The Almost Normal

The חגים season just ended (as I begin writing this) and I think it's time for me to do some reflections and observations. I guess let's start off with Rosh Hashana?

Rosh Hashana; Unfortunately, not even aliyah can make this holiday into a one day-er. I spent it in Ramat Beit Shemesh with my second cousins and a friend. The davening was beautiful and better than I ever experienced in Toronto. Not to trash on the old land or Rabbi Birnbaum, but the service that I went to felt alot more sincere and upbeat than what I was used to. Now let's go to Yom Kippur!!

Yom Kippur (YK); Honestly, the fast was fine - as I get older every year the fast doesn't seem so daunting. Besides for the pre-YK stress of my oven breaking it was overall... Okay.

I've never thought of YK as a social holiday, but put 100 young adults together in a room and every occasion is a social one. I've also never seen so many bikes in roads than I did that Kol Nidrei night (they weren't kidding when they call YK ('חג האופניים')

After YK, I essentially moved to Jerusalem for a couple of days since I was spending shabbat in Jlem and first *day* in Efrat at my cousins. My friend was able to drive me into Efrat for חג which was really nice and convenient. 

Sukkot; And חג was so beautiful. Growing up I always thought סוכות was the weirdest holiday because it is the hardest to explain to גויים. But after going to university and being exposed to so many different kinds of people and studying up on Indigenous Canadians, I came to realize that סוכות is our least assimilated holiday we have. After thousands of years in גלות, we still have one חג that is clearly focused on nature and land. Instead of thinking what I'm doing is odd, I've begun to embrace our indigenuity to the ארבה מינים and the land that they belong to. 

At the hotel during חול המועד, and saw a HUGE לולב

I couldn't think of anywhere better in the world than to celebrate to than the heartland of Israel. Only thing that could have made it better would have been to celebrate it with my immediate family.

Over חול המועד I did some fun activities, some of which I don't plan on doing again anytime soon. I practiced riding my scooter - very fun. And then one of my roommates came home the shabbat before Simchat Torah and was very happy that I kept everything clean and tidy. I don't know the vibe I give off but I guess it wasn't that initially.

Went to a Jewish music festival over חול המועד... Interesting to say the least

Simchat Torah; I was told it was supposed to be a party in Herziliya of the חג so I stayed. Truth be told, I've never liked Simchat Torah as a holiday - in Canada it always felt like an excuse for underage drinking or for of age drinking to get absolutely to trashed and then make a fool of themselves. When I was in Yeshiva it was slightly more "holier" but I still don't quite enjoy circle dancing, plus hypocritically of myself I can't dance without alcohol in me.

I definitely had a positive time over Simchat Torah but it felt very "Greek Life"-esque vibe. I'm not shocked because it is a university town, but I guess I hoped for slightly in between Yeshiva and Canada?

Overall I had a fine time, I just don't know if I'd want to partake again. I feel like I need some place with better davening. I don't blame the rabbi here; in fact I was talking to someone about it and she said that it's hard to do programming and get it right 100% of the time because you're programming for the ages of 19-27ish and also for non-religious to דתי לאומי.

This week up until Tuesday is packed; I had a cousins engagement party, supposed to plan shtick for a friend's wedding (hopefully I get to do that), have a friend's bachelor party and then have a friend's aufruf this shabbat and then his wedding Monday! On top of that I'm working too!! (As of posting this, the previous have all happened and shall be included in my next post🤣.)

Well that's been my month in summary and I hope whoever is reading this enjoys and has a great start to their own "back to normal" time.