Shana Tova (Happy New Year)!! So as of Wednesday night, we are now celebrating the Jewish New Year here in Israel. New Years here isn’t exactly like New Years everywhere else, though. In fact, I would say it’s the most non “new years-y” feel of any day since I’ve been here. Rosh Hashanah starts the first day of the 10 days of repentance. I actually haven’t been feeling well these past couple of days so I was able to start my repenting process early (being that I had to take a few days off from going out…tough life). Although I have been celebrating and observing Rosh Hashanah my entire life, as obviously expected, it has definitely been a different experience this time around.
At home, most Jews go to synagogue on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is the couple of days of the year where everyone finds it in themselves to make their way over to synagogue. Whether it’s to sit and listen to Rabbi Steinhardt and cantor whatshisface or chill out in the lobby with all my friends from my Jewish elementary school (one of my favorite pastimes), for whatever reason, the high holidays gets everyone out of bed and into synagogue. It is quite different here, it seems. There are 2 very different Israels. There is the religious, observant Israel, and the very reform, or non-practicing Israel. Reform here, however, is very different than reform at home. Everyone here is still living a Jewish life, they couldn’t escape it even if they tried: the Kosher food, the Shabbat quietness, the Jewish trappings; it’s everywhere. So, Rosh Hashanah here, at least for the Jews that I am surrounded by, is not about going to synagogue and davening all morning. 2 nights ago I went to one of my cousin’s house for Erev Rosh Hashanah dinner. My cousins Nili and Pinchas had 33 family members at their house for a wonderful meal. There is nothing that makes me feel more at home than big family dinners like this with all my Israeli cousins, including 8 little Israeli munchkins running around that constantly remind me of my little baby back in Florida (Zoey…my 6-year-old cousin that is my pride and joy, of course). Before this trip to Israel, it was only a rare occasion that I would get to see my Israeli cousins. I’m so excited that I’m here for such an extended period of time so that I can really get to know them, and become more than their cousin from “artsot habrit” (United States of America) who sounds very funny when she speaks Hebrew.
While this wasn’t the most religious Rosh Hashanah I’ve ever had (being that I only went to a Chabad “service” for about 10 minutes where I heard the shofar blown and ate some cake), I do feel like it was very meaningful and different. Sitting at dinner with my family, talking in Hebrew about the different things we were eating and their relation to Rosh Hashanah, playing with my little cousins with a language barrier that gets smaller and smaller each time I see them, made me realize that for the first time since I’ve been away at college, I wasn’t homesick on the High Holidays.
It’s a quiet week here in Israel; everything is closed from Wednesday-Saturday evening because Rosh Hashanah rolls right into Shabbat. Everyone stocks up on food on Tuesday afternoon from the markets and grocery stores as if everything is going to be closed for about 3 months, as only Jews know how to do. Ulpan (intensive Hebrew class) is now over and we have a month break for the holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot). So, I’m off to Europe tomorrow morning for 3 weeks with my friends! So…Shalom, Ciao, Ahoj, Tschüs, and Au Revoir!!
Katie, I don't know who is luckier, you having the family in Israel, or that they get to have you for six months. I do have a question. When you speak Hebrew to Israelis, including family, do they act differently or tell you different stuff? Getting ready for the stores to be closed for the holidays sounds like when we are worried about a hurricane in South Florida, people going crazy stocking up on all the basics. Hilarious. Love you, Dad
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