"Pedido de Oracion" / "Prayer Request"

If you would like to leave a note at the "Kotel" just send it to me via email and I will print it for you and will take it straight to the "Whaling Wall".

Si te gustaria dejar un pedido de oracion en el "Kotel" solo tenes que mandarme un email y yo lo imprimo y lo llevo personalmente al "Muro de los Lamentos" por vos.

"Friend of the week"

"La Vero", mi gran amiga. Esas que se encuentran una vez en la vida. Tenemos muchas cosas en comun, al igual que diferencias. Nos conocimos hace mucho tiempo atras. Ella con un libro en ingles en la mano y con notas en aleman. Anda de tacos, y le gusta hacer ruido con ellos para informar al resto que ella esta llegando. Es articulada. Inteligente. Graciosa y tambien muy directa y honesta. No le gusta la mediocridad y sabe un monton de muchas cosas. No le gusta escribir con tinta negra por alguna razon y el azul es uno de sus colores favoritos. Escribe absolutamente todo y no tiene verguenza en hablar con cualquier persona. No le cabe la vulgaridad y siempre opina aunque no la quieran escuchar. La Vero. What a friend!

"La Vero", my dear friend. One of a kind in a lifetime. We have many things in common, as we have our differences. We met a long time ago. She had a book in English on one hand with sticky notes in German on it. She wears high hills and likes to make noise with them as she walks to let people know she is coming by. She is articulated. Intelligent. Funny and very honest and straight forward when comes to share her feelings. She doesn't like mediocrity and she knows a lot of "stuff". For some reason, she doesn't like to write anything on black ink and blue is one of her favorite colors. She writes down pretty much everything and she is not afraid to talk to strangers. Vulgarity is not even a word she would know; she speaks out her mind even when others don't feel like listen to. "La Vero". Que amiga!

"Bandera"

SHABBAT SHALOM

"Una Vez Mas"

En el Kotel pidiendo por todos Uds. especialmente por la salud de Bruno Franchino (mi sobrino adoptivo). Se que Hashem esta cuidando y sustentando todas nuestras necesidades!

At the Kotel praying for all of you, especially for Bruno Franchino's health (my adopted nephew). I know Hashem is watching and taking care of all our needs.

א לְדָוִד: יְהוָה, אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי--מִמִּי אִירָא;יְהוָה מָעוֹז-חַיַּי, מִמִּי אֶפְחָד.

Salmo del Rey David. El Señor es mi luz y mi salvación, ¿a quién temeré? El Señor es el baluarte de mi vida, ¿ante quién temblaré?

1 [A Psalm] of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? {N}The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

"Worst First Date Ever"

Generalmente no me gusta blogear estas cosas pero esta historia supero, por lejos, otras historias comicas... Al publico de habla inglesa, enjoy it!

I usually don't like to blog about these stuff but this story was, by far, a very comical one... To all of you who can read and understand English, enjoy it!

If you didn't see this on the Tonight show, I hope you're sitting down when you read it.

This is probably the funniest date story ever, first date or not!

We have all had bad dates,- but this takes the cake.

Jay Leno went into the audience to find the most embarrassing first date that a woman ever had. The winner described her worst first date experience.

There was absolutely no question as to why her tale took the prize!

She said it was midwinter... snowing and quite cold...And the guy had taken her skiing in the mountain southside Salt Lake City, Utah.

It was a day trip (noovernight).

They were strangers, after all, and truly had never met before. The outing was fun but relatively uneventful until they were headed home late that afternoon. They were driving back down the mountain, when she gradually began to realize that she should not have had that extra latte.

They were about an hour away from anywhere with a restroom and in the middle of nowhere! Her companion suggested shetry to hold it, which she did for a while.

Unfortunately, becauseof the heavy snow and slow going, there came a point where she told him that he had better stop and let her pee beside the road, or itwould be the front seat of his car.

They stopped and she quickly crawled out beside the car, yanked her pantsdown and started. In the deep snow she didn't have good footing, so she let her butt rest against the rear fender to steady herself.

Her companion stood on the side of the car watching for traffic and indeed was a real gentlemanand refrained from peeking. All she could think about was the relief she felt despite the rather embarrassing nature of the situation.

Upon finishing, however, she soon became aware of another sensation. As she bent to pull up her pants, the young lady discovered her buttocks were firmly glued against the car's fender.

Thoughts of tongues frozen to pump handles immediately came to mind as she attempted to disengage her flesh from the icy metal. It was quickly apparent that she had a brand new problem due to the extreme cold.

Horrified by her plight and yet aware of the humor ofthe moment, she answered her date's concerns about "what is taking so long" with a reply that indeed, she was "freezing her butt off and in need of some assistance!"

He came around the car as shetried to cover herself with her sweater, and then, as she looked imploringly into his eyes, he burst out laughing.

She too, got the giggles and when they finally managed to compose themselves, they assessed her dilemma.

