Food for Thought, Feast for the Eyes

Random musings of a joodie and some food porn.

[cormoranlystruck]

career of evil ;; part 2

[avigayilziva]

That moment when he eyes the engagement ring back on her finger and tries (and fails) to casually hide his disappointment.

(And that moment when you realise that your ring matches Robin’s while you’re actually rooting for Robin and Cormoran).

[avigayilziva]

Groot is back!!! I don’t know if he would ever forgive me for having left him behind when I went to Turkey 🇹🇷 but I’m hoping by bringing him along this time he will find it in his heart to try. 💕😂🤣 #minigroot #babygroot #marvelcomics #guardiansofthegalaxy #travelbuddy #travel #bali #indonesia (at Seminyak) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNGtbDTLIhx/?igshid=1ulmznmeudoai

[avigayilziva]

Moadim l’simcha! #pesakh #jewishlife #jewishholidays #passover #beingjewish (at Ubud, Bali, Indonesia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNAjNF4LXSB/?igshid=biu4mk26uesk

[avigayilziva]

Never work before breakfast. If you have to work before breakfast, eat your breakfast first. ~ Josh Billings #goodmorning #goodday #eatyourbreakfast #breakfast #loveyourbody https://www.instagram.com/p/CLS95BVrDIA/?igshid=haubqz0vo4f6

[avigayilziva]

Finally reunited with my siddurim. 💕 What’s super special about this Shabbat siddur is the blessing that was written by the editor himself. So you can understand why I didn’t hesitate spending an extra amount of money to be able to get my hands on thrm again. The thing is, back in 2019 I was so ready to move to Bangkok to be close to the Jewish community at Even Chen. So the last time I was there I decided to leave heavy books behind including these babies, thinking I’ll be back. Lo and behold, the corona happened and I was confined to my home town. (This actually worked out for the best because I was able to take care of my dad and be with him during his final days. I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world. Thank you Gd for sending Covid to make me stay put). So anyway, the move didn’t happen and I don’t think it will anytime soon but I really wanted to reunite with my books. Unfortunately, the host of the apartment where the books are was also stuck elsewhere due to corona and was only able to get back last month. After the host’s two weeks of mandatory quarantine upon returning to the apartment, I was able to arrange for @dhlexpress door-to-door service last week and today these babies are finally back in my hands. A perfect little opportunity for a Snapchat filtered selfie for my long neglected Instagram feed. 😉 #kolsasson #kolyehuda #orotsiddur #beingjewish #jewishindonesian #indonesianjew https://www.instagram.com/p/CLDysxuLF6U/?igshid=1p08rvl4a8x3r

[avigayilziva]

Ok so I realized that last week I introduced an idea but didn’t finish it. I quoted Gedale Fenster who in one of his teaching regarding finding your soulmate said, “In order to receive something you’ve never had before, you have to do something you’ve never done before.” I’ve always baked my own challah but never took the opportunity to add any special prayers during the hafrashat challah prayer. So starting last week, that’s what I did. I added a prayer for my zivug and even added names of other singles I know. May our prayer be answered soon. If you want me to add your name for next week’s batch, let me know by leaving your and your mother’s Jewish name in the comment. #soulmate #challah #challahatme #challahbakeoff #challahhub #kosher #kosherquest #beingjewish #hafrashatchallah https://www.instagram.com/p/CJLI7d9rmcd/?igshid=9cntkm2wswew

[avigayilziva]

After being cooped up inside at home with very little human connection, it was good to get out of the house, get some fresh winter air, and spend a week in a new place, all at the expense of an anonymous friend. Even if it meant I had to spend one night in quarantine on the way back while waiting for the PCR test result (which, thank Gd, was negative). Yes even in the dark, a light will seep in, whether you recognize it or not. #blessedweek #travel #cabinfever #istanbul #covid_19 (at Topkapı Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJFwzwQr-Xp/?igshid=yhnu3crbecbv

[avigayilziva]

