December 27, 2014

Four Generations in Cape Town
Baby Meira Carno, mother Jenna Carno, grandmother Cecile Cotton, great grandmother Winnie Levy

We received from Sheenagh Levy some delightful pictures of 4 generations of her family taken on a visit to Cape Town. Click here for two more pictures.
See Hershovitz/Levy and Matz family trees.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• On Friday night, 26 December, Maayan celebrated his 11th birthday with his Levy cousins in Netanya. (See pictures). Today he and his Levy and Segoli cousins celebrated by spending the day at Superland Amusement Park. (see picture)
  
• Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the disastrous tsunami that swept through Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia. Our good friend Yona Wiseman was a passenger in the train in Sri Lanka that was swept away by the waters, resulting in over 800 deaths - the largest train disaster in history. Yona was one of the few survivors and she wrote an amazing account of the terrifying event. We published it then, 10 years ago, on this site, and a few months ago another survivor found  my site and wrote to Yona about the effect the tsunami had had on his life. I recommend reading Yona's riveting account as a testament to the power of nature and to the spirit of a person determined to survive.  For their accounts click here.
  
• If you missed last week's account of our 50th wedding anniversary you can click here to read about it. (Also, some new pictures have been added.)
• We wish all our relatives and friends a happy holiday season and a wonderful 2015!

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December 20, 2014

Julius Nickel  ז"ל
6 June 1929 - 19 December 2014

Last night Julius, Uncle Yudel, died peacefully in his sleep. He was at home with his family who had been with him during his day.  Uncle  Yudel, the youngest of five Nickel children, is mourned not only by Laura his wife, their children and grandchildren but also by his nephews and nieces scattered across the globe. A most kind and generous man, a devoted husband, father and grandfather, he always helped others, even to his own detriment. He loved to entertain lavishly and here is pictured with a glass of wine at his 80th birthday celebration.
We mourn his passing and our last link to that amazing generation who left Europe almost a century ago and made a new life in South Africa, which was then a land of opportunity for new immigrants. His passing symbolizes the end of that era.

Ali Bacher, South Africa's cricket captain and Yudel's nephew, tells that Yudel encouraged his aspirations and development in sport. There wasn't any significant sporting event in Johannesburg that Yudel did not take him to watch. He was also a keen sportsman and played soccer for the South Africa under 14 team. Yudel went to London for a couple of years and the first thing he did on his return was to buy, even though he was penniless, Ali's first cricket bat on credit. Ali says that Yudel, more than anyone else, fueled his enthusiasm to play cricket for his country.

See picture of Yudel, with his mother, Bobbe Mary.
See Nocimovicz/Nickel family tree.

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THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• Last Tuesday, Doreen and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. On Monday we had a delicious dinner at a local restaurant and on Tuesday night both of us prepared a gourmet dinner with a special wine. Then on Thursday  we met with the family for our 20th Family Reunion to celebrate  both the anniversary and (belatedly)  Doreen's 70th birthday.  Doreen has written about the family reunion - click here to read about it.

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December 13, 2014

Eitan; Tuli the dog; Joel Feinstein; Louise Braverman; Doreen; Danielle, Lior and Vered Ron; Eloise Feinstein

Although our family tree does not go back very far, it keeps on expanding sideways. We were delighted to hear that the Feinsteins were coming to Israel and wanted to meet us. Eloise's grandmother (Dora Solomon Hock) was the first cousin of Doreen's mother Gertie Glazer. One hears of name changes when immigrants arrived at Ellis Island. The clerk who asked Elya Zalman Nochomovitz his name couldn't distinguish all the names, but Zalman sounded familiar and registered his surname as Solomon. His daughter Dora married Louis Hock and we met two of their descendants, Eloise and her son Joel, last night. See Nochimovicz family tree.
It was not only a chance to meet new relatives but also to congratulate Vered on passing her skipper's advanced radio course GMDSF and hear all the news about Dani's first weeks in the army.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• We returned yesterday from our short trip to London (and a two day visit to Alicante on Bridge business).
• Our trip to London was a "visit people trip" (see also last week) but we did manage to see the musical Matilda (fantastic production and good fun) and a new opera The Gospel According to the Other Mary (very well performed but not our musical taste), and Doreen managed a couple of exhibitions.
• We spent a very pleasant Sunday with Marianna and Bill Pencharz. My first invitation to judge in an International bridge event was from Bill, when he was President of the European Bridge League. Doreen became very friendly with Marianna and we have kept up contact for many years. Doreen's trip to Mali was with Marianna.
• We were fortunate that our London trip coincided with a business visit by cousin Charles Levy (see Matz and Hershovitz trees). On Monday we met for dinner and were joined for a short while by Tarryn Klotnick (Matz family tree), a delightful younger generation relative now living in London. Later in the week we met Charles again, and enjoyed a rack of ribs. (See pictures)
  
• In London Doreen also met with Shirley Poluck, June Hirshmiller and Saul Issroff, and travelled to Manchester to meet Joe Woolwich (see Goldberg family tree.)
  

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December 6, 2014

Ella Ogden, Doreen, Eitan, Archie Ogden

Ella and Archie are friends from our first days in St Thomas. The last time we saw them was just after the September 11 terrorist attack when we flew to St Thomas, one of the few places we could visit then.  Although many years have passed the warmth and shared interests have not diminished and during their visit to Israel these past few weeks we had a wonderful few evenings together.
The Ogdens are mentioned in Doreen's cookbook. See her column for details.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• We are in London and will be here for a week. During that time we will see a few old friends and as always enjoy London. During this week, I  will take a short visit to Alicante in Spain to make arrangements for a Bridge Referees Training course at the end of January.
• We took the opportunity of visiting Susan Horsewood Lee, whom we had met on our trip to Mocambique last year. Click here for picture.
  
