Election Roundup

Wow, I am so happy that the elections here are over! I don't even know who won yet, and frankly, I couldn't care that much. You know why? B/c of the following reasons:

1. No more Moshe Abutbol songs
2. My kids not singing the Moshe Abutbol theme song
3. No more election litter

Among other things I've noticed that the politics here, are way different than the US.

For starters, in the US, who gets elected to the city council doesn't really change the city that much. Your guy or some other, they are still going to get the basics done.

Here, it can make the difference of who is going to get a school building. I had a real negius to vote for one party, since the menahel of our school is there #2 guy. That means, he gets in, we probably will get a school (I wasn't worried about him getting elected though).

The gedolim appear to be used greatly in the elections. If you don't vote this way, like the gedolim say, you're going to gehinom, or you're a toavah, take your pick. On top of that, one party had brought one of the biggest gedolim in the country to come down to our city and "electioneer" for them, I mean, why waste his time to bring him down here, I'm sure he has better things to do than worry about the politics of Beit Shemesh. I'm not c"v knocking him, as I'm sure he was doing what he thought was best, but the people responsible, who got him to come down, it's not as if he is some big shot politician, who you want to bring down to get his endorsement. You want his endorsement, you go to him, don't bring him down here to get him dirty c"v.

Any, I'm happy they are over. we'll see who wins shortly...

Neighborhood Excitement

This evening we had some excitement for the kids. Some kid runs over to his parent by the benches where Sarah and the neighborhood women hang out and shmooze (while watching the children of course), and start yelling about something being chashuv, very chashuv. Only after a few times, we realize, oh, a chafetz chashud!

Now when doesn't a c"c bring joy and fun to children?

You get to watch the robot be deployed, get yelled at police to stay back, and even here a few rounds go off, as the robot desperately tries to detonate some poor kids knapsack that he left behind as he was running for the bus.

Why, I recall when I was in yeshiva here, in my first year, someone noticed a suspicious looking woman drop a bag or two into our garbage area, so the police came down (while we were still in shiur), and started evacuating us from the beis medrash. And when I say evacuating, I mean he was yelling at us to get out of there!

Now what would you except a bunch of American yeshiva guys to do?

We snapped pictures of course!

Ahhh, memories, but I digress. Anyway, some poor kids lost bag, about an hour of the police time wasted, and the neighborhood kids get some free entertainment!

Aliyah Motivational Posters

In the days and weeks leading up to the US elections, I have heard the same rumblings that preceded the 2004 elections. "If that guy wins, I'm moving to Canada". Only this time, it was "If that guy wins, I'm moving to Israel"

Well people, here's your chance! I've only been here for about 5 months, but I (and I'm sure most of the rest of this country) will gladly accept you and welcome you with open arms.

Just in case you need some motivation to make the move, as I'm sure in a few weeks, you'll be saying "ehh, he's not really that bad", I have made up a few motivational posters for you to hang* in your house.

Better yet, hang them in your shul, get your friends to come as well!

* These photos were gleaned form the internet, and I take no responsibility for any copyright problems that might come about due to your use of them

Job Hunt

For those of you not aware, I am back in the market!

If anyone out there can find me any position that I would be happy with, and pays my bills, I will personally buy them lunch*!

Seriously, though, I am looking for a position as web application developer with Microsoft technologies. Either a position to telecommute to the states, or one locally here in the center of Israel (between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem).


*lunch by my definition would probably amount to some pizza and a coke, but then for a job, I would probably splurge

The Night sounds of RBS

I've been meaning to put up a post about the night wildlife in the area, and how close it is to us. Between seeing a couple of praying mantis' on my windows to the sounds of the jackal or wolves, or whatever they are in the hills outside my window.

Instead, for the past couple of days, perhaps weeks, it's not wolves, jackals or crickets, I hear. But rather it is the incessant flyovers done by the the army. Between the fighter jets that fly overhead (I think about 7 flew over the in the span of about 5-10 minutes (and not flying together either), to the helicopters flying really close by.

I know I was told there is an army base nearby, though when you have s country this size, everything is nearby. However, Sarah keeps getting the feeling that something is happening.

And I'm starting to get that feeling too. Whether it's a buildup, or just plain maneuvers, it seems that something is going on.

If anyone out there is privy to some insider information, please let me know!

Elections: What is going on here?!?!

Ok, now I figured that electioneering would be a bit different here that in the alter heim, however I never thought it would be quite like this.

We're here in the house getting the kids out of the shower an into bed, when we hear this music start playing. Sarah first asks me not to play the music until the children are in bed. I'm wondering who is blaring their music outside.

Then it starts getting louder, and the horns start going - no not those horns, the car horns! And not just one or tow, but a whole lot.

Then I hear Shweky singing real loud, and see something out of my office window.

Sarah called back to me that she sees some letters on the cars ayin daled . And I think that's strange, those are the letters of this new party in town call Tov.

The singing is getting louder.

The first cars I see coming up Refaim have tons of lights on them, which makes me first thing it's a hachnosos sefer Torah, but it's a recorded Shweky singing.

That can't be.

I then see the rest of this whole procession of cars, and they are bearing the letters ayin daled on then and "Yehi Tov" posters, and balloons. While all of the cars are beeping and honking their horns.

I'm thinking where in the world am I?!?! Is this how they plan on getting my vote? I know there is the whole adage of and press is good press, but c'mon!

Now I just have two conflicting emotions:
I am scared - there are still another 6 parties or so.
And why didn't they invite me!

The Close of the Yom Tov Season

It's that time of year again, when the sukkas start to come down, and the nights get longer.

Just reflecting on Yom Tov for a bit, It was great being here. I won't say I got any particular high, or felt that something special of being Here. I could chalk it up to the fact that I've been bogged down with everything that I didn't have a chance to really feel "It".

To top that off, I even had the guilty feeling of anticipating Yom Tov being over. Though that feeling was more in line with wanting to get back to a normal routine. Get back to my learning in the morning, family time in the afternoon, and work in the evening.

I want my routine back!

But really, I don't feel that guilty about it. Despite not getting a particular high out of my first Yom Tov being here, I did have a great time. We spent a lot of quality family time, and Yom Tov was really great. And the only reason I really have any anticipation of this coming Thursday (read back to my schedule), is just so I can get back to my regular routine, and not a despisal of Yom Tov.

So, here's looking to growth and stability!