Written November 26, 2013

 

To my dearest family,  Kinderlach & Einiklaklach, Friends, Neighbors & passer-by, Shalom from the land of possibilities.

I am doing well, feeling good, surviving on NO SUGAR and trying my best at NO WHITE FLOUR.  Oh, yes, no wine. All this in the name of body therapy, and In the process, with out trying,  lost 3 Kg. (about 7 lbs)...... The vegetable bin in the refrigerator is on a constant FULL, and the basket on my table is loaded with fruits. I would not hide, I am craving something sweet some time.

About two weeks ago, I spent Shabbat in Elkana, with my friend the Zabaris.  Elkana is a small Jewish town, population about 800 families, located behind the Green line, in excellent relation with their next Palestinian city of K'far kasem.

The Zabaris are Yemenite descended, first generation born in Israel.  On the Shabbat table, S'choog, Hilbe, Mala'U'ach, hard boiled and cooked "forever" brown eggs, etc.  are staples. But my most memorable experience was attending, for the first time in my life, the Shabbat morning services in the Yemenite Synagogue.  The pronunciation of the Hebrew text, the melodies and the, what we call, the trope of the Torah reading was foreign to me. In addition, as the Torah reader chant one sentence at a time, another reader,  chanted the Aramaic translation to the sentence. The translation reader, usually a young child, who is receiving special lessons in reading and understanding the ancient language of Aramaic. I had the pleasure of listening to Shiloh Zabari the 9 year old son of my hosting family.

In my Ashkenazi Synagogue, the usual time to read the Shabbat portion of the Torah, takes about 40 min. In the Yemenite, 1.5 hrs. Did not take long for me to get use to the reading, and enjoy the pronunciation. Top it all, I thought, one year of listening and following the Aramaic translation, I will be able to speak the language.

First candle of Chanukkah, tomorrow evening. On Thursday, Chanukkah / Thanksgiving, I am invited to a traditional  Thanksgiving - Chanukkah meal. Turkey & Latkes, Pumpkin cake (I will bake) and apple sauce, hot cider & wine...... (To you who know, Ellen Boumgarten, now Bustan, is the hostess at her home in Tel-Aviv).

I wish you all, Chanukkah Same'ach, Happy Chanukkah, a wonderful Thanksgiving day.

Only in Israel, with much love.

Me, Ima, Savta, the Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, Esther, eem.