March 8-14, Shabbat Zachor

Can you believe that we are doing this again? I guess it’s not such a surprise, since we knew that we were expecting two new additions to the family, but still when it happens, it is no less amazing, no less breathtaking and no less exciting. To paraphrase Elan, who spoke beautifully both at the Shalom Zachar last week and this morning at the Brit Milah, bringing a child into this world is an amazing miracle, and every time it happens it is no less miraculous.

We left off last week as we started Shabbat in Toronto. Sorry everyone, not all of these come from Israel, but I am sure you don’t mind sharing these terrific occasions where ever they are. So we will pick up where we left off last week. Elan and Nomi came home from the hospital just before Shabbat with a beautiful 8 lb 3oz little boy in tow. Being 2 weeks late, this new addition seems to be a bit more mature than the average as you will see from pictures. He was very alert from the start, eyes open, looking around, seemingly very curious about taking everything in. Of course, he was showered with attention from the beginning, not only from his parents, but from his siblings Shoshana and Sholomo, and from his grandparents on both sides. We had prepared for the Shabbat meals and for the Shalom Zachar (in celebration of a new male child) so we were ready to roll.  Robert, Nomi’s Dad also stayed for Shabbat, and Karen, Nomi’s mom, was arriving from Israel on Sunday. Shabbat was really nice, with lots of time to for playing with the kids at night and during the day. Elan and Nomi live above the school Elan teaches in and there is a synagogue in the building as well, which means that we basically did not have to leave the building and brave the cold for the entire Shabbat! The Shalom Zachar was beautiful, attended by Elan’s students, his friends and other community members. There was lots of food and drink, singing and Divrei Torah, words of Torah, in new honor of the new baby and in appreciation of his and his mother’s  health and speedy arrival home!

Sunday was our baby sitting day, as Nomi and Elan took the baby for a quick check and blood test; Barbara took Shoshana to gymnastics and a birthday party, and I hung with Shlomo. Then we went to Yorkdale to play in the Lego store and have a frozen yogurt treat!  The kids are amazing, and we had a great time. Bruce left Sunday night, and Barbara had the (fun) task of taking the kids to school Monday AM before returning to Montreal. Karen was to take over this job for the rest week. We went back to mundane things (like work) for a few days. Yesterday we took the train back, accompanied by Grandma, and arrived in Toronto late but ready for the next phase of celebration.

The Brit Milah in Toronto was held at Or Chaim where Elan teaches. This was an incredible experience for several reasons, primarily because the circumcision ceremony introduces a new Jewish male into the community of Israel, equally because this was really a community celebration. We had friends and family in attendance (including my brother and sister-in-law Andy and Mara, Jacob and Jonah, our in-laws Chuck and Rochel, Daniella and Tali as well as Nomi and Elan friends, and the boys and girls from the school where Elan teaches. Not only was it a great celebration, but an incredible educational experience. There will be a couple of You Tubes that I will post that one can learn a tremendous amount about the importance of this commandment and how it unifies us. Elan spoke wonderfully and his students were drawn into the auspicious occasion as much as friends and family were. We welcomed  Nadav Amichai into the fold with great joy! This was followed by great food and then the a high school kids went off to what would be a very memorable school day.

To let Elan and Nomi have a bit of down time with the baby, we took Shoshana and Shlomo to Casa Loma, to see the Dr. Seuss exhibit. Lots of fun meeting The Cat in the Hat, Sam I Am, the Grinch, and participating in lots of activities. Then home to prepare for Shabbat and to bring to an end another incredible week.

As you know, I frequently reflect on other things that at going on around us. There is no shortage, with a particularly divisive  election coming up in Quebec, a bad week of missile barrages in southern Israel, timed to coincide with the visit of David Cameron of Great Britain, the carnage going on in Syria and the repeated cat and mouse games being played with Iran.  The global situation is not a very positive one. In sharp contrast, I look back on what we have achieved as a family in the past few weeks and over the years. The world may look pessimistic, but I think we should all draw strength from the things that bring smiles to our faces, warmth to our hearts. We have three wonderful couples who have brought into the world 5 gorgeous grandchildren. As I write this, Shoshana and Shlomo are playing a few feet away, laughing and enjoying. Our sons are doing amazing things in their respective career, as are our daughter’s in law. We see the celebration in the eyes of the great-grand parents, be it my mother, or Nomi’s grandparents. We should all look at the microcosms of our worlds to see the amazing blessings and cherish them. 

We wish you all an amazing Shabbat Shalom, a Purim full of happiness and many, many blessings!

Mazel tov to the 4 generations who are fortunate to celebrate the arrival of  Nadav Amichai

Nomi's parents Karen and Robert Goldberger of Modi'in, Israel

Great grandparents : Phyllis Mazer of Montreal

Judith and Aryeh Goldgerger of Toronto

Lynn Direnfeld of Toronto

Oscar Direnfeld Of Ra'anana Israel

Mazel Tov To Akiva and Jamie Garellek on their recent marriage

Happy Birthday to our Aunt Sandra (Ruffie) this week!

Happy Birthday to Aunt Ida (ad mea V'esrim!)

Happy Birthday to Lori Small

Happy Birthday to Tammy Samuel -Zein

February 28 - March 7, 2014, Welcome to new baby II!

What an amazing week and what an adventure! We started off last week with a new addition to the Mazer family and we end this week with another baby boy entering in the world. We thank G-d that both mothers and babies are healthy and looking forward to wonderful things in the future.

