Man of the Year

Before I go on, let me make something clear, I am not a Catholic, not even a Christian, I am a Jew.

Time magazine named Pope Francis Man of the Year. Who is this man from Argentina who took the world by his gentle storm? Why is he so appealing to many (not only Catholics)? I listened to the experts on CNN, analyzing the Pope Francis phenomena, though they were right in their conclusions, mine was somewhat less scientific and more simple.

Pope Francis, as we Jews would say, is a mentsch. In Yiddish, this means a person with integrity (more or less). In my mind he is nothing more than a Man , in the real sense of the word. I watched the people listening to His speech today. Many of them did not even understand what he was saying, but there was no need for it. It was understood, you didn't even need an interpreter. He delivers the MESSAGE loud and clear. Live your lives as humans, shed yourselves from religious dogma, see the people around you as people and not objects.

Christmas or not, the World was not a peaceful place today. Maybe, just maybe we should listen what the Man of the Year has to say.

To my friends who celebrate it, say Happy Birthday to the most famous Jewish kid in history. As to the Man of the Year, you may just pull it off, unite not divide.

Have a good one everyone!

White Blanket

I watched as the perfect snowflakes touched the ground. One by one, they dusted the street, then their dance, so elegant, picked up and became frenzied. The frozen waters from the sky shed their aristocratic move, and came down hard.

What once was dark pavement, became white. Tree branches bent under the crystals and garbage left on the lawn disappeared. I wondered, how easy it is for this winter blessing to erase what is wrong. Covering us with its protective white blanket, muzzling the sounds around, banishing the ugly and grey.

I wanted to have a white blanket, I wanted to put it over the questions, I wanted to pretend that everything is pristine and innocent. I wanted to forget the cruel world out there. I don't have a white blanket, nothing can be covered, I have to face what is under it.

The snowflakes touched the ground, whiteness engulfed the street and I saw it; PEACE and SILENCE tangled up in one hovering above me. Come, cover me with your white blanket!

Finding the Magic

Once a year, in the month of December, many of us becoming wild eyed kids, full of anticipation. You can feel it in the air, on the streets, even on the subway. The month has this mysterious aura about it. Whether or not you celebrate Christmas (which I don't), the annual hunt for magic has been declared.

It is difficult not to give in to the bright lights, the special smells, the snowy landscape - if you live in the Northern Hemisphere- and the promise to receive something. This time of the year supposed to be magical, but what is magic?

We humans, seek out new things, constantly looking for THAT special thing or someone. We are eternal magic hunters. We may think magic is unattainable, it is surreal, even paranormal. If we find something exciting we equate that with magic, but once the novelty wears off, we are ready to discard it and look for the next thing.

Magic is constant, all encompassing and has one source, YOU. Yes, YOU hold the key to perpetuate this wonderful thing called MAGIC. It is within you, no need  for special dates in the calendar to bring it out.

Before you run and dive into this artificially enhanced magic hunt, take a step back and look no further than yourself. You are nothing short of being this exciting, radiant,  mysterious being. Your inner magic overflows, becomes contagious and in no time everyone around you will find THAT THING they have been looking for.

Christmas is only one day, YOUR magic is eternal.

Have a wonderful December!

Neverland

I am torn between my two advisers, Reason and Dreams. I have been accused of the latter many times in my life. Me, the dreamer; me the visionary; me the one who sees a bright future. Many of you may say, that is great, dreamers are the ones who propel the world. Visionaries the ones that make things happen. Those who see that bright future are the givers of hope.

I wish life would be that simple. Yes, I do have a dream, I do envision great success and I for sure, see a bright future. However, it does not matter if I can't bring them to life in reality. That's when Reason takes over and starts to nag me. Constantly being on my case, relentlessly questioning me if I have done this or done that. Reason is on a never ending audit, putting all my decisions, actions under the cruel eye of a microscope. Reason has a habit of not letting it go.

As you see, I am in a bind. I would love to be in my Neverland, I would love to have fairy dust sprinkled on me, I would love to fly and float over the Ocean of Possibilities. I would love all that, but that stubborn, hard headed Headmaster called, Reason keeps me in line.

The trip to Neverland has been postponed for the time being. Me, and my old buddy Reason, will grind it out until I could have that boarding pass to Neverland. So, my dearest friend Dreams, be patient; I am on my way.

Malala and my grandmother

A fragile teenage girl from Pakistan has become a symbol of perseverance, will and sheer determination almost overnight. Her story reminded  me of another one, set in a small village in Eastern Hungary, a century earlier.

The story is about a little girl who had a passion for knowledge, the desire to explore and a dream of becoming a doctor one day. In her case neither the passion, nor the desire was enough to get her an education. She was allowed only to finish 3rd grade. She had two strikes against her from the beginning. One, she was a girl and two, she happened to be a Jewish girl. Schools were operated by the church (either Protestant or Catholic) back then, and only a certain amount of Jewish students were accepted. Girls were not given a priority, so as soon as they learned to read and write, they were out.

