Category: USA

Memphis

So for the last few days, I’ve spent my time at the event my organization holds every two years on the border of three states, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. Apparently, the bridge that I saw every day from the Convention Center window marks the border of two of them going along the mighty Mississippi river. What can I…

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Roller-Coaster During Yamim Noraim / ימים נוראים

These Days of Awe –  ימים נוראים have been very challenging for me so far. Is the Universe trying to tell me something that I refuse to hear? Right after Rosh haShana my body started to give in somehow. Yesterday, I decided to defy the pain and walk to a Community Beit Midrash Kick off at Mechon…

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Birthday Vacation – Made in America!

I’ve spent the last three days in Upstate New York, or more precise the Hudson River Valley. A couple of friends and I rented an Airbnb in Sparrow Bush, near Historic Port Jervis.  It was so nice. peaceful, quiet, relaxing. Driving through this area makes you keenly aware of the beauty of the scenic routes all around, as well…

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Jewish Places of the (Not-So-Distant) Past

כח  אַל-תַּסֵּג, גְּבוּל עוֹלָם–    אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ. 28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.  Proverbs – מִשְׁלֵי I love to go to museums. Art, history, architecture, objets d’art, furniture, you name it. Certainly, I look at many things through the prism of the relations to Jews and Judaism. What’s better than to…

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Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Bo

“Go!”, He said. “Don’t ask for reasons, do as I say” Your people will leave this cursed place And you will be the leader. Now and forever. כב  וַיֵּט מֹשֶׁה אֶת-יָדוֹ, עַל-הַשָּׁמָיִם; וַיְהִי חֹשֶׁךְ-אֲפֵלָה בְּכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים. 22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the…

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My American Anniversary

Today is nineteen years since I’ve arrived in this blessed land of the USA. We came here as a family. Since then we lost two most beloved male members of it. And – we gained two most amazing little girls. The circle of life? How did we fare here? Am I grateful, sad, indifferent, cheerful?  I…

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Ice Cream, Anyone? Just sharing a great ice cream story.

This post is here just to share a great story about Jewish ice cream making in America. Guilty, I have to admit that I always thought Haagen-Dazs was German in origin. This was the only kosher ice cream I learned about in Moscow in my early days of Jewish observance. Of course, I love ice cream!…

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Jury Duty Day

I have served as a juror once. Quite a while ago. It was a terrible mafia case, and I had to spend a whole week sequestered with other people discussing the murder. I don’t remember the particulars of the organization itself, but now, I have decided to document my experience whatever it will turn out to…

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Independence Day Trip

I am not usually the one to talk about American history. This 4th of July, however, I wanted to go for a short restful trip, and accidentally, saw that Valley Forge Park is less than two hours away from New York City. So, to the Valley Forge, we went with the dog and all. Thankfully,…

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