World of beauty

World is going crazy with football. Even I hesitated for a second before huge TV in the street when Slovakia won over Italy. I hate mass sports, but when I look at those people sitting outside in cafes I like it - they seem happy.

Wimbledon is also on, but Football World Cup absolutely upstaged it and there are only couple of us remembering tennis.

It's been a long and interesting week - learning Chumash with Rashi's commentaries every morning with Leah, then other lessons, dinners, another lessons, work, sleep, internet.

Yesterday I met my friend Naomi, we walked a bit, then sat in a park and had a nice conversation. It's unbelievable how people need to talk, laugh and just be together sometimes. Everytime I have nice time with my friends, I thank G-d for that because that's exactly what one needs in our times when people are rushing to and fro forgetting about world's beauty, about life outside internet and etc. I guess only now I understand why G-d created man by His image - even though we are sure of His existence, we still need and long to talk to somebody, to listen to other person and just feel that we're not alone. It's wonderful, isn't it?

Yesterday night I went to the Smiths' as usual and helped rebetzin. When I held her baby boy and looked into his eyes, I felt so good and my first thought was: those people who believe in evolution and Darwin's theory must be stupid - how can anyone believe in nonsense like that? Only G-d could create a man, and a woman, and a baby by His image because they are beautiful.

Have a wonderful week end!

Shabbat Shalom!

Free spirit from Above

I found this Italian song about Che Guevara in my old music file. I liked it so much that wanted to share it with you. So I uploaded it on youtube with Ernesto CHE's picture (my favourite one actually) and hope you'll enjoy. Remember - freedom is in our head and it's a state of mind. No-one can take away the free spirit all of us have got from Above :)

BEE

What kind of bee is this? =)) It's rather a fly than bee. I found this funny blog with extraordinary pictures and now can't wait to share them with you.

Dreamy Days in Venice

My free weekend from the seminary was like a dream coming true. Actually my dream did come true as you know. I went to Venice. There is no place like Venice in the world. NOTHING AT ALL! I have been to many islands (mostly Greek ones), but Venice is miraculous. It is not just an island, it's the whole history, whole character full of love, sadness, joy and sentimentality.
I have never been fond of Italy, but Venice absolutely changed my view of it. Honestly, you won't even realise in which country you are, because Venice is pure touristic place and you get to meet very few "real" people.

We flew from Berlin to Bergamo with the cheapest airlines, then took a bus till Milan and then got on train to Venice.

Yes, train was really something. We took the slow train (single ticket costs 14-16 euro) from Milan to Venice and got 50 euro fine because we didn't know we had to validate the ticket in a machine :| and on Sunday when we were going back to Milan, we validated tickets at once, but no-one even stepped in the train to check the tickets. Isn't that ironic? 50 euro, man? :( Ok, three of us shared this fine, but still very sad, you probably remember I was telling you about my "tight financial" period right now. So one should never complain I guess or be more cautious and read the instruction on the ticket.

Anyway, what we cared mostly was to visit Ghetto of Venice and see how people used to live there. It was nice to hear that the Ghetto gate was taken down by Napoleon who brought so called Enlightenment and give Jews rights to live like any other citizens. Unlike Shakespeare, who wrote really nasty drama about Jewish "Merchant of Venice".

Ghetto Vecchio where all the Jewish shops and Sinagogues are

As for the hotel, we stayed at the "Leonardo", which is very near the Ghetto and the Chabad Centre where we were going to have Shabbat meals. Accommodation is very expensive in Venice as you can imagine, and honestly, we payed more than we had planned, but the hotel was run by such kind staff, they made discounts to us, nicely considering we were not well-off students.

Shabbat meals were really special - sitting by the Venice canals and singing Shabbat songs. I cannot even explain how it felt.
Would I be very banal, if I said that was like being a part of some play? Really. Whole weekend we stayed there I had this weird feeling, that someone would come up and tell me the show was over and we all had to go home, you know what I mean? This place is too beautiful to be true.

But I guess I have to recommend you to visit Venice after you get married - that's a place for newly married couple (not only newly married) definitely. Meaning, I left Gondola for the next time.

That's where we had Shabbat Seuda (on the right bank)

Milan - too posh for me

Anyways, the trip to Italy was worth it. Even "Fashion Edom" Milan was interesting, but TOO en mode. But it's unbelievable how happy I was when I got back in Berlin. Italy is too loud for me plus I could not stand that everyone smokes there.

Also there was this big event in Berlin today, I posted on my Russian blog. Great tzaddik Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman visited Lauder Yeshiva and we had honour to daven with him Mincha and listen to his sweet-grandpa voice.

UPDATE: linking up with The Climbing Tree.

Venice via Milan

I'm leaving for Venice via Milan tonight. I am excited and little nervous because it's a night flight and then we have to take train to Venice.

Did you know that Venice has been my dream destination since I was kid??? Now I understand that those wise men are right saying: "When you REALLY REALLY want something, G-d will absolutely give it to you." Thank G-d!

I got quite useful information from this site, so if you plan to go to Italy, it'd be helpful for you too.

Oh, and when we got tickets, one of the managers of midrasha told us to prepare for great shopping in Milan. As a shopping-resistant person, I said that I am not going to waste money on some stupid clothing and etc. But suddenly my mum calls and asks me, baby, what are you going to buy me? :lol: Well, ok... if I buy anything just for my mum and maybe some little thing for me for I'm quite tight with money right now.

Wish me good luck and safe trip!!!
Hope to have a great week end B''H!!!

P.S. Anyway, feel free to sponsor a Luis Vuitton bag for me ;))

Photo of the June 1st

-- Dring dring... C'est moi, Celine...

Photo from my favourite movie ever "BEFORE SUNRISE".