To quote Ben Stiller's wife...

Hasta L'Chaim

Upon reexaming what Ben Stiller's wife said, this is utter nonsense because life in Spanish is vida and not vista. Nevertheless, I just like the way it sounds...and I think she must as well.

TV Jews

In many movies and tv shows there are scenes that have characters that are supposed to be orthodox jews. Sometimes it's in the extreme (black suit, long long beard, thick dark-rimmed glasses) and in these cases I don't get offended (most likely because it is so extreme and not a part of a my everyday life or I know it's just utter exaggeration). But yesterday I was very annoyed at the show Gray's Anatomy. One of the stories from yesterday had a girl who was supposed to be orthodox, whose perhaps were obviously not even close to such observance, perhaps they were reform jews. This girl had some problem with her heart and the only way to treat her was with putting a valve of a pig in her. From the begining of the scenes with this girl "Esther" she certainly did not opitomize a "bas yisroel." The manner in which she spoke with the doctors was very very condescending and rude and when the doctor commented on her long skirt and asked if she was Omish she replied in a very condescending manner "Haven't you ever seen an orthodox Jew before?" She ranted and raved that she couldn't have a valve from a pig in her body, "no way in hell" to quote her. In another scene the doctor came in while she was davening and after she finished shemoeh esrei she said to the doctor in a very holier-than-thou manner that she "had to speak to G-d first because He was more important than some doctor."

In the end the doctor found a valve from a cow that they could use. Esther wanted a rabbi to "bless" her before the surgery and so they found this women to say some kind of mishebarch. Forgetting the women-rabbi which also doesn't quite fit, the behavior of the girl who was claiming to be orthodox-her arrogance and condescending nature was just utterly terrible and embarrassing.

I honestly think (now I haven't asked a rabbi yet) but if there were really no other way to treat her, Judiasm preaches life and if the pig valve were the only way to save her I would think it might be ok.

I don't want to sound hypocritical-my language might not be wonderful and I certainly have many areas in which I can improve, but when I speak to people who aren't Jewish, or aren't relgious, I try to be very careful to make a kiddush Hashem.

This girl "esther" who was created by the writers on the show was perhaps taken from a real life story-or based on someone that the writer knows. He most likely isn't making it up completely. It's sad that this was the representation and image that was created last night.

I suppose it got to me because it wasn't just a fat-shlumpy looking old guy with a beard but a teenage girl with an attitude that was supposed to be orthodox.

Google maps

I would just like to take this opportunity to give a plug for google maps. The maps are very readable and clear. The cool part is that you can switch to satellite mode and instead of a cartoon-like picture you can see the actual roads!

Shabbat shalom umivorach!

"Saluting Israel, Celebrating America...Two Golden Lands"

The above theme of this year's Israel parade on June 5th highlights the fact that I am truly living in Galut. There is no excuse for taking a day that is meant to celebrate the independece of Israel and celebrate our galut as well. If you want to take a day to reflect on the good of America then perhaps do so on July 4th or Thanksgiving or some other "American" type of holiday. Israeli independence day is just not the time to celebrate the fact that life is here "wonderful" .

This is wrong. This is galus I suppose...

I need to move...

Cramming

I don't really believe in cramming for a final but in the end that is the situation in which I find myself. Why am I doing this? Unfortunately, I happened to be in the hospital for part of Pesach and while someone mentioned to me that some kind of disaster follows him every Pesach I fear that the disaster struck me this year. Thank goodness I am feeling better but here are the lessons I learned while being the hospital:

1. You need a patient advocate. Someone to get the nurse, make sure the results are given to you, and listen as you are getting instructions for the doctor in case you may have further questions.

In my case my PA was my father. He is a doctor at the hospital I went to (which is why I chose that
particular hospital) and so I think he had a lot of "pull" and connections and all that jazz which made my life much easier. Perhaps it is unfair that doctors relate to doctors differently that regular people but I am happy that at least I was able to take advantage of the situtaion. Interestingly enough, my bed was on the floor where psychiatric patients are admitted as well. My father being a psychiatrist knew many of the nurses and doctors on this floor so I had to make sure I was a good patient and the doctors and nurses took care of me because I was Dr. Q's daughter. Funny thing: one of the nurses when I was first admitted thought I needed a psych consult because my dad has asked for my chart :). I think by the third day I was going crazy so that I actually may have truly needed one.

2. Hospitals are not places for healthy people-only people who are sick or having a baby.

3. It's amazing how many different places you can by stuck by the phlebotomists.

4. Ask your local orthodox rabbi before you are in the hospital for what you can really do on yom tov/shabbos.

5. Ice chips are delicous when you haven't eaten in two days.

6. Visitors and phone calls really make you happy.

7. Why does everyone come to check your vitals, take blood, ask you questions when it's 7:00am and then you can go for hours without seeing anyone? Haven't they heard of the concept of sleeping in?

Ok, I know that most of you may know all these things, but this is what I came out with after this experience.

Now it's back to studying because I got nothing accomplished over Pesach.

Cramming is silly. I will remember none of this on Thursday.