Very cold weather

Fingers crossed ... we're getting news that a ceasefire has been signed by rebels and govt. forces in Aleppo which will take effect midnight tonight. Let's hope it'll hold. People need food, medicine and shelter in this bitter winter cold. Pray hard.

My 1st cup of
sahlab this winter

And it still is very cold tonight here in our city. It's not been raining and it shouldn't for the next few days. Forecast says it's 12 degrees now but it feels like zero degrees .... feels a lot colder than yesterday. Even local guys are wearing gloves and beanies to keep warm. It's times like this that a warm cup of sahlab is most welcome. I had my first cup this winter last week when I was in Netanya for midnight Mass. My friend Shlomi who runs a juice / crunchy-munchy hawker stall in front of our church was also selling sahlab, and he offered me one. It's actually a turkish beverage made from the roots of an orchid. The crushed powder is mixed with milk and a dash of cinnamon ... and it's one great comfort drink in this cold weather. I skipped the optional peanut and coconut topping because I'm allergic to the former and dislike the latter. The dried form of sahlab ... mixed with jelly ... is the world famous Turkish Delight.

Today's papers carried the news that some Israeli arabs were removed from a plane  at the request of Israeli passengers. They felt threatened by arab presence onboard. In any other country it would constitute racism and discrimination.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.695633

Sufganiot from Gagou de Paris

Hanukkah will end on New Year's Day, so security has been heightened. It was quite noticeable today as the holiday nears. Even police helicopters were hovering over the Old City all morning. Let's hope everything will be fine as 2017 approaches. One consolation - Hanukkah means sufganiot (polish "ponschki") ... my favourite!! I passed by Gagou de Paris ... the fantastic french bakery at King George Street run by a family of french jews the other day to watch my friend (can't remember his name) cook some sufganiot. It's always so captivating to watch great chefs at work.