Szabat
I crashed today, sleeping three solid hours after breakfast while everyone else went shopping. I still feel worn out and like I’m in a fog, but I’m glad I got some sleep.
Today was the beginning of Szabat – the Sabbath day. It begins at sunset on Friday and ends after dark on Saturday. It is very important in the Jewish culture and focuses on rest, holiness and joy. Everyone was dressed in their best. They read Scripture from Genesis in Russian, Polish and English.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning–the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
Genesis 1:31-2:4
After dinner there was a session in which many people shared poems, songs a dancing. My favorite was when George sang “How Great Thou Art” – some of the people from Israel joined in and we sang along in English. Beautiful. Sandy taught us (the Americans) a traditional Jewish dance, which we performed. Yes, you read that right… I danced … In public. There is just no end to the new things I’m experiencing on this trip!
It was also the first round of games for the Euro cup, so there were a lot of “Polska!” shirts and flags, and a few who were checking in on the game during the Szabat dinner!
I’m going to try to go to sleep now. Good night.
The Journey Back 