Are you saying bad things about my Dad?

18 Tevet
Sextus took his leave this morning. He has patients waiting in KfarNahum. The little gang and I overheard him talking to Rabbi Moshe at the gate.

"Thank you again for agreeing to teach me to read Hebrew. I would like to start soon. Are you sure you don't want any payment other than for me to teach the boys to read Greek?"

"I was going to do it myself, but it would be so much easier for me if you could do it. Besides, you have much more experience of business terminology than I do. Theological Greek will only get them so far..."

It was too much for Shmuli. "Why do grown-ups always decide hard stuff for us to do without asking? Dad doesn't read Greek an' he's a clever business man!" he pouted.

"Maybe he would have done even better if he'd read Greek." Ira offered

"Are you saying bad things about my Dad..." Shmuli flushed with anger

"No... No...! Shmuli!"

"STOP IT AT ONCE!" I heard myself shout. I thought they might come to blows. "Behave this instant. What would your father say?"

The boys went very quiet. We could hear Shmuel whistling as he walked through the orchard on his way back from the fields.

"Don't tell him, please Mum."

"Not if you promise not to fight."

"OK, I promise." He put his arm around Ira's shoulder and they trotted off to meet Shmuel at the gate.

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Why do some people talk funny?

17 Tevet
As I was getting Rivkah ready for bed last night she asked me why some grownups talk "funny". I asked her what she meant.
"Well, Sextus says his words funny and sometimes he says strange words and I don't know what they mean."
Apart from the occasional Roman or Greek at the market, Rivkah hasn't met many foreigners. It made me realise we need to make sure the children can get by in Greek and possibly even Latin. I grew up near a Roman settlement and all my family are at ease with other languages. Even so, I told Rivkah, I expect the Greeks and Romans think we speak funny too. This morning, I found her asking Sextus how to say things in his "funny words". She found it quite amusing. He speaks our tongue quite well, but he only learned it after coming to the Galil as an adult so I guess he'll always have a Roman accent. Most men around here are fluent in Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek. Many have Latin as well. They couldn't do business without Greek at least. With women it's usually a matter of need. Most of them can count and deal with money, but conversation is unnecessary so they rarely bother. Rabbi Moshe has offered Sextus Hebrew lessons so he can read Torah. I don't know if he is taking him up on it, but I know his main knowledge of Scripture is from the Greek they read on Shabbat in the Migdal synagogue

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Two boys take a dip in the Tiber

15 Tevet
After all the fuss yesterday, I forgot to mention that Sextus arrived in KfarGanot very late. I had just about finished writing and I had to sort him out a place to sleep.
He laughed when I told him about our day as we shared breakfast and he commiserated with Shmuli about his obvious discomfort. He remembered a time when he was a lad. He had spent the day playing truant with his older brother. They knew they were in for a beating so they thought they'd make the most of it. They had "borrowed" a rowing boat and gone for a trip on the Tiber. They found it exciting seeing the ships loading and unloading and coming in and out of the port. Like small boys everywhere, they had no concept of danger. They were admiring a very beautiful ship that they thought must belong to the emperor and did not notice an approaching cargo vessel. They became caught in the wake and capsized. If it had not been for the vigilance of one of the Emperor's guards they would have drowned. They were not strong swimmers and the shipping lanes are no place for taking a dip.
The guard threw them a rope and hauled them aboard. It was fortunate he recognised them because of their father or they would have been taken in front of the magistrate. He let them go with a warning and made them promise not to tell anyone. He still remembers the walloping he received from his schoolmaster for truanting, which was followed by another for not telling where he had been. He told Shmuli to bear his discipline like a man and it would make him wise.

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Storm damage

13 Tevet
I really felt sorry for little Galit today. He had obviously been crying. He pretended to smile as he arrived with the bread, but he didn't join in with the meal as he usually would. He was convinced his baker friend has died. He wanted to find out if Reuven knows what has happened. We're not expecting anyone from Migdal to collect the weaving until next week so I don't know how we could find anything out for him.
As it turned out I had no time to worry about it. It must have been mid morning when we heard the unmistakable sound of a shofar! The recent rain and wind had taken their toll and part of Rabbi Moshe's roof had collapsed. Everyone dropped what they were doing to rescue his treasures and our precious Torah scroll. Fortunately, the scroll itself was unharmed and Uncle Shaul took charge of it. It took the best part of the day to deal with everything. We will have another lodger for a few days until the men can make the repairs but it's a pleasure he tells such wonderful stories. We were so busy I did not notice for some time that the little gang were nowhere to be seen.