Obviously, as hysterical as the situation was, theyalso were faced with a real problem both agreed it would take something hot to free her chilly cheeks from the grip of the icy metal!Thinking about what had gotten her into the predicament in the firstplace, both quickly realized that there was only one way to gether free.

So, as she looked the other way, her first-time date proceeded to unzip his pants and pee her butt off the fender.

As the audience screamed in laughter, she took the Tonight Show prizehands down...or perhaps that should be "pants down."

And you thought your first date was embarrassing.

Jay Leno's comment, "This gives a whole new meaning to being pissed off"!!!!!!

"Israeli Look"

After a long day and trying to find the bus stop we got lost and we ended up in a very nice place, somewhere in Jerusalem. Behind me there was a park full of kids playing and next to me, not in the picture, few cats (Israeli dogs) fighting...
I was trying to imitate a typical "friendly" look of an Israeli while waiting for the bus that took forever.
Despues de un largo dia e intentando encontrar la parada del colectivo, nos perdimos y terminamos en un parque muy lindo en algun lugar en Jerusalem. Atras mio habia un parque lleno de nenes jugando y a mi lado varios gatos (perro israeli) peleando...
Yo intentaba imitar la fachada "amistosa" de los israelies mientras esperabamos el colectivo que tardo anios en venir.

"Rincon de Amigos" / "Friends' Corner"

Decidi blogear acerca de mis amigos uno a la vez cada semana, no es que tenga demasiados pero los pocos que tengo son valiosos como el oro para mi. Voy a hablar de ellos sin un orden en particular e intentare compartir sus cualidades y como han sido de ayuda para mi durante todo estos anios.
I've decided to post every week about my friends, one at a time and although I don't have too many but the few I have are like gold to me. So, I will post about them in no particular order and will try to comment about their qualities and how they helped me throughout theses years.

Voy a empezar con mis amigos "nuevos y viejos": Lucas & Dorcas. Que bien que se portaron en mis últimos meses en USA y en especial los últimos días en NY. Digo "nuevos y viejos" porque después de casi una década volvimos a entablar amistad con Lucas. En este viaje a NY pude conocer mas de cerca a Dorcas, su esposa y una "nueva" amiga. Al igual que a su familia: Bruno y Brisa.
I'm going to start with my "new and old" friends: Lucas & Dorcas. You guys were great during my last months in USA and especially my last days while in NY. I say "new and old" friends because after almost a decade I reestablished my friendship with Lucas. And it was on my last trip to NY where I met Dorcas closely, Lucas wife and my "new" friend. Like the rest of their family: Bruno and Brisa.

Que puedo decir de Lucas & Dorcas, son personas muy lindas. Jamás se puede estar serio con ellos ya que en todo momento me hicieron sonreír, aun en los momentos mas difíciles. Lucas fue la primer persona que vi alla por el '98 cuando pise Estados Unidos por primera vez, y fue la ultima persona que vi al despedirme en el aeropuerto en NY en Sept 9, 2006.
What can I say about Lucas & Dorcas beside that they are wonderful people? You can never be with a sad face around them because they will make you smile all the way, even in the hardest time. Lucas was the very first person I first met when I arrived in USA back in '98, and it was the last person I said goodbye at the NY airport on Sep 9th 2006.

Creo que una forma de hacer conocer lo que creo, lo que pienso, lo que siento y lo que soy es compartir o comentar un poco de las personas que me rodean y que son mis amigos. Porque con ellos, los buenos amigos, uno tambien se forma, se mejora, se corrige y es mejor persona.
I believe that one way to expose what I believe, what I think, feel and even who I am as a person is by sharing about those special people that surround me and are friends to me. Because with their friendship I can be a better person.

Gracias Lucas y Dorcas por todo su apoyo, su cariño y su sincera amistad. Es increible lo que D-s puede hacer después de tanto tiempo. Seguro que Hashem sana todo!
Thank you Lucas and Dorcas for all your support, love and true friendship. It's amazing what Hashem can do after all these years. He heals!

Esta semana en "Rincon de los Amigos" esta dedicada a Uds. Porque su amistad me dio fuerzas para este tiempo en Israel.
This week I dedicate this "Friends' Corner" for you guys. Because your friendship gave me strength to go through this time in Israel.

"Figuras"

Estas fotos las tome en la casa de Lucas y Dorcas, cuando estuve en mis ultimos dias en NY.

Un abrazo para ellos, Brisa y Brunito.

"Jerusalem"

Despues de haber conocido a Fabian en persona decidi caminar hasta el mirador de Talpiot para sacar algunas fotos. Esto es lo que vi ayer.
Por cierto, que bueno fue conocerte Fabian despues de leer tu blog, emails, y habladas por telefono. Un gusto.

Esto es lo que uno puede apreciar desde Talpiot. Realmente me gusta mucho ver esta imagen cada vez que tomo el colectivo que me lleva al centro para luego tomar el segundo colectivo al trabajo.

