Author: Eve Posen

This Year, Only in Jerusalem – Pesach 5767

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I began a post yesterday about my Passover reflections, writing as I have the past two years about how I have changed coming to this Passover and how I hope I will change before the next. I reflected on what was special and unique this year, and what bothers me about where I am at. And then, I realized, none of that matters for me! What matters is that I am here, I am in Jerusalem. Last year I said “Next year in Jerusalem” and now, here I am! And to make it better, my Tanta and my sister are here with me! Finally, after seven months I see people related to me, people who love me unconditionally, I see my family. I don’t think I could have done Passover without at least one other member of my family. Passover is my favorite holiday because I get to be with my whole family, because we celebrate traditions from years before I was born.

This year in Jerusalem, this year it is different! I tried my best to create a seder meal and seder exactly as I like it, exactly as my mom and dad did, exactly as their parents did before them. But somewhere along the way, I know it will not be the same. This year, instead of each aunt and cousin bringing their traditional contribution to the seder, my Tanta and sister and I spent the whole day in the kitchen trying to do it all. And I miss my family more than ever! This year, there is only one child at home instead of the whole nine or ten of us sitting at the table. This year, when the Haggadah says that you shall tell your child on that day, my father will have no child to tell the story to because we are both here. But this year the story is different. This year I am living in Jerusalem, This year I am striving to be free. This year I am growing. This year I have tasted a new freedom, and this year I value my family more than ever.

This year in Jerusalem, I walked the streets yesterday to find stations of boiling water with lines of people waiting to kasher their kitchen. Only in Jerusalem! This year in Jerusalem, I walked the streets this morning to the smell of bonfires burning chametz, Only in Jerusalem! This year I went to the grocery store only one day before Pesach to do all my shopping and got everything I needed. Only in Jerusalem! This year the grocery store will only sell kosher for Passover food during Passover, and I don’t have to worry about buying chametz. Only in Jerusalem! This year the restaurants are kosher for Passover, and I will eat in them. Only in Jerusalem! And this is a taste of a new freedom, something to be savored.

This time is short, my seder begins in one hour, and I have so much to do! May each of us know the joy of Pesach in Jerusalem, the excitement of knowing that next year in Jerusalem will come true. May we be blessed with the refreshment of renewal and rebirth as we go back to our ancestors and move from slavery into freedom, no matter how large or small that freedom might be. L’Shana Ha’Zeh B’yerushalayim!

EDITED! Do Fences make good neighbors? Use your Words!

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Last Thursday, I participated in a group trip to Judea and Sumaria, more specifically, to the Shomron and the village of El Kana. A group of my colleagues and I headed out through the beautiful landscape of Israel glancing at the biblical architecture yet to be discovered, the blooming flowers, and the beautifully decorated “sound barriers” soon to be known as “the fence.” I do NOT want to be political here, rather, I want to reflect on some ideas that popped into my head while i watched the fence and flowers flow by through our bus.
First and foremost, I felt safe, I was in Israel, as an American. That is, at the “border crossing” into the territories, an Israeli might need tos how their passport as they are crossing the border, but i did not need to. What I was struck with was the beauty of the land, and the term used to describe those who have chosen to live there, settlers. They have settled the land, and live peacefully in many places with their Arab neighbors; something that perhaps could be a model for the whole of Israel. One of the main ways the Jewish people obtained ownership of the land was to settle it.
The more I looked at the Fence, the more I found myself wondering how building a fence and separating ourselves from one another would promote peace and security. Furthermore, how can we both exist and live together while not even acknowledging the existence of the other side of the fence. I kept thinking about my backyard growing up, which was at the head of a wide open space that connected all the other backyards of the houses on the two streets perpendicular to ours. We all shared swing sets and backyards, bats and balls. We played together some days, and some days we kept to oursleves. But how different would it have been if we had put up a big fence separating ourselves. Would my sister and I have made friends with the other kids or just played together, alone? Would I have been able to learn about my neighbors holidays and share mine with them? BUT THE FENCE WORKS, TERRORISM IS DOWN… A GOOD IDEA, but at what cost??
The final moment of the trip which brought me some serious thought was standing at the end of Israel, overlooking the Palestinian Authority davening mincha. There we stood together, praying, and as I said the last words of my private Amidah, asking for a great peace over all of Israel. And I found myself stuck with the words, paralyzed by what that means, how is it possible. I know that it is possible, I know there will be peace, one day, may it be speedily in our days. But, after seeing the walls, seeing the peaceful coexistence in contrast to the few hostile neighboring villages, I am not sure we have found the solution yet. Do fences make good neighbors? What about that saying parents tell their children… Use your words? But what words do we say?
may we see the day when war and bloodshed cease, when humankind will not again know war. May peace come speedily in our days, may we love our neighbors as ourselves, share the swing-set, learn about each other, live and grow together in the beauty of the gift of God’s creation.

