shofar blasts, earthquakes, and awe

I'm a little at loss for words and where to begin. The last few weeks have been rushing by me, entirely fully with preparations for traveling with camps, planning and taking (hindi-english for giving) classes at the jcc, visiting friends outside of Maharashtra, starting formal Hindi lessons ( finally), and getting to know new Israeli, Canadian, Indian and Hawaiian friends. Basically, I've been neglecting this journal and my friends and family back home. Sorry to have been a bit out of touch!

Rosh Hashana here was tremendous. I stayed with my co-worker and her lovely family in Thane city for the two days of the Chag. Services at the Thane synagogue were wonderful, and the synagogue itself looked beautiful. I have truly gotten to know many of the people who go to this synagogue and also many of my coworkers are from Thane city as well, and it was wonderful seeing them here in this setting, with their families.

Many of the Rosh Hashana traditions that I am familiar with are also done here. Apples and honey were served after services in Thane, dates and pomegranties were eaten, and challah was dipped into sugar or honey rather than salt. The Indian Jewish community also prepares a sweet dessert dish called Halwah that is eaten only at this time of year. Different families make this in differenet ways, some adding saffron, dried fruits, or badam-pista ( almonds and pistacio.) This Halwah is made of flour and water, moist and not at all like the Middle Eastern ground sesame sweet. It is sweet and refreshing, and delicious when served cold.



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I heard of the earthquake in Pakistan a few days after Rosh Hashana ended much like as I would have if I were back home. I am rather far from the Jammu-Kashmir area and read of the disaster in the Times of India... I don't know what it is, but it seems as if lately there have been so many natural calamities. I hope that this year brings with it a fresh start, a year of safety in our homes and calm throughout the world.

No more hurricanes and earthquakes and floods please!