Eitan and Dorren

THE WEEKS' NEWS

Starting from February 10, 2007, until October 2010 the "News" items appearing each week in the Home Page can be found here (in chronological order).

See also the archive pages of This Week's Picture (every week since January 2004 )

From 2012 This Week's Picture and This Week's News appear together.

GO TO DOREEN AND EITAN'S HOMEPAGE

Updates 30th October, 2010 from Hofit, Israel

Congratulations to our son, Moran Segoli, on formally receiving his doctorate earlier this week.
Thanks to Gillian Aronson for sending me some updates to the Shub branch of the Matz family. The Matz family tree has been updated.
I have received some pictures of the closing ceremony of the World Open Bridge Championships. The Israel Under 26 bridge team won the Gold Medal, defeating France in the final in an exciting closely fought match. It was a proud moment when the team was presented with the cup and gold medals as the Israel anthem, Hatikvah, was being played. I have posted a couple of pictures of the team and of me here.
We have finally made the the decision to sell our house in Hofit. We have bought a ground floor apartrment with a small garden about 10 Kms south of Hofit, in Kiryat Hasharon, a suburb of Netanya. It will take a lot of getting used to a small apartment after the luxury of the big, roomy Hofit house. We will probably be moving in the middle of next year.
It's almost November. November birthdays and anniversaries are listed below

Updates 23rd October, 2010 from Hofit, Israel

Mazal tov to Uri and Deganit Haberman on the birth of their son, Alon, on 21/10/10. Mazal tov too to proud new grandparents Eitan and Shuli Haberman, and to great-grandparents Sarah and Isaac Olkienitski. The Goldberg family tree has been updated.
Yedioth Aharonoth, Israel's largest newspaper, had a three page article and a front cover picture in its Eilat Magazine section last weekend all about Aviv Levy. The article, in Hebrew, is titled HaMeshakem which translates roughly to The Rehabilitator. It deals mainly with Aviv's efforts to treat and rehabiltate sea animals, especially sharks and turtles, and return them to the sea. The article is extremely positive and a fantastic compliment and appreciation of Aviv. I also learned from the article that when I was Director of Coral World and was away from work, Aviv would bunk school and go to Coral World to "be with the fish.". The internet version (in Hebrew) can be accessed here, and part of the front cover picture is reproduced here.

Updates 3rd October, 2010 from Philadelphia, USA

Watch the Epson Red Sea live broadcast from Eilat on U-tube, about sea horses. Aviv Levy is the star and he gives an absolutely fantastic performance, both on land and in the sea. It's well worth seeing. The family is proud of you, Aviv!
A poster "Fern Levy a friend of Africa" has been placed in the 4 schools where the science labs in her memory were established. It can be seen on the page showing the dedication of the Magqibagqiba school laboratory.
I'm in Philadelphia for the World Open Bridge Championships, where I am a judge.
I've just spent 5 delightful days in Davis, California with the Segolis. Read and see my visit here.
This site is now not being updated on a fixed day. If you want to receive an email informing you when an update is posted send an email to me at levy.eitan@gmail.com

Updates 25th September (from Davis, California)

October birthdays and anniversaries are listed below.
Thank you Wendy Kansky for reviving the family "tradition" of erev Sukkot at her apartment with the Levy family . (See, for example, sukkot 2007). We don't see enough of this side of our family, so we appreciate Wendy's effort. This year in particular we were happy that Nadav Levy came, and it was also our first social meeting with Efrat's husband, Gal, whom we had only seen at their wedding last year. See pictures here.
I'm in Davis California with the Segolis. In a few days time I will be in Philadelphia for the World Open Bridge Championships, where I will be a judge.

Updates 20th September (from Hofit, Israel)

As has become our custom, Doreen and I spent Yom Kippur in Eilat keeping Aviv Levy and family company while Aviv looked after the animals. It was thoroughly enjoyable. Aviv took the three children to help him feed the sharks (see picture), and also gave Itamar his first diving lesson (see picture).
I leave on the 22nd of this month for the USA. I will spend a week with the Segolis in Davis, California, and then go on to Philadelphia for a further 2 weeks + for the World Open Bridge Championships, where I will be a judge.
Doreen will join me in Philadelphia for a few days in mid- October, and then stay on for about 3 weeks after I return to Israel.

Updates 9th September (from Hofit, Israel)

Congratulations to Leah Engleberg and Ziv Forman on their marriage in Colorado at the beginning of the month. They are honeymooning in Mexico and will return to Israel at the ernd of the month.(see Matz family tree.).
Mazeltov to Lital and Dvir Kasorla on the birth of a baby boy, Sha'ar, on September 1, brother to Yonatan. Mazeltov also to grandparents Yaacov and Ziva Bortenstein. ( See Schank family tree.)
Mazeltov to Isaac Olkienitski on his 90th birthday this month.(see Goldberg family tree). Isaac hasn't been too well lately and we wish him a speedy recovery.
A newspaper article about the dedication of the school in my sister Fern's name appeared in the Kwazulu Mercury, and has been added to to the School Dedication site. .
A short account, with pictures, of our family trip to South Africa appears here. Thanks, Doreen - you worked long and hard on it.
Moran Segoli has updated his site with text (in Hebrew) and great pictures of the South African trip.
We celebrated Rosh Hashanah at home with the Rons and the Aviv Levys. Jonathan (grandson of Hans and Lottie Reijzer and son of Jose and David Keyson) is studying in Israel and joined us together with Steven his roomate and Kailee his cousin from USA. As usual the food was delicious, the company great and Lior won the shofar blowing competition again.

August 21, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Our family trip to South Africa has come to its end. After three weeks travelling in the Kruger Park, the Sabie area, Durban, Cape Town, Hermanus and Johannesburg the children and grandchildren have arrived safely back in Israel. Doreen and I are staying on in Johannesburg for a few more days. It was a wonderful trip, starting off with lions in the Kruger Park and ending with whales of whales in Hermanus. The highlight was the dedication of the Science laboratory at the Magqibagqiba school in memory of Fern Levy. (see This Week's Picture 14/8/, and pictures of the Dedication.).
On Wednesday evening we had a dinner for our Johannesburg relatives. It was lovely seeing them and it was an opportunity for our children to get to know their South African cousins and relatives. Thank you Bachers, Levys, Cottons, Nickels + Krengel , Tarazzas and Klotnicks for joining us.
Unfortunately the matriarch of the family, 91 year-old Aunt Rose Nickel, fell and broke her pelvic bone a few days ago and was unable to attend. Her daughter Marsha Krengel is recovering from a back operation and could also not attend. We wish them both speedy recoveries. Aunt Rose Nickel's second daughter, Eileen Glougauer, flew in from Canada to be with her mother. Although they met in the hospital in sad circumstances Eileen and Doreen, cousins and also friends, were happy to see each other again after so many years. (see picture of their meeting) .Also, click for a delightful picture taken at Aunt Rose's 90th birthday.
Staying on in Johannesburg gave us an opportunity to spend some time with my cousins Charles and Sheenagh Levy and with Aunt Winnie.
We had tea with Vanessa Tarazza and her lovely family, another cousin Doreen has not seen for many, many years. We last saw Vanessa 37 years ago! Click for a picture of that occasion.
Tonight we had dinner with Eleanor and Noam Pines. Eleanor (nee Gamsy) and Doreen are friends from school days and we meet occasionally in SA and Israel. As always, we enjoyed being with them, discussing family as well as the "good old days".
Pictures and a description of our South African trip will appear in due course. There's been no time to prepare this during the trip.
While we are overseas Rebecca Engleberg and Benjamin, and Leah Engleberg are housesitting and of course looking after Flopsy.

August 14, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

We are on our family trip to South Africa and spent 5 days in "hometown" Durban. There we dedicated the first of four science laboratories built in my sister Fern's memory ( see This Week's Picture and pictures of the Dedication.). We are now in Cape Town and at the end of the week the children and grandchildren return to Israel. We will stay on a few more days.
Pictures and description of our South African trip will appear in due course. There's no time to prepare this during the trip.
While we are overseas Rebecca Engleberg and Benjamin, and Leah Engleberg are housesitting and of course looking after Flopsy.

August 7, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

We are on our family trip to South Africa and after a wonderful time in the Kruger National Park and in the Mpumalanga Greater Panorama area we are on our way to Durban, which was our hometown in South Africa until 1964.There will be many happy, and sad, memories there.
We are preparing pages of our trip for this site, and it will appear in due course. We are still at the stage of deciding which of the more than 500 pictures (so far) we should choose.
Moran and Lotem Segoli have arrived in South Africa and are in the Hluhluwe game reserve.(see last week's This week's Picture). They will join us later today in Durban.
Congratulations to Denise Braverman (see Glezer, Nochimovicz, Schank family trees) on completing her first full marathon. See This week's Picture.
While we are overseas Rebecca Engleberg and Benjamin are continuing housesitting and of course looking after Flopsy.

July 31, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

We have started our family South African trip (except for two of us - see This Week's Picture). We are in the Kruger National Park and today spent the day seeing animals - so far elephants, rhinos, baboons, kudu, impala, hippos, one giraffe one warthog, and other small animals and birds. Pictures some other time.
I came out a few days earlier to arrange some things and stayed with cousins Charles and Sheenagh Levy. As usual they were wonderful and extremely helpful. It's always a pleasure being with them.
A short time before we left, the family dog, Lopsy, died. He'd had a good and long life, 15 years, first in the Ramat Gan SPCA, then with Doreen and I, then with the Rons. Our grandchildren, especially Dani and Lior, had lived all their lives with Lopsy. Click here for some pictures, and for something Doreen wrote about Lopsy some years ago.
Being used to our dogs Lopsy and Flopsy and their constant feuding with the neighbood cats, it was a change to meet Pumpkin, Charles and Sheenagh's dog. During the day Pumpkin and the little cat lie in the sun together, and at night they lie snuggling together in a corner on the steps to keep warm. See picture.
While we are overseas Rebecca Engleberg and Benjamin are continuing housesitting and of course looking after Flopsy.

July 24, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Doreen and I have returned from our trip to Croatia. It is really a beautiful country. Last week Doreen decribed, with pictures, our first week in Croatia. She has added some more pictures and descriptions to the Croatia page. We took hundreds of pictures capturing some of the beauty of Croatia, and and it was a very difficult task to decide which pictures to post on this site.
So we're back in Israel - but not for long, 5 days for me, 8 days for doreen. Then we're off to South Africa with the family. There we'll be touring (showing our roots to our children and grandchildren) and dedicating four school science laboratories in my late sister Fern's name. See Fern's memorial page.
Five days were enough for me to pick hot peppers from my garden and pickle them There was a bumper crop, and we'll have plenty of hot peppers for some time.
Friend and neighbour Yona Dotan found a novel way to celebrate her birthday. She invited two men, Israeli and Palestinian, from Combatants for Peace to talk about their efforts to break the circle of violence that threatens both our countries. What is remarkable is that both Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan have lost a daughter in the ongoing conflict. Rami’s daughter was killed in a terrorist attack in 1997 and Bassam’s daughter died when a rubber bullet entered her head. Despairing of politics they give talks to Israelis and Palestinians, in Israel and the West Bank. See www.combatantsforpeace.org and http://cfpeace.org/?cat=6&story_id=667&lang=en
While we are overseas Rebecca Engleberg and Benjamin are continuing housesitting and of course looking after Flopsy.

July 17, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

We are in Croatia, in the seasode resort of Opatija, at the European Junior Pairs Bridge Championships, where I am the Chief tournament director/judge.

some pictures of our trip

Aviv Ron is taking his photography seriously and has sent us some lovely pictures of granddaughters Danielle and Lior.
While we are overseas Rebecca Engleberg will be housesitting and of course looking after Flopsy.

July 10, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

We are in Croatia, touring a little before the European Junior Pairs Bridge Championships in Opatija, Croatia, where I will be the Chief tournament director/judge. Today we flew from the capital Zagreb, (where a 10 minute tram ride took us few hours), to the beautiful city of Dubrovnik.(see This Week's Picture)
While my camera is being repaired, after my fall in France, I am using a replacement one. I fell again - and on my sore knee again - at the airport in Rijeka, this time while climbing UP steps. I now classify my falls on the "Richter Knee Scale", where 9 is equal to the motor bike accident a few months ago. On this scale, the fall in Rijeka was only a 3 or 4 (a little difficult to walk, but at least I can bend down to tie my own shoelaces without too much pain.), and there was no damage to the camera.
While we are overseas Rebecca Engleberg will be housesitting and of course looking after Flopsy.

July 3, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

We were deeply saddened by the news this week of the passing in Salt Lake City of Berenice Engleberg, aged 95. See This Week's Picture.
We're back in Israel after our trip to France and Belgium, but not for long. On Wednesday we fly to Croatia, where I will be Chief Tournament Director for the European Junior Pairs Bridge Championships in Opatija.
As this will be the first time we have visited Croatia we have extended our stay and will be touring both before and after the bridge.
Special special thanks to Hilda Stern for sending me so much updated and organised information on the Nochimovicz/Nickel family tree. Not only has existing data been updated but nearly FIFTY NEW family members have been added! And thanks too to Alec Blotnick and Louise Braverman whose chance meeting led to the contact with Hilda.
Congratulations to Vered and Yoav Shavit on the birth last Monday 28th of their second son, brother to Dotan. Mazeltov to Yaffa and Andy Loew on their new grandchild. See Schank family tree.
Mazeltov to Celile and Raymond Cotton in Johannesburg, SA, on the engagement of their eldest son Eric to Avigail Reuben. See Matz and Hershovitz family trees.
While we are overseas Rebecca Engleberg will be housesitting and of course looking after Flopsy.

June 26, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

A big thank you to our son Moran for updating this site last week when I didn't have suitable internet connections.
We are in Ostend, Belgium, where the European Bridge Teams Competition are being held. This time I am there not as a judge but as the Israel delegate attending the European Bridge League Convocation. The first international bridge event that I attended was in Ostend in 1972. A circle has been completed.
Here are some pictures of the end of year graduations and parties at the kindergartens of granddaughters Amit in Eilat and Lotem in Davis.
We has a lovely time in Aups with the Reijzers. Click here to read Doreen's account, with pictures.
After our restful holiday with the Reijzers in Aups we visited Aix en Provence for a day and Nice for two days. We enjoyed these trips despite a few mishaps: In Aix I missed a step and fell, hurting my knee (again!) and breaking my camera. In Nice Doreen was pickpocketed, losing her money, credit card and licenses.
While we are overseas Rebecca Engleberg will be housesitting and of course looking after Flopsy.

June 19, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

We are with Hans and Lottie Reijzer in a house just outside the French village of Aups in the Var area of Provence. See This Week's Picture) We flew to Nice and hired a car from there to drive the 110 kms to Aups. The first 100 kms were covered in about an hour and a half, and the last 20k kms took nearly 3 hours! The area had been hit by torrential rains 2-3 days before and therewas much destruction including the washing away of roads. We took one road only to be directed to a detour that lead to a another detour and so on - each time we arrived at a blocked or unpassable road we tried another village road until we finally made an hour detour that allowed us to join the original road we were on, about a few hundred metres beyond the destroyed part of the road. In effect, we had advanced about 300-400 metres in 3 1/2 hours!
After a week in France we will go to Ostend, Belgium. The European Bridge Teams Competition will be held there, but I will not be there as a judge. I will be attending the European Bridge League Convocation as the Israel delegate.
While we are overseas Rebecca Engleberg will be housesitting and of course looking after Flopsy.

June 12, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Congratulations toMax and Aviva Melamed on the birth of Talia Chana last week 6th June, sister to Daniella and Yehuda. Mazal tov too to grandparents Graham and Lucille Melamed. See Nochimovicz/Nickel family tree.
Doreen is virtually addicted to a "nice cup of English tea" in the morning - especially if the "English" tea is Irish - Irish Breakfast Tea supplied by Fortnum and Mason of London. It's been some time since we were in London, and our stock bought on our last trip has long run out. So for her birthday yesterday I mail-ordered some tea from London. From her reaction it seems it was the perfect present. With the Rons we "gave" her another present - a picnic/barbecue on the beach. (see pictures).
On Thursday Doreen and I fly to France to spend a week with old friends Hans and Lottie Reijzer in a house they have rented near the village of Aups. There is no internet connection there and as I'm not sure what facilities there are in Aups I may not be able to update this site on Saturday. So if you are reading this after Sunday 20th June you'll know why.
After the week in France we will go to Ostend, Belgium. The European Bridge Teams Competition will be held there, but I will not be there as a judge. I will be attending the European Bridge League Convocation as the Israel delegate.
While we are overseas Rebecca Engleberg will be housesitting and of course looking after Flopsy.

June 5, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

This site is being updated a little earlier than usual - on Saturday morning - as we will be at the Dead Sea Saturday and Sunday. Tonight (Saturday) we will be attending a performance of the opera Nabucco at the foothills of Massada.
Our daughter Vered Levy-Ron is still in USA. Yesterday she attended the Israel Conference in Los Angeles, which was dedicated to presenting innovative Israel companies. She gave a presentation about her company - go to the Conference site and scroll down to 6:15 pm. She is due back on Saturday afternoon. As Aviv is also overseas we had the pleasure of babysitting Danielle and Lior for 2 days. See This Week's Picture. Yesterday evening Doreen took the girls to the beach - click for pictures of Dani and Lior.
Doreen is back from her 18 day tour with American tourists. She's taken a long break until the end of summer. During the summer we will be travelling overseas for much of the time, combining bridge duties and pleasure.

May 29, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Our daughter Vered Levy-Ron will be in California this week. While there she will attend the Israel Conference in Los Angeles, which is dedicated to presenting innovative Israel companies. She will be presenting her company - go to the Conference site and scroll down to 6:15 pm which is when Vered will be making her presentation.
Doreen is still on her two week plus tour with American tourists - she finishes this week.

