We're Sabbath observers, so no computers or smartphones can be used, and I needed the answer ASAP. So, I went to the shelf and pulled out the World Book Atlas. Alas, the map of Israel wasn't large and detailed enough. So, I got out the "I volume," found Israel and checked the map there. My proof was easy to show everyone.

It looks like in this retirees' home, the World Book isn't retiring yet.

Watch Saga: Clock for Shabbat

Last Shabbat, just as my husband said that he was going off to shul, my cheap NS40 watch, which was well under a year old, died. I looked at it to check the time and saw that the "second hand" wasn't moving anymore.

I'm very grateful that it was working when I woke up, since otherwise I wouldn't have known if it was a time to get out of bed or not. We no longer have a wall clock in the livingroom, since after that one died, I decided that we wouldn't get a new one until we did the kitchen and got new lighting fixtures for the livingroom.

I could manage fine without a watch until Shabbat afternoon, so when we came back from lunch at a neighbor, I asked my husband to leave his watch with me. I woke him when he needed to get up, and then his watch stayed with me most of the time until Shabbat was out.

This week I need to get a watch before Shabbat, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. There's no place to get a reliable watch here in Shiloh. I bought the NS40 one in a toy store. Yesterday I was in Pisgat Zeev with my and granddaughter, and even though we walked around stores and a section of the mall, I didn't see any watches. Sunday I had been in Jerusalem for the NCSY Ben Zakkai Reception, but it was too cold, dark and windy to walk around the Center of town to shop.

Today I'm arriving in Jerusalem too late to shop in town, unless I got to a mall, Center 1, Hadar or a quick walk from Matan during my break on Wednesday. The watch stores people have been recommending aren't in those places. So, if you have any recommendations for those places, please let me know, thanks.

Getting rather desperate, I began to search for clocks in the house. Yesterday I found an old battery powered clock, and I even found working AA batteries. I will have to tape the back shut for Shabbat, since the batteries fall out otherwise. But since on weekdays I have my phone as clock, that can give me a bit more time to search.

I don't know if I really want to get another junky, cheap watch sans guarantee. This is going to be my third watch in less than three years. Cheap is starting to look more and more expensive.

Being Prepared for Electricity Problems

I gave up pretty quickly this past week when looking for Shabbat guests. It only took a couple of "negatives" to stop me in my tracks. The weather forecast was for winds, and everyone was told to prepare for "power outages," aka being without electricity. Considering that we only have electric heaters and electricity for cooking, I figured that possible guests wouldn't be very happy if the house and food were cold, plus dark and dingy.

We stocked up on "yartzeit candles" that claimed 48 and 72 hours of light. I lit two in the kitchen where I work and two by the Shabbat candles. And when I lit the Shabbat ones, I lit a lot more than usual, so in case the electricity went out while we were eating, there'd be some light.

This photo was taken after Shabbat before I put out the 48 hour candles

And now to tell you that it was just a regular rainy winter Shabbat, no drama. We had electricity, thank Gd. It was drizzling when I walked out to take a walk, so I just walked back in.  A "lazy Shabbat" is allowed on occasion. I did make it to shul and to my usual shiur, class.

Shavua Tov

Have a Wonderful Week

Cold Coffee Update AOK for Strict Sabbath Observers

I've blogged about my successes and raves about Cold Brew Coffee, so easily prepared at home. But as great as it is, I still had trouble with it on Shabbat. I can't use the French Press filter/plunger on Shabbat, so using that entire apparatus is then problematic.

So, since I have really enjoyed having cold coffee on Shabbat, I decided to do something else entirely. A few hours before Shabbat, I made myself a nice big batch of perked coffee, using the Israeli Elite Turkish in my stove top percolator. Then when it cooled sufficiently, I poured it into a glass jar, actually  two, one large and one small, since I made that much. And then this Shabbat I just poured it into my mug, added the usual milk and sugar, and had great coffee!

Inexpensive, Easy and Fun Way to "Jazz Up" The Table

1-  Anyone who knows me well, knows that I'm not good at fancy decorating. I just don't go for things that are too fussy and hard to take care of.  Over a year sgo after a trip to the states and eating at some lovely Shabbat tables I began to feel that my plain white tablecloth was just too plain, but I didn't know what to do and didn't want to go "full color."

2-  At work I kept eying a gorgeous headscarf, which I didn't need at all. I didn't have anything to go with it, and it wasn't the fabric I like at all.