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Sextus the Sadducee

11 Tevet
Breakfast was interesting. I felt I had to apologise to Sextus. He must have thought me terribly ungrateful. He had saved my life and I had rewarded him by keeping him at arm's length. He said he just thought I was shy. It used to make him smile the way I would keep the table between us when he visited. Thinking back, it never occurred to me that nobody else seemed in the least uncomfortable with him.
I just kept turning it over and over in my mind trying to think if there was anything I had missed.
Finally Sextus said, "If it's any consolation, Miriam didn't find out I was a Jew until I had been working for her for two years. She caught me wearing tzit tzit on the day of Atonement. That was all my family ever did that was remotely Jewish. I must admit, my eating habits have changed since I came to the Galil and I'm healthier for it too!"
I can't say I felt very consoled, but I was intrigued about his family's approach to our faith. It seems they follow the Sadducean tradition, they do not believe in the resurrection so, unless they really want to there's no real reason to follow traditions. In Rome there are many who don't really have a belief in a deity of any kind but go through the motions to keep the authorities happy. His father, a man of science, did not believe in any power outside of the emperor but he did acknowledge HaShem once a year, "just in case." It was people like me, he told us that has made him question his beliefs.
I could have talked to him all day, but he had to continue his journey and we all had work to do. He promised to return later in the week on his way home. After saddling his horse, he left in the direction of the Rabbi's house. If he's having a crisis of faith, I can think of no one better to talk to, can you?

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I was so embarrassed!

10 Tevet
You know, I'd never thought about Dr Sextus before. I mean I'd always thought of him as a Roman. His family are Roman citizens and they are well connected with the Roman aristocracy. When he came to call today on his way to the coast, he sat talking to Shmuel for a while and then to my amazement my husband asked him to dinner! Shmuel is not in the habit of dining with Gentiles, I was truly shocked.
"What do you mean, he's coming to dinner?"
"I thought you liked him..."
"Yes, but...but he's not one of us."
"Whatever do you mean..." began Shmuel "Oh,I see!" he laughed "Being a Roman doesn't mean he can't be Jewish! Do you really think I'd have let him near you if he was not of our people? I don't think he was very religious back then, but lately he has been questioning his position. He has seen to many people who should have died suddenly recovering. It is either a case of him losing his touch or that HaShem is real. He doesn't think he can be that wrong."
Well! All this time, I have been polite when he called and tried to keep a respectful distance because I felt uneasy having a Gentle Roman in my house... afraid I might say or do something that would get us into trouble... and I now find out the man is a Jew! What's more, Shmuel thought I knew. If does explain why Devorah accepted him. Still, you would have thought someone could have given me a hint!
Shmuel thought it was hilarious. I didn't. I was so embarrassed. I was quietly angry at my husband too. How could he not tell me? Didn't he realise how I felt, being treated by a strange man in my condition? If I'd known he was a Hebrew I could have been spared some of the anguish!
In the end, Sextus stayed the night and after everyone else had gone to bed, Shmuel asked me why I was being so frosty with him.
"Honestly, Honey, I really thought you knew. I am sorry you must have felt awful." He gazed at me with those big brown eyes of his. When he looks at me like that I can't be angry, "Let's kiss and make up...

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The rain is relentless today

8 Tevet
The rain keeps coming. Shmuel is worried that the far field will flood. We have flocks there all winter. The hired hands are complaining that their accommodation is damp. Last year we had no worries about employees, we could not afford them. Affluence brings its own challenges and responsibilities. The menfolk have been out in the elements all day trying to fix the accommodation and see to the stream. I just found out the boys have been diverting the stream. Shmuli has arrived home chilled to the bone and soaking wet. Shabbat will be starting soon but I can't risk him having a cold bath, I've set him up in the kitchen before the fire. Rivkah is teasing him from behind the curtain, she said this strange creature can't be Shmuli, it's black, it's too smelly even for a grubby brother too!
Tonight we will have chicken and lentil soup, piping hot. I've made dumplings too. I don't know what it is about dumplings but they make it all seem so much more warming.

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Crisis over... the twins are getting better

7 Tevet
Miri arrived before breakfast to see how her patients were doing. We had all slept soundly last night much to Shmuel's relief. The babies are still snuffly and Zippi was still off her food but they are much better than yesterday. Miri has concentrated hard on following Devorah's instructions to the letter. It is lovely to see. By the end of the day she had them giggling at funny faces and almost back to their usual sunny selves. She must have been tired but she didn't show it, bless her. I'm sure she will be a worthy successor to Devorah.
It has been raining heavily for the time of year, in fact, Shmuel told me that the stream in the far field that usually only runs in the spring is full already. It's going to be a muddy winter for sure.

