Pesach Preparations in Jerusalem

Preparing for Chagim in Israel is always an experience! We never know what to expect or what challenge will crop up. A few years ago, we had no table for Pesach and no lights either. At the last minute someone kindly helped us obtain some kind of light and we found a folding table to enable us to put our food somewhere. Not the kind of experience we wanted and the run up to Chag was a challenge to say the least.

Last year our landlord insisted we had to move right before Pesach. We still had a contract but that did not prevent him from finding all kinds of manipulative ways to force us to move. So 2 days prior to Pesach we had to move. The move was one I would rather not remember. Having no fridge was one of the greatest challenges. We had moved to an unfurnished apartment and hence needed a stove too. We purchased a stove in a hurry and thought we obtained a good brand.

Well as the run up to Pesach has arrived, so our next challenge has hit. Take a look at the image of our stove. Yes, it is still within the year of having purchased the stove. No the pieces are not removed for cleaning purposes, they were removed by the company as the stove has a fault. It is taking daily phone calls to find out what is happening with our repair and lots of prayers to receive our stove and parts on time. We can not use either the stove top or the ovens. Eating has become rather interesting, lots of salads. It's enough that space becomes a juggling act as each item is cleaned, it would be so nice to be able to use our stove to cook regular meals.

So, please support our services and products and help us to be able to enjoy the Chag in a normal manner. Most of all, to be able to have a nice hot meal on Seder night would be so amazingly, wonderful.

You can help us by purchasing one of our books:
 - "Tuvia Finds His Freedom" a nature story for children by Eliyahu and Shoshanah Shear, illustrated with photographs.
- "Tuvia Finds His Freedom" in Hebrew by Eliyahu and Shoshanah Shear
- "Relationships" a teenage novel by R.A. Kahn
- "Healing Your Life Through Activity - An Occupational Therapist's Story" by Shoshanah Shear

Purchase one of our Gifts or Freelance services via our website www.creationsfromjerrusalem.com. If you do not see the creative gift you are looking for, do send us a request. We are happy to provide a quote and work on commissions to meet your unique needs.

Are you in need of occupational therapy intervention? Occupational therapy is offered by Shoshanah for women, teenage girls and children in Jerusalem.

Sign up for Torah shiurim with Rabbi Eliyahu Shear. You can study the Torah topic of your choice individually or in groups. Shiurim take place in Jerusalem in person or via Skype with webcam. Get a group together and enjoy a group rate.  Shiruim are even available for seniors.

This post is prepared for you by

Shoshanah Shear

Occupational Therapist, healing facilitator, certified infant massage instructor, freelance writer, author of "Healing Your Life Through Activity - An Occupational Therapist's Story" and co-author of "Tuvia Finds His Freedom".

Living the Pesach Story - A Moving Disaster

We've moved yet again! That makes close to 45 moves for Shoshanah and for Eliyahu - already 6 major moves since marrying. But it's been the complete disruption of everything and tragedy of the events unfolding that has truly wiped us out. Our previous fundraisers have not met with success and here we are again asking for assistance to help us out of our heartbreaking story.

Our previous landlord had threatened us constantly to immediately vacate his apartment even though we always paid him in full and on time - ending up with us being forced to move the day before Pesach this year. The disruption is easy to imagine to anyone knowing how much one must do to prepare before Pesach! It was impossible to fathom his reasoning - but we knew he wanted his apartment back immediately. We had to stop everything, and do whatever it took to get us out - and fast.

While any move is stressful - the disaster at seeing the amount of items broken and missing, irreplaceable books with broken bindings and dent marks - as well as the thought of having to deal with parts of our previous apartment being broken (by the movers) when we show it to the landlord, has brought us to wondering how we can ever get a start in our new apartment. While we've always rented appliances and furniture, never having had the means to purchase our own - this new move demanded us obtaining appliances and furniture - we just don't have the means for. Yet another loan - but we haven't any idea how we will ever pay it back.

While we did our best to obtain quotes for responsible movers, the mover we chose was a smooth talker offering favour upon favour with promises for cheaper rates and an exceptional social etiquette that said he was the best, his behaviour amazed us as his attitude was so different when it came time to move. Looking at the apartment, he made one quote, yet after moving, he changed it by almost doubling the already exorbitant amount. His team packed our items in the most uncaring manner with things being thrown into boxes, stuffed away with little concern for the consequences.

Our new landlord had promised us a fridge as another type of favour to help us, but it arrived filled with the most disgusting mould one can ever hope to never see. The mover offered his own favour by selling us a faulty fridge which he explained was almost new except for a broken bottom. He offered it at an apparent 500 Shekel less the going rate. Unfortunately not only was his offer unacceptable by normal standards, but the fridge did not work at all - causing us to lose all our food by Pesach day! 

Our damages include:

2 fans missing parts

Our heater missing a part

Damaged bookshelves

Damage to some items due to a toxic fluid being incorrectly packed and spilling inside the box. Items had to be thrown out.

Broken shelves

Broken and damaged books.

By the end of the move, we realized we were charged at least 5000 Shekels more than other movers quotes would have turned out to be, and our mover could not substantiate the increase. One reason he gave was due to transporting the bridal gowns of our own charity fund, however this took a little over half an hour to be packaged and put on the truck with me assisting. According to the hourly rate of the other movers that should be some 250 or so Shekels extra, not 5000. The faulty fridge was charged to us. More than this the mover has been unable to break down the huge cost that he demanded.

