Silent elections

Today, there were local elections in my community for the community council.

And if you didn't know that, then you surely would not have known that if you were here either, because on a small moshav in the Golan Heights everyone knows everyone. So there was no need for election campaigning, no need for political debates, no gerrymandering, and even no need to show your ID before you voted.

All there was, was a little cardboard box to cast your vote into.

And of course there were also candidates - around 15 in all for five spots - who had to declare their candidacy, get this, by writing their name on the piece of paper that was taped onto the door of the local mini-market.

Save for the fact that I received an SMS regarding the results, it really reminded me of the time when I ran for class president back in the 4th grade. But my burning question is: what would have happened in the event that the wind blew the candidate list away?

And the #1 reason to spend Sukkot in the Golan

Home on the range!

With spectacular weather this past week (we went swimming in the Kinneret on October 1st), the Golan was the perfect place for those adventurous persons who enjoy sleeping in the Sukkah.

And as I put my head down on the pillow last night, I was reminded exactly where I was with the moos of the cows, the laughs of the jackals, and the howling of the wolves.

I'm going to miss Sukkot.

Mini Sukkah

Well, Sukkot is nearly over and it's going to be weird 'moving' back into the house. Don't get me wrong, I'll have lovely memories from this festival, but I also look forward to dancing with the Torahs tomorrow night.

One of the things we did this past week was visit the Sukkot Fair in Qatzrin. Natan made a flag for Simchat Torah with Chave and I made a mini Sukkah with Hadas.

And when the lady handing out the supplies said there were going to be prizes for the best Sukkot, my heart jumped. On the one hand I - I mean Hadas - wanted to win, but on the other I needed to prepare Hadas in the event that we wouldn't win.

So we - I mean I - started decorating the Sukkah with great enthusiasm, which in reality was an empty box of Gamla wine. I cut out windows and made a door... I decorated the inside... I strung paper chains from the crossbeams... and I hand-picked and laid down the perfect s'chach.

As the competition was coming to a close, I glanced around to see what the others were doing and I thought to myself, "well, it's good thing I prepared her for losing." Not that ours was bad, but just that some other people's Sukkot had... I don't know... a bit more pizazz than ours.

But then, Hadas - yes, I mean Hadas - said she wanted to add people in her Sukkah. Now is this a holy a teaching or what! Right? Seriously, what's a Sukkah without the people.

So clever Hadas drew two people and we affixed one of them to the window and another one we positioned by the entrance.

Like I said above, other Sukkot were nice, but Hadas' - yes, Hadas' - was original and different... and a recipient of the judges approval!

Her prize: a pack of five lead pencils.