AJ Cross
For several years, a good friend of mine had made every effort to get me to join in holiday events and special occasions, simply to involve me in something that was family-orientated, since I have no family. Year after year, invitation after invitation, I regretfully declined. Eventually, he gave up on me, and no more invitations were given until this past week when I received a invitation to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.
While I’m not Jewish and had little knowledge of the culture of my friend, I gladly accepted his invitation to join him and others to celebrate the first of the High Holidays or Yamim Noraim (“Days of Awe”).
When I arrived at the home of the host David, I was greeted with great kindness and an odd sense of familiarity (though we had never met). It was as if the moment I stepped into the door of his beautiful condo on the beach, I was not a stranger to him, but instead a welcome addition to the group of close friends. The aroma of fish, chicken, couscous and other amazing smells I could not identify consumed the room.
As conversations took place, I simply listened and was amazed at the bond that these friends shared through religion. Some spoke in Hebrew, while others spoke in English or French. What was touching to me was that every conversation included smiles and laughter. I have not been around that type of levity in quite a while. There was absolutely no negativity in the room; no complaints; no issues; no drama. It was strange for me to be in an environment where people openly praised one another and the compliments were flying in every direction. Everyone there was so proud to be in one another’s company, and there was sincere interest in all directions, including mine.
When it was time to eat, every item was blessed in prayer, surprisingly by my friend Eli – who impressed me with his knowledge of Hebrew prayer and etiquette in preparation of the feast. The blessed food included challah bread dipped in honey, beans, apples, squash and fish. There was tremendous appreciation given to each item and, though I do not speak or understand Hebrew, I understood the prayers that were spoken in my heart.
Once the prayers were completed, I dove into the most delicious food prepared by several of the guests, including Tush-Tush, Elli and Harvey. During dinner everyone continued to talk, laugh and simply be happy. At one point, I had wondered why this was a part of the Jewish culture; more importantly, why I had never been witness to it before.
And I admit, with no small amount of shame, to having accepting many common stigmas about what it meant to be Jewish.
I heard stories of lost love, great adventures, professional aspirations, family and God (HaShem). I was captivated. To think that a Christian could find so much peace among Jews, celebrating a holiday he knew nothing about, was an awakening. How fortunate that I was able to abandon my ignorance and be blessed by the love, friendship, generosity and kindness of these wonderful people.
Rosh Hashanah is described as “the day of judgment” (Yom ha-Din) and “the day of remembrance” (Yom ha-Zikkaron). For me, it is the day where any judgments I held were whisked away, and a day which I will remember forever.
