I need your help

Hi,

My building installed electronic locks on the front door and unforutnately I have no Shabbat friendly alternative to enter/exit my apartment building.

I plan to speak to a lawyer to inquire what legal rights, if any, are there to protect this type of religious observance and am collecting information via google form (link below) to determine how many others share this dilemma.

Please pass this along to anyone and everyone you may know who lives in a building like this, or may know someone who knows someone etc.  If you blog, please include this form/link. If you Facebook - please make this your status message. If you have an email listing - send that too and if you want to buy an add in the likutei pshatim or your local shul's weekly publication feel free.
Thank you for your help - tizku limitzvot - and let the social networking begin. 
Yehudis
http://bit.ly/electroniclock

I passed

I passed my regulation exam for the CPA. One down three more to go! Thanks everyone for your support!

Happy Chanukkah/Holidays

Thought you guys (whoever doesn't necessarily have Facebook) would appreciate this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYmLJ8GSsjk&feature=share

ok, it's technically a non-Jewish song that they changed lyrics, and the holiday is all about overcoming Helenism.... Buuut I figure changing lyrics for kosher entertainment qualifies as 'overcoming'

Happy (early) Chanukkah!
~PM

Happy happy

BIRTHDAY TO MIMI! I hope we all celebrate many more happy and healthy years to come. (i got a really cute pic of the frosting-faced b-day girl. (Sort of what you'd call Isenberg-tradition?) probably available to more upon request.  just sayin...

And the name is ---

For those of you who have not yet heard the news, the name of the newest member of the Isenberg clan is Shulamis Bracha Isenberg. Mazel Tov!!!!

Mazel Tov!

Mazel tov the Yosef & Lisa and the entire Isenberg Family. It's a girl! Yehi Ratzon Shetizku L'Gadlah L'Torah, L'chuppa, Ul'maasim Tovim!

T-giving and beyond!

Dear Isenbloggers and Co.

It was recently reported to me that the blog has been sorely lacking in I-berg gossip. To help solve this crisis of contribution I'll fill all y'all in on what's going on in the glorious life of me.

Shul stuff is going pretty well. I'm currently working on Chanukkah toy drive (toys go to Chai Lifeline) and i'm hopeful that they won't be stolen this year. Yes, last year, sadly someone stole hundreds of dollars worth of toys from kids with cancer. Statement on society? I'm not sure. But I'd like to think that the person who took them needed them more. In any case, the drive starts tomorrow through Chanukkah so if you find yourself in the giving spirit feel free to send toys my way.

This Shabbos is also a kiddush and I'm resident bartender :) My job entails more 'policing' to make sure people can walk home in a semi-straight line. It's fun and gives me a chance to yakk it up with my constituents.

While I'm sure you'd love to hear more about the events at the shul, consisting of shiurim, tot-shabbat, seuda shlishit, fri night onegs, gym -we're looking for replacement women's Yoga instructor if you know anyone - there are in fact other things going on in my life.

Like Laundry.

Last weekend, for Thanksgiving my friends and I went to Anna and Isaac in DC. It was really nice. I got to chill and did LOTS of shopping in a Virginian outlet mall. Uh huh. we braved the crowds on Black Friday. My credit card is somewhat bent. Sadly, I'm serious. (But it's more likely from being in my pocket than overuse. i hope)

My friends and I basically hung out around Georgetown. Went jogging to the White House on Sunday morning. Obama sends his love. (just in case u need proof - me and Miriam - in our now famous "TADA!" pose)  

It took about 6 hours to get home, which is relatively pretty good considering the last time i went (after Sukkot) it took me a little more than 7 hours. Entertainment of the evening consisted of Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Green Day, Bruno Mars, Beatles... etc with generous interludes of Miami Boys Choir, Israeli Folk, and more MBC. Haven't listened to most of these songs in a while and the road-tripping down memory lane was a really great way to enjoy the time in the car.

