Welcome to the Jerusalem Scrabble Club
COME PLAY WITH US … VISITORS ALWAYS WELCOME!
*** NEW PLAYERS: CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ***
Director: Elana Simons, 054 220 6238, elanalibby@gmail.com
THIS WEEK AT THE CLUB
Season 84, Week 5 of 25 – September 09, 2025
Distance makes the heart grow fonder, and with the summer officially over we welcomed the return of vacationers Rita, Brenda and Bob. Others have come home over the past couple of weeks. Each member of our club, veteran and newer-comer, contributes his or her own unique style, and all are valued members of the “family.” It was a pleasure to see Sarah back on one of her flying visits from the US; unfazed by her long absence, she immediately agreed to play a double game.
Especially valued are those who work hard to keep the club running smoothly year-round, and Director Elana and Treasurer (plus much else) Susan were presented with gifts showing the club’s appreciation, organized by Marion and Pauline. Included with the colorful quilted mats for keeping dishes hot was a thank-you for a charitable donation made in the recipients’ name.
Dahlia has long participated in the annual Wheels of Love bike ride in aid of the Alyn Hospital’s Pediatric & Adolescent Rehabilitation Center, and this year is no exception. The ride will take place in the north November 2-6, and sponsors can donate either via Susan at the club or on Dahlia’s Alyn web page at https://sponsor.alyn.org/dfriedman She will be riding also in memory and tribute to “dear Madeline, whose absence is felt all the more at this time.” Madeline had made it her mission to collect as many sponsors as possible from the club for Dahlia’s participation in the ride.
Elana shared an exchange with Shirley in which the latter commented that it had been a year since she played Yaakov. “My curiosity was piqued,” Elana said, “and I went back and checked. Turned out they actually hadn’t played in two years!” She immediately rectified the situation by pairing them for two games, which ended with a win for each.
Memory game: Judy hoped she had correctly remembered ARTIGI, a type of parka worn by the Inuit in Canada, a word she spotted being placed a couple of months back by top player Yaakov Barak, who was visiting from Pittsburgh and sitting at the same table. “He noted afterwards that it was good even without the R. Anyway, I took a deep breath and played it together with my S, and it was challenged – which gave me a shot at an open triple.”
Debbie played REALIA, meaning real-world physical objects, a good way to unburden herself of a plethora of vowels that “shocked my opponent, who challenged it.” Pamela had AROUSED on her rack but nowhere to put it. “Then I saw a free RE and said, “Why not REAROUSED?’” This didn’t sit well with her opponent, who soon regretted not accepting it. Another challenged bingo was Susan’s FORGINGS, which are parts manufactured by heating and shaping metal.
From the experts: DavidS responded to the case of a player who had the Q plus no less than three S’s on his second turn and no other compatible letters on his rack. There was no I on the board and he wasn’t sure how to proceed. David’s response was brief: “Trade the Q.” What about the surplus of S’s? He agreed that “three on your rack is a lot, but I’d have to see the rest of the rack, and the board.” Wendy’s take on a troublesome Q is: “If you can’t play it in two turns, throw it in.”
If you missed the opportunity to communicate your hilite in person at the club you can email it to judymo@netvision.net.il or WhatsApp it (054-5552355) up until noon the following day. If you wish to mark an occasion by bringing refreshments to the club, please check with Susan or Elana up to a week in advance.
WWW: Judy, ElanaS, Debbie
WOW: PUBERTY (Rita) DEBAUCH (Marion), ARTIGIS (Judy)
PHOW:
High Win, High Loss, High Triple:
A: 509 (Rena), 397 (Elana), 1239 (Susan)
B1: 525 (Brenda), 380 (Richard), 1206 (Judy)
Scores over 500: Brenda 525, Rena 509
100-pt play: CABBIES 100 (Judy)
Attendance: 27