Shout out to my Alma Mater, Barnard College, for snagging President Barack Hussein Obama as a speaker.
Columbia University, brother o' mine, get over yourself. As a result of our affiliation, your male students can take Women's Studies classes at Barnard and pick up girls/womyn; your male students can live in our dormitories as we have the option of living "across the street"; and both institutions get the benefit of stellar academic staff and facilities.
It ain't an exclusive boy's club anymore, and thank G-d for that.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Countdown to Purim
This morning, when I was ready to get into the shower, Raphaela insisted that we sing Purim songs and dance together. The light and joy in her eyes could not be denied.
Raphaela dresses up tomorrow for her Gan party, and on Thursday we will celebrate and feast with Savta Shira in Tekoa. As well, Harry's tenth birthday falls out on Thursday this year, and Raphaela insists that Harry needs a party; she has already sung him the traditional birthday songs, tried to put a crown on his head, and has invited several of her Gan friends to commemorate the momentous feline event. Harry will receive an extra serving of T-U-N-A and lots of attention from a group of toddlers.
On Friday we Jerusalemites celebrate Shushan Purim, which means that the afternoon feast will bleed into Friday night dinner. I plan on serving an extremely light Shabbat lunch, I don't think my stomach can handle all this gluttony.
Raphaela dresses up tomorrow for her Gan party, and on Thursday we will celebrate and feast with Savta Shira in Tekoa. As well, Harry's tenth birthday falls out on Thursday this year, and Raphaela insists that Harry needs a party; she has already sung him the traditional birthday songs, tried to put a crown on his head, and has invited several of her Gan friends to commemorate the momentous feline event. Harry will receive an extra serving of T-U-N-A and lots of attention from a group of toddlers.
On Friday we Jerusalemites celebrate Shushan Purim, which means that the afternoon feast will bleed into Friday night dinner. I plan on serving an extremely light Shabbat lunch, I don't think my stomach can handle all this gluttony.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Diapers, The End is Near
Yesterday at Gan, for the first time ever, Raphaela asked to use the child-size toilet instead of soiling her diaper, and succeeded in her mission.
Today, at the request of her teachers, I brought her potty and some undies to Gan, so Raphaela could feel free to explore and refine this new skill.
I know we have a long way to go before she perfects her toilet training, but I could not be more proud or more happy at the news.
Today, at the request of her teachers, I brought her potty and some undies to Gan, so Raphaela could feel free to explore and refine this new skill.
I know we have a long way to go before she perfects her toilet training, but I could not be more proud or more happy at the news.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
The Seeds of the Future?
On Friday, for two brief hours, it snowed in Jerusalem, shutting down public transportation and Gan. My cleaning lady stayed home as well, so I had that job this week. By 10:30 am, the blue sky opened up over the city, and by 11 am, all of the snow had melted. Having a whole morning to ourselves, Raphaela and I watched a performance of Brahms by the Israel Philharmonic, and she sat, mesmerised.
We also had a spirited discussion about Zubin Metha, and his similarity to her favorite musician, Mr. Harry Belafonte.
Afterwards, Raphaela informed me that when she is a big girl, she wants to play piano and be an orchestral conductor. I asked what kind of music she would play, and she answered with confidence, "Sevivon!" (The Hebrew Chanukah dreildel song)
When Raphaela was a baby, she was turning every possible object into a drum set, and her love of music has never surprised me.
We also had a spirited discussion about Zubin Metha, and his similarity to her favorite musician, Mr. Harry Belafonte.
Afterwards, Raphaela informed me that when she is a big girl, she wants to play piano and be an orchestral conductor. I asked what kind of music she would play, and she answered with confidence, "Sevivon!" (The Hebrew Chanukah dreildel song)
When Raphaela was a baby, she was turning every possible object into a drum set, and her love of music has never surprised me.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
The Jewish Child in Me
Communal Jewish tradition thrives best in an environment of families with kids.
It has taken me many years to overcome the resentment I felt as a single person (without children), that feeling of being side-lined, left out, and not in on the private joke. The exception to that experience being Barnard College, where Rabbi Chuck Sheer and the Columbia-Barnard Jewish community embraced students from all levels of Judaism; and where my daily observance and the holidays were based upon joy (and great parties), rather than fear of the lightning bolt, or fear of being judged by others.
I understand this even more today, when I have a two and a half year old child. I eagerly await Purim, which arrives next week, because I can picture Raphaela in her costume, singing songs and collecting candy and celebrating with family and her Gan friends. I have developed a modern Purim tradition of my own, as a parent living in Israel: the day after Halloween in the United States, I cruise online and buy Raphaela an amazing quality costume for 75% off the regular prices. This year we will sport matching outfits, Supergirl and SuperMommy.
Pessach, the problematic food holiday at the beginning of April, has taken on much more significance for me, as it now represents an opportunity to sit with friends and extended family, tell the story of our slavery and redemption, and give my daughter the foundations of belonging to a people with a history. In the past, I never enjoyed the academic competition, and the gloating afterwards of "Our family stayed awake reciting the Hagaddah until 3 am..." The seder should be geared toward the wonderfully curious children in the group.
Raphaela still plays with the dreidel from Chanukah, and will occasionally sing the songs she has memorized from Gan, and from her Chanukah CD.
Through Raphaela's eyes, I re-experience the gift of wonderment of the world in which we live, and the Israeli-Jewish community which I chose 15 years ago as my home.
(As a child, Thanksgiving was always my favorite holiday of the year, because we all gathered at my grandparents, the entire extended family. We ate straight through Thursday to Sunday, in between the Macy's Day Parade, the football games, the grandchildren poker games, and the annual argument of "What movie will we see at the mall this year". It combines the best of thankful-ness in the American tradition, with a Shabbat family weekend.)
It has taken me many years to overcome the resentment I felt as a single person (without children), that feeling of being side-lined, left out, and not in on the private joke. The exception to that experience being Barnard College, where Rabbi Chuck Sheer and the Columbia-Barnard Jewish community embraced students from all levels of Judaism; and where my daily observance and the holidays were based upon joy (and great parties), rather than fear of the lightning bolt, or fear of being judged by others.
I understand this even more today, when I have a two and a half year old child. I eagerly await Purim, which arrives next week, because I can picture Raphaela in her costume, singing songs and collecting candy and celebrating with family and her Gan friends. I have developed a modern Purim tradition of my own, as a parent living in Israel: the day after Halloween in the United States, I cruise online and buy Raphaela an amazing quality costume for 75% off the regular prices. This year we will sport matching outfits, Supergirl and SuperMommy.
Pessach, the problematic food holiday at the beginning of April, has taken on much more significance for me, as it now represents an opportunity to sit with friends and extended family, tell the story of our slavery and redemption, and give my daughter the foundations of belonging to a people with a history. In the past, I never enjoyed the academic competition, and the gloating afterwards of "Our family stayed awake reciting the Hagaddah until 3 am..." The seder should be geared toward the wonderfully curious children in the group.
Raphaela still plays with the dreidel from Chanukah, and will occasionally sing the songs she has memorized from Gan, and from her Chanukah CD.
Through Raphaela's eyes, I re-experience the gift of wonderment of the world in which we live, and the Israeli-Jewish community which I chose 15 years ago as my home.
(As a child, Thanksgiving was always my favorite holiday of the year, because we all gathered at my grandparents, the entire extended family. We ate straight through Thursday to Sunday, in between the Macy's Day Parade, the football games, the grandchildren poker games, and the annual argument of "What movie will we see at the mall this year". It combines the best of thankful-ness in the American tradition, with a Shabbat family weekend.)
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
New Kid on the Block
My parents sent Raphaela a Tickle Me Elmo doll, it has delighted Raphaela no end, and Elmo has become another child in the house. Elmo gets tucked in, needs a pacifier or wants Cheerios for breakfast; and it took much convincing this morning that Elmo does not have to go Gan with her.
"But he talks, Mommy!" The logic of the argument almost had me persuaded.
"But he talks, Mommy!" The logic of the argument almost had me persuaded.
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