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Best Hebrew Bloopers by New Olim

December 4, 2011 by 101 Comments
a worm found in my friend's brussel sprouts.

Last week I heard a woman describe her first visit to the yarkan (produce store) as a new olah (immigrant) in the early 70's. Everyone knew where the produce store was, because a swarm of flies could be seen from a distance. She brought along her teenage daughter for assistance, as the daughter had already spent a year in Israel. The new olah asked for a kilogram of shratzim (vermin). The proprieter offered her 10 kilo, for free! The olah had meant to ask for carrots, which sort of rhymes with shratzim. I asked my Facebook friends to share their favorite Hebrew bloopers as new immigrants. Maya  bargained a taxi fare up from 15 to 18 shekels. Shelley once bargained in the … [Read more...]

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Anglo Immigrants: Arbiters of Social Rightness?

November 9, 2011 by 45 Comments
Egged bus

New reader Ruth Alfasi wrote to me to object to the discussion of whether Israelis are rude. She writes: Connecting Israelis with rudeness is, if not rude itself, and if not lacking derech eretz (good manners) , certainly culturally insensitive. We are here now, and as Jews we ought to give others the benefit of the doubt. And if by their social norms they aren't rude, then they aren't. They can actually have their own cultural norms. "Rude" is a social more, not a fact. That we Americans come and impose our ideals of social behavior on others is pretty egocentric. I think what really happens to us Americans is that we just can't quite acknowledge that we are no longer the … [Read more...]

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Interview: Yifat Kasai on Ethiopians in Petach Tikva Schools

September 7, 2011 by 37 Comments
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Update: I heard on the radio at around 1 PM today that the Chabad girls' school, Or Chaya, has refused to accept 5 Ethiopian students. Or Chaya is part of the state religious system. The education ministry said that sanctions will be taken. I met Yifat Kasai two years ago, when her eldest son entered first grade at my children's state-religious elementary school. In this interview, she graciously shares her experience making aliyah, her job helping Ethiopian teenagers adjust to Israeli schools, and her thoughts on a Petach Tikva school that has been in the news. Tell me about your aliyah. I made aliyah from Ethiopia to Beersheva in 1984, when I was six years old. I was the seventh of … [Read more...]

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Is 64 Too Old to Make Aliyah?

July 12, 2011 by 26 Comments

UPDATED below with more information for older immigrants. Welcome to all of the new immigrants arriving today, including Raggedy Mom and Samanthat4d. Can you help this reader? He writes:   I have been considering moving to Israel.  Life in the US is expensive and so is Israel.  I could live like a king in India I suppose, but I'm not interested. I don't speak Hebrew.  I'm 64.  I was in corporate sales for most of my life.  I also passed the exam to teach English in my state but I don't have a teaching 'credential'.  I have about $1450 in guaranteed income monthly.  If you don't mind, is it possible to rent a little studio with a door and a roof and not in a slum and … [Read more...]

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Interesting Links: Special Needs, Epidurals, Breastfeeding, Women’s Prayers, Dog Stoning, Aliyah, Basketball.

June 22, 2011 by 10 Comments
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This picture is from my son's end-of-the-year concert. Many of these links get posted first on this site's Facebook page and on Twitter (mominisrael). Follow me there to stay on top of the latest news. I hope you enjoy today's links. William Kolbrenner is interviewed by Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic about his new book, Open-Minded Torah. I enjoyed reading a review copy of reader Tzippora Price's new book, Mother in Progress. A collection of inspiring essays for mothers, Price provides a thoughtful and self-forgiving look at the challenges of raising small children. If you are looking for a gift for a friend with a new baby, check it out or treat yourself to a copy. Bar-Ilan … [Read more...]

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Review: English Hebrew by Subject

March 10, 2011 by 4 Comments
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English Hebrew by Subject by Hanna G. Perez is the newest tool for immigrants, tourists, students, or anyone who struggles with switching between English and Hebrew. It's a dictionary, but instead of listing words alphabetically it groups them by context. English Hebrew by Subject starts off, appropriately enough, with polite phrases. "Good Yom Tov" struck me at first as an odd translation for chag sameach but it works most of the time, Yom Haatzmaut notwithstanding. "Merry Christmas" gets its own entry. You'll also find "Ahlan," the Arabic word for hello, along with other slang. Only one translation is are given for each word unless necessary, like the different Hebrew words for … [Read more...]

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Making Aliyah Mid-Year with Kids

November 28, 2010 by 19 Comments
El Al plane

I received this question from TYm: My family is planning to make aliyah next year in the late fall. We have two children 4 an 1 with a baby on the way. We are moving to Rehovot where I will be doing a post-doc in the sciences. We’re still not certain what my husband will have lined up. Any general suggestions for transitioning kids in the middle of the school year and for mom’s that will be working full time immediately? With kids who will be 2 and 5, the middle of the year shouldn't be such a problem. You will have most of the year to get the older one ready for first grade, if that is your plan. If possible, reserve their spots in gan before you get here. If your husband can … [Read more...]

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The Museum at Chatzar Kineret

November 14, 2010 by 4 Comments
Modern day view of Kineret (Sea of Galilee)

It’s hard to imagine what life must have been like for the young people who made aliyah on their own, long before the state of Israel was established. On our recent family trip, we visited the museum in Chatzar Kineret. Also known as Chavat Kinneret (Kinneret Farm), this was one of the earliest attempts at communal living and predated the nearby first kibbutz, Deganya. We paid a small entrance fee and added another two shekel each for a guide. The guide brought us into what would have been the farm’s original dining room, and showed us a painting of the area from around 1908. Then she asked the children to look out the window and notice what was different today. The answer: Trees and … [Read more...]

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Back to School Shopping Tips, 2010

August 2, 2010 by 12 Comments
colored pencils for back to school

We're less than a month away from the start of school. I have no idea whether my first-grader's class will remain intact. I lost the book lists, which mysteriously disappeared after I put them in a folder marked "school." A neighbor is holding on to a batch of books for my 11th grader, and I passed off another batch from my 9th grader. I told my kids that they'll have to clean up their rooms before I buy more books and supplies. Wish me luck with that one. Here are my tips for buying school supplies. Please share yours in the comments. Uniforms: All schools now require children to wear a shirt with the school logo. Our elementary school asks for specific colors, and you buy t-shirts … [Read more...]

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Tipat Chalav Survival Guide for Parents

July 11, 2010 by 37 Comments
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On Twitter, @mrsroth mentioned how a nurse handed her 18-month-old a cup and spoon. The little girl started to "stir" with the spoon, but failed that developmental task because she was supposed to pretend to eat from the bowl. Everyone loves to complain about Tipat Chalav, the network of well-baby clinics run by Israel's health ministry. Sometimes the staff gives silly suggestions, or even dangerous ones. And nothing is more upsetting to an anxious new mother than having her baby "fail" one of Tipat Chalav's many tests. Overall, Tipat Chalav does its job very well. It's important for new parents to understand Tipat Chalav's strengths and limitations. Tipat Chalav has several key … [Read more...]

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