To Live Like a King

In my ulpan, we watched a skit about the rituals of shabbat. While I knew most of the teachings (although I had never heard them explained in hebrew), I didn't know that on shabbat we are supposed to live like royalty. Initially, this idea seemed to contradict the many rules and prohibitions surrounding shabbat. No driving. No turning on the lights. No TV. Is it just me, or is a king the only person who doesn't have to abide to anyone's regulations?! But after this shabbat, I truly have a better understanding and appreciation for the order around this royal day.

On Friday night, I went to a shabbat meal with about 50 other students at a hotel near campus and on Saturday, I went to lunch at Rabbi Daniel Landes'-head of the Pardes Institute and a good friend of my dad's. Although both experiences were quite different, there were some elements that remained the same. Everyone sits around the table-like a royal court. After three short "ceremonies"- the kiddush (prayer for wine), hand-washing and chamotzee (prayer for bread)- the meal commences. On Shabbat, all diet rules are tossed out the window as everyone heaps different varieties of salads and hummus onto fresh slices of bread. After our stomachs are sufficiently satisfied, the second course comes. And finally, when we really can't eat anymore-at least 5 different types of dessert are served and despite our protests of fulness-it somehow disappears from the table. At the end of the meal, everyone sings and says the birkot hamazon (grace) and we stumble back home-fully nourished in both body and soul.

In honor of Tu B'Shvat, my Saturday lunch also included a Tu B'Shvat seder in which we read different excerpts from the Torah and Talmud about the importance of trees. These days, we tend to associate environmentalism with postmodern liberalism and it was interesting to see that environmental advocacy actually began thousands of years ago. The meal also included a representation of all the tree species and although I know I should love figs, I must say I couldn't get enough of the dates!

Jerusalem is truly the only major city in the world that almost fully observes shabbat and I must say it was refreshing to walk along the streets without hearing honking cars or smelling the exhaust from fuel. As I walked to lunch, I said "shabbat shalom" to everyone I saw-regardless of their age, ethnicity- or even religion. I felt a communal environment more intense than any other which is remarkable for city with a population of 800,000.

On Saturday night, the calm, lazy atmosphere quickly shifted into "city" mode and I went out with friends to a trendy jazz club. The club was packed with students and hippies, and the musicians put a modern spin on the classic genre. Only in Jerusalem, can I engage in such opposing activities in an twelve-hour time frame!