As my third Shabbat dinner in Israel rolls to an end, I can say that there is truly nothing like Shabbat in Israel. The first and second Shabbats here, I was lucky to be taken in by local Rehovot families. The families greeted myself and two other fellows with open arms and warm smiles. We sat around the dinner table together, prayed together, and fully soaked in each others company.
Saturdays in Israel is something that is unexplainable. The entire country shuts down until after sundown in the evening. Everyone takes the time to spend with family and friends. It is also a time meant to be spent relaxing and resting. It is perfectly normal to sleep in late and have a large lunch with the local community. I know that I have been choosing to spend my Saturdays reading. No where else in the world does something like this happen. It’s magnificent.
This Shabbat is the first Shabbat that I am not being hosted by a family. 5 out of the 8 people who live in my apartment left to spend the weekend in Tel Aviv. This left me, Ellie and Joshua to celebrate Shabbat together. Ellie and I decided that we were going to try our hand at making challah bread. With the help of Shoshana, a fellow in the apartment a few floors below us, we started the tedious process. First, we had to mix all of the ingredients together, followed by letting the dough sit and rise for an hour and a half.
Saturdays in Israel is something that is unexplainable. The entire country shuts down until after sundown in the evening. Everyone takes the time to spend with family and friends. It is also a time meant to be spent relaxing and resting. It is perfectly normal to sleep in late and have a large lunch with the local community. I know that I have been choosing to spend my Saturdays reading. No where else in the world does something like this happen. It’s magnificent.
This Shabbat is the first Shabbat that I am not being hosted by a family. 5 out of the 8 people who live in my apartment left to spend the weekend in Tel Aviv. This left me, Ellie and Joshua to celebrate Shabbat together. Ellie and I decided that we were going to try our hand at making challah bread. With the help of Shoshana, a fellow in the apartment a few floors below us, we started the tedious process. First, we had to mix all of the ingredients together, followed by letting the dough sit and rise for an hour and a half.
Once we accomplished that, we got to literally punch the dough. This was surprisingly a lot of fun. We got our hands messy and split the dough into two, this way each apartment would get a challah.
The hardest part was next: braiding the dough. I guess we can thank our camp experiences because our breading skills weren’t too horrifying.
The hardest part was next: braiding the dough. I guess we can thank our camp experiences because our breading skills weren’t too horrifying.
Finally, after 40 minutes of hunger and anticipation, our challah was finished and we were able to start our Shabbat dinner.
I can say without a doubt that this has been my best Friday night in Rehovot thus far. We talked about our time in the schools, both the negatives and the positives. We also had a chance to have lengthy conversations about the importance of community and finding your new home when you’re somewhere new. It reminded me that while I am thousands of miles away from my family, I can always find a place to call home. I will always find people who will be there to pick me up when I’m down and will there to join in on the laughter. It’s important to know that even when you feel alone or when you’re in a new place, don’t let that fear take over. Reach out your hand and I promise that someone will grab it.
Shabbat shalom!
Shabbat shalom!