Shavua Tov from Jaffa! We ended our day with a simple but meaningful Havdalah service and then treated the kids to ice cream from Golda. What better way to reinforce the idea of having a sweet and good week than with some sweet (and good) ice cream. You'll be happy to know your kids are very well mannered. We heard lots of "thank you" and even better, a few "todah rabahs"!
The place we chose for Havdalah was actually the very same place where we started our day thereby creating a nice arch to the day's adventures. For those that have been to Jaffa (or looked at the pictures in the Google Album) we went to the top of the small hill upon which the ancient city of Jaffa is built. From there we had a stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea and the city of Tel Aviv. By evening, the breeze had slowed down, allowing us to enjoy the cool air without being chilly. And seeing Tel Aviv all lit up is quite enchanting. As for the ice cream, Mrs. Campbell has graciously agreed to try as many different ice cream shops as our itinerary will allow and promises to rank them in order of exceptionality. We thank her kindly!
When we stood upon the hilltop at the start of the day, Jaffa was a mystery to us. It's now a place that we understand, respect, and are eager to visit on future trips to Israel. Visible from the hilltop were not only the Mediterranean and Tel Aviv, but also some important symbols and aspects of modern Israeli society including a famous Catholic Church as well as one of the many mosques in this country. So from that hilltop we were able to see the natural beauty of Israel, the bustling cosmopolitan heart of Israel, the religious and ethnic diversity of Israel, and so much more. Wandering through the alleyways and promenades of Jaffa we saw all different types of Israelis, many fellow tourists, and so much more. We saw Israel. And we saw a sculpture that holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest spoon. Go figure.
As for the title of this post. While looking out at the Mediterranean, we noticed that even by 9am the beaches were already very crowded including one stretch of beach designated as safe and good for surfing. Realizing that 9am is the time when many Jews attend synagogue on Shabbat we took a moment to think about the many ways that each of us can find an authentic home in Jewish practices and traditions. We agreed that for the surfers and other beach goers, the Mediterranean was their synagogue, the beach their Shabbat. We thought about our next Shabbat which will be in Jerusalem and feel quite different, but also, in some ways, the same. We realized that while many of us associate Jewish spiritual practice with "facing toward the east/ toward Jerusalem" there's also something to the idea of embracing Shabbat by facing toward the west and in the spirit of Tel Aviv. Which is precisely what we did with our afternoon time.
Today's beach time was among the most enjoyable that I can remember. First, we went to a lovely stretch of beach that I've never been to before. It was just crowded enough to allow great people watching, and just open enough to give us the room to really relax. Because the conditions were so ideal, we spent more time at the beach than we usually do. The kids had fun swimming, burying one another in the sand, playing soccer and other beach friendly games with one another as well as with friendly Israelis on the beach, and so on. Once the life guard tower closed we pulled the kids out of the water and let them linger a bit. In fact, they decided when they were done. Without us having to say a word, they gradually and gently extricated themselves from the shoreline. It was kind of magical to be honest. And it was also sweet that two alumni from the class of 2017 who are on Young Judea Year in Israel came to see us. In true Davis fashion, they're coming to see us again tomorrow. It's very "Davis" to be ready to leave by the end of 8th grade, but eager to reconnect in the years that follow.
Big picture: the reason I love taking our kids to the beach is because it represents a moment of true freedom for them. They've finished their academic journey at Davis and have the whole summer ahead of them before they start high school. It's bittersweet because you and I know that life (already is and) will get complicated and busy for them. It may be a while before they experience the kind of carefree joy (Shabbat) that today allowed them. They don't realize the poignancy of the moment. For them it's "just" a visit to the beach in Tel Aviv. For those of us that understand this transitional moment in their lives through the wisdom of our own experiences, I think their innocence in this moment makes it even more poignant.
In case you can't tell from the pictures, everyone is having a great time. Gratitude makes everything sweeter, and the fact that our kids are grateful makes this journey sweeter for them and sweeter for all of us. As we were walking up the hill for Havdalah, one of our students struck up a conversation with me. He said, "Someone told me something and I want to know if it's true." He said, "Someone told me that the Israel Trip is like summer camp. At first the days feel long but then they start to feel shorter and shorter until suddenly you can't believe it's all over." It broke my heart, but I had to tell him the truth. Yes, before we know it, it will be over. But we agreed it's better to have had the experience than not. And while our conversation got cut short, when I see him tomorrow I'll add an important footnote-- that while trip will end all too soon the experience will last a lifetime.
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