3-  Suddenly I realized that the scarf had the same colors as our fleishig Shabbat dishes, and the long scarf would make a great "table runner." It certainly has! And it's washable!! I launder it each week with the tablecloth. 

4-  One of our daughters gave us a "hotplate runner" which matches both.

5-  I was so happy with the scarf runner that I bought another one.

What do you think?

Shabbat, Enjoyed by Ivanka Trump and Family

In an interview in Vogue Magazine, the glamorous, heiress and businesswoman Ivanka Trump Kushner praises Shabbat observance.

Trump converted to Judaism, traditional Orthodox, before her marriage to Jared Kushner.

Ivanka Trump with her husband Jared Kushner and daughter Arabella. The couple use Shabbat to spend time together as a family. Photo: Instagram.

After almost half a century of Shabbat observance, I personally can't imagine how I'd survive without it. Shabbat is one day I can't be rushed. I go no further than to synagoue and neighbors here in Shiloh. No telephone! No email and even no blogging!!!  I don't cook either. All the food is prepared in advance. All I have to do is cut salad and serve. When necessary, the cooked food is heated up on the electric platta hotplate.

I have no doubt that my health would be much worse if I was on the run 24/7. G-d sure knows best!!

Shabbat, Without it I Couldn't Survive

Wikipedia

I must thank my good friend Esther Revivo for this. She posted a lovely "gratitude" piece on facebook and gave me permission to repost it here:

"Short gratitude post for today: I am eternally grateful for having Shabbat a part of my life. It grounds me and is the center of my enter week. I spend the whole week gearing up for it- baking ahead of time; buying, preparing and freezing special foods for Shabbat. It is a warm, wonderful spiritual family day when my family is cut off from the media and everything digital. I feel my soul, spirit, mental and physical strength energized and connection to G-d renewed.Having lived the first 15 years of my life in a home without Shabbat observance, I never take this for granted. I love living in Israel where Shabbat is part of the national consciousness and I'm not considered strange for my actions. Thank you Hashem for this precious gift!"

Like Esther, I, too, wasn't raised with any familiarity to a traditional, Torah Jewish Shabbat. After close to half a century keeping Shabbat according to Torah Judaism aka Orthodox Judaism, I just can't imagine surviving life without it.

Shabbat is a chance to breathe. Sometimes it is a drop stressful getting everything done beforehand, before we light the Shabbat Candles and usher in the peacefulness. All the food must be cooked, light-switches set, floors cleaned, laundry washed. Only someone, like a doctor or police or in the military etc., may find him/herself disturbed on Shabbat.

Once you adjust to the cycle, getting everything ready on time isn't all that complicated.

We pray, we eat, we stay pretty close to home and we rest  physically, mentally, emotionally. We recharge our batteries to help us cope with the following week.

Thank G-d for giving us Shabbat!

The Shabbat Food Warmer Cooks!

This post may make absolutely no sense to someone who doesn't "keep Shabbat" in the Orthodox Jewish way. Sorry. But if you have one of these electric food warmers, then you still may find this post useful. 

A food warmer/platta is a low heat electric surface which is not usually meant for cooking. It comes in handy when you need to keep food nice and warm, but don't want a flame underneath. It's safe for ceramics and other materials which will explode on a cooking flame. A friend of mine, who's a potter, instructs people buying her clay dishes not to put them directly on a hot surface. They can take the heat if the heating or cooking surface starts off cold.

On Shabbat we're not supposed to cook, so if we heat up food to serve at a Shabbat meal we can't do it on a direct heat surface. I have a collection of metal objects like that round one in the picture which goes on the "platta," heater. The water stays all the time, since it already boiled up before Shabbat, before I put it on there.

There are many people who put the cold food directly on the platta on Shabbat insisting that the heater doesn't get hot enough to cook and/or that the metal surface is the "extra layer" between the heating elements and the pot.

On Simchat Torah, a holiday when it's permitted to cook, I put most of the pots and baking dishes directly on the platta. Today and last night when I took them off they were boiling/bubbling. That proves that the heating elements are hot/strong enough to cook, so I firmly believe that we must use something between the pot and the platta.

Shabbat or "Any Occasion" "Hostess Gifts," Nu?

What do you give or like to receive?

When I go to the states, I try to bring something Israeli or from Shiloh, whether it's a good and interesting "framed" photo I've taken or once for my sister and brother-in-law a well-wrapped bottle of Meshek Achiya Olive Oil, which they probably enjoyed more than any of the other things I've brought them.

