It's Like a Bar Mitzvah!

There is something about being in Israel that makes mundane things feel like elevated Jewish experiences. Maybe it's the land itself. Every other road sign indicates not just a highway exit or street sign, they point to sages and places where the Torah came alive: Jaffa, where Jonah boarded the ship for his fateful trip or Rambam Street, named for the great medieval rabbi. Maybe it's being surrounded by Jews everywhere: British accented Jews sitting next to French speaking Jews, black Jews, tattooed and beach bound bikini wearing Jews, Americans, Jews running the country and Jews pumping sewage from a septic tank on the street behind the hotel. Maybe it was the way the restaurant owners broke into spontaneous "Siman Tov u'Mazel Tov" at our welcome dinner, grabbed Gunnar and danced him around the room. Maybe it was the Friday night dinner at Mishkenot Ruth Daniel with it's beautiful rooftop setting and 360 degree views of Tel Aviv and Jaffa. We shared Shabbat dinner with people from all over the world and, again, broke into dancing and song (see this video from another Shabbat dinner at the same place a few months ago and you'll see what it was like).

Or Maybe it's just all the food. Friday morning we enjoyed our first breakfast at the hotel. It's a lavish spread of everything you could want and many things you didn't even know could be served for breakfast: pickles, salad, chicken, a full cheese department, etc. Ernie walked by our table on his way to the espresso station with a huge smile on his face and captured the feeling: "It's like a bar mitvah!"





L to R: Mazel tov! it's a pastry table, a hot food station, a smoked and pickled fish station








Again with the food! ... at the Mediterranean salads station, at the fresh juice and smoothie bar, and (not shown) the omlette station, the espresso bar, cheese table, party favors (my kids received beach balls and flip flops)!

Ernie hit the nail on the head. It IS like a bar mitzvah. But it's even more than that. It's the best bar mitzvah you've ever attended and everyone's invited and you've never felt so at home.

Shabbat shalom!