Getting ready for Shabbat

It’s really nice to be living in Jewish time. Today there was no school at Pardes, as everyone is getting ready for Shabbat. Like all my neighbors I went to the market (as you see, I bought a lot of fruit!).

The streets were full of people like me toting grocery baskets on wheels, women with double strollers (a common sight here) in which groceries can be tucked around the children, Phillipino aides holding grocery bags on one arm and the arm of an elder on the other. The folks seeking handouts were gathered around the grocery store entrance and all along the street, raising money for starving children or new schools. People were buying chocolates, pastries, flowers, wine. I bought some chocolate halvah, and some pastries to take to the mid-day meal at my granddaughter’s tomorrow, and some after-dinner wine to take to the tisch after Shabbat dinner at Pardes tonight. (A tisch — Yiddish for table — involves stories, mini-sermons, songs, drinking, and snacks. I expect to get home late tonight!)

Then I came home and did my first cleaning. I know my neighbors were cleaning too, because just like last week, water came raining down onto my patio furniture from the mirpeset (balcony) above me. I investigated the cleaning products and tools I have at my disposal. No mop — but a long handled squeegee that is clearly intended to be used on the tile floors. Lots of spray bottles with labels in Hebrew (and sometimes a little English) to be deciphered. (Thank G-d for labels with pictures!) A broom, and a Spanish vacuum cleaner which more or less does the job. I did my best, including washing my own patio to get rid of the dirty water from above! When you wash the floors and squeegee them down, then mop up the last of the water with a rag, they dry with amazing rapidity.

Soon I will put on my Shabbat clothes and walk to the Nava Tehila Kabbalat Shabbat services. What a treat — I can go to a different shul every Friday night, and if I get up in time, every Saturday morning as well! Nava Tehila only meets once a month for Kab. Shab., and it’s tonight, so I am lucky! It’s just around the corner from Pardes, where Shabbat dinner will begin right after services, at 8:15 pm. There will be a lot of singing at both events. I started the day feeling a bit sluggish and out of sorts, but now, even though I am quite short of sleep, I am so happy.

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, everyone!