For everybody-except-Jake, some background:
Jake grew up on the secular side of Reform; he never attended shul regularly or had a Jewish education. In high school he got involved with NFTY which eventually led to him deciding to come on Shnat. While in Israel, Jake made the choice to become a Bar Mitzvah, which he recently did, one summer's day...
Celebration:
It was hot, sweaty, and sticky, but we ignored that fact as the Shnatties all crowded into the Etgar flat to prepare. A difficult morning for Etgar had us all in a bad mood and the guest room and Dojo were inhabitable due to extermination, but the opportunity to shed our Shnattie clothes and step into some more acceptable attire cheered us up. We spent a few hours secretly passing around last items that Jake couldn't see yet and dolling ourselves up to look like real people again, and then we all mass congregated in the lobby with friends and families. I'm sure the reception didn't even recognize us.
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| Me and Kitty preparing... or just taking pictures instead of getting ready |
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| Taking pictures with the Bar Mitzvah Boy |
We all trekked down to the Old City, through the Zion Gate, and to the Southern Wall. We left the house feeling fresh and fabulous, but arrived sweaty and desperate for shade. We found ourselves a corner and commenced the celebration. Josh, Jemma, and Jeff led the service they wrote as we all sang and prayed our way through their extremely well-written maámad. The rabbi led the Torah service; Josh and Jeff read Torah portions as Jake's family were given the honor of Aliyot, and then Jake did his thing. With shaky hands and voice, he read from our most sacred text as he joined the ranks of Jewish men and women from all ages and places. A round of 'mazel tov's then brought back that silly smile we all know and love. His rabbi, parent's, and even Michael all gave speeches, and then it was my turn. I wasn't paying attention, but Kitty later told me his mom started crying during my speech. I'm glad I was able to show her what an amazing man we know her son to be.
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| Me being "fancy" |
The lot of us hiked throught the dense and humid Jerusalem air up to the Begin Center, where an open bar greeted us with cold drinks (lemonade and orange juice, of course...). We sat down to the first course, which seemed to never end, and then the second course was served, and then a main course which left us all inable to move in our seats. So much good food! Such delicacy! Really good food that none of us had to pay for or cook or clean up! We were treated like royalty that dinner.
The next treat that day was one of my own: we rigged a table cloth to act as a screen, set up Josh's laptop, the Netzer projector and speakers, and I hit play on a presentation that I had to delete my entire iTunes library to create:
After the showing, a to-die-for dessert was served, and then a series of short skits was preformed. After we said our good-byes, Kitty, Shoshana, Jordy, Lily, and I were off. We walked back in such high spirits, we stopped to talk about a million silly pictures of ourselves in the park with the self timer. None of them turned out how we wanted, but we were falling over laughing anyway.
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| Ókay, awkward lean picture, ladies! |
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| I don't even know... |
We got back, waited around for Jake, and went out to celebrate in the park. We played games in the park, I beat Ben at a sit-up contest, Tara's wallet was stolen, we found creative bathrooms, and then we left for the city. Alyson and I mostly ran around blinded by our need for a shirutim, and finally burst into a McDonalds that was willing to let us in. After meetnig up with the others, retrieving my wallet, I headed back. I spent some time in the Dojo and then fell asleep on top of all my laundry on my bed. The next morning I got up way too early, finished packing left the house, missed my bus, and then finally made it up to Haifa.
Of these, there were two outstanding ones I'll mention as I describe the seder:
I walk in and see family and friends, both familiar and strange, and I am introduced and reintroduced in Hebrew or English to all.
- I was surprised to find another American girl there. She was a bit younger than me, about 15. We started talking and coincidence! She did NFTY. We talked more, coincidence! She's here on EIE. And coincidence! She knows a very good friend of mine from camp. And coincidence! She is as completely and unhealthily obssessed with Bones as I am.