Though we do have our bookshelves and beds, not having had assistance getting married as an orphan Kallah, we have lacked a dining room table and chairs. We have had to borrow in order to obtain a fridge, stove and washing machine, having no other choice in order to carry on a normal day to day life. Each of our moves has required taking out another bank loan just to try and get another start. Interest rates consume any possibility of us ever getting a start to life. We cannot get ahead with all these setbacks.

Please help us by contributing to our fundraiser in order to replace our food for Pesach, to replace the damaged items, obtain the basic appliances and furniture that every Jewish home requires and cover this unreasonably high moving bill.

Thank you for your kindness

Shoshanah Shear

Birkat Cohanim 2015

Pesach is one of the three festivals that Jews would visit the Beis HaMikdash when it stood. While we are awaiting the re-building of our Holy Temple, we do still receive a blessing from the Cohanim during Chol HaMoed of Pesach and Sukkot. Since we can not visit the full Temple, we visit the Kotel and pray for the merit to enter the Temple itself, once more.  This year, Birkat Cohanim was today, Monday of Chol HaMoed. As usual, thousands (estimated at 50 000) flocked to the Kotel to receive this special blessing from the Cohanim the Priests. 

Here are just a few photographs for those who were unable to visit the Kotel and Birkat Cohanim in person. Included in the photo's is one of 3 little birds who came to join the women, watching and enjoying the Tefillah of the day.

May we all merit to re-unite in the re-built Yerushalayim with the Beis HaMikdash. May Every Jew receive all the blessings they require in Ruchnius and Gashmius and the blessing flow out from the Holy Temple to the rest of the world. 

Moadim Le'Simchah

 

This post is prepared for you by Shoshanah Shear of Chessed Ve'Emet

Preparing for Pesach

This time of year is a very special time to be in Eretz Yisrael. As most Yidden are busily preparing for Pesach, there are details that need reminders.

1) Cleaning is to remove any Chometz. It is of course wonderful to clean away any dust and make sure your home is clean, neat and in order, but if you are pressurized for time, the rule of thumb is to make sure you have removed all Chometz. Any other cleaning is extra.If in doubt, check with your rabbi.

2) While clearing your cupboards, refrigerator, freezer etc, remember your medicine cabinet also needs checking. There are certain medications that are permissible for Pesach and some that are not. The Chief Rabbi's office puts out a list of those medications that are permissible for Pesach. If you have not seen the list, ask at your local pharmacy. If you have a need for certain ongoing chronic meds, make sure to prepare in advance. If necessary ask your doctor if there is a suitable alternative if the medication you require is not on the list or what s/he suggests for the 8 days of Pesach. 

On another note, the Matza that we eat on Pesach contains certain healing properties. May we all merit a complete Refuah on every level and to greet Eliyahu HaNavi and Moshiach THIS Year.

Happy cleaning everyone. May we all enjoy Chag Kasher Ve'Somayach

Shoshanah Shear of Chessed Ve'Emet

This Year IN Yerushalayim!

Pesach (Passover) is fast approaching. As Jews around the world prepare their homes for Pesach, cleaning, shopping, cooking, inviting friends and family to the Sedar night it is easy to get caught up in spring cleaning and making an event. However, the important part is to remember what Pesach is about.

In an earlier post we spoke of the Avos (our Forefathers) who first came to know Hashem and follow the One Living G-d. Yaakov and his sons went down to Egypt at the time of the famine and the Pesach story tells of our being saved by G-d from slavery to receive the Torah and come into Eretz Yisrael, a Nation, ready to serve G-d in Israel fulfilling Torah and mitzvos.

Around this time, many are planning a "walk for life" trip to Poland and certain concentration camps. An attempt to remember what happened. The video below links the importance of remembering the Hollocaust with the Exodus.

As we are reminded daily, we have to remember the Exodus and that we were strangers in a strange land. We were slaves in a land that was not ours. In todays time we are permitted to live in Eretz Yisrael once more, but we are far from free.

Sadly there are Jews who are not able to enjoy to spirit of Pesach fully. They lack the basic Kosher food required. They lack the ability to purchase new clothing, beautiful garments to feel like menchen and truly free to enjoy this special Chag.

There is a special mitzvah called Maot Chittim, specifically to help Jews in need with the minimum matzah they require to fulfill their obligation for the Sedar night. In truth it is an extended term indicating providing the poor with their Yom Tov needs.

While some like to travel to look at the remains of tragedies that occured, the Klaussenberger Rebbe, himself a survivor of some of the camps, teaches that the way to remember is by building and strengthening our fellow Jew. While some were bewildered at the time of liberation, the Klausenberger Rebbe was busy preparing burial for the Jews whose bodies liay in piles around. He made sure there was a Kosher kitchen, a synagogue and even was prepared to give up his own socks to make sure a little orphan girl had her feet covered.

As one survivor told her family, a major memory of Bergen Belson was that their first year there they managed to make matzot. Yes, right in the death camp, they made matzot. They remembered Pesach. Help us to honour the Jews who gave their lives throughout the history of the Jews, till today, not by walking through deserted spaces of doom, but through providing the basic needs to our fellow Jew to enjoy Pesach as it should be. In freedom with everything they require to feel like a Jew, to have self-respect, dignity and food fitting for a Yom Tov.

May we enjoy THIS year in Yerushalayim, all of Am Yisrael together with our Righteous Redeemer and our Final Temple.

Chag Pesach Kasher ve Somayach.