May 22, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Four items of "news" this week - and all four about members of the Nickel/Nochimovicz branch of the family.
I attended the brit mila of the newest addition to the Nickel family, who now has a name - Matar Gavriel Nickel. The Nochimovicz family tree has been updated, and here are pictures from the brit.
Maybe we will have a film star or model in the family. Rafael Braverman-Dvir appeared in an advert in the popular Israel women's magazine, La'Isha, advertising Huggies diapers.
Thanks to Melodie Nathan for sending us a picture of her lovely daughter, Gabi, aged 3 1/2.
Doreen is on a two week plus tour with American tourists

May 15, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

A hearty mazal tov to parents Richard and Rona, grandparents Julius and Laura, brother Leshem and all the Nickel clan, on the birth of a baby boy last Sunday 9th May. See This Week's Picture and Nickel/Nochimovicz family tree.
Doreen and three friends, Livia Passwell, Nina Schaffer and Yael Paperna have returned from their highly enjoyable holiday in Florence and Tuscany. See This Week's Picture archives.
Here for a few days, and off again. Doreen starts a two week plus tour with American tourists today.

May 8, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

I am delighted to announce that our daughter, Vered Ron, has been appointed CEO of HumanEyes Technologies . HumanEyes is the market leader in software solutions for the creation and printing of 3D designs for graphic artists and printers. The company recently launched snapily.com, a site that offers, for the first time, small run, personalized 3D and 2D effect printing. The company has a wide range of 3D printed products and it has also developed a unique online 3D environment that allows consumers to interact with their favorite brand and order a printed 3D copy or share the 3D image via email or the social networks. I can vouch for the quality of the cool, 3D prints that are produced - for my birthday Vered gave me one these fantastic cards with the family in 3D!. You can also see Vered's bio on the company site.
Vered Ron is on a business trip in the USA, and judging by the meal he prepared for Moran and I last night, husband Aviv is doing a very good job of looking after the girls and the house.
Doreen and three friends, Livia Passwell, Nina Schaffer and Yael Paperna are still holidaying in Florence or thereabouts. See This week's Picture. They return at the beginning of the week.
Our son, Moran Segoli leaves early tomorrow morning back to Davis, California, after a 10 day visit to Israel, during which he attended the wedding of best friend, Ran Kagan.

May 1, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Thanks to all of you who emailed or phoned birthday greetings on my 70th this last week. It was a very pleasant surprise and I was very moved by the lovely things you wrote and said about me.
I celebrated my birthday quietly with Doreen and family. On Tuesday and Wednesday in Eilat with Aviv, Limor, Itamar, Amit and Ilai and some of Limor's family. (see pictures.) and This Week's Picture. Then on Friday evening with Vered, Aviv, Danielle and Lior and Moran who had just arrived from California. (see pictures.)
Doreen and three friends, Livia Passwell, Nina Schaffer and Yael Paperna left today for a holiday in Florence, Italy, for 10 days.
Moran Segoli arrived in Israel this week for a 10 day visit, during which he will attend the wedding of best friend, Ran Kagan.

April 24, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Doreen finished her tour yesterday and is home. Next week she and three friends, Livia Passwell, Nina Schaffer and Yael Paperna are off to Florence for 10 days.
Moran Segoli is due in Israel this week for a 10 day visit, during which he will attend the wedding of best friend, Ran Kagan.
I'll be celebrating my 70th this week quietly with Doreen and my children, Wednesday in Eilat with Aviv Levy and family; Friday in Herzliya with Vered Ron and family and Moran.

April 17, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Doreen is about half-way through guiding a two-week tour of US tourists.

April 10, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

The passover holidays and vacation are over, and it's back to work and routine. We had a great holiday, a wonderful seder, Aviv, Limor and family stayed on for a week, saw many friends and relatives, and ate the matza (organic whole wheat!) , lamb, turkey and miscellaneous passover leftovers for a week.
The Braverman's also had a good seder, and thanks to Mellie, there is a lovely picture of Rafael Dvir-Braverman enjoying (?) his first taste of matza.
Doreen left yesterday to guide a two-week tour.
I start teaching tomorrow - a hectic few weeks before the bagrut (matriculation) exams.

April 3, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

We are in the middle of the Passover week and munching or crunching matza. The seder was a big success, absolutely delicious food prepared by Doreen, a wonderful atmosphere and just a lot of fun. See This Week's Picture, and other pictures here.
Aviv Levy, Limor, Itamar, Amit and Ilai are staying with us in Hofit for a few more days during the passover vacation.

March 28, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

This coming week the Rons, Aviv Levys and some Nickels will join us at the seder, the traditional meal celebrating passover, pesach, the festival of freedom.
Vered Ron is overseas and is due back in time to join us for the seder.
March birthdays and anniversaries, are listed below.

March 21, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Congratulations to son-in-law Aviv Ron on his 50th birthday. See This Week's Picture)
Doreen is still on tour - she'll be back next week, in time to start preparing for the passover seder.
Passover/spring is the traditional time to clean up a little and get organized. While moving some files and books from one shelf to another I dropped them. Among the mess on the floor were some old family pictures. It was wonderful looking through them! So I've decided to scan some and begin using them occasionally as pictures for This Week's Picture. If you have any favorite pictures from yesteryears that are suitable for This Week's Picture, please send them to me.

March 14, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

I am still suffering from paion and immobility in my left knee and leg after my motorbike accident, but the hand lacerations are healing well, and the stitches on my hand will be removed in the next few days.
Doreen has started a ten day tour. She is still having trouble with her knee and I hope there's not too much walking on this tour.
My ex-boss and now good friend Morris Kahn invited friends and family for a lunch to celebrate his 80th birthday. Apart from the excellent food, it was wonderful seeing so many old friends and aquaintances again. .
Vered and Aviv Ron and the kids are back from their ski holiday in Austria. See This Week's Picture.
There are some new pictures on our grandchildren's pages: Some purim pictures on the pages of Danielle and Lior, and a picture of Maayan with his new hobby - scrabble!

March 7, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

This is being typed very slowly due to a little accident I had on - or rather off! - my motorbike. I had to have a check-up at hospital but fortunately nothing is broken. I have lacerations and stitches on my hands and knee and a big bruised swollen knee that makes walking painful and difficult.
While exercising Doreen slipped and twisted her knee badly, and is also walking with difficulty. With the two of us limping around, our house could be miataken for a hospital orthopedic ward.
This week, Moran gave a very successful seminar/talk at Davis University on some aspects of his master's thesis. The lecture was webcast live, and you can hear it by logging on to the seminar site, scrolling down to "March 3 - Moran Segoli" and clicking on "Archived Webcast."
Vered and Aviv Ron are skiing in Austria with Danielle and Lior and having a great time. We are dogsitting Lopsy for them - the poor dog is really showing his age (14 years).
Purim has come and gone and the only pictures I received were from the Segolis in Davis, California. See This Week's Picture and also pictures on the pages of Maayan and Lotem.
Last week I wrote about the Aviv Levy family's trip with Coral World tp the north of Israel. Warren Nickel (see Nochimovicz family tree) also works at Coral World and here are some pictures he took of their visit to the Australian flora and fauna farm, Gan Garoo Park, at Kibbutz Nir David. .Pictures taken at Gan garoo have also been added to the pages of Itamar, Amit and Ilai Levy.

February 27, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

The holiday of purim is here and the kids are busy choosing and wearing their fancy dress. Next week I'll post some pictures (if anyone sends any to me!)
Son Aviv and Limor spent a few days with the children in the Golan and the Gallillee on a trip organized by Aviv's work (Coral world.) . As can be seen from the pictures, they had a wonderful time.
After the Gallillee trip Aviv and Limor with grandkids Itamar, Amit and Ilai, spent 5 days with us in Hofit this week.(See some pictures). It was terrific having them. On Wednesday we took a train trip to Rehovot to see the Science Park at the Weizmann Institute. It was the first time the kids had been on a train and they enjoyed the experience.(See This Week's Picture). On Thursday, Aviv Ron and kids Danielle and Lior (and of course, Lopsy) joined us for supper for a "mini" family reunion. There are some new pictures of the grandchildren on the pages of Itamar, Amit and Ilai.
Daughter Vered Ron has returned from her business trip to the USA. She spent a couple of days with brother Moran and family - see picture of them (without Licky, the boa-constrictor.)

February 20, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

The Tel Aviv International Bridge festival has started and I'll be kept quite busy this week. See This week's Picture.
Doreen is back from her tour, and will be home for a number of weeks until the next one.
Daughter Vered Ron is in USA on a business trip. She will spend a couple of days with brother Moran and family - we await reports of Vered's meeting with Licky, the boa-constrictor.

February 13, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

I'm back from the bridge course/seminar in San Remo and Doreen is on another tour. Next week the annual Tel Aviv International Bridge Festival starts, which means I have a busy time ahead of me.
Thanks to Aviv Levy and Doni Dvir you can see some birthday pictures of granddaughter Ilai Levy (3 years old) and grandnephew Rafael Braverman-Dvir (1 year old). There are also new pictures of grandchildren Amit and Maayan and Lotem.

February 6, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

This is being written in San Remo Italy. I'm here for a bridge seminar for aspiring international bridge judges. There are about 90 candidates, and they have an intensive 5 days of lectures, tests and practical simulated test situations. My main job here is to evaluate the performances of the candidates who have to give rulings in simulated real-life bridge situations. See This Week's Picture. These seminars are held every two years or so, click for a picture at the 2006 seminar.

January 30, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Congratulations to Yael Levy, daughter of my late cousin David, and Rod Stennard, on the birth of their first child, Ariel, on May 1, 2009. Click for a picture of Yael and Ariel. Congratulation, too, to Belinda Levy on her first grandchild. (see Levy/Hershovitz and Matz family trees)
Doreen is still on tour. She gets back next Sunday - a few hours before I leave for a short overseas trip.
On Monday early morning I fly to San Remo, Italy for an intensive 5 day bridge seminar. I will be helping evaluate the aspiring candidates for certification as international bridge judges. I return next Sunday morning . I hope to be able to update this site before Sunday, but it might be delayed a day or two.
Those who have never seen snow are always fascinated by it, and the Segolis are no exception. To see how they are enjoying it, look at this picture, and also at a short video of Maayan on a snow sled.

I had another meeting with someone I haven't seen for years. Belinda Levy, the ex-wife of my late cousin David Levy, was visiting relatives who live in Hofit, and we had a very pleasant talk about old times. She updated me about her daughters Yael and Dari - see next item. I had a nostalgic meeting over coffee with Melvyn Geshen, an old,old friend from our schooldays in Durban, who is visiting his family in Israel. We went through school together, from kindergarten to high school, and were close friends. Melvyn is a wealth of information on our former friends and acquaintances. (He is in the middle row, on the left, in this school picture (see This week's Picture Archives) of the Hebrew primary school in Durban.

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January 23, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Visiting his family in Israel is Melvyn Geshen, an old,old friend from our schooldays in Durban. We went through school together, from kindergarten to high schoo, and were close friends. Melvyn is in the middle row, on the left, in this school picture (see This week's Picture Archives) of the Hebrew primary school in Durban.
Doreen is still on tour. She gets back next Sunday - a few hours before I leave for a short overseas trip.

January 16, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

One of Vered Ron's clients, Time To Know, has just launched its new web site, www.timetoknow.com. This is one of the strategic marketing projects that our daughter Vered managed for this client.
Doreen started a 17 day tour on Thursday.

January 9, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

Cousin Jonathan Levy, president of the silicon-chip design company Nuvoton is among those interviewed and quoted in an article on Israel/Palestinian cooperation in the software engineering field.
The Segolis are experiencing winter in the USA and the kids have had their first experience with snow. Here is a link to Moran's site with some pictures.
Doreen has joined a volunteer group providing transport for Palestinians who need to get from the check points to Israeli hospitals for life-saving cancer treatments.

Not much to report this week. For a change Doreen has been at home for a couple of weeks, but starts another tour later in the week.

January 2, 2010 (see This Week's Picture)

As I start my 7th consecutive year of updating this site every week I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season, and best wishes for a wonderful 2010. May the new year bring prosperity, peace and happiness to us all.
Thanks to Donna and Daniel Leibowitz for an update from Australia on their family.(see LevyHershovitz and Matz family trees.) Daniel, Donna and Erica have moved to Melbourne, and we're sure that Sharon and Joe are enjoying having their children and granddaughter so close. Josh, Tash, Keira and Hayley are now living in Brisbane. Sharon is visiting her mother Winnie, brother Charles, sister Cecile and families in South Africa. Donna and Daniel also sent us some lovely pictures, which can be viewed here.
Thanks to Seymour Levy, from Boston, for updating some information on the Isaac Levy branch of the Hershovitz/Levy family tree.
We are delighted that this coming Friday night the St Thomas Hebrew Congregation of the US Virgin Islands will honor our close friend Rabbi Steve Schafer by naming the Camp Scholarships The Steve Schafer Scholarships.

December 26, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Season's greeting to all our family and friends. Have a safe and happy holiday season, and best wishes for a wonderful 2010. May the new year bring prosperity, peace and happiness to us all. See This Week's Picture)
David Engleberg (see Matz family tree) from Colorado USA, is visiting Israel for about 10 days. I enjoyed a most pleasant meal with him and daughters Rebecca (and baby Benjamin) and Lea (and friend Ziv) who are both now living in Israel. (See December 5 picture and news. )
There are some Hanukka pictures of the Rons on Danielle's and Lior's home pages.
Moran has posted some pictures on his website of their vacation in the Redwood forest

December 19, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

On Friday we celebrated the 80th birthday of Eddie Nemenoff. (see details in This Week's Picture.). We drove north on Thursday and and spent the night at a B&B in Rosh Pina. Although it rained the whole time and we couldn't enjoy the views we had a truly lovely and relaxing time. On Thursday night, to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary, we enjoyed a delicious meal at the famous Doris Steak Restaurant in Rosh Pina.
At Eddie's party Mike, Johnny and Jacky performed the traditional Zulu song routine that my late sister Fern had taught them some 50 years ago at a time when traditional African songs were not popular. We were moved that they remembered and acknowledged Fern.
Special happy birthday wishes to Berenice Engleberg, a cousin of my late father, who celebrated her 94th birthday yesterday. (see Matz family tree). Granddaughter Rebecca sent us this picture of Berenice with grand- and great-granddaughters.
Aviv and Itamar Levy were on TV Sunday morning 13/12/09 for a minute or so, cleaning turtles. Tune in to the channel 10 Morning Show and go to minute 57.
The Segolis found that it was not too difficult to celebrate Hanukka in Davis, California, where there are quite a few of Israelis and ex-Israelis. Here are some pictures.
Doreen is due to start guiding another tour on Monday.

December 12, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

UPDATE: Aviv and Itamar were on TV Sunday morning 13/12/09 for a minute or so, cleaning turtles. Tune in to the channel 10 Morning Show and go to minute 57.
Happy Chanukah - the Festival of Lights. Chanukah is an 8 day holiday celebrating the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt against the Greeks. According to tradition, only a small quantity of holy oil, enough for one day, could be found for the menorah. But the oil burned and burned for 8 days. To commemorate this we sing maoz tzur and light candles every evening for 8 days. And for 8 days we eat calorie-rich sufganiot (doughnuts) or latkes (potato pancakes) fried in oil!
Congratulations to Limor Levy's brother Avi Sadeh and his wife Eyla on their son Roi's barmitzvah. The ceremony took place at the Kotel (the Western Wall) and was particularly moving as Eyla has made an excellent recovery from her cancer.
Congratulations to good friends Maureen (nee Konigsfest)and Dick Fain on the birth of their second granddaughter, daughter of Yaniv and Dana Fain. Maureen is a well-known artist and is a friend from school days (see previous This Week's Pictures: December 2008, January 2008, March 2007
Doreen is guiding a tour and will no doubt be lighting candles and explaining Chanukah to her tourists.

December 5, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Leah Engleberg has made aliyah and is staying on Kibbutz Maabarot. Leah is a nurse and is studying at the medical ulpan in Tel Aviv. Just a month or so ago another Matz family made aliyah - Joel and Beryl Klotnick.(See This Week's Picture 28/11/09 and Matz familty tree). Joel and Leah are second cousins but I don't think they have ever met. Now that both are in Israel Doreen and I will have to rectify that situation soon.
Rachel (nee Engleberg) and Yuvie Moskovich and Tamar and Naomi have left London and are now living in Englewood, Colorado.
It's always good to see old friends again, especially friends from way back from our South African past. We may not see them for years but when we meet there's that chemistry that makes us feel as if we meet every day. We see Terry and Carol Kessel regularly but only very occasionally (unfortunately!) Basil and Noga Porter. So it was a special pleasure to have them, the Kessels and Livia Passwell over for dinner this week. Click here for a picture.

November 28, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Nothing much seems to have happened this week, and seeing that I don't want to turn this site into a personal blog and give a "blow by blow" account of my week, I'll leave it at that!

November 21, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

After the breaks in Eilat for the bridge festival (see This Week's Picture) I'm back in Hofit and back to the usual routine.
Doreen is back from her tour and has a two-week break till the next one.
This evening, together with some of our friends, we celebrated Yona Wiseman's birthday. Yona is a close friend whom we have known for many years. (You can read Yona's account of her miraculous survival in the Tsunami train disaster in Sri Lanka 5 years ago.)

November 14, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

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November 7, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

I am in Eilat for the annual Red Sea International Bridge Festival, and also enjoying being with Aviv and Limor and the grandchildren.
Doreen starts another 2 week tour today, with a group from USA.

October 31, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

This is the 300th issue (weekly update) of this family site. The first issue appeared nearly 6 years ago, on January 18th 2004. I only started archiving the "news" three years after that in 2007 so I have no idea of what was written then and whether I foresaw that the site would last so long. I have redirected a quick link to the first "This Week's Picture" . All the early pictures can be seen in the archives of This Week's Picture 2004-2008. For a walk down memory lane you can access the Miscellaneous events and pictures of 2004
Doreen is back home from guiding a two-week tour with a group from USA. I joined Doreen and the group for their farewell dinner, and was proud to hear all the wonderful compliments paid to my lovely wife!

October 24, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Congratulations to Assaf Amit on his marriage last Wednesday to Adi Roth. Mazal tov to parents Yael and Gil Amit and to grandmother Sydney Lossin. Mazal tov too to sister Noam, Aunt Michal and the Lossin family. See Matz family tree.
We were saddened to hear the news of the passing of Denis Knight in Auckland New Zealand. Our deepest sympathies to daughter Lindy Davis and her brothers, and to the grandchildren Jordan and Ari (our godson). Click here for some memories of Denis and Valda Knight.
Doreen is on a two-week tour with a group from USA.

