From Mayfest to sand Junes

June 2009 approaches like the French TGV speed rail in full flight. May has had its moments, incidents, and joyous times. Manchester United were able to win the premiership for the third successive time in as many years, but failed in their attempt to secure back to back European Champions League glory. As it has been said before, ‘the best team on the park that day were the deserving winners’.

Life and the weather in New York is warming up and the crowds are swarming in all the glorious and green parks that the great city has to offer. The winter hibernation syndrome has seemed to have passed and the unseen and concealed individuals of the weather-beaten winter magically reappear. The summery atmosphere apparently works wonders, as quasi depressants and borderline insanity patients find that in summer there is more to life.

I trekked north of the border to Toronto, Canada for the Jewish festival of Shavuot. I thank my brother and his family for their hospitality. I had not been to Canada (besides the time I ventured in for a quick few hours in 2006 for a wedding) since I had studied in Montreal, Quebec in 2002. I still cannot proclaim that I do in fact speak French. I will not be undertaking any French lessons for that matter. What I can reveal is, that I do intend on picking up some guitar lessons and a guitar as I make some sort of effort in gaining rock star status.

Canada is a beautiful place, (I know this statement is of arguable substance). As a part of the commonwealth it gives me great pleasure to once again see the sites and visit the country that is known for great Ice hockey teams and mediocre beer. Culturally, Canada can be likened to Australia in many ways, aspects and shared customs. Yes the Queen features on our money, yes we spell the word ‘colour’ the same way and yes we are both jealous of our neighbours (Australia is very envious of the New Zealand Haka). The many comparisons can be made, adduced and analysed, but at the end of the day ‘I still call Australia home’.

The world is still in a state of chaos and one can thank the media for that too. Obama continues to make changes, but that was predictable. North Korea tests its nuclear capacity whilst Israel tests its tenacity. Swine flu had some of the worlds’ attention, whilst the US dollar lost its bout on the international market. Automobiles are still being bought, but who knows how long it will be before the world reverts to the horse drawn coach and buggy (the Amish have the right idea).

We live in hope that these upcoming summer months (for all the northern hemisphere populace) can bring much serenity, safety and sanity to a rather nonsensical world. So instead of throwing hand grenades, throw a Frisbee or boomerang at your local beach or park. Instead of playing war games, play scrabble and bananagrams.

Pray one, pray all that the world remains protected from those barbaric individuals who attempt to cause havoc and destruction and that everyone has the best summer of their lives.

Bon Voyage to those who have travel plans for Cuba, Portugal and Sweden. good luck to my friends who have relocated to their various new posts around the world. May you go in peace and return in one piece.

Peace and party.

The uniqueness of the woman

"A Woman" 
 
 This is written in the Hebrew Talmud, the book 
 where all of the sayings and preaching of 
 Rabbis are conserved over time. 
 
 
 It says: "Be very careful if you make a woman 
 cry, because God counts her tears. The woman 
 came out of a man's rib. Not from his feet to be 
 walked on. Not from his head to be superior, but 
 from the side to be equal. Under the arm to be 
 protected, and next to the heart to be loved.

Pass this on to all exceptional women that you know.. 
and to men so they know the value of a woman. 

Congratulations FC Barcelona

Eto'o and Messi scored as Barcelona produced some magic against the Red Devils in Rome.

Barcelona are the Champions.

Commiserations to Manchester United.

Toronto, Canada

World wide web, i have arrived in Toronto, Canada. I haven't been to Canada since I completed Judaic studies at a college in Quebec in 2002. (I retract and admit that I had been back to Canada for a few hours in January of 2006 for a friends wedding.) I now have come to visit my brother and his family and peruse the scene for possible work opportunity.

North of America, yet still in North America lies a Commonwealth country with a bilingual character and a quasi european taste. 

Canada is unlike the United States in many ways, and I look forward to my little stint here.

Happy Shavout to all those celebrating. 

Champions League final - FC Barcelona V Manchester United.

I wish the best of luck to both teams who take the pitch in today's epic champion league's final in Rome, Italy. Two of the European giants of the game will battle for glory in a game that should provide pure athleticism, football sublime and goals.

Ronaldo and Messi are just two of the champions of players that will represent the teams. The question is, will it be the brilliance of one champion that decides the result or will a team of champions seal its fate.

May the best and fairest team win.

Canada (Toronto) bound

I am Canada bound on Wednesday 27th May. If anyone is in the Toronto vicinity, do not be a stranger and give a shout out.

Summertime hits New York

So I was wondering if the sun was dying and fading as the weather has been rather bleak of late here in NYC. Wednesday 20th May brought immense sunshine and light to New York. 

We barbecued rooftop style and enjoyed the heat and light of the sun. 

Bring on the summer.

