Erev Shabbat
Days 7 & 8 Thursday & Friday, 3/17 & 3/18/05 (Part 3)
I awoke from my nap and spent some time talking with Meni (short for Menasha). He is a very bright teen, tall and darkly handsome. He was in the U.S. last summer as part of a youth group visit. He will be returning this late this summer as a Rishonim (or Shinshin) to spend a year in MetroWest working at our day schools and Hebrew Schools and with youth groups. This means he is postponing his military service one year. Some at his school say he is a “friar” (sucker) for delaying his service. They prefer to get their service over so they can get on with their lives. They also don’t get public service, especially going to the U.S. to serve. This is a shortcoming in Israeli society. Concepts of service, charity and tzedakah are not always held in high regard. There is also a growing attitude that you don’t want to be seen as a “friar”…you should get all you can get with as little effort as necessary…doing something for nothing is foolish. Fortunately there are forces at work trying to change this attitude. Among them are the initiatives supported by MetroWest’s religious pluralism funding. A strong self-image and some courage are required to overcome this group-think peer pressure and fortunately Meni has what it takes.
Meni & Oz Ohanna
Adiel Ohanna
I joined the family for Shabbat dinner. Having seen lunch I anticipated quite a meal and I was not disappointed. Candles had already been lit. The Ohannas are a Sephardic family and the Shabbat traditions differed from those I am use to. In addition to the two Shabbat candles there were 30 or 40 little tea candles lit. Meni told me his mother and grandmother hold the record for lighting these candles. According to Meni, these candles are lit to help the spirits of deceased friends, relatives and holy people rise to the world to come.
Raya Ohanna
Meni said the blessing over the wine. The cup was filled to the brim and there was a saucer beneath it to catch the overflow. Yakov drank first from the cup and then Meni. I followed and handed the cup to Adiel, the youngest…a faux pas for which I was corrected…the cup is passed down by age.
Next was the Motzi, the blessing over the bread. There was a short introductory prayer which I did not follow. During the prayer there was a choreography that was unfamiliar to me. The family members touched their eyes and lips and then held up their hands. I believe it is a psalm they read but I’m not sure of the movements’ meaning.
Dinner was, like lunch, exceptional. We ate and talked. I learned more about the family and a bit of politics. They have cousins living in Hebron. They are not particularly happy with the withdrawal from Gaza.
A little later Raya’s brother-in-law stopped in. He is a lively guy in his late 20’s or early 30’s. I think he came to see the American because he would like to move to America. He installs fire sprinklers and is willing to do anything is America. He was tired of Israel. He said he use to be a patriot and was willing to die for the state but no more. He wants to get away from the Arabs. I’m not sure what was making him unhappy in Israel but obviously the pressure had gotten to him. Unfortunately for him his wife is tied to the family and unwilling to move.
Following dinner Meni and I walked to the home of the Artovs. I had a package (hats) to deliver from Jim Rubenstein who was with us on our May 2004 visit and had stayed with the Artovs. When I met Shabbatai and Ilana I was warmly welcomed. We sat and talked for about an hour. They are both social workers. Shabbatai provides services to jailed prisoners and tries to rehabilitate them. Most of the Jewish prisioners are guilty of drug crimes or financial crimes. Generally rehabilitation works with these prisoners.
I delivered the hats in the package and then went home. By then I was very tired and went directly to bed.
I awoke from my nap and spent some time talking with Meni (short for Menasha). He is a very bright teen, tall and darkly handsome. He was in the U.S. last summer as part of a youth group visit. He will be returning this late this summer as a Rishonim (or Shinshin) to spend a year in MetroWest working at our day schools and Hebrew Schools and with youth groups. This means he is postponing his military service one year. Some at his school say he is a “friar” (sucker) for delaying his service. They prefer to get their service over so they can get on with their lives. They also don’t get public service, especially going to the U.S. to serve. This is a shortcoming in Israeli society. Concepts of service, charity and tzedakah are not always held in high regard. There is also a growing attitude that you don’t want to be seen as a “friar”…you should get all you can get with as little effort as necessary…doing something for nothing is foolish. Fortunately there are forces at work trying to change this attitude. Among them are the initiatives supported by MetroWest’s religious pluralism funding. A strong self-image and some courage are required to overcome this group-think peer pressure and fortunately Meni has what it takes.
Meni & Oz Ohanna
Adiel Ohanna
I joined the family for Shabbat dinner. Having seen lunch I anticipated quite a meal and I was not disappointed. Candles had already been lit. The Ohannas are a Sephardic family and the Shabbat traditions differed from those I am use to. In addition to the two Shabbat candles there were 30 or 40 little tea candles lit. Meni told me his mother and grandmother hold the record for lighting these candles. According to Meni, these candles are lit to help the spirits of deceased friends, relatives and holy people rise to the world to come.
Raya Ohanna
Meni said the blessing over the wine. The cup was filled to the brim and there was a saucer beneath it to catch the overflow. Yakov drank first from the cup and then Meni. I followed and handed the cup to Adiel, the youngest…a faux pas for which I was corrected…the cup is passed down by age.
Next was the Motzi, the blessing over the bread. There was a short introductory prayer which I did not follow. During the prayer there was a choreography that was unfamiliar to me. The family members touched their eyes and lips and then held up their hands. I believe it is a psalm they read but I’m not sure of the movements’ meaning.
Dinner was, like lunch, exceptional. We ate and talked. I learned more about the family and a bit of politics. They have cousins living in Hebron. They are not particularly happy with the withdrawal from Gaza.
A little later Raya’s brother-in-law stopped in. He is a lively guy in his late 20’s or early 30’s. I think he came to see the American because he would like to move to America. He installs fire sprinklers and is willing to do anything is America. He was tired of Israel. He said he use to be a patriot and was willing to die for the state but no more. He wants to get away from the Arabs. I’m not sure what was making him unhappy in Israel but obviously the pressure had gotten to him. Unfortunately for him his wife is tied to the family and unwilling to move.
Following dinner Meni and I walked to the home of the Artovs. I had a package (hats) to deliver from Jim Rubenstein who was with us on our May 2004 visit and had stayed with the Artovs. When I met Shabbatai and Ilana I was warmly welcomed. We sat and talked for about an hour. They are both social workers. Shabbatai provides services to jailed prisoners and tries to rehabilitate them. Most of the Jewish prisioners are guilty of drug crimes or financial crimes. Generally rehabilitation works with these prisoners.
I delivered the hats in the package and then went home. By then I was very tired and went directly to bed.
posted by Gary A at 5:48 PM
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