I've also bought necklaces for hostesses from my jeweler neighbor who makes exquisite fine jewelry.

My sister-in-law gets the cookbooks I review, which she loves. She actually follows recipes; something I don't do.

In the neighborhood I usually bring a vegetable dish, which people count on when inviting us. And there are neighbors who do the same when our guests, bringing salads, fancy fruits and other delicious healthy foods. Other guests like to bring us a good dessert, knowing that dessert is not my specialty.

There are meals we're invited to that are planned around the fact that everyone will bring something. The hosts must be well-organized to know what to request from the various guests.

We've gotten nice serving dishes, flowers and of course bottles of wine.  It's always nice to get something, and it doesn't have to be expensive.

Sometimes, I Wish I Could Put up a Sign Like This

Elevator Not Working

Don't we all need "time outs" to recharge our batteries?

I think I'd be worn to a total frazzle if I didn't have Shabbat.  For those who don't know, Shabbat is supposed to be very different from other days of the week.

According to Jewish Law, halacha, we're supposed to tune out from the busy, technological, creating, financial part of life.  Food is cooked in advance and can be heated by indirect heat.  Most of us keep water hot for coffee and tea.  We don't travel, and even the distance permitted to walk is limited.

There are three sets of prayer times, like all days, but the prayers are longer, and there's a prayer added to the morning one.  We read from the Torah.

We function on a different speed, different gear.

I wasn't raised as a Torah observant aka Orthodox Jew.  I was introduced to Jewish Law and Life as a teenager in NCSY and YU Seminars.  It attracted me, felt right, like a comfortable shoe.  When I was young I didn't fully appreciate the full value of Shabbat.  I was too full of energy.  But now, well into middle-age, I really feel that there are physical as well as spiritual benefits to keeping Shabbat.

A friend of mine has a very high-powered/pressured job.  On Shabbat that job is totally put away.  She has twenty-five hours of rest from it. On Shabbat she has Shabbat and family, friends, etc.  Work never impinges.  She credits Shabbat and the rest from work with her surviving that difficult job she has.  Non-Sabbath observers who work with her at the same sort of job wonder how she can get all of the work done in six days.  They need the full week, including Shabbat, to finish.  Shabbat makes it possible.  They would get it all done in six days if they kept Shabbat, too.

It's so important to just take a real break.  You must have noticed that I don't blog on Shabbat.  I don't talk on the phone or go near the computer.  It's wonderful.  My day, my Shabbat is full.  I'm never bored.

Try it, but don't try it alone.  It's best with a community.

Coffee Corner and Water Update

When we were without water, I found going into the kitchen too depressing, especially coffee time in the morning.  Instead of simply being able to use my giant glass mug twice for coffee, I had to keep returning with the smaller disposable hot cup.  My large glass French Press makes enough for two full giant mugs, with room for milk and some sugar of course.  So I set up a little "coffee corner" by my seat in the den near the computer.

And if you haven't yet heard the news....

Our main water pipes got replaced on Friday early afternoon.  We now, bli eyin haraa and of course BARUCH HASHEM, have water in the house via the faucets, rather than schlepped in bottles.

What's most amazing is that I managed to do everything necessary for Shabbat, all the cooking, cleaning etc on Friday, mostly after the pipes were replaced, and I unprecedentedly finished early.  I couldn't do any Shabbat preparation on Thursday. In the end we event had much beloved guests.

Miracles do happen!

Never Dull is It? Remember Priorities, Please

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a strange wetness near our front stairs aka the stoop.  I figured that there were leaks in the faucet and irrigation hose.  Well, I was right about a leak, but wrong about the location.  It took over a week until our plumber could come and, after checking out everything, discovered that the leak was in the main pipe bringing water to our house.  So we've had the water turned off most of the time recently as he can't work in the jungle-like mud and vegetation growing there.

 

The repairs aren't yet finished.  We've been using mostly disposables and cooking methods that require little dishwashing.  I'll blog more about it when, G-d willing it's all repaired.  And yes, it's not going to be cheap, but at least we'll no longer pay for "lost" water.

This is not a month we'll be saving money, since my regular readers know I've been to the dentist.

