December 2007

In a Hanukka newsletter, should one following the ruling of Beit Shamai and start with the oldest and work down, or follow the ruling of Beit Hillel, and start with the smallest and work up. To keep away from arguments, the order of this family report is random.

Looting the lute
As a child, I played classical guitar reaching Grade 7 of the English music Board exams – quite an achievement for one tone deaf and devoid of ability. I took a liking to Elizabethan music, originally written for the lute but transposed for guitar. When my father discovered this penchant, and also that my guitar teacher was a performing, record-cutting lutenist, he started scouring the local papers' "For Sale" columns. Not surprisingly, no ads in newspapers for loot.

Someone who heard of our search, chanced on a scribbled ad pinned to a notice board in the Birmingham Cannon Hill Arts Center offering , unbelievably, a second-hand lute.

I will never forget our excitement as we drove, me and my Dad, in search of the loot, deep into Staffordshire following directions which involved a left turn left at an unlikely-named pub called "The Bull and Spectacles". To prove that this name is not an example of newsletter license please see the picture below, courtesy of Google, in which you can clearly make out the name of the pub but not quite make out the picture, near the top left, of a docile almost paternal bull eyeing passers-by through half-moon specs.

Hardly a Stradivarios, the lute was a first-time effort of a woodwork teacher and had been constructed from a kit. Following my father's futile attempts at bargaining down the price from 100 pounds, the deal was cut and we bagged the loot. The happy turnaround came when my teacher examined it. It was superb – he said, with poorly-disguised envy – worth four times what we paid!

So I lovingly played lute music until school, Bnei Akiva and bumming around exacted such a price on my precious time that one day, the music died. For nigh on 30 years since, I schlepped a guitar and lute with me from dorm to house, hoping that one day, one of my children would ask to learn to play.

That day hath come.

Naphtali (15), our rhythmical child, frustrated perhaps at being just one of many drummers in his music school, has asked to learn to play the lute.

How often are 30-year old dreams achieved?

This is the appointed day… let us rejoice and be happy.


The aleph bet of Abigail
Abigail (6) is learning to read, which, I can say with the wisdom of a Daddy, is no easy task. Two years ago in gan, she learnt the letters; last year she added the vowels. This year, she is really reading, building fluency and accuracy. And enjoying it. For her next birthday present, I’ve ordered a Hebrew translation of Anna Karenina.

Licensed to Drive
Elon (17) just passed his driving test, the fourth in an unbroken family tradition of passing second time. Elon is a lad who feels no pain, has no fear and shirks no challenge. I had suspected he would drive in the same vein (sp?) - fearlessly. Yet again, Daddy was proved wrong. Elon is as careful as a woman (I'll be in trouble for that comparison). He drives slowly, holds the wheel with two hands and indicates when maneuvering in a parking lot. Long may this last.

Timeliness is next to studiousness
Orly (13) is so busy the days are just too short. Or rather the nights are. Somehow, her evenings are not rushed; it's in the mornings that time is lacking, when the school bell tolls and she is still abed. Orly challenges her Maker's wisdom in designing a 24-hour day. She needs 28 hours, with the extra four falling between 1 and 7am.

For some inexplicable reason, Orly is the first Isaacs child to take studies seriously. Orly does her homework (when she remembers to bring her books home) and studies for tests (except Arabic) – something none of her brothers ever did – and her efforts are bearing fruit. Attending a recent parent's evening, for once I didn't feel on the defensive. Hope her sisters learn from her. And her brothers. (Not too late yet, boys).

Private Isaacs, the foot soldier, name, rank and number
Last Sunday, Ari (19) joined the army serving in the tanks corps. Within a week, before acquiring even the basics of basic training, he sprained an ankle and is now at home convalescing. He intends to get back to basics and give the military another shot. And with his motivation and ankle supports, We hope he’ll do it. Ari has recently found a lovely girl-friend (no soldier's kit is complete without a girl-friend).

Elisheva on the move
Elisheva (3) is a handful. Like today's Internet connections, she is "always on". A female Elon, we call her. Never a quiet moment, never a dull moment, never a tidy moment, rarely a dry moment. She has no evil intent, G-d forbid. It's just that most of her creative and imaginative games tend to involve things, such as water, milk, apple juice, raw eggs and chicken gravy, ending up all over the floor.

Elisheva recites her shema before going to sleep, beautifully. She has improvised a few of the words notably בכל לבבך ובכל מכשפה which always sets both of us off laughing – I laugh at the words and she laughs at my laughing.

Wishing you all a happy Hannuka.

Michael, Judy
Ari, Elon, Naphtali, Orly, Abigail and Elisheva

Elkana