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I sound just like my mother, it's scary

5 Tevet
I understand lra, the new little boy, loves crispy things. The boys took him to KfarNahum yesterday. Shmuli says he needs some more cheering up though. I think he has something planned, I hope it's not mischief. Really, I do sound like my mother when I say that, it's scary.

My sister and I used to get into so much mischief. We would do all kinds of things girls shouldn't do. I remember the time we were caught having a mud fight on the stream that ran alongside our farm. My seat still stings when I remember the discipline applied in Abba's workshop. Another time - I must have been about Rivkah's age - I got stuck in a palm tree trying to pick dates. I had no idea how to get down! Abba left me there to contemplate my behaviour before getting one of the older boys to climb up and lower me down on a rope. He didn't need to use his usual medicine as he called it, he knew I was feeling humiliated enough. I never tried climbing a date palm again. Remembering all this, I feel slightly guilty that I get cross with Shmuli and Rivkah, but I suppose all children have to learn the same lessons. That feeling departed very quickly though, Shmuli came home covered in date syrup from helping Galit cook lukka (donuts) for Ira to cheer him up. I think, by the state of him, he helped eat them too!

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We all chip in with supplies

4 Tevet
Our guests have moved into Eli's house this afternoon. We have all donated furniture, pots and pans, clothes, all kinds of things. Those off us who are doing so well financially donated food for their stores since winter is upon us and they have had no chance to save anything. I do hope they soon get comfortable. I don't know how they will get established in the dyeing business, it's the wrong time of year to gather plants. Reuven has paid their rent but money will still be very tight.

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Reuel's burden

3 Tevet
The new family stayed with us yesterday for Shabbat. The children spent time together. I noticed that the little boy was very quiet. Dinah told me she is worried about him, he has hardly spoken since they had to leave BeitAnya and he often cries himself to sleep. We all went to Yov and Vered's last night and the new children got to light some lights in the balcony, their little faces were a picture.
Today, we have been helping Eli pack up his things. He invited Reuel and Yov to visit him this evening at Eliyahu's. They have a lot in common. I talked with Reuel yesterday and I know that he feels guilty about what has happened to his family because of him. I hope Yov and Eli can give him some encouragement. I hope living in a town where we have taken Yeshua to our hearts will do the whole family good.

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More partying at Yov's house

27 Kislef
It never ceases to amaze me how children don't feel tired when they are having fun. The day after, though, is another story. Yesterday, my two fell asleep at very turn so they were told to turn in as soon as they returned from Yov's house. Shmuli wanted to write his diary, but Dad said it would have to wait, sleep was the most important thing. Rivkah fell asleep mid moan and Shmuel carried her to her bed. He told Shmuli that he would have to get himself there under his own steam. I think he must have had his eyes closed, he knocked over the lampstand on his way, fortunately I had not got round to lighting it yet.
They were still a bit bleary eyed today, but I promised them something nice for dinner if they were good. That seemed to keep them motivated all day. I kept my promise and cooked southern fried chicken. Sadly, there were no baskets but the washing up was a small price to pay to see contented smiles all round.

We all went over to see Yov and Vered afterwards and Shmuel treated us all to one of his stories from Torah afterwards. We had Noah and the flood with the audience doing sound effects... wind...rain... mighty waves...

Then we got to singing as we always do, psalms mostly, interspersed with children's songs with plenty of actions. We sang all the old favourites and learned a couple of new ones Yov had learned in the south in his younger days. We got quite carried away with one about Solomon building the Temple. For the life of me I can't remember the words. But I do remember it involved cutting the stone, carving the stone and building layer on layer. It was fun but we all got to bed very late again. Oh well, I'd better get on, I guess we'll be doing it all over again tonight.

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singing round the camp fire

26 Kislef

There was a lot of tidying up to do last night but Yov said it was all in hand. He gave the women the night off. The children gathered up the dirty picnic baskets and had an "after party party" around a bonfire. They sang songs about the stars and the great outdoors, toasted bread on sticks to dip in seasoned oil and roasted nuts and grain. It was something very different from anything they had done before. Apparently the sheep shearing gangs do this sort of thing every night when they are traveling round. Yov called it gathering round the camp fire. They loved it!

I gather the men did the all the washing up, well, it is according to Scripture. There's something about Yov, if he suggests something, people just do it. He's not pushy or anything like that, he can even get my Shmuel to wash dishes! I wonder what his secret is?

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cooking is not women's work!

