How Those Nights Are Different
From All Other Nights

Yesterday, Thursday, April 16, was the last day of the Jewish holiday Passover. It started last week, on Wednesday, April 8^th and outside Israel was celebrated for two nights with the festive dinner, called a Seder, during which the story of the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt in about 1313 BC is retold for the benefits of the next generation. On both nights, a two-hour long story starts with the question “Ma Nishtana?” which in English means “How different is this night from all other nights?” The youngest child traditionally asks the question, and adults sing in response that on those nights we eat specific foods and drink four cups of wine while reclining on a pillow like free people. Though in the Jewish history there were times when we could not be free or be together with our families to celebrate and to retell the story. The celebration always ended (before singing a specific song) with the statement, “Next Year in the rebuilt Jerusalem!”

My wife Elfa and I celebrated the first night of Passover together. On the second night, we had both of our daughters, their significant others and their friends. We connected with Palm Springs, Los Angeles and even Israel (at 4 o’clock in the morning). What made this night different was that miracles, which started over 3,300 years ago, continued and sometimes it takes special events like COVID-19 to manifest. 

At the same time, regardless of the technological advances for me, nothing can substitute a loving kiss, a friendly hug and a connecting handshake. I am looking forward to the time when these connections are going to be possible again.

P.S. Though we have to maintain the social distancing, this should not preclude us from seeing other people, breathing fresh air and enjoying spring beauty. I accomplished this last Sunday. As in the past, we took Max for a walk around Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park. This is where I (safely) encountered other people (and birds) who had similar ideas.

After I sent the image to a lovely couple playing ukuleles, the text came back, “As a little tidbit for your story. We met a week before the pandemic and have been social distance dating ever since.” When I complimented the two men on their creative face masks, they told me that those are napkins they used for their lunch. Whatever it takes to be safe. Please note that I captured all three of them walking with the same rhythm. Since today it is a long story, I decided to add a bonus image of a man who is getting the healing rays of the sun and some vitamin D.

Be Safe, Enjoy and Share with a Friend!

  

Passover, Easter & COVID-19

In Wikipedia I learned that the term “Judeo-Christian is used to group Christianity and Judaism together, either in reference to Christianity’s derivation from Judaism, both religions’ common use of the Bible, or due to perceived parallels or commonalities and shared values between the two religions.” If you are reading this story on Friday, April 10^th, it is the Christian holiday, “Good Friday”, which commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Three days later is Easter Sunday, a joyful celebration of Christ’s resurrection. 

But there is something not less significant, which unifies both religions and brings it to the issues of today – the coronavirus. Both holidays signify death, sacrifice and a brighter future. Passover story contains the 10^th plague during which an uncountable number of the first-born Egyptians died to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites slaves leave Egypt on the way to their freedom. And then thousands of former slaves died during their forty years in the desert to allow the new generