My Home in Israel

As one would hope, by the 28th of June, it seems that my problems regarding July first have been solved. I commiserated with another mother, and then remembered that there are two teenage girls living upstairs.

I don’t really know them, but there are about 5 children in that family, so they must know something about children. It turns out they were going to do a summer camp (kaytana) at their synagogue, but it fell through. I asked if they would be interested in doing an after camp program from 1:30-4 (including walking them home) for three weeks. They agreed, and currently we have a 2 child after-camp program taking place in our apartment. It is especially nice that it will be at our apartment, and also that the mom of the girls runs a family based childcare for infants upstairs–so if there is a problem, help is nearby.

As for the problems for the fall with the little girl’s childcare, they have promised me that she will be in the big kid’s class and I’m thinking about asking for something in writing. (I’m a wimp though…I’ll get the other parent who is concerned about the issue to ask for the letter in writing.)

PS: Welcome to Israelity readers who were referred by Liza.

You would think that by the 24th of June I would know my big girl’s plans for July 1st. But no…things keep changing. Her kindergarten has a summer program until 1:30 which I decided to do because I wanted her to be with her friends for three extra weeks. But what happens from 1:30 until 4:00 (when I get out of work)…oh no problem the after-school program said they would also do a summer program IF 10 people signed up. So, 10 people signed up and the idiot in charge changed her mind and decided we needed 12. BUT now she has changed her mind and we only need 9!!!!! Of course other parents have sought other arrangements. (but not me of course—)

So if they don’t get 9, the assistant from the after-school program offered to do something at her house—BUT she doesn’t keep kosher. (And doesn’t understand why paper plates won’t work if the pots are trayf!!!!) AAAARGhhhhh.

And to think, for the same amount of money this will potentially cost me, I could have had her at a summer camp at the university, where they would drop her off at my office in the afternoon.

As if that wasn’t enough, the little girl’s childcare is pulling a fast one and splitting her class in half…and she is staying back with the younger kids! This has me so disgusted that I need to start looking back into the city childcare. The disadvantage of the city childcare, is that they have more days off, more strikes and end a month earlier than the private one. The other disadvantage is that the idiot mentioned above is also in charge of the after-school program for the childcare. This means that I have to rely on her organizing another child’s after school program. (I’ve had problems with her for 2 years–I really wanted a year off from her incompetence. )

I’m just waiting for Big Girl’s school for first grad to call me up and tell me that there was a mistake and she isn’t really registered there!

I apologize the lack of translations in advance, but I’m just not up to the task.

After a conversation with the big girl about how Spain can have a king if there is only one King in Shamayim (heaven). We started talking about kings, such as David and Saul.

Big girl then asked me: “Why do we sing “David Melech Yisrael, Chai Chai Ve”Chayyam” if he is really “met” (dead)?”

Good question…

I did find an answer at Ask Moses, but not good enough for a six year old.

Often my big girl will complain that we don’t have a car.  Usually this is formed as a statement along the lines of "I am the ONLY one at my Gan (kindergarten) who doesn’t have a car!  Oooofff."  I remind her that there is at least one other person, who is a friend of hers that also doesn’t have a car.  That generally doesn’t have much of an effect, but it helps.

Yesterday the mother of a friend of my big girl called to invite her daughter over to my house.  Aside from being a bit shocked I said okay and we said we would meet at her afternoon program.  When I got there I told her that first we would be walking to pick up my younger one, and then we would walk home.  Her mother asked her if  she wanted to go later when we would be home, or if she wanted to walk.  She agreed to walk.

So we start our regular walk…it takes about 10 minutes to get to the childcare, five to ten minutes to pick her up and another 15-20 to get home (depending on everyone’s mood). Needless to say, this child was not used to this type of exercise. Every two or three minutes she asked how much farther. And on the last section (which is actually a reasonably steep hill), she said “you do this every day? I answered yes, and thought about how proud I am of my girls. Although I can’t say they don’t complain, they accept the facts and are probably in much better shape than their classmates.

I am an evil mother. Last night I was forced to spend nearly two hours at my daughter’s end of year party (misibat siyum). This is something not for the faint of heart. They started at 6 pm (Isn’t that when we normally eat dinner?) and ended at nearly 9 pm (isn’t that nearly two hours after her bed time?) And what went on in the middle? G-d help us all!
Lets see….

There was a song sung by the girls to their mothers…I didn’t catch all the words, but a friend (read: fellow cynic #1) said isn’t it a bit sickening that the girls (who are 5-6) are singing about getting married and being mothers of sons (banim). Well, yeah that was a bit icky.

