A Jewish home

We are committed to building a Jewish home. However we have been accused of taking things a bit too literally during the current building project on our house.

Back in October, when the festival of Succot commands the use of temporary dwellings, we moved out of our house and into temporary accommodation while building work was taking place on our house.

The building work continued along with a Jewish twist. For instance, when we did our weekly progress check in the week of Purim, we found the toilets installed in amusing locations - one in the middle of the bedroom, another in the airing cupboard.

The building work was scheduled to last about 6 months - taking us to some time in April. As we entered this month, we checked the completion date with the builders. The date when all the work would be completed - rewiring, re-plumbing, new windows, new bathrooms, new kitchen, etc. and we could move back in, was confirmed as 9th April. Indeed, as of first day Pesach, we were to move in to a totally refurbished and hometz-free home.

However, predictably, that was not to be, and a delay in the arrival of the windows means that this date will pass, over-running on the works by about a week (sorry, couldn't resist the word order in that sentence).

All this religiosity, and our builders are not even Jewish! Indeed, they have included their own religious icons during the project, as this photo, taken in Easter week, demonstrates...


Chag sameach!

Be bold, not bald

My wife and I are contemplating adopting the custom of wearing sheitels. Nothing so unusual in that - we're Jewish, live inside the eruv, keep a kosher home, and regularly attend services. On the other head, we are committed members of a progressive community, whose egalitarian principles we adhere to asbolutely.

How can we reconcile these seemingly contradictory concepts? How can we consider davening at Finchley Reform Synagogue while sporting hirusite skullcaps designed to mask (but often enhancing) a woman's beauty? Simple. We will both adopt the practice! If Jewish women can don glamourous weaves then why can Jewish men not touch the toupee to cover their baldness with boldness?

Answers on a postiche please...

Chanukah sameach

Shannah Tova greeting

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy new year, full of goodness, blessing, and sweetness. (If you can't see the video, please click in the white space beneath this sentence!)

Lots of love,

Alison, Ben, Eli and Kobi