Hoping you all had a wonderful week.
For me, this week was a week of catching up after the holidays but I am glad to say that I am now totally back in the game…☺ Here at Ulpan, after a break, we are setting up some courses for groups of young people coming to Israel for a year. Ulpan Aviv has been nominated to provide the Hebrew lessons. We have been involved in these programs for the past 2 years and I must say that there is something very different about working with these kids. They have a strong sense of patriotism and a high motivation to learn the language and about the culture. Definitely an experience…
In order to be able to run these courses we have been recruiting new staff members, and most of my time these last 2 days and next week has and will be dedicated to training.
I wrote last week about my daughter being admitted to the hospital suffering from dehydration. I am pleased to say that over the last week she has gradually recovered and gained most of her strength back (and believe me, at 18 months old she has plenty of strength…)
I was hoping to be able to tell you all of an improvement in the tense security situation here in Israel; unfortunately, this is simply not the case. Rockets are still being fired on settlements in the south and last Shabbat a man was killed as a result of the bombings. Let us all hope and pray for better days and SHALOM.
I hope that you have had a great weekend. Shavua Tov.
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Ulpan Aviv is a Hebrew school in Israel (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv). Ulpan Aviv's accelerated learning program means that you will be able to speak Hebrew in 10 days. Ulpan Aviv's methodology is custom designed and text books follow the unique methodology of Hebrew learning
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Shalom! Ma Shlomchem?
I was hoping to start this blog post by telling you about all about my vacation and how great it was. Sadly, in the light of today’s tragic incidents, (Thursday) I just feel I should start with that.
As I believe most of you have now heard on the news, there were today, a number of terror attacks next on the Egyptian/Israeli border. A large enough number of terrorists were managed to cross the border and entered Israel with one purpose in mind; hurting Israeli citizens and soldiers. Unfortunately, one soldier and seven civilians’ died during these attacks. Both myself and Ulpan Aviv, along with the entire nation of Israel, are today taking time to remember those who died under these terrible circumstances and of course the families that they have left behind.
Every time something like this happens, it feels like the first time. It is really hard to gather up the pieces and move on. I guess that is all just part of this terrible situation that we find ourselvesin.
I am so sorry that this post isn’t more up-beat, but I do want to tell you that I had a wonderful time with my family on our vacation. We went up to the north to a Moshav called Kalanit which was quiet and relaxing. Today is my first day back at work and I was welcomed by at least 40 e-mails that needed urgent attention and a million of things to take care of! No complaints there though, it is definitely good to be back even though I have been a bit distracted by our 18 month old baby who spent the last day of our holiday in hospital with dehydration and still isn’t fully recovered!!
Despite the rough news I wish you all a happy weekend and Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak
As I believe most of you have now heard on the news, there were today, a number of terror attacks next on the Egyptian/Israeli border. A large enough number of terrorists were managed to cross the border and entered Israel with one purpose in mind; hurting Israeli citizens and soldiers. Unfortunately, one soldier and seven civilians’ died during these attacks. Both myself and Ulpan Aviv, along with the entire nation of Israel, are today taking time to remember those who died under these terrible circumstances and of course the families that they have left behind.
Every time something like this happens, it feels like the first time. It is really hard to gather up the pieces and move on. I guess that is all just part of this terrible situation that we find ourselvesin.
I am so sorry that this post isn’t more up-beat, but I do want to tell you that I had a wonderful time with my family on our vacation. We went up to the north to a Moshav called Kalanit which was quiet and relaxing. Today is my first day back at work and I was welcomed by at least 40 e-mails that needed urgent attention and a million of things to take care of! No complaints there though, it is definitely good to be back even though I have been a bit distracted by our 18 month old baby who spent the last day of our holiday in hospital with dehydration and still isn’t fully recovered!!
Despite the rough news I wish you all a happy weekend and Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Shalom! Ma Nishma?
Another week over and I hope everything is OK and that you are well. I know that I sure am now that I am officially on holiday. Even though we are not leaving to go on holiday until Sunday, by Thursday morning we had already started doing the things that we have been planning to do for ages such as horse riding, (the children have been asking to do this for the past 6 months), spending time on the beach, etc.
Needless to say that Wednesday, the day before my holiday began, was pretty intensive. I didn’t want to leave any loose ends before I left and it took quite a lot of time and effort to cram everything in. The one break I did take that day was to have a drink at lunchtime with a student-friend, Toda.