• You can access the Segolis updated monthly update (the first since they returned to Israel)  in Hebrew and in English.

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November 29, 2014

The Segolis go riding

Zoe is an animal lover and adores the family dogs Flopsy and Tuli. She even reads stories to Flopsy. Best of all, she still talks about her first pony ride.  Here Zoe is on Shoko, Maayan on Winston and Lotem on Clara, the white horse that she dreamed about. They all thoroughly enjoyed their rides and even the trotting. The sand, covered with green bushes and wild flowers added to the enjoyment.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• With son Moran in Australia and his wife Mikhal just starting her new job; daughter Vered in France and Germany and her husband Aviv also overseas, it all added up to a lot of babysitting for Doreen. During the week she was in Raanana and in Sde Boqer and for the weekend she brought the Segoli kids to Netanya, where they went horse riding (see pictutre above) and visited the Carmel Caves Prehistoric Man Site (click here for description and picture).
• While at Sde Boqer Doreen took the opportunity to visit Avdat and introduce Flopsy, our dog, to desert ibexes. (see picture).
  
• Son Moran is still in Australia and will return next week.
  
• You can access the Segolis updated monthly update (the first since they returned to Israel)  in Hebrew and in English.
  

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November 22, 2014

Amit Levy and friends celebrate her 9th birthday

Granddaughter Amit (in blue dress on left) celebrated her 9th birthday with a yacht cruise in the Eilat Bay. She and her friends had a lovely day sailing, steering, eating and playing on a yacht in the Eilat Bay.
More pictures on her page, and on the pages of brother Itamar and sister Ilai.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• We're back in Israel after our trip to Milan (for the meeting of the European Bridge League Executive) and Switzerland (visiting Pierre and Francoise and beautiful views.) Descriptions and pictures in last 2 weeks pages. (here, and here)
  
• Two days after returning I was off to Eilat for the 20th Red Sea Bridge Festival and Doreen off to Raanana and Sde Boqer for babysitting!
• Travelling family: Daughter Vered and Aviv are on a short break in Paris; and son Moran is in Australia for his work.
  
• You can access the Segolis updated monthly update (the first since they returned to Israel)  in Hebrew and in English.

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November 15, 2014

On the train to Goppenstein

We have travelled in many different ways, but this was the first time we had travelled in a car on a train. From Interlaken to Lausanne we saved nearly 100 Kms of winding roads by taking the train "ferry" . We drove onto the train at Kandersteg, stayed in the car, and 15 minutes later, after passing in the tunnel through the mountains, arrived at Goppenstein.

• We're in Italy, in Milan, for the meeting of the European Bridge League Executive. While I've been at meetings Doreen has been seeing something of Milan.
  
• On the way, we spent two most enjoyable days with good friends Pierre and Francoise Collaros at their home in Epalinges just outside Lausanne.
  
• In Lausanne we visited the Olympic Museum which was extremely interesting. We can recommend a visit there if you ever get to Lausanne.
• Granddaughter Danielle Ron has started her compulsory army service and was issued her uniform. To us she looks great, but to her generation she looks "baggy" and no will visit a seamstress at her first opportunity.
• We received a lovely picture of our two grandsons enjoying a show on the TV.
• While we're away the Segolis, especially granddaughter Zoe, are looking after our dog Flopsy.

Peak to Peak suspension bridge at Glacier 3000

A couple of weeks ago I looked up something about bridge (the game) on the internet, and on the screen appeared an item about a different bridge: the world's first suspension bridge joining two mountain peaks in the Swiss Alps, at an attraction called Glacier 3000. I had to be in Milan for a bridge meeting and Doreen and I decided to go a week early, rent a car, and tour a little including a visit to good friends Pierre and Francoise Collaros in Lausanne. When we realised that Glacier 3000 was close to Lausanne we decided to visit.
Yesterday we phoned the site and were told that bad weather was forecast and the site would be closed. But we woke up this morning to bright sunshine and a cloudless sky and off we went on the winding mountain roads to the site.
After two cable car rides we arrived at the bridge.It was well worth the visit despite the biting cold.. It was breathtaking walking on the bridge suspended between two peaks, with wonderful views of the snow capped mountains all around.
Two more pictures can be seen by clicking here.
To visit the site of the bridge and the Glacier 3000 attraction click here.

November 1, 2014

Gertie Glazer 1/11/1914 - 31/5/1983

Today  is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gertie Glazer (nee Nickel) - Doreen's late mother. Gertie was born in Slonim on 1st November 1914 exactly 100 years ago, and died in Tel Aviv on 31st May 1983.
Click here for the engagement photo of Gertie and Morris.
Click here for the Nochimovicz/Nickel family tree.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• Good luck to our daughter Vered Ron on her new job: VP Business Development at Landa Digital Printing. Benny Landa has just been  named the Ernst and Young Israel Entrepeneur of the Year, and you can read about him here.
  
• And congratulations to Vered and Aviv's daughter, our granddaughter Danielle, on getting her drivers's licence.
• We enjoyed a visit from Rebecca (Engleberg) Garbawy (Matz family tree) and met her new daughter, Sarah. See picture.
  