October 17, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Doreen started a two-week tour today.

October 10, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Yesterday I returned from my visit with the Segolis in Davis, California (see archives of This Week's Picture, and News). I enjoed the visit and was happy to be of help to Moram and Mikhal, and to see how well they and the children are adapting to to the new location, culture and language. See also This Week's Picture.
Our visit to San Francisco's wharf area was one of the highlights of the visit. Here are some pictures.
Doreen and I will have a week together before she starts another tour on Saturday.

October 3, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

I'm in Davis, California, visiting and helping the Segolis. Davis is a pleasant American town that is based largely on its university (University of California, Davis), and its character is what one would expect from a university town. (see This Week's Picture). I'll be here for another week.
Mikhal seems well settled and happy in her post-doctorate work at Davis. Visit her pages on the Davis Entomology Department site for details of what she is studying. Moran has been given a post-doctorate position in the same department and will be starting soon. In the meantime he is preparing some articles based on his work at Sde Boqer.
While in Davis I went with the Segolis to the local Jewish Center to celebrate the sukkot (Tabernacles) holiday. We had a light meal in the sukka and then went to the synagogue for the Shabbat/Sukkot service (Conservative style), which, I admit, I quite enjoyed. Click for a picture of me with Maayan and Lotem in the sukka..
Doreen is still on tour, guiding. She finishes tomorrow, in time to water the garden after our absences.

September 26, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

The Jewish High Holidays end with Yom Kippur on Monday. Doreen and I wish all those who fast "well over the fast" . גמר חתימה טובה.
Welcome to Joel and Beryl Klotnick who have come to live in Israel. See This Week's Picture
We enjoyed meeting Tarryn Klotnick, who up until now we have only known from emails and family tree lists. See This Week's Picture
A couple of weeks ago I gave a link to Moran's account (in Hebrew) and pictures of a visit to Lassen Volcano National Park. Here is a link to the English version.
As soon as I have uploaded this site update to the internet, I leave for the airport on my way to visit the Segolis in Davis, California. I will be away for 12 days.

September 19, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

I went down to Eilat to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with Aviv and Limor and family. Vered and Aviv Ron and the girls were also there. We all enjoyed the delicious meal prepared by Limor, her sister Kinneret Arad and especially by her mother Margalit Sadeh. It was a lovely evening. There were 27 people celebrating there - too many to fit in one photo - so there are more pictures here, and also on he pages of Lior and Amit. .
While in Eilat we were delighted to see Semadar and Eyal Gringart, whom we last saw in Australia 7 years ago. They are visiting Israel for a few months. Semadar is a school friend of Vered's who lives in Australia.
Melly Braverman sent me a delightful picture of grandson Rafael on the beach.
Aviv sent us some pictures of Itamar and Amit on their first day of school/kindergarten, and of cousins having a whale cow of a time.
Thank you Louise and Sue for your kind words about this site.
Doreen was in Davis, California, over Rosh Hashanah, with Moran and family. She returns tomorrow. We'll have a week together before I go to Davis and Doreen starts guiding a tour.

September 12, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Rosh Hashanah 5770, the Jewish New Year, is approaching, and we wish all our family and friends a happy, successful and above all healthy NewYear. It is traditionally the birth of the world, a time for new beginnings and preceding that, introspection. This year finds our family separated on different continents with Vered, Aviv and their families and us in Israel and Moran and family in California.
Doreen is still in Davis, California, helping Moran and family settle in, and will be there to celebrate the chag (holiday) with them. In Israel our grandchildren live the traditional Jewish year through the school system. When we lived in the Caribean many years ago we understood the importance of observing Jewish holidays even though we ourselves are not religious. We are pleased that Moran and Mikhal realize the importance of this as well. Holidays give a rhythm to the endless weeks of the year and ritual helps to give the holidays meaning.
Over the US Labor Day weekend, the Segolis and Doreen visited the Lassen Volcano National Park. Here is Moran's account and picture of the visit.

September 5, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Mazaltov to Rebecca and Kobi Garbawy on the birth of their first child, Benjamin, on August 27, in Haifa, Israel. Mazaltov too to grandparents David and Charlene Engleberg; and to great-grandmother, Berenice Engleberg. See Matz family tree.
Mazaltov to Darren and Hayley Klotnick on the birth of a girl on September 1, and to grandparents Alan and Lama Klotnick on the birth of their third grandchild. (Thank you, Tarryn Klotnick, for keeping me up to date.). See Matz family tree.
Doreen is in Davis, California, helping the Segolis settle in. On the way, she met Nina Schafer who was visiting her brother and sister-in-law in San Francisco. A puncture on the way to meet the Segolis half-way to Davis delayed the meeting, but fortunately Maayan and Lotem were on hand to change the flat tire.

August 29, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

I have just received the sad news that Milly Klotnick passed away in Johannesburg this morning, a month short of her 94th birthday. Heartfelt condolences to her sons Joel, Alan and Stephen, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
We are back from our Italy and Istanbul trips. After three days at home Doreen flew yesterday to Davis to be with and help the Segolis settle in, and I'm preparing (sort of) for my final year of teaching..
Moran and MikhalSegoli and the kids are settling in at Davis, California, and their apartment is gradually - or perhaps, knowing Moran, not so gradually - filling up with furniture. See This Week's Picture and pictures of Lotem at the airport and Maayan off to school on the first day.
The Rons are also back from their holiday in Alanya, Turkey, and here are some pictures of the Ron family and also of Dani and Lior

August 22, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

As I am busy with the bridge competition, the site this week is being updated by a guest webmaster, Doreen.
Doreen:

We are still in Istanbul, Turkey for the World Junior Open Bridge Championships.
Every night after a long day at the bridge championsips the directors go out for supper and lots of raki. Click for a picture at the Olympus Restaurant under the Galata bridge which spans the Golden Horn.
Both Istanbul and Rome have reminders of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, and I was very interested in seeing them.
Moran, Mikhal and children have landed happily at Davis University and are ensconced on sleeping bags in an empty house. I hope that by the time I arrive next week they will have at least one bed! Moran said there was no need to bring my own knife and fork.
Ros Hakim in Australia (see Nickel/Nochimovicz family tree) is this month's featured travel agent on the Virtuoso Travel Network site. Read about her here.
There is a link to the video of the special wedding of Caryn and Rhetick on U tube.
Vered, Aviv and the Ron girls are also holidaying in Turkey, but far away from us in Analya at a resort hotel

August 15, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

We are in Istanbul, Turkey, (for the World Junior Open Bridge Championships) after having spent 10 wonderful days in Italy, touring, eating and enjoying operas. After 3 days in Rome we overnighted in Siena and then stayed at the home of our friend Maurizio di Sacco, and toured the area from there. (see This Week's Picture)).
In Pietrasanta a fresco La porta dell'Inferno by Fernando Botero in the Misericordia church caught my eye. Having just been elected President of the Israel Bridge Federation and on our way to a bridge championship, I was amused to see that Botero considers card players as deserving of hell. (see picture of fresco).
One of the delights of travel is meeting new people. In Sienna we met Channa Hirenberg and Enzo Boddi who live in Florence and who were attending a jazz festival there. By the time we visited Florence they were back home and we were glad to meet them again over lunch at a typical Florentine restaurant.(see picture)
Trying to help contain the spread of swine flu, Doreen placed a coin in the mouth of Il Porcellino in Florence (see picture.)
Our Aunt Rose recently celebrated her 90th birthday in Johannesburg. (see News, Aug 1) . Her daughter Eileen Glougauer sent us this delightful picture of Aunt Rose with her two daughters Marsha Krengel and Eileen.
A year has passed since my sister Fern and our nephew Rael passed away. The eulogies by Louise and Vered at Rael's graveside 10 days ago have been added to his Memorial Page.

August 8, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

This is coming to you from Italy, where Doreen and I are spending 10 days. We spent 3 days (too short) in Rome, sightseeing, eating delicious food and taking in an opera, and then made our way north via Pitigliano (See This Week's Picture) and Siena to Pisa. In Pisa we are staying with our good bridge friend Maurizio di Sacco and while here we will attend two operas at the Puccini Festival in Torre Del Largo Puccini nearby.
Congratulations to Dikla Segoli and Pini on their marriage last Thursday. Mazeltov also to parents Yael and Avraham Segoli and to all the Segoli family.
Frankie Klaff as sent us a link to a slideshow of Caryn and Rhetick's wedding. (see This Week's Picture archives)

August 1, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Yesterday I was elected President of the Israel Bridge Federation for a two year term . See This Week's Picture)
Joel and Beryl Klotnick (see Matz Family Tree) have come on aliyah and will be making their home in Israel. We met with them last week to wish them good luck.
Thanks to Dave Rothschild who has sent us some pictures of the wedding of Caryn Klaff and Rhetick Sangupta. Click here for a picture at the Hindu wedding ceremony, and here for This Week's Picture Archives.
I have added a picture of Mike Glasser in Jerusalem, where he visited with Doreen while spending a weekend with us during the Games. And - following numerous requests (actually two) I have added names to the pictures posted last week of the descendants of Mottel Glezer and Mary Schank.
We heard from Eileen Glogauer (see Nickel/Nochimovicz family tree). She has returned to Canada from a visit to South Africa where her mother, Rose Nickel, recently celebrated her 90th birthday. Happy birthday, Aunt Rose!

July 25, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

I am back in Israel after judging the European Youth Bridge Championships in Romania. See This Week's Picture archives and another picture. (Israel did extremely well there, with silver medals in both the under 21 and under 26 events. See pictures and further details here.)
Mike Glassser, the son of Mark and Sue Glasser (see Glasser family tree) from Melbourne Australia, is spending a few days with us after participating in the 18th Maccabiah Games in Junior Basketball. See This Week's Picture) archives and a picture of all the relatives.
In honour of Mike's visit to Israel, Vered searched her photo albums and found this (faded) picture of a trip our family made to a game reserve in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) with Mike's father, Mark and Mark's sister, Vanessa.

July 18, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Doreen has returned from Canada (see picture), where she attended the wedding of Caryn Klaff (see Goldberg family tree) and Rhetick Sangupta. See This Week's Picture). Click here and here for more about Caryn, and here for a picture of the couple. Caryn is the daughter of my late cousin, Vivian. (see memorial page)
I am still in Poiana, Brasov in Romania for the European Youth Bridge Championships, where I am the Chief Tournament Director/judge. See This Week's Picture archives and another picture. Israel has done extremely well here, with silver medals in both the under 21 and under 26 events. See pictures and further details here.
Mike Glassser, the son of Mark and Sue Glasser (see Glasser family tree) from Melbourne Australia, is participating in the 18th Maccabiah Games in Junior Basketball. Doreen enjoyed seeing their game against Argentine (against whom they lost), bringing their total so far to a respectable 3-1 . On Friday Doreen took Mike and our grand daughter Dani to the Kotel (Western Wall) to experience the Shabbat there. On the way to Hofit, where Mike is staying for the weekend, they stopped in Abu Ghosh for an authentic hummus. More and pictures next week.

July 11, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Doreen is in Pemberton, in Canada, for the wedding of Caryn Klaff (see Goldberg family tree) and Rhetick Sangupta. Click here and here for more about Caryn, and here for a picture of the couple.
I am in Poiana, Brasov in Romania for the European Youth Bridge Championships, where I am the Chief Tournament Director/judge. See This Week's Picture and another picture.
Welcome to Michael Glasser, from Australia, who is in Israel taking part in the Maccabia as a member of the Australian Youth Basketball team. Good luck, Mike. Mike will be staying with us for a few days after the Maccabia. (see Glasser family tree.)
The end of year celebrations at the kindergartens in Sde Boqer were special for the Segoli grandchildren, as next year they will be in the USA. Pictures here.

July 4, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

In a few days time both Doreen and I are going overseas. Doreen will be going to Pemberton, in Canada, for the wedding of Caryn Klaff (see Goldberg family tree) and Rhetick Sangupta. Click here and here for more about Caryn, and here for a picture of the couple.
I will be in Poiana, Bresov in Romania for the European Junior Bridge Championships, where I will be the Chief Tournament Director/judge. I hope to be able to continue updating this site while I'm away.
We attended the end-of-year performances of the dance school where Danielle and Lior Ron learn, and enjoyed the varied dance programs presented, and of course the splendid performances of our grandchildren.
Doreen took the Rons on a tour of underground Jerusalem. See "This Week's Picture" and a picture taken in the Wall tunnel.

June 27, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

As summer starts we are taking stock of our gardening efforts. We've had mixed success this spring/summer. Our vegetables have done well - fantastic lettuces, ruccola, spinach and tomatoes, with plenty hot peppers on the way. Our fruit trees seem less successful. See This Week's Picture)
The Segolis will be leaving in mid-August for Davis, California, where Mikhal will be doing a post-docorate at the department of Entomology. See News 9 May 2009.

June 20, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

June is a heavy month for me for presents: Doreen 11th, Aviv 21st (tomorrow), Vered 28th. 3 out of 4 - Moran's birthday is in January.
My summer vacation has started. I'll be going overseas to Romania and Turkey for bridge competitions. After the vacation I'll probably postpone my retirement for another year, and continue teaching at the same school.
Doreen is back from her tour, and apart from a few days here and there, will be getting a well-deserved rest (and two overseas trips) until the end of September.

June 13, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Our daughter Vered Levy-Ron's team won the Raanana Mothers' Volleyball League. See This Week's Picture) and more pictures here and here.
Limor Levy has injured her knee and may need surgery. We wish her a speedy recovery.
Doreen is on tour with a group, and is due back in a few days.

June 6, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Julius Nickel, Doreen's uncle, turned 80 today. (See Nochomovicz/Nickel Family Tree). Doreen, Louise Braverman and I joined his family for a celebration lunch. Mazaltov and L'Chaim, Julius, עד מאה ועשרים! Click here for pictures.
Vered and Aviv Ron are back from their short, but wonderful break in Paris.
Maureen Fain invited us to join her for a special performance of Leonard Bernstein's Kaddish, performed at the Holocaust Museum Yad VaShem. It was a most moving experience. For more on the performance, and a picture, click here.
On Tuesday Moran gave his final doctoral seminar at Sde Boqer. See This Week's Picture)
Doreen was in the area of Nes Ziona/Rehovot this week and took the opportunity of contacting and visiting Dafna Poupko, a relative on the Glazer/Gordon side. (See This Week's Picture archives). More, and a picture of Dafna, her father Sam Gordon, and Doreen by clicking here.
Doreen finished her tour, baby-sat for granddaughters Dani and Lior on Saturday and Sunday, went to the performance of Kaddish on Monday, went to Moran's seminar in Sde Boqer on Tuesday, on Wednesday hand-pollinated the custard apple (annona) tree which has not been giving fruit, on Thursday had a pre-tour meeting and met with Dafna Poupko, and on Friday was off on another 10 day tour.
During the last week of May, I was the Tournament Director when two teams of junior (under 26) bridge players from Poland came to Israel to play against two junior Israel teams in Raanana. Click here for picture.

May 30, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

We were delighted to receive an email from Heini Drui in Estonia, and renew the contact between the Israeli and Estonian branches of the Schank family. (see This Week's Picture)
Doreen returned from guiding her group, just in time to babysit granddaughters Danielle and Lior, while parents Aviv and Vered are away. Aviv, Limor and the kids came up from Eilat for a couple of days, and then we were joined by Maayan and Lotem, so we had a full house. I wasn't much help as most of the last 5 days I was officiating at the Poland VS Israel Junior Bridge tournament.

May 23, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

A week or so ago, a couple ate a highly toxic puffer fish and were seriously ill. YNet ran an article on the poisoning and on pufferfish, and interviewed Aviv Levy as an expert on Red Sea fish, and quoted him extensively. You can read the article (which is in Hebrew.).
Doreen is still away guiding a group. She'll be back on Wednesday in time to babysit granddaughters Danielle and Lior.
Vered Ron has returned from Dallas, USA where she did work for the Time to Know Organization.
Aviv and Vered Ron will be away next week on a short trip overseas to Paris.
I'll be busy judging bridge this coming week: Two teams of junior bridge players from Poland will be playing against two junior Israel teams in Raanana. On one level it's a friendly contest between the Polish and Israeli juniors, but it will also constitute trials to pick the Israel Junior team to represent Israel in the European Championships in Romania in July. (where I'll be Chief Tournament Director.)

May 16, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

We were saddened to hear of the death last week in London, England, of Michael Cohen. Michael and Janet were frequent visitors to Israel and next year's Channuka party at the Habermans won't be the same with Michael's absence. We extend our condolences to his wife Janet, children Jeremy and Emily, and grandchildren. See This Week's Picture and Goldberg family tree.
Doreen will be away for two weeks guiding a group.
Vered Ron has been in Dallas, USA where she is doing work for the Time to Know Organization. She will be back in a few days.
Here are some family pictures taken at the party to meet Rafael, son of Yahel Braverman and Doni Dvir. See also This Week's Picture.

May 9, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

The BIG news is that our daughter in law, Mikhal, has been awarded a Bikura Post-doctoral Fellowship of the Israel Science Foundation, and she, Moran and the children Maayan and Lotem will be going to USA in August for at least one year. Mikhal will study at the University of California Davis in the department of Entomology under the renowned Jay A Rosenheim.
Doreen wanted to freshen up on the latest developments at the Zippori Archeological site, and took three friends to practice on. See picture.
It looks like Doreen is making a habit of teaching grandchildren how to bake - even when the grandchild is not her own! Click for a picture of Yonatan, the grandson of Ruthie and Dani Erez.
We all had a lovely time today at a party to meet Rafael, son of Yahel Braverman and Doni Dvir. It was fun meeting so many family and friends again.(It's already Sunday early morning, so more next week!) SeeThis Week's Picture)
The latest addition to This (not quite every) Month's Recipe is Doreen's Chicken with Lots of Gravy.