24 Kislef
The children are so excited! They are having a party tomorrow with special food. I can't wait to see what Galit's cooked up, he's quite a talented baker. I don't know where he gets the time but Azuvah says he's always cooking for the family, too. His father says it's women's work but Galit was obviously listening in school. He informed his Dad one mealtime that the Priests and Levites bake bread and cook meat and lots of men in the Scriptures cooked too! Apparently he had no answer for that. Anyway, he likes the money he brings in.
Then, of course, there's Rivkah and Miri's contribution. Yemimah promises me that its potential to be a burnt offering is now past. The girls prepare the patties and she deals with the hot oil. Rivkah pouted and sulked a little when told her she could not start work on the vegetables today. She will just have to learn to be patient!

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Honey, should I grow a beard?

22 Kislef
With Shmuel working so much in his basket shed, he has taken to popping in for a snack every now and then. I was feeding Nat when he arrived this morning so he sat Zippi on his lap as he tucked into a plate of bread and pickles. Zippi, who puts just about everything in her mouth as babies do, tried a piece of bread. She seemed content with that, and we fell into conversation.
"Honey, do you think I should grow a beard?" Shmuel asked rubbing his chin, "It would save me a good few minutes each day."
"What brought that on?"
"I just thought that it might make me look more distinguished, and besides, I'm the only elder without one"
What could I say? I had never known Shmuel with a beard He said it was much easier to make baskets without one since on at least one occasion as a youth he had woven himself into the fabric. By all accounts, he's the type of man who could grow a fine beard in quite a short time. It is true he does shave twice a day which is time consuming. I would miss his boyish good looks though.
"I..." I was cut short by a loud shriek. Zippi had grown tired of her piece of bread and found one of Shmuel's locks and given it a hefty tug.
"Never mind! Being clean shaven has its upside." Shmuel declared" And it's not all about the practicalities of basket weaving!"

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who's digging who with whose elbow?

21 Kislef

It's been an odd sort of day, Shmuli and his friends have been making baskets for the party. You know, the kind of baskets you eat out of on a picnic. It seems that Shmuel told them that they would be responsible for the washing up, and they had decided that disposable dishes would be far better option. What they hadn't realised was they would have to make the disposable dishes! Still, they knew how to make them because they been doing that for their food business.

Shmuel allowed to use the corner of his basket shed for the project. Every time I passed the door I could hear moaning, grumbling or shouting as they argued very loudly with each other about who was doing the best job?… Who had made the most baskets?… Or who was digging who with whose elbow?… You can imagine the sort of thing. I had to laugh but I tried to keep it to myself. By the end of the afternoon, there was a good pile of little baskets made of palm fronds waiting for Shmuel's inspection.
I could not help myself, I peered through a crack in the door as the inspection took place. Mu husband looked extremely serious, pursing his lips and “tutting” a lot while the little boys looked on wide eyed. Finally, he said,
“Hmmm..., I think they’ll do. Have you thought about going into business making disposable plates?”
“Aw, Dad...” Shmuli moaned, “its too much like hard work!”
“Only joking!” Dad grinned “These will be fine for the party, I hope you all have a great time, you deserve it!”

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Rivkah wants a party

18 Kislef
Rivkah asked me if we can have a party next week. She said that everyone needs cheering up and it will be Dedication. She said Miri had asked her mum and that Auntie Hadassah had said it was a great idea. When I asked Hadassah, she said she didn't think she could do much about it because she has been feeling somewhat queasy recently. At that she grinned.
"Yeshua told us it would happen. Danni's so pleased!"
She is exactly where I was this time last year! I am so happy for them.
She promised to help as much as she could if we have it here. I said I'd ask Shmuel. I'm not sure about the adults but I think a children's party would be great fun and maybe it will keep the "little gang" out of mischief.

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Shabbat Shalom

17 Kislef
Wow. SHABBAT!!! At last... With poor old Silas being so sick last week, I didn't really get a day off, but this week, I can. I'm looking after Milkah's baby for a couple of hours in the morning, but he goes in the baby cage with the twins so he's no trouble. Anyway, after milking and feeding the chickens, Rivkah is back home to play with him. She has been spoiling him a bit. She made him a rattle out of a dried pomegranate and he loves it. With Zippi and Nat one more seems to make little difference and its only for a short time.
Shmuel was late back from synagogue today, but he's still being mysterious. It's something to do with Reuven, but I can't get him to tell me anything. Men can be so frustrating! I think he is being mischievous, it's the way he grins and winks. I hope it's something nice!
OH I almost forgot! It's only one week till dedication I must be ready for lighting the lights. I do hope the boys have not planned such a messy surprise this year!

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