• While going through old pictures we came across this article about our son Aviv that was published in the online newspaper Ynet a few years ago. It's a terrific article, and if you  can read Hebrew it's worth reading. Click to read.
  

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October 25, 2014

Lotem's 9th birthday

Today we celebrated our granddaughter Lotem's 9th birthday. She invited her new friends to celebrate with her. The theme was "Animals" and the girls had a wonderful (and noisy!) time. There are more pictures on Lotem's page and also on Danielle's page

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• We had the pleasure this week of entertaining Ella and Archie Ogden, old friends from our St Thomas days. We had a lovely time talking about the "good old days" and catching up on family news. They will be spending about 2 months in Israel and we hope to see more of them.
  

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October 18, 2014

Hayman Levy  17/9/1904 - 21/10/1977

This week is the yahrtzeit  (anniverary) of the death of my father, Hayman Levy, who died in Durban South Africa after a operation to repair an aortic aneurysm.
He was a successful lawyer and very active in communiry affairs. His biggest achievement was the idea, organization and establishment of the Circle Country Club, with an 18-hole golf course, to accomodate Jewish golfers who were denied entry to existing Country Clubs. Read the item in "Hasholom", the monthly newsletter of the Durban Jewish community.
View more pictures and an obituary  in the Old Photos pages of this site.

• The Rons are returning today from their RV trip to Italy, Sovenia and Croatia. See last week's Picture.
• Last week I wrote that the Ron's trip reminded me of the RV trips Doreen and I had taken. One of our trips was more than 20 years ago. Daughter Vered and son-in-law Aviv, while they were still studying in New York at Columbia, joined Doreen and me for about a week on our RV trip in California and Oregon. See picture on Old Photos page.
  
• Doreen returned this morning from guiding a 10 day tour.

October 11, 2014

Danielle and Lior Ron with their RV in Slovenia

The Ron family - daughter Vered, Aviv, Danielle and Lior are touring Slovenia and Croatia in an RV (recreational vehicle, motorhome). From reports so far  they are having a fantastic time. There are some more pictures of the family here and on the pages of Danielle and Lior.
Travelling by RV is a fantastic way to see and get to know a country. Doreen and I have done it many times, including a 4 month Australia tour, and we definitely recommend it. In fact, seeing this picture, has brought back my desire to do another trip soon. How about it, Doreen?

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• While the Rons are touring Slovenia and Croatia, little Zoe Segoli is looking after their dog Tuli.  It's apparently a love affair between the two.
  
• I drove down to Eilat this week with Tuli (who had been with us for a few days) and Lopsy, and dropped Tuli off at Sde Boqer to be looked after by Zoe. In return I got the other two Segoli kids, Maayan and Lotem,  and we drove down to Eilat to visit  the Eilati Levys, Itamar, Amit and Ilai. The cousins are having a terrific time, and when it was time for me to return they wanted to stay. So they are still in Eilat and dad Moran will pick them up later today or tomorrow.
• Doreen is away guiding a 10 day tour.

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October 4, 2014

Mikhal Segoli

Congratulations to daughter-in-law Mikhal Segoli on her appointment as Senior Lecturer in the Institute for Dryland and Energy Research at the Sde Boqer campus of  Ben Gurion University. She started work this week and we wish her every success in this new and important step in her academic life.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• Congratulations to Max and Aviva Melamed (See Nocimovich family tree) on the birth of their fourth child, daughter Sara Malka in London on 21st May 2014. Mazltov too to grandparents Graham and Lucille Melamed, and thanks to Graham for the update.
  
• The Rons - Aviv, Vered, Danielle and Lior - have rented a motor home and will be touring Croatia and Slovenia for the next 3 weeks. In the meantime we are dogsitting their dog, Tuli, but next week Zoe and the Segolis will have the job.
  
• Shirley Poluck, a friend from our ulpan days in 1965 in Netanya, is visiting Israel and stayed with us for a night. We see her fairly often in Israel or in England and it's always a pleasure. See picture.
  
• Moran has updated the Segoli Monthly page - it's the last update from Australia. Click for update in Hebrew and in English.

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September 27, 2014

We celebrated the first night of Rosh Hashanah 5775 (Jewish New Year) in Eilat with Aviv and Limor at their home. Limor's family were there and also Vered and the Rons. It was a very enjoyable evening, and the food - taste, varity and quantity - amazing. The best of typical Ashkenazi and Moroccan festival cuisine.

• Congratulations to Mark and Jordana Glogauer on the birth of a son, Jack, a brother for Chloe, on August 16th in Canada. Special mazeltov to grandparents  Eileen and Isaac Glogauer. The baby is named after Eileen's father. See Nickel family tree.
  
• We celebrated the New Year both in Eilat, with Aviv, Limor and the Levy and Sadeh families (the Segolis celebrated with the Segoli family); and in Netanya with the Segolis and Doreen's family at a party at our apartment..
• Moran has updated the Segoli Monthly page - it's the last update from Australia. Click for update in Hebrew and in English.
• Granddaughter Amit Levy is following in cousin Lior's footsteps and has joined Scouts.
  
• Thanks - and happy new year - to Florence Levin for sending some updates to the Glezer/Gordon family tree.

• Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Doreen, who fractured her hand in a bicycle accident.
• We will celebrate the New Year both in Eilat, with Aviv, Limor and families; and in Netanya with the Segolis and Doreen's family.

