A-24430

It's a letter, a dash and a few numbers ... Written in black ink.

Every time I take a glimpse at it, my stomach churns and I shiver slightly. I turn my head. Madame Sarah asks me a question, "Do you speak Spanish?" "No, I answer," as my head turns and catches a glimpse of A-24430 again. I look at her. She's almost 90 now. Still strong, still glowing of life despite her health issues. She amazes me. What a phenomenal testament to the will of man to live, to survive, to march on.

At 22, her world - as well as that of European Jewry - was viciously attacked. Torn away from her home in Rhodes and put through a journey to hell - a journey to Auschwitz. She was given a letter. A dash. A few numbers. She asks and then demands that my wife and I have a drink. We oblige as she offers a wrapped present to Nissim. His curiosity peaks and he approaches her. He gets a toy car. She looks at me and compliments me on my articles for the community's magazine. I look at it again - she's been carrying it for almost 68 years now. Why? How? Never again? A quick peak at my watch and the questions stop twirling around my head, it's time for mincha & arvit, "We need to go, we'll see you soon Madame Sarah." I pick up Nissim, and after Tals says her goodbye, I lean over and kiss Madame Sarah goodbye. A privilege and a lesson.

A few days ago, an elderly Jew started interacting with Nissim at Checkers (A large South African supermarket chain). After a few seconds, he turned to Tals and said, "I hope he doesn't see what my eyes had to see." His words gave me chills - I hope the old man was right.
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Happy Passover

Another day, another really bad road sign in Israel. Oh well, at least this one isn't dirty! (h/t to Yaakov)


On that note ... I hope everyone has a happy & kosher Passover, חג שמח וכשר לכולם

... and last thing (honest) ... Big mazal tov goes out to my sister in law, Odelia, who just got engaged to Netanel over the weekend in London (yes, in London ... If you don't get the joke, you probably don't watch Friends enough).
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Watching

Before today's update, here's a pic of Nissim we took yesterday with the one armed 2010 World Cup mascot, Zakumi:


Back to the present ... My cousins (Simone & Francois) took us on a road trip to Gordon's Bay, Betty's Bay & Hermanus, a prime spot to see whales. We picked a gorgeous day for the trip that even had Nissim wearing a hat, something he usually hates to do:

The first pit stop gave us the beautiful view facing Gordon's Bay. Quite magnificent really, but I'll let the pics do the talking:


As we were passing Betty's Bay, I saw a penguin sign and suggested we go check it out. We were not disappointed as we saw a handful of African penguins (while I took quite a few pictures, the below is the best one - Nissim spent a few minutes chatting up the poor penguin as it was trying to sleep) and even a few dassies (Afrikaans for Hyrax), with one trying (& luckily failing) to get intimate with my camera:


When we got to Hermanus, we were hoping to spot a few whales. Unfortunately, as is evident by the Blog's title, we were only watching. A whale never came into the equation ... Well, at least not a 'real' one.


As Nissim was none too happy about this, we decided to lessen the disappointment by giving him a few licks of a Rolo ice cream bar ... Kid was happy, parents were happy, cousins were happy ... A fun day.

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Full Circle

My first impressions of Johannesburg's airport were only positive. Helpful and friendly staff eager to help whenever approached. Lots of helpful signs & footballs and well, a clean floor for Nissim to crawl around on:


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It was slightly odd to walk around Nonna's apartment again. It's the same place it was some ten years ago when my sister, father & I came for a visit to be at my late Nonnou's tombstone unveiling. I said my good bye to Nonnou Nissim that time - he was a man I respected deeply and loved. This time, I returned with my wife and my Nissim. The cycle continues.

Though I spent so little time living in Cape Town throughout my life, it's the only place I'd call home if I wasn't so attached to Israel. I've missed it. The warmth, the memories ... and the beautiful view.



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On Friday morning, I took Talya for a walk on Sea Point's beach front. Talk about memories. We walked by the Pavilion (the pool where I used to fling myself off the 10 meter high diving board), the ice cream shop (where Tova & I used to get caramel dipped vanilla ice cream cones), the playgrounds (which my cousins and I used to frequent, and now Nissim can enjoy too!), the beach (sorry Tov, couldn't find one of those shells we used to go hunting for) and a quick stop at 2 Tobi Lodge on Oliver Road, where my Gramps & late Gran lived. Sheesh ... Life moves on, but at least the memories stay ...


