SHABBAT WHERE?

Not a lot of pictures this time, because it was Shabbat and we spent it at a Rabbi's  sukkah.
Over here it is not polite to takes pictures on a Sabbath ,  plus a lot of other things I am finding out about now.

we heard about this Rabbi that has anyone over ( all faiths or no faith, tourist or homeless) to his house for Shabbat and this week it is in his sukkah. Seriously it was like this covert mission to get to his house we had to meet people who knew people who new how to get there and some of the group had to be split up because some of  the women weren't dressed right and couldn't go through the ultra orthodox neighborhoods. Of course  Zoe and I fit in fairly well with how we dress and wear our hair, but carrying a  bag on Shabbat is a dead give away for "tourist' .

Anyways, its about 8:30 pm and we set off a on a long walk though parts of town I had not been through but I had just seen in that movie I posted  "THE USHPIZIN " . we were told that this Rabbi invites many people over and shares wisdom and customs mostly to the uninitiated and often invites open  dialogue  of guests to share their personal stories.  When we got there you would have thought we were in line for free $ .Thankfully , my recent trips to the markets here has now taught me how to work my way through a crowd and with Zoe in tow we  suddenly found ourselves near the front door.

We waited around outside for about 1/2 hr chatting with various people from all over the world and all sorts of demographics, but when that door opened it was like a dam broke and  people flowed through the door like their life depended on it.

we were  herded through his  living spaces like cattle and right out to the sukkah  and were all neatly arrange by gender at narrow tables. I estimate 140 people in a space 25'x 15'.  Very tight, but every one got a seat.

The evening was very special because it was sukkot and we were served the most amazing Shabbat meal ( I didn't expect this).  Challah bread, salads, pickles, sweet potatoes , soup chicken , Gefilte fish, corn, ect.  the food just kept coming!
well we got to experience the authentic holiday Shabbat in a sukkah with a vary nice benevolent Rabbi and his wonderful family. I also had the opportunity to speak with a Jewish man who was quite curious as to why were here and I had an opportunity to share with him a little about what God is doing in my life and he got to share with me a word or two as well. I do find so many of the people we meet are genuinely interested in why  Zoe and I are here  for three months and not the normal  fast two week tour like a lot of other tourists. They sincerely are blessed when we tell them of our love of their county and how we will be doing some service for the people  here in October . 

I want to leave you with a touching story the Rabbi told us that his Old Rabbi shared with  him about sukkot.
The Older Rabbi had been in Auschwitz concentration camp for 5 years.  In the first year  when the rabbi thought it was getting close to sukkot he tried to figure  out a way to keep the commandment even in the worst of circumstances.  He noticed in the corner of the camp 3 half built stone walls for a small shed? Every day as he walked by in the line up ,he would kick any little sticks he could find near the walls . when he thought it was sukkot  (their was no way for him to verify with no Jewish calendar around) he snuck out of his quarters at night and arranged the sticks as best as he could on top of the walls and ate his  bread ration in his sukkot under the stars  and made merry. what a testimony! The point was that this is special holiday with a lot of significance  and here under the worst conditions this man chose to be  joyful.  what a lesson that is!

well it's off to bed  6:30 comes early , we are off to Judea first thing in the morning, I should have a lot of pictures tomorrow.

until next time
shalom.