Trachtman

Making Ice Cream

Every Friday... Make Ice Cream for Shabbat. Sometimes mint, sometimes vanilla, sometimes chocolate or coffee. Always delicious.. Yes, it helps to have an older brother Toby help you make Ice Cream.. Besides, for Frankie it's as much fun to eat the Ice Cream as it is to make it. MMMMM.. GOOOOD !!!

Ezra getting ready for Battle

Ezra has just been promoted to a Captain. He's getting ready for battle. Usually, he's off fighting in the Civil War, but today he has noticed that things are getting desperate in the Revolutionary War so he is making haste to save the day.

Unloading Wood

We got some more wood to heat the house. Ezra is helping finishing unloading the wood from the back of the trailer.

Cat in Laptop's Lap

It's cold in the house. Willow must have been cold, as she likes to take a nap on the laptop. Who would have thought of it as a "warm spot". She does manage to push all kinds of buttons.

Sometimes, I feel sad having to kick her off. Oh well. She'll have to find another warm place. But first, I caress her, so she'll know she's part of our family.

Closeup of Snowman

Closeup of Snowman. With the Judean hills in the background.

He could use a better fit for the hat. And maybe a hair cut, or is it a grass cut?

Snow Golem of Ramat Raziel

The snow is almost melted. We've taken enough of it to make a Snow Golem. He's got the requisite hat, kiwi eyes, carrot nose, broom and bucket, hat and apron and three friends. Dad, Joshie and Eitan.

He probably won't last the day. In the meantime, we can pretend we are in Alaska. Not quite but almost.

Three Snowballs for Three Children

It was one of those rare snowy nights in Ramat Raziel. This morning the grass was covered with snow and the boys made three snow balls. The snow is almost melted.

The snowball people are Joshie, Yonah and Frankie. We have not named the snowballs. The unnamed snowballs will soon become part of a snowman.

Picnic in the Kitchen

The kids are hungry. Ezra, Jonah and Frankie are having a little pasta picnic in the kitchen.

Dad helps Joshie

Dad helps Joshie out at the Food Bank. He puts on a real uniform (that red shirt) even though it's a few sizes too small.

A Reflected Bird

Michael took this picture near Boston.

Joshie at the Food Kitchen

Joshie goes to Jerusalem 3 times per week to volunteer at the Food Kitchen. They serve close to 500 meals every day to people who are hungry.

Joshie does a variety of tasks, including putting the food on the plates and serving the food to the guests.

Playing Recorder Music

Toby and Joshie are playing recorder with the Kasher family.

The Pirate

The seas have never been more dangerous. The oceans more forbidding. Yet, one Man masters the waters and claims all the ships to be his.

Our Beautiful Ezra

Ezra loves to wear costumes of all sorts. He is so photogenic.

Delicing

Dina found lice in my hair, so she applied some lice-killing agent in my hair. And covered my head with that absurd pink cap.

Celebrating Rosie's Birthday

Celebrating Rosie's Birthday at The Schneller Army Basethe morning before Rosh Hashana.

Rosie was on the base for Rosh Hashana to do guard duty.

Toby practicing being Jonah the prophet

Toby is about to be chewed up by this whale.

Does he know? If he did, he would not have such a large grin on his face !!

Decorating the Sukka

Josh and I are decorating the Sukka with branches filled iwth Date that we got minutes before Sukkot in Mea Shearim.

Making the Garden

Here we are, harvesting the fruits of the garden.

So many vegetables, squashes butternut and spaghetti, cucumbers and pickles, green and orange peppers, and really hot peppers, tomatoes, egg plants, beans of all sorts, some corn, zuchinnis, melons and watermelons. Sunflowers and chammomile... And some cotton.

WOW !

Kayaking with Jacob

It's summer time. Time to go camping with Jacob.. And kayaking too. In upstate NY.

Frankie in the Garden Basket

We're used to picking great stuff from the garden. Peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, melons, zuchinni, cucumbers, squashes, corn and more..

