Sukkot here is very different from what we are used to. The first night of sukkot, we were sitting in our sukkah. Just a few feet on either side of us, our neighbors were all doing the same. What a difference to be able to hear the neighbors singing and chatting. It was so uplifting especially when everyone started singing. I think next year I need to organize a group mash-up, sort of like from Glee or Pitch Perfect, and we can have a competition. Either that, or we all have to sing songs in the round, going from one end of the block to the other. What say you, neighbors?
We had lunch in the sukkah our of good friends. Their sukkah is decorated in the exact opposite decor of mine. Theirs is all nice and subtle. Mine basically needs a disco ball. I'm already on the lookout to buy one for next year.
The first day of sukkot coincided with my girls' 13th birthday (English birthday) so of course we had cakes. And their birthday lives on because their Hebrew birthday is in just a few days. So I imagine that we will have more cake.
Then we began Chol HaMoed, aka, everyone needs to go on a trip every single day but I'm new here and can't decide where to go. So the first day we didn't go anywhere, but we did meet friends at the mall, then we walked to the circus. Yes, a circus here in our town. Not your typical circus and no animals were involved. We saw acrobats, lots of lights, even more people, had some food because there is kosher food here, and eventually headed home.
Next stop was a trip organized by the absorption center in Modiin. We went to visit kibbutz Yad Mordechai, which has a very interesting history related to Israel's Independence. The short story is that they managed to repel attacks from Egypt for five days, despite the huge odds against them. Today they raise bees, produce honey jams, oils, and many other products. We had a nice hayride tour (minus the hay) and were able to see memorials to the battle and recreations of the trenches and we saw some tanks and such.
Aside from the heat it was a really nice day with our family and with friends we have met through making aliyah.
We came home yesterday and then received an email that the Chief Rabbi of Israel is hosting an event in his sukkah, which is open to the community. Good news for us, because the Chief Rabbi lives about thirty steps away from us. Okay, he probably doesn't want us climbing over his back wall, so we have to walk a few extra steps. We decided to stop by to see what was going on.
First, I have never seen such a big sukkah. We were introduced to the Rebbetzin, by our lovely and friendly neighbors. She could not have been nicer or more welcoming. Them we just sort of hung around and watched people go in an out of the sukkah, greet each other, pray, listen to music, etc.... It was very nice. We were told there would be live music later, but we had to take a super tired child home.
But because this is Israel and my kids are who they are, we can't just walk home normally. No siree. One girl finds a pecan leaf on the ground promptly picks it up, drops it and smashes the pecans out of one shell. Other child follows suit. At least they didn't go hungry on the long walk home. Because this is Israel and foods grow all over.
Then the three big kids went back to the circus to meet friends, and the adults went to meet other friends who are in town visiting their relatives who are our friends and neighbors. Confused yet??? Don't be. I'll summarize : Israel is great and you should come. The end.
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