Luciano’s Restaurant in Mevo Modiim

I have had the pleasure of working and eating many times at Luciano’s Restaurant these past few months. There is always something interesting happening at the restaurant; I have hundreds of funny stories, there is never a dull moment. People come for the atmosphere, the food, and to feel a connection with R’ Shlomo. For many people the restaurant is the epitome of the Moshav.

During the recent festival, I was working in the restaurant for over a dozen hours. The pizzas were a blur, food going out as fast as we could put it into the oven. People were lined up to get a slice, and everyone really enjoyed themselves. Despite the craziness of the crowds, everyone commented how nice it was to be there. It’s just one of those places that feels like coming home, no matter how many guests you have over. One customer walked in and asked me for a Carlebach and a slice. I stopped what I was doing and laughed.

Personally, I have been eating at the restaurant for over a decade. While I was living in Canada, it was often my first and last stop to and from the airport whenever I came to Israel for a visit. Shoshana is always there with a joke and a smile, and of course, excellent food. Shoshana is one of those people who is always b’simcha, always looking on the bright side of things. Things have stayed the same over the years, and the pizza is still great, defiantly worth coming back for again and again.

The food is one of the best aspects of the restaurant. Everything is made from scratch using only olive oil and fresh ingredients. You can really taste the difference in the pizza, pasta and salads.

On those long Summer nights, there is nothing like sitting in the garden outside the restaurant in the glow of the candle light, spending time with friends. The restaurant has been the setting for many a first date; it’s a great place to meet your soul mate. Just like Cheers, it’s nice to go somewhere where everyone knows your name.

Tel Zaharah

This is another article for the good news, Its all copyright, please ask permission before quoting. Thanks.


I took part in an archeological excavation for a month last summer. I was located in the beautiful north east (the Jezreal Valley) just south of Bet Shean at Tel Zaharah. This past summers dig was the first excavation of Tel Zahara. Because it was the first season, it was an exciting with unlimited possibility. While we didn’t exactly find what we were looking for, we did make a few discoveries, and while it was nothing on an Indiana Jones scale, it was great a great experience and I am happy I had the chance to participate.
During the excavation, we were housed nearby at the guesthouses located at Kibbutz Nir David which is across the road from the site. It’s a wonderful place to unwind after a day of digging, with unparalleled facilities. In and around the Kibbutz, there is a horse ranch, an Australian wildlife and Kangaroo Park, sports complex, and a river perfect for fishing and swimming. Life on an excavation is a combination of hours of stress and hard work outdoors, meeting new friends, relaxing, and of course, washing pottery. People come to excavations in Israel from all corners of the world, of all ages, and all backgrounds. I was surprised to find at my first excavation a couple years ago, that many of the volunteers and students were not even archeology majors. People come to excavations because of many varied interests, whether it is the history, religion, digging, vacation, etc. Not everyone realizes what they are getting into on a dig, its much more than a vacation, its actual physical labor, which can be extremely hard in the blazing heat, but I guess that just makes it all the more fun. In addition to digging, many excavations also run a field school which teaches the basics of excavation techniques, technical skills, paperwork, pottery, archeology, a bit of history and many other things. Every day is a great hands-on learning experience; often you are the first person to unearth artifacts which have been buried for literally thousands of years. Excavations can be a lot like summer camp with digging, there is a real sense of camaraderie which develops when everyone is digging for eight hours a day together and living the same experience. While each excavation’s schedule varies, most follow the general idea of the excavation I was on last summer. Wake up is 4-4:30am, crawling out of bed, getting dressed, eating a slice of bread and making it to the bus is usually the major challenge of the day. We usually dig till noon with half an hour off for breakfast and a break at 11am. While working in the sun without a shade can be hard, wearing the right hat, sunscreen and plenty of water make is much easier to dig without getting overheated. I was recently told that while in Saudi Arabia you can stick a shovel in the sand and hit oil, we stick a shovel in the ground and pull out antiquities. Its amazing what people find and what pottery shards (or even intact vessels) can tell us thousands of year’s later about things like trade, population, area politics, etc. This past season at Tel Zaharah, we had a team from Poland, volunteers from all over the US, and supervisors from Denmark, Jordan, and Kentucky. The majority of volunteers were from Montana. A dig is a fantastic place to meet new people and make new friends, and a great way to really experience Israel, the land and the history.

First Rain in Tel Aviv

Walking with a small group to a friend’s house following a Moshav Band concert in Tel Aviv a couple nights ago, the unbelievable happened. At first it was only a few drops, making me wonder if someone had thrown a cup of water off their balcony. Within moments, the sidewalks were covered in a polka dot pattern of rain drops, and then it started what in any other situation would be called a drizzle. The first rain was warm, surprising and wonderful. Water is so important here, it’s really a blessing to get wet. I would normally react with annoyance at getting caught in the wet, but the first time it rained this year in Tel Aviv, I was not quite dancing in the rain, but it felt great.

