Yesterday we marked Tisha B'Av, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar marking the destruction of the ancient Jewish Temples in Jerusalem and the enormous suffering of our ancestors through horrific sieges, starvation, slavery and exile.
This Shabbat is the first of the seven Shabbatot of consolation, on each of which we read a comforting chapter from the Biblical Prophet Isaiah on the subject of redemption and a brighter future.
Even in the dark days of the first destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonian king Nebukhadnetzer, described in harrowing detail by the prophet Jeremiah in the biblical book of Eikhah (Lamentations), he finds words of hope in the middle of one of the greatest calamities to ever befall the Jewish people.
Centuries later Rabbi Akiva viewing the Roman destruction of the rebuilt and restored second Jerusalem Temple sees a fox scampering through the ruined Holy of Holies, a sign of the complete desolation of the the city, it's civilisation crushed, wild foxes and jackals encroaching on the holy site as the wilderness claims the remnants of what was once a bustling religious and civic centre.
All around him the surviving Jews are mourning the terrible disaster, weeping for the thousands of dead, their city, the crushing of Jewish sovereignty and the obliteration of their ancient religious centre. Every aspect of Jewish life in their ancient holy city and political capital has been decimated by the legions of Rome.
But Rabbi Akiva doesn't cry and doesn't mourn. He sees that the worst has happened, the nation has reached rock bottom and he is already looking to the future, to redemption, to the Jewish people with God's help regrouping and rebuilding, to Jerusalem's eventual restoration and rise from its ruins.
My mother's Yahrzeit (anniversary of her death), as well as the births of three of my sons and my own birthday and that of my grandmother fall within these seven weeks of Nehama, consolation. My mother always felt a deep connection to these seven readings of comfort and redemption, they were some of her favourite biblical verses and she knew them all by heart, quoting them often.
She was also a great lover of music and found great joy, solace and inspiration in songs which she felt expressed these positive messages of hope and restoration. She loved Neshama Carlebach's beautiful rendition to her father, R' Shlomo Carlebach's melody, of this week's haftara reading from Isaiah 40 "Nehamu, nahamu ami" - Take comfort my people.
Friday, July 31, 2020
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Where the jackals howl
We went out for the first time in over two weeks last night to try to see the comet.
Turns out it was probably too close to the horizon, despite the amazing vantage point we found overlooking the lowlands and coast.
Still it's always great to get out to even semi-wilderness and be the only people around. Plus it was perfect timing to watch a nice slow pass directly overhead by the International Space Station.
We noticed abundant gazelle droppings along a path, but did not catch sight of any actual gazelle.
We listened to jackals yelping and cackling all around us and had fun howling back at them.
We heard owls screeching, bats and crickets clicking and chirping in the silence between the spookily loud jackal calls.
We heard the distinct rustle of a porcupine's quills moving through the bushes below but could not make out its shape in the inky darkness.
In the twilight we saw several braces of chukar partridges doing their comical chicken like run along paths and rocky hillsides, visible for an instant then melting back in to the thickets and undergrowth.
We saw a swift fox dart across the road in a blur of bushy fur.
We heard nocturnal bird calls which even I didn't recognise.
We watched the lights of the coast, picking out power stations, towns and roads, their glow illuminating the distant horizon even as full darkness settled on the wooded hillsides above.
We watched planes overhead and in the distance (so long since we've seen that many) and a helicopter circling several times.
Most of all though we enjoyed being out in a wide open space that allowed such a clear view of the wonderful vast canopy of stars, along with Jupiter and Saturn. Plus the odd stray meteor.
How wondrous is Your Creation. מה רבו מעשיך
Monday, July 13, 2020
What of herd immunity and the Encephalitis lethargica epidemic?
I've had a lot of questions asking why high risk people can't just be locked up at home and let everyone else go about business as usual so that healthy people achieve herd immunity and the virus hopefully fizzles out.
These are excellent questions and as a layperson I've been trying to research the likelihood of this paradigm as a covid exit strategy. I say again, as a lay person, I am a humanities major, but I did learn how to research and read statistics and data, and of course to consult with doctors, scientists, immunologists and epidemiologists far more knowledgeable than I. This is my understanding as a lay person.
My conclusion to date, as far as anyone has a conclusion in the midst of an ongoing and unprecedented modern crisis, is that the herd immunity theory for covid19 seems doubtful. So far, according to most of the studies I have seen. This thing is far from over, the virus is very new, there is much we simply do not know and obviously this impedes effective decision making at all levels because there are no long term peer reviewed watertight studies to base policy on, we only have a few months of data to rely on.
A note, I realise that this information can be unsettling. My intention is to try to comprehend where we are regarding our understanding of the dangers of this virus and to balance that knowledge with the requirements of maintaining daily life and the economy to constructively think of coping strategies during this crisis. It is not a zero sum game. There are many important considerations at play. Having as informed a picture as possible can hopefully help to formulate effective policies to safeguard the maximum number of people.
What exactly does this virus do? How dies it do it? How do we stop it from doing it? Can we kill it? How do we kill it?
1) The evidence of herd immunity is highly disputed and many studies suggest that even if we do expose most of the population they will not achieve any long lasting natural immunity.
2) Even if you lock up all the high risk people for the foreseeable future that has no impact on "normal" people becoming infected. Indications are that many "regular", young and healthy people may not experience symptoms, but could still suffer long term heart, lung, neurological and other damage, some of which might only become evident in months and years to come.
3) This virus has not been around long enough for us to know just how long term this damage to apparently even asymptomatic people will be. There is evidence to suggest that even young 20 somethings who experience mild to asymptomatic cases of covid19 will be left with disabilities and permanent health conditions, including high risk of stroke, covid triggered diabetes, lung scarring, neurological symptoms, brain damage. Even if this long term damage only effects maybe 10% of cases, that is not something to be lightly unleashed on an otherwise healthy population.
4) What will be the long term effect on the general population and the economy if allowing widespread covid infection leads to a large increase in people suffering permanent disabilities or a virus who's symptoms could flare up again months or years later? We are familiar with viruses such as malaria where recurrences like this are common. There do seem to be signs that infection with covid19 can lead to a raft of fibromyalgia type symptoms, like long term debilitating fatigue.
