Jodi Samuels pulls no punches when describing her background. Her conventional Jewish South African childhood wasn't what you'd expect for a Jerusalemite, who routinely entertains dozens of disparate guests, including strangers, at Shabbat meals, travels the world beyond frugally, while strictly observing Shabbat and kashrut. Simultaneously she is an adventurous serial entrepreneur and has established a number of international charities. Samuels is also a wife and mother; one of her children has Downs, which requires even more of her time and effort.
No doubt you've heard the adage:
If you want something done, ask a busy person.And since, Jodi Samuels is beyond busy, she gets much more done than the few sic things I've mentioned.
Jodi Samuels and her husband didn't take the simple aliyah route my husband and I did from hometown chuppah to Israel. They first lived in some of the most out of the way locations in Australia, where her purification "dips" in the mikvah had to be daytime on deserted beaches. Not even Chabad could provide something better. From there they ended up in the polar opposite sort of location, the Upper West Side of Manhattan. In between "breaths" Samuels travels; she visited forty foreign countries before the birth of her first child. Samuels and her husband now have three children. Two of her tricks are sleeping very little and making lists.
I can't do Chutzpah, Wisdom and Wine justice; it's exhausting just trying to list Samuels' accomplishments. You must read the book yourself and give it as gifts. It's inspiring; Jodie Samuels is truly inspiring!
Israel sales: Jodisvoice.com
Amazon Product details:
Buying via Amazon, click here.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017The Skeptic and The Rabbi, A Great Book! Gruen's memoir is of a rare genre, a Jew who found religion, davka, Judaism. It's much more common to hear of books about Jews who left Judaism, whether for a life without religious law or a different religion entirely. Gruen manages a rare feat, total honesty and discretion. Except for her publicity headshot, there are no photographs, allowing her husband and children full privacy. Her descriptions suffice. That is a very important aspect of tsniyut, the Laws of Jewish Modesty. We do not have to display everything. Privacy is important. But throughout the the book, Gruen does reveal her doubts and difficulties in accepting and taking on Jewish Law. She didn't just jump in and become a dedicated Orthodox Jew without looking back. Many of the mitzvot took her a long time to accept and adopt. There's no sugarcoating in her story. What we do see is growth, acceptance, appreciation and a lot of love. Love for her husband, her parents, grandparents and children. Gruen also loves and appreciates the community she joined in Venice, California. I highly recommend The Skeptic and The Rabbi. Buy it for yourself and everyone else who needs a good dose of Jewish love and honesty.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016Yesterday in Jerusalem- Photos
 I started my walk near the Mamilla Mall and decided to go to the Old City. I was surprised to see a new tourist/visitor attraction, a bus/train.
       When I entered, I began my usual route, to the right along the walls, but then I turned around to go through the shuq, the way I used to go when we lived in there. Walk straight down David Street, and then make a right on Rechov Hayehudim (Jews Street.)    
That took me to the bus, which I took to King George Street, the center of town for my next appointment. I was amazed how quick the trip was.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016Witness to History, Sybil Kaplan It was due to Sybil that my articles appeared for many years in the National Jewish Post & Opinion. And to prove that I'm not just bragging, my name (and my husband's) can be found in Sybil's recently self-published book, "Witness to History." You can purchase the book by contacting her directly. Sybil concentrates her book on the ten years she had lived in Jerusalem throughout the 1970's. Her book is based on her hundreds of articles written during that time, when she was one of the most prolific free lance writers in Israel. Her specialties were food and the immigrant experience. Sybil's most well-known and still requested book is "Wonders of the WonderPot," in which she explains how to use and gives recipes for that iconic Israeli stove-top cooking device. One of the repeating themes in Witness to History is the difficulties Israelis once had getting phone lines and having them transferred from home to home, especially problematic for someone like Kaplan who was always renting. Compare that to today's Israeli who has easily purchased and relatively inexpensive multiple phone lines. Today Israel is one of the most modern and technologically advanced countries in the world. In 1970, when we made aliyah, there were many difficulties, and today's olim (new immigrants) should read Sybil's book just to see how quickly things have progressed here. Everyone with an interest in modern Jewish/Israeli history will find amazing facts that can't be found anyplace else. Yes, I did enjoy the book very much. It brought me back to those early days... It's obvious that Witness to History is a book of love by Sybil and her husband Barry, who are both so happy to finally be living in their beloved Jerusalem.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
|