Scuba Diving in the Red Sea

This is an article I wrote for the Good News newsletter in Mevo Modiim, its all copyright, please contact me if you want to quote, or rip me off.

Scuba diving, like everything else in life, can be exhilarating, challenging, exciting, and tons of fun. Diving is a unique learning experience, with many things to see and do in the vast unexplored depths of the oceans.

I first thought about learning to scuba dive a few years ago. At the time, I was debating taking flying lessons or learning to dive. Scuba diving won out in the end as it was cheaper, seemed more fun, and you got to stay on, or below the ground. You meet all sorts of interesting people from all over the world who are diving enthusiasts, with all different interests and backgrounds. I have met people who dive for golf balls, dive to see sharks, dive under ice, dive to explore, dive for work, and of course, people who dive for fun. The cool thing about diving is that since the world is mostly water, you can pretty much find some type of diving that interests you.

Learning to dive was very fun and challenging. Instructors are with you each step of the way, and work at your pace to ensure you learn and memorize all the required procedures. Learning to dive is not really about actually learning how to dive; rather it’s all about what to do if something goes wrong. I felt confidant knowing that in case of an emergency, I knew what to do and could do it in my sleep. You drill over and over and work with your equipment, eventually you can do most things without even thinking about it. I took my confined water dives in a swimming pool near my house, and often went back to the pool just to play. There is nothing like riding a bike underwater, or playing underwater Frisbee. I found I could suddenly do back flips and had total freedom of motion. There is really nothing like it without going into space.

All the preparation, classes, and practice don’t prepare you for the first time you go diving in open water. I always thought diving in the practice pool was amazing, but nothing compares to seeing an entire new and exciting underwater world. I found that once I got used to the idea of breathing underwater and became calm enough to have fun, I had an amazing time. Weightless, you soar over beautiful coral formations, schools of fish, and gain an entirely new perspective. It feels like flying, except you have a scuba tank strapped to your back instead of a tiny Cessna.

As you start to descend, you realize that what appeared to be an empty, vast body of water is actually teaming with plant and animal life. In every direction, there is something colorful and to look at, it’s like walking through Times Square, there is always something to look at. As you get deeper, the light begins to dim slightly, and you begin to feel the temporary panic of being too far under to just swim back up, and too close to the surface to give up. I usually take a moment to adjust and relax, and keep on descending. Its at this point you work out overcoming your fears, and rely on your training to keep you safe, and get to the business of having fun.

Being safe and cautious is the most important trait of a good diver, knowing that you are within your limits lets you get out and have a great dive. Diving is like driving, if you stay on the right side of the road, you’re usually OK.

Israel has some particularly good diving spots. Many marine life enthusiasts dive in both the north and south of the country. I have several friends who do an annual dive in Yehudia national park in the north, while you don’t see any fish; you sure find a lot of interesting things people dropped into the pools. It’s important to remember we are responsible for our fragile ecology, and try not to hard plant or animal life while in the water. My diving instructor’s motto is, take pictures and leave only bubbles so someone else can enjoy. I hope you give diving a try, it’s really the thrill of a life time.

Another Ulpan Is...

Ulpan is...

Sitting next to someone who busses for two hours and arrives on time

Listening to Carmen on the violin playing outside of your window

Meeting people from all over the world, and having to communicate with them in Hebrew

Making new friends

Trying to figure out Israeli culture while learning the language, why are the teachers crying when it doesn’t really seem that sad of a movie?

Finding your food options limited to Aroma or Frank Sinatra

Finding yourself totally in over your head, not understanding anything that is going on, and having a fantastic day where you shine

An ovation for a great news imitation

Pitching in for the teachers presents

Carrying home drunk yeshiva kids from town

Pretending to sing while secretly doing homework during singing classes

Pizza as a lubricant in spiritual enlightenment

Considering your future in Israel, and much more Ulpan

Talking during class, but only in Hebrew

Forgetting how to say driver’s license and looking like an idiot

Almost coming to blows while critiquing the program

Evaluating everyone you meet by their level

Learning everyone’s name, story, and all the wackiness that comes with it

Doing laundry in the hill while singing show tunes

Checking your gun at the security office, but carrying around the bullets

Thursday to Thursday, working towards the weekend breaks

Writing essays in Hebrew and hoping to spell anything correctly

Giving an interview in Hebrew as an example of an Israeli

Meeting interesting and pseudo famous people, OK?

Absorbing culture through little chocolate bars

Trying to figure out what a gerund is

The mystery of the teacher’s British accent

Pizza study party for finals

Meeting a doctor, an artist, and a future commando who all think Hebrew is important

Learning the coulors of toppings instead of the names

Begging for change for the dryer

If a had a zillion dollars

If I had a zillion dollars, I could afford to spell my name out in buildings. That way, when I fly by in my jet, I could see my name written out way below. I could also spell out funny messages or enlarge my ego with blocks of buildings which say things like "Sid, you're the greatest!". Until I do have a zillion dollars, I can plan and scheme using geoGreeting! a nifty website which spells out your name, or whatever you type in, in buildings. Its a total power trip, and there is even an option to send it to your friends and let them know how things are going to look like once you take over.

