Blog/July 2012/Jul 13th

July 13th (See this week's devar torah)

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Hi, again!

Continuing last week's saga: we spent shabbat in Baltimore. A very hot shabbat, but pleasantly spent with our family (and new family). The community there is very warm (no pun intended), we were well welcomed and right reasonably received. But all things come to an end; as soon as shabbat was over we checked-in on El-Al's website and got our boarding passes, finished our packing, and lay down for a refreshing hour or so of sleep before driving four hours to JFK airport.

If one must fly, flying El-Al is a good choice. The security lady was all serious until we told her Daniela and Jeremy just got married, then it was mazal tov! and smiles. We still had to answer the security questions though. The idiot TSA people made us take off our shoes, and diligently checked for liquids (Sarah was trying to smuggle a water bottle, so she had to give it up; Esther's dress set off the metal detector, so she got a "close and personal" interview with the friendly TSA directorate). I, of course, had no trouble walking through with my Kalashnikov. (That was a joke, son, that was a joke! Think of the passenger boarding scene from Airplane!)

The flight itself was nondescript -- which, as far as I'm concerned, is the very best way for a flight to be. We landed at 3:30 in the morning at Ben Gurion Airport, and I would have kissed the ground but I was afraid of being trampled by the hundreds of other people behind me. So we omitted the ground-kissing, and instead underwent the usual process of passport-control, baggage claim and customs. In a rare moment of foresight, we had left our car at the airport; but in a less rare moment of "oh, no!" we realized there was no way to fit all five of us in the car, with our luggage! So we went to look for a taxi for the Young Couple... but when they saw the long, long line for taxis, they decided it would be better to try to get in the car after all. Israel is a land of miracles; we managed to get all of us in the car along with our luggage, and there was even room for a bit of oxygen as well. Praise the Lord and pass the oxygen mask!

We made it back to our (lovely, oh my goodness!) home at 5:45 in the morning. I hadn't seen such a wonderful sight in years! The kids promptly disappeared into beds and went to sleep; Esther and I started preparing for the last sheva berakhot meal, to be held at our place that afternoon. At this point, I need to beg pardon from those of you who were not invited to participate. We would have loved to invite all of you, but even restricting the list to those with a close connection to Daniela or Jeremy gave us a crowd of 45 people -- which means there was almost literally no room at all in our ḥaṣer (patio). I do apologize, but you can experience it vicariously now!

As I mentioned, we had a jam-packed house. We had ordered salatim from a caterer, knowing we would have little time to prepare once we returned. Before we left we also arranged for extra chairs and tables from friends and neighbors. So all that remained was to go to our butcher and get grillables, go to the baker and get pitot, arrange the tables and chairs in a somewhat practical manner (an interesting application of the packing problem), clean up the place (though I had cleaned before leaving, dust always collects here in the Judean Desert) and grill the grillables. Lots to do, alas! no rest to be had.

The sheva berakhot meal went well. My friend and shul-buddy David gave a nice devar-torah, the company was congenial and the food was (if I say so myself) very good. And we had the zekhut (merit) to host Daniela and Jeremy's last sheva berakhot meal. So we would like to thank those who participated, and once again beg pardon of those we were unable to invite!

As for the rest of the week, I informed the Powers That Be that I wouldn't come in to work until Sunday, so our family spent the week together. We took a one-day car-trip around Israel, visiting Tel Megiddo, in the western part of the Jezreel Valley as well as Bet She'an to the east thereof. Because, you see, we hadn't had enough heat in Baltimore, so we needed to go to the hottest spots in the Land. Another day, we went to the Israel Museum, which has some truly awesome archaeological exhibits. Esther and I went to the shuq for fresh vegetables and fruits (how can Americans eat what they eat? They have no idea what food tastes like!). Sarah had to go to work, though she only has another month of National Service left. But today is Friday, so it's time to prepare for a peaceful shabbat and recover from our trips and travails!

Praise God, Who granted us life, sustained us and allowed us to reach this day! Once again, we are in our home for shabbat, with our kids and a new "kid"! We are preparing (all homemade, as usual): roasted eggplant, ḥumus, ḥilbe, noodle salad, lentil salad, tomato salad, chicken soup, roast chicken 'n' potatoes, lamb with fava, okra with tomato, zucchini with mushrooms, rice, brisket, carrot kugel and apple cake

Until next week,
shabbat shalom!

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