Sabbath

On Saturday, I was invited to Bedchabad (I´m not sure if I spelled it correctly). It is a foundation set up by Israel to give the jewish community around the world the possibility to take part in ceremonies and rituals which are important to them. The sabbath is one such thing.

So off I went with five Israelis to this big dinner, and it was quite an experience. We got there, and started talking to people. I got to break out the few words I know in Hebrew. I think I confused the rabbi with that, because when I introduced myself in Hebrew, he kept speaking to me in what seemed to me to be gibberish. Everyone else understood, though, and they kindly explained to the rabbi that I don´t really speak Hebrew.

Once we were sat down, a few songs were sung. I tried to join in, but I still haven´t learned to read in Hebrew, so I just hummed a bit like I was told to do. Then everyone went to wash their hands. There is strictly no talking between the time when you wash your hands and when you start eating. I´m sure I was explained the significance of this, but I can´t remember which is a shame.

The meal itself was very nice. It was my first kosher meal, and frankly, I could not taste the difference between it and the food I normally eat, except for the meat being overcooked for my taste. To be kosher, you must not have the blood of the animal in your mouth, so a rare steak is completely out of the question. Good thing for me, I´m not jewish, so I don´t have to be kosher.

I wanted to take pictures of the whole thing, but that too was not impossible. On the sabbath, you are not allowed to use electricity. This includes the batteries in my camera. It would have been nice to have some picutres, but I was not about to insult my hosts in such a way. Shame.