5) Following the 1918 influenza pandemic there was an epidemic of Encephalitis lethargica and while still not proved conclusively there are many who consider it to have been triggered by the influenza outbreak. Several researchers today studying the neurological effects of covid19 posit that the virus is causing similar effects in a substantial number of those infected and could trigger similar disease further down the line. Until we know more about covid19 and what it can do to the body it would be prudent to do all we can to contain the spread of the virus and prevent people from becoming infected.
To be clear, I am not saying that therefore we should be in lockdown for the next decade. I am saying that we need to be extremely cautious with the temptation to say lets just have all the lower risk young and healthy people get the virus and see if it burns out that way. In trying to formulate what I would call a longer term survival strategy of living with covid19 we need to think carefully how to balance avoiding infection, restricting the spread and of course caring for people's psychological and economic well being. Achieving herd immunity though may not be the panacea many hoped it could be.
These are excellent questions and as a layperson I've been trying to research the likelihood of this paradigm as a covid exit strategy. I say again, as a lay person, I am a humanities major, but I did learn how to research and read statistics and data, and of course to consult with doctors, scientists, immunologists and epidemiologists far more knowledgeable than I. This is my understanding as a lay person.
My conclusion to date, as far as anyone has a conclusion in the midst of an ongoing and unprecedented modern crisis, is that the herd immunity theory for covid19 seems doubtful. So far, according to most of the studies I have seen. This thing is far from over, the virus is very new, there is much we simply do not know and obviously this impedes effective decision making at all levels because there are no long term peer reviewed watertight studies to base policy on, we only have a few months of data to rely on.
A note, I realise that this information can be unsettling. My intention is to try to comprehend where we are regarding our understanding of the dangers of this virus and to balance that knowledge with the requirements of maintaining daily life and the economy to constructively think of coping strategies during this crisis. It is not a zero sum game. There are many important considerations at play. Having as informed a picture as possible can hopefully help to formulate effective policies to safeguard the maximum number of people.
What exactly does this virus do? How dies it do it? How do we stop it from doing it? Can we kill it? How do we kill it?
1) The evidence of herd immunity is highly disputed and many studies suggest that even if we do expose most of the population they will not achieve any long lasting natural immunity.
2) Even if you lock up all the high risk people for the foreseeable future that has no impact on "normal" people becoming infected. Indications are that many "regular", young and healthy people may not experience symptoms, but could still suffer long term heart, lung, neurological and other damage, some of which might only become evident in months and years to come.
3) This virus has not been around long enough for us to know just how long term this damage to apparently even asymptomatic people will be. There is evidence to suggest that even young 20 somethings who experience mild to asymptomatic cases of covid19 will be left with disabilities and permanent health conditions, including high risk of stroke, covid triggered diabetes, lung scarring, neurological symptoms, brain damage. Even if this long term damage only effects maybe 10% of cases, that is not something to be lightly unleashed on an otherwise healthy population.
4) What will be the long term effect on the general population and the economy if allowing widespread covid infection leads to a large increase in people suffering permanent disabilities or a virus who's symptoms could flare up again months or years later? We are familiar with viruses such as malaria where recurrences like this are common. There do seem to be signs that infection with covid19 can lead to a raft of fibromyalgia type symptoms, like long term debilitating fatigue.
5) Following the 1918 influenza pandemic there was an epidemic of Encephalitis lethargica and while still not proved conclusively there are many who consider it to have been triggered by the influenza outbreak. Several researchers today studying the neurological effects of covid19 posit that the virus is causing similar effects in a substantial number of those infected and could trigger similar disease further down the line. Until we know more about covid19 and what it can do to the body it would be prudent to do all we can to contain the spread of the virus and prevent people from becoming infected.
To be clear, I am not saying that therefore we should be in lockdown for the next decade. I am saying that we need to be extremely cautious with the temptation to say lets just have all the lower risk young and healthy people get the virus and see if it burns out that way. In trying to formulate what I would call a longer term survival strategy of living with covid19 we need to think carefully how to balance avoiding infection, restricting the spread and of course caring for people's psychological and economic well being. Achieving herd immunity though may not be the panacea many hoped it could be.
Sunday, July 12, 2020
Getting education out of the box
I see a lot of very stressed people around me. Parents worried that their kids are going to be lifelong delinquents because school isn't able to teach in the usual way. Parents worried that their children are doomed to failure because 5th grade or 8th grade or even 1st grade this year was for many something of a write off. Teachers convinced that if their pupils do not complete this years' coursework and matriculation exams their students have no academic future and no possibility for gainful employment.
So they are trying to keep things normal. Give kids the same usual pages of their maths workbooks to complete. Give out the usual written assignments, whether or not there is bandwidth for teachers to adequately explain to the pupils what is expected of them. Parents pressuring their children, or being pressured by teachers to pressure their children, to keep up with their studies, with their homework, with their projects and exams business as usual, as if the world hadn't been turned upside down.
I don't say this to dismiss any of these concerns or to critique parents or teachers or anyone else who is concerned that children will not be learning because schools are either closed or face constant disruption from outbreaks and quarantines, not to mention that even when open their functioning is impeded by covid restrictions.
This situation is not good. I can say it no more simply than that. It is not good and it may not improve for a long time.
Attempting to just keep on keeping on as though nothing is different, that seems to me to be a recipe for more stress and more anxiety at a time when there is more than enough of that around already.
Please don't misunderstand, routine is important, learning is important. But recognising our dramatically altered circumstances and adapting how we approach both of these is no less important a life lesson.
Much as we like to maintain our regular schedules, sometimes, even without an apocalyptic global pandemic, life will throw us curve balls. Learning to roll with those punches, seeing our parents, teachers and role models adjust to this altered reality is as much an education as reading, writing and long multiplication.
In the midst of a global emergency we need to be focusing on survival, not worrying that a few months of disrupted formal education will damage our kids futures.