The boys at least danced with their fathers and sang “HaMalach HaGoel” (a very nice biblical song). Another fellow cynic (who didn’t come) mentioned how much she can’t stand the separation of sexes at this age. What is a single parent of the opposite sex child supposed to do?

Another few notes about the girls’ song…the teacher told us when to hug our child. And we were all given scarves to wear on our heads. I didn’t put one on, since I already wear a scarf, and neither did the other mother who covers her hair. Big girl questioned why I didn’t wear the scarf, but luckily I had “mom #2″ to point to.

Cynic #1 also pointed out to me the next day that this party was nothing more than a photo shoot. He said that there was absolutely no content showing us what our children learned during the year. Sad but true. Husband of cynic #2 commented that he got some great shots in his video camera of parents fighting over spots to take pictures. Cynic #3 doesn’t even come with a camera…she was also infuriated over the little girls coming out with bridal veils!

Although I’m glad I had these fellow cynical parents to commiserate with, my little one will not be attending the same kindergarten.

I’ve had a few questions about jobs for librarians in Israel. I think the biggest employer in Jerusalem is ExLibris. They are always looking for librarians (and computer techies too). I got an offer there, but the hours weren’t good for a mom.

Here is the current posting I saw:

POSITION: INFORMATION SCIENTIST/LIBRARIAN

Job description:

We need information Scientists/Librarians for the Support and Implementation teams

Requirements:

* BA/MA in information science - Must
* Good knowledge in English (writing and reading skills) - Must
* Strong technical abilities - Must
* Residence in Jerusalem area - Must
* 2-3 years experience in relevant fields - Advantage
E-mail: EXLibrisJob@gmail.com with English and hebrew CV

As those of you who read the Israel news know, Sderot, a small town on the border of Gaza is contantly under threat of kassam rocket attacks.  People have been killed, and about half the town is now living somewhere else.  It is very difficult to watch this happening so close to where I live, and still feel like I can’t do anything.

 Luckily, an initiative has been started by a group in Efrat called Standing Together.  Normally, their area of volunteerism is centered around helping soldiers serving in the Gush Etzion area, but they have expanded to helping Sderot.  They have two projects.  The first one is supporting the bakery of Sderot, by selling 2 challahs and a 1/2 kilo of cookies or rugeleach for 25 shekels, and the other is supporting both the poor in the area and neighborhood mini-markets by paying 25 shekels to have packages sent from the mini-markets via Yad Eliezer to needy families in Israel.

 

 If you live in the Beit Shemesh/Gush Etzion/Jerusalem area, you can order online from their website.

If you live in my neighborhood (Arnona/Talpiot/East Talpiot), I’m the pick-up and payment site.  If you do order on line, please also drop me an email at safranit at gmail.com because last week their website didn’t give me the names of the people who ordered online.

 

 If you are interested in making a donation, but aren’t local, let me know and I’ll see what I can do…I think I know someone who would be able to help me set something up.

Here is a video about Sderot:

In August we will be traveling to the states for three weeks.  I’ll be going alone with the girls, and hubby will follow for the second half of the trip.  Since this means I’ll be alone on the plane with them, I’ve started preparing them to what the flight will be like.  (The last time we flew, little girl was only 1 1/2.)

Me: So on the plane the flight attendant will offer you something to drink.  She will say "Ma at rotza lishtot?"

Big Girl: No Eema, in English.

Me: Your right..we are flying Continental. "What would you like to drink?"

Little Girl: "mayim"  

Me: No, you need to say it in English

LG: Water

Me: What else do you need to say?

LG: In a Blue Cup

Me: I don’t think they have blue cups

LG: Then a Yellow Cup

Me: Then you say "Please"

Me: And also you can get ice in your water

LG: But I could choke on the ice.

This took place on a crowded bus, and at least two other people were laughing along with me by this point… 

Would you put a peanut butter & jelly sandwich in a toast machine to make the peanut butter melt?

 

*Toast machine for those not in Israel are Sandwich Makers. 

As a librarian, you would think that I have a strong connection to books..which I do, but I don’t read much anymore.  Part of it is a very strong dissatisfaction with the libraries in Israel (you yishuv people keep quiet!).  But that is for another post…

Friday was the AACI Yard Sale. I didn’t find much stuff of interest, but I did manage to buy two relatively recent paperbacks.  The first one was read in two days…partly because it was good, partly because I am so starved for reading, and partly because I couldn’t handle the emotions connected with the book.  It is called The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.  It gives you interesting perspective on death.  What I found so interesting was that there was a definite heaven, but it wasn’t connected to religion.  If you do choose to read it…prepare to cry.