March 2014

ISAACS FAMILY NEWSLETTER March 2014

 Goodness gracious me. So much news, I don’t know where to start. Actually, I do.

 Naphtali – 1 in a 1000

As we slurped our soup at Friday night supper, our soldier Naphtali (21) casually informed us that he has been awarded מצטיין  נשיא. “But” he warned, “Don’t make a fuss”.

 What we have been instructed not to make a fuss about is no less than the Presidential award for the outstanding soldier in each corps. It means Naphtali was singled out from thousands of other soldiers in the Engineering corps for this distinction. 

Thanks to this distinction, Naphtali will participate in the ceremonies on Remembrance Day and on Independence Day on Mount Herzl and at the Kotel. He will take part in another ceremony at the President’s residence where he will receive a special badge given only to those receiving this special award. And after the ceremony, in true Israeli style, he’ll hang out with the President for a for a barbecue! (I wonder how it works in England? I have this weird picture in my head of Queen Elizabeth and all the newly installed OBEs wandering around the palace gardens gouging themselves on ketchupy sausages.) 

As you can imagine, we are “qvelling” with pride. Indeed a rare distinction. Naphtali has hardly told a soul. He insists there are a dozen soldiers in his unit who are just as deserving as himself. I wonder how he will deal with all the media coverage and publicity on Independence day? 

When in the army Elon received a similar award -  מצטיין  מח"ט - which means he was singled out as the outstanding soldier from his entire brigade. And of course, Ari is an officer in the Tanks. These kids must have Maccabean genes in them because believe me my military report card did not paint a pretty picture. The only I thing I did well in the army was run – and am not saying in which direction. 

Elon Ltd

Wandering around Tel Aviv pondering what to do in Life, Elon came across a Russian immigrant sitting at a collapsable table on a pavement selling magic tricks to passers by. Something in Elon’s imagination clicked. Fast forward several months and today Elon has become an accomplished magician with a business making and selling magic tricks. 

It’s easy to spot Elon’s stand in the market and malls. His is the one with dozens of people crowding round. Because he doesn’t just sell; he performs

Under Elon’s guidance, our children have become amateur magicians and amateur salesmen. Abigail frequently helps Eloni out in the market on Fridays, and Elisheva, Ari, Judy and even I have all taken turns at manning the stalls.

We are thrilled with Elon’s venture and success. Although Elon sees this whole magic thing as temporary, he has achieved what many adults dream of – turning a hobby into a profession and source of income. (I wonder if anyone would pay me to write newsletters?)

Princess Elisheva of Youtube

My line of business is fun. From time to time I get to produce video clips like the three links below. Each cost thousands of dollars and utilized international teams of professional producers, actors, lighting, sound, post-production, illustrators, and more. However, This video has less than one thousands views; This one has barely over a hundred and This one has even less! (my marketing campaigns appeal to a niche market… or at least that’s what I tell my boss).

Elisheva and Abigail (dressed up here as Hawaii girls), on the other hand, are Youtube stars! You see, Abigail made a 17-minute video of Elisheva explaining how to make a particular loom band. (For those without children/grandchildren of the appropriate age, I should explain that Loom bands  - or “goomiloom” in Hebrew - is the latest kids craze). Within just a few weeks, Elisheva’s video has 3000 views! Watch it and learn how to make your own band here.

Don’t mess with Ari (on the right)

Ari’s hobby at university is debating. Or more accurately, Ari’s hobby at University is Law and his major is Debating. He just placed first and won a trophy at a competition of all freshman debaters in Israel which means, in case you didn’t know beforehand, it is now officially not worthwhile getting into an argument with Ari. You’ll lose.

Dance day

Orly’s week is a countdown till Fridays when she attends her dancing class. I know what that’s like. Sometimes trudging through work is just a way of killing time till the next Maccabi Tel Aviv game. Except with dancing, you can’t lose. Orly’s plans for next year are in motion. She’s looking for a combo of midrasha and dancing. This is perhaps what the Talmud really means when it poses the question  כיצד מרקדין"

The illusion of the Marathon Man

Just to prove that at the age of 50, some parts of my anatomy are still functional, I ran two marathons in the last 10 weeks. The first, in Tiberias, was wonderful, and I achieved my best time in 7 years! The second, in Jerusalem, was awful, and I recorded my worst time ever. As I wrote on facebook – “Running the Jerusalem marathon is like running round an Escher drawing. It’s all uphill.”

Lots of love from all the Isaacs

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

Elkana