Ben Tal and Lee Agiev are married

Congratulations to mom Cheryl, brothers Adam and Ron, and grandparents Shirley and Nathan Kansky on the marriage of Ben to Lee, on Sunday 31 August. (see Hershovitz/Levy and Matz family trees.)
As Ben and Lee are haredi orthodox the wedding was a traditional haredi wedding with male and female guests separated for the celebrations. It was an interesting change from the usual weddings we go to.

Click here for a picture of "my girls" at the wedding.

• Daughter Vered and granddaughter Dani flew to New York, USA, this week for a short vacation. Enjoy yourselves! See picture.
  
• The Segolis drove down to Eilat to spend the weekend with the Levys. From reports it seems that a good time was had by all and the cousins had a ball, and Zoe was "adopted" by Amit. See Moran's selfie of the cousins.

Zelig Goldberg

Zelig Goldberg is my great grandfather on my mother's side. During World War I Zelig and some of his family temporarily moved from Lithuania to the Ukraine. I recently visited Sarah Olkienitski (Zelig's granddaughter) and she gave me some postcards (see This Week's Picture Archives) written by Zelig to my grandfather and grandmother (Isaac and Roddeh Shapiro) in Kimberley South Africa.These postcards had been given to Sarah by my mother's sister, Dora. They shed some light on the hardships faced by our ancestors in Eastern Europe. Last week I posted a translation of one of the postcards - click here to read it.
By Jewish tradition, now unfortunately largely disregarded, children are named in memory of ancestors, and the name Zelig was given to my late cousin, Vivian Zelig Klaff, and recently to his grandson, Asher Zelig Klaff. (click for links and pictures of both Zeligs).
See Goldberg family tree.

• Read the Segoli update with some lovely pictures of their last weeks in Ausralia before their retun to Israel, in Hebrew or in English.
• We've had a busy week: helping the Segolis settle in in Sde Boqer, some bridge with Doreen at the Carmel Forest Resort, a couple of days in Eilat with the Aviv Levys (especially visiting the soon to be opened shark attraction) ; and during all this a burst water pipe while we were away that flooded most of our apartment. Fortunately there was not much permanent damage.

Descendants of Leiba Nickel: Gali Nickel, Danielle Ron, Rachel Hodes

As noted a couple of weeks ago, we were delighted to meet a new relative.  Rachel Hodes, granddaughter of Doreen and Louise's cousin Marsha Krengel, who was in Israel studying, contacted us. We met her at the apartment of Julius and Laura Nickel. Present were 4 generations of Leiba Nickel's descendants: Julius, Louise Braverman, Louis Nickel and children Gali and Amit, Rona Nickel and children Matar and Leshem, and Doreen (and I) with granddaughter Danielle. The three older girls, above, were surprised to find out that they were all born in September 1995. Rachel is a delightful young lady and we were all happy to meet our new relative. See Nickel/Nochimovicz family tree.
While we enjoyed Laura's snacks Julius spoke to us about his father Leiba who was a wood carver in Slonim, Belarus. (See examples of his carvings here)

Click for some more pictures.

• Last month I posted a picture of the address side of a postcard sent from Eastern Europe to South Africa by my great-grandfather Zelig Goldberg. There were 11 postcards in all, and I have had them translated from Russian. An example of one of the postcards can be seen here.
  
• Read the Segoli update with some lovely pictures of their last weeks in Ausralia before their retun to Israel, in Hebrew or in English.
• Congratulations to granddaughter Lior Ron on successfully undergoing training to become a Scouts group leader. See picture.
• Nearly 10 years ago  good friend Yona Wiseman wrote an account on this site of her amazing experience and her miraculous survival in the Sri Lankan tsunami. Last week she received an email from a doctor who had come across what she had written and who had been in the same train with a similar experience. His email is reproduced here, following Yona's account.

The Segolis come home
Welcome - Moran, Mikhal, Maayan, Lotem and Zoe

After 5 years overseas (Davis, USA and Townsville, Australia) our youngest son Moran and family have returned to Israel. They will be returning to their house in Sde Boker where Mikhal will be a lecturer at Ben Gurion University. The Levy and Segoli families (as well as Tuli and Flopsy) were at the airport to meet them - see picture here.

Moran sent us a picture from Australia showing how although they had 15 suitcases they still considered that they were packing "light".

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• In the weeks before leaving Australia, the Segolis toured the southern part of Australia. In Melbourne they visited Doreen's cousin Mark Glasser and family. See picture.    (see Glezer family tree)
• Doreen is a volunteer with the "Road to Recovery" organization that transports sick Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza to Israel hospitals for advanced medical treatment. Their activity continued during these troubled times, as is evident from the TV report which can be viewed on  "You Tube". Doreen has previously written in her column about her voluntary work for this organization.
  
• This week we had the pleasure of meeting a "new" relative from South Africa. Rachel Hodes is studying in Israel and we and the Israel Nickels got to know her at a brunch at the home of Julius and Laura Nickel. More and pictures next week.
  
• While in Eilat, granddaughter Lior went wall climbing. Click for pictures of her and of cousins Itamar, Amit and Ilai.
• Back to gardening. I finally pulled out all the old tomatoes, lettuces, bok choy, chard etc in my garden and planted new crops. In the meantime we had a bumber crop of delicious mangoes this year (see picture),  and lot of avocadoes are ripening and await us, and the lemon tree is as usual keeping us well supplied. Unfortunately. for some reason we had no (=zero) pomegranates this year.