I hear a lot of people saying that kids aren't learning anything this year. In many countries and in many schools, with all the good will in the world, distance learning isn't always functioning well. And even if it is, it isn't always the best plan for many students, not everyone learns in this way for all kinds of reasons.
It seems like academically the covid months, maybe years, are going to be a write off to some extent/ There is going to be continued disruption from outbreaks, quarantines, activities that can't take place, restrictions on school life due to the situation - whichever way you slice it this is not going to be a regular school year.
Priority unfortunately I think needs to be on keeping kids as mentally stable and happy as possible, keeping them engaged with learning in some form, even if it isn't conventional or curriculum based, is of course all the better. Judging learning by regular school standards in such an unpredictable and unprecedented situation seems to be like a recipe for added stress on both pupils and teachers, and setting them up for failure and recriminations.
The other priority is of course enabling parents to work. At the moment the prime role of school is to keep younger kids occupied (ie childcare) so that parents can keep the economy functioning.
At the end of the day keeping the economy functioning, keeping kids and their families healthy, that has to be tops. Learning can be caught up when Iy"H this crisis is resolved somehow. I realise this isn't a popular perspective, but I do think someone needs to instill this in Education Ministries the world over over.
The state of the global economy means that money is tight everywhere, but budgets for WiFi infrastructure, equipping the poorest students with smartphones and/or laptops or notebooks and setting up strong internet in schools seems to be areas that governments should be investing in so that learning can continue remotely as much as possible and so reduce the need for in person classroom time and create a new distance learning routine that will help pupils to maintain as sense of normalcy even if they are in quarantine, become infected or there is a lockdown in their area.
Targets will not be met with conventional schooling methods at the moment. There needs to be more creative out of the box thinking about learning in other ways, whether that means more Brain Pop type online options, zoom classes, kahoots type games, telephone tutoring, production of new programming on Educational TV - learning comes in all shapes and forms.
Anything that helps to keep young brains curious, creative, learning new things during the current crisis, that is a good thing, even if what they are studying isn't necessarily part of the core curriculum. I realise that to many unschooling is a dirty word, but I think that in the present situation it has many concepts that can help maintain learning at a time when conventional schooling is problematic for so many.
Pressure to shoehorn conventional curriculum studies in to a very unconventional situation, that is not necessarily going to be helpful, only adding to stresses already faced by families and teachers alike.
So they are trying to keep things normal. Give kids the same usual pages of their maths workbooks to complete. Give out the usual written assignments, whether or not there is bandwidth for teachers to adequately explain to the pupils what is expected of them. Parents pressuring their children, or being pressured by teachers to pressure their children, to keep up with their studies, with their homework, with their projects and exams business as usual, as if the world hadn't been turned upside down.
I don't say this to dismiss any of these concerns or to critique parents or teachers or anyone else who is concerned that children will not be learning because schools are either closed or face constant disruption from outbreaks and quarantines, not to mention that even when open their functioning is impeded by covid restrictions.
This situation is not good. I can say it no more simply than that. It is not good and it may not improve for a long time.
Attempting to just keep on keeping on as though nothing is different, that seems to me to be a recipe for more stress and more anxiety at a time when there is more than enough of that around already.
Please don't misunderstand, routine is important, learning is important. But recognising our dramatically altered circumstances and adapting how we approach both of these is no less important a life lesson.
Much as we like to maintain our regular schedules, sometimes, even without an apocalyptic global pandemic, life will throw us curve balls. Learning to roll with those punches, seeing our parents, teachers and role models adjust to this altered reality is as much an education as reading, writing and long multiplication.
In the midst of a global emergency we need to be focusing on survival, not worrying that a few months of disrupted formal education will damage our kids futures.
I hear a lot of people saying that kids aren't learning anything this year. In many countries and in many schools, with all the good will in the world, distance learning isn't always functioning well. And even if it is, it isn't always the best plan for many students, not everyone learns in this way for all kinds of reasons.
It seems like academically the covid months, maybe years, are going to be a write off to some extent/ There is going to be continued disruption from outbreaks, quarantines, activities that can't take place, restrictions on school life due to the situation - whichever way you slice it this is not going to be a regular school year.
Priority unfortunately I think needs to be on keeping kids as mentally stable and happy as possible, keeping them engaged with learning in some form, even if it isn't conventional or curriculum based, is of course all the better. Judging learning by regular school standards in such an unpredictable and unprecedented situation seems to be like a recipe for added stress on both pupils and teachers, and setting them up for failure and recriminations.
The other priority is of course enabling parents to work. At the moment the prime role of school is to keep younger kids occupied (ie childcare) so that parents can keep the economy functioning.
At the end of the day keeping the economy functioning, keeping kids and their families healthy, that has to be tops. Learning can be caught up when Iy"H this crisis is resolved somehow. I realise this isn't a popular perspective, but I do think someone needs to instill this in Education Ministries the world over over.
The state of the global economy means that money is tight everywhere, but budgets for WiFi infrastructure, equipping the poorest students with smartphones and/or laptops or notebooks and setting up strong internet in schools seems to be areas that governments should be investing in so that learning can continue remotely as much as possible and so reduce the need for in person classroom time and create a new distance learning routine that will help pupils to maintain as sense of normalcy even if they are in quarantine, become infected or there is a lockdown in their area.
Targets will not be met with conventional schooling methods at the moment. There needs to be more creative out of the box thinking about learning in other ways, whether that means more Brain Pop type online options, zoom classes, kahoots type games, telephone tutoring, production of new programming on Educational TV - learning comes in all shapes and forms.
Anything that helps to keep young brains curious, creative, learning new things during the current crisis, that is a good thing, even if what they are studying isn't necessarily part of the core curriculum. I realise that to many unschooling is a dirty word, but I think that in the present situation it has many concepts that can help maintain learning at a time when conventional schooling is problematic for so many.
Pressure to shoehorn conventional curriculum studies in to a very unconventional situation, that is not necessarily going to be helpful, only adding to stresses already faced by families and teachers alike.
