What's the Connection Between Macy’s and the Israeli City Holon?

Shalom Yeladim:

Here’s the answer: Macy’s holds an annual Thanksgiving Day Parade with people from all over the United States coming to see it, and every year Holon holds its Purim Adloyada Parade, with Israelis from north to south attending. Both of these parades are unbelievable pageants with huge floats, bands, dance troupes, balloons and more. Now, I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes of the Macy’s parade, but I do know that Holon has a special puppet center with a school that teaches how to make puppets. Even better, it has a two-year course in carnival art which trains people on how to build giant puppets like this Jungle Boy float. It is gigantic puppet floats like this that make Holon’s Adloyada parade so special.

The parade is about to begin. I’ve got to fly. I want to buzz around and meet the puppet makers. A giant Zvuvi float sounds good to me for next year’s parade.

Hey…you never know.

Purim Sameach…Zvuvi

What do Haman and the Pyramids Have in Common?

Shalom Yeladim:
The answer is really neat. Right we all eat Hamantashen on Purim? In Israel we call them Oznei Haman (which means “Haman’s ears”) and they go on sale in the makolet – local supermarket – around a month before Purim. Every year bakers all over the country try to outdo themselves by coming up with new ideas. This year one baker came up with such an unusual idea that it was covered on the news. Are you ready for this? Pyramid shaped Oznei Haman! He said he was inspired by the current events going on in our part of the world and he wanted to show the Egyptians that he agreed with their push for democracy. So instead of cutting his dough into triangles he cut it into rectangles. He filled each rectangle with a traditional poppy seed mix, lifted its the corners and pinched them into the shape of a pyramid. Pretty cool, and much closer to the real meaning of Hamentashen – which is German for “pockets of poppy seeds”.
Hey – I wonder if pyramid costumes will be a hit this Purim as well. You never know! I’ll keep you posted.
Zvuvi

I Just Returned from the States. Now I’m Getting Ready for Purim.

Shalom Yeladim:

Long time no hear! I’m back from my trip to the United States. I had a great time meeting kids like you in New York, Providence and Miami. It was so much fun flying around, introducing boys and girls to Israel by playing “Pin Zvuvi on the Map” and of course, meeting loads of “relatives” wherever I went. We flies are some clan.

Now that I’m back in Israel I can see Purim fever is beginning to take hold. Last week the TV news already had a story on professional costume designers – and Purim is still a month away! But Purim in Israel is BIG TIME. It’s a combination of Mardi Gras and Halloween. There’s no school for 3 days and kids walk the streets in costume 2-3 days before the holiday sets in. On Purim day many cities hold Purim parades called 'ADLOYADA' that are complete with floats, bands and dancing.

So, right now everyone – children and adults – are busy sewing and buying costumes. Last year Bob the Builder was one of the big costume hits. I can’t wait to see this year’s costume winner.

What are you dressing up as? Hey, how about dressing up as me, Zvuvi??!! If Tami can have a puppet made up to look like me, then you can certainly make a Zvuvi costume. Look at this picture and see if it helps.

Keep me posted…Zvuvi

This Coming Thursday is Tu B’Shvat

Shalom Yeladim:
This coming Thursday is Tu B’Shvat – the Jewish Arbor Day – and tree planting is what I want to talk about. Remember the Carmel Forest fire? Remember I asked for your help? There’s no better day than Tu B’Shvat to help restore and reforest. Please ask your teachers how you and your class can help plant a tree in the Carmel Forest. I would really appreciate it.

I have to pack my suitcase. Tami and I are flying off tonight for a one month’s author tour in the United States. I am going to be buzzing around and talking to kids in schools located in New York, Providence and Miami. Tami asked me to tell you that we’re going to be a little bit tight for time so there won’t be any blog posts (mine or her Jewish holiday customs) until after we return to Israel in mid-February.

Do you want to meet me in person? Write to Tami. She says that we’re flying back to the States in November. Between now and mid February you can write to her at: tamilehmanwilzig@gmail.com Once we’re back in Israel, drop her line at tami@tlwkidsbooks.com
L’Hitraot…Zvuvi

Israel is a Country that’s for the Birds

Shalom Yeladim:
I bet you didn’t know that over 300 different kinds of birds spend their winter in Israel. Not only that, every Spring 500 million birds pass through our skies! You’ve got it – Israel is a country that’s for the birds and our fine feathered friends are definitely getting a bird’s eye view of our country. And the 500 million birds? Our President – Shimon Peres – says that’s a world record!

Yup, you could say we’re a bird watching superpower. Bird watchers from all over the world come to our shores to look at our skies. More than one little birdie told me so. We’re so popular that we’ve just held our first International Bird Watching Festival in the Galilee and last year we held our fourth Bird Watching Festival in Eilat. Our bird watching season starts in October and lasts until the end of March. One of the best places to bird watch is the Hula Valley, an agricultural region in northern Israel. It’s a hot spot for birds migrating along the Syrian-African rift. They’re kinda like tourists traveling between Africa, Europe and Asia, making Israel their stopover. Hey, I wonder if they fly First Class? After all, they have to take care of themselves since a lot of them are endangered species – like Common Cranes, Imperial and Greater Spotted Eagles, Pygmy Cormorant, Black Storks, and you wouldn’t believe it – 30 different kinds of birds of prey, as well as pelicans, ducks and geese.