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August 9, 2014

Louise and Doreen playing against Bess Hoffman and Fay Pokroy

Yesterday Doreen's sister Louise Braverman invited some friends for bridge and lunch to celebrate her birthday. There were 12 players so I organised a 3 table pairs competition with duplicated boards. Everyone enjoyed the bridge and the delicious lunch.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• Daughter Vered Ron started a new job this week. She is VP Business Development at Landa Labs. Landa Labs was set up by printing guru Benny Landa mainly for research connected with nano-technology and its application in industry. About 80 scientists plus support staff are employed at the Labs. Vered's job will entail setting direction and priorities for the technologies with a focus on commercialising them. Congratulations Vered, and good luck!
• We are looking forward to Friday morning when the Segolis, Moran, Mikhal, Maayan, Lotem and Zoe, return home to Israel after 5 years in the USA and Australia. We will be helping them move into their house in Sde Boqer. Mikhal will be starting her new job as a lecturer at Ben Gurion University and Moran is investigating some job opportunities. We wish them good luck in their new/old location.
• Granddaughter Lior Ron is in Eilat helping uncle Aviv at the Underwater Observatory. Sister Danielle will join her later this week.

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August 2, 2014

Skipper Vered, with husband Aviv looking on

As we noted a month ago, our daughter Vered Ron has received her skipper license. (Click here for a picture.). This week she invited us and a few friends to go sailing with her. We enjoyed the sail, and were very impressed with her sailing skills.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• Today we invited some ex-Eilati friends and had a luncheon party for Dalia Lamdani. Some pictures here.    (also, see Doreen's Column last month on Dalia's latest book).

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July 26 2014

Postcard from Zelig Goldberg in Lithuania, addressed to his son-in-law Isaac Schapiro in Kimberley South Africa 17 December 1915

This week we visited Sarah Olkienitski, my late mother's cousin, who lives in Tel Aviv. (Click here for the Goldberg Family Tree).  Our grandson Itamar was with us and he was thrilled to meet a bit of history - someone who is a Holocaust survivor, and came to Israel on the ship "Altelena". Even more amazing to him was that someone so old (at 91,she is the oldest person he has ever met), could quote the formula for solving a quadratic equation! (See picture of Sara and Itamar)

Sarah showed me a letter that her sister Shulamith in Lithuania  had written to my aunt Dora (my mother's sister) in 1939 just before the outbreak of  World War II. The letter is reproduced here.

Sarah also gave me 11 postcards written by my great grandfather, Zelig Goldberg, to his family in South Africa. (see the address side of one of them above). The postcards were written (in Russian) between 1915 and 1917 when Lithuania was part of the Russian Empire. I  am having them translated  and hopefully they may shed some light  on family history or at least on  the conditions of the Lithuanian family at that time.
(Written later: see all the postcards, translations and notes)

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• This was a week of Eilat grandchildren. Itamar finished English summer school (a huge success) and his two sisters Amit and Ilai spent the week with us and with daughter Vered and family. Yesterday Vered and Aviv drove to Eilat with daughters Dani and Lior, and with the three Eilat Levys. We didn't envy that trip, but Vered reports that it was very pleasant. See picture here.
• Mikey Glasser from Australia is spending a few days with us. He was due to leave for home earlier but because of the security situation his original flight, plus another later one, have been cancelled.  see Glezer family tree

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July 19 2014

In a bomb shelter in Tel Aviv

The rocket attacks are still going on. Doreen, Vered, Itamar and Lior were visiting the Titanic Exhibition (see picture) at the Tel Aviv Fairhgrounds when a siren sounded, and they took shelter in the reinforced parking lot.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• I'm back from my visit to the bridge tournament in Berghausen, Germany.
  
• Our grandson Itamar is still staying with us (see picture) and enjoying his "English" summer camp. This weekend he was joined by sisters Amit and Ilai. Doreen took them to the Eretz Yisrael Museuem where they enjoyed an exhibition on kites, and made their own. Click for picture.
  
• Our good friend Dalia Lamdani has just published a book, in which we get a mention. See Doreen's column.
  
• The Segolis are continuing their trip in south Australia (see picture). Read Moran's update in Hebrew or in English.

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July 12, 2014

The Salzach River between Ach and Burghausen.

The 12th European Junior Bridge Championships are taking place in Burghausen, Germany, and I am in Burghausen as the chief Tournament director (judge.) Actually I'm not sure it's accurate to say that I am in Burghausen, for, although the Championships are taking place there (in the grayish building on the right of vthe above picture, I am staying at an Hotel in Ach, Austria (the building on the left on the river.) In the morning I walk along the river, cross the bridge over the river and pass from Austria to Germany; and later cross back again after the day's play. It's a pleasant 7 minute walk.
Click here for some more pictures

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• As Israel is pounded by rockets fired from Gaza, Doreen has written her thoughts on Operation Protective Edge, and peace in our area. She clearly expresses what many of us believe is the hope for the future. Click here to read her column.
  
• As noted last week, our grandson Itamar is in Netanya staying at our house under the watchful eye of Grannie Doreen. Itamar is very keen to improve his English and will spend 3 weeks attending an English Summer School programme. See pictures here.
  
• The Segolis are continuing their trip in south Australia. Read Moran's update in Hebrew or in English.

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July 5, 2014

The Executive Board of the European Bridge League (EBL)

I have just spent 10 days in Opatija, Croatia, at the European Bridge Championships. It was a very successful championship but especially so for me and for Israel. I was elected for a 4 year term to the Executive Board by the 45 member General Assembly (with the most votes); and Israel, for the first time in history, won the gold medal in the Open Teams Competition, a fantastic achievement in one of the most prestigious events in the bridge world. (see details here).