In other news... let's see.... I took the semester off from school. But registration for next term is only a few weeks away. I should be "back in the saddle" before i can say "Masters in JH from B. Revel Grad School"  Ok, well maybe a bit longer.

Work is fun. As always.

and I'm actually going to head out now - meeting friends for dinner. Ice cream. (Totally pays to be an adult)

Hasta luego from the larger than life Big Apple.
~y

YIA-haw!!

congratulations to dr. dan on receiving the very prestigious YIA (young investigator award) at this year's anesthesia conference!!!

Our succah in yerushalim!!!!

Baby on the Broom

this was Sruly helping erev shabbos

Here are some videos, one is me trying to feed the Rena beets, Enjoy!

I chipped my foot :(

amazing what i can get done while eitan naps...

Out to Dinner

Here is a picture of our trip out to dinner with Aunt Jocie, Uncle Yankel, Cousins Chani and Yisrael, and us, you can see what we ate for desert :)

back home again!

thank God, surgery went well and eitan is getting back to his old self. check out the pics of his pink gown (he really looked like a very pretty little girl!) and the cage that served as his crib!

Veggie Straws and Raisels

So, last week, I read Shira's beyondcholent piece about veggie straws. I looked at the link to the product, and figured, ah, that's some sort of specialty item that I will never have in my house, 'cuz I don't do fancy foods. We'll stick with the regular ol' potato chips and corn chips.

Hah!

Next thing I know, there are veggie straws in the house!

How did this happen? To make a short story long, Sara Nechama and Shifra go to camp together this summer (along with their cousins Aviva and Gila). Each week, they "visit" another country. The first country was China. That week, they brought home a fortune cookie and chinese yoyo. The second week, in which July 4th fell, they did the USA. What did they bring home as their all-American end of the week goodies? It was really cute. It was a sectional styrofoam takeout box, and inside was a triple-decker cookie that looked like a hamburger (two regular vanilla cookies with a chocolate one in the middle, sesame seeds on top, and some red icing dribbled onto the chocolate one), and . . . drumroll . . . veggie straws posing as french fries. Honestly, if not for having read Shira's blog, I wouldn't even have known they were veggie straws. Funny how that happened just a couple of days after learning about them.

As for Raisels, that is another new food item I came across not too long ago. I was at Safeway one Friday choosing fresh corn, with Hadassah wandering around nearby. Next thing I know, she is choosing an item off a low shelf. She happened to choose Raisels. I had never heard of them, but being as that she seemed rather attached to them AND they were kosher AND they were on sale, I got them. They are candified raisins, basically. It seems like they inject another fruit flavor into golden raisins, put some sugar on the outside of them, and then sell them in a six pack just like regular raisins. We found them to be pretty good. Makes you feel less guilty giving your kids candy if they started out as raisins. Shira, please weigh in on if they are no better than typical candy. I'm curious to know. Here's a link to learn more about them: www.raisels.com.

Job news

So, I got a full time job!! Gonna start August 15th working on an inpatient rehab unit at a hospital about 20 minutes away (without traffic). Kinda nervous but hopefully all will work out!!

Will we have a blue eyed girl??

Tamar currently has blue eyes and they are getting bluer..... Will they stay??? Stay tuned.....

Ahuva's birthday

Ok, I know that this is nothing compared to Esti's masterpieces but I was pretty proud of my cookie monster cake!! Plus, Ahuva was able to tell what it was and that is really all that mattered anyway. Happy 2nd birthday to Ahuva (and happy anniversary to Sruly and Adina)!

can you say y'all?

gotta start working on it because in a year or so, we're moving to nashville! mendy will g-d willing begin a fellowship in endocrinology at Vanderbilt. looking forward to lots of visitors...

and he's home!

future's so bright, i gotta wear shades!

pics of baby ditka rubin...

Mazel Tov! It's a boy!

Tovy and Dan just had a baby boy before midnight. The baby is a little early, but he is doing B"H well. More details to follow. MAZEL TOV!

