Visitors from afar

On Tuesday May 12 at about 12:30 in the afternoon I received a text that said "They Have Arrived" I know who are they? Where are they from and Why are they here?


Well the who are they part is easy ....



they are (from Left to right) Sarah Perachim, Kokasi, David Weingarten (he is from here) and Igaal Sizomu.



The Where part is not that difficult either:

They are part of the Abuyudaya tribe from Nabagoye, Uganda. Igaal's father Rabbi Gershom Sizomu was our (Shomrei Torah Synagogue) Rabbinic Intern while he was studying to become a Rabbi and who is now the First Chief Rabbi of Uganda. Anyway I digress ...





The Why are they here part? well that is a little more detailed:







The reason that Sarah, Igaal and Kokasi are in town is because David Weingarten President of our USY chapter thought that it would be a great thing if we Shomrie Torah USY because a sister chapter to the Jewish Youth of the Abuyudayan and helped them start their own Chapter.










So Sarah, Igaal and Kokasi have been out here in L.A. for two and a half weeks learning all about how our chapter works, staying with different USY families ,
Sarah actually stayed with us ....she even got to spend time with Shomer...they had a good time together

They saw the Jewish sites in Los Angeles, promoting the crafts if their village , going to Far West Regional Convention and probably the most important thing

They went to Disneyland

Set America Free....

Barry Bubbie and I attended a wonderful presentation at Shomrei Torah Synagogue last night:

How to diversify away from Middle East oil

A discussion of energy and the environment

with Gal Luft and Anne Korin

It was an amazing evening very eye opening

and it has moved me to rethink exactly how and why

I will choose to do and buy things.

the idea of breaking the petroleum strangle hold

that OPEC and other non stable (in my opinion) countries

has on the world has taken on a new level in my thought process.

I want to urge you all to go to www.setamericafree.org

and at minimum register but if you want to feel that you are part of the solution

spend some time on the site and learn about what you can do.

Finishing our Sukkah

We started our sukkah before we left for Davis...

Thank you David and Sam.

but that was only the frame...

we still had the walls

and some decorating to do...

and that was left to USY.

Ashleigh

Hannah

Sarah

Zander

I had a good time working with the kids... and I think they had a good time also.

Thank You ...STS USY

Practice, Practice, Practice...

A wonderful Sunday afternoon with Emily and Kennah at Shomrei Torah Synagogue.

David and Tracy went to dinner and we (Barry, Ashleigh, Bubbie, Emily Kennah and me) went to STS to have fun. Ashleigh, Barry and the girls took a short walk down the street to find Bubbie waiting for them and then the fun started.

First we had a little bit of leftovers from Purim with make your own picture frame and dress up for a picture. Now I know that Barry announced from the bima that he was renting his neices for a little Papa Bear Practice.... but it really was Ashleigh who had Auntie Practice. And I must say that she did a wonderful job. She got right in there with both girls happily showing them how to make the picture frames and then playing dress up with Kennah.

From there we were off to make a mess
on a mural and play with the green play dough.

From there we went to storie time with the Rabbi... now I must say that this was as much an event for the kids as it was for the adults as we were able to watch our 6'4" Rabbi fold himself into the little kid table so he could get down to their level. It was quite impressive

The day ended with Matza Pizza...

But we did go home for pasta after words.......

it was a wonderful time.... I am glad we were able to do it.

however as for grandparent (and Aunt) reality... take note all of you that this applys to....

we are not quite yet ready

the last purim post...

Unless Sam sends me good pictures

Schmaltz is the word

it was great ... everyone loved Barry's costume and this was probably the best Magilla reading I have ever been to.

You all basically know the stories "Esther" and "Grease" So here are some pictures and some links to video....

(Barry prancing down the isle)

(Talley has grown up and knows how to work a room)

USY did a great job.....

you wold have been proud of all of them.

You wouldn't believe it... but Zander did such a good job on Look at me I'm Mordichai (sung to Look at me I'm Sandra DEE).

Jew the one that I want!

Shomer is ready for Purim

HAG SEMEACH

Shomer wanted to try out the wig that Barry was going to wear...

But once Barry started to put his costume on Shomer was not to sure about what he was seeing........

And yes that is Shomer as the poodle on Barry's skirt. so the schpeil is called Schmaltz (aka Grease) and Barry is suppose to be ... well I don't really know what he is suppose to be...

So enjoy the pictures and there will be more... when we get home...