Doreen "whatsapped" the above picture (taken immediately after the results of the election) to the family and she received a message from grandson Maayan; "Tell Saba I'll buy him a tie as a present."

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• Doreen and I are back in Israel after our successful trip to Croatia (see above). Later this week I travel to Germany as Chief Director of the European Youth Pairs Bridge Championships.
  
• Our grandson Itamar wil lbe arriving from Eilat this evening. He will stay with us and spend 3 weeks attending an English Summer School programme. Itamar is very keen to improve his English.
  
• Mikey Glasser, son of Mark and Sue from Australia, is visiting Israel and was with us last evening. (see Glezer family tree). We spent a delightful evening picnicking on the Mandarin beach in Tel Aviv with the Rons and friends. (see picture.).
  
• We wish Mark Glasser a speedy recovery after the treatments he is currently undergoing.
  
• The Segolis are touring Australia for a last look before they return to Israel in August. Moran sent us this charming picture of Zoe.
  
• As noted last week, our daughter Vered Ron received her skipper certification. Click here for a picture.

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June 28, 2014

• We are in  Opatija in Croatia for the European Bridge Championships. I am leading the Israel delegation (teams in the Open, Ladies and Seniors events.) The competition finishes on Monday next. Tomorrow the elections for the executive committee of the European Bridge League will take place and  I am a candidate with an outside chance of being elected.
  
• This is our third trip to Croatia and as usual we are thoroughly enjoying our visit to this beautiful part of the world. I have been busy but we have had time to enjoy some good food, and Doreen took a day off from campaigning for me and visited the Italian city of Trieste. (see pictures)
  
• Congratulations to our darling daughter Vered on her birthday today. But extra special congratulations to her - this week she passed her final exam and is now a certified boat Skipper. We're proud of you Vered. (see picture)

• We are enjoying our stay in London. In addition to doing the "usual things" here, we are fortunate that cousins Charles and Sheenagh Levy are also in London (see last week's page). Tomorrow we return to Israel.
  
• Doreen celebrated her 70th birthday this week - twice, and in different countries! On birthday eve we  celebrated with Pia Zain (see above) in Ireland at the Ballymoele Restaurant, and on birthday evening in London with Charles and Sheenagh at a delighful fish restaurant. (see pictures).
• We went to Manchester to visit relative Joe Woolwich, who is in a care home there. He doesn't get many visitors, but is in frequent contact with devoted friend June Hirshmiller. He was very happy to see us.
• Moran Segoli paid a short 4 day to Israel from Australia in connection with a possible job. He landed in Tel Aviv shortly before we departed and we were fortunately able to have breakfast with him at the airport.
  
• Moran has posted his latest Segoli update, click to read  in Hebrew or in English.

• We are visiting London and will be away from home for about 10 days. Later this week we fly to Ireland for two days to meet our new-found relative Pia Zain.  We will also visit relative Joe Woolwich in Manchester,and of course spend time with South African cousins Charles and Sheenagh Levy. In between all this we will see some theatre, go to an opera, and of course do some shopping.
  
• A big mazal tov to Jenna and Yonatan Carno in Johannesburg, South Africa, on the birth of their first child, a girl. Congratulations too to grandparents Cecile and Raymond Cotton, and great grandmother Winnie Levy. (See Hershovitz/Levy and Matz family trees.)
  
• We enjoyed the performances of the dancers at granddaughter Lior's school end of year event. Lior danced beautifully and we were very proud of her. See pictures here.
• We spent a very pleasant few hours with Arie and Carli Davis, children of Lindy and Richard Davis of New Zealand. (see picture.) Arie and Carli Davis are studying in the USA and came on a visit to Israel with the "birthright" programme. We've known Lindy and Richard since our Bahamas days and have kept in touch and  seen them a few times since then. We are Arie's godparents and and visited the Davises  in New Zealand for older brother Jordan's barmitzvah in 2001 (see link).
  
• An evening picnic in Park Raanana has become an annual tradition during Shavuot  for the Glazer branch of the family in Israel. This year was no exception and we enjoyed the company, the food and the cool evening. See picture here.
  
• Moran has posted his latest Segoli update, click to read  in Hebrew or in English

• Congratulations to our sporting niece, Denise Braverman, who successfully took part in the Herzliya International Women's Triathlon today. See picture of Denise at the finish line.    (See Nochimovicz, Glezer and Schank family trees.)
  
• Frankie Klaff and David Rothschild were in California visiting grandson Asher and parents Oren and Amalia Klaff. Dave sent us some lovely pictures of the family there. (See Goldberg family tree.)
  
• Max and Aviva Melamed's baby daughter born last week on 21 May (see This Week's News Archives) has been named Sara Malka. Click here for a picture of her. (Thanks, aunt Melodie Nathan!).  (the family tree has been updated, see Nochimovicz/Nickel family tree.)
• Melodie also sent me a picture of her lovely daughter Gabi receiving her karate purple belt. Congratulations, Gabi!
  

• While in Eilat we took the opportunity of having breakfast with Hanoch Bar-Nov, Itamar's tutor, and his wife Alice.
• We were delighted that Aharon Miroz, and old and dear friend and colleague, was visiting from Coral World in Palma de Majorca. Aharon and Benjamin Kahn, Coral World's owner, took us on a tour of  the site of the impressive new shark tank that is being constructed. (see last week's This Week's Picture).
• Doreen went on a day tour of the West Bank and has written about the visit. Click to read her column.
  
