ISAACS FAMILY NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2021, Hol Hamoed Succot

You are probably familiar with the Sycophant’s Law “what interests my boss, fascinates me”. The parallel Bad Writers’ Law is “what fascinates me, bores everyone else”. I fear whenever I start a new newsletter. How not to bore. Because of my ability to bore I get frequent reminders including one just yesterday from one of my son’s who reminded me of a tale. Once, on the way to shul in Herzliya Pituach, he asked me, innocently enough, “Dad, what is an embassy?”. My recollection is that I answered with an eloquent and erudite 15-minute monologue on government, policy and international relations. His recollection was “I still don’t understand what an embassy is”.

The risk of boring my readers has grown exponentially as I am now not just a Pa, but a Grandpa. And the only thing more boring than hearing about someone else’s kids, is hearing about their grandchildren. Fortunately, the newsletter has an opt-in format, like Zoom. Join when you wish, and when you lose interest, just turn off your camera.

Dori the Explorer

A few weeks ago, we celebrated in Elkana the first birthday of our oldest grandchild Dori (daughter of Elon and Leetal) together with Leetal’s extended family, including her three young cousins from California who came to Israel for the summer. There was a dinosaur-shaped inflatable water slide, a huge birthday cake, a special new game for first birthday’s called “smash-the-cake” and lots of photographs and videos. We were just missing a magician to entertain us…staaam…. we had a magician, but he took the day off.

Elon, Leetal and Dori at Dori's first birthday party

Judy and I are re-experiencing the excitement of parenting through grandparenting Dori. One forgets the elation of witnessing the firsts of child development: the first time a baby sits up, eats solids, first words; crawling, standing. But best, to my mind, is walking. Dori is at that stage where every day she walks a little further. She has become, like her near-namesake, an Explorer. Elon and Leetal sent videos of her wandering around a shopping mall, exploring interesting shops, letting her little legs take her wherever her curiosity calls, without the slightest concern for where her parents are (and after about 50 seconds plonking down on her backside).

In parallel with walking, Dori is beginning to talk. When Ari was that age, I was fresh out of a Linguistics degree, and still harboring dreams of making an academic career in natural language processing (if I had done, maybe Siri would speak today with a Scottish accent). I would tirelessly and endlessly analyze Ari’s enunciation, vocabulary and grammar, and his progression from fricative to vocative. (all this linguistics could and should have driven Judy crazy, but already 30 years ago she developed an ability to turn off a proverbial zoom camera when I got boring).

These days are so precious. Because in just a week or two, Dori’s walking will no longer be news. Maybe Dori will have some new words or start playing piano or solve the Rubik’s cube. But I couldn’t let the walking moment amble by unrecorded in the Isaacs’ annals.

Ramchipoo

"Ramchipoo" and mother Orly

Orly and Chen with Ram on tiyul

My mother-in-law, a.k.a. Boobie, whom I love deeply with all my heart and soul, has a way with words. Knowing I am a fellow word-lover, she frequently emails me great collections of puns, hilarious spelling accidents and the like. But beyond that, she has the ability to instantaneously make up nonsense words to describe things that don’t have names. She can say things like “Pass the chinglyboodums” or “What’s wrong with the whojamapoops” or “Did you have a nice time with tiddlywomkins?”. Boobie’s creations are invariably descriptive and unambiguous. Her gift is also applied to grandchildren who merited a variety of nicknames I won’t repear here. And her gift has been inherited by Orly. So, my grandson, (son of Orly and Chen) whom I swear was named “Ram” at his brit (and my memory is not failing me this time) is known alternatively as “Ram-ram”, “Ramchi”, “Ramchipoo”, and most recently “Ramchipalooloo” (or just “Lulu” for short). I fear what might come next. “Ramchipalovsky? Ramchipalooloolovitch? Ramchistiltskin?” “Ramchidoodles”. Who knows how this may end? (Hope you picked up on the subtle pun, there).

Orly and Ram in our garden

Now to the first Generation children – quick updates only

Ari’s home-coming– After 18 months on foreign soil, Ari is coming home for two weeks (cheers). We hope that only two or three of those days will be wasted in isolation. Judy has been interrogating the Health Ministry for weeks, but since the rules change every day, we don’t know for sure what will happen. We will be happy to know he has been allowed on the plane in the UK, and off it in Israel (regular readers will remember that doesn’t always happen). Judy has bought every food that Ari likes to ensure he enjoys being home so much, he returns as often as possible, for as long as possible, in the future.

Elon and Leetal – Elon is our child most affected by Corona. Just this week, three of his magic shows were cancelled due to children being in isolation or being positive (and I don’t mean their attitude to life). But Baruch hashem, enough shows go ahead to make a living. Leetal, who was, admirably, a stay-at-home Mum for as long as a possible without forfeiting her job, has returned to work, and adorable Dori is starting kindergarten (another first).

Naphtali and Adi – Being injured in the army is not recommended, but at least Naphtali gets some perks for the hefty price he paid and continues to pay, including membership of an organization called “Beit Halochem” that gives him and his family cheap access to a host of sports facilities. So, he and Adi are enjoying an Olympic swimming pool, tennis courts, sap, a gym, and all sorts of other activities, with trainers – all for the cost of about 40 bars of halva a month (that’s a story for another newsletter). We asked Naphtali, “how do you have time for all that recreation with your workaholism?”. Naphtali’s answer was simple: He gets up earlier. I wonder if Beit Halochem has facilities for Workaholics anonymous?

Orly and Chen – The cosmos or karma or fate or whatever you believe in is driving Orly and Chen together. Chen, who works in Petach Tikva was looking for a new job. He applied for lots of positions, interviewed across the country, but eventually closed the deal with a company that by chance is located in the same building as Orly’s company in Rosh Ha’Ayin. He starts in a couple of weeks. Good luck Chen with the new job!

Abigail – Abigail has two more weeks of freedom before starting her degree in Maths and Computers. She is making the most of that time with trips to friends, shopping malls, the beach, restaurants, ice-cream parlours, beauty parlours and the like. Although these trips are taken in my car – which I have not driven for a month - I don’t grudge her for a minute, because one she starts studying, her main relaxation time will be the time she spends in the lavatory.

Elisheva – Elisheva has initiated the process of applying for various computer units in the army – even though it is almost two years till she will be called up. Judging from the questionnaires she has been asked to complete, start-up nation army is not just looking just for applicants with mathematical ability. Even Elisheva’s success in university computer courses (while still in school) does not impress them. They are looking for whizzes whom at the age of 17 have already mastered multiple computer languages,  databases, apps and communication protocols. Hopefully, she will find her spot. It will take months till we know, so don’t hold your breath (unless your lungs are in exceptional condition).

Thankyou and well done to all who made it through to the end. Hag succot sameach from

Judy, Michael, and all the Isaacs Elkana family