Shabbat in Jerusalem!!

Oh Shabbat in Jerusalem!!  For those of you who haven't experienced it yet, it is surreal to be in a place where everyone seems to have a common goal of shutting down including businesses, cars, and all the external "noise" we create for ourselves every other day.  Everyone you pass on the street wishes you a "shabbat shalom".  Talk about feeling part of a community!

The shuk and Ben Yehuda street are the two bustling places as people prepare for Shabbat.  We went looking for a kippah for Sammy, but Cela was not to be ignored!  She picked out a beautiful pink kippah that she may or may not ever wear, but they both looked so cute with them on!!

When we lit candles on Friday night, Cela sang the entire blessing with me from start to finish.  It doesn't surprise me that she knows it, but I haven't ever heard her belt it out like that before.  I had a lump in my throat that brought me back to another emotional candle-lighting.  When Cela was born, we brought her home from the hospital on a Friday and our local family came for Shabbat dinner.  As three generations lit candles together, the tears were pouring.  First my mom had to stop singing and then I couldn't keep it together.  My poor sister-in-law Pam was the last woman standing as we blubbered through with my beautiful new baby girl.  Now, Cela does/says something everyday that bowls me over.

We went to a synagogue quite literally around the corner and it turns out that we have many common links with Rabbi Adam Frank, who grew up in Atlanta.  We didn't know it, but we sat behind him when we first arrived and he turned around, told us our kids were "delicious" and then told us how much he LOVES having kids in the sanctuary, and not to worry about extra noise.  He assured us he would let us know if they needed to take a break.  What a great greeting!

Our cousins Arie and Orna came to visit on Saturday afternoon and it was such a treat for us all.  Cela has been a bit apprehensive about all the strangers that have been in and out of our house recently (some old friends, the cab driver, the apartment owners, and unfortunately, a plumber several times!).  It was so nice to see how quickly she got comfortable with them, and she is so excited that we are planning to visit them at their home (out in the country!) next weekend.  They even lugged our huge and heavy carseats home with them so that they could pick us up from the bus station safely.