The seder was much like our own that we have at home. The tables are set, kids at one table, adults at another, and the in-betweeners (me included) at the sofa. The patriarch's son leads, but everyone takes a turn reading, even the little boy who sounds out every syllable. There were more kids than I was used to, but seeing the youngest girl stand up on her chair so embarrasingly was the most adorable rendition of the four questions I've ever seen. We ran through the Hagaddah, had dinner, looked for the afikomen, hung out, talked, had embarrassing moments (I swear it wasn't me who knocked over the flower vase, I was just cleaning it up when the boy didn't notice he'd done it), and enjoyed Pesach desserts. It was late when we finally left, but it was well worth the time.
I had a nice long sleep, and then the next day more coincidences were found on the way to a kibbutz Pesach tradition:
- Talking to my relative (3rd cousin once removed? 1st cousin thrice removed), I learned that she and her family (husband and two girls) took a trip to the US a few years ago. They were in California, where? The American River, to white water raft. Where? Obur? Abun? Auburn! What a small world it is.
Adventure:
Oh Kibbutzim and your ability to take cheesiness to the extreme...
I watched as girls, teens, men, kids, and women danced, sang, played, and harvested the night away in a traditional ceremony that has been presented the exact same way for many years. The dresses were so old as to be antique-styled and the men were so embarrassed as to be confused with beets, but it was an experience all the same. The kibbutz brought in the harvest season with great fanfare, but then it was time to go get ice cream. My relatives and I went to a little shop that could only be described as 'happenin'.' So many people, kids, teens, and adults, all getting cosher l'pesach glidah, talking and eating and dancing and laughing; it was a scene right out of the 60's. We got our ice cream, ate, and moved on back to their house, where we three girls hung out trying to be less awkward than the others. Dinner was served, and then we tried really hard to watch Titanic. I was invited to stay the night so they wouldn't have to drive me home at o'dark early when the movie finished, which was good because the 3 hour movie turned out to last about 6.
The first failure occurred when the laptop wouldn't attach to the tv, aval ein baya. We started to watch it on the laptop, but had to stop and watch an episode of iCarly every so often to let it load some more. Every time the movie stopped, it was in the middle of a highly dramatic scene, and we would all exclaim: in our own language: really, nu, wtf, mah pitom, etc... We ended up watching some scenes multiple times and more iCarly than I ever wanted to see. Frequent food breaks and chat sessions were also in order; we bonded over chocolate and mutual disdain for the American educational system (post-high school in particular). When the movie ended, more than one of us was in tears (don't ask me who).
Today began with Nutella on matzah, followed by saying good-bye to my cousins, one who was off to a modeling audition (I'm sure she'll get it, she's absolutely beautiful and only 15!), and the other who was studying for her maths exam (also ridiculously beautiful, lucky girls!).
Eventually, Noel, Esther, and I set off to Haifa. They pointed out landmarks to me on the way, which I mostly remembered. We visited the B'hai Hanging Gardens, which had the appearance of a golf course: neurotically maintained but amazing. The architecture, gardening, and overall feel was one of deliberatation, beauty, and scerenity.
From there we went to a look-out where we could see all of Haifa, and even Akko in the distance. The day was hot and stifling, but the breeze off the ocean made it not only bearable, but enjoyable. We ended our day on the beach; a nice walk in the surf and an ice cafe on the boardwalk: it was so relaxing and nice.
Once we arrived back in Kiryat Tivon, Esther made me what is the second best Pesach treat I've ever had the honor to taste (after kanedelach). The recipe, before I forget:
Two eggs: whip the whites with salt and then add the yolks
Add some cinnamon and then mix in two spoonfulls of matzah meal, mix
Fry like a pancake
Sprinkle on sugar and cinnamon, b'tayavon!
(At this point it is acceptable to moan in pure happiness of the experience your taste buds are having)
At this point, I am showered and clean, my feet do not have grime covering the soles, my phone ringing with Zorba plans, and my facebook flashing with friends. My stomach is happy and full to the point of bursting with all this good food these past few days, and the next week is going to be amazing. Maybe I'll even get dreads...
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