Tuesday, July 07, 2020
Coronatine
Coronaroutine on an average Tuesday evening:
Farmer calls to let us know from a safe distance that he's delivered a box of fresh dates and figs straight from the Jordan Valley to our door.
Wait a few minutes, throw on a mask in case I meet my neighbours (who never smiled back even in pre-mask days) and discover that we also have a box of olive oil, natural dried pineapple and oatmeal from another local supplier. Today's online grocery shop.
Loud animated chatter and laughter from our big son's room. He's on a zoom to his class and some non-school friends with a football themed Kahoots activity he designed.
The littlest kids are outside building an airport for two massive polystyrene gliders under the guidance of our middle son, riding his bike around them in circles and calling out advice and critiques.
On the dining room table there are a bunch of upside down boxes with assorted painted canvases drying on them. The kids have gotten in to painting mandalas and we are turning in to a craft workshop. They did a batch last week for a relative's birthday. This week they've made us a welcome sign for the front door, name signs for their rooms and a couple of random designs.
In the lounge I am working through a massive pile of laundry DH has just taken in from drying racks outside. Every so often mid kid dashes in with his arms outstretched in forklifter mode to deliver a stack of folded clothes to the relevant bedroom. "Special laundry delivery service coming through" Then he is back outside again to check on the airport construction project.
In the kitchen there is not a banana bread or sourdough loaf in sight. We do have home roasted peanuts, several melons of different varieties and copious quantities of peaches, plums and cucumbers though. Yesterday's farmer's market delivery. The kids are making swift work of it all.
DH is working at the table while a few chairs over our oldest is joining a zoom rehearsal for a community musical that earlier this year had been planned to be staged early this June/July. Performance date is now anyone's guess but the team continue with spirited online rehearsals. This evening's song seems particularly appropriate. I don't know if we're "growing success" but we did plant a new rose bush last week and it is flowering.
Every bursted bubble has a glory!
Each abysmal failure makes a point!
Every glowing path that goes astray,
Shows you how to find a better way.
So every time you stumble never grumble.
Next time you’ll bumble even less!
For up from the ashes, up from the ashes, grow the roses of success!
Grow the roses!
Grow the roses!
Grow the roses of success!
Oh yes!
Grow the roses!
Those rosy roses!
From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success!
(spoken)Yes I know but he wants it to float. It will!
For every big mistake you make be grateful!
Here, here!
That mistake you’ll never make again!
No sir!
Every shiny dream that fades and dies,
Generates the steam for two more tries!
(Oh) There’s magic in the wake of a fiasco!
Correct!
It gives you that chance to second guess!
Oh yes!
Then up from the ashes, up from the ashes grow the roses of success!
Grow the roses!
Grow the roses!
Grow the roses of success!
Grow the roses!
Those rosy roses!
From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success!
Disaster didn’t stymie Louis Pasteur!
No sir!
Edison took years to see the light!
Right!
Alexander Graham knew failure well; he took a lot of knocks to ring that
bell!
So when it gets distressing it’s a blessing!
Onward and upward you must press!
Yes, Yes!
Till up from the ashes, up from the ashes grow the roses of success.
Grow the ro
Grow the ro
Grow the roses!
Grow the ro
Grow the ro
Grow the roses!
Grow the roses of success!
Grow the ro
Grow the ro
Grow the roses!
Those rosy ro
Those rosy ro
Those rosy roses!
From the ashes of disaster, grow the roses of success!
Start the engines!
Success!
Batten the hatches!
Success!
Man the shrouds!
Lift the anchor!
Success!
Farmer calls to let us know from a safe distance that he's delivered a box of fresh dates and figs straight from the Jordan Valley to our door.
Wait a few minutes, throw on a mask in case I meet my neighbours (who never smiled back even in pre-mask days) and discover that we also have a box of olive oil, natural dried pineapple and oatmeal from another local supplier. Today's online grocery shop.
Loud animated chatter and laughter from our big son's room. He's on a zoom to his class and some non-school friends with a football themed Kahoots activity he designed.
The littlest kids are outside building an airport for two massive polystyrene gliders under the guidance of our middle son, riding his bike around them in circles and calling out advice and critiques.
On the dining room table there are a bunch of upside down boxes with assorted painted canvases drying on them. The kids have gotten in to painting mandalas and we are turning in to a craft workshop. They did a batch last week for a relative's birthday. This week they've made us a welcome sign for the front door, name signs for their rooms and a couple of random designs.
In the lounge I am working through a massive pile of laundry DH has just taken in from drying racks outside. Every so often mid kid dashes in with his arms outstretched in forklifter mode to deliver a stack of folded clothes to the relevant bedroom. "Special laundry delivery service coming through" Then he is back outside again to check on the airport construction project.
In the kitchen there is not a banana bread or sourdough loaf in sight. We do have home roasted peanuts, several melons of different varieties and copious quantities of peaches, plums and cucumbers though. Yesterday's farmer's market delivery. The kids are making swift work of it all.
DH is working at the table while a few chairs over our oldest is joining a zoom rehearsal for a community musical that earlier this year had been planned to be staged early this June/July. Performance date is now anyone's guess but the team continue with spirited online rehearsals. This evening's song seems particularly appropriate. I don't know if we're "growing success" but we did plant a new rose bush last week and it is flowering.
Every bursted bubble has a glory!
Each abysmal failure makes a point!
Every glowing path that goes astray,
Shows you how to find a better way.
So every time you stumble never grumble.
Next time you’ll bumble even less!
For up from the ashes, up from the ashes, grow the roses of success!
Grow the roses!
Grow the roses!
Grow the roses of success!
Oh yes!
Grow the roses!
Those rosy roses!
From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success!
(spoken)Yes I know but he wants it to float. It will!
For every big mistake you make be grateful!
Here, here!
That mistake you’ll never make again!
No sir!
Every shiny dream that fades and dies,
Generates the steam for two more tries!
(Oh) There’s magic in the wake of a fiasco!
Correct!
It gives you that chance to second guess!
Oh yes!
Then up from the ashes, up from the ashes grow the roses of success!
Grow the roses!
Grow the roses!
Grow the roses of success!
Grow the roses!