17 things I despise

1) I hate when my falafel does not stay intact and the hummus and falafel fall despairingly all over the place.
2) I hate when drivers disobey traffic rules and fail to stop at pedestrian crossings.
3) I hate it when I see 'practicing observant' Jews protesting against the state of Israel and its existence.
4) I hate certain parts of the media for their sensationalizing of the news.
5) I hate it when poured but untouched alcohol goes to waste.
6) I hate it when whilst in the midst of a rain downpour, the umbrella that is shielding you from the rain is blown inside out and far away.
7) I hate it when your local Rabbi ( for some it's your priest or sheikh) does not practice what he/she preaches.
8) I hate the fact that embassies and consulates have such short and useless operating hours.
9) I hate drinking warm beer.
10) I hate when people smoke (not discriminating on the type of smoke) and exhale directly into your face.
11) I hate it when people crawl and ingratiate themselves onto others i.e when they lick other people's shoes.
12) I hate when people are dishonest with their friendships. 
13) I hate it when the phone call you are about to answer stops short of ringing.
14) I hate it when the toilet overflows just as you have put new carpet down.
15) I hate it when you know you have had one too many matzoh balls in your soup. 
16) I hate it when the tennis ball that you were playing with is intercepted by the stray dog that is roaming around the park illegally unleashed. 
17) I hate conforming and like being different, so this one will be a hate yet love thing. I hate yet love airports. I love holidays/vacation. I hate saying goodbye.

There are plenty more, these are just a few.

Always remember 'make love not war'.

Please add on additional things in the comment section.

and remember to behave.

Eurovision 2009

Congratulations to Norway as they clinch the Eurovision song contest of 2009 in Moscow. Alexander Rybak and his song 'fairytale' was voted number 1. 

Israel finished 16th overall with Noa and Mira Awad singing 'there must be another way'. It is a song composed in Hebrew, Arabic and English.

Happy Mothers day

I wish my mother and sisters and whomever else wants to take my wishes, a happy mothers day.

This one is for you mum. A day (well it should be everyday) when you are to be spoiled and loved.

All my love.

Second Passover = second chances.

G-d loves us! You may ask how this is so? The fact that in life we are afforded second chances is proof to this matter.

 

Enter Adam and Eve, the first two human beings to reside in this great world. How lucky, living in the Garden of Eden. A transgression occurs, when they partake in the eating of the forbidden fruit. G-d decides instead of bringing about their death, they will be expelled from their ‘paradise’, the Garden of Eden. The human being is given a second chance in this world, minus the luxuries of the Garden of Eden.

 

We leave Egypt and stand at the foot of Mount Sinai, eagerly awaiting the appearance of Moses our leader who is to unveil and hand to us the Ten Commandments, our guide to life. We instead choose to dance around a Golden Calf. We lose hope and trust in G-d. Moses appears and sees the abominable sight of the Golden Calf and the ‘chosen people’ dancing around it, he subsequently breaks the two tablets. But G-d, yet again, gives us a second chance. A new set of the Ten Commandments are formed and we receive the Torah.

 

We are told that our bodily souls are creatures of reincarnation. Our souls have been to this world before, albeit in dissimilar forms, with distinct features and a different body. The soul returns to ‘fill the gaps’, which were left unfinished in their previous sojourn in this world. Our souls are ‘second chances’, here to accomplish and complete the souls’ unfulfilled mission.

 

There are countless other second chances that have been and in the future will be.

 

G-d commands that any person who was unable to bring the Paschal offering on Pesach, that a second opportunity to bring the offering will be made available on Pesach Sheni. One is not to think that the chance has elapsed or lost, it is not too late. The offering would be brought late, but better than never.

 

G-d is telling us, if we err, if there are mistakes in our lives, do not give up hope. There is a form of relief. G-D’s love and compassion in allowing us second chances, is not to be taken for granted. We must act. We must do. We must rectify. We must progress.

 

One may be afforded a second chance over another. A person may be given an additional opportunity to prove themselves in some form or manner. In contrast, one may not be given an instance of showing their true colours, through additional opportunities and ‘second’ chances. But, that is life my dear friends. G-d works in mysterious ways.

 

So, today being the Second Passover in Hebrew Pesach Sheni, a day in which we were recipients of a second chance, should give us the strength and faith to receive our ‘third chance’, the rebuilding of the third Temple in Jerusalem.

 

G-d truly does love us!   

Amish town and Philadelphia

I took a road-trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where the Amish have a compound of sorts. It was an interesting cultural experience to be exposed to the rituals, religiosity and customs of the Amish and Mennonites. 

They mainly use propane fueled devices for lighting and such. Many of the descendants who still live within the community practice and preserve their customs. They are a private sect and discourage many of the the modern world inventions and innovations.

I saw horse drawn buggies, old style breweries, flower mills and so on. I visualized as to how it was all those years back when the Amish was founded in Switzerland.

On the way back to New York, I stopped in Philadelphia for a bite to eat and meander about in the city where the declaration of independence was signed. 

Messi Affair

I know this will only be of interests to those soccer/football fans out there, but the Champions League final on the 27th of May 2009 in Rome, now has its combatants. Manchester United, the reigning champions from last year will take on Spanish giants, Barcelona FC. 

It is going to be a Messi affair, mind the pun. 

(Lionel Messi, is a Barcelona Player)

Cheap shots

Thursday nights call for celebrations - so being my first back in NYC in a month, It was organised to attend a bar in the East Village called 'Cheap Shots'. 

We are happily going about drinking, yapping, socialising etc. I bought a pitcher of beer and I stress that it was 'our' pitcher. I had placed the pitcher, half full, down on the table beside me whilst we consumed the beer that had already been poured. When the cups needed refills I turned to the pitcher and it was proudly sitting there empty. On the opposite side of the table, sat a Saadam Hussein lookalike, not part of our party drinking my beer. 

I call that a cheap shot.