• Mazaltov to Max and Aviva Melamed on the birth of a sister to Daniella, Yehuda and Talia. Special mazaltov to grandparents Graham and Lucille Melamed. (see Nochimovicz/Nickel family tree.)
  

May 17, 2014

Aviv Levy with shark tank tunnel

The Coral World Marine Park in Eilat is installing a walk-through shark tunnel. Our son, Aviv, who is the Technical Director of Coral World is therefore very busy. Unfortunately he had an accident when a ladder he was on collapsed, and he injured his arm badly. Get well quickly, Aviv.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• Our daughter Vered Ron and her husband Aviv are spending a few days in Madrid, Spain and by all accounts having a wonderful time. See pictures.
• A few months ago our grandaughter Lior started a What's App group for our immediate family. The volume and variety of postings is amazing. This morning the family sent pictures of what they prepared for Friday night dinner last night. See pictures here.
• The Segolis have updated their site. For the latest update (April) go to the site  in Hebrew or in English.

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May 10, 2014

Doreen at the New York School for Culinary arts

• Welcome to this world, Sarah Garbawy! Mazal tov to all the family, parents Kobi and Rebecca Garbawy, brothers Benjamin and Eliyahu, and grandparents David and Charlene Engleberg. May you have much joy from the new addition to the family. (see Matz family tree).
• Raphael Klotnick celebrated his barmitzvah today. Mazal tov to him and to parents Ian and Talya. (see Matz family tree).
• The Segolis have updated their site. For the latest update (april) go to in Hebrew or in English.

• Well, we're back from our long enjoyable trip to Australia, Hong Kong and Vietnam, and are busy catching up on on our regular routines.
• The trip to Australia was  probably our last trip there, for the Segolis have decided to return to Israel later this year. Mikhal has completed her project there on mosquitoes and Dengue fever, and Moran is about to complete the practical side of his project.  They both have several job possibilities in Israel.
• The Hershovitz/Levy family tree has been updated. (thank you, Dan Nathan and Pia Zain!)
• Aviv Ron sent us some lovely pictures of the seder with the Sadeh family at Aviv and Limor's house, and of their vacatiom in Eilat afterwards. Click here for pictures.

• Hello again from Hong Kong. We have just spent a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting week in Vietnam (read Doreen's report with pictures.). Tonight we leave Hong Kong on the final leg of our journey back to Israel.
  
• We have a new diver in the family. Granddaughter Lior Ron has just passed a diving course and is now a certified diver. Congratulations!
• Moran Segoli sent us some pictures of our grandchildren on a visit to the Billabong Wildlife reserve in Townsville. Click for pictures of Maayan, Lotem and Zoe.

• Hello from Hanoi, Vietnam. We arrived last night after two interesting and tasty days in Hong Kong. (see pictures.) We will spend a week in Vietnam and then return for 2 days to Hong Kong before flying home to Israel.
• It was sad leaving Australia and the Segolis after our visit there. After the visit to the Red Centre (see pictures from last week, and a few from this week), we spent a few days in Townsville and celebrated the Passover festival with them. (see pictures)
• I was delighted to receive emails this week from two "lost" relatives, both children of second cousins. Dan Nathan (son of Susan (Levy) Nathan) wrote to me from Sweden, and Pia Zain (daughter of  Dawn (Levy) Zain) wrote to me from Kuala Lumpur.  I hope to keep up contact with them. (see Hershovitz/Levy family tree.

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• We wish a speedy and full recovery to Joel Klotnick (see Matz family tree) who is recuperating from a knee operation.
• We are still in Australia, and enjoying touring the Red Centre with the Segolis. We will be here for another 2 days, and then back to Townsville for a few days before continuing on to Hong Kong and Vietnam. Click for pictures of our trip in the Red Centre.

• We wish a speedy and full recovery to Joel Klotnick (see Matz family tree) who will undergo a knee operation this week.רפואה שלמה
• Grandson Itamar Levy celebrated his 10th birthday this week. His tutor, Hanoch, arranged with us to phone him at his party at schgool,  and his Segoli cousins and Doreen and I were delighted to wish him "happy birthday" from Australia.
• Congratulations to granddaughter Amit Levy who was this month's "Outstanding Pupil" in her class at school. (Picture here).

• After a tiring 30 hour journey we finally arrived in Townsville, Australia. and are enjoying the Segoli family.
  
• We arrived on Wednesday and on Friday Doreen, Moran and Mikhal went on a shipwreck dive (see Doreen's Column) leaving me to care for the three kids,a surprisingly easy job.  Today was muffin day, with Doreen being helped by Maayan, Lotem and even Zoe.

• We are off to Australia in a few days time to spend some time with the Segolis. On the way back we will spend a week in Vietnam.
  
• Doreen finished her guiding in Eilat, and I spent a couple of days there with her. While there, Doreen went for a refresher dive with son Aviv in anticipation of a dive or two in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia in the next week or two.
• We said goodbye and bon voyage to Aura and Hilton Greenberg (and Happy Birthday to Aura) at a restaurant in the delightful renewed market place in Jaffa. Click for Picture.

• The festival of Purim has arrived - the time of fancy dress and costumes and special three-cornered homentaschen biscuits. Click here for pictures of our young family members dressed up.
  