Those rosy roses!
From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success!
Disaster didn’t stymie Louis Pasteur!
No sir!
Edison took years to see the light!
Right!
Alexander Graham knew failure well; he took a lot of knocks to ring that
bell!
So when it gets distressing it’s a blessing!
Onward and upward you must press!
Yes, Yes!
Till up from the ashes, up from the ashes grow the roses of success.
Grow the ro
Grow the ro
Grow the roses!
Grow the ro
Grow the ro
Grow the roses!
Grow the roses of success!
Grow the ro
Grow the ro
Grow the roses!
Those rosy ro
Those rosy ro
Those rosy roses!
From the ashes of disaster, grow the roses of success!
Start the engines!
Success!
Batten the hatches!
Success!
Man the shrouds!
Lift the anchor!
Success!
Monday, July 06, 2020
Online food shopping in Israel
A lot of people have been asking me about food shopping online in Israel. Did I say research was a bit of a thing with me? So here is a partial list of places I've either found myself or which have been recommended to me. This list is by no means exhaustive, there are a lot of options out there.
I have no connection to these businesses other than having shopped at some (but not all) of them. My goal is simply to provide a useful resource for English speakers during this crisis, as covid cases rise dramatically in Israel, with growing numbers of Israelis shopping online to reduce exposure or because they are in quarantine or facing possible lockdowns.
I keep strictly kosher and most of the sites listed are kosher certified.
Be aware though that some of these sites do sell non-kosher items or imported items without kashrut certification, always ask if you aren't sure. Be aware also that some non-kosher sites may also sell some hekhshered products. Don't make assumptions though and ask if kashrut is important to you.
I discovered some of these in my search for a specific brand of no-sugar gefilte fish my uncle wanted, which at various times no one had in stock except for Tiv Taam. Go figure.
Prices vary considerably. Some of these are quite expensive, some good value. Some have a mix of price ranges, pay close attention.
During lockdown I tried to keep things fun for elderly friends and relatives by trying a different place each week.
Make sure to check delivery zones before ordering, some are countrywide, some only to limited areas.
Because of lockdowns and covid restrictions some shops are doing special delivery runs to regions they do not usually serve, it is worth directly contacting businesses to find out if they may be prepared to do a special group order to your area even if it is not listed.
Supermarkets
Shufersal
Yeinot Bitan
Quik
Mega
Rami Levi
Hatzi Hinam
Tiv Taam (has non-kosher products, but many kosher as well, including a lot of imported items from the US and Europe)
Victory
Lamehadrin
Cheaper Kol (Jerusalem only)
Hakol Mehakol (Modiin only)
Seven Market (Hod Hasharon only)
Best Market (Beit Shemesh only)
Stop Market (branches in locations between Haifa and Rishon Letzion, have to phone in orders for delivery)
Hameshek (Sharon area, Raanana, Herzliya, north Tel Aviv only, check website for exact locations)
Super Tov (Modiin area only)
Hamaayan (Modiin area only)
Super Mishloah (Jerusalem, Givat Zeev, Beit Shemesh and nearby yishuvim only)
Health food, gluten free, vegan, paleo, sugar free and other special diets
Eden Teva Market
Nitzat Haduvdevan
Anise
Hamezaveh
Bateva Sheli
Mahsanei Teva
Mendi Tivonut
Neot Smadar organic
Farma Cultura organic
Farm to Family delivery area: Greater Jerusalem, Gush Etzion, Bet Shemesh, Modiin, Maale Adumim
International specialty online grocers and delis:
Meatland (Kosher certified British, South African, North American specialty items, phone in orders for delivery)
PastaTria fresh pasta and sauces direct from the manufacturer
Carmella (many international items. Note all the fruit and veg has a te'udah, some of the imported sauces and wines they sell are not all kosher, though most of what they sell is, including brands like Mrs Elsewood pickles)
Prohibition Pickle American Ashkenazi including deli meats, herring and white fish salad, pickles etc
Kings South African specialties like biltong and boerewors, meats for the braai
Gold Rim - American Shop kosher American products
Makati Cabalen (Filipino supermarket)
Maharaja (Indian)
Om Indian Store
Indian Store
Thai Store
Go Japan
Spices Cooking/baking supplies from around the world including Italian, Mexican, Indian, east Asian
Dragon Store Cooking supplies and utensils for assorted east Asian cuisines
Funfood nachos, sauces and related items, suppliers to cinemas and places of entertainment
Import4U Assorted international items, especially from Italy, the UK, India and Canada, including the kosher run of British Marmite, Golden Syrup and Birds custard powder.
Farm to Family delivery area: Greater Jerusalem, Gush Etzion, Bet Shemesh, Modiin, Maale Adumim
Axus Assorted international items from east Asia, Italy and elsewhere, spices and condiments, cooking and baking supplies
Specialty baskets and boxes
Shukriya (items from Jerusalem's Old City Arab markets, including fresh produce, coffee, spices, pastries and utensils)
Tamar Bakfar (baskets of dates, honey, oil and agricultural products from the Jordan Valley)
Kufsa Mehashuk (items from Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market, including fresh produce, baked goods, condiments, alcohol, seasonal and specialty foods from the market)
Gili's Goodies (gift baskets including fresh baked goods, sweets, dried fruits, nuts, wines and gifts)
Love From the Shuk (baskets with a selection of goods from Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market, options for set baskets and custom orders)
Meh Hashuk (baskets from Tel Aviv's Levinsky market)
Tena Pick and Go (ready assembled picnic baskets complete with cutlery etc)
Rubida (picnic baskets to order)
Pat BeMelah Bakery Cafe (picnic baskets and gift boxes)
Frozen foods:
Yerek Mehadrin Mehadrin hekhsher fruit and vegetables
Peskovitch meat, fish and produce
Sahut frozen fruit and juices
M.Abudi frozen fruits, ice cream and other specialty items
PastaTria frozen fresh pasta and sauces direct from the manufacturer
Green grocers, olive oil and assorted specialty grocery items:
Moshavnik fresh produce, eggs and some specialty foods
Farmerim produce direct from local farmers, also vegan cheeses and baked goods.
