Shavuot
We had a really interesting shavuot. What started as me being frustrated that I didn't make any amazing plans turned out all okay. First of all, Shavuot in America is the holiday where we Jews got the torah, and frankly, it's mostly ignoredthose that aren't traditional. You eat some cheesecake, go to synagogue, and maybe stay up late learning the torah. I have experienced the more traditional shavuot--staying up all night, festive meals. It's fun, but I had never seen the secular side. What I mean by this, is here in Israel, all the Jewish holidays are national holidays, and have their own traditions in the modern national calendar.
For example, kids where flowers in their hair for the school celebration and wear white. They bring baskets of fruits and vegetables. They have water fights.
For the eve of shavuot, we took a non-religious path and went to a kibbutz where Adam plays softball. We experienced a community tractor decorating and ride, songs and dances by the different kibbutznikim, and then a community potluck (and man do people know how to potluck here!!!) and then a concert with dancing.
For the day, we did the traditional thing--synagogue and a lovely potluck shabbat lunch, which once again highlighted for us the social nature of this country.
For example, kids where flowers in their hair for the school celebration and wear white. They bring baskets of fruits and vegetables. They have water fights.
For the eve of shavuot, we took a non-religious path and went to a kibbutz where Adam plays softball. We experienced a community tractor decorating and ride, songs and dances by the different kibbutznikim, and then a community potluck (and man do people know how to potluck here!!!) and then a concert with dancing.
For the day, we did the traditional thing--synagogue and a lovely potluck shabbat lunch, which once again highlighted for us the social nature of this country.
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