Back in Israel by Bar Mitzvah Boy Asher Shaul

After we sadly left Cape Town, South Africa, we flew back to Israel and we came home to meet our grandma, Savta. Because we got home early, we didn’t do much except for homework and saying hi to our family here. We got here on August 31st and at night, we had Shabbat Dinner at our cousins’ house and finally met our cousins’ new puppy, Chloe! She is a very small dog with white fur and a very funny attitude because all she does is bite and lick newcomers! She will grow very big because she’s a large breed. While we were there, we also celebrated my cat, Bruno’s, birthday! It was his calculated birthday and I sent him many kisses and hugs! I even baked him a chocolate cake with Aba and Troy which we served at Shabbat Dinner that night. After Shabbat, we didn’t do much else here in Israel except for… wait for it… my Bar Mitzvah!

My Bar Mitzvah happened on Tuesday, September 4th. We couldn’t do it on my actual birthday because we had other plans in Mexico, but that was ok because my Bar Mitzvah yesterday was super awesome. It was set at a restaurant in Tel Aviv rather than Ella’s last year which was set at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Instead of wearing a traditional outfit, I wore a casual shirt and long brown pants, but I also wore a steampunk hat and vest! We got the idea for it when we went to a restaurant in Cape Town which was steampunk themed and we decided that it looked very cool and was a possibility for my Bar Mitzvah outfit. We visited a steampunk store that was nearby and, ironically, the woman who ran the store made the decorations for that restaurant! We bought a hat and a vest that would become part of my Bar Mitzvah outfit. When we got to the restaurant, we set everything up and our party guests gradually started to come over time and were all shocked by what I wore and what we were doing. By the time everybody got to the restaurant, I took a deep breath as everyone gathered in the showroom where I would begin my speech.

My long hour of standing up began with me saying a prayer and then my rabbi, Tamara, and the audience started chanting other stuff. I was honestly very stiff and afraid that I might mess up during the speech, but when I finally took a deep breath and focused my concentration, I read from the Torah better than I thought I would and the audience cheered me on, which was very great because I finally gained confidence and I knew that I could work. Later on, I gave my speech and thanks to my family and then my family gave me their speeches and even Ella sang me a song called “I Hope You Dance” by Leeann Womack that was very beautiful and was actually the right one for the occasion. After Ella’s spectacular song, the Bar Mitzvah itself was over and everybody enjoyed their dinner; after I was bombarded with candy by everybody(it’s a tradition to throw candy at the kid becoming an adult). I had pizza and then passed out copies of my book, “The Legendary Sandwich: A Trixie and Bruno Tail”, to everyone and they loved it! Overall, it was a very successful night and I would actually do it again. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me and taught me very important things about myself. Below, I have posted a teaser of my novel that will go into the second edition because it wasn’t actually printed:

”                         ——5 animals; 5 clues; 5 layers of chicken——

It’s terror in Boulder, Colorado, in 2018. The world is on fire and everything is at risk. Trixie and Bruno have been sucked into a dark void that will only set them free if they find the oasis made out of light, a treasure sought by only the brave (With a few exceptions cough* Trixie* cough). THIS was the situation that crazy and always-hungry pets Trixie the dog and Bruno the cat were in when a food that would change their lives forever went missing. Now, they are trapped in a quest of hide and seek as they search for five clues that lead to the location of their prized possession, the Legendary Sandwich. Unfortunately, others have heard about this heavenly treasure and will not stop until it is in their stomachs. Now, the heat is on as Trixie and Bruno, as well as their arch enemies, Pierre the cat and Boris the dog, seek for the Legendary Sandwich on their “epic” quest. Who will devour the treasure first? Looks like you’ll have to find out in “The Legendary Sandwich: A Trixie and Bruno Tail”!”

Below, is the author’s description that was written by Troy about me:

“About the Author

Asher Az Shaul is a 13-year-old 8th-grade student from beautiful Boulder Colorado.  He is a talented and imaginative graphic artist and story-teller.  Asher entertains and delights his family and friends by using his talents to create playful, colorful, fantastical stories featuring his beloved pets, Trixie the dog, Bruno the cat and his family as main characters.  Asher’s favorite pastimes are spending lots of quality time with Trixie, Bruno and his family, impromptu story-telling, drawing, and of course playing his favorite video games.

Asher is currently attending Boulder Universal Online School from the Summer of 2018 to the Summer of 2019 as he joins his family on a 14-month “adventure of a lifetime” traveling the world.  Asher will travel to and live in many exotic locales including South Africa, Israel, Nepal, Japan, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Argentina, and Brazil.  Asher’s blog entries can be found on the family travel blog at www.jumpearth.com

On September 4th, 2018, Asher will be joined by dozens of his family and friends in Tel Aviv – Yafo, Israel as he is welcomed into adulthood in the ceremony and celebration of his Bar Mitzvah.

Although “The Legendary Sandwich, a Trixie and Bruno Tail” is only one of Asher’s many stories, it is the first written and illustrated by him in book form.  Asher has worked very long hours writing and editing this story and dialogue.  Additionally, he has lovingly drawn and hand-colored the cover art and the fourteen illustrations contained in the book.    Asher hopes you will enjoy this “Tail” about Trixie & Bruno’s quest for a legendary sandwich.  He has created this illustrated story as a gift to you.

On this very special occasion, Asher’s family and friends wish him a lifetime of happiness while exploring and developing his talents in order to make our world more colorful, playful and fantastical.  We love you Asher, and we are so proud of you!

Congratulations, Asher!!!”

Below is the prologue to my story; I will post a chapter for every week. So next week I’ll post chapter 1 and the next couple of illustrations:

”

PROLOGUE

In an isolated area in Boulder, Colorado, a pet-food company called PETPLACETM was running low on ideas for new cat and dog foods. Times were tough. Companies were trying to get ahead of competitors in order to make the greatest profit and went to any lengths to do so. PETPLACETM was one of those companies who fell behind. The manager, Gunther, decided he was going to do something about the mess they were in and met with his right-hand man, Steven, to discuss a new food idea to top them all, in the PETPLACETM headquarters.

“Steven! We need a new food product ASAP!!” Gunther exclaimed to his employee.

“Sorry boss, all of our food ideas have been taken: The steak-tasting doggy-pop was taken by Treat Tavern, the cat scratching post that tastes like fish was taken by CAT HavenTM, and the almighty Lasagna Couch was taken by IKEA. “We’re out of ideas boss” Steven explained. “We’re done for.”

“No. There has to be a product that we’ve overlooked. A product that would put us on top. What are the products we already have that have the potential to be our new face?” Gunther said frantically.

“Well, there are… let’s see… the catnip chandelier, the sausage-scented fan, the bacon carpet, the Legendary Sandwich, the-” Steven read from the list before he got interrupted.

“Wait, what was that last one?” Gunther asked curiously.

“The Legendary Sandwich?” Steven asked as Gunther nodded. “Oh, it’s made of the fattiest foods known to man and is so sweet-tasting that any pet would fall for it…”

“Yes! This will be our new food product! The Legendary Sandwich! We’re gonna be rich! Start putting them in the shops!” Gunther shouted with joy. Immediately, Steven deployed all of the Legendary Sandwiches to every store they had and, as Gunther predicted, money started to roll in. Many pet owners wanted this new product, but the owners weren’t the only ones looking for this exclusive bounty…”

 Cover of my story!!!