A crafty New Year
Filed under: Art, Blogging, design, Food, History and Culture, Holidays, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life
I’m thinking that the impending holiday has to be about more than the fact that my husband is leaving for two weeks to work as a baal tefillah at a synagogue in Toronto — read, vacation money, new furniture funds and maybe some put into savings — the food that has to be cooked for three days of chag and the mountain of dishes that will be washed. (Although there are some good recipes in there.)
And so, I’ve been inspired by a gan tradition that I had to fulfill, which was that we had to make cards to be given to our boys this week. It happens in schools and ganim throughout the country before Rosh Hashanah, but this was a first for me. So I first thought about easy ways to fulfill it; scribble something on a paper, print out a coloring page and use that. But then I warmed to the idea and came across all these momblogs that are just filled with crafty ideas, some cool, some kitchy. I finally settled on this one, from ChallahCrumbs, Thumbprint Bees for their RH cards, using just black construction paper, yellow fingerpaint and a white crayon. The idea was really adorable, just that my yellow paint ended up drying invisibly on the black paper and I had to use yellow crayons to outline the bees. No matter, it’s the thought that counts, right?
Even thought the thumbprint bees weren’t a total success, we had a great time today with Playdoh and a new Fun Factory, so much so that I’m thinking of embarking on another project tomorrow, Wine Cork Stamp Rosh Hashanah cards from creativejewishmom, in which you use wine corks and a red stamppad to create really sweet apple stencil cards, napkins, gift tags, what have you.
I can’t promise what will come out of all that, but I’m willing to give it a try. Finally, I’ll also be creating a non-dairy frosting for very sweet apple-shaped cupcakes. I already made these a week ago, using a lime cupcake base — gotta use all the limes from our tree — and a readymade frosting with red food coloring. But, have to think non-dairy for some big meat meals, so will probably be using this frosting recipe. Still, I can tell you that the cupcakes are a hit and there’s something very satisfying about creating such a finished looking product.
How’s them apples?
Nostalgia Sunday – Shana Tova postcards
Filed under: General, History and Culture, Holidays, Nostalgia Sunday, Pop Culture
This year, the Israel Postal Company has launched a campaign urging people to send New Year greetings by mail. “Bring back the excitement,” exhorts the leaflet stuffed in our mailbox (inserted by hand and not by mail, I should note). “Facebook, MMS, SMS – they’re not personal. It’s no longer exciting. Now more than ever in the digital age, let’s return to the hand-written postal greeting card. For personal attention and creative expression.”
The brochure comes with a postcard attached and instructions: “Detach this greeting card, write a moving greeting, stick on a stamp and send to your loved ones.” I found the last two steps particularly amusing. Apparently people no longer know how to do this.
The Postal Company has also designed a set of five postcards inspired by the era of good old fashioned snail mail. (Classic examples from previous Israelity postings can be viewed here and here). They’re available for purchase at post offices and agencies in Israel or online through their Hebrew and English-language websites. Each one contains a different New Year’s greeting. For example: May You Be Inscribed and Sealed for A Good New Year:
A Year of Flourishing and Prosperity:
A Good and Sweet New Year!
All of this and more do I wish for Israelity’s readers: a year of happiness, prosperity and above all, good health. Shana Tova!
Foto Friday – Apples & Honey
Filed under: Art, Foto Friday, General, Holidays
One of the more lovely traditions of Rosh Hashana is eating apples dipped honey to symbolize our hopes for a sweet new year. At this season, you start seeing apples and honey everywhere. Body artist Flora certainly does…
Dorit “Dot” Malin, a talented architectural and stage lighting designer, created this lovely image incorporating dance and light.
Israel’s Fruit Production and Marketing Board has chosen to market apples the old-fashioned way…
And there are a slew of apple-themed New Year’s animations on YouTube! A small selection follows. Enjoy! And a healthy, happy and prosperous Shana Tova to all.
Picking apples for New Year at Kibbutz Malkiya
Apples and Honey
Shana Tova – the Apple’s Perspective
Shana Tova – Another Apple
Nostalgia Sunday – Old/New Cards for the New Year
Filed under: Art, General, Nostalgia Sunday, Pop Culture
Israelis love their nostalgia and nowhere is that more evident than the Jewish New Year.
There’s something about starting a new year that brings out the child in us…
Perhaps our wishes for health, prosperity and peace will not be in vain and will this year be granted…
…as we look forward… and never backwards…
…in the hopeful belief that this time, this year, things will be different!
That last image – new and nostalgia-inspired rather than actually old — was created by graphic designer Yael Bar, a member of the Israeli Community of Designers who this past Friday held a New Year’s greeting card event at the Israel Cartoon Museum in Holon. More images from that event — and of their work — can be found here.
Holiday transitions
Hard to believe, but we are already in the middle of the chagim period, the month-long period of holidays that falls every autumn. We’re past Yom Kippur, a.k.a., the Festival of Bicycles, when a good chunk of the country spends the evening and following day in synagogue, while many kids take over the empty streets of all cities on the eve and day of Yom Kippur with bicycles – as well as skateboards, roller blades, skates and scooters. In fact, bicycle sales rise in the weeks prior to YK, with companies advertising Yom Kippur specials.
Then, it was straight into another Shabbat, as Yom Kippur ended on Thursday night, which meant a rush for the supermarket and butcher counter on Friday morning. Unlike the week before, when Rosh Hashanah ended and we went into another Shabbat, there wasn’t quite as much of a fresh chicken shortage, because the week before also coincided with the end of Ramadan, which meant a lot of chickens being eaten out there.
But the end of Shabbat this week brought the annual put-up-the-sukkah evening, when you gather your forces to snap together metal poles and string up the canvas walls. With Sukkot beginning Monday night, it’s another rush into the third holiday of the season, and the longest, at a full seven days. So now we’re thinking sukkah decorations of paper chains, plastic fruits and blinking lights, and one-dish meals that are easier to serve to the crowd.
I’ll let you know what I decide to make, as soon as I get started on the paper chains…
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