But look what we got from the garden this time.. It's Frankie/Eitan... Mmm. Delicious..

A Tower of a Show

Joshie on Toby - A Tower of a Show

Toby can be fully standing up.. I just didn't have the camera at that moment.

The next step is for Joshie to be able to juggle while standing on Toby.

Juggling Show at the Zoo

Toby and Joshie doing one of their first Juggling Shows. At the Zoo.

A Pile of People

A Pile of People

Mmm.. Delicious..

Dad, then Jonah then Ezra then Frankie....

It's delicious.. Especially the Mango Pit that Ezra is holding.

Ezra and Frankie in the Pool

Our little water fishes. They both swim so well. Frankie swims with his floating noodle. Ezra likes his googles.

Here are the cherries - Right on the tree !

You can taste em, just by looking at them. You can eat em as you pick them. The Red and Yellow ones (pictured) as well as the Dark Red almost Black ones.. Mmm. Good

Cherry Picking

We went cherry picking. Organic Cherries. So red and so delicious..

Cherry Picking

Dina is picking cherries. These are red and delicious.. We're going to have many pies !!

A Classic Picture

I couldn't resist putting this picture on the blog.. It has a classic feel.

Geodesic Dome

How did they build this thing?

A Spiritual Tent

This scultpture is full of meaning. I just don't know what it is. Do you?

All those sculptures

All those sculptures. And art. By a roving artist. Making this a playland of sorts.

The Village of Prayer

Our camp in the BambaLamba.

Also known as the Camp of Love and Prayer.

The signs and shops

Selling all kinds of things.

Making Charoset

Another Micha.. Making Charoset for the seder. We had a bunch of homemade types. All delicious.

Another View of the Maror Checkers

From left to right, Dina, Rosie, Leah and Shoshi. And of course, lots of sand.

Cooking for the Seder

Shoshi, Dina and Rosie are checking Romaine Lettuce (Maror) for bugs. For the Seder

Our Tent Site

This is our tent site. In a few days, there will be so many tents, that you won't be able to see the sand.

The Bambamella Protecting Monster

This monster is near the gate. Protecting (or is it scaring) all who are here !!

The Bamamella Town Rising in the Sand

It used to be plain sand dunes. Now, we're getting ready for 30,000 people !!

Jonah and Frankie at Nitzanim

They are very COOL DUDES !!

Nitzanim Festival - Before the crowds

The Bammamella town is starting to be built. Strange art. Teepees. Flags of all sorts and shelters too. And, of course, much sand !!

Some Flowers on Chof Nitzanim

Some flowers on Chof Nitzanim. I love how the colors and lines and textures work together.

Meditranean Beach at Nitzanim

Look at these beautiful colors. And contrasts. Chof Nitzanim Right before Passover !!

Joshie as Bob Marley

Joshie has a great Bob Marley outfit. Thank you Dina !!!

In the background, Frankie has his Bob the Builder outfit.

All the outfits are palindrome. BoB is a palindrome. So is "Race Car" - that Michael is driving.

Michael - Purim Race Car Driver

The race car is right outside. Racing to deliver Shalach Manot. The key part is the funky helmet.

The Wheat Field

The Wheat Field. A study in textures.

The Winter Garden

The winter garden. From Left to right, the rows are beets, carrots, coriander, spinach and lettuce.

The right hand side of the image is wheat, that we will give the sheep !!

Our Sheep say Hello

The sheep are very friendly. It didn't take much coaxing to get them to smile for this photo!

Joshie Posing for his Bar Mitzvah Invitation

We're making a postcard invitation.

Joshie is posing near these drums. To be at the center of the postcard.

Joshie and Raw Tfillin Parts

Joshie is learning about Tfillin. He is holding a raw "Giddim", the tendons of the cow. These tendons are made up of very thin "strings". These thin strings are used to tie the Tfillin.

Sewing the Tfillin

Ezra Hasofer is sewing the Tfillin together.

