More Musings

Gabriella at School

Just had our parent teacher conferences. Ironically not that much different from the ones at Brandeis.  Maybe that should not be a big surprise. Gabriella's teachers love her, no holds barred and don't want her to leave. Toby's teachers take a more nuanced view:) but love what he brings to their classes, even if he cuts up on occasion. Both kids continue to adjust well, have really integrated themselves into their classes and are doing great. Today, Toby cut school to hang out with his cousins who are visiting from New York and Gabriella took the bus home by herself, for the first time. This generated no small amount of anxiety because of our track record of bus mishaps, but all's well that ends well and she made it home safe and sound, Baruch Hashem. She also had her piano lesson all by herself, with her Russian teacher who speaks only Hebrew and Russian. Two very empowering experiences for her!!

Michelle's sister, Sara, her husband John and their two kids (Carly and AJ) are visiting this week, so we get to play tour guide.  So far they have had a tour of the City of David and the Old City, played archaeologist at the Temple Mount sifting project and shopped in the Jerusalem Shuk.  We head up to the Galilee on Wednesday, for the first night of Hannukah, where we will be in Tsfat.  Visits to Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea and Masada and the must-see museums (Yad Vashem and the Israel Museum) should round things out.

Levin-Santalones and Levin-Meers in the Old City

I have been enjoying a Bible history class at the local community center.  The Old Testament really is the greatest story ever told, as Hollywood put it.  We have been reviewing the prophets - I'll tell you what, those guys knew how to lay down an argument :)  No BS or thinly veiled references for them - a lot of doom and gloom, fire and brimstone...but what they were preaching was good stuff and (should) hold true today - take care of the poor, the oppressed and downtrodden, widows and orphans, live a righteous life or you better look out for Hashem.  Or, as one of our modern day prophets (Bob Dylan) put it

'God said Abraham kill me a son,
Abe said man you must be puttin' me on,
God said no, Abe said what?,
God said you can do what you want
But the next time you see me comin', man you better run
Abe said where you want this killin' done
God said down on highway 61'

I don't know why, I've always loved those lyrics :)