Tuesday was Tisha B'Av – which is a fast day in the Jewish calendar. The Ulpan was closed on that day and I was at home with the children all day. With fasting, I think I would have preferred being at work… ☺
I am pleased to congratulate two of my oldest students (actually, I think I mean most long-standing students, oops! Sorry ladies…) who are celebrating their birthdays. Tamara from Geneva, who had her birthday last week and to whom I wish best wishes and lots of success in all of her endeavors, and Ruth from Canada whom I wish Mazal Tov and "Good luck" with everything! Both Tamara and Ruth will be coming back to Israel in the very near future and I wish them both the maximum benefit of their staying. May you find much satisfaction in what you do. ☺
Well, I can’t hang around today; I’m off to pack my bag. Wishing you all Shabbat shalom and a pleasant week!
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Needless to say that Wednesday, the day before my holiday began, was pretty intensive. I didn’t want to leave any loose ends before I left and it took quite a lot of time and effort to cram everything in. The one break I did take that day was to have a drink at lunchtime with a student-friend, Toda.
Tuesday was Tisha B'Av – which is a fast day in the Jewish calendar. The Ulpan was closed on that day and I was at home with the children all day. With fasting, I think I would have preferred being at work… ☺
I am pleased to congratulate two of my oldest students (actually, I think I mean most long-standing students, oops! Sorry ladies…) who are celebrating their birthdays. Tamara from Geneva, who had her birthday last week and to whom I wish best wishes and lots of success in all of her endeavors, and Ruth from Canada whom I wish Mazal Tov and "Good luck" with everything! Both Tamara and Ruth will be coming back to Israel in the very near future and I wish them both the maximum benefit of their staying. May you find much satisfaction in what you do. ☺
Well, I can’t hang around today; I’m off to pack my bag. Wishing you all Shabbat shalom and a pleasant week!
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak, Ulpan Aviv- director
Friday, August 5, 2011
Shalom! Ma Shlomchem?
I trust this blog-post finds you all well.
I have quite a bit to tell you all and am not sure where to start! This week was the beginning of the “nine day period”, which is the nine days between Rosh Chodesh Av and Tisha B'Av, (1st day of Av and 9th day of Av). My mum, (and many other Jews with her), says that it is not recommended to start a project, or in fact to start any sort of a process during these days. As our Temple was destroyed at this time of the year, it is widely believed that anything that is started at this time will not succeed, in other words, there is no blessing in anything that one does. I must say that this year, more than ever before, I am starting to believe that my mum is right. All students that were supposed to start their studies at Ulpan this week all had suddenly had various reasons that they had to cancel or postpone. Two from France were hospitalized; two from the UK now living in Netanya couldn’t come, as well as various Skype courses being cancelled at the last minute. Our newsletter that was supposed to be mailed to more than 500 subscribers only got through to 100 for some unknown reason, and G-d only knows what else. I have got to the point where I am saying; "everything is from now on in your hands. Just remember that I love you…☺"
In addition to all the hiccups that we have had, I have loads to do and get finished in the next week before going on a family holiday next Thursday. With Tuesday being Tisha B'Av, Ulpan will be closed for the day. As I said, lots to do in a short time……
BUT, who’s complaining? With everything that is going on in Israel at the moment, I am so thankful to be working and to be working in a field that I love!
I hope that you all have a great weekend!
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak
I have quite a bit to tell you all and am not sure where to start! This week was the beginning of the “nine day period”, which is the nine days between Rosh Chodesh Av and Tisha B'Av, (1st day of Av and 9th day of Av). My mum, (and many other Jews with her), says that it is not recommended to start a project, or in fact to start any sort of a process during these days. As our Temple was destroyed at this time of the year, it is widely believed that anything that is started at this time will not succeed, in other words, there is no blessing in anything that one does. I must say that this year, more than ever before, I am starting to believe that my mum is right. All students that were supposed to start their studies at Ulpan this week all had suddenly had various reasons that they had to cancel or postpone. Two from France were hospitalized; two from the UK now living in Netanya couldn’t come, as well as various Skype courses being cancelled at the last minute. Our newsletter that was supposed to be mailed to more than 500 subscribers only got through to 100 for some unknown reason, and G-d only knows what else. I have got to the point where I am saying; "everything is from now on in your hands. Just remember that I love you…☺"
In addition to all the hiccups that we have had, I have loads to do and get finished in the next week before going on a family holiday next Thursday. With Tuesday being Tisha B'Av, Ulpan will be closed for the day. As I said, lots to do in a short time……
BUT, who’s complaining? With everything that is going on in Israel at the moment, I am so thankful to be working and to be working in a field that I love!
I hope that you all have a great weekend!
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Pentzak
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