May2, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Long-time friend from our younger days in Durban, South Africa, Suzanne Edmunds (nee Price) visited Israel, and we were delighted to have the opportunity of seeing her and having some of the ex-Durban "girls" over. It was wonderful renewing frienships after so many years. Joining us were Sue's relatives (and close friends of ours) Colin Kessel and Riva Sandler (with husband Basil). See This Week's Pictur e and another picture here.
Doreen and I had planned on celebrating Israel's Independence Day by having a picnic and barbecue on the beach - something we used to do often but haven't done for years and years. However, Doreen had to replace another guide at the last minute (to guide a Dutch-speaking group from Holland!), so we had to postpone our picnic a few days, and asked Alec and Rachel Ron to join us. See picture.

April 25, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)<>

Yesterday we celebrated the wedding of my cousin Jonathan Levy's daughter Efrat to Gal Shabtai . Mazaltov to the couple, the parents and the grandparents. Click for more pictures .
Our son, Moran Segoli, has returned from Vienna where he presented a paper at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2009 . The title of his talk was Landscape patchiness along a rainfall gradient and its effects on hydrological processes. (See details of his session.). We are proud to report that he received a prize for the best presentation in the category Soil System Sciences.
Daughter Vered Ron has started playing league volleyball for a local team. her daughter Lior and Doreen went to cheer her - effectively, for Vered's team won. See pictures.
Son Aviv Levy sent us some pictures of a family visit to Mini-Israel.

April 18, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Our son, Moran Segoli, flew to Austria yesterday. He has been invited to be a solicited/keynote speaker in the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2009 in Vienna from 19 – 24 April 2009. The title of his talk is Landscape patchiness along a rainfall gradient and its effects on hydrological processes. (See details of his session)
Mikhal Segoli has returned from her safari/trek in Tanzania.
I have posted pictures with captions by Doreen of our passover celebrations, on the Pesach 2009 page. See also This Week's Picture)

April 11, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Our son, Moran Segoli, is going to Austria at the end of the week. He has been invited to be a solicited/keynote speaker in the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2009 in Vienna from 19 – 24 April 2009. The title of his talk is Landscape patchiness along a rainfall gradient and its effects on hydrological processes. (See details of his session. We were delighted to meet Daniel Hakim on a visit from Australia. See This Week's Picture. We are without internet connection at the moment due to a technical problem with our phone line company and I have uploaded this update using a neighbour's wireless connection - I hope Daniel is not reading this ! (see Daniel in a U-tube clip ). And congratulations to Daniel's parents, Ros and Claude, on their wedding anniversary today. See Nochimovicz/Nickel family tree.
Daniel and Donna Leibowitz of Port Douglas, Australia, have just visited South Africa with 5 month-old Erica. It was a rare opportunity for them to get together with their South African family. Daniel sent us some pictures of his visit. See Hershovitz/Levy and Matz family trees.
Mikhal Segoli is on a safari/trek in Tanzania and will return at the end of the week.
We had a wonderful pesach holiday. All our children and grandchildren joined us for the seder night, and all seven of our grandchildren slept over with us for two nights. During to daytime we had family outings to Caesaria, Rosh Hanikra and a picnic lunch at Park Raanana. Pictures - next week.

April 04, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Next week we will celebrate the week-long Passover festival.. Doreen is on tour and will return on Monday - just in time to prepare matzah balls (kneidlach) and a meal for the 25 people who will be at our pesach seder on Wednesday evening.
Another picture has been added to the Purim page. Mark Glogauer sent a picture of Chloe in Purim outfit.

March 28, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

A short while ago this afternoon we received the news that our long-time friend (from our Eilat days) Ilan Paperna passed away suddenly while on a visit to Munich. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Yael, and daughters Tami and Roni.
Some more Purim pictures: Thanks to Alex Klaff (see Goldberg family tree) for sending us some updated pictures of their children Tali and Cale. The kids also dressed up for Purim and I have added a picture to the Purim 2009 page. Thanks to Mark Glogauer, in addition to This Week's Picture , there is also a picture of the adorable Chloe in Purim outfit.
Doreen had a 3 1/2 day rest between tours - just enogh time to get 'flu and almost recover - and is off again is on another tour until just before pesach.

March 21, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Tamara Braverman, Melly's daughter who lives in England, was in Israel for a few days and met her nephew Raphael. Click here for pictures.
As reported in This week's Picture, thanks to Dafna (Gordon) Poupko, we have had contact with the Aba Chaim Gordon branch of Doreen's family. The March birthdays section has been updated accordingly, and we now have a third (Itamar Gordon) Ides of March relative, (joining Shirley Kansky and Hannah Gilbert.). I hope to receive pictures and updates regularly from this side of the family. The tree is now called the Gordon/Glezer tree and has been considerably updated.
Doreen is on your with a group and expected back tomorrow. After a few days rest she's off again on another tour until just before pesach.

March 14, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

This last week we celebrated Purim, the Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of the ancient Persian Empire from Haman's plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Book of Esther. Purim, especially in Israel, is the occasion for fancy dress - during the day the streets are filled with children in costume (usually reflecting the current "heroes"/celebrities), and the adults enjoy their costume parties at night. In many towns there is also an adloyada, a carnival-like procession of floats and costumed participants. Other customs in Purim include reading the Scroll of Esther with noise-making at each mention of Haman, eating hamantaschen, exchanging gifts of food and drink (mishloach manot), and giving charity and gifts to the poor.
Thanks to those who sent pictures of family in fancy dress. See This Week's picture and click here to see some of the varied and terrific costumes.
Doreen tour finished on Thursday - she also celebrated Purim with her group - and starts another tour on Sunday.

March 7, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

The Jewish holiday Purim falls this week. Traditionally it is marked by parties, parades and especially getting dressed up in "fancy dress." Please send me pictures of family in fancy dress, from the babies to the grandparents, so I can post them on this site next week.
Doreen is still on tour, and will finish towards the end of the week. Two days later, she is due to guide another group.

February 28, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Joe Leibowitz is coming along nicely after his accident. He is out of hospital, and has started walking slowly ("pushed by Sharon"). See This Week's Picture
Together with other Israeli friends of the late Mac McPherson, we attended an evening in his memory. We shared memories and stories about Mac, and Israel's best known jazz and blues aficianado spoke about his conversations with Mac, who grew up in, and was part of, the Harlem jazz milieu.
Doreen started a two week tour yesterday.

February 21, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

We hear from Australia that Joe Leibowitz (see Levy/Hershovitz and Matz family trees) had a bad accident a week ago while riding his mountain bike. He is still in hospital and we wish him a full and speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with Sharon and family.
Doreen writes: Louise, Caroline, Yael and I had a great day. It started with scones at Hofit and the truth is we had so much to share we just could have stayed at home and talked the whole day. But I needed to prepare for an upcoming tour. On the trip we watched a moving documentary about the Valley of Tears at Kibbutz El Rom, had lunch at Bukata a Druze village, checked out Paleomagnetism and stopped at Gamla to watch the Griffon Vultures soaring above our heads. see This Week's Picture and two more pictures.

February 14, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Congratulations to our eldest grandchild Dani on her 93 average semester report card. See This Week's Picture.
Grandchildren grow up! Itamar Levy has just been registered for September for "regular" school - kita aleph.
The Annual Israel Bridge Festival in Tel Aviv finished today, and as usual it was an opportunity to meet many people from the bridge world that I haven't seen since the last Festival. It was also an opportunity to renew our friendship with Ton and Annelie Kooijman, from the Netherlands. We entertained some of our bridge friends at our house, where Doreen prepared a delicious meal.
If you missed Doreen's account last week of her trip to Mali and Timbuktu here are the links again: This Week's Picture Feb 7, 2009. and account and pictures about her trip.
And of course, Happy Valentine's Day to all our friends and family.

February 7, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Doreen is back from her trip to Mali and Timbuktu. See This Week's Picture and read and see pictures about her trip.
The Annual Israel Bridge Festival in Tel Aviv has started, and as usual I will be quite busy with duties there.
A special "happy 83rd birthday" to long-time friend and sometime colleague Dovvie Glassman. We look forward to the book on his life which is in the press.

January 31, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Mazal Tov to Yahel Braverman and Donni Dvir on the birth of a healthy baby boy, Raphael, on the 29th January, and to grandparents Louise Braverman and Mellie Braverman on their first grandchild. See This Week's Picture , and also some more pictures here. See Glezer and Nocimovicz and Schank family trees.
Ella Sadeh, Limor and Aviv Levy's sister-in-law, had two emergency operations this week. We wish her a speedy and successful recovery.
Moran is back from his week-long skiing vacation in France with buddy Ran Kagan and friends. Click here for some pictures.
Doreen is still in Mali. She is due back next week. I spoke to her on her arrival in Timbuktu - she had had a wonderful three day river trip up the Niger. I'm sure she is enjoying her trip but at the same time just waiting to come home to see our new - and only - (grand) nephew.
Mazeltov to Mark and Jordana Glogauer in Canada on the birth of their first daughter, Chloe Ruth on December 25th, and to Eileen and Isaac Glogauer on their 6th grandchild. See Nocimovicz family tree.
The New York Times published an article on John "Mac" MacPherson, our New York friend who died earlier this month.

January 24, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Moran returns tomorrow from a week-long skiing vacation in France with buddy Ran Kagan. Moran and Ran were at high school together and have shared many experiences, ranging from running in the Tel Aviv marathon to climbing to the summit of Mount Shivling in the Himalayas. (see This Week's Picture).You can see pictures and read Moran's account of the Shivling ascent on Moran's site.
Doreen is enjoying her trip in Mali and has seen many interesting sites. This week she will visit legendary Timbuktu (and I hope that her camera is working!)

January 17, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Best wishes to daughter-in-law Mikhal Segoli on the submission of her doctoral thesis this week. See This Week's Picture.
Doreen is in Mali at the start of her 3-week trip. She is travelling with a friend, Marianne Pencharz, and the highlight will be the visit to the legendary Timbuktu.
The recipe for this month (Fennel and Orange Salad) is at This Months Recipe .

January 10, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

Doreen utilised her break from work by inviting some ex-Eilati friends for lunch. See This Months Recipe for one of the salads served (Fennel and Orange). See This Week's Picture.
Doreen leaves on Thursday for a 3-week trip to Ethiopia and Mali. The highlight will be the visit to the legendary Timbuktu. Doreen is travelling with Marianne Pencharz, the wife of Bill Pencharz, formerly chairman of the European Bridge League and its Appeal Committee. Doreen and Marianne often accompanied their husbands to the bridge events, found they had a lot in common, and developed a friendship. See pictures of Doreen and Marianne in Warsaw.
There was some news and internet coverage of Aviv Levy and "Big Brother" runner-up Yossi Boublil, who went diving together in Eilat. See picture.

January 3, 2009 (see This Week's Picture)

We wish you all a happy, prosperous and healthy 2009
We spent four days at the Yaarot Hacarmel resort in the Carmel Forest, enjoying gourmet food, resting, water aerobics, music performaces, bridge ( see This Week's Picture), and a delightful New Year's Eve party.(see the picture on home page.)
We were saddened this week by the death of two of our dear friends, Nissan Rand and Mac McPherson, and extend heartfeld wishes to their families on the loss.
We received some pictures of 3 month old Dotan, son of Vered and Yoav Shavit, aged about 3 months. Thanks to grandma Yaffa Loew for sending the pictures. (see Schank family tree).

December 27, 2008 (see This Week's Picture)

We wish all our friends and relatives a happy holiday season and a healthy, happy and prosperous 2009.
We are in the week of Chanukah - the Festival of Lights commemorating the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt against the Greeks. You can see Channuka pictures of the family at the celebrations at the kindergartens of Maayan and Lotem, at Sde Boqer, at Vered and Aviv Ron, and at the Haberman's
We celebrated Maayan's 5th birthday in Mevaseret at the home of Avraham and Yael Segoli.
This week we joined Tamara and Jimmy Rabinowitz at the celebration of Jimmy's 70th birthday. Tamara and Jimmy are friends from South Africa, and Tamara is also related to Doreen (see Glezer family tree.). It was a most enjoyable evening, with a wonderful film depicting Jimmy's life and achievements.
On Friday Doreen took the Rons and the visiting Rasmussens on a tour of Jerusalem.
There is a picture of Moran Segoli receiving his prize for best poster (see News 20/12/08) on Moran's page.

December 20, 2008 (see This Week's Picture)

Moran Segoli presented a paper and displayed a poster at the Drylands, Deserts and Desertification Conference at Ben Gurion University. UNESCO judged and presented the prizes for the posters, and Moran's poster won first prize. (click here to see the poster). Congratulations, Moran! When Maayan heard that his father had won a prize he wasn't too impressed. As he pointed out, he also won a prize this week - a sticker for good behaviour from kindergarten.
Next week we celebrate Chanukah - the Festival of Lights commemorating the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt against the Greeks. Maayan Segoli's kindergarten had their Chanukah party this week - see pictures here.
We've had a busy week - eating! On Monday evening we celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary at a restaurant in a lovely setting (but with mediocre food); Tuesday evening we enjoyed an excellent meal at an Italian restaurant with long-time friends Eleanor (nee Gamsy) and Noam Pines who are visiting from South Africa (see last week's Picture of the Week, back row); Friday evening we had supper at the Rons with Patisa and Sofia (see This Week's Picture); and this morning we enjoyed a delicious brunch and delightful company at the home of Terry and Carol Kessel (click for picture).
The Ron's dog, Lopsy, although he has been in the family for nearly 14 years, is not quite "family", but he is certainly the "family dog". Poor Lopsy (see picture) had an operation this week to remove a growth "the size of a nectarine" on his prostate. He is recovering well, and no doubt eagerly anticipating his walks.

December 13, 2008 (see This Week's Picture)

Last night Denise Braverman (see Glezer, Nochimovicz, and Schan k family trees) and her companion Shai Arroyo invited Denise's family for a family dinner (see This Week's Picture ), and we enjoyed a really lovely evening. Here are some pictures of the event.
The three M's, Moran, Mikhal and Maayan Segoli were ill over the weekend and we (read Doreen mainly, but also Flopsy) babysat Lotem in Hofit. Of course, no visit to Hofit is complete without a bubble bath.
Some long-time family friends are visiting Israel this week. Welcome to Eleanor (nee Gamsy) and Noam Pines from South Africa (see last week's Picture of the Week, back row) ; and to Patissa and Jens Rasmussen and daughter Sofia from Denmark. Patissa was Vered's close friend in the Virgin Islands and they have maintained a very close relationship.

December 6, 2008 (see This Week's Picture)

Our son, Moran Segoli, has just had a paper published in the journal of Ecohydrology, Shrubs enhance resilience of a semiarid ecosystem. To see the paper, click here.
We received a picture of lovely, smiling three month old Zacharia (Zac) Sklar, son of Jonathan and Melanie, grandson of Joel and Beryl Klotnick (see Matz family tree)
Doreen has finished her tour and will be at home for a few weeks at least.

November 29, 2008

Doreen is on tour guiding. She took a group down to Eilat (see This Week's Picture), then went north to receive a South African group that she will be guiding until the end of next week.

November 22, 2008

Congratulations to Rebecca Engleberg (see Matz family tree) and Yaakov (Kobi) Garbawy on their wedding last Monday night. We hope to have pictures soon. Click here for a picture of the couple.
We received some lovely pictures of 8 week old Dotan Shavit, son of Yoav and Vered. Thanks to grandparents Yaffa and Andy Loew for the pictures.
I was in Eilat for the Red Sea Bridge Festival, and Doreen joined me for the weekend after finishing her tours. With Doreen's sister Louise, who was playing in the bridge festival, we took the opportunity of visiting the Eilat Herb and Spice Shop. See This Week's Picture.

November 15, 2008

Congratulations to Rebecca Engleberg (see Matz family tree) and Yaakov (Kobi) Garbawy who have announced their marriage. They will be getting married this Monday 17/11/2008. Click here for a picture of the couple.
Click here for a picture of Moran at the finishing line of the Tel Aviv half-marathon (reported last week).
Doreen will be away for over two weeks, guiding two back-to-back tours.
I'm in Eilat and will be here,on and off, next week as well, at the Red Sea Bridge Festival.1

November 8, 2008

Congratulations to Daniel and Donna Leibowitz of Port Douglas Australia on the birth of their first child, a daughter, Erica Lily May, on November 6th. Mazeltov to grandparents Joe and Sharon Leibowitz on their third grandchild. See Matz and Hershovitz family trees.
We're very proud of our daughter, Vered Levy-Ron, whose "Walk Together to School" project was a prize winner at the Sustainable Transport competition. See This week's Picture.
Congratulations to our son, Moran Segoli, on running - and finishing - the Tel Aviv half-marathon yesterday. The birthday of Moran's close friend, Ran Kagan, fell on the day of the marathon, and Ran asked Moran and two other friends to run with him in the marathon as a birthday present. Ran finished in 79th place (out of more than 2000 runners) and Moran and the two other friends finished .... well they finished!
Doreen will be away for over two weeks, guiding two back-to-back tours.
In the next couple of weeks I will be in Eilat, on and off, at the Red Sea Bridge Festival, and the updates for the site will be from Eilat.

November 1, 2008

As a result of previous successes and of reaching the semi-finals of the National Bowls championships (see last week's news), Louise Braverman has qualified for the prestigious Ladies' Masters competition - a competition for the top 12 women bowlers in Israel. Well done, Louise, we're all proud of you! (How about a picture of you on the bowling green?)
There are new pictures of our grandchildren on their pages. click on Dani, Lior, Itamar, Maayan, Amit, Lotem and Ilai.

October 25, 2008

Congratulations to Louise Braverman on a terrific achievement in the National Bowls Championships. Although seeded only 24th, Louise reached the semi-finals, where she lost to the number 7 seed.
I have returned from my trip to Beijing. See details from previous weeks: Click here, here and here.
I missed most of the family sukkot (Feast of tabernacles) celebrations while I was in Beijing. The highlight was the "family dive" (see This week's Picture). For pictures and details on how the family enjoyed the sukkot holiday, see This Weeks Picture and 2008 Events. I came back just in time for the "second" holiday and to enjoy a delicious meal at the Ron's, cooked by Aviv. see This Month's Recipe.
Penny Clay has sent me her moving memorial to my sister Fern, that she read at the gravesite. I have added it to Fern's memorial page.

October 18, 2008 in Beijing, China

I am still in Beijing, China, where I am officiating in the Bridge Section of the First International Mind Sports Games, the Olympic Games of the mind sports. See This Week's Picture. I leave for home tomorrow (Sunday).
October birthdays and anniversaries, are listed below.

