bus stop
Here in Jerusalem, we have finally come to the stage that is known as “after the holidays”. For most, it is an anti climax, and not all that welcome either. But for some, it is a blessed relief. For the last month, we have been in a continuous whirlwind of holidays that has just about prevented all work from getting done, and there are those of us who haven’t even tried. It started with the New Year, which is two days of intensive celebration, a mixture of prayer, soul searching (as previously discussed), and eating. Unusual amounts of a great variety of different foods are dished out, and there are guests and family get-togethers. I won’t go into the menu. Maybe some other time. After these two days, we have a fast day, remembering the first political assassination in Jewish history. It happened about 2000 years ago. The man who was killed was called Gedalia. After that comes the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, and after that comes the festival of Tabernacles or the holiday of Booths, in which the Jews move out of their houses and live in temporary huts. That lasts a week. At the end of that week, there is the celebration of the Torah. Every year, the five books of are divided into portions which are read every Sabbath in the synagogue, and the reading of these portions ends on the holiday of Simchat Torah, and immediately after finishing, we begin the reading again, starting at the beginning with the story of the creation of the world.
As we approached the holiday season, many things were put off till “after the holidays”, and all the more so during the month that has passed. But now, we have to deal with all those things that were put off for later. Even those who love their normal day to day existence (like myself) dread the re-entry into the office, and the sight of all those orders and letters that were put aside till now. And at this same juncture, the seasons have changed. There is rain and colder weather. We are getting close to winter. But for those who really enjoy their lives, there is something of a relief at getting back to normal, even if it is difficult to deal will the things that have been put off.
Okay. So this in fact is the start of another year, this evening, watching an old movie on TV, sipping my Jack Daniels, and writing this post on my laptop for my relatively new blog. The winter is growling outside. I hear it through the slight opening in the window. The cat is playing at my feet. I am surrounded by what I love in life. I lift my neshoma glass to those of you who are reading, and wish you a very good year. Eh, what is a neshoma glass, you ask? Here in Jerusalem, on the anniversary of the death of someone dear, we light a neshoma candle in his memory. It is a candle that burns for 24 hours. It comes in a tin can or in a glass. Neshoma is the word for soul. I usually buy them in glasses, and when the candle is finished, I drink my whisky from the glass. And now, as my cat has climbed to my shoulder, I lift my neshoma glass once again to those of you who are reading, and wish you a very good year.
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