Obama, Peres exchange gifts

[babylonsister]

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/05/05/obama-peres-exchange-gifts/

Obama, Peres exchange gifts
@ 4:03 pm by Michael O'Brien


President Obama and Israeli President Shimon Peres exchanged gifts after their White House meeting Tuesday.

Arutz Sheva reported that Obama gifted a silver mezuzah adorned with turquoise, while Peres gave Obama a status of a woman holding 20 doves.

"To President Barack Obama — a great leader who carries a great hope for the world," the inscription on the status read.

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I have a mezzuzah, as does my Catholic m-i-l, right outside her door. It a blessing to your home, afaik, and the containers that hold the parchment are varied and can be very beautiful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezuzah

A mezuzah (Hebrew: מזוזה‎ "doorpost") (plural: mezuzot (מזוזות )) is a piece of parchment (often contained in a decorative case) inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 and 11:13-21). These verses comprise the Jewish prayer "Shema Yisrael", beginning with the phrase: "Listen, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One."

A mezuzah is affixed to the doorframe of Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6: 9). Many families place a mezuzah on the front door only, but observant Jews affix one on every doorway in the home apart from bathrooms, as well as closets too small to qualify as rooms.<1> The parchment is prepared by a qualified scribe (a "sofer stam") who has undergone many years of meticulous training, and the verses are written in black indelible ink with a special quill pen. The parchment is then rolled up and placed inside the case.

[billyoc]

1. I always kiss my fingers and touch the thing on the doorframe.

even though I have no idea what it is. :blush:

[rockymountaindem]

2. And nobody gave anybody a bottle of Manischewitz?

Weak guys. Super weak.

[babylonsister]

3. Hahaha! nt

[jillan]

4. Haha - that is nasty stuff. Like drinking syrup and not even getting a buzz.

[rockymountaindem]

5. No, no...

The 'Witz is delicious and you *can* get a buzz off of it. At $5 per bottle it's easy enough :)

[jillan]

6. Yeah - a sugar buzz!

[DavidDvorkin]

7. Sounds like it's time for one of my favorite snacks

Matzo with hummus. I call it my personal contribution to Middle East peace.

[babylonsister]

8. Hummus!

Sooo yum, and it can be so healthy! I make it minus the tahini, but may add it. Gorgeous dip!

Matzos? That used to be diet food for us in my youth. I need to find some.

[DavidDvorkin]

9. I've been buying Streit's whole-wheat matzo

at a local supermarket named King Soopers, which is now a subsidiary of Kroger.

Half a matzo, with hummus spread on it. Yummy.