October 11, 2008 in Beijing, China

This site is being updated in Beijing, China, where I am officiating in the Bridge Section of the First International Mind Sports Games, the Olympic Games of the mind sports. See This Week's Picture. The Israel youth team did well to place 5th out of 74 teams in the qualifying rounds but lost to hosts China in the quarter finals. The Open team finished at the top of their section (18 teams) in the qualifying rounds, but surprisingly lost to Romania in the round of sixteen.
I will be in China for another 9 days, leaving next Sunday morning. I will try to update this site from Beijing next week, but the update may be a day or two late.
We are saddened by the death of Naomi Stern (nee Gurland, see Hershovitz/Levy family tree) in Capetown, South Africa, on October 2. Our sincere condolences go out to her children Jonathan and Susan Stern, and Melinda and Philip Shapiro; and her grandchildren.
There is a picture of the cycling Ron family on Danielle's page.
A reminder. Last week I posted Doreen's delicious recipe for Rum Raisin bread .

October 4, 2008

Mazeltov to Vered and Yoav Shavit on the birth of a boy, their first child, Dotan, on 29th September 2008. Mazeltov too to proud grandparents, Yaffa and Andy Loew. see This Week's Picture.
We celebrated Rosh Hashanah with family at the home of Vered and Aviv Ron, and had a great time and meal. Click for some pictures.
This site is being updated in Beijing, China, where I am officiating in the Bridge Section of the First International Mind Sports Games, the Olympic Games of the mind sports. There are five main sections: Bridge, Chess, Draughts, Go and Xiangqi, with 2000 participants. I am Assisant Chief Tournament Director of the Junior Series of the games (under 28, under 26, under 21). The opening ceremony of the games last night was spectacular - first the flags and parade of the 143 countries participating, then a program (a bit too long!) of dance, mime, sound, light, strobes and what have you depicting the history of mind sportsand civilization.
I will be away for nearly 3 weeks and will try to keep this site updated every Saturday/Sunday as usual.
Thanks to Seymour Levy of Massachusets, USA for updates to the Hershovitz family tree, and to Ros Hakim for updates to the Nickel/Nochimovicz tree.
A new recipe! After 5 months, I have finally received another "This Month's Recipe". Thanks, Doreen, for the Rum Raisin bread (for New Year and other happy occasions).

September 27, 2008

With sadness we announce the death this week, on September 24th, of Felix Karsblad, aged 89. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his children, Rachel Karlsbad, and Zvike and Zahava Karlsbad; and to his gandchildren, Asaf and Roni. See Schank family tree
This week we celebrate Rosh Hashana. Doreen and I wish all our family and friends a happy, peaceful, prosperous and healthy new year. Leshana Tova.
Doreen is on tour with a group from South Africa, and will be back just in time to celebrate Rosh Hashanah at the home of Vered and Aviv Ron.
The day after Rosh Hashanah I fly to Beijing, China, to officiate at the Bridge Section of the First International Mind Sports Games, the Olympic Games of the mind sports. There will be five main sections: Bridge, Chess, Draughts, Go and Xiangqi . I will be Assisant Chief Tournament Director of the Junior Series of the games. I will be away for nearly 3 weeks and will try to keep this site updated every Saturday/Sunday as usual.

September 20, 2008

Congratulations to Gavin and Jodie-Beth Matz on the birth of their first child, daughter Mica Tavi, in Manchester,England on 16th September 2008. (see Matz family tree.). Mazaltov also to grandparents Leon and Jennifer Matz of Cape Town. See This Week's Picture
The memorial shloshim at Rael Braverman's grave took place on Thursday. Louise and Vered Levy-Ron's tributes there have been added to Rael's memorial page.
We have just heard that Phil Solomon passed away last May at the age of 95,and we extend our condolences to his family. You can read three of Phil's poems that we posted on this site. See also the archives of This Week's Picture for February 26th, 2005..
Click here for a picture of Lior Ron celebrating her 9th birthday last Saturday.

September 13, 2008

With regret we announce the passing of David Levy, (Hershovitz/Levy family tree) in Manchester, England. Our condolences go to his wife Shirley; children Philip, Cathy and Ruth; son-in-law Philip; and granddaughters Anna and Jessica.
The memorial pages for Fern Levy and for Rael Braverman are posted on the site and can now be accessed. From time to time new material may be added. Please send in any pictures or text you would like to see on these pages.
Moran, Mikhal, Maayan and Lotem Segoli went on a family trip to the Ramon Crater - makhtesh ramon - in the negev desert. Some of the pictures can be seen on the pages of Maayan and Lotem.

September 6, 2008

Vered returned yesterday from her business trip to the USA.(see This Week's Picture). Aviv is on business in Poland and will return next week. The children Daniele and Lior were very happy to see their mom again, and so was Doreen, who has been looking after the girls for a week while their parents were away.
My summer vacation is over, and I am back at school teaching English. This year I will only be teaching, having relinquished the English Co-ordinator job.
The memorial pages for Fern Levy and for Rael Braverman are"under construction", and what has been completed so far can be viewed. Please send in any pictures or text you would like to see on these pages.

August 30, 2008

We have just spent 5 days in Amsterdam after a last-minute decision to "compensate" ourselves with a short break. We joined old friends Hans and Lottie Reijzer and celebrated the barmitzvah of Moran, son of Ezra and Rivka Reijzer.See This week's Picture and last week's News, and more pictures.
On our return from Holland we babysat Itamar and Amit in Hofit while Aviv and Limor had a well-deserved break. See pictures of Itamar and Amit.
Vered and Aviv Ron are still in the USA and will be returning sometime next week. The girls, Danielle and Lior are back in Israel ready to start school on Monday, and we - mainly Doreen - will be taking care of them in the meantime.
Melanie and Jonathan Sklar's baby (see News of 16/8/08) has been named Zecharia Leib. The Matz family tree has been updated.
Many thanks to Susan Glogauer in Canada for correcting and updating some family tree information. The Nickel family tree has been updated accordingly.

August 23, 2008

Mazaltov to Naama and Moshik Yaniv on the birth of twin boys, Ido and Amit, brothers to Nitzan and Rotem. Congratulations to great-grandmother Rachel, grandparents Yael and Avraham Segoli, and sisters Mikhal, Dikla and Ophra. (see This Week's Picture)
And yet another celebration. Ezra and Rivka Reijzer celebrate the barmitzvah of their son in Amsterdam, Holland, this coming Saturday. Ezra is the son of Hans and Lottie Reijzer, our dear friends in Amsterdam. We were on ulpan in Netanya with the Reijzers when we came to Israel 44 years ago, and immediately struck up a close friendship with them . We all lived in Netanya for a few years, and I was playing bridge with Hans at the bridge club when my daughter Vered was born. Despite the geographical distance we still manage to see each other fairly frequently (see picture), and even to occasionally go on holiday together, and our children are also friends and see each other often.
Vered and Aviv Ron and the two girls are still in the USA and will be there until the end of the month. They are now touring in California. See picture.
Doreen and I are going to set up pages on this site in memory of Fern and Rael. We would be pleased to receive written contributions or pictures for inclusion. Please send to levy.eitan@gmail.com

August 16, 2008

Mazaltov to Jonathan and Melanie Sklar on the birth of their son, their first child, in London, England, on Thursday 14/8/08. Congratulations to great-grandmother Milly Zimmerman, and to grandparents Joel and Beryl Klotnick. See pictures of the couple and family at their wedding. See Matz family tree.
Mazaltov to Richard Hyde, of Toronto Canada on his barmitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Richard is the grandson of long-time friends Aura and Hilton Greenberg. Mazaltov to Richards parents, Jeanette and Gary Hyde and special mazaltov to greatgrandmother Luba Bilchik. See This Week's Picture.
Another celebration this week was the 75th birthday of Alec Ron. Alec and Rachel were among our first friends when we moved to Hofit 40 years ago. Even though we lived out of Hofit for more than 20 years, and Alec and Rachel no longer live in Hofit, we have remained close and dear friends. See picture.
And yet another celebration. Ezra and Rivka Reijzer celebrate the barmitzvah of their son in Amsterdam, Holland, this coming Saturday. Ezra is the son of Hans and Lottie Reijzer, our dear friends in Amsterdam. We were on ulpan in Netanya with the Reijzers when we came to Israel 44 years ago, and immediately struck up a close friendship with them . We all lived in Netanya for a few years, and I was playing bridge with Hans at the bridge club when my daughter Vered was born. Despite the geographical distance we still manage to see each other fairly frequently (see picture), and even to occasionally go on holiday together, and our children are also friends and see each other often.
Vered and Aviv Ron and the two girls are still in the USA and will be there until the end of the month.
Mikhal Segoli is also in the USA at a professional conference, and returns to Israel this week. While Moran was in Wales for Fern's funeral, Yael Segoli, their maternal grandmother did babysitting duites for Maayan and Lotem. This week we have the pleasure of babysitting to give Moran a chance to catch up on some University work.
Our son Aviv was on TV again, this time as an expert judge for the TV show The Beauty and the Geek.
The Gilberts, Viki, Jack and daughter Hannah are still in Israel and staying partly with us and partly in Vered's house, and we enjoy having them around. Jack goes back to England tomorrow, but Viki and Hannah will be with us for another week.
Doreen and I are going to set up pages on this site in memory of Fern and Rael. We would be pleased to receive written contributions or pictures for inclusion. Please send to levy.eitan@gmail.com

August 9, 2008

Doreen and I are in back in Israel, and are with the family for the shiva period of mourning. We have cancelled our vacation in the USA.
My sister Fern was buried last Monday, August 4. In keeping with her wishes, she was buried in a Woodland Burial area, in which the accumulating graves will form and remain in a woodland and create a natural habitat for wildlife, birds and flowers.
Congratulations to Oren Klaff and Amalia Cima on their marriage today in Los Angeles. We are sorry that we will not be attending as planned. Congratulations to Caryn Klaff and Rhetick Sengupta who will celebrate their engagement tomorrow, after brother Oren's wedding. I hope to receive pictures soon from the two celebrations. In the period that we mourn the deaths of two loved ones, we celebrate the joy of two loved ones. (see Goldberg family tree)
Vered, Aviv and the two girls are in the USA and will take part in the Klaff celebrations. They will remain in the USA until the end of the month.
While we were supposed to be holidaying in USA Viki and Jack Gilbert and daughter Hannah from Manchester England were going to stay in our house on their Israel holiday. Following our change of plans, they are now sharing our house with us. They are delightful people and it's a pleasure having them. See Matz family tree.
Doreen and I are going to set up pages on this site in memory of Fern and Rael. We would be pleased to receive written contributions or pictures for inclusion. Please send to levy.eitan@gmail.com

August 2, 2008 in Wales

Doreen and I are in Wales, to where we flew from the USA, for the funeral of my sister Fern. Today our son Moran joined us, and then we heard that Doreen's nephew, her sister Louise's son, died earlier today. We have made arrangements to fly to Israel for Rael's funeral, immediately after Fern's funeral; and have cancelled our holiday in the USA.
A few days ago we received more sad news. My stepmother, Ray Levy (nee Brower), passed away in Cape Town.
This site is being updated from Fern's apartment in Gwyddelwern, Wales under extremely stressful conditions. In the circumstances, this update is brief, and further details, pictures and links will be added at a later date.

July 26,2008 in Maryland, USA

At the beginning of our stay in America we were informed of the sad news that my sister Fern had passed away. Fern had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, but her sudden death, apparently of a heart attack, was a shock to us all. Due to communication problems we were only told of her death after 5 days, and tomorrow Doreen and I fly to Wales for the funeral. See the family picture at Fern's 60th, and a picture of our visit last year.
In America we are staying with Frankie Klaff and Dave Rothschild, and spent a lovely day with them at the Wilmington waterfront. Our good friend Nina Schafer joined us there and we shared tears and laughter.
We also visited old and dear friends Roy and Gillian Myers. See pictures. It was on the way back from visiting them that we heard the news about Fern.
Last week I wrote about the Kasorla party to welcome baby Yonatan. Click here for picture.(see Schank family tree).
Rael Braverman (see Glezer family tree) is doing better and is in stable condition.

July 19,2008 in Wroclaw, Poland

This site is being updated in Wroclaw in Poland, where I am the Chief Tournament Director (referee) at the European Junior Pairs Bridge Championships.
Last Friday evening, being in Poland, I had to miss the party to welcome Yonatan, son of Lital and Dvir Kasorla, and first grandchild of Yaakov and Ziva Bortenstein. (see Schank family tree). The party was in the garden of the family home in Gedera. All our grandchildren were there and they had a marvelous time together, which means that a happy time was had by all. Pictures next week.
Yaffa Loew (see Schank family tree) has just returned from an emotional week as part of an army delegation, Witnesses in Uniforms, to camps in Poland. Yaffa and her brother Yaakov were born in Poland when their late father Avram and mother Riva were on a mission to rescue Jewish children hidden in convents during the Holocaust.
Congratulations to Caryn Klaff, daughter of Frankie and the late Vivian (see Goldberg family tree) on her engagement to Rhetick Sengupta. Click here for a picture of the lovely couple. We're looking forward to meeting Rhetick on our visit to USA soon. For more on Caryn, read about her work following the Katrina hurricane, and her bicycle ride to raise money for charity.
Doreen and I will be flying to the USA for about 5 weeks. We'll spend some time with friends, visit Mina Orenstein on her property in Maine, celebrate Oren and Amalia's wedding in Los Angeles, and do a bit of touring and being together in a motor home (RV) in California. I hope to keep updating this site regularly and on time.
During our absence, some relatives will move into our home and look after the house(and for some of the time, our dog) while they and we are having holidays.
Last week we welcomed Alma (pictures here), born 31 May, 2008, daughter of Moriah and Gil Pashas, and granddaughter of Rochelle and Moshe Kirshner, at a lovely party held at the Kirshner's farm. See This Week'sPicture. See Schank family tree
Rael Braverman (see Glezer family tree) is again gravely ill, this time with pneumonia, and we fervently pray that he pulls through with the enormous inner strength he has repeatedly shown.

July 12, 2008

Tonight we welcomed Alma (pictures here), born 31 May, 2008, daughter of Moriah and Gil Pashas, and granddaughter of Rochelle and Moshe Kirshner, at alovely party held at the Kirshner's farm.Pictures next week. See Schank family tree
On Monday I fly to Wroclaw in Poland. for the European Junior Pairs Bridge Championships, where I will be the Chief Tournament Director (referee). I'll be away for 7 days. Next week's upsdate of the site may be delayed to Sunday.
While I'm away, Doreen will be looking after our granddaughters Danielle and Lior while Vered and Aviv take a few days break (also in Poland.).
And bon voyage to Yaffa Loew (see Schank family tree), who is also going to Poland for about a week.
Congratulations to Tali Klaff (see Goldberg family tree) on her ahievements in her first swimming meet. See This Week's Picture archives.
Rael Braverman (see Glezer family tree) underwent an emergency operation and is slowly recovering in intensive care. (See This Week's Picture archives.)

July 5, 2008

Doreen finished her marathon guiding spell this afternoon. She is delighted to be back home.
While in Eilat Doreen had a few hours free, so she put on diving gear and proudly went diving with granddaughter Dani Ron who was doing a diving course in Eilat.
Congratulations to Dani on getting her certified diver license. (see also This Weeks Picture Archives)
Rael Braverman (see Glezer family tree) underwent an emergency operation and is slowly recovering in intensive care. (See This Week's Picture archives.)
I attended the ceremony at the President of Israel's residence where Volunteer Awards were given to 12 outstanding individuals and groups, recognizing their selfless contributions to society. Among the awardees was our friend Morris Kahn, the founder of Lead Israel, a project that develops leadership and community responsibility among high-school students. His friends and relatives were there to join in his achievement. See picture.

June 28, 2008

Doreen came back last night from guiding. Her program for the next few days? This morning - breakfast with daughter Vered and family on Vered's birthday; this afternoon - lunch with the Klotnicks who are visiting from South Africa; this evening - Philharmonic concert; tomorrow - washing, preparing for next tour, catching up on mail and resting; Monday - off to Eilat to start the next tour.
Rael Braverman (see Glezer family tree) is still in hospital recovering from his kidney and pancreas transplants. (See This Week's Picture archives.)

June 21, 2008

We were deeply saddened to hear that Aaron Hock (Nochimovicz family tree) passed away on Thursday June 19. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Milly, children Eloise and Alex, and all his family.
A belated mazaltov to Moriah and Eli Pashas on the birth of daughter Alma (pictures here), and mazaltov to grandparents Moshe and Rochelle Kirshner on the birth of their first grandchild. The Schank family tree has been updated.
Rael Braverman (see Glezer family tree) is back in hospital for observation and treatment and we wish him a speedy recovery. (See This Week's Picture archives.)
Aviv turned 40 today, and the family celebrated by meeting in Jerusalem. See also This Week's Picture.
It's almost the end of school year and the end of year ceremonies, concerts and so on. Itamar Levy's group at kindergarten performed a chassidic dance, and Lior Ron appeared in the 3rd grade choir and also in the chalil (recorder) group.

June 14, 2008

Mazal Tov to Lital and Dvir Kasorla on the birth of their son Yonatan last Saturday 7 June. Mazaltov to saba and savta Yaakov and Ziva Bortenstein on the birth of their first granchild. The Schank family tree has been updated. Here are some pictures of the Bortensteins and family when we celebrated Yom Haatzmaut at their home last month..
Rael Braverman (see Glezer family tree) is making nice progress after the double kidney and pancreas transplan, and was released from hospital yesterday. (See This Week's Picture archives.)
Doreen is on tour, and has another group immediately after this one, so she will be away until about the end of the month.
Cousins and friends Joel and Beryl Klotnick (see Matz family tree) are back in Israel, and will be staying for about two weeks.
In addition to the four pictures on this site, you can now view more pictures of the Ron's (Vered, Aviv, Danielle and Lior) trip to Thailand in April, in a Kodak photo gallery.