ZACHOR

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This evening, on my walk around Jerusalem to get some fresh air, i passed by the Restobar, one of my favorite places to grab a glass of wine and unwind. Like many places in the streets of Jerusalem, there is a sign out front next to the guard station in memory of a number of individuals who were murdered in a suicide bombing. I often look at the sign and continue on my way. Tonight however there was a crowd of people around this sign. Last night was the 5 year anniversary of this bombing. Tonight family and friends gathered and lit candles in memory of these individuals who lost their life grabbing a drink at the same restaurant I shared a drink at on Thursday night. As I walked by, I wondered who these people were? how their families were coping? Were they there with friends? Some of them were my age, now nothing more than a memory and a reminder of the instability and fear that grips this society. This was the first time I passed by one of the signs and saw the candles lit. And then, a disgusting thought crossed my mind. While these people are outside remembering and mourning the loss of their innocent loved ones, somewhere, another community or family might be celebrating the anniversary of their loved one’s victory over the Jewish people. Sad and troublesome as that sounds, I have to remind myself daily that what I see as a loss of innocent life, others see as payback for occupation.
I don’t want to get political or grim, but I am reminded daily, each time I walk by a memorial of the innocent life lost for my rights and privilege to bein the land that I hold so dear. And I will remember those who i never had the opportunity to meet, those whose memory will serve as a reminder to the fight I will fight as a Jew, the fight to live freely in the world. But, I will not be afraid. I will go to Restobar again, I will continue to walk Ben Yehuda and grab a falafel, visit my favorite coffee shops and live my life, through this, their memory will live on! ZACHOR!!

Shabbat Shalom?

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A few random thoughts on Shabbat! Does the fact that I am a woman mean that I am not worthy of being wished Shabbat Shalom? As I was walking to Shul this week, i was bothered as usual when every man I passed proceeded to turn their head away from me when passing by. On Shabbat morning, more often than not, the people who I pass by on my way to services will wish me a Shabbat Shalom, and acknowledge my existence. But Friday nights, I am not afforded that luxury. This week was particularly bothersome. I was about half way to shul when a guy in full on frum garb walked out of his building towards me. I saw him, and my immediate reaction was to say Shabbat shalom as I do to most people I pass by on the street (perhaps I am too nice!). He saw me in the distance and as he passed me, he turned his head and started to mutter to himself so as not to have even the slightest interaction with me.
Now, I value religious convictions and different levels of observance, but I found this to be rude and degrading. Don’t i deserve to have a Shabbat Shalom? is being a woman such a crime that I can’t even be wished a simple greeting? 2 of the 3 mitzvoth I am commanded to do according to orthodox practice are related to Shabbat, yet this man couldn’t wish me a Shabbat Shalom? I dont know. I am disappointed not because this man doesnt’ acknowledge my validity to be a rabbi, that i can’t argue with him about because we will never see eye to eye. I am upset because the mere fact that I am a woman invalidates me in his eyes from deserving a Shabbat Shalom! Another Israel Experience!!

PURIM SAMEACH?

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This past week in School we were learning in Hebrew class about Purim and the mixed feelings of some with the celebration of the holiday and that got me to thinking about the holiday. It was strange to be celebrating Purim in Israel. First, because i live in Jerusalem, i was to celebrate Shushan Purim, a day after the rest of the world celebrated Purim. This created some fun questions as the night that Purim was to begin for the rest of the world, i was outside Jerusalem, and wondered what to do about the Ma’ariv Amidah and the additions for Purim. what a strange experience, that I could only have in Israel, living in Jerusalem!

As I began writing this entry yesterday, there were many cars outside my window blasting their Purim cheer for everyone to hear. And while it was quite annoying when I wanted to take my Purim nap, i enjoyed the festivities all around. I spent my Purim with friends, having a good, SOBER time. That’s right. This year, i decided not to drink on Purim as many do, but to follow the advice of my dear teacher Rabbi Dorff and instead of being drunk to not tell the difference between Haman and Mordecai, I took a nap. this Purim was about being me and growing. Last Purim I drank too much and I missed out on the celebration and the meaning of the holiday. This year, I focused on the holiday. Purim is another holiday that celebrates the triumph of the Jews over an enemy, but at the same time, others died in our triumph. And, we must not forget the terrible massacre done by Baruch Goldstein on Purim as an act of revenge. Purim is not a holiday to act our of revenge, but rather to remember the gift of life and survival we have. And while enemies still try and attack us, the Jewish people push on, live through it, stay strong.

Purim was a fun 2 days off. I of course stuck with the theme of creating costumes based on my name. thanks Mom and Dad for giving me such a versatile name! This year’s winner was EVEning. What could be better than spending the day in my pj’s having fun with friends and eating Oznei Haman. As the day came to an end I ventured down to Rechov Hillel for the city wide Purim celebration with live music and all the works. What a great end. Fun and games, music, laughter and smiles, a day without worry, a day of fun, a day of celebration of our freedoms, a day to be me, and show the pieces I hide on occasion during the rest of the year!