As I mentioned, I went to one of the settlements outside of Jerusalem for Rosh Hashanah. The experience was absolutely wonderful. I was rooming with the cantor for one of the Sfardi synagogues but only rarely actually saw him. The one meal we had together is described below
Well before sunset all traffic in the yeshuv (settlement) ceased and a sense of calm, quiet solemnity started to settle in. There was absolutely no sound until just before sundown, when I could hear people starting to walk to the various synagogues in the settlement. Everyone on the street was happily greeting everyone else and wishing them a happy new year.
After services on Wednesday night I was treated to a wonderful dinner at a friend’s home. We had ALL of the traditional, symbolic foods for Rosh Hashanah with the appropriate blessing said for each of them. This was followed by singing and pleasant conversation. There were people there from other parts of Israel as well as California.
Services on Thursday morning started at 6:45 AM and we were done by about 11. One of my friends met me after services, and we went to one of her friend’s homes where we had a wonderful lunch. Even though these particular people spoke only limited English, we had a wonderful time and stayed for several hours before I headed off for a nap.
Dinner Thursday was at the same friends where I had dinner on Wednesday, and was equally as good. We had different food, but again had all of the traditional symbolic foods.
Friday morning services also started at 6:45 AM and once again we were done by about 11. This time we went to yet another family for lunch. This one was particularly interesting as they all spoke English. It turns out that the man of the house is extremely well educated and speaks several languages fluently. He is also in the Bet Din (the Jewish court) and is a member of the Sanhedrin (the highest judicial and ecclesiastical council of Israel, see http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/index.php/The_Re-established_Jewish_Sanhedrin for details). To say that the discussions we had over several hours were “interesting” would be a gross understatement.
After services Friday afternoon I was waiting for my friend outside the synagogue. A total stranger, whom I had never seen before, saw me standing alone. He came over and asked if I was alone for Shabbat and if I wanted to come over for Shabbat dinner. What a wonderful way to live! The openness and warmth of that invitation and of all the people whose homes I was at is incredible, but is commonplace here. I know I have commented on this before, but it is so magnificent that I felt it deserved mention again.
Friday evening dinner, after Rosh Hashanah had ended and Shabbat had begun, was at yet another friend’s home, and was equally as wonderful as Wednesday and Thursday. Again we stayed until late in the evening enjoying each other’s company and pleasant conversation.
Saturday morning services started at a more reasonable 7:30 AM. This was followed by lunch at a friend’s home, and the cantor from the Sfardi synagogue joined us. In addition to that, there was a rabbi there. Before we actually started eating, the 3 of us (the cantor, the rabbi and I) started sharing melodies and wound up doing a significant amount of singing. This went on for about 40 minutes. Needless to say, I had an absolutely marvelous time here.
I went to the afternoon service at the Sfardi synagogue and was honored with an aliyah (being called up to the Torah).
We had a wonderful dinner after the evening service.
All in all this was an experience unlike any Rosh Hashanah I have had before.
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