Lastimosamente el mundo tiene esta imagen de Jerusalem, un icono musulman en un lugar tan judio como la misma Torah. Ahi mismo se encuentra la Roca donde Abraham, en obediencia, iba a sacrificar a su hijo Isaac.

Para los musulmanes, de cualquier manera, este fue el lugar donde su profeta ascendio a los cielos. Segun la creencia musulmana fue en la Meca donde Abraham iba a sacrificar a Ismael, SI, Ismael y no Isaac.

Despues de tomar estas fotos, ironicamente y por primera vez, vi a un musulman rezando de rodillas y cara al suelo pero con su espalda a este lugar. SI, ya que miraba a la Meca. Intente tomar una foto pero no queria que algo me pasara. Mejor sigo sacando fotos...

"As Promised"

This post is dedicated specially to:

Mary ("Call me Paris, you b--ch"), Maria "Apo" Galvan, Judi and my booh Mildred... my dear co-workers for the past 6 years...

As I promised, just for you:

I MISS YOU ALL!

"Kotel"

At the Wall

En el Muro

Ready to pray

Listo para rezar

Taking a picture of Malkah/Mandi while praying

Tomando una foto de Malkah/Mandi mientras rezaba en el Muro

This is what you see when you are standing at the Wall

Esto es lo que se ve cuando uno esta en el Muro

"Arriesgarse"

(Haz algo valiente hoy... y lluego corre como condenado)

Me gusto mucho este mensaje... A veces arriesgarse vale la pena...

"Descubriendo"

Descubriendo increibles lugares en Jerusalem.

Mientras camino por estas calles se entremezclan un sinfin de sentimientos

y la seguridad de estar en el lugar correcto; seguridad de haber hecho una buena decision.

En la Ciudad Vieja, un pasillo.

An alley at the Old City.

Area arabe en la Entrada de Jaffa.

Arab Quarter by the Jaffa Gate.

Torre de David.
David Tower.

"Kotel"

orando en el "Kotel" (Muro de los Lamentos) y pidiendo por cada uno de Uds.

"Ventana"

Llegue a Jerusalem.

Aca me aparezco despues de un tiempo.

Esta foto es la vista desde mi habitacion en el "Merkazt Klita Beit Canada"

("Centro de Absorpcion Bet Canada").

Les invito a explorar Jerusalem a traves de esta "ventana" llamada internet... Como la miran mis ojos:

Espero que la disfruten...

Nueva Temporada. Nuevos Tiempos.

El domingo comienza la nueva temporada de "NUEVOS TIEMPOS"

Mientras queria decir GRACIAS, THANKS, TODAH a todas las personas que me apoyaron de alguna u otra manera. En mis ultimos dias en USA pude darme "mas" cuenta de quienes son verdaderos amigos.

A mi hermano y mi cuñada (Yacov & Malka): gracias por bancarme siempre, en las buenas y en las malas, siempre estan conmigo, aun cuando me equivoco saben como ayudarme a corregir.

A Jerry mi primo, que se porto de 7, como dicen los Chilenos. Mi roommate por 5 años. Gracias primo.

A Fito, mi perro. Siempre movia su cola cortada aun cuando me veia enojado. Que fieles que son estos animales. Como lo extrano... Fito, Fito, Fito....

To Jeff, you are the type of friends I will never forget. Thanks for your support in the last few days before I left US... Thanks.

A Rabbi Mario, TODAH, tus palabras las llevo conmigo y tus consejos me dieron aliento para llegar a NY.

A Ralph por todos estos años siempre escuchandome, y por hospedarme ahora.

A Lucas & Dorcas, que alegria conocer a tus hijos y poder compartir aunque sea dos dias. Despues de casi una decada de distanciarnos... Gracias a D-s porque aun llevandonos por diferentes caminos, nuestra amistad sigue y se que por muchos largos años. Oh, I forgot, there's no more vacancy, you've already filled up the form ;)

A Grace, mia gran amiga cordobesa perdida en NY.

GERMAN javer sheli!!!!!!!

Malkah, thanks for your friendship and meals...

A la VERO quien siempre estuvo en todas las que pase... cuanta agua bajo el puente... GRACIAS!

Que buena amistad!

A la Mary, la gordis mexicana... Snap!! "MP" (Mexican Princess)... Mi amiga... Vamos por unos tacos a la tienda "Los Angeles"...

To my co-workers and friends from ViaTech... Judi, Mildred, Eddie, Maria, Mary (Call me Paris), What and awesome chance life gave me... Nice sharing all these years 8 hours (and more per day)

Mi familia en Argentina gracias por su constante apoyo, sin Uds no se a donde estaria.

Y a los amigos que vendran...

Fabian, gracias por tus consejos y llamadas...

Y A HASHEM POR PROTEGERME, BENDECIRME Y ESTAR SIEMPRE A MI LADO.