The little girl grew up to be a wonderful and strong woman. Without a formal education, her instincts, intelligence and inherent smarts helped her navigate through the maze of life.  She did not  become a doctor, nor a lawyer, but her passion for knowledge never faded. This strong woman was my grandmother, Olga.

Malala and Olga,  on opposite ends of the religious and geographic spectrum, shared very similar experiences. The difference is Malala has a voice now. She won`t be ignored nor silenced.  Malala is a hero to many, Olga is the biggest hero to me.

What do you like in your...?

Often we are focusing on what we don't like in our ... (you fill out the blanks). Me, being an eternal optimist I would rather focus on what I DO LIKE in my life, kids, significant other, parent, work, social life (the list is long).

So, for starters I invite you to tell me what you do like in your significant other (if you have one) or what traits are important to you to have in a significant other (if you are still looking for that special person).

Here is my list what I LOVE in my significant other:


1. His brilliant mind

2. His patience

3. His sense of humor

4. His spontaneity

5. His willingness to be a kid once in a while

6. His down-to-Earth nature

7. His smile

8. His sports analysis (ranging from baseball through soccer, hockey to basketball)

9. His integrity

10. His faith in me


This is by no means the entire list. Oh, I almost forgot his good looks doesn't hurt either :)

Let me know what you like/love in your significant other. You never know, by making a list, you may re-discover the very reasons why you tied your life to that person. Don't lose sight of it!!

Elul - Seek, Search and Draw Conclusions

To most people in the Northern Hemisphere, August is a fun month. Many take exciting vacations enjoying what the Summer has to offer. While August promises relaxation, careless leisure and adventures; for a very small segment of the population, the month promises something entirely different.

This year, August coincides with the Jewish month of Elul. Most of you, don't even know what Elul is. Elul is the 6th month of the Hebrew calendar. The name comes from the Babylonian Exile, has several meanings, one is Harvest (from Akkadian) and the other is Search (from Aramaic). In this case the Aramaic meaning hits the nail on its head. According to tradition, in this period, we all should search our souls, take inventory, seek ways to reconcile not only with others , but also with ourselves. For the religious among us, it is a recurring ritual (blowing the Shofar, reciting Psalms and say special prayers Slichot ) a yearly reminder about ourselves and our deeds of the past year.

But what about us, the less than or not religious at all? Shouldn't soul searching, seeking reconciliation be an ongoing event? Why do we need a designated month to take ownership over our actions? Should fear over punishment guide us, instead of reason? 

Too many questions and very few answers. In the meantime, I am making my own inventory, just in case.

Nine innings of solitude

I am a recent convert to this intriguing game called, baseball. I have to admit, up until 2,5 years ago, I found the game utterly boring and long. My lack of enthusiasm was largely due to lack of knowledge and the culture I lived in at the time.

Nevertheless I was determined to give another shot and try to understand the game. When my better half came in "shining armor", explaining the intricacies of the game, a whole new world has opened up. I could not believe, how fantastic this game can be. Don't get fooled people, baseball requires brains from all. It
is a numbers game, based on stats and match-ups.

Each player has a role and that role is determined by their history. Winning is a team effort, but in baseball it comes down to the Man on the Mound. We love to see balls blasted out of the ballpark, enjoy gravity defying catches by the outfield, however the key is in the Pitcher's hand.

He sets the tone, and the pace. It is a mind game, the Pitcher must find his zone in which nobody can disturb him. His decision what to throw can make or break a game. Nine innings of solitude, it is him and the ball.

The Pitcher, like Moses on Mt. Sinai, is alone. He is a special breed, every success and every failure is his doing. No one to blame but himself.

We all have our "nine innings of solitude" when facing tough decisions. For me, I would love to throw a 98 mph fastball to the problems I face, seeing them swinging at it, but failing to hit. I can only thrive for pitching the perfect game, in the meantime I am hoping for one strike at a time.

Women; Ambassadors of Peace

How many times have you heard, if women would run governments, war and discord would be eliminated? Personally, I have heard it millions of times. Somewhere back in my mind , I knew it could be true. Aren't we, women, seeking solutions  rather than confrontation, by nature?  Aren't we natural peacekeepers? Don't we have the innate ability to bridge gaps?

The answer is yes, we are. I saw it, experienced it first hand on Sunday. Let me tell you about my little adventure that took place in a town called Milton, Ontario. I was invited to do a food and craft show in a small community center. I had no idea who the organizers were, I got the call from my friend Khadra, to let's go and set up shop. I responded to the call, and drove to Milton. It turned out, it was organized by South Asian women with the aim to promote home based businesses to enable other women become independent.

What Khadra did not tell me, that the vast majority of the participants would be Muslims, many of them devout. My dear friend would not even think about it, since our main goal was to introduce our products and sell them. So, here I was, the one and only Jewish woman, with the Star of David clearly visible on her necklace; promoting healthy, organic beverages. Oh yes, I was the odd one out, but not for long.