• We received a picture of the three Segoli children bathing together. It reminded me of an earlier "5 in a tub" picture - click here for details.
  
• Doreen is away guiding a tour, and returns next Wednesday.
  
• You can access the latest Segoli's monthy update for February here  in Hebrew and here  in English.

• Grandson Itamar Levy spent the weekend with us. He enjoyed reading, playing computer games and having his first bridge lesson. This afternoon we went to the Cameri Theatre (see picture) to see an excellent production of Fiddler on the Roof which Itamar enjoyed immensely.
  
• Also spending the weekend with us are long time friends from Toronto, Aura and Hilton Greenberg, whom we are always happy to see. Click here for a picture of a previous visit. And while we're at it, it's fun seeing again a group picture of Habonim youth movement taken in 1958. Look for Doreen and me, and Aura (Bilchik).
  
• Doreen invited some friends over for a bridge morning. She has the advantage of an international bridge director for a husband, so I organised an individual tournament which everyone enjoyed almost as much as they enjoyed the lunch Doreen had prepared. Click here for pictures.
  
• You can access the latest Segoli's monthy update for February here  in Hebrew and here  in English.

• We've had quite a busy week, which included an opera, a concert, a celebratory dinner in honour of friends Morris Kahn and Smokey Simon, lunch with Yael Galamadi (a friend from our first days in Israel), the Rons over for dinner, and the opening of an advanced Bridge Directors' Course I am giving.
• We wish speedy recoveries  to Avraham Segoli (daughter-in-law- Mikhal's father) from knee surgery, and to Hazel Wolfson, our ex-neighbour from Hofit, who underwent hip replacement .
  
• When the Segolis returned from their Israel trip in January they stopped over in Thailand and had a wonderful time. You can read a little about it and see some fantastic pictures on the Segoli site update  in Hebrew or in English.

• Daughter in law Mikhal Segoli has finished her research in Cairns and Moran and the children drove up to Cairns to join her for her last weekend there. The highlight of the visit to Cairns was the snorkeling and especially for Moran - a reminder of his snorkelling days in Eilat - meeting a large Napoleon wrasse. Click for pictures of  Lotem with a jelly fish and of Mikhal swimming next to the wrasse.
• During the European Bridge League Seminar in Berlin I was interviewed about my impressions of the seminar. Click here to see and hear the interview at the Seminar  and a week later, at the special schools competition at the Tel Aviv Festival I was interviewed for a Jerusalem Post article. Click here for this interview.
  
• When the Segolis returned from their Israel trip in January they stopped over in Thailand and had a wonderful time. You can read a little about it and see some fantastic pictures on the Segoli site update  in Hebrew or in English.

• We are in Eilat for a few days enjoying being with the Aviv Levy family.  See some pictures of a morning at Timna Park here and on the pages of Itamar, Amit and Ilai. While we were in Eilat it also rained, allowing the children to finally use their umbrellas.
• We spoke to Frankie Klaff (see Goldberg family tree) and saw via Skype that she and Dave are completely snowed in after the snow storms of the North-east America. They were in good spirits and we hope they'll soon be able to get out. See picture.
  
• The Tel Aviv Bridge Festival took place during last week and I was kept quite busy.

• Doreen and I are back in Israel after our 7 day visit to Berlin. The first three days I attended the  Officers' Seminar of the European Bridge League and then joined Doreen and friend Ruth Erez for some tours of Berlin with Jewish interest. Doreen has written an account of what we saw. You can read it and see pictures by clicking here. 
• We missed granddaughter Ilai's 7th birthday when we were in Berlin, so we were happy to receive a picture of her fabulous birthday cake.
  
• Moran has updated the Segoli site with activities and pictures from November and December. Click here for Hebrew and here for English..

• Doreen and I are in Berlin. We'll be here for 7 days. I will be attending an Officers' Seminar of the European Bridge League for three days and then see something of Berlin. Our good friend Ruth Erez has joined us here and will be enjoying Berlin first with Doreen and then with both of us.
• The Seminar is not only enjoyable and instructive by itself but also provides an opportunity to renew friendships with bridge friends. Last night we went out for dinner with  Branka and Goran Grguric of Croatia. See picture.
  
• Doreen's sister Louise Braverman belongs to a group of senior citizens called "Zumba Gold." This week they took part in a show to raise money to fight breast cancer. See picture here.
  
• Moran has updated the Segoli site with activities and pictures from November and December. Click here for Hebrew and here for English..

• We send our best wishes to Sybil Firer (sister of Frankie Klaff ) for a speedy and full recovery from her hip replacement operation.
• We had friends from our Hofit days over for dinner - Ruhama and Uri Plotnikov, and Alec and Rachel Ron. Doreen served a delicious fennel soup. You can see the  recipe here.
• Next week's update will be from Berlin, Germany, where I'll be attending a bridge officials' seminar.

• No family news to report this week.

• My odyssey through the old photo albums has yielded pictures of the 3rd Levy Family Reunion, which can be seen on the Our Family and  "Old Photos" pages.
• Doreen is back from guiding a 10 day tour, and daughter Vered is back from her short, but "fantastic", skiing holiday.
  
• Following Doreen's suggestion I have added a page to my site called "Old Photos". Slowly, so far very slowly, I'll be going through album after album of old photos from pre-digital days. Some of the photos will be "This Week's Pictures" and others will be shown on the Old Photos page. They're in no particular order, but later I hope to organize them in some kind of logical order. Click here to access the page.