Something sounds similar?

"We e-mailed each other, exchanged photographs, realised we had a lot in common and that our frequencies matched," she recalls.

Something sounds familiar?

I'm an alien...

... I'm a legal alien ...

Get_your_Green_Card_here.com

I am now a Permanent Resident Alien. Which is what is known in lay-man's terms as a Green Card holder. Yes, however unbelievable it is, I now have a green card! (Well, the equivalent stamp in my passport - see pic.) Actually, most people don't know that the Green Card is neither green, nor card. It is actually pink and is plastic! Our attorney said it is a record how quickly I got it - 2.5 months from the date of filing. That is two and a half months!!! Even though I we paid a small fortune for it, it was worth it in the end and I would recommend this attorney to anyone who is going to go through the same thing. and No, I am not just saying this because he is now reading this blog! - He wanted to know how we met - so I told him and tried to explain what blogging was all about, and showed him (a few of) our blogs. ;-)

They actually only asked me 3 basic questions (and a list of standard "I have not done anything illegal" questions but I'll get on to those another time), but for the whole procedure lasted 5 hours! FIVE HOURS of grilling absolute nothing. 40 minutes of waiting in waiting room 1, moved to a different waiting room - for 2 hours, a 5 minute interview and then back to waiting room 1 again for 2.5 hours. At the end of it they returned my passport with my permanent residency stamp of approval - the card will come in the mail in a few weeks. So I am now free to travel (and work). I guess it was worth it in the end - even though my secret is now out - I am now officially an alien.

My Most Favourite De...

My Most Favorite Devar Torah!

It was once asked what my favorite Dvar Torah was and I decided to post one I always remember - which is on this weeks parsha. I can't recall it fully and don't claim to know / understand its full depth ( a lot of kabbalistic ideas here), but it resonates within me, which is why I think it must be a favorite.

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In this weeks sedra, Yaakov leaves Israel (running from Esav) and is going to Canaan (looking for a wife).
You know the story - he lays down to sleep, has a dream about angels going up and down a ladder to heaven, and when he awakes, he finds that the 12 small stones he puts around his head to protect him, conglomerate into one big stone.

The verse says : (בראשית כח:טז)
וייקץ יעקב משנתו, ויאמר אכן יש ה' במקום הזה, ואנכי לא ידעתי


And Yaakov awakes from his sleep and says "Achein, yesh Hashem bamokom hazeh" - behold there is G-d in this place, "veAnochi lo yodaati" - and I did not know.

There are many things to say about this episode but this was one I had never seen/heard of before and haven't heard it since.

Reb Shimshon mi'Ostroplia says in Netzutzei Shimshon the following explanation:

The Kisay Hakovod - G-d's Throne of Glory, has four legs - each representing a different attribute, each represented by a different creation.

Yaakov previously understood there to be only 3 legs. Aryeh - a lion, Keruv - a cherub, an angel and Nesher - an eagle. When Yaacov was sleeping, he saw at the top of the ladder G-d's Throne. He saw the 3 legs Aryeh Keruv and Nesher, so when he awakes, he says אכן - A'ChaiN, if there is Aryeh, Kruv and Nesher, (the neumonic) "yesh Hashem bemakom hazeh", then there must be G-d in this place.

BUT he did not previously know of the fourth leg. The fourth leg has an image of Yaakov himself! Which is why he continues, and says but ואנכי לא ידעתי "ANoCheY, lo yodaati" but Areyeh, Nesher, Kruv and YAACOV - this, that I am the fourth side, this I did not know!

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Thinking about it now, I have no idea what it is really talking about, but it is one dvar Torah that I remember very clearly.

Breaaaaaattttttthhhhhh

Shalom Shalom, its good to be back!
I have been trying for a while to find some time to blog again but there was so many more important things to do - and there still is, just that it has become practically more efficient to once again blog! What started with a quick short email response last week, quickly snowballed to a full thesis on what I've been up to recently and realized how much more I have to add, I decided it would be easier to revert to just blogging it for all instead!

So what's married life like? How is life treating me? Am I settling down?
Umm, basically life now is incomparable to before. I am so much more settled and very happy and it seems like I hit the jackpot! B"H ALL IS GREAT!

While we have been away, there have been many changes & updates, both online and off. With a plethora of friends to keep up with, there have been many life events too, from births to deaths, engagements to divorce (with a few marriages in between), sharing with each other at each time. In some way, through blogging I/we have altered the world but now it seems with two of us together there is so much more to accomplish. Both online & off, we are trying to set up shidduchim - no matches yet but it will happen soon.

Mazel Tov

Praise The L-rd for HE is great!




Thanks to all those who were able to join in our simcha, especially to those who traveled from far and wide, especially to the bloggers who came!

It was a fantastic. My feet are slowly starting to sense the ground (but not there yet). I don't recall much and am hoping the official photos and video will revive the moment. This picture was taken by special request for all those bloggers who could not be there but wanted to partake of the Sheva Brochos wine. (If you would like to tase some, please send a S.A.E. to the usual address).

What is a wedding?

Where the WE comes before the I.