how to say “to be on time” in Hebrew

Last night I went to my first Ethiopian Jewish wedding. 


I had a blast. 


I like a down-to-earth atmosphere; here all the formalities were overshadowed by probably about a thousand people – many teens and young adults – talking enthusiastically and dancing with such celebration that I felt like a native as I started moving my shoulders (as opposed to legs). 


One such formality was promptness. Like most Jewish weddings, the time listed on the invitation for the wedding ceremony need not be observed exactly. But at this wedding, the ceremony that was called for 8pm took place at 9:45.


To be on time is, in Hebrew, לְדַיֵּק (le-dah-YEK) – literally, to be precise. 


דַּיְקָנוּת (dah-ee-kah-NOOT) is accuracy or punctiliousness.


שבת שלום וסוף שבוע נעים לכולם – Shabbat Shalom and good weekend to all.




Helping a family of orphans

I have been fortunate enough to have spent many Shabbats at an absorption center of immigrants from Ethiopia near Beit Alpha, Israel. Among those with whom I became closest are two teens, Yayu and Derebe, posing with me in this picture:

me, Yayu, Derebe – Passover 5770-2010

Derebe and his four brothers (aged 12-21) recently became orphaned. Their father passed away in Ethiopia several years before the family’s immigration to Israel, and their mother died this past October.


These kids are the salt of the earth, and, as with all children and people, they have immense potential. The family recently purchased an apartment in Holon with government help, but they owe a very large sum of money to family members from whom their late mother borrowed to buy the apartment. 


Derebe (18) and his younger brothers are in school, while Yekoye, the eldest brother and legal guardian, is trying to keep the family afloat while putting off his own army service and education.


I’ve teamed up with Yad Eliezer, one of Israel’s most reputable charitable foundations, to raise money for Derebe, Yekoye, and their brothers. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation by sending a check, made out to Yad Eliezer, to:


Ulpan La-Inyan
74/6 Emek Refaim St.
Jerusalem, 93142
Israel


No remuneration (thanks for the correction, David) is taken by me or Yad Eliezer.


Thank you in advance, on behalf of myself and the brothers.