Mommy

Farewell old friend

After 12 amazing years of service, Rosie has retired. Not to the junkyard, fortunately. She will undergo surgery and be resold to benefit Yeshiva Beis Hillel of Passaic-Clifton. It was a bittersweet moment in the Isenberg-Harary household as we watched her get taken away. Go in peace, dear Rosie.

Isn't that cute?

Sruly and Batya Rena getting some z's

congratulations!

to dr. dan, who is now board certified in anesthesia!

Hodi and Ahuva reunited at last!

Ahuva and Hodi having fun in the 'Burgh. (Ahuva looks a little drunk in the first picture)

Going for a hug.....

One of Hodi's favorite pasttimes-- Skyping!

..and the girl can BAKE too!! find the schlissel & get a prize!

Basya Rena's Home coming

1)Basya Rena came come!

2) Doesn't her hat make you smile?

3) Cute coat!

4)Isn't she so cute?

5) I was born in Shaari Tzedek!

Greetings from the Holy Land

Hi everybody, Just got back from Nitai's Bar Mitzvah. It was a beautiful Shabbat with the extended Rich and Goren family. I spoke to Sruly tonight, and the name of their daughter is ---- Basya Rena. Mazel Tov! I'll let you know more information when I get some. I hope to go to Yerushalayim in the morning to see them. Happy Pesach cleaning! Mommy

hi here is some pics!!!

i'm going to bed.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!

Purim in Pittsburgh :)

We hung up some purim decorations, but then we opened the door and haman's sons started to get mean and kick each other; have a look!

Parsha contest entry

Here's one from Shalom and Michal on parshas tetzaveh (the words got cut off a little on top). Cute Kohen Gadol, no?

To all you insomniacs out there:

Mazel Tov! It's a boy to Mendy and Shira! 7lb. 10 oz. and 21 inches long. We will call you all in the morning - but right now I don't want to disturb anyone's sleep. So Mazel tov to all the uncles, aunts, and cousins and have a wonderful shabbos.

Mommy and Tattie

New numbers....

Hi all,

Shmuly and I both got new cell numbers. I'm not posting them here because I don't want the whole blogger world to know them. But feel free to call us on our house number or text us on our old phones for the next week and a half to get the numbers!

Can't wait to see the Chicago-ins next week!

Avital

Are you Parsha Picture People?

So ladies and gents of the Isenbloggers... I'm starting a project and I'd like to challenge you and your kiddies to a ** Parsha Picture Contest **  for children ages 3 and up (yes if you still feel like a kid you can enter too.)

The purpose is to create a Parsha Picture Book for the entire year. The pictures must be hand-drawn (not computerized, copied, pasted etc.) and depict a scene or idea or really anything from the week's Parsha. Select pictures will be chosen to go into a picture book. Think Photo-book from Snapfish.

What will be done with said picture book -- is yet to be determined.

For at least the trial run - 8/9 weeks until Pesach - all those who submit an entry will receive points for creativity, use of color (even if it is only black and white), and pictorial content.  Come Pesach the picture person with the most points will get a prize! (Not sure what it will be. Might be a "Maccabeats" CD or fancy coloring book or ...  prize still yet to be determined.  There will be 2 runner up prizes as well.

If that goes well - we'll start the "points" anew and the next "prize time" will be Shavuos...

To submit entries you can either scan and post on the blog or email isenbergprojects@gmail.com with the subject line "Parsha People"  Make sure to sign your pictures with at least your first name and if your friends are going to get involved too make sure they have their full name somewhere in the email or blog post.

And remember -- Keep your pictures because if they're chosen we'll need the originals to make the photo book that much more awesome!

Looking forward to seeing your Parsha Picture Creations!!!

~yehudis AKA: PM

Here are some pics. from the last couple weeks.

1) Tattie and Sruly at dinner - note the lamps reflection in the background

2/3) Sruly breaking a coconut, for Tu B'Shevet - which was made into homemade macaroons!

4) Adina by the kotel in the rain - yay, its raining!