Festival of Lights

Chanuka is tonight and there is a real feeling of the "Festival of Lights" in the air.  Store displays with brightly colored candles, oils, and many, many types of chanukiot (menorahs).








 

Yahrtzeit of The Arizal



View of Kever of Arizal


Check out this view above the kever of Rav Itzchak Luria (Arizal).  Today, the 5th of Av is his yahrtzeit and many, many people flock to his kever.  For details on the Arizal see
 http://www.safed-kabbalah.com/Arizal/Biography.htm

Pottery with Batya

Batya's Apprentice


We had a great day with Tzfat Artist Batya Erdstein www.erdstein6@gmail.com.  She offers a family workshop and was fantastic with all ages from preschooler through adult, not an easy feat!  Batya brought out the clay and plopped it on the center of the wheel.  She showed how to center the clay and how to shape it.  Everyone had a great time and made several pieces of pottery.  After the pieces air dried, they were painted with a red clay paint.  Batya also has a nice selection of kiln fired glazed pottery for sale and I bought a beautiful dish to put chumous in.  Definately worth a visit!

Safed and second chances

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 Since I'm always in the center of the country, I decided to spend some time up North for a change of scenery and a little adventure.  We had spent Pesach one year in Safed and didn't get to explore around as much as I would have liked.  So here's to second chances!

 




 

Sunflowers for Shavuot



Shavuot


My parents are here for their annual visit and while they were out doing some shopping they found my favorite flower...Sunflowers!  They came into the house with this huge bouquet, perfect for the Shavuot table.



 

Lag B'Omer Bonfire City!

"Lag B'Omer Friends"

   



Lag B'Omer is here with music, marshmallows and LOTS of bonfires!   Usually most kids have a bonfire with their B'nei Akiva group and a few families make their own fires.  This year our town also sponsored a bonfire.  Grandparents, parents and children of all ages joined together to sing, hang out, chat with friends and of course roast marshmallows!



Setting up

Kids have been gathering wood, in anticipation of Lag B'Omer, for weeks and now the set up begins.  Some of these bonfire frames are 9 or 10 feet high!  Two houses away from my house, is this huge one.  Last year there were three generations of a family sitting by the fire, roasting meat and marshmallows, singing and talking until 2 am! 

Medura