Shabbat Dinner

One of my favorite things about being Jewish is Shabbat Dinner. Friday night at sundown, families gather together to welcome in the Sabbath. We didn't do this too often as a kid growing up, but here in Israel it's something very special.

You really feel the Sabbath here, even in 'secular' Tel Aviv. The buses stop running. Most of the businesses close down. And for a few hours, the streets are nearly deserted. Most people are sitting around a table with their family. Lighting the Shabbat candles, saying the blessing over the Shabbat bread known as 'challah' and the blessing over the wine.

I love going to visit my cousins for Shabbat. They are really my Israeli grandparents, as they are my grandmother's cousins (and her age). I love them dearly. I didn't know them before moving to Israel, but they have truly become my family, since I got here.

Tonight we had a wonderful meal. My cousin Sara made baked apples. She had no idea that that is the same dish my grandmother famously makes for every special occasion. (they are so much alike, it's scary) I love the little traditions. First the candles are lit, right at sundown. Then the blessing over the wine. We drink from the kiddush cup (silver wine cup) first brought to Israel by my great-great grandfather, from Poland in the late 1800's. My cousin reads the prayers over the wine, then takes the first sip from the cup. He then passes it to his wife, and it is then passed to each person at the table, in descending order of age. Oldest to youngest.

Then he walks to the sink to wash his hands, filling up a special cup then pouring the water over each hand (twice I think). We then follow him to the sink and do the same. But there is no talking during the hand washing. The next words spoken are the blessing over the bread, once all of us have sat back down. He blesses the bread, thanks God for the food, then cuts a piece for each person, dipping it first in salt.

Sara always makes a multi-course meal. I learned that the hard way. Filling up the first time on what I didn't know was only the first course. Fish first, then salad, soup, then meat, potatoes, vegetables, etc...

Tonight there was also a special dessert. Cake for my birthday which was just a couple weeks ago. So sweet.

But what I think I love most, is hearing all the stories about my family's history in Israel. Tonight I learned that my family is from the tribe of Levi. Wow! That was amazing to learn. Apparently the rabbis know, based on your family's name, which tribe you came from. A Levi. They were the priests in God's temple. Incredible.

Tonight I learned that my great-grandmother (who was born in Jerusalem) had to flee Israel in the early 1900's when the Turks kicked all the Jews out of Jerusalem for a time. She fled to Egypt with her family and it's there she met my great-grandfather who was serving in the Canadian army. He took her back to Canada with him and eventually to America. That's where I was born, only eventually to move here. Completing the family circle.

And so another Sabbath begins. Tonight my heart is full with gratitude to God, for family, heritage, the sabbath and most of all Him. For He truly is our Shabbat, our resting place.






(My birthday cake)