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It's been a lot of fun to see Nonna interacting with her great grandson. After a long frown at her when she welcomed us to her building, Nissim warmed up to her and cannot stop saying her name. The best 80th birthday present we could have given her! ... רק בשמחות


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It's great to eat delicious chopped herring again (part of the Saturday kiddush offered by the Sefardi synagogue). Not to mention bourekitas and reshikas ... Ahhh Spangole delicacies ... Next on the craving list: Sparletta's Cream Soda!
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Current Threats

From Rabbi Twerski's Angels Don't Leave Footprints:

The Chazon Ish gave a parable. A general fought a battle to defend his country from an enemy from the north. When he died, his son assumed his position. Years later, the country again came under attack, this time by an enemy from the south. The son dispatched the army to the north, because his father had done so. He was reprimanded, "You fool! Your father sent the army to the north because that is where the attack was from. This time it is from the south, and that is where the army must go."

The Chazon Ish said, "Every generation faces new threats. We must confront these current threats and not those of previous generations if they no longer exist."

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R-Rated Road Signs

The English translation of road signs in Israel are usually terrible. I can't help but grimace when I see some of these signs (like the 'Petach Tiqwa' signs for example - it should be Tikvah). However, I now think the issue should be looked at a wee bit more urgently, especially with signs like the one below!



** if you can't read Hebrew and you're over 18, I'll translate for you **

h/t Max
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Tears & Books

I remember quite well the first movie which made me cry. I was 6 or 7 years old when my Nonnou & Nonna let my sister and I watch Raid on Entebbe, starring Peter Finch and Charles Bronson. When Yoni died near the movie's climatic end, my sister and I started crying. I was devastated. "Why Yoni?" I kept on asking my grandparents. That movie left its mark on me - and since then, I've watched all 3 Entebbe movies too many times to remember (and my "Oh no, you're not watching it again" family are my witnesses!), and read as many books about the operation as possible (From Yoni's Letters to Yoni's Last Battle).

Two years ago, I found another book on the subject, Sayeret Matkal in Entebbe (The book seems to only be available Hebrew, סיירת מטכ"ל באנטבה). The 700+ page book is interview after interview with figures, be it the Minister of Defense (Shimon Peres) or the receptionist at the Chief of Staff's office, who found themselves around Sayeret Matkal during the hectic 3 day (Thursday - Saturday / July 1st - 3rd, 1976) period that gave us one of the most daring rescue attempts history has ever known. While I'm only on the 'Friday' so far, I've learned a lot of new information about the planning of the raid (for example, the Mercedes idea was raised on Thursday evening during the first few hours of planning, and the Ugandan flags on the car were actually drawn by a few soldiers as there were no authentic ones available). What has impressed me the most so far is the incredible speed Yoni and his team developed a plan and how they continually improved it before any dry runs. Tough book to put down ...
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His Name

Last week I blogged about seeing my name (my great grandfather's name) in Hizkia Franco's book, The Jewish Martyrs of Rhodes and Cos. As the book hits the sad climax, the Nazis start deporting Jews to Haidari (a concentration camp outside of Athens) and then Auschwitz. Here, I came by yet another name that a family member carries. While I briefly blogged about the 3 Davids from which Nissim got his middle name, here's a bit more information about the tragic end of one of these Davids, Nonna's grandfather (his name bolded below):

The following details have been taken from an interview with Mr. Bension R. Menasche. The facts speak eloquently:

'This trip from Athens to Auschwitz lasted thirteen days, from 3 to 16 August 1944. What a journey, and in what terrible conditions! Thirteen days of unheard-of atrocious suffering. Men and women, old people and children were all packed into these dirty and repugnant wagons. We were suffocating, almost dying, the air was so different to breathe. All we had to eat was a mess-tin of filth, and a jug of water they called drinkable. That was all. Many of our deportees succumbed to their sufferings during the trip.

These corpses were flung out on to the fields as prey for the wild beasts. One can easily imagine the emotions of their fellow sufferers. It was these terrible conditions that the deportees spent the thirteen days of their appalling journey.

Here is a list of the deportees who died on the trip from Rhodes to Auschwitz:

Michel Menasche
Michel S. Menasche
Rica de Bochor Levi
Rebecca de Josef Abouaf, from Izmir
Alegra, his daughter
Boulissa de Nissim Alhadeff, the Hazan
David Capelluto, the travel goods supplier
The wife of Yacov Alhadeff, a shopkeeper
Avraam Levi
Sarota de Bochor Alhadeff
Mussani Tarica, an old man
Mazaltov de Bochor Hasson
Mussani Habif, the ironmonger
Bochor Cohen, a porter
Tia Linda de Halfon
Rebecca de David Alhadeff
Yznuda Levi, from Milas
The wife of the Hacham de Cos
Albert, the son of Bochor Almeleh
Avram Huniou, shammas of the Gadol Synagogue
Bochor Menasche de Moushon
Hadji Yehuda Notrica

May their blessed souls rest in peace!

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7 Up

Today I celebrate 7 years in Israel.

