Shavuot - the cheese one

Yes, this blog entry is about yet another Jewish holiday.  I kid you not, before we moved here I knew about bar/bat mitzvahs and hannukah.... and that was it.  But let me tell you: Jews have some holidays! Lately, not a week goes by without a celebration or remembrance of something or other.  It's no wonder the kids go to school 6 days a week.  They need to just to make up for all the holidays off!  

This particular holiday is a happy one full of thanksgiving.  Shavuot is the celebration of the harvest - thanking God for the first fruits of the year: fruits, grains, and milk.  It also commemorates Moses receiving the tablets/ 10 commandments.  It is celebrated 50 days from Passover (and happens to be what the disciples were celebrating at Pentecost).  But, if you ask anyone about Shavuot today, they'll say, "Oh, that's the cheese one," because now somehow it has morphed into a dairy/ cheese/ cheesecake fest.  Yummo!

The kids get to dress up in all white and take baskets full of flowers, fruit, veggies, and yogurts to school in celebration of the holiday.  Lydia's school also had a little production where her class performed 2 dances that they have been practicing for months.  They were actually quite good, and Will graciously knocked out Lydia's other front tooth the night before in preparation for the big day.  Check out this cute toothless smile.

 Lydia's school, a sea of dark curly hair.  The kids were all supposed to wear the traditional flower hair wreaths, but since we don't know about these things, and it wasn't included in the 3 page email provided the night prior to the ceremony....Lydia didn't have one.  Just as luck would have it  though, she wore a white headband, which kind of blended in to the crowd.  Kind of.

 I love the unashamed Mary Katherine Gallagherness of Lydia in this shot.  Superstar!

Will's day was much more low key.  Here he is with his bounty.  Handsome little sucker.

This is our typical walk to school every morning.  Down this promenade, cross a busy street, hop a stone wall.....and you're there.

Shlo, Will's most amazing teacher, was bragging about how the ceremonies at her son's school were some of the best in the city, with traditional dancing and tons of great food.  She invited us to join her and her family for more shavuot fun, and we just couldn't say no.  Once we were there, it was more of the same, and as usual: pure Israeli chaos. When we arrived, there were rows of white plastic chairs neatly arranged.  Within 5 minutes of the ceremony starting, it was all a total balagan (mess).  Chairs were moved wherever people wanted them.  Adults were milling around like it was a social gathering, and kids were running and playing.  Meanwhile, students on stage tried their best to perform their dances to a less than engaged audience.  At one point, the principal took the stage and the mic and announced very firmly, "Children: sit on your hands. Adults: shut up.  It isn't nice."  Imagine that an American elementary school gathering.  Shlo was very apologetic and assured us that it was not usually like this.  Sure, Shlo...

The food afterwards was also something of an adventure.  There were probably 20 tables staged all over a basketball court.  Each was full of random assortments of fresh fruit, veggies, bourekas (a pastry similar to a croissant), sandwiches, chocolate cake, and the occasional cheesecake.  The gates to the food opened after the ceremony, and a virtual stampede ensued.  Swarms of children and parents ravenously descended on the tables. Now here's the really funny thing.  At least funny to me, but no one else seemed to notice.  Plates, cutlery, and napkins were mysteriously missing from the scene.  Just a free for all with your hands.  I couldn't stop chuckling to myself as I pictured the Southern Living version of a potluck complete with it's heirloom family recipes and beautiful serving dishes versus what was unfolding before me.

Martha Stewart would never survive Israel.  

Afterwards Shlo (laden with guilt ; ) ) took us on an impromptu stroll to the main square featuring the Israeli Theatre and National Orchestra buildings. It is a favorite spot of hers, and it was truly a beautiful and orderly sight.  The kids had a blast playing in the garden/giant sandbox in the middle. No doubt that whatever Israelis lack in pot-luck etiquette they make up for in the arts.

Shalom Y'all!
Happy Memorial Day and Happy Shavuot!