When we last communicated, Bruce was landing in Israel a little under 2 hours before Shabbat. We went to Givat Shmuel, the community near Bar Ilan University where  Ariel and Gila live, to spend Shabbat and greet Gila and their new baby home. Barbara had been shopping, running errands and helping to prepare for Shabbat and for the baby’s arrival to their apartment. Friday night, 3 of Gila’s siblings joined us for Shabbat (Pnina, Nechemia and Ruhama) and we took turns eating and holding the baby.  He is beautiful, small and fair with sandy hair, a lot like his dad. That evening, a group of friends and family joined together for the Shalom Zachar, a greeting to a new male child on the Friday night after his birth. People talked, sang, ate and celebrated the birth of a son. Finally the crowd went  home at 11, everyone else cleaned up and, exhausted, went to sleep.

Shabbat was nice and quiet, as it should be when it’s the first full day at home for the new arrival. The baby cooperated and Ariel and Gila had a good, well deserved nap, and we enjoyed being able to help out and just all being together. After Shabbat, we went back to Netanya as home base. Sunday was Ikea day, and Barbara set up the kids with a new changing table and lots of other supplies.  Monday was laid back for the most part, with the main event being picking up Gila, Ariel and the baby to go to Gila’s parents, the Twersky’s in Neve Daniel for the Brit Milah, the circumcision that takes place on the 8^th day of life (if the baby is healthy, of course).

Tuesday morning was “the big day”, and it was held in the new community Synagogue right near the Twersky’s home. We were all up early, and members of the community, friends and family arrived.  We were excited to see a lot of Ariel’s friends from Yeshivat Hakotel, as well as Nomi’s mom Karen, Ann and Jonathan Homa, Carol and David Novosellor and a large number of the Twersky’s friends. The baby is officially named at the Brit Milah, and he was named, Elisha Michael, after Barbara’s father, Michael Samuel. Papa would be very proud!

Ariel explained the name to all. He and Gila were looking for a name that embodied characteristics that they felt were important, such as generosity, selflessness and commitment to family. Barbara’s father embodied that and so much more. His entire focus was family, and his generosity knew no bounds. He was a most amazing father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. His legacy absolutely lives on in the actions of his children. We pray that Elisha Michael will grow to completely embody this important legacy as well.

After the Brit, there was a beautiful breakfast at the Twersky’s home, a group effort by Geula, Yitzhak and their kids. Tons of food and lots of singing, people wishing each other mazel tov.  That afternoon we drove Ariel and Gila home, and started to plan the next leg of the trip, which was to be Toronto.

We left Israel in the early hours of Wednesday, with a flight to Toronto via Frankfurt.  We arrived Wednesday PM, and went right to Elan and Nomi’s to visit and see Shoshana and Shlomo. Now, as many of you know, Nomi was also due to give birth, in fact a week before Gila. However, by our arrival the baby still did not wish to face the cold snowy Toronto winter, so….Thursday, being a full 2 weeks after the due date, was induction day. Nomi and Elan were given a 2 PM appointment, and we were in charge of the grandchildren, which was an absolute pleasure!  I won’t give too many details, but bottom line, a beautiful baby boy, 3700 gm was born at about 2:30 AM!  

So now, we can really feel like its “déjà vu all over again!” Not wanting to spend Shabbat at Mount Sinai Hospital, the parents and new arrival are on the way home as of this writing! We will once again celebrate the baby with a Shalom Zachar and plan for the next celebrations. Truly an amazing time and a wonderful blessing! Stay tuned for more next week!

We wish everyone a Shabbat Shalom, full of joys large and small.

Mazel tov To Gila and Ariel on the birth of Elisha Michael!

Mazel Tov to Nomi and Elan on the birth of their new son, brother to Shoshana and Shlomo!

Times like these are precious and we all should be very appreciative!

 I’m just glad I can share them with my best friend in life, Barbara .

Shabbat Feb 28th Welcome to the new Baby

This will be a short post, just to wish everyone a Shabbat Shalom and follow up on exciting news. Ariel and Gila are now the proud parents of a baby boy, born on Tuesday Feb 25 at app. 10:15 in Bnei Brak, Israel! Proud grandparent include Geulah and Rabbi Yitzhak Twersky and of course Barbara and Bruce. Barbara left for Israel the day that the baby was born, and has been occupied with fun things like visiting the hospital, cuddling the baby and transporting Ariel and various foodstuffs for Shabbat. As many of you may know, our children Elan and Nomi (who are in Toronto) are also expecting a baby, so Bruce hung out in Montreal for a couple of days to monitor the situation and the flight prices (as well as do some needed work in the hospital, keeping his patients from freaking out too much…) .Anyway, Bruce caught a flight out on Thursday PM (with great thanks to his MCH Allergy colleagues for covering!) and arrived in Israel  2 hours before Shabbat; a bit close for comfort but not really too bad.

The agenda for the next few days is hectic, with Shabbat, a Shalom Zachar on Friday night, a traditional celebration of the upcoming circumcision or Brit Milah on day 8 of life, plus a couple of days to help set up the kids at home now that they are three instead of two. Ariel and Gila are thrilled and seem to be naturals at being parents!  The baby had a wonderful first Shabbat and things are going really well. 

The Brit Milah will be in Neve Daniel (next to Efrat) on Tuesday morning 8 AM (Shacharit at 7 AM); breakfast following. 

We know the location is not the easiest, but anyone who is able to make it, we will be thrilled to have you. Please email and I will get the directions to you. 

 Wednesday we are on the way home. Stay tuned for more as we follow up on Elan and Nomi and we’ll send a full recap of the coming week, which is sure to be eventful!

Mazel Tov to all and may all have a wonderful, fulfilling Shabbat and a terrific week ahead!

Barbara  and Bruce

Happy Birthday to Gila!