Meshek Michaeli fruit and veg (including organic) and some other farm products
Tzvika Haklaut fruit and veg
Duvedevani fruit and veg, some related farm products
Meshek Tal fruit and veg including exotic specialty produce
Daniela
Fresh Shuk fruit and veg
Noy Hasade fruit and veg
Offaime Farm organic farm to table dairy, free-range eggs, olive oil, baked goods, produce and more.
Shuki
Ptora
Meshek 51
Tayari Bros
Naama
Havivian
Aleh Hasadeh
Haorgani organic produce
Ashishuk (Tel Aviv area, Rishon Letzion, Raanana, Hertzliya, Ramat Gan, Bikat Ono and Sharon delivery areas)
Aleh Habaita
Ebaela (Emek Haela and Bet Shemesh area farmers market)
Hagina Shel Tamari organic produce and products
Boreh Pri Ha-Adama
Shemesh Fruits
Shukbook
Yarkan Online
Hameshek
Teva Shuk
Tapuah Bidvash
Moris fruits and veg
Peirot Ha-Emek (Emek Yizrael region deliveries)
Mehva La-Adama (Western Galil deliveries, they are open to adding more northern delivery options)
Savta Yehudit organic (Northern Israel, based in Kibbutz Lavi)
Etz Hasadeh organic
Green Corner Mehadrin produce, Bet Shemesh delivery only
Nana Banana delivery to Gush Dan and parts of the Shfela only
Dates (direct from the farmer)
Tmarim beTomer plus related products such as silan and sometimes pineapples
Meshek Shahar
Tamar Hason
Sarit Tmarim
Merkaz Hatmarim Ein Yahav
Hadeklaim
Daniel Dates
Tamar Kinneret plus related products such as silan and date based spreads.
Degania plus related products such as silan and date based spreads, honey and more
Hadar Ganim
Medjooliot
Nuts, dried fruits and seeds
Hakoleh nuts, seeds, dried fruits, honey and spreads, coffee, halvas and more
Hamama nuts, seeds, spices, dried fruits, sweets, halvas, legumes and more.
Egoz VeTamar nuts, seeds, dried fruits, honey, halvas, biscuits, tehina and more
Shlomi Tavilinim nuts, seeds, dried fruits, honey, halvas, tehina, oils, chocolate and more
Shivuk Yesha dried fruits and nuts, eggs, some fresh produce, dried goods, olive oil, baked goods, dairy
Vituri Online nuts, seeds, roasted munchy snacks, chocolate covered snacks
Kal Lepitzuah
Honey, olive oil, spices
Negohot honey and beer
Derekh Hatavlinim herbs, spices, coffee beans, grinders, honey, tehina, specialty halva and more
Ptora olive oil and spreads
Ahiya olive oil and more
Anshei Hazayit olive oil, spreads and more
Pereg spices olive oil, spices,
Kaveret Meshek Spektor honey
Hakaveret Beit Horon honey
Meshek Lin honey and spreads
Dvash Ofir
Kfar Chabad honey
Beit Hadvash Kadesh Barnea
Porat Ein Yahav honey, also jojoba and aloe products.
Simon's Honey
Emek Hefer Honey
Tzuf organic honey, spreads and tehina
Bakery
Saidel Jewish Baking Center
Pat BeMelah Bakery Cafe
Roladin bakery
Ish Shel Lehem
Biscotti bakery
Berman's Bakery
Shemo bakery
Olam Halehem
Sharacocoa
Offaime Farm
Bli Kemah (gluten free bakery)
Amit Barkat (gluten free bakery)
Dairy
Buffalo Farm
Jacob's Dairy and bread
Offaime Farm
Gal Dairy
Ivri Dairy
Beeri Dairy
Hanoked
Galilee Cheese
Hamachleva
Shivuk Yesha
Carmella
Meat and fish
Artzeinu
Lomito Modiin
Hendels
Havat Yehudiya
David Dagim
Piraeus Fish
Daniel's Smokey Meats
Chop Chop
Sinners Meat
Meshek Melamed
Pitmaster
Kings South African specialties like biltong and boerewors, meats for the braai
Naknik Katzavim
Gili's
Meat and Meet
Benny's Machpud, Rubin, Shearis Yisroel, Manchester Beis Din. Delivery to Bet Shemesh, Yad Binyamin, Jerusalem and Nof Ayalon.
Prepared Shabbat food deliveries
Gershon's Foodies
Prohibition Pickle American Ashkenazi including deli meats, herring and white fish salad, pickles etc
Brakha Meshuleshet
Kinnamon Catering
Maccabis
Yehoshua
Maaseh Beh
Grill 443
Sdot Ayalon
Flour and baking supplies
Stybel
Hatahanot Hagdolot
Etz Hasade
Saar Surprise
Poliva
Make and Bake
Shimrit
Cookstock
Cook and Bake
Beit Hashaked marzipan and almond products straight from the manufacturer
Ice cream
Nestle Ice Cream
Golda ice cream
Buza ice cream (get in touch with them for delivery options, doing special runs to various locations)
Mousseline ice cream (Jerusalem delivery only)
Lavan ice-cream and frozen yoghurt (Raanana area, contact them for special orders to other locations)
Tipsy Scoop alcoholic ice-cream
Leggenda
Chocolate, halva and sweets
De Karina
Holy Cacao
Yaar Hakakao
Leonidas (if you want their package with a te''udat kashrut you need to ask specifically for their kosher options)
Gili's Goodies
Olam Hashokolad
Kanyon Hamamtakim
Kingdom of Halva the famous halva from the Mahane Yehuda market in a wide variety of flavours.
Beit Hashaked marzipan and almond products straight from the manufacturer
Candy Shop
Matok Shok
Hamama nuts, seeds, spices, dried fruits, sweets, halvas, legumes and more.