With all these birds coming and going, I bet you’re wondering if any of them make Israel their home. The answer is “yes.” We even have a national bird – and it’s not the bald eagle. Ours is the cute Hoopoe Bird.

It’s a medium sized bird that stands out because of its color combination of orange, black and white, and its long, thin bill that it uses for poking at the ground. When it flies it looks like a giant butterfly.

What other birds live in Israel? I think finding out is a great project for you and your classmates.
Me? I gotta fly. After all, I’m as free as a bird – and a lot more fun!
L’Hitraot…Zvuvi

See If You Can Catch Me On The Fly. I’m About To Slam Dunk.

Shalom Yeladim:
I know you’re going to think I’m stuck on Hanukkah. Last time I wrote about the Carmel Forest Fire that started on the third day of Hannukah. Now I’m going to tell you about the Maccabees. But this time I’m talking about the modern Maccabees – Maccabi Tel Aviv – Israel’s top basketball team. It’s a 5-time champion of the European Basketball league and it’s making a comeback. Several years have passed since the team won the league’s championship. Looks like this year it may be able to do it again. This past Thursday Maccabi won its eighth game in a row, meaning it definitely is going to be in the playoffs.


I bet you’re saying we have the NBA and that’s much more important. So here’s the thing: the coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv is an American, and not just any American.

His name is David Blatt and he’s an American who made Aliyah to live here even though many years ago he played college basketball at Princeton University and could have had a basketball career in the United States. Instead, he chose to play professional basketball in Israel. Eventually he went on to coaching, landing up with Maccabi Tel Aviv. That was around 10 years ago and boy was he good. So good that Russia asked him to coach two of their teams – which he did. And he’s so good, the New York Times wrote an article about him. But now he’s back with us. You can keep track of Maccabi by going to their website. Right now all of its European league games are played and televised in Israel on Thursday night. Go, go Maccabi!!!!

One more thing: I almost forgot to tell you that David Blatt is not the first American to make Aliyah to play basketball in Israel. One of the players who helped Maccabi Tel Aviv win its first ever European championship in 1977 was Tal Brody – an American Jewish basketball player who had been drafted by the NBA. At the end of the game he held the cup above his head and declared to all of Israel Anachanu ahl ha’mapah – “We’re on the Map!” Since then Tal Brody has become a national hero and that statement has become one of the favorite phrases used by Israelis.

One last thing: If we’re speaking about Israelis and basketball – do you know that one of our players (yes, he also played for Maccabi Tel Aviv) is now playing in the NBA? His name is Omri Caspi and he’s a 6 foot,9 inch forward for the Sacramento Kings.

I’ve got to get to the B-Ball court right now, shoot some hoops and show everyone how I can slam dunk. It’s easy for me to fly in the air. You never know who may want to draft me.
Did you hear that David?

L’Hitraot…Zvuvi

Help! We’re Fighting a Mega Fire.

Shalom Yeladim:
I don’t usually visit you every week, but we have an emergency over here in Israel and I feel that I HAVE to tell you about it.

The largest fire in Israel’s history started this past Thursday – a Mega Fire spread by strong wind. At its peak it was jumbo size…so big that it killed 41 people, destroyed huge parts of one of Israel’s most beautiful forests, and forced 15,000 people to leave their homes.

This horrible fire is still raging. They say it will take a week to completely put it out. It’s right outside the city of Haifa and I want you to see what it looks like. Israeli photographer Guy Shachar posted these photos.

The Prime Minister of Israel – Benjamin Netanyahu – asked the world to help us because we don’t have the fire fighting planes that you do in America. Twenty-three fire aircraft from around the world came to our aid. America, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Great Britain, Greece, Russia, Spain, and Turkey sent us planes and firefighting crews to help us put out the fire. Egypt and Jordan – our next door neighbors that are at peace with us – also sent aid. Even the Palestinian Authority pitched in with some fire fighting units. Now that’s a good sign! Let’s hope we can work together on other topics that everyone’s all fired up about.

Back to the fire. We won’t know how much damage has been done until it is totally put out. What we do know right now is that over 12,000 acres of land in the Carmel region have been destroyed. Hundreds of families have lost their homes and the Hai-Bar Nature Reserve, which helps breed and save endangered and extinct animals, was also was hit by the fire but thankfully all the animals were saved.

I’m reporting about the fire because you and us – we’re family, and family always helps each other out. We’re going to need a lot of help – whether it’s planting trees to reforest the Carmel Forest, raising money so that we can buy special fire fighting airplanes, or just helping people put their lives back together. Maybe you and your teachers can create a project to assist us.

This time helping Israel is really a burning issue.
Please write to me and tell me what you think you can do.
Todah Rabah…Zvuvi