Shmita Unplugged- laws, loopholes, and support groups
As Jerry Seinfeld might put it, what’s the deal with shmita? This is my first time in Israel for a Shmita year and I’ve tried to understand all the laws and practices about 15 times and I still have a blank look on my face. Luckily, I found a handy dandy Shmita FAQ by Rabbi Weiss in Ranaana, a Yahoo support group, and a website for all my Shmita cuirosities. Here’s a shocking bit about shmita in Israel, the supermarkets don’t feel any differnet – no signs, no labels, no special shmita rabbi, just the same old same old. And one more comment before the real deal about shmita, whats with the spelling – I’ve seen the following versions: shmita, shmitta, shmittah, shemittah, shmmmmmmitah. It’s out of control.
Here’s a simplified slice from Rabbi Weiss’ Q&A. Continue reading this entry »
My heart is in Jerusalem, but my hairgel is in America
It’s so awesome when parents come to visit for the holidays, bringing with them hugs, delicious meals, and the inevitable requests from America. Oh America, the land of toiletrees from Target and Costco. I think it was David Kilimnick, a Jerusalem comedian, who said something like,”We may have made aliyah, but we’re the only Israelis that live in this country and use toiletrees from another.” Touche.
Here I am, three years into living in Israel, but my superficiality refuses to let me use anything other than Crest with Scope toothpaste, Fructis hair gel, Ziploc bags, and the list goes on. Then there’s books, which are just so much cheaper coming from online sites like half.com. I’m psyched to start reading Bringing Down the House and Business2.0. And finally- clothes. I’ve tried the Israeli malls, but unfortunately, clothing in Israel falls into two tragic categories: the scandalous or the bag. Half the clothes are too skimpy to even figure out how to wear them, while the other half are so modest that I’ve lost any femininity I may have possessed. So, for the first time, I ordered clothes online and they came out pretty good. Continue reading this entry »
The Internet is snapping in two, my brain soon to follow
My life is starting to occur somewhere between the virtual world of blogs, emails, and Facebook and the real in-the-flesh world of cooking, taking care of my cats, and learning Illustrator. And it’s makin me a little cuckoo. I’m not the only one, either. And while my social skills may be plummeting, at least my knowledge of web2.0 and social media is accelerating at a rate I can hardly keep up with. I wish I could do a survey – what percentage of people even know about web2.0. Does my mom? Does yours? Does it matter? Continue reading this entry »
Hold up, Everybody Stop. YouTube is a college course
I wonder if Misrad HaStudentim would pay for you to get a degree in YouTube. Probably not, but Pitzer college in California is offering a course called “Learning from YouTube“. Is it me or has the world gone crrrazy. I mean, theater appreciation was one thing, even Yiddish was acceptable, but YouTube? Although I graduated from college, I am tempted to start all over again and apply to Pitzer just for this course.
Take a look at the syllabus:
Movie theaters in Israel = oy vey
Seret.co.il has been scouted. The movie’s been selected. The time’s been arranged. The friend’s are notified. And now your off to… weeee… the movies. And then as soon as you get there, it hits you, in the form of a spiked blond-streaked, tight-jeaned, no deodarant-ed 12 year old male pushing his way in front of you along with the rest of his posse, that this fun night might turn out otherwise. The most ironic part among all this mayhem are the assigned seats. So even if the whole theater is empty, you must (and they check) sit in your assigned seat in the back row.
Once you get your ticket, you figure, I’ll go into the theater and have a little snack before the movie starts. Ha! The ticket-tearer looks at your ticket, then looks at you, and then says, Mah Pitom (What are you thinking!) Your movie doesn’t start for another 3 minutes, you can’t come in early! Continue reading this entry »
Misrad HaKlita and Misrad HaStudentim duke it out
VS.
Think the logos and websites are confusing? Just wait till you start talking to the offices.
Someone requested that I cover this topic so here’s all I know on the subject of Misrad HaKlita(absorption) vs. Misrad HaStudentim (student authority) . Please verify the information with the right office, as the info changes all the time (naturally).
Misrad HaKlita – course route
You need to be:
- under 30
- made aliyah less than 3 years ago
- they’ll give you up to 10,000 shekels of the cost of your course. (I’m currently taking a graphic design course at John Bryce, and this is how much they gave me)
Phone: The main number is 02-621-4555. More specifically, I spoke to Ina, who was nice and patient: 02-624-9398.
Address: 15 Hillel St, Downtown Jerusalem. You should call the main line to make an appointment.
Website
Misrad HaStudentim – University route
I am not as familiar with their terms, but it is also under 30 to start. I think it’s mostly for Hebrew programs, but you’d have to check.
Phone: 02-621-4538 or 02-621-4543
Address: 15 Hillel St, Downtown Jerusalem.
Website
Good luck with your studies.
Michelle Citrin’s Rosh Hashanah video
Cute R”H video, thanks to Michelle Citrin, a Rutgers University and birthright israel alumnae!
Sweet Rosh Hashana Videos
Two of the top 10 Rosh Hashana videos on YouTube were created by the big felafel’s very own writer and movie-maker extraordinaire – Molly. These videos were created during that fuzzy, strange period when we were working for Oleh! (the exclamation was part of the name) and SinaiMail.
In short, Molly makes some amazing videos. Just wait for the Sukkot and Pesach ones!
Shana Tova!
Sweet and Sticky New Year:
Sounds of the New Year:
Tricky clocks
Oh, clocks, why can’t the summer just last forever.
Here’s what to do: In Israel, on Saturday night, September 16, stay up until 2am and change your clock so the time says 1am.
I hope my cell phone will do it automatically so I can go to bed before 2.
The Big Felafel 