And then just to keep things interesting, yesterday at work, I felt something a bit "strange" with my distance glasses.  It seemed like a lens was "loose."  Within a few minutes it popped out, but Baruch Hashem it was in easy view right in front of me.  That's much better than the time a few years ago when a lens in my reading glasses somehow disappeared when I was shopping at Rami Levy.  That one was never found, but since the glasses had been only about six months old, and I had them in the shop a couple of weeks earlier for a different repair I didn't have to pay for a new lens.  So next week, before my dentist appointment, I'll have to go to downtown Jerusalem to the optician to have the glasses fixed.

If you're wondering why I sound pretty calm about these problems, inconveniences, expenses etc.  I must tell you that it's easy to put it all in perspective when following the bima Ima's saga on Superman Sam.  She has the right to rant; I don't.

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach

May you have a peaceful and blessed Shabbat

New Coffee Treat, The French Press

Have you ever tried coffee made in a  French Press?

I had been hearing about them, but since I do love to perc my coffee on the stove in a percolator, I wasn't all that interested in changing the coffee I love so much.  Though I am flexible when a guest some place.

In perked coffee, the boiling water keeps getting pushed threw the little "container" that holds the actual ground coffee.  In Israel, I'm happy with the results I get using Elite Turkish Coffee.  But on my trip to Atlanta, GA, I didn't have my usual equipment. When my friend set up a "kosher corner" in here kitchen, knowing I'd need easily available coffee, she got me a French Press.

To use it:

• put a couple of spoons of your coffee,
• my daughter has hers specially ground in the shuk, requesting "for a French Press," in the glass jar. 
• Add boiling water,
• then put in the cover/filter
• slowly press it down so the filtered coffee will stay on top and the "mud" or grounds will stay safely underneath the filter

I drank the coffee with my usual milk and sugar, and it was fantastic.

Nu, does anyone know if it's considered halachikly (according to Torah-Orthodox Jewish Law) permissible on Shabbat?  Of course, the water would then come from a kli sheni.  It's the good coffee which is taken out for use, just like a water filter, right?

Yes, Friday

Yes, it's Friday. And it's a busy Friday, besides the usual Friday business. And I mean "busyness," very busy.

After going to the pool, I have to get the house ready. Most of the family, kids and all grandkids are expected for Shabbat.

Since my baby came home and is here for his friend's "uf ruff," a peculiar Yiddishism for the Shabbat before a wedding when the chattan, groom, is called to the Torah. Trekker may also stay*, since, the chattan is his friend, too, and he has no shifts for the weekend. And because my baby is here, his #2 big sister announced that she's coming, and she's = 5, meaning married with three kids.

*"stay"
Last night was the wedding, here in Shiloh, of another of their friends. At least I presume they're both sleeping here. At least nobody left before I went to sleep.

So, I have to finish cooking and clean and clean and cook etc. It seems like I have to try to make this house more baby-proof than was needed for the girls. Our grandson is more adventurous, curious, whatever. My daughter reported that yesterday he climbed out of his highchair, somehow removing the "seatbelt" and then climbed onto the kitchen table to take some raisins he wanted to eat. I think that he takes more after our side, but I had those great "zip-a-babe" safety harnesses.

I'm also busy with Havel Havelim. I don't think I'll get much done on that today, and sometime today the links will cease to arrive in my mailbox and go to next week's host. Posting day is Sunday, so G-d willing, it will be out on time.

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach!
Have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat!

For Shabbat

Do you see that funny little metal thing? It covers the "light fan switches" for the fridge/freezer, and it's attached by two small magnets. Do you want to guess how much it costs?

A couple of weeks ago, when I was sick of course, I couldn't get the Shabbat light-stopper to stay on. That meant that we could neither open nor close the fridge, since by opening it the light went on and closing it went off, which is forbidden on Shabbat.

On the old fridges it was easy. As soon as the fridge arrived we would just unscrew the bulb and live happily ever after, until the death of the fridge. Our previous fridge had a little thing which held back the light switch. We put it in Shabbat mode and that's how it stayed until we dumped the fridge.

We were told that this new one was more complicated and we spent a fortune for a little plastic thingee, which began misbehaving. Like some severely hyperactive kid, it just wouldn't stay put. This fridge isn't even two years old. I called the store and they said that I can buy a special "magnet."

OK, but the store is only open in the morning and not every morning. I finally made it there yesterday. The lady remembered my many calls and handed me this little metal thing. When I balked at the price, she even offered to hold my check in case it didn't work and only deposit it if I gave my OK. Yes, I could return it.

As You can see in the picture, it does work.

Do you want to guess the price? Would you believe ns100? Yes, one hundred shekels. At today's rate, that's $25- including tax!

But it's for Shabbat...