KIN - KissingerFamily International News

Dear Family,

This is a reminder that the Second Kissinger Family Reunion will take place on Sunday, March 23rd through Thursday, March 27th, in Israel and we want you there!!!!

We assure you that whether you have been to Israel before or not, this will be an event to remember.

The tentative program:

Sunday, March 23 (Easter Sunday and two days after Purim!) - Afternoon - Jerusalem - Greetings and Meet Your Family activities, group dinner, evening activity

Monday, March 24 - Yad VaShem guided tour and memorial ceremony, Jerusalem tour and activities

Tuesday, March 25 – Trip to the Dead Sea, Massada and surrounding area

Wednesday, March 26 - Trip up North in the footsteps of the Kissinger Family: See a variety of sites in Israel, mostly off the beaten path. (Ending in Tel Aviv)

Thursday, March 27 - Tel Aviv - City tour of Tel Aviv and other local activities. Thursday evening - Farewell dinner.

For planning and reservations, we need to know in advance how many family members will be attending. PLEASE LET US KNOW!

You can stay up-to-date regarding program changes on this website.

If you have any questions after reading all the information here, please don't hesitate to contact the Reunion Committee at liz@kissingerfamily.com.

We look forward to seeing you in March 2008!

When Sherry Steger sent me James Mann's NY TImes article about Henry K., she got a kick out of the new Kissinger phrases used in the article.

That got me thinking. (Yes, it happens now and then.) Since the Kissinger family is so very special, perhaps we deserve our own dictionary.

Below you can find the first words and phrases in the Kissinger Family Dictionary. Beside James Mann's inspirations, it includes input from Miguel Blaufuks, Janet Fleckman, Ernst Krakenberger, Lisa Levy, Dov Levy, Ido Ramati, Karin Stern and me! It's getting quite humorous...

What can you come up with ? Add a new word to the dictionary in the comment area below the blog.

The New Unabridged Kissinger Dictionary

Bad Kissingen (noun, place). Located in Bavaria, Germany. Famous for its Kissinger history. Known as the "Baddest Spa in the Whole Region". (Even badder than old Bamberg.) (Coined by Dara, Evan, Ava and Gaby. June 2005)

Birthday Table (noun). The early morning display of gifts each Kissinger gets on his/her birthday.

“Come on! Get on the bus!” Phrase used by a Sergeant Major when he/she wants to hurry someone.

Cousin (noun), any descendant or spouse of descendant of Meyer Loeb Kissinger.

Great Ambassador (noun), meaning a member of the Kissinger family who went to Bad Kissingen. Coined by the Mayor of Bad Kissingen.

Hamburger (noun), An annoying and objectionable person. Sample usage: "That was not a nice thing to say. Don't be a Hamburger!"

Henry stayed here. (expression) meaning: Any town, city or village in Germany.

"I wonder who's Kissinger now" – A song written about the research done on the Kissinger Family Tree.

Kissingerian (adj)., meaning Kissinger-like. Origin: NY Times article on Henry, "The Ghost of the Oval Office", 10/2006.

Klösse (otherwise known as Knödel - Dumplings or (by Dana KM) as "Glüsse") (noun), meaning: Bavarian - Franconian and Czech kind of balls, made out of potato-dough or bread rolls, to go with fat Bavarian-Franconian food. Also a sweet version exists for deserts with various fruits in it.

Mascot (noun) meaning: a small sweet little black doggy called Tessie, family to the Sergeant-Mayor.

Queen Elizabeth or Queen Mum (title), the Kissinger family genealogist without whom many cousins would have remained treeless and clueless. (coined by Janet Fleckman)

Sergeant Major (title), meaning Ernst Krakenberger. May be used for anyone who forces other people to stay on schedule. (Origin: The Sergeant Major himself from the First Kissinger Reunion.)

Supporter (noun) Someone supporting the Reunion other than the organizing committee. Example: Hans-Jürgen Beck and Corina Büttner.

The family of the Former American Secretary of State – First line in all German media to describe the Kissinger Family.

The First Wife (noun), Marianne David Stahl, first wife of Meyer Loeb Kissinger. Sample sentence: "I am your half fifth cousin twice removed because I am from the First Wife."

The Kissinger Schmooze (noun), meaning "when a Kissinger talks, others listen". Origin: NY Times article on Henry, "The Ghost of the Oval Office", 10/2006.

The Second Wife (noun), Schoenlein David Stahl, second wife of Meyrer Loeb Kissinger. Sample sentence: "I am descended from the first son of the Second Wife."

"What? You're related to Henry Kissinger?" (expression/greeting), usual greeting used by outsiders upon meeting Kissinger Family members for the first time.

"Where is Pedro?" meaning: Someone is missing from the Kissinger group. (Coined by Micky and Manuela after losing Pedro about 20 times when we were in Bad Kissingen.)

THE NEXT TRIANNUAL KISSINGER INTERNATIONAL FAMILY REUNION WILL TAKE PLACE MARCH 23-27, 2008 IN ISRAEL!!!!

Yes, you read it right.... Back by popular demand, another fabulous family get-together is in the makings.

More details will come later but mark your calendars now so you will not plan anything else during that week.

Got any ideas about what you'd like to see and do there? Let me know. We've already got a planning committee of 14 Kissinger cousins from 5 different countries working to make this event another event to remember.

If you didn't make it to the first reunion last June and you'd like to read the summary that was written by two of the participants, just let me know and I'll send it to you (Liz@kissingerfamily.com).

Our family website is getting a face lift.

Kissinger cousin and resident website genius, Micky Blaufuks, suggested using a blog for the main part of our site. After all, blogs seem to be the "thing" these days.

For those of you who do not know what a blog is, blog is short for weblog. A weblog is a journal or newsletter that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption but in our case, for family consumption! In a blog entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order. You read the newest news first and as you scroll down, you can see what was previously posted. Readers are invited to add comments to each entry.

Blogs are usually used to provide commentary or news on a particular subject, and our subject is KISSINGER INTERNATIONAL NEWS - or KIN. Appropriate nickname, eh?

So here we are dear family, YOUR new website.

But don't forget to check out the Family Forum for latest news and to post your own news from time to time!

Enjoy.