9mm Mossad Fratelli breakdown

A great video by YB of my new handgun, with a step-by-step breakdown of the 'Mossad' 9mm handgun by Fratelli. I purchased the gun from an army officer, it was in great shape and I have been shooting with it a number of times. Its a great concealed carry weapon because it is so compact and light, and doesn't really pull the pants down much. When I am at the police, I usually use an external holster made of moulded plastic. Its interesting that in Israel, a country perceived to be more dangerous than the US, the role of firearms in policing is completely different, you never draw your weapon here unless you or a citizen is in mortal danger.

I was quoted in an article about my Mentos and Coke video

Diet Coke ‘experiment’ gives Mentos a surge in publicity

Suzanne Vranica and Chad Terhune
Wall Street Journal
Jun. 12, 2006 10:47 AM

Hundreds of amateur videos have flooded the Internet in recent months showing an oddball experiment: people dropping the quarter-size Mentos candies into bottles of Diet Coke. The combination results in a geyser of soda that shoots as high as 20 feet into the air.

“It’s a funny thing to do,” says Sidney Shapiro, a 26-year-old student in Israel, who posted his film on Google Video last month.

The popularity of the videos - Mentos says it has found some 800 online - is producing a gusher of free publicity for the candy maker, a unit of Italian confectioner Perfetti Van Melle. “We are tickled pink by it,” says Pete Healy, vice president of marketing for the company’s U.S. division. The company spends less than $20 million on U.S. advertising annually. He estimates the value of online buzz to be “over $10 million.” The company is considering striking a marketing deal with the two men responsible for one of the more elaborate videos - using 101 two-liter bottles of Diet Coke and 523 Mentos to create a dancing fountain like the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas - posted on EepyBird.com, Mr. Healy says.

Coca-Cola Co. is much more blase. “It’s an entertaining phenomenon,” said Coke spokeswoman Susan McDermott. “We would hope people want to drink (Diet Coke) more than try experiments with it.” Coke could use some extra buzz right now. Sales volume of Diet Coke in the U.S. was essentially flat last year, as consumers switch from diet sodas to bottled water and other noncarbonated drinks. But McDermott says that the “craziness with Mentos … doesn’t fit with the brand personality” of Diet Coke.

Despite Coke’s “Who needs it?” attitude, the phenomenon shows how brands can take on a life of their own, particularly on the Internet. Mentos’ Healy points out that Coke-Mentos experiments have been around for years, but they have been given a new jolt by the newfound fascination among young people to create video content and share it online.

Many companies that have spent years and millions of dollars nurturing a brand aggressively try to retain control of how it is portrayed in public. Last year, FedEx sent a Tempe, Ariz., man a cease-and-desist letter demanding he take down his Web site that showed furniture - such as a desk and chairs - made out of FedEx boxes. “The FedEx brand is one of our most valuable assets,” says Howard Clabo, a FedEx spokesman. “In this particular instance, we simply asked that the violator stop using our brand for their personal benefit.” The site was down for a brief period but reappeared earlier this year.

For Mentos, however, the video buzz offers an opportunity too good to pass up. The candy maker is considering hiring the Eepybird.com duo to do demonstrations of their fountain trick - perhaps even as the opening act for a music-concert tour, says Healy.

The men, Fritz Grobe, a 37-year-old professional juggler, and Stephen Voltz, 48-year-old lawyer, from Buckfield, Me., belong to a local theater company called Oddfellow theater. They got the idea after seeing a less sophisticated version online, and “We wanted to make it bigger and better and turn it into something theatrical,” says Mr. Grobe.

After experimenting with different combinations of sodas and candies - establishing that Mentos and Diet Coke produced the most spectacular effect - they posted their film on EepyBird.com, a site they operate, on June 3. By last Friday, more than 800,000 people had watched the video on Revver.com, a broadband-video site. The pair say they have also had calls from several late-night talk shows, including CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman.”

“It’s all very exciting, it’s been a whirlwind of attention,” says Grobe. “We would be happy to help Mentos,” adds Voltz.

What’s the chemistry behind the geyser? San Diego chemist Neal Langerman suggests the answer lies in the higher level of carbon dioxide in diet sodas than other sodas and the porous surface area of a Mentos. Langerman, the past chairman of the division of chemical health and safety at the American Chemical Society, said similar results wouldn’t be achieved with an M&M, for instance, “which is really solid.” Diet Coke has more carbon dioxide than Diet Pepsi, he says. Coke wouldn’t comment on the comparison.