Motzei Shabbat and Saturday night vibes. Starting the week on a good note. Missing my girl @bdc3d tho who seems to have fallen off the face of the earth. 🤔 Are you really going to make me watch alone? Shavua tov & l’chaim! #saturdaynight #shavuatov #motzeishabbat #greysanatomy https://www.instagram.com/p/CI-zrC9r-w2/?igshid=17ysmvs29hynp

[avigayilziva]

Pulling out all the stops. “In order to receive what you never had before, you have to do what you never did before.” ~ Gedale Fenster Baking (and cooking) has always been a calming and satisfying activity. How can it not be, when you see the process of putting together the ingredients, which then are further processed then shaped and then - the best part - is it rises twice its size before it goes into the oven, and then it still changes into this beautiful and delicious goodness. Can’t wait to dig in! Shabbat Shalom! #shabbat #challah #challahatme #shabbatshalom #beingjewish #jewishwisdom #breslov #breslovpowerclasses #indonesianjew #jewishindonesian https://www.instagram.com/p/CI7rye4LEZp/?igshid=98td8llt5x9k

[avigayilziva]

Happy 8th night of Chanukah! Praying for all the women longing for a child, they should soon have the privilege of becoming pregnant and delivering healthy offsprings, and may they merit to raise them for Torah, the chuppah, and for good deeds. #zotchanukah #chanukah #hannukah #hanukah https://www.instagram.com/p/CI5eTudryvP/?igshid=dsv4mjgkuha6

[avigayilziva]

Happy 7th night of #Chanukah! I hope and pray we will all get our miracle for our own good. I, for one, need one (or two) desperately. 😅 #hannukah #miracles #spreadthelight #bethelight https://www.instagram.com/p/CI27qofLT-v/?igshid=1ut5v43hoz2qz

[avigayilziva]

I just love making challah rolls, and I think I have finally perfected the shape. Shabbat Shalom and chag sameach all! #challah #challahhub #beingjewish #shabbat #shabbatshalom #simchattorah #sheminiatzeret https://www.instagram.com/p/CGHEvbfFuuQ/?igshid=1affmoarj7bfb

[avigayilziva]

Today is my dad’s birthday. He would have turned 84 today. Four years ago when he celebrated his 80th birthday I was so happy and thankful he made it that far, I was sure that he was going to live forever. But today, instead of making him a cake or taking him out for a meal, my mom and I went to visit his grave. It still feels so surreal to not have him around anymore. It feels wrong that all that’s left is his name engraved on a headstone and a memory of him in every corner of the house. Sometimes I would find a video of him and feel like he’s really there. That he’s still alive. And maybe he is although on a different level or in a different layer of this world. Just like he really is alive in the video, separated from me by time, space and contained in some piece of technology, he’s also alive in this world, separated by a spiritual veil that I will eventually cross as well when my time comes. But until then, all I have to hold on to are my memories, and the things he left behind. Happy birthday Papa. I miss you so much. #missingdad #rememberingdad #soelaimanbenabsar #soelaimanbennaswiyah https://www.instagram.com/p/CE1Udo3FY6r/?igshid=bhr7m8fzwq79

[avigayilziva]