Joshie Learns About Tfillin

Ezra Hasofer teaches Joshie about the Tfillin. Together, they read the parshiot and check for mistakes.

They then insert the parshiot into the Tfillin. The Tfillin need a few final coats of paint.

AT ATTENTION

Dad is on the Ferris Wheel

Yes.. That's Dad. On the ToysRUs Ferris Wheel in Times Square.. I'm having fun.

Jacob - with TShirts For Sale

Another cool picture of Jacob walking with Dad in Downtown Manhattan. No snow on the ground, even though it is in February.

Jacob - In New York

The beard is starting to come in. Cool !!

Eating with Crooked Goggles

You must eat. Even if the goggles are getting all crooked. Food does come first !!!

Joshie is turning into Treasure

Joshie is turning into treasure. He's getting buried in the sand by accident.

Will somebody save him in time. Will Ezra use the shovel to get Joshie out?

Stay tuned for next week. (Or just guess....)

Success!!

The entire sand town has been built.. A job well done.

Gotta Eat while Digging

That's why we have two hands. One to eat and one to dig sand castles.

Eitan is a Beach Dude

Eitan is a beach dude. With the water goggles and all.

Making a Sand Castle

Toby, Ezra and Jonah making a sand castle. Jonah has a bucket of water ready to go !!

No More Treasure

No... There's no more treasure.

Maybe we should bury this treasure and wait for somebody else to find it !!

There's the treasure

There's the treasure box.. Joshie is looking to see if there is anymore..

Joshie Digging For Treasure

Our family went to the Raanana Beach.. Joshie is looking for treasure. He is digging a very deep hole.

Ezra having fun

He's having lots of fun in the water.

The Cement Kitchen

This is the kitchen we make the cement in.. It takes a nice big pot.

Adding Cement to the Cement Soup

It take alot of cement soup to make a sidewalk. YUMMY!!

Leveling the cement

Rosie and Eitan are levelling the cement

Making a Sidewalk to Hold the Potters Wheel

We're making a sidewalk to hold the potters wheel. This potters wheel ways like a tank. It's made out of steel. It can be operated manually, so it has a stone wheel to kick and spin.

Rosie with Most of her Brothers

Rosie gets lots of love from her sibs.. They are all visting her at Basic Training.

Rosie's Gun

Feel safe.. Rosie is protecting us with her M16. She's a very good shot !!

Eitan Won't Go in Rosie's Gun Arm

Eitan is a peacenik from a young age. He refuses to go near Rosie's M16. Eitan barely agreed to have her hold him. He finally compromised. She must hold him away from the gun, and the gun must be hidden behind her.

Rosie Getting Secret Orders

Rosie is getting secret orders on how to protect the State of Israel.

Well, not really. She's really talking to Savta. On her first Friday in the Army. She will be on base for Shabbat.

Rosie is Protecting Us

A picture of Rosie during her first week of Army.

She's got a gun. But no bullets.

Joshie on the Beach of Nitzanim

It's a cool sand dune for Joshie to run up and down.

Finding your way inside Ramat Raziel

To get to the Trachtman House.

1. Go through the main gate.
2. Turn right at the next corner (about 100 meters).
3. Drive to the fourth house (on the right). There are parking spaces on the left.

To get to the Trachtman Lul
1. Opposite the main gate (about 50 meters towards Jerusalem) there is an alley. Turn into this alley.
2. Our Lul/Barn is the second barn on the right. Park anywhere. Most events are at the far end of the barn.

How to get to Ramat Raziel

How to get to Ramat Raziel.

