#BlogExodus: It is What You Make of It

If Ima on (and off) the Bima posted this image and story on her blog today, can Pesach be far behind?

I'm in!  Watch this space for my first #blogExodus post of 5774 which, with any luck, will appear next Tuesday.

But, as the Ima says, "There aren't any rules.... It is what you make of it."

Hmmm...sounds a lot like life.

Torah and the Law (Firm)

Cataloged by the Nazis 

Last week, Neil Yerman, a well-known sofer, was in the URJ's New York office to assess the condition of several of the organization's Torah scrolls, including one from pre-war Czechoslovakia that now is on permanent loan from the Memorial Scrolls Trust based in London's Westminster Synagogue.

When two colleagues and I entered the room where Neil and an assistant--whom he is training as a soferet--were working, there were introductions and handshakes all around: He introduced himself as Neil Yerman and his colleague as Nomi Lerman.  When I introduced myself, he invited me to join them in their work, quipping that the new firm would, of course, be known as Yerman, Lerman and Herman.

My colleagues and I chatted with him about his work, watching as he "erased" dirt and oil from the parchment of an open scroll, taking along with the debris some of the ink of the beautifully written words that tell our people's story.

Without correspondence to write or blog posts to edit, I could have watched and listened all day, but alas, it was not meant to be.  Taking my leave after 20 minutes or so, I thanked him for his time and the interesting conversation. On the way out, I quipped that I'd definitely be in touch when I'm ready to join his firm.

Hmmm...that exchange gives a whole new meaning to JanetheWriter, wouldn't you say?!

Looking Out For "Our Yankees"

Dear The Mums,

In today's edition of "New York Today," this story caught my eye, and I thought you'd enjoy it:

This week in 1903, construction began on a vast project on a hilltop in Washington Heights: a baseball stadium for a newly arrived American League team.

“The work of blasting rock will begin tomorrow morning,” The Times reported. “There are some 5,000 cubic yards of rock to be removed and a great many trees cut down.”

In only six weeks, Hilltop Park opened, and the New York Highlanders played their first game.

In 10 years, they would move down from the hilltop to the banks of the Harlem River. The Highlanders name would no longer fit.

They became the Yankees.

Later in the day, Amy texted this picture and caption to me:

The king with blue and orange braces.

We went on to have this text exchange:

Me:  If they are for the Mets, Bubbe is not happy!  But he is adorable!
Amy:  No.  She's fine -- it is for the Knicks.
Me:  Glad to hear it.

Just wanted you to know that even though I don't really follow baseball, I'm always looking out for "our Yankees."

xoxo,
~ Boo!

P.S.  I forgot to tell you...

Last Sunday, Daddy and I went to Baltimore for Mrs. Steinberg's unveiling.  Despite the circumstances, it was so good to see Barbara, Heidi, Dr. Steinberg and everyone else, including Arlene and Alan Blocker.  Unlike after the funeral, we went back to the house, which also was nice.  I don't remember the last time I was at 1421 Winding Waye Lane.  But here's the thing I forgot to tell you...  In the hall bathroom of the house, I took this photo and texted it to Amy (who couldn't be there because it was her weekend with Ian):

She responded with this:  One of my earliest visual memories...

A little while later, I sent her these two pictures:

 

Here's what she wrote back:  I spent hours with that weaving lady.  There is a little bowl of wool next to her...

Indeed there is.  Such long-ago memories...

Where's JanetheWriter?

This week, it seems, she's everywhere...

A post I wrote following my recent colonoscopy (if you're a regular visitor to this blog, you've probably already seen it), was posted yesterday on Penn Medicine's Focus on Cancer blog.  No worries, though...I've spared you the gory details

And then, late this afternoon, I received word that a short piece I'd submitted to the blog at Rhodia Drive was live and I was today's guest blogger.

Over the weekend, look for my dad and me in greater Baltimore and Washington, DC for an unveiling.  Hard to believe it's been a year since this post. 

Shabbat shalom, everyone.