Post 13: No Strangers Here

Another unexpected and moving experience. Just before the end of Shabbat we walked across Jerusalem from our hotel to see close friends from California who were visiting family.

Israelis are renowned for their generous and gracious hospitality. Our Israeli cousins treat us like celebrities, rolling out the red carpet, cooking for us and insisting on taking us everywhere. This family, although we had never met them, was no different.

We entered the apartment, were ushered into chairs, and within seconds the coffee table was covered in plates of fresh fruit, cookies and nuts. The teenage son and daughter joined the adults in conversation, very respectful and polite, answering our questions about their schools and interests. The elderly grandmother sat in a wheelchair not making eye contact but she was very much part of the gathering. Her children and grandchildren repeatedly spoke with her, gave her food and drink, and gently stroked her arm and back. There were 9 of us spanning 3 generations shaped by very different upbringings and life experiences yet we felt a bond.

As the sky darkened, the family gathered around the dining table for Havdalah, the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat and the beginning of a new week. Together they recited blessings over the candlelighting, spice box and wine. Nothing I write can fully capture the beauty and spirituality of that moment. We could feel the closeness of this family, their joy in one another, and their respect and appreciation for the customs that link generations.

We arrived as friends visiting friends. We left feeling connected by something deeper:  a shared history, faith and tradition.

Photo: Alan Markowitz