Achmad the Camel from Purim

March

Two weeks back, I had the opportunity to go with the American Women’s club to the Bags and Purses Museum in Amsterdam. You may ask what is this? It is actually exactly what it sounds that. A local couple had been collecting purses and bags and they amassed so many they decided to make a museum. It was actually very neat. They had bags from a few hundred years ago and then some designer bags of today. They had bags made out of all different animals’ skins and even one bag that was a working telephone. (Before there were cellphones) It was a great afternoon and then we had high tea in the dining room. Of course I couldn’t eat anything, but was great to be spending a lovely afternoon with a bunch of great ladies.

Last weekend was exciting for us here in The Hague as it was Purim, a Jewish holiday celebrating one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination. Scott baked his famous hamantashen, a common pastry we eat on the holiday. We went to the synagogue on Sunday for the Purim festivities. The theme was a Bedouin Purim and it was in an Israeli style. All the food was Israeli, the kids made pitas and there was even a real live camel which the kids could take camel rides. We didn’t take a ride, but instead took a picture besides him. See above. Was a really fun day and there was a great turnout. Probably over 100 people. This is the first time we have seen many of the Jews who live in The Hague. It was nice to see that yes they do live close by and will turn up maybe just once a year.

Pictures

Friends from Home

Very exciting for us in February was that we had friends from home come to visit. Our friends had a wedding in Paris and decided to extend their trip and spend a few days in Amsterdam and in The Hague. They came with their 6 month old daughter, who is absolutely adorable. It was interesting to have to track down a car seat and pack and play, but we found the essentials so were all set for them. We met them one night in Amsterdam and took them to one of our favorite kosher restaurants in the city, Hacarmel. They said they also quite enjoyed it. Then on Thursday night we picked them up in Amsterdam. That was the first time we ever drove through the side streets in the Amsterdam city center. It was actually quite scary because the roads are so narrow and often on your left and right are canals. We were able to navigate our way thru and then took them to the kosher pizza place. Then Friday we explored The Hague. Scott would have taken off, but he was taking a 3 day First Aid course which he couldn’t miss. He volunteered to be a first aid responder at work and despite his extensive EMT training in the USA, he was required to take the course. We went to the Escher Museum and Mauritius museum, which houses the famous, painting Girl with the Pearl Earring. Then walked around the City Center and afterwards went over to the Peace Palace, which house the International Court of Justice. It is under construction, but you can still see the magnificent exterior which was financed by American Andrew Carnegie. Shabbos was so nice with them here. We had over about 9 people for lunch including us and our friends. They were able to meet some of our friends here and learn about life in The Hague. I know our friends were really impressed by the shul and Jewish community. Sunday we took them to Madurodam, which a replication of Holland in miniature. It is a site to see when you come to Holland. It was such a nice weekend for us to again show friends from home our life here. Before they came they asked us if they could bring anything from home. I said just them coming is a gift onto itself. It warms our hearts to every so often get to spend time with friends from home. It keeps us connected. Thanks Rivka, Marc and Neta!!!

Also in the past few weeks, we experienced dentistry in Holland. We had our checkups and I had a cavity filled. It was a bit of an overwhelming feeling as during the procedure they were speaking in Dutch and hard not to understand a word they were saying. But filling looks good and I survived, so can’t complain.

Last weekend we finally spent Sunday exploring in Amsterdam. We went to the Rijksmuseum to see the Rembrandt paintings and the famous Night Watch and then headed off to The Van Gogh Museum. At night we had the opportunity to go hear a speaker at the Amsterdam Jewish Community Center. It was a great opportunity to meet some new people and we had our first taste of kosher sushi in Holland. We were so excited and asked the rebbetzin where it came from and she said they hired someone to make it. Oh well. I guess another thing we can learn to make.