June 7, 2008

Last week the site was updated late due to my overseas trip. If you didn't get a chance to see it, visit the archives of This week's Picture and of News.
Rael Braverman (see Glezer family tree) is recovering nicely from his double kidney and pancreas transplant. He hopes to be out of hospital during next week.(See This Week's Picture archives.)
Doreen started another tour today and will be away until about the end of the month.
Rachel and Yuvie Moskowitz (see Matz family tree) are visiting Israel with 4 month old Tamar. See This Week's Picture.
Cousins and friends Joel and Beryl Klotnick, who will be arriving in Israel this week for a two week stay. We hope that with so many children and grandchildren now living in Israel they'll still find a free moment or two for us.

May 31, 2008 in Torino, Italy

Speedy recovery and good health to Rael Braverman (see Glezer family tree) who is recovering from a kidney and pancreas transplant. (See This Week's Picture.)
This update is a day or two late as I have just come back from near Torino in Italy where I attended a seminar for senior TDs (judges) on the new laws of Bridge organized by the European Bridge League. The seminar took place at Telecitta, which is a large complex used mainly by the TV and movie industries and consists of halls, studios and a hotel. Staying at the same hotel were the owners of about 40 Ferrari cars who were taking part in a rally in the area. The parking lots of the hotel were a sight to see.
Thanks to Denise Braverman for sending us a lovely picture of herself and companion Shai enjoying themselves in Paris.
Doreen is off again on Saturday and will be away guiding until the end of the month.
Rachel (nee Engleberg) and Yuvie Moskowitz (see Matz family tree) will be visiting Israel with new baby Tamar. They will stay with Yuvie's parents who live just down the road from us.

May 24, 2008 in Eilat, Israel

We spent the weekend in Eilat. Doreen went diving (scuba this time, not sky) with Aviv and Aviv remarked that she is still a great diver. Quote: "She's like a dolphin in the sea".
Doreen went down to Eilat a day earlier than I and my granddaughter Danielle decided I shouldn't be alone and came to Hofit to babysit me. I return to Hofit tonight and Doreen started a 7 day tour this morning from Eilat.
There are new pictures of the Eilat grandchildren on their pages: Itamar, Amit, Ilai.
We were very happy and proud to hear that Zach Scaffer, son of close friends Rabbi Steve and Nina Shaffer was awarded the Taylor Award for being the outstanding senior student of the University of Delaware class of 2008. Details of the award and of Zach's achievements are here.
On Friday I will be flying to Torino, Italy for an intensive 2 day seminar on Saturday and Sunday on the new Laws of Bridge. So this site will not be updated next week. However, there will be an partial update this comimg Wednesday (May 28) when I post June birthdays and anniversaries.

May 17, 2008

As promised, some more pictures of the Ron's trip to Thailand have been posted.
Doreen is back from her tour. Her bus included people from SouthAfrica, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Netherlands and Greece! They were obviously very happy with her as she came back with a huge and lovely bouquet of flowers. At the end of the week we're off to Eilat, where she starts a new tour on Saturday.
Alex Klaff successfully completed the Gulf Coast Triathlon. See This Week's Picture. You can read about her race and her feeling of achievement. Here is a link to some official pictures., and a previous report on this site about her efforts.
Tamir Klaff (see Goldberg family tree) and his partner placed second in his category in the gruelling Primal Quest Sprint Series. See This Week's Picture.. Scroll through the pictures (specially page 4)

May 10, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Moran was one of the beacon lighters at the Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day) ceremony at Sde Boqer, as a student representing the theme of desert preservation and of continuity of study at Sde Boqer institutions. See This Week's Picture.
The traditional way to celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut is by having a 'mangal' or barbecue. We were delighted when our cousins Yaakov and Ziva Bortenstein (see Schank family tree) invited us to share their family event. The food was plentiful and delicious, but best of all was the opportunity to spend time with our family at a happy event. (see pictures) With a few of the younger generation about to give birth the chance to meet again in the coming months looks good.
Congratulations to Gail Nickel (see Nickel/Nochimovicz family tree) who turned 60 last Saturday. Her sisters flew her down to Cape Town from Johannesburg to celebrate the happy event with the family.
I have received some pictures of the Ron's visit to Thailand, and have have posted one picture to whet your appetite - more pictures next week.
After a short break, Doreen is back to guiding and started an 8 day tour yesterday.

May 3, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

The highlight of the week was a family parachuting event in which Doreen, Vered Levy-Ron, Aviv Ron, Mikhal Segoli, Denise Braverman and friend Caroline Livne and sonGideon jumped out of a plane at 12000 feet and parachuted excitedly down to earth. See This Week's Picture and more pictures on "The family goes sky diving.",and a video of one of the dives.
Vered and Aviv Ron and Danielle and Lior returned safely from their trip to Thailand, where they had a fantastic time. Pictures next week.

April 26, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Tomorrow, Sunday, I turn 68, and Doreen and I celebrated my birthday tonight.
As reported last week, we had a small but most enjoyable pesach seder. Here are a few pictures.
After the seder, Moran and Mikhal went back to Sde Boqer, and we looked after Maayan and Lotem for the week.This didn't leave us much time for anything else, but it made an opportunity for Doreen to develop a recipe for passover muffins, which were made with the help of the grandchildren, and which were delicious. (See Recipe of the Month.) See This Week's Picture and the pages of Maayan and Lotem.
Vered and Aviv Ron and Danielle and Lior return tomorrow from their trip to Thailand (a postponed gift to Danielle on her batmitzvah.)
As noted above, I have added an April recipe (Passover muffins) to the Recipe of the Month page. (Yes, I know there's no March recipe.)

April 19, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

We have just finisherd our passover seder which this year broke all records - for the fewest number of participants. Nine of us read the haggadah, ate matza and bitter herbs and eggs in salt water, reclined in our chairs, proudly heard Maayan ask the "four questions", and enjoyed another of Doreen's delicious meals. Doreen had two able and willing helpers in preparing the meal. Pictures from the seder next week.
An article in this month's Masa Acher Magazine (Israel's answer to National Geographic) features an article on Aviv Levy's turtle project (breeding endangered turtles and returning them to the sea). The on-line version also features a video of Aviv describing the project. Here is the link to the article (in Hebrew) and to the video (if you don't understand Hebrew you can still see the pictures!).
We attended the brit mila (circumcision) of Leshem Nickel, first son of Richard and Rona. See This Week's Picture and also here.
Oren Klaff and his fiance Amalia Cima have returned to USA after their visit to Israel. They did a lot of touring and had a wonderful time.
Vered and Aviv Ron and Danielle and Lior are in Thailand (a postponed gift to Danielle on her batmitzvah.) We've received emails that they're having a fantastic time, with lots of new sights and activities (like elephant riding.) They will be back at the beginning of next week.

April 12, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

A Nickel born: Mazal Tov to Richard and Rona Nickel on the birth of a son, Leshem, last Wednesday April 9th. All are well. Mazaltov also to grandparents Julius (Yudel) and Laura Nickel on the birth of their sixth grandchild. We await a picture of the baby - until then here's a picture of Richard and Rona.
A Nickel found: Once again this site has been instrumental in finding "lost" relatives. Roslyn Hakim, in Sydney Australia, found her grandfather's name (Barnett Nickel) on the site and wrote to us. She is a second cousin to Doreen on the Nickel side, and they both remember playing together in Johannesburg when they were young . They haven't seen each other, or heard from or about each other for more years than I am allowed to say. Thank you, Roslyn, for the updates, information and pictures of your family. The Nochimovicz/Nickel family tree has been updated accordingly. .
Moran is recovering slowly, as expected, from his shoulder operation. (See Archives of This Week's Picture.). He is still in pain and we wish him speedy relief.
Gavin Matz, who always keeps me up to date with family news, has sent me some pictures of sister Lauren, Saul, and beautiful and happy baby Aaron Berkowitz. See News Archives
Here are some pictures of Itamar's 5th birthday last week in Eilat. We were sorry that we couldn't be there. The Rons were there and sent us some pictures of the weekend.. Here are some pictures of Amit .
Oren Klaff and his fiance Amalia are nearing the end of their Israel visit. They tell us they had a "fantastic" time. They fly back to USA tomorrow, in plenty of time for their wedding in August.!
Doreen is back from her week-long tour guiding journalists from Finland. Today she guided a one day tour in Jerusalem, and is free until after Pesach..

April 5, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Oren Klaff and his fiance Amalia are in Israel on a two-week visit, and so far have been thorouhghly enjoying themselves.
Moran had his shoulder operation this week. See This Week's Picture.
Doreen finished her tour with the British group, came home for a day and a haldf, and is off again for a week guiding some journalists from Finland.

March 29, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Oren Klaff and his fiance Amalia are due to arrive on Monday for a two-week visit to Israel.
Joel and Beryl Klotnick are in Israel for one of their frequent visits to see their children and grandchildren., and I enjoyed a very pleasant Friday night meal with them and family.
Leah Engleberg (see Matz family tree) is visiting her sister Rebecca in Israel, and will be here for about another week. They popped over yesterday, and took our dog Flopsy to spend the weekend with them. See also This Week's Picture.
Moran is due to have an operation next week on his shoulder, and we wish him well.
Doreen is on tour with a group from Britain and will be home (for a few days) next week, before going out on another tour.
I have added a picture to the page of last week's Purim celebrations. The picture shows Maayan and Lotem "reading" the Scroll of Esther in synagogue, with of course Purim noisemakers to use at the mention of the evil Haman..
I have been appointed Chief Tournament Director of the European Junior Bridge Pairs Championships in Poland in July. Although I have judged at numerous international competitions, this is the first time I have appointed to the top post at a major international competition.

March 22, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Leah Engleberg (see Matz family tree) is visiting her sister Rebecca in Israel, and will be here for about 10 days.
Doreen is back from her tour with a South African group, and will be off again on Tuesday, this time with a British group for 10 days.
This weekend was Purim in Israel,and we spent it in Sde Boqer, and enjoyed the family and the adloyada. (see below)
Purim is the Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of the ancient Persian Empire from Haman's plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Book of Esther. Purim, especially in Israel, is the occasion for fancy dress - during the day the streets are filled with children in costume (usually reflecting the current "heroes"/celebrities), and the adults enjoy their costume parties at night. In many towns there is also an adloyada, a carnival-like procession of floats and costumed participants. Other customs in Purim include reading the Scroll of Esther with noise-making at each mention of Haman, eating hamantaschen, exchanging gifts of food and drink (mishloach manot), and giving charity and gifts to the poor. For some pictures of the adloyada in Sde Boqer, and how some of our family celebrated Purim click here. See also the pages of Dani and Lior

March 15, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

The Ron family - Vered, Aviv, Danielle and Lior - are back from their ski holiday in Colorado, USA, where they had a wonderful time. Pictures next week..
Doreen is on tour with a South African group, and is due back the middle of the week.
I conducted the first of 4 planned one-day seminar for bridge tournament directors on the revised laws of bridge, which go into effect on May 1 this year.
Welcome home to Yahel Braverman and fiance Donni from their trip to South Africa. We are waiting to hear about how they enjoyed themselves. While in South Africa they met Yahel's father, Melly, who sent us some pictures of the couple.
The Segolis went down for a weekend to Eilat, and had a lovely time with their Levy cousins. see This Week's Picture , and also the pages of Itamar, Lotem and Ilai.

March 8, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

The Ron family - Vered, Aviv, Danielle and Lior - are in Colorado, USA for a 10 day skiing holiday.
Danielle Ron went on a two day school hike finishing on Thursday, about 2 hours before she was due at the airport for her flight to the USA. Doreen and I picked her up (see picture) when the hike finished.
Doreen is back from her tour with a group of Nigerian pilgrims, and has a short break until Tuesday, when she starts an 8 day tour with a South African group.
Last night eight of us enjoyed a different dining experience in the village of Ein Hawd at Habayit b'ein Hawd (The House in Ein Hawd), enjoying over 20 authentic homecooked Arab dishes. See This Week's Picture archives.
It's the 8th of the month and I'm still waiting for a recipe of rthe month. Please help, as otherwise I'll have no choice but to post one of my recipes (like boiling eggs for example)..

March 1, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Bon Voyage to the Ron family - Vered, Aviv, Danielle and Lior - who will be going this week to Colorado, USA for a 10 day skiing holiday.
Doreen is on tour with a group of Nigerian pilgrims.
It's the beginning of the month, and no one has sent me a recipe. Please help, as otherwise I'll have no choice but to post one of my recipes (like boiling eggs for example).

February 23, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Bon Voyage to Yahel Braverman and fiance Donni, who are going to Cape Town, South Africa, for a holiday. There they will meet Yahel's father Melly, who is also holidaying there. See This Week's Picture Archives.
Moran gave a talk last week to the The Israeli Association for Rangeland Sciences entitled The effects of grazing on herbaceous vegetation in a semi-arid ecosystem. He reports that it was very well received.
Doreen will be guiding a 10 day tour of Nigerian pilgrims starting this week.
My eye cataract operation passed without any problems.

February 16, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Mazaltov to Rachel (nee Engleberg) and Yuvie Moskowitz (see This Week's Picture Archives) on the birth in London of their first child, Tamar. Mother and daughter are doing well. Congratulations too to Charlene and David Engleberg on their first grandchild (see Matz family tree) , and to neighbours Ralli and Yossi Moskowitz.
Frankie, widow of my late cousin Vivian Klaff, (see Goldberg family tree) and Dave Rothschild were married today in Maryland, USA.
Belated congratulations to Shaun and Melissa Glogauer (see Nochimovich family tree) on the birth of their fourth child, Benjamin, in Toronto, Canada, on November 1, 2006; and to grandparents Eileen and Isaac Glogauer.
Doreen and I took granddaughter Danielle with us for the weekend in Eilat. It was short, but very enjoyable. See some pictures on the pages of Dani, Itamar, Amit, and Ilai; and also at This Week's Picture.
I'll be having an eye cataract operation this coming Wednesday.

February 9, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

The annual International Bridge festival opened in Tel Aviv this week, and as usual I will be directing (judging) at some of the events. See This Week's Picture
If this site had a "Star of the Month" feature, January's star would undoubtedly be our eldest son, Aviv. On Israel Channel Two "Weekend News" on 26/1/08 Aviv starred in a seven minute program devoted to sharks, in particular the danger posed to them by man. Aviv talked about sharks and took the news anchor man on a shark dive. We have been trying to post the video on this site but it appears to be partly blocked. Here is the link to the Channel Two site where you should be able to see the video. (If you can't access the video click here to see a low-quality version )
Doreen starts a five-day tour tomorrow with an incentive group.

February 2, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

If this site had a "Star of the Month" feature, January's star would undoubtedly be our eldest son, Aviv. On Israel Channel Two "Weekend News" on 26/1/08 Aviv starred in a seven minute program devoted to sharks, in particular the danger posed to them by man. Aviv talked about sharks and took the news anchor man on a shark dive. We have been trying to post the video on this site but it appears to be partly blocked. Here is the link to the Channel Two site where you should be able to see the video. (If you can't access the video click here to see a low-quality version .)
Mazal tov to Eitan Haberman (Goldberg family tree) who celebrated his 60th birthday in a unique way. He conducted a wonderful performance of Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle. See This Week's Picture for more details.
An unusually cold winter spell in Iasrael at the end of January caused lots of damage to agriculture. The bright side was the rare snow that fell in many places. Many Israelis have never, or only very rarely, seen snow, and the white attraction drew many visitors. Jerusalem even had a Snowman competition. Maayan and Lotem Segoli went to play in the snow in, of all places, the middle of the Negev Desert, in Mitzpeh Ramon. See pictures of Maayan and Lotem in the snow.
February's Recipe of the Month is Vered and Lior's tsholent. I can attest that it is delicious!

January 26, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Last week Moran and the kids were with us in Hofit for a couple of days. (see last week's This week's Picture). Doreen also took them to a petting zoo at kibbutz Givat Haim. There are some pictures on the pages of Maayan and Lotem.
Mikhal Segoli is back from a very successful workshop on ecology in Hungary, entitled Conflict and Cooperation in Animal Societies. Here is a link to the workshop site., and a picture of Mikhal at the workshop.
Itamar Levy has started piano lessons. He's only 4, so it's a trial to see how it goes.
In spite of her arm being in a sling, Doreen had a couple of interesting tours this week - writers from overseas food magazines. Click here to read about one of those tours (and also get a bonus extra recipe for January! )

January 19, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Mikhal Segoli is taking part in a scientific conference in Hungary and will be away for about a week.Moran brought the kids up north and they spent a night in Hofit (see This Week's Picture).
Although Doreen's arm is in a sling (from a fracture sustained from falling off her bicycle) she is still working, and has done two one-day tours this week.
Joe Woolwich (see Goldberg family tree) has returned to England, and is considering moving permanently to Israel.

January 12, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Doreen fell off her bicycle and fractured the top part of her long arm bone (proximal humerus fracture). She is limited in moving her right arm, and has pain, but otherwise is carrying on as normal. On Tuesday she will be guiding a one-day tour,
Last week the Segolis and Levys celebrated Maayan's 4th birthday. See This Week's Picture and Maayan's 4th Birthday for pictures.
Joe Woolwick, from Liverpool, England, (see Goldberg family tree) has extended his stay in Israel, and is trying out the Bet Protea Retirement Home with a view to moving there permanently.
Don't miss the recipe for January, which has been added to This Month's Recipe

January 5, 2008 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Welcome to 2008. We celebrated the New Year at a fabulous party given by Morris Kahn. We wish all our friends and relatives a year filled with happiness, success and contentment.
The recipe for January has been added. See This Month's Recipe
This is being written from Sde Boqer where the Levy and Segoli grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins, are celebrating the 4th birthday of Maayan Segoli. Details and pictures next week.
We had a delightful dinner with Mike and Lorna Belman, visiting from Los Angeles. joining us were Carol and Terry Kessel and Livia Passwell. See picture of us all and also This Week's Picture
Joe Woolwich is visiting from England and we enjoyed a lunch with him.
Doreen is back from her tour and has a break of about two weeks. Her next tour is not the routine tour and looks particularly interesting.

December 29, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

We wish all our friends and relatives a Happy New Year. May 2008 be filled with happiness, success and contentment.
Nothing much to report this week. Doreen is still on tour, until Tuesday, and apart from the DVD not working, and the television working with sound only but no picture, nothing much has happened this week.

December 22, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Doreen started guiding another tour yesterday. She'll be awy for a week.
Joe Woolwick (see Goldberg family tree) is in Israel from England, for a visit of a couple of weeks.

