July 14, 2008
Can you picture welcoming Shabbat in a bar/restaurant in Tel Aviv? Well, that is the situation in which Pat and I found ourselves this past Friday night. In order to get the true picture, I have to give you some background.
My father was one of five brothers in Germany. When the Nazis came to power in the 1930s the family split, looking for safe haven. Jews were not welcome everywhere in those days. One of the brothers and his family went to Australia; three, including my father and our family came to the US, and one went to Palestine with his family. So, I have two cousins, their children, spouses and grandchildren here. It is quite a large, close family. We connect with them every year when we come, we visit and talk on the phone. We try to keep in touch when we are back in America as well.
As luck would have it, every summer there seems to be a family celebration here, either a birthday or a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Of course we are invited and we usually go. We are the cousins, who come every summer from America. We usually don't know anyone at these gatherings except the family. It gets to be a bit awkward.
This summer there was a Bat Mitzvah of one of the grandchildren. It is important for the story that you understand a piece of Jewish life here in Israel. Many Jews in this country consider themselves to be "secular," not observant of Jewish rituals in any way. They know Hebrew; it is their language of everyday discourse, but they are far removed from religious life. It is odd in some way; the Sabbath and all the Jewish holidays are part of the national fabric and rhythm of life, but their observance may not include religious activities.
My family here is part of that way of life; they mark life cycle events quite differently than do most Jews in America. When we in America talk about Bar or Bat Mitzvah, we usually include some religious services in which the young person participates and social festivities follow.
Here there is a different rhythm. The invitation to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah invites you to a restaurant. Following the meal there is usually a "this is your life" slide show created by the family showing the growth and development of the youngster. This is usually followed by words spoken by the parents and/or other family members. This ceremony often is quite moving!
That is where we were Friday night. My cousin, knowing me, knowing it was Friday night, invited me to welcome Shabbat there in the restaurant. I could not refuse. Something moved her to include this brief ritual in the events of the evening. So, at the appropriate time, they turned down the music of the DJ, invited everyone to gather and told everyone that we were about to welcome Shabbat.
On the bar, with whiskey bottles in the background, she lit the candles and I said the blessing and chanted Kiddush. There were some people in the room who knew the words and melody and joined me; for everyone, it was a unique moment in time. I guess that is what the message of Shabbat is all about. That evening became more than just another party. It had its sacred moments at the beginning and at the end.
Frank
My father was one of five brothers in Germany. When the Nazis came to power in the 1930s the family split, looking for safe haven. Jews were not welcome everywhere in those days. One of the brothers and his family went to Australia; three, including my father and our family came to the US, and one went to Palestine with his family. So, I have two cousins, their children, spouses and grandchildren here. It is quite a large, close family. We connect with them every year when we come, we visit and talk on the phone. We try to keep in touch when we are back in America as well.
As luck would have it, every summer there seems to be a family celebration here, either a birthday or a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Of course we are invited and we usually go. We are the cousins, who come every summer from America. We usually don't know anyone at these gatherings except the family. It gets to be a bit awkward.
This summer there was a Bat Mitzvah of one of the grandchildren. It is important for the story that you understand a piece of Jewish life here in Israel. Many Jews in this country consider themselves to be "secular," not observant of Jewish rituals in any way. They know Hebrew; it is their language of everyday discourse, but they are far removed from religious life. It is odd in some way; the Sabbath and all the Jewish holidays are part of the national fabric and rhythm of life, but their observance may not include religious activities.
My family here is part of that way of life; they mark life cycle events quite differently than do most Jews in America. When we in America talk about Bar or Bat Mitzvah, we usually include some religious services in which the young person participates and social festivities follow.
Here there is a different rhythm. The invitation to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah invites you to a restaurant. Following the meal there is usually a "this is your life" slide show created by the family showing the growth and development of the youngster. This is usually followed by words spoken by the parents and/or other family members. This ceremony often is quite moving!
That is where we were Friday night. My cousin, knowing me, knowing it was Friday night, invited me to welcome Shabbat there in the restaurant. I could not refuse. Something moved her to include this brief ritual in the events of the evening. So, at the appropriate time, they turned down the music of the DJ, invited everyone to gather and told everyone that we were about to welcome Shabbat.
On the bar, with whiskey bottles in the background, she lit the candles and I said the blessing and chanted Kiddush. There were some people in the room who knew the words and melody and joined me; for everyone, it was a unique moment in time. I guess that is what the message of Shabbat is all about. That evening became more than just another party. It had its sacred moments at the beginning and at the end.
Frank
posted by Frank and Pat Fischer at
7:16 AM
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