Egoz VeTamar nuts, seeds, dried fruits, honey, halvas, biscuits, tehina and more
Coffee and accessories
Aura coffee
Elite coffee (also Yad Mordekhai condiments, honeys, sauces, jams and olive oil)
Landwer
Coffee4u
Cafeolle
Creama
Coffee B'Click
Nespresso
Beanzcoffee
Kilimanjaro
Power Coffeeworks
Shuk Cafe
Wine, beer, liquors and cider
Tura winery and olive oil
Barkan winery
La Foret Blanche winery
Hamatsesa cider, apple juice and other apple products
Alexander Beer
Golan Brewery-Bazelet
Shapiro Beer
Golan Winery
Matar Winery
Shiloh Winery
Tabor Winery
Galil Mountain Winery
Derekh Hayayin
Mashkaot
Paneco liquor shop
Beer Bazar
Lavi Liquors
Good Stuff Brewing
Lodestone
Hamesameah (Jerusalem region only)
Random listing of places that deliver around the country: https://www.krutit.co.il/%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%9B%D7%99%D7…/
Snowballing
Sorry, ridiculously long.
I probably shouldn't say anything, so: Trigger warning: some data analysis, it isn't rosy, maybe you don't want to read this, but I am fielding dozens of questions a day about the covid situation, people seem very confused, there is a deluge of conflicting information out there and it seems not a lot of clear official guidance.
At the peak of Israel's first outbreak we had around 800 new infections a day. Cases now are nudging past 1000 a day and are widespread throughout the country rather than concentrated in limited clusters of hotspots.
If the current trend of exponential growth continues as it is without new mitigation measures it looks as though we will be seeing 2000 a day quite soon.
Keeping the economy open is important. People's mental health is important. For these reasons it seems unlikely there will be a lockdown even as numbers of infections increase and seem to by growing out of control.
Even without lockdown though 1000s of new infections each week, let alone each day, is going to cause disruption, in education, childcare, day camps, workplaces, heatlh care, and yes, our already battered tourism industry.
Aside from those actually testing positive, there is of course also yoyo quarantining.
Israel seems to be going for the Swedish model right now (if they are going for any model) and possibly some attempt at herd immunity. Now maybe this is a reasonable strategy to try, but in doing so one must be aware of the dangers of going down this road and prepare the public to face the challenges. I'm concerned that people aren't being prepared for what this approach might mean.
Hospitalisations and critical cases are gradually increasing as more older and at risk populations become infected and simply because there is a lag time between when people become ill and when some cases become serious in significant numbers. Numbers are still thank God low by the standards of big outbreaks like in the UK, Italy or US, but they are growing.
Remember there is a lag time between diagnosis and when and if people develop more serious symptoms, so we are only now seeing serious cases in people infected weeks ago, the has veshalom more serious cases of the growing numbers diagnosed more recently are still ahead of us.
Now in some ways those becoming infected now are luckier than those who got the virus in March or May, we know a lot more now about how to effectively treat those affected, there has been progress. Sadly though there are still a lot of unknowns.
Hospitals in some areas are starting to feel the crunch, about 1.5% of Israel's medical staff are in bidud. Continuing to just let the virus rip without any kind of locking down or increased restrictions will overwhelm the health system, if not due to resources then in terms of staffing. Israel has one of the lowest ratios of medical staff to population in the developed world and a very high percentage of Israel's doctors are over 50.
That doesn't just mean an issue with covid cases filling up hospitals, that means potential staff shortages causing routine treatments and screenings to be suspended, elective procedures, possibly even emergency treatments cancelled because the system will be beyond capacity if more drastic action is not taken to reign in the infection rate.
Do we want to keep the schools open if and when we get there? Do you want your kids in school under those conditions? Will teachers want to keep coming in to work under those conditions?
Because while it is only July now there is the possibility that this crisis will not be resolved by September and now is the time to start trying to figure out how we are going to adapt, even if right now the state doesn't seem to quite know what to do.
I don't say this to scaremonger but simply because this is where the data is leading and people do need to reconsider how this development may affect childcare, schools, camp and summer plans, and for that matter their work at home options and shopping routines.
Thinking in practical terms are there ways you can help to further shelter older or more vulnerable family, friends, neighbours? Can you further minimise exposure and going out? Can you find creative alternatives to busier places you ordinarily visit? Do you have contingencies for your workplace going into bidud? Can you try out more online shopping, banking and other services that you don't normally use? Are you up to date with prescriptions? Can you afford another laptop, improve the quality of your home internet?
DH and I have been going over the data and discussing at length, we are in two minds whether to say anything to anyone about this, but we both feel that it would be grossly unethical to keep watching what feels like an accelerating snowball without saying anything.
We are by no means experts but we are I think to reasonably intelligent people with backgrounds in understanding statistics, analysis and research, and we have been tracking the facts and figures as they develop and so far unfortunately have pretty much been right about how things have played out.
I really really hope we are off the mark now and the govt or local scientists will pull a rabbit out of a hat any day now and say "Hallelujah!" but I feel that it is only prudent to prepare for a less rosy situation.
And now I'm going back to hide on the porch and paint mandalas with my kids.
I probably shouldn't say anything, so: Trigger warning: some data analysis, it isn't rosy, maybe you don't want to read this, but I am fielding dozens of questions a day about the covid situation, people seem very confused, there is a deluge of conflicting information out there and it seems not a lot of clear official guidance.
At the peak of Israel's first outbreak we had around 800 new infections a day. Cases now are nudging past 1000 a day and are widespread throughout the country rather than concentrated in limited clusters of hotspots.
If the current trend of exponential growth continues as it is without new mitigation measures it looks as though we will be seeing 2000 a day quite soon.
Keeping the economy open is important. People's mental health is important. For these reasons it seems unlikely there will be a lockdown even as numbers of infections increase and seem to by growing out of control.
Even without lockdown though 1000s of new infections each week, let alone each day, is going to cause disruption, in education, childcare, day camps, workplaces, heatlh care, and yes, our already battered tourism industry.
Aside from those actually testing positive, there is of course also yoyo quarantining.
Israel seems to be going for the Swedish model right now (if they are going for any model) and possibly some attempt at herd immunity. Now maybe this is a reasonable strategy to try, but in doing so one must be aware of the dangers of going down this road and prepare the public to face the challenges. I'm concerned that people aren't being prepared for what this approach might mean.