We worked in harmony,  made many contacts, met some amazing, strong women and  who we pray to, was never an issue. Myths were dispelled, we found common ground. Many would say, only in Canada. Yes, Canada is unique in this respect. I love the fact that me the Jewish (Israeli), is able to bridge gaps, build bridges, bring my culture/religion to those who would otherwise see me as the enemy at best, or Satan itself at worst.

I only wish, that those 7 hours in Milton, could be projected to the entire globe.  OK, I am an idealist, I know reality all too well, but for a little while, in a small town called, Milton, Ontario, that idealism did manifest itself.

Thank you Khadra, thank you all the wonderful women at the show! Let's continue to be who we are, women, ambassadors of peace.


Good night everyone!

Don't forget to say - "I love you"

I didn't know him, but those who are close to me, did. His passing was without warning, unexpected, shocking, leaving many behind with a great sense of loss, disbelief, numbness. Even though I have never met him, his sudden exit reinforced what I have been telling others for years.

We know, nothing can be taken for granted, yet we do. We like to think that those around us know how we feel about them and we think there is no need to verbalize it every day. We make plans, we look forward to getting together, we immerse ourselves in the flow of life.

I know about loss, all too well. I made a promise to myself long ago, I will not take anything for granted. I tell my mom every day, how important she is to me; how much I love and admire her; how I miss her every day. The same goes for my children. I would never miss an opportunity to tell my soul-mate, how I feel about him,  how much I appreciate his being. I tell my friends too, how blessed I am, for they are in my life.

Don't take anything for granted! Carpe diem, live your life to the fullest, pursue your dreams, make it happen! We are here on borrowed time. Don't say, "nahh I have time, I will do it later"; you really don't know if you do.

Most of all, don't be afraid to say "I love you" , every day!!


To all the readers of this post: enjoy, cherish, and embrace life!!

Boston, April 15th 2013

Bummm, blast, smoke, screams, chaos, ambulance; the scene is all too familiar to me. I was fully expecting long bearded, religious Jews of ZAKA running to the scene , gathering body parts, and remains of what once  was a human being. Then I realized, this did not happen in Tel Aviv, or Jerusalem, or Haifa, this happened in Boston, today.

I have seen it so many times,  felt the collective grief, waited for the names to be announced in the news hoping not to hear ones I knew. I should be used to this by now, but I am not. It hurts each and every time.

The Boston Marathon, a symbol of pride, endurance and achievement, literally took a blow. Who gave them the right to kill, at whim, just to prove a point , gain publicity, or force their twisted ideas on us? We do not know who or what organization is behind this. We do know however, that "they" will not intimidate us, we will live and move forward! Life must win out!

A side note: Israel celebrates her birthday today, happy birthday!!!!!

A15859 - Happy Birthday Zoli bacsi (Dad) !

You arrived in a cattle wagon, branded by a number just like an animal. Each morning you were called by that number. You ceased to exist as a person, you had no name, no past, no present and no future. You didn't have to go, you could have escaped, but you had to protect the girl you loved. You couldn't, she vanished through the chimney, she was only 15.

You went on, determined that this could not be the end. You fought with everything you had, to stay alive. Went on auto-pilot, endured the beatings, hunger, typhoid. Death became a familiar guest in your quarters, you were not afraid anymore. The Americans liberated your camp, they nurtured you back to life, that was hanging by a very thin thread.

You returned, to the very land that betrayed you and willingly assisted to have you murdered, but you stayed. Should you have? In my view, no, you shouldn't and you see that now 68 years after the facts. You did build a life, had a family, blessed with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

On April 7th , 2013 you turned 86. Ironically your birthday fell on Yom Hashoa or Holocaust Remembrance Day. How symbolic it is.

A15859 has a name, Zoltan Angyal from Debrecen, Hungary; my hero, my Zoli bacsi, my Dad!

I promise you, we will never forget, and me personally never forgive!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!!  Love you!!!!!

If I had a Dyson

OK, it is a day and half before Pesach (Passover) officially starts (give or take a couple of hours), and I am doing my last minute cleaning. Many of my friends have beaten me to it days ago. I salute you wonder women. I admit, cleaning is not my favorite pastime but if I had a Dyson...

If I had a Dyson, everything would be spotless, shiny and free of annoying allergens around me. Just before Passover, Jewish households are going bonkers to clean and get rid of the last remnants of breadcrumbs or anything that is leavened (yep beer too). It is tense, serious and in some cases insane. You feel , you have entered the Passover Cleaning Olympics, unfortunately it isn't every 4 years, it is a yearly event. However,  no matter how tedious, frustrating or difficult it may be; we have been given a chance to clear house, literally and figuratively. Our traditions have given us an opportunity,  to get rid of the dirt, build-up, and everything that is negative around us.

If I had a Dyson, but I don't.  Nevertheless, it will not prevent me to clean, to make everything shine, to welcome Spring and free myself from everything and everyone that could have a negative influence on me. This is my Exodus, leave the Past behind, shed the unwanted layers and move forward!

So my friends, effectively we all do have our Dyson!!! Happy Cleaning!!!!


Chag Sameach!!!!!