From Jerusalem:

1. Drive out of the Jerusalem on Route 1 (the main highway to TelAviv)
2. Get off at the Mevasserret Exit.
3. Turn Left. Drive about 3.5 km to the Sataf Rotary.
4. Take the first turn off from the Rotary.5. Drive about 7.5 km to Ramat Raziel. You will pass Kibutz Tzuva, Givat Ye'arim, the Eitanim Hospital, and Har Hatayasim. The main gate of Ramat Raziel will be to your left (right after the stables)

From Beit Shemesh
1. Drive on the road from Beit Shemesh towards the Jerusalem TelAviv Highway.
2. Turn right at the Eshtaol Junction. (Right after the Sonol Gas Station.
3. Drive about 7.5 km to the Ramat Raziel main gate. You will be driving very steeply uphill most of the way. The road will turn into a very narrow road for about 1.5 km. Be very careful. After about 6.5 or 7 km, you will reach a rotary that leads to Kissalon. Drive straight through (regardless of what the signs say). After about 1 km you will get to the main gate of Ramat Raziel on the right.

The Post Haircut Pizza Party

Eitan is having fun at the Pizza Shop. This is his new look without those long locks of hair.

Notice that Eitan has Peios.

Here's the Barber - Almost Done

The barber is using the machine. Eitan's first haircut is almost done.

Half Way There

The "Chalaka" is proceeding !! We have collected some of his hair to put in the album.

Eitan Frankie right before getting his first haircut

Eitan is getting his first haircut. On his Hebrew 3rd Birthday

So many Colors and So many Lights

All the candles are lit.

Now we just look at them.

It's the miracle of Chanuka.

Ezra Lighting Chanuka Candles

Ezra is lightin the candles for the last night of Chanuka.

Eighth Night of Chanuka

The last night of Chanuka. Joshie Lighting with Toby and Eitan looking on.

Juggling Kids

The kids have fun at juggling.

They willl be performing next week for the first time at the Matnas for Chanuka.

Eitan's Friends are Riding Too !!

Everybody is celebrating

Some of Eitan's Friends at his Birthday

Eitan and the Cake

Eitan has to blow out the candles.

Everybody at Eitan's Birthday Party

Rosie Bringing the Cake

Mom and Eitan.

Eitan (Frankie) 3 year old birthday

First the kids rode on bicycles outside.

Trachtman Family

Trachtman Family of Ramat Raziel

This is the blog for the Trachtman Family of Ramat Raziel.

Trachtman

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Making Ice Cream

Ezra getting ready for Battle

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Unloading Wood

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Cat in Laptop's Lap

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Closeup of Snowman

Snow Golem of Ramat Raziel

Three Snowballs for Three Children

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Picnic in the Kitchen

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Dad helps Joshie

A Reflected Bird

Joshie at the Food Kitchen

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Playing Recorder Music

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

The Pirate

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Our Beautiful Ezra

Delicing

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Celebrating Rosie's Birthday

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Toby practicing being Jonah the prophet

Decorating the Sukka

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Making the Garden

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Kayaking with Jacob

Frankie in the Garden Basket

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

A Tower of a Show

Juggling Show at the Zoo

A Pile of People

Monday, June 12, 2006

Ezra and Frankie in the Pool

Here are the cherries - Right on the tree !

Cherry Picking

Cherry Picking

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

A Classic Picture

Geodesic Dome

Monday, April 24, 2006

A Spiritual Tent

All those sculptures

The Village of Prayer

The signs and shops

Making Charoset

Another View of the Maror Checkers

Cooking for the Seder

Our Tent Site

The Bambamella Protecting Monster

The Bamamella Town Rising in the Sand

Jonah and Frankie at Nitzanim

Nitzanim Festival - Before the crowds

Some Flowers on Chof Nitzanim

Meditranean Beach at Nitzanim

Joshie as Bob Marley

Michael - Purim Race Car Driver

The Wheat Field

The Winter Garden

Our Sheep say Hello

Joshie Posing for his Bar Mitzvah Invitation

Joshie and Raw Tfillin Parts

Sewing the Tfillin

Joshie Learns About Tfillin

Sunday, February 19, 2006

AT ATTENTION

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Dad is on the Ferris Wheel

Jacob - with TShirts For Sale

Jacob - In New York

Eating with Crooked Goggles

Joshie is turning into Treasure

Success!!