Hospitalisations and critical cases are gradually increasing as more older and at risk populations become infected and simply because there is a lag time between when people become ill and when some cases become serious in significant numbers. Numbers are still thank God low by the standards of big outbreaks like in the UK, Italy or US, but they are growing.
Remember there is a lag time between diagnosis and when and if people develop more serious symptoms, so we are only now seeing serious cases in people infected weeks ago, the has veshalom more serious cases of the growing numbers diagnosed more recently are still ahead of us.
Now in some ways those becoming infected now are luckier than those who got the virus in March or May, we know a lot more now about how to effectively treat those affected, there has been progress. Sadly though there are still a lot of unknowns.
Hospitals in some areas are starting to feel the crunch, about 1.5% of Israel's medical staff are in bidud. Continuing to just let the virus rip without any kind of locking down or increased restrictions will overwhelm the health system, if not due to resources then in terms of staffing. Israel has one of the lowest ratios of medical staff to population in the developed world and a very high percentage of Israel's doctors are over 50.
That doesn't just mean an issue with covid cases filling up hospitals, that means potential staff shortages causing routine treatments and screenings to be suspended, elective procedures, possibly even emergency treatments cancelled because the system will be beyond capacity if more drastic action is not taken to reign in the infection rate.
Do we want to keep the schools open if and when we get there? Do you want your kids in school under those conditions? Will teachers want to keep coming in to work under those conditions?
Because while it is only July now there is the possibility that this crisis will not be resolved by September and now is the time to start trying to figure out how we are going to adapt, even if right now the state doesn't seem to quite know what to do.
I don't say this to scaremonger but simply because this is where the data is leading and people do need to reconsider how this development may affect childcare, schools, camp and summer plans, and for that matter their work at home options and shopping routines.
Thinking in practical terms are there ways you can help to further shelter older or more vulnerable family, friends, neighbours? Can you further minimise exposure and going out? Can you find creative alternatives to busier places you ordinarily visit? Do you have contingencies for your workplace going into bidud? Can you try out more online shopping, banking and other services that you don't normally use? Are you up to date with prescriptions? Can you afford another laptop, improve the quality of your home internet?
DH and I have been going over the data and discussing at length, we are in two minds whether to say anything to anyone about this, but we both feel that it would be grossly unethical to keep watching what feels like an accelerating snowball without saying anything.
We are by no means experts but we are I think to reasonably intelligent people with backgrounds in understanding statistics, analysis and research, and we have been tracking the facts and figures as they develop and so far unfortunately have pretty much been right about how things have played out.
I really really hope we are off the mark now and the govt or local scientists will pull a rabbit out of a hat any day now and say "Hallelujah!" but I feel that it is only prudent to prepare for a less rosy situation.
And now I'm going back to hide on the porch and paint mandalas with my kids.
Sunday, July 05, 2020
The Fourth on the Fifth
What is July 4th in a Jewish-Israeli-British-American family?
An unusual weeknight special dinner when we can talk about history, ideas, culture and family stories over sausages and water melon. Sometimes I think we should put together a haggadah for seder July 4th.
First and foremost it's a se'udat hodaya, a thanksgiving meal, DH's grandparents would have each year to commemorate the anniversary of their arrival from the shattered ruins of post-Holocaust Europe to a fresh start in the USA. Travelling with my infant Mother-in-Law they journeyed from a DP camp in Austria to the US on a military flight via Iceland they arrived in America on July 4 1949.
"But if immigration quotas had been removed in the 1930s maybe more of great-Bubbe and great-Zayde's families would have been alive to emigrate to safety as well" noted our teen.
This led to a discussion of how often people see a train fast approaching but have faith that it will actually slam on the breaks in time before crashing or derailing. In the thick of things it is hard to believe that a situation really will deteriorate drastically, because as adaptable as humans are, it is hard to grasp just how bad a situation can become.
This led to a discussion of how often people see a train fast approaching but have faith that it will actually slam on the breaks in time before crashing or derailing. In the thick of things it is hard to believe that a situation really will deteriorate drastically, because as adaptable as humans are, it is hard to grasp just how bad a situation can become.
My son had been wearing one of his baseball shirts earlier in the day, a gift from his American grandparents, but after a frenetic round of basketball with his younger brothers he changed his shirt. To a Brazil football jersey. "It's a shame they don't really do much good football in the US" said our devoted Arsenal fan. "I'm really glad they have baseball though, I wish more countries would get in to that."
The little kids wanted to know why all independence days in all countries are celebrated with BBQ sausages, water melon and fireworks. Not that we had fireworks here, but they are old enough to remember and have watched firework clips on YouTube from previous years. Our middle child explained that this was a common minhag (custom) for happy times, but that on Yom Haatzmaut we have marshmallows while on July 4th we have corn and potato salad.
Each year the kids are shocked afresh that the US national anthem mentions bombs and rockets and a flag. "Why don't they sing about hope and freedom like we do in Israel?" "America the Beautiful" definitely seems to be their preference. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that my bookworm oldest child knew about the War of 1812 and Francis Scott Key, which led to talking about the British difficulty in coming to terms with American independence in contrast with the 20th century decline of the British Empire.
Our native Israeli kids born in their indigenous homeland identify strongly with native Americans in the story, especially in the days leading up to 17 Tammuz, one of the most sombre days of the Jewish year commemorating several calamities, most notably the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by the besieging Roman army. Our teen compared the Jewish people being forced in to exile by the Babylonians and slavery by the Romans with Andrew Jackson and the Trail of Tears. "At least the US finally joined in the war against the Nazis though and the Jackson-Vanik amendment was important too."
We asked the kids what America means to them, something they like about it and are glad for. Everyone's immediate answer "Bubbe, Zayde and all our cousins and aunties and uncles and all the Claires."
Also doughnuts, squirrels, big rivers, shuls with big children's services and lots of sweets, Country and Bluegrass, big trains, cool cars, fun museums, blueberries and Philadelphia cream cheese.
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