I find it interesting how similar the Muslim tradition is with Judaism, which is probably one of the reasons why it was so easy for my dad to "catch up" with the change in my life. In Judaism, when a person makes it possible for another person to do a mitzvah (a commandment), the "enabler" will share in the merit of the the person carrying out the commandment. For example, when someone donates a prayer book in memory of a deceased person, the donor and the deceased will both share in the merit of whoever prays using the book. The Muslims believe the same. Today marks 40 days since my dad passed away. Most of the Muslims in Java have a tradition of gathering on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 40th day (and even 100th day, followed by 1 year, 2 years and 1000th day) of someone's death to offer up prayers for the deceased. For some reason, the 40th day is special and involves handing out a special goodie bag which not only contains a lunch and snack box, but also a prayer book (which includes the book of Yaasin, and prayers for the soul of the departed - perhaps similar to the Jewish prayer Kel Male Rachamim) and a special item which will not only serve as a souvenir of remembrance to the deceased but also to help elevate the deceased neshama. We opted to include a sarong, which Indonesian Muslims usually wear for their daily prayers. By providing them with an item which is used in their daily prayers, whenever they wear it while praying, the Muslims believe that my dad's soul will share in the merit of the person praying. Pictured here are 25 men who gathered to pray for my dad today, and the blue goodie bags in the foreground, and Elisheva on video call on my phone, listening in to the prayers. We printed two types of prayer book: the exclusive grey ones for families and the mosque my dad frequented on Fridays and holidays, and the blue batik one for public distribution. #rememberingdad #soelaimanbenabsar #soelaimanbennaswiyah #beingjewish #kibudavveim https://www.instagram.com/p/CEAwwKAFA5M/?igshid=iyw02edm02ir

[avigayilziva]

Lunchtime at work - back to the salt mine that is the Oreo plant. In this pandemic, I usually don’t leave the house unless it’s urgent and essential. And I consider supervising the kosher production of Mini Oreos for export to Israel as urgent and essential. 😇😍🍪 PS: lunch is home made whole wheat challah with Israeli kosher salami and tomatoes. #backtowork #lunchtime #koshersupervision #kosherproducts #minioreo #beingjewish #saynotobds https://www.instagram.com/p/CDak7-7l0ib/?igshid=12q4s74lcsgbn

[avigayilziva]

Challenge accepted @sarylatief Beauty is only skin deep. What matters more is what’s in your heart, how you treat other people and how you make them feel. That’s one of my dad’s legacy that I decided to take on and hopefully pass onto others. It’s been my own experience that women are the harshest critic of their own peer (and of themselves), while I think we should really be supporting each other. I’ve been at the receiving end of these criticisms while growing out my grey hair, and it was hard to move forward with my plan until I found a group of strangers, fellow women growing out their own grey hair who were providing more support than I could ever imagine. If only all women could be each other’s supporter, the world would be a more beautiful place. #womensupportingwomen #goinggrey #goinggray #silversisters #grombre #ditchthedye #blackandwhite https://www.instagram.com/p/CDLmQDSFFQb/?igshid=1ep7giwdm446s

[avigayilziva]

Soelaiman ben Absar Wiriaatmadja • 7 September 1936 - 9 July 2020 • 20 Elul 5696 - 17 Tammuz 5780 • My dad has always been my most favorite person on earth. He’d always let me do and be what I wanted and opted to let me make my own mistakes to learn from. He’s the epitome of tolerance, with him being a Muslim, marrying a Christian woman, and allowing and fully supporting his two daughters to convert to Judaism, returning to his own distant lineage. He’s loved in every group he is part of, from his old school alumni group to his most recent tourism support group. Until his dying day, he was always active, whenever an opportunity arose he would leave the house to meet up with various people from his group, and sometimes participate in meetings of his peer in the tourism industry, where they do various things to help promote Indonesia. He’s one of the few people I know from his generation who is fully adept to the ever developing technology, running his own blog. He was a very quiet man, who would observe and absorb information around him, even when I didn't realise it. He didn't always ask questions but I have been surprised at the things he has noticed and learned about my sister's and my spiritual journey. On Shabbat when my mom asks why I don't do certain things, he's surprised me quite a few times by jumping in and explaining to my mom before I could do it myself. If only I had half of his power of observation and perception, I'd be a very wise person. 😇 I just hope that any mitzvah I do in his memory will help elevate his neshama. He is and will always be sorely missed by many, but especially so by my mom, my sister and me. I love you dad, thank you for being you. I will miss you every day. #rememberingdad #soelaimanbenabsar #soelaimanbennaswiyah https://www.instagram.com/p/CC2T3-IF86t/?igshid=14786dhr4d2pq