And you thought Italian was a pretty language
The most beautiful word in the Hebrew language is mos’ definitely Chaki, accent on the first syllable, rhymes with cocky, with that extra special chhhh sound that lets me clear my throat guilt-free. This is not to be confused with a similar word meaning to wait. No, this is the word for what in English is known as the color khaki. The not so pretty color apparently has its own not so pretty version in Hebrew.
Lately I’ve been experiencing major writers block. I knew I couldn’t write until I felt passionately about something. Thankfully, hearing this word Chaki over and over in my graphic design class made me realize just how beautiful this Hebrew language truly is. In 3 years of living in Israel, and only now am I treated to some of the more rare and beautiful words. Try it for yourself. Say it as your walk down the street, pick out your outfit for the day, as you’re about to eat- this delectable word is bound to drum up an appetite. I’ll take 2 Chakis, please. Hold the loogie.
Hanukah is about Oil and Oil is about Fat
Americans like to think that Thanksgiving is a holiday filled with lots of food. Forget counting calories, it is more about counting serving after serving. It is a holiday where you know to wear pants that give a little or at least ones that you can unbutton after you stuffed yourself to the maximum potential of stuffing (with stuffing- good one).But as part of the transition to life in Israel, you give up Thanksgiving just not the fat part. Hanukah is a time of cheer, candling lighting fun and fat fatty fat. Yes, it appears that since the candles were lit with oil, we Jews have figured out a way to take the oil from the candles and literally spread it on our food for eight days.
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New Chanukah video [funny]
As promised, a funny video for each holiday! For those of you searching for a funny Chanukah video, here’s Light My Candles a Hanukah Parody of “Rent” The Musical made by the big felafel’s very own Molly.
Improv in Jerusalem, Laugh it up
I need a good laugh. In fact, the last time I think I had one was at an improv night over a year ago. Actually, this video makes me laugh quite a bit - well, more the version that Molly does of it.
Thank G-d for Chanukah, Wednesday nights, the Merkaz, and funny people. Put it all together and you’ve figured out this cryptic note.
Improv night
Wednesday night, December 5, Merkaz Hamagshimim
7a Dor Vdorshav, German Colony | 8:30pm | 35 shekels, unlimited drinks
Here are some videos of the improv group:
I’d like to think maybe I had a tiny hand in producing my own entertainment, by putting some members in touch with each other and telling them they should really do it! What I don’t get is how these people are so hysterical on the spot.. do they have super fast brains? I’m really in awe, in case you can’t tell. See you there!
A Subtle difference: Ties
Many new immigrants from North America have big-time cultural shock when they move to Israel. There are new standards for everything from bank hours to shorter weekends- but the subtle changes take you longer to notice.I knew I was no longer in America after I stood in line at the post office for a package that took two months to get here- did I mention it was shipped overnight express? Things like post offices, doctors and customer service are evident changes in our daily lives in the holy land, but it took me three years to realize that work attire is totally backwards here.
After working in several offices I now know that jeans are acceptable office casual and even formal with the right boots. After a tour of the Supreme Court in Jerusalem I learned that Judges are wearing t-shirts under their robes.
And of course I know that people do not wear ties at weddings, but what I didn’t know was that the ties are being worn by bus drives all over Israel. What a funny little society we are- I mean bus drivers with ties but Knesset members in jeans?
So while the cultural shock is almost all but lifted, I continue to notice the subtle changes in my new world: Every elevator in Israel has a mirror and parking on the sidewalk is completely normal.
You don’t make friends with salad
I am the kinda person who likes to eat a good Shabbat meal. You’re probably like that too. I really enjoy when the challah is warm off the hot plate and table is filled with lots of different salatim, inviting you in for the warm feast that will stretch your stomach to new limits.One of my favorite parts of Israel is the food and more specifically the salatim- matbuha (the red stuff that looks like salsa), eggplant made in every color and flavor, hummus, techina, hilbe (Yemenite) and whatever else you got.
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12 hours straight of tv and movies
It’s not often your eyes get the chance to glaze over as you watch 12 hours straight of tv and movies. But now, Contintental has a new on-demand movie system to satisfy your tv cravings guilt-free with shows like Sex and the City, Scrubs, Friends, and The Office, not to mention the 150+ movies at your disposal.
However, I find that the greater entertainment selection there is, the ruder the flight attendants are. As one of the flight attendant’s passed my seat, I sweetly and innocently asked if they had any more of those great noshy chips they handed out earlier. Here’s the response I got: “I don’t know. this is a really packed flight, and I have no way of knowing. If I check for you, then I have to get for everyone else. Oh, I see the bathroom opening up. If I don’t go now, I’ll never get in. ” I have a feeling they’d rather see the latest Weeds episode than be handing out kosher meals.
Leave it to the teachers to teach us how to protest
The teachers may not be in school, but they sure are everywhere. Finally we have a group of people that know how to fight the fight.
Israel may allow a corrupt government to stay in office but the teachers will not let the evil doers get away with destroying our future generation.
Leave it to the teachers to teach us how to protest. Unlike the recent protests of concerts, tents in the middle of the city that no one paid attention too- these protests are the real deal. They are yelling in front of the Knesset, waving their signs on Keren HaYesod and enjoying horn honking citizens sharing in their mission.
I can only hope the protest fever spreads quickly and get us all a little more involved in fighting the frauds keeping us from the better Israel. While the Pioneering days of Israel may be over lets hope the Protesting days are just getting started.
A girl’s right to cheap shoes
I know that Rebecca is in search of a shoe that fits her size 10 feet. And I know she is going to hate to hear this, but my perfect size 8 feet leave me to the burden of picking the right shoe at the right price.I am not really a shoe person. I don’t window shop or think about the next season’s fashion- I just want a pair of shoes that are semi-comfortable and reasonably priced.
Hebrish is one funny language
Over the course of the past few months, I’ve jotted down a list of some of the best Hebrish words I’ve witnessed. I’m sure the list will grow over time as my amusement continues. Many are from my graphic design course, which provides an endless amount of Englew/Hebrish.
- אנדואים Undoim: Undos, as in, I’m using Adobe Illustrator and need to go back a few steps in my design. “Bo na’aseh cama undoim”.
- אונלייניותOnlineiot: Describing your online profile. “Tivdeku at haprofilim onliniot v’offliniot”
- ספוט קולורים - Spot Colorim: Spot colors. As in, let’s look at this color wheel and spot colors.
- לפברק Lefabrek: Can you guess? Not to make a fabric (that’s what I thought). To fabricate. Did you get it right?
- שרקיות-Shrekiut: As in, this picture has two Shrek-like things coming out of its head, so you can feel the shrekiut.
Here are some more that you can figure out on your own:
- פיגורה (figura)
- סילואטה(silhouetta)
- קומפוזיציה(compozitsie)
And I did all this without hebrew letters on my keyboard! Thank goodness for the delete key. Do you have any to add?