December 15, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Congratulations to daughter-in-law Mikhal Segoli on a wonderful achievement. This week Mikhal received the prize for the best PhD lecture at the 44th Meeting of the Zoological Society of Israel. Mikhal's lecture was entitled Parental and Embryonic Regulation of Brood Size in a Polyembryonic Parasitic Wasp.
Mark and Sarina Or's baby girl has been named Alma Helena. See last week's news. The Matz family tree has been updated.
December is the month of birthdays for the Nathans of Florida, USA. Dad Graham Melamed's birthday is on the 8th, daughter Gabriella on the 9th, Mark on the 11th, and Mark and Melodie's anniversary on the 28th. Melodie spoilt things by being born in April. Melodie keeps us up to date with news and pictures, and I have posted some pictures of Gabriella on her 1st birthday .
We also received pictures from Australia, from Sharon Leibowitz, of her two grandchildren, Keira and Hayley, daughters of Josh and Tash.
Some channukah pictures of Maayan and Lotem are on their pages.

December 8, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

dreidel

Happy Channukah to all our friends and family.

Congratulations to Mark and Sarina Or (Klotnick) on the birth of their daughter (as yet un-named), a sister for Yali, on Tuesday, 4 December 2007. (See Matz family tree). Congratulations too to the Klotnick, Hessing and Lapidot families. Next week, we hope to have a picture of the new addition.
We managed to tear grandparents Joel and Beryl Klotnick, visiting from South Africa, from their new granddaughter, and, as always, thoroughly enjoyed their company - this time for brunch.
We organized a last-minute channukah party for the (mainly) Levy clan in Israel, on the first night of Channukah. It was a terrific success and we wonder why we don't see each other more often. Click for pictures.
Also visiting Israel again (from England) were old friends from our ulpan days, Shirley and Gordon Polluck.
We're in Eilat for the weekend - Doreen starts a 10 day tour from here on Sunday, while I'll go back to Hofit and continue striking with the high school teachers.
Announcing a new feature: This Month's Recipe
To start the ball rolling, and in honour of Channukah, Doreen hasgiven us a recipe for the tradional Channukah dish, latkes, but this time with zucchini as well as potatoes. I hope to have a new recipe at least once every month, and that in addition to Doreen others will also offer recipes.

December 1, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

On Wednesday night Doreen and I travelled to Jerusalem to meet my relative Viki Gilbert for the first time. See Archives of This Week's Picture
Our son Aviv, curator of Coral World in Eilat, spoke briefly (and well!) about corals on a CNN TV program about an underwater photography competition in Eilat.

November 24, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

This weekend we went to Sde Boqer for a housewarming party for Moran and Mikhal's new house. All our children and their spouses, all seven grandchildren, and Louise and Denise Braverman were there. (Last week the Segoli side of the family celebrated in Sde Boqer.). As always, it great being together with all the family, and this time, especially, the kids got on fabulously together. There are pictures here, and also on the personal pages of the grandchildren, Dani,Lior, Itamar, Maayan, Lotem, Amit and Ilai.
Congratulations to Saul and Lauren Berkowitz on the birth of Aaron Howard in Cape Town on 18 November. The Matz family tree has been updated accordingly. A special mazaltov to Leon and Jennifer Matz for theit first grandchild. May you all have lots of pleasure and nachas. Thanks and mazaltov to new Uncle Gavin for keeping us informed. Click here for a wedding picture from 2005 of the new parents.
I mentioned last week that I was considering the option of updating this site monthly instead of weekly - Moran organized a "democratic" vote that I keep the weekly format. The "vote" also decided that Doreen would produce a "recipe of the month", so start looking forward to this.
A reminder that Alex Klaff (see Goldberg tree) has started training to participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team to raise funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. For more details, and to make a donation tosupport her participation in Team In Training and help advance the Society's mission, visit her web site http://www.active.com/donate/tntnca04/tntncaAKlaff .

November 17, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Today is the 200th birthday of this site! I started this family site on January 18th, 2004, 200 weeks ago, with a picture of my kids taken 30 years ago. Since then, the site has ben updated weekly, so this homepage is number 200. Most of the updates were done from home, but when travelling updates have been done from hotel rooms, internet cafes, coffee shops, family asnd friends' computers, and once even through a connection via my mobile phone. Unfortunately, there is little feedback, updates, pictures, news and so on from family members (with a few exceptions) so I am considering the option of updating monthly instead of weekly.
This week's page is being updated in Eilat where I am judging at the Red Sea International Bridge Festival. As always, the Festival has been a great success, and as always, I enjoy it very much as I also have the opportunity of staying with Aviv and family. The festival is an occasion for seeing people I have not seen for a year since the last festival, and again meeting friends and aquaintances from overseas.
Our visit to the Festival this year coincided with Amit's 2nd birthday, and we enjoyed her party at her kindergarten, see pictures. Also, we learned that Itamar's kindergarten has "gone green" (see This Week's Picture Archives)
Alex Klaff (see Goldberg tree) has started training to participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team to raise funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. For more details, and to make a donation tosupport her participation in Team In Training and help advance the Society's mission, visit her web site http://www.active.com/donate/tntnca04/tntncaAKlaff .

November 10, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Doreen is away on tour till the end of next week.
Next Wednesday I go to Eilat for the Red Sea Bridge Festivall, and am looking forward to the event, to seeing old friends, and of couse to seeing and staying with Aviv and family. Doreen will join me after her tour finishes.

November 3, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Moran and Mikhal Segoli and family moved this week from Kibbutz Dvir to their new home in Sde Boker. See This Week's Picture.
My motorbike has been repaired after my accident. Hopefully as soon as my aches and pains disappear (there are only a few places that still hurt) I'll be on the bike again.
Doreen is off again later this week on another tour for just over a week.

October 27, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Doreen returned from her tour on Wednesday night, and Thursday morning we went to Eilat, picking up grandchildren on the way, and spent the weekend there with our seven grandchildren, and Aviv and Limor. See This Week's Picture, and also click for more pictures .
Moran and Mikhal Segoli and family are moving this week from Kibbutz Dvir to their new home in Sde Boker. (which was why we babysat Maayan and Lotem.) Doreen will be helping them for a few days from Tuesday, and I will join her on Wednesday.
We are very proud that Benamin Kahn was chosen by TIME Magazine to be one of those honoured as Heroes of the Environment, in the October 29th, 2007 issue (read the article) . Benjie is Aviv Levy's ultimate boss (through Coral World International), and he and his family have been family friends for many years. I was particulary happy that the environmenrtal organization, Tzalul, that Benjie bankrolled nad founded was mentioned in the TIME article, as I was one of the founding members, and, although not active, am still a member of the Board of Directors.

October 20, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

I'm recovering reasonably well from my motorbike accident (see last week's news). The ribs are still sore, and bruises and stiffness remain, but I'm getting around and even taking the dog for walks without too much trouble. Thanks to those of you who mailed enquiring about my health.
Joe Leibowitz (see Matz and Hershovitz/Levy family trees) in Australia was hospitalized for a short time, but is now back at home and feeling much better.
Doreen is on tour with a group from USA and wil be back on Wednesday.
This coming weekend we have to babysit our grandchildren Maayan and Lotem. So we decided to take them, as well as the two granddaughters Dani and Lior, down to Eilat where we will be joined by the three grandchildren Itamar, Amit and Ilai. So we will be with all our seven grandchildren, and with Aviv Levy and Limor. I hope I have the energy after that to update this site!
Rebecca Engleberg (see Matz family tree ) has rented an apartment in Bet Yanai, a couple of kilometers from where we live, so I hope we'll be seeing more of her. Rebecca has done dog-sitting (and house-sitting ) for us in the past, and she'll be looking after our dog while we're away in Eilat next weekend.

October 13, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

I'm rather fortunate that I'm sitting at home writing these lines, and not in hospital. Some of you may know that I ride a motorbike (or rather rode), and on Sunday I had an unscheduled meeting with a car going in the opposite direction. Fortunately both of us had slowed down (me to pass, he to turn) and I got off relatively lightly with some cracked ribs, some nasty bruises and aches and pains, but no permanent or internal damage. So I'm hobbling along (actually already walking, albeit slowly), and trying not to cough, laugh or sneeze (ouch, those aching ribs.)
Congratulations to Joshua and Natashe Leibowitz (Josh and Tash) on the birth of their second daughter, Hayley Olivia, a sister to Keira.. Mazaltov also to grandparents Sharon and Joe Leibowitz and to great-grandmother Winnie Levy. See Hershovitz and Matz family trees. We await pictures of the new baby, in the meantime you can see a wedding picture showing all the family, and a picture of Keira.
This last week I was delighted to make contact with a "lost" relative, Viki Gilbert, (see Matz family tree), who is helping me correct and update some family tree details. More on that, and pictures, next week.
There was an interesting article in "Haaretz" newspaper this week on lizards shedding their tails and the effect this has on their "social" standing. The picture of a fan-fingered gecko accompanying the article was taken by our son, Moran. Click here to see the article (in Hebrew) and see the picture.

October 6, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

This week pictures of Danielle Ron's batmitzvah have been posted. (Captions and text will be added later.) .
Doreen is on tour with a group from USA. She will be back in the middle of the week.
Slightly belated congratulations and good wishes to Maayan Haiman (daughter of Noam and the late miri Haiman). on her marriage to Ido Golomb last month. Mazaltov too to dad Noam and grandparents Sarah and Isaac Olkienitski. (see Goldberg familty tree.)
Welcome back to Shuli Haberman from a lighning trip to Moscow, where she sang in the Israel Opera Choir in two performances. The production was a joint effort of the Los Angeles and Israel opera companies of Pagliacci, directed by Franco Zeffirelli.. Zeffirelli himself chose this production for performance in Moscow, at the Kremlin State Palace. Read the Moscow Guide notice of the opera.
Beryl and Joel Klotnick are visiting Israel for a couple of weeks. They now have both sons, Mark amnd Ian and families, living in Israel, and daughter Melanie also visited during the sukkot holidays, so it was a real family reunion for them. We were pleased they found time to come to Dani's batmitzvah, and we hope to be able to see them again before they return to South Africa.

September 29, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Congratulations to Yahel Braverman (see Glezer and Schank family trees) and Donny Dvir, who have announced their engagement. Mazeltov too to mom Louise, dad Melly, and siblings Denise and Rael. Click here for another picture of Yahal and Donny with Donny's two children, Gabi and Avigail.
A family tradition for the Levy family is to gather at Wendy Kansky's apartment to celebrate the holiday of Tabernacles - Sukkot. We don't get too many opportunities of seeing each other, so Sukkot is always special.. We make the blessings, shake the lulav, sit in the sukkah, eat the tasty food and enjoy each others company as we catch up on the latest family news/gossip. (Click here for pictures, and for links to previous years).
Tonight, Saturday evening (29th September) we celebrated Danielle's bat mitzvah. It was a lovely event (at the pool of Hofit) attended by lots of friends and family. A report and pictures will appear next week.

September 22, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

As is our tradition, (see pictures of the week from 2004 and 2005) we spent Yom Kippur in Eilat, at Coral World Marine Park, where Aviv was "on duty" keeping an eye on the fish and aquariums, and feeding the fish that didn't fast. Limor and the kids were also there, and we were joined by Limor's sister, Ophira and her twins, and Limor's brother Roni, his wife Yifat and kids. It's a lovely way to spend Yom Kippur, for those of us who fast and for those of us who don't, in lovely and quiet surroundings. Here are some pictures.
On Saturday evening (29th September) we will celebrate Danielle's bat mitzvah. More on that next week.
I have added a few more pictures (that Moran sent) of our 14th Levy Family Reunion at Bet Hillel in the Galilee. Still no captions, but click here for an albumn of pictures from the event .

September 15, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

We wish all our family and friend a happy, prosperous and healthy Rosh Hashanah - New Year 5768.
We celebrated the New Year with our family at the 14th Levy Family Reunion at Bet Hillel in the Galilee. 18 of us took over Gross Guesthouse and celebrated (see This Week's Picture). We all had a great time, we hiked, swam, jeeped, talked, watched DVDs, cable-carred, jacuzzied, and of course, ATE. Click here for an albumn of pictures from the event (without captions for the time being).

September 8, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

We wish all our family and friend a happy, prosperous and healthy Rosh Hashanah - New Year 5768.We received the following New Year greetings from Sharon, Joe and Natalie Leibowitz in Australia, and thought we'd like to share it with you:

We wish that you, and your family, be inscribed for a year blessed with health, love and peace, and

well over the fast.

May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs, and your stocks not fall .

And may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.

May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastroenterologist and your podiatrist,

May you find a way to travel from anywhere to anywhere during rush hour in less than an hour, and when you get there, may you find a parking space.

May this Yom Tov, find you seated around the dinner table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends, ushering in the Jewish New Year ahead.

During the last Jewish New Year, I was informed of 4 births of family members. Click here for their names and birthdays.
Congratulations to Cinzia Tarazza, who has been awarded her Provincial Colours for Drummies. This means that she will be representing her province Gauteng at competitions. The competition was tough and out of 72 girls trying out, only 30 got picked. Well done, Cinzia, we are proud of you!
Doreen has organised a "family reunion" for our immediate family over the Rosh Hashanah long weekend. 18 of us will be taking over a guesthouse in the Gallillee for four days, and we're all looking forward to a great time.
Moran has posted on his site some terrific pictures of his trip and walks in the USA.

September 1, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

It's back to school for me tomorrow. This year, in addition to the teaching, I'll be coordinating the English departments of both the Junior High School and the High School.
Vered, Aviv and the girls have returned from their visit to the Netherlands. Dani will be attending a new school, 10 minutes away from us, and we're talking about the option of her sleeping over with us occasionally.
Rael Braverman will be having an angiography procedure in the next few days. Good luck, Rael.
We had a lovely brunch (see pictures) at the home of Terry and Carol Kessel, with Louise and Colin Kessel, and Alan and Nadia Hoffman - good food, good company, good talk - what more can one ask for. Long-time friend Louise Kessel was "on leave" from hospital where she is preparing for a biopsy tomorrow. We all hope for encouraging results.
Moran has posted on his site some terrific pictures of his trip and walks in the USA.

August 25, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

We're back in Israel again after a summer that included visits to Turkey, Italy, Mallorca, USA, England and Wales. After Brighton we went to Wales to visit my sister Fern. She has recently returned to Wales after a successful and rewarding 3 year stint in Namibia as an Overseas Volunteer in the Education Department. She has a very nice apartment in the village of Gwyddelwern.See This Week's Picture
Vered, Aviv and the girls are in the Netherlands. They are celebrating the barmitzvah of Jonathan son of friends Jose and David, and grandson of our old and good friends, Hans and Lottie Reijzer.
Congratulations to Vernon and Lorraine Galp on the birth of Ethan Ivan on 14/8/07, a brother for Tristan. (see Matz family tree). Congratulations and thanks for keeping us updated to granny Avril.
With sadness we report the passing away of Edith Ginsberg (see Goldberg family tree), aged 92.

August 18, 2007

I am still in Brighton, England, where I am attending the English Bridge Union Summer Congress as a Tournament Director (judge), and chief Director of the Seniors' Competitions. Doreen has now joined me after her short trip to the USA, and next week we spend a few days in London and with my sister Fern in Wales, and then return home.
Moran, Mikhal and the kids are back from their trip to USA.
Vered, Aviv and the girls are in the USA for a short holiday, and then they fly to the Netherlands to attend the barmitzvah of Jonathan, son of friends Jose and David, and grandson of our old and good friends, Hans and Lottie Reijzer.
Congratulations to Vernon and Lorraine Galp on the birth of Ethan Ivan on 14/8/07, a brother for Tristan. (see Matz family tree). Congratulations and thanks for keeping us updated to granny Avril.
Last month we reported the news of Oren Klaff's engagement to Amalia. Click here for a picture of the couple.

August 11, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

We are saddened to hear of the death of Helen Nickel, wife of the late Aaron Nickel, in Cape Town, South Africa. (see Nochimovicz/Nickel family tree.)We offer our heartfelt condolences to daughters Gail Nickel, Lucille Melamed, Wendy Ginsberg and Carmen Kay and families; and to grandchildren Max and Melodie, Natalie and Saul, Talia and Jaryd; and to great-grandchildren Daniella and Yehuda, and Gabriella.
This is being written in Brighton, England, where I am attending the English Bridge Union Summer Congress as a Tournament Director (judge), and chief Director of the Seniors' Competitions. This is the 7th EBU Congress I have attended and it is without doubt the Bridge event I enjoy the most.
Moran, Mikhal and the kids are due to return next week from thier trip to USA. We have heard that both their papers went over well. .
Aviv, Limor and children arrived back safely in Israel after Aviv's successful stint at the Palma Aquarium. Danielle and Lior joined me at 5am to meet them at the airport. The kids were all ecstatic to see each other, and we had breakfast together at the airport. Next week I hope to post some pictures taken at the airport.
Doreen is in the USA with friends and family.

Matz family tree

August 4, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

We're back in Israel (but only temporarily) after our trips to Italy (click for pictures) and Mallorca (click for pictures). We had an interesting and enjoyable vacation, saw some interesting places, did some intersting things, met some interesting people, judged successfully at the Junior Bridge championsdhips, shopped, visited Aviv and Limor, and baby-sat three of our grandchildren. (Click for pictures of Itamar, Amit and Ilai.). We also had our suitcases lost by the airline twice. The fist time they found them in time for our next flight so they could lose them again. At the time of writing, we are still missing one suitcase which has been found and unfound several times during the last week
This week we attended the wedding of Vered Loew and Yoav Shavit. It was a lovely affair and we enjoyed the wedding and seing the Schank side of the family again. Congratulations to Yoav and Vered, and parents Andy and Yaffa (nee Bortenstein) Loew. Click here for some pictures.
Moran, Mikhal and the kids are still in the USA. Both of them have presented papers at international conferences, and have toured a bit with the kids. They are due to return next week.
Aviv, Limor and children are also due back next week after Aviv's successful stint at the Palma Aquarium.During our visit to the aquarium, we were very impressed, and proud of the work Aviv has done there.
We're off again next week! Doreen flies to USA on Sunday to join friends and family . At the end of the week I fly to Brighton in England for the Brighton Summer Bridge Congress, where I will be in charge of the bridge events for the Seniors. Doreen will join me in Brighton. As I arrive there on Friday afternoon and am busy Friday evening and the whole of Saturday, next week's update may be a little late.
During our absence, sisters Rebecca (whose birthday is today!) and Leah Engleberg (see Matz family tree) will be house- and dog-sitting. Leah is visiting from the USA and we hope she enjoys her visit.

