Getting that Shabbat feeling … all over again

 By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO–So soon after attending Saturday morning services to attend the bat mitzvah of a friend’s daughter, here I was back again at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, causing some congregants’ eyebrows to raise.  The Friday night crowd is different from the Saturday morning congregation, and  more so on those evenings when Erev Shabbat is given over to  “family services” designed to teach children and have them participate.  “Haven’t  seen you in some time!” was the slightly accusatory refrain from members of the Saturday morning group, and now it was being repeated by  some of the Friday nighters — at least by those who were old enough to recognize me after my long worship lapse.  “Er, yeah, well…” I coughed in agreement.

Grandchildren have a way of drawing you back into synagogue circles.  In my case, it was the desire that a soon-to-turn-4-years-old grandson begin to partake in the joy of Jewish life.  So Nancy and I joined Sky, and his father, Shahar, for informal services led by Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal and Silverman Pre-School Principal Yael Edelstein in the Cohen Social Hall.   For much of the service, a seated Rabbi Rosenthal performed with his accordion, facing three filled rows of chairs that stretched across the social hall, perhaps 20 or more people to a row.  In upbeat tempo, the rabbi led the children (and adults enjoying the happy renditions), in singing their way through the Erev Shabbat service, utilizing such songs as “I’ve Got That Shabbat Feeling” to get everyone in the mood for such traditional prayers as “Lecha Dodi.”

A highlight of the evening was Edelstein reading “The Littlest Pair” a story in couplets by Sylvia Rouss about the animals aboard Noah’s Ark,  The animals were not very pleased to see termites come aboard, fearing that they might eat through the planks that kept the Ark intact and above the flood waters.   However, the termites solved a different problem that otherwise would have plagued the animals: they created sawdust to keep them from slipping and sliding on the decks as the Ark tossed over the seas.  Noah taught the animals that God has made many creatures, each with its own characteristics, and we need to mindful and appreciative of diversity.  A woman who demonstrated American Sign Language during the reading cheerfully helped underscore the point of the book.

Sky is a child who loves animals.  Besides playing with his pet dog, Buddy, he likes to visit the Zoo and Sea World regularly and also enjoys simpler field trips to our neighbor Bob Lauritzen’s yard, which harbors stone figures of animals, and to the Mission Trails Regional Park’s visitors center, where there are animal sculptures, stuffed animals, paintings, photographs and sound effects of animals.  So he liked the subject matter of Noah’s Ark, but sitting still still is a challenge for him.  When he got too restless, we walked into the lobby of Tifereth Israel Synagogue, where a large art piece in the entryway depicts the shields of the twelve tribes of Israel.  Sitting on a bench in front of the art work, Sky with some delight pointed out the animals whose images were included in the heraldry — there were a deer, ram, snake, lion and a bear, among others.  There was also a boat upon the waters — but not an Ark.   I remembered that Sky’s older brother Shor, now 9, busy with other activities that evening, also had been fascinated by that art work.

Family night is not complete without the celebration of children’s birthdays.  It is Tifereth Israel’s custom for four adults to hook the corners of a tallit to poles and to hold up the tallit, creating a portable chuppah for the children to stand and be blessed under.  Those having birthdays are asked in turn by the rabbi to identify themselves and to tell their age — an exercise in which Sky participated enthusiastically– nearly popping the microphone as he said “Four!”

The oneg Shabbat following the services, of course, is a favorite part of the evening, what with pastries and cookies of various types to sample, including cookies with big smiling happy faces.  🙂

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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted at donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com