It does sometimes seem like decades since I arrived in Ben Gurion on a warm Monday morning and took the taxi to Arad's absorption center. So much has changed since that 22 year old kid arrived in Israel to fulfill a dream and plant his roots.

It's been fun.

It's been sad.

It's been great.

It's been challenging.

It's been difficult.

... and I'm happy.

Other 'Aliya'versary blogs: 3, 4, 5, 6
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World Trade Center

I watched the last half of this movie today. As I got sucked into it, the memories of that day ... September 11th, 2001 ... started coming back.

Senior year ... Binghamton University ... A typical Tuesday morning.

It must have been 8:50 or so and my roommate knocked on the door, "Avram, a plane has hit the world trade center towers." Why is he waking me up I thought to myself, probably just an accident anyways. A few minutes later, I got out of bed and walked to the TV in our lounge. My jaw dropped. No. No, this can't be happening. A few minutes later, another plane hit the second tower. I don't remember much of what I said as I sat down watching this unfold. One tower collapsed. The other followed. It was the most incredible special effects I had ever witnessed in a movie, a movie I wish I had never needed to see.

A few minutes later, I ran to my room and called my dad. I couldn't reach him, the lines were down. I had no idea where his office was in relation to the towers. Was he ... No ... Please no ... Was I going to hear his voice again? I called my mom. Same issue I had with my dad's number. I was getting scared but I saw a friend on AOL Instant Messenger who I knew worked in the city. "Are you ok?," I asked not really interested in her answer. "Ok," she responded, "Are you?" "Yes, I'm at school and I need a favor - can you call my mom and ask her if my dad is ok?" "Sure," and then I waited. I just wanted to hear his voice.

The phone rang. "Hey son, dad is ok. He saw it from his office, and he's fine, don't worry." I breathed deeply, told her how much I loved her and told her I would call everyone and let them know the news. Sister, check. Nonna, check. Gramps, check. Answer all the e-mails from concerned friends, check. The day was over, but I think everyone who experienced what I experienced, or who sadly experienced much worse, would have the day etched in their memory forever.

The movie bought out a lot tears. A few quotes near the end stood out ...

"Hang in there, don't give up"

... Doesn't need much explaining, right? To quote Booker T. Washington, "I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."

"Did I love you enough?"

This line really hit me. Not because I thought it was something I needed asking, but because it's something that has been on mind a lot lately for some reason. If G-d forbid your loved one goes suddenly, will they know how much you loved them? I remember once my dad told me, "You will one day not bear the pain that I did and still do, of not having told my Dad z”l how much I loved him and respected him." Tell your loved ones how much you care ... Show them too ... Life's too short and uncertain to miss out on the many opportunities we get to do so.

"9/11 showed us what human beings are capable of. The evil, yeah, sure. But it also brought out the goodness we forgot could exist. People taking care of each other for no other reason than it was the right thing to do. It's important for us to talk about that good, to remember."

To the many heroes that day, I salute you. Thank you.

To the 2,976 souls who never returned home that day - may your dear souls rest in peace.
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My Name

I've started reading Hizkia M. Franco's The Jewish Martyrs of Rhodes and Cos, a book about two rather small Spangoli Jewish communities that were destroyed during the Nazi Holocaust. The chapter I'm currently reading is talking about the expulsion of Turkish born Jews who had got Italian citizenship by virtue of the Treaty of Lausanne. The boat (or 'tramp steamer' as Franco calls it) that was supposed to take them to the Mandate caught fire as it was leaving the harbor and the Rhodes Jewish community organized itself in order to help the 'refugees':

Early the following morning, many men and women of our community hurried to the aid of the castaways, and they were the first to supply food, clothing and blankets. Soon a kitchen was organized in the stadium to feed them properly, as the prescribed rations issued by the authorities were insufficient. Fortunately we still had plenty of food at the time.

In our community, there were good people who devoted themselves wholeheartedly to this charitable work. One of them, the well-known businessman Avraam Piha, fell ill as a result of his efforts. He died on 26 July 1939. May his blessed soul rest in peace!

I'm named after that man, my great grandfather (My dad isn't sure if that date of death (his azkara is in Elul) is accurate). What an honor to carry this name.
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Simply the Best

No other words needed to describe the latest member of the Hall of Fame, Emmitt Smith. Here are some stats for the best RB in NFL history:

* 18,355 career rushing yards, NFL record.
* 164 career rushing TDs, NFL record.
* 78 100 yard games, NFL record.
* 3 time Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
* 1993 NFL MVP

A few pictures that stick out in my mind from his wonderful career:


The Triplets:


Running through the Bills on the way to the Cowboys 1st Super Bowl of the 90s:


Running through the Bills again for back to back Super Bowl victories:


Celebrating the 3rd Super Bowl:


Breaking Payton's rushing record:


Welcome to the Hall:

Puzzle Two

It's hard to believe that the last puzzle we did was just over a year ago. I'm sure when I wrote that blog I was thinking this would be a more common occurrence. Oh well, a once a year hobby isn't that bad I guess. Without further delay, the latest puzzle:

The Box:


After Day 1:


After Day 2:


After Day 3:


After Day 4:

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Yitro's advice - a mixed blessing

Most of us are aware of the positives that came from Yitro's advice to Moshe (18/13-26), but there was however, one serious negative. By accepting the proposal, the nation significantly reduced their time around Moshe's personality, influence and teaching. As Rashi notes in Dvarim 1:14, the Nation should have said, "From whom is better to learn, from you or from your student: Is it not better to learn from you?" The lesson for us? It highlights the importance of attaching oneself to a wise and inspirational leader, even when 'good sense' dictates a different approach.
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Another reason to fly El Al

Courtesy of Muqata
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Understatement of the Year

The storm over the past day has caused massive flooding in the South (for some pictures, click here). The best picture however has to be the one below, where the bus sign reads, "Not in Service" ... Ha ha, well duuuuh!

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An Umbrella

Last night, a major thunderstorm hit Israel (for picture, see below). It poured the whole night, truly a wonderful blessing for a country in such desperate need of water. When I woke up to go to minyan at 6, it was still pouring. Even after a one and a half hour long shacharit (Hebrew for morning service), the rain continued. On the way back from shul, my friend and I passed our road's bus stop. There, a soldier stood under the small canopy unable to stay dry. As Shmuel passed him, he asked, "Where's your jacket?" "There weren't any on base," the soldier replied. Shmuel said, "Here, take my umbrella." The soldier refused, "It's ok, I'll be on a bus soon." "And when you walk to your base?," Shmuel persisted, "just take it." The soldier held his ground and in the end Shmuel continued on with me and his umbrella. He may not have succeeded in helping the soldier, but the desire to help and do a mitzvah was there. I guess sometimes it's the thought, or desire, that counts.

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Here's some footage (1 2) of Israel's Search and Rescue teams helping to find survivors after the devastation in Haiti. The most touching story so far has been the birth of the first Haitian in an Israeli hospital, Israel. For more, see here.

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A bloody Zionist rain cloud, courtesy of Yaakov Lozowick's blog:


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An Inanimate River

As Hashem prepares Moshe and Aaron to unleash the first of the ten plague on Egypt, he commands the brothers, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your staff an stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt," (Exodus 7:19). Rashi explains the reason Aaron was chosen to strike the River, and not Moshe, was that the same River had protected the infant Moshe when his mother placed him upon it (Exodus 2:3). It would have been wrong of him to be the one to inflict a plague on it.

This should teach us a very important lesson: if the Torah considers it wrong to show ingratitude to an inanimate river, surely one must be zealous never to slight a human being ...
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Why Judah and not Joseph?

Before he dies in Parashat Vayechi, Jacob blesses his twelve sons. He blesses Judah with "The scepter shall not depart from" him (Bereishit, 49/10), essentially providing his fourth son's descendants with the responsibility of providing Israel a sovereign ruler.

Knowing Jacob's relationship with his all his sons, how come Jacob doesn't bless Joseph with the honor of being leader of the nation?

Abarbanel explains this by quoting part of Jacob's blessing to Joseph, "They embittered him and became antagonists; The arrow-tongued men hated him," (49/23). Joseph couldn't have been a leader because he provoked jealousy in people (the famous example being the brothers, and one can also assume the jealousy created with the ' young Hebrew Slave's' ascendancy in Egyptian political life caused). This was never the case with Judah, who enjoyed undisputed popularity.
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Inspiration

I thought my last blog would be the last for 2009, but alas, I wanted to share what I heard today with my three (or is it four?) readers.

I've joined a footy team that competes in the Anglo League in Israel. Each team is allowed to have 2 Israelis on the pitch, and I was giving one of our Israelis a ride to the game from Jerusalem. As we discussed each other, Rannie started talking about his impressive football background - at least for an Israeli! He came up through the ranks of the Beitar youth system, playing the game with current Beitar stars like Aviram Bruchian & Barak Yitzchaki. As he started to detail aspects of their games, I asked him why he wasn't with them on the pitch every weekend at Teddy. His answer startled me, "I joined the army." So I prodded more, "You're telling me you could have played professionally but you gave it up to do 3 years in the army?" His reply filled me with admiration, "I was offered a professional contract. I thought about it and decided that I live in Israel and I'd serve the country the full 3 years in a combat unit."

Here's a guy who's given his whole life to achieving a dream - and when the day comes for making the dream a reality, he turns it down for the IDF. Unreal. What a role model ...
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