July 28, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Well here we are in Palma de Mallorca, in the Spanish Balearic Islands, visiting Aviv, Limor, Itamar, Amit and baby Ilai. Aviv is visiting Curator at the newest Coral World attraction, the Palma Aquarium, which is truly world-class. See also archives of This Week's Picture. We'll be here till the beginning of next week, when we return home to Israel. We're staying with Aviv and Limor and enjoying being with them and the kids.
Moran, Mikhal and the kids are in the USA. Both of them will be presenting papers at international conferences, and they will utilize the trip for a holiday with their childre, Maayan and Lotem.
Congratulations to Oren Klaff, son of Frankie and the late Vivian Klaff, on his engagement to Amalia. See picture.
Welcome back to granddaughter Danielle Ron who attended a special summer camp for training dogs. Dani borrowed our dog, Flopsy and we don't know who had the better time. Both came back very happy, Dani with new-found authority and Flopsy now able to obey commands in Hebrew.
Due to time and internet connection restraints I have not managed to post pictures of our trip to Italy and Mallorca. I hope to do so next week when we're back in Hofit.

July 21, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Doreen and I are still in Jesolo, near Venice, Italy, for the European Junior Bridge Championships. , where I am a Tournament Director (referee). The Girls' series has finished and the Israel team placed a very creditable 4th place, and was in serious contention for the bronze medal. Israel didn't enter a team in the Junior (under 25) category, and their Schools (under 20) team is about halway down the ranking table with two matches to go later today.
Last nights we were the guests of Panos Gerontopoulos, the Chairman of the European Youth Committee, who had a wonderful surprise for us: He took us to Ve
(about 160 kms away) to see a terrific performance of Verdi's "Jewish opera" Nabucco. We got back at 4am and as I have a busy day soon, this is being written at 4:30 am, so more details and pictures will have to wait for next week.
Moran, Mikhal and the kids are in the USA. Both of them will be presenting papers at international conferences, and they will utilize the trip for a holiday with the kids.
Vered is back from visiting her close friend, Patissa Rasmussen, in Denmark. She tells us she thoroughly enjoyed her short visit.
Tomorrow we leave Jesolo and fly via Milan and Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca for a week to visit Aviv, Limor and kids. Aviv is there helping at the newest Coral World attraction, the Palma Aquarium. See also archives of This Week's Picture..

July 14, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Doreen and I are in Jesolo, near Venice, Italy, for the European Junior Bridge Championships. , where I am a Tournament Director (referee). The Championships comprises three series, Junior Teams (to age 25), Girls' Teams (to age 25) and Schools' Teams (to age 20). The Junior and Girls series have started and Israel has entered a girls team (see This Week's Picture) but not a juniors team. At the moment of writing the Girls' team is lying a creditable 5th place. The Schools' series starts next week and there will be a team from Israel.
Today was a free day and we took the opportunity of visiting Venice (an hours bus/boat ride away.) We were fortunate that the visit coincided with the annual Redentore Festival. It's after midnight and we have just returned, so more on this next week.
Vered is visiting her close friend, Patissa Rasmussen, in Denmark. She'll be back in Israel later this week..
After the bridge in Italy, we fly to Palma de Mallorca for a week to visit Aviv, Limor and kids. Aviv is there helping at the newest Coral World attraction, the Palma Aquarium. See also archives of This Week's Picture..

July 7, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

We extend our condolences to Laura Nickel on the passing of her eldset sister, Fay.
We're back from Antalya, Turkey, and the successful European Open Bridge Championships there. Next week we're off again, this time to Jesolo, near Venice, Italy, for the European Junior Bridge Championships.
After the bridge in Italy, we fly to Palma de Mallorca for a week to visit Aviv, Limor and kids. Aviv is there helping at the newest Coral World attraction, the Palma Aquarium. See also archives of This Week's Picture..
Having no tours arranged during the short time we were back, Doreen took the opportunity to take Vered and the girls on a tour of Jerusalem. The highlight was the walk through Hezekiah's Tunnel in the City of David..

June 30, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Congratulations to our eldest granddaughter, Danielle Ron, on finishing primary school, with a sucessful report card. We're proud of you, Dani. Have a great vacation, and then get ready for grade 7 in Junior High School..
I am still in Antalya, Turkey, where the European Open Bridge Championships has just finished. As always I worked hard but thoroughly enjoyed it. As a Tournament Director (referee) I was called upon to give many rulings at the table. Those familiar with competition bridge will know that rulings can be appealed to an Appeal Committee. About 20 of the rulings were appealed during the various events of the championships, including one of mine, which was upheld by the Appeals Committee. You can read the case on page 4 in the Daily Bulletin .
Doreen and I return to Israel tomorrow and prepare for our next trip: to Jesolo, (near Venice in Italy) where I will be a Tournament Director at the European Juniors Championships.

June 23, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

This year I was again invited to be a Tournament Director (referee) at theEuropean Open Bridge Championships. This year's event is tsaking place in Antalya, Turkey at the Kremlin Palace Hotel.
Doreen has joined me, and we will be here until next Sunday. I hope that my duties in Antalya will not prevent me from updating this site next Saturday/Sunday. There may be a slight delay next week

June 16, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

On Wednesday I'm off to Antalya in Turkey to be a TD (judge) at the bridge European Open Championships in bridge. Doreen has a tour to finish this week, then she will join me on Saturday.

June 9, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Aviv Levy, Limor, Itamar, Amit and Ilai left for Palma de Mallorca this week. See archives of This Week's Picture.. Aviv will be organizing the aquarium staff at the newest Coral World attraction, the Palma Aquarium in Palma de Mallorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands. They arrived harried but safe, and with all their luggage. We have spoken to them, and they seem to have settled in very nicely.
As promised last week, Doreen has written a short account with pictures of her hike in Zagoria, Greece. See also archives of This Week's Picture. .
In honour of her trek in Greece, and of her birthday next Monday, I have reprinted the piece Doreen wrote 20 years agoafter a particularly hard hike in Wales with Fern and Moran. Her article, which appeared in her cookbook, A Potpouri of Memories, .described her efforts, feelings, frustrations and sense of achievement and received much positive feedback. See To the Peak.

June 2, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Welcome back to Doreen from her hike in the Zagoria mountains in Greece. She tells us it was quite difficult. Next week there'll be pictures and a description of her hike.In the meantime have a look at the archives of This Week's Picture.
Bon Voyage and good luck to Aviv Levy, Limor, Itamar, Amit and Ilai. Aviv will be getting the aquarium staff organized at the newest Coral World attraction, the Palma Aquarium in Palma de Mallorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands. He and his family will be there about 3 months. They are due to leave on Monday and Limor's mother, Margalit Sadeh, will accompany them for the first two weeks to help with the children.
We spent the weekend in Eilat with Aviv and family, especially with the two older children. Doreen has stayed on in Eilat to help with last minute preparations and packing.

May 26, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Doreen is still in Greece, hiking with friends in the Zagoria region. She's due back on Monday.
While Doreen was hiking, I went down to Eilat for the Shavuot holiday. Vered, Aviv and the girls were also there, and we all stayed with Aviv and Limor. It was most enjoyable, and as usual I was amazed at how the younger kids are developing so fast. There are pictures on the pages of Dani, Lior, Itamar, Amit and Ilai; and also This Week's Picture Archives.
My sister Fern has settled into her house in Wales. If you want her contact details, e-mail me.

May 19, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Doreen has had some rather different tours to guide over the last few months, but this week was definitely a first for her: guiding from a helicopter. see This Week's Picture Archives.
Although we are distressed that Vered is suffering from sarcoidosis we were relieved that the biopsies showed only sarcoidosis.
After guiding so many tours recently, Doreen is off on monday on HER tour: a week's hike with friends in the Zagoria region in Greece.
Long-time friends, Hanan and Varda Rosbruch, came for dinner during the week. We haven't seen them for a long time, and we always enjoy being with them, We have a lot to talk about, including our joint experiences when both families were in the Virgin Islands
Last night we had an very enjoyable picnic in Raanana Park, organised by Louise. The Levy-Rons, Denise, and Yahel and Donni and the kids completed the party.
The Segolis had a nice hike at Nahal Kina, near Arad. See some pictures here.
My sister Fern has settled into her house in Wales. If you want her contact details, e-mail me.

May 12, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

My sister Fern has returned to Wales after a few years as an overseas volunteer in Namibia. We wish her luck and joy in Wales and in the new house into which she has just moved.
Congratulations to Patissa and Jens Rasmussenon the birth in Denmark of their first child, a daughter. Patissa and our daughter Vered have been close friends for over 25 years. Congratulations, Patissa and Jens, may you enjoy much pleasure and happiness from your daughter. See This Week's Picture.

May 5, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Our daughter Vered is slowly recovering from a lymph node and lung biopsy. Preliminary results are encouraging,
Joe Woolwich (see Goldberg family tree) has returned to England after his three week visit, and we hope to shortly post an article by him on Shakespeare's Shylock..
Welcome to Ian and Talya Klotnick and their three children (see Matz family tree) who are in Israel with a view to making aliya.
The new English-language radio station broadcasting from Ramallah to Israel and the Palestinian Territory, and owned by Primedia Broadcasting and Issie Kirsh (see Nochomovicz family tree) is now broadcasting through the internet (http://www.ramfm.net) as well as on 93.6 FM The station "aims to promote peace and dialogue through contemporary music, plus the latest hits, high-profile guest interviews, talk shows and informational programs, and will also provide reliable, impartial and independent news from the Middle East."

April 28, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

We received the sad news this week that Avie Hurwitz passed away in Cape Town. I have very fond memories of Avie from my youth and of our delightful meeting in Cape Town a few years ago when with patience and charm we talked about the family. The first wedding I remember attending was in Durban, when Avie married my father's cousin Louis Hurwitz. (see Matz family tree.). My sister Fern was a flower girl at the wedding. (see wedding picture). We extend our condolences to Daphne and Isobel and to the Siegel and Lewis families.
My birthday week passed quietly - Moran and the kids came to Hofit for a few days and went to the Golan with Doreen (I had to work), and Vered and Aviv and the kids took us to a lovely restaurant to celebrate. There are some pictures on the pages of Dani and Lior, and of Maayan and Lotem, and also here.
Aviv will be going to Palma de Mallorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands about the end of May to help with the final preparations for the newest Coral World attraction, the Palma Aquarium.. Limor and the three kids will be with him, and they'll be there for about 2-3 months. We're already making plans to visit them there. We wish them all good luck.

April 21, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

This week we commemorated Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Day. See This Week's Picture
Congratulations to Michael (Mikie) Glasser (and sister Danielle and parents Mark and Sue) down under in Melbourne, Australia, on his barmitzvah today. See Glasser family tree.
Joe Woolwich (see Goldberg family tree) is in Israel for about three weeks, and stayed at our house this last week.
Doreen has returned from her her tour, guiding a group from Canada

April 14, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

The Segolis stayed over on 2nd Passover eve and the next day we had a lovely time in Caesaria with the Segolis and Danielle and Lior.(see This Week's Picture, and also the pages of Lotem, Maayan, Lior and Danielle). Caesaria has certainly changed since the days when we would spend a Saturday on the beach there. It is now an excellent tourist attraction, that has succeeded in finding the right balance between an modern attraction and an important historical site. The interactive "interviews" with historical characters was particularly impressive.
Joe Woolwich (see Goldberg family tree) is in Israel for about three weeks. We helped him celebrate his birthday on the 12th at dinner. He will be staying with us from today for about a week. Joe is a Shakespeare scholar and has done much research into historical and contemporary aspects of Shakespeare. We hope that some time in the future we will be able to publish on this site lectures and articles by Joe.
Doreen started a week's tour yesterday, guiding a group from Canada

April 7, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

We're back from an enjoyable trip to Eilat, where we celebrated Passover on the 2nd, and the birthdays of Itamar (on the 4th) and Rael (on the 5th).
Joe Woolwich (see Goldberg family tree) is in Israel for about three weeks. We plan to help him celebrate his birthday on the 12th
Moran is about to finish the field work for his doctorate. We wish him success in interpreting all the data he has collected in the last two years, as he enters the next stage on the road to his doctorate. Click here for a look back at one of his data collecting projects.

March 31, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Mikhal Segoli is making the news! There is an interesting article (in Hebrew) about the black widow spider (the one who eats her mate) in the on-line version of Yediot Achronot, Israel's most popular newspaper. The article ia based on work done by Mikhal and references her name and work. Click here for the article. And in addition, the spring edition of the Ben Gurion University News also features an article ( in Hebrew) about the research on these spiders, and includes a picture of Mikhal. Click here for this article.
Yesterday Doreen finished her tour with Christian pilgrims from South Africa .Lat night we went shopping and today she was in the kitchen preparing food for Pesach. (see This Week's Picture). We are going to Eilat and will have the seder meal at Aviv and Limor. Vered, Aviv and the girls will join us.

March 24, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Mazeltov to Richard Nickel and Rona Mazor on their marriage last Thursday, 22 March 2007 in Rishpon, Israel. Congratulations to parents Julius (Yudel) and Laura Nickel and Racheli Mizrahi. (See Nochimovicz family tree..). They were a handsome couple, and Rona was a beautiful bride. We await pictures from the wedding.
Vered Levy-Ron was released from hospital today after undergoing various tests and a kidney biopsy. We hope she'll feel better and that the tests will be encouraging.
Gali Nickel has agreed to let us know all about the news in the Nickel family, and to send pictures. She will now have her own page on this site. You can view it by clicking here, or directly from www.eitanlevy.com/gali.html
Doreen has finishedher tour with Christian pilgrims from Nigeria, and she's off again tomorrow for a week with Christian pilgrims from South Africa..

March 17, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Congratulations to Richard Nickel and Rona Mazor, who are getting married on Thursday 22 March. Today I attended a synagogue service "Shabbat Hatan" in honour of their forthcomimg marriage, and had the opportunity of meeting some of Rona's relatives, including her mother, brother and sister.
Vered Levy-Ron has to go into hospital for a few days for tests. We hope she'll feel better and that the tests will be encouraging.
Gali Nickel has agreed to let us know all about the news in the Nickel family, and to send pictures. She will now have her own page on this site. You can view it by clicking here, or directly from www.eitanlevy.com/gali.html
Doreen is on tour with Christian pilgrims from Nigeria.

March 10, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Doreen finished her two week tour yesterday. She has two days off, and then is off on another 10 day tour, this time with Christian pilgrims from Nigeria.
So if you're a little girl and you need to get somewhere and don't want to walk, what do you do? Click here for the answer.

March 3, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

This weekend we celebrated the festival of Purim. For most Israelis the festival has lost much of its religious meaning and is an opportunity to party, especially in fancy dress. There is hardly a Jewish child in Israel who doesn't wear fancy dress for Purim and the days preceding, and the malls and public places are full of colorful costumes ranging from Queen Esters to Spidermen to George Bushes. See This Weeks Picture.
Doreen has started another two week tour. She was in Eilat over the weekend and I took advantage of the Purim vacation and also went down to Eilat.
This page is being updated from Aviv Levy's new computer. He has a new email address: aviv2106@014.net
We extend our condolences to Margalit Sadeh (Limor's mother) on the sudden death of her brother Chaim in Canada.

February 24, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

On Thursday we went to Eilat to celebrate the brita (naming ceremony) of our newest granddaughter, 3 week old Ilai Levy. If you look carefully you can see little Ilai in the Rabbi's arms, as parents Aviv and Limor and big sister Amit look on and join in the blessing. There was a lovely function at an hotel in Eilat, well-organized and with excellent food. Mazel Tov! There are pictures of the event on Ilai's home page.
Sheenagh Levy's mother, Matine Singer, in Cape Town, has had a stroke and is hospitalized. We all wish her a speedy recovery.
We had a lovely Friday evening at the home of Mark and Sarina Or (who have recently changed their surname from Klotnick). Sarina's family was present (see pictures) , as were Joel and Beryl Klotnick (visiting from South Africa); and Raphael Cotton (studying at the Chabad Yeshiva).
Issy Kirsh (see Nochimovicz family tree) has just launched a radio station, 93.6 RAM FM, which broadcasts in English from Ramallah (in the Palestinian Territories) to the Palestinian Territories and to Israel. The station hopes to "allow Israelis and Palestinians to bridge a divide of distrust and promote dialogue". The new Station has received extensive exposure in the press. You can read coverage in English on Yahoo News and Haaretz.

February 17, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Welcome to Israel! Raphael Cotton has come to study for a year at the Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim at Kfar Chabad. We wish him good luck and success in his studies.
Joel and Beryl Klotnick are on one of their frequent visits to Israel, and we hope to get a chance to see them , and celebrate Joel's birthday this week.

Doreen is in the second week of a two-week tour, guiding a group of pilgrims, some of whom were on a tour with her two years ago and are visiting again.

February 10, 2007 (click here for This Week's Picture)

Slightly belated congratulations to Gavin Matz in Manchester, England, on his marriage to Jodie-Beth Aarons on 31/1/2006 We wish you every happiness and success.
In case you missed the announcement last week, we are delighted to inform all our friends and family of the birth of a baby girl, 2.640 kilos, born January 28; to Limor and Aviv Levy; their third child, Ilai, sister to Itamar and Amit; and our seventh grandchild. Limor and Ilai are doing well. We wish them and grandparents Rafi and Margalit Sadeh mazal tov. First pictures of the baby are on her site.
Doreen is on a two-week tour, guiding a group of pilgrims, some of whom were on a tour with her two years ago and are visiting again.
A special "happy birthday" to Aunt Winnie Levy in Cape Town on her 85th birthday today. Daughter Sharon from Australia is in South Africa to join the rest of the family in the celebrations, which include a week's vacation in Hermanus, Cape
You can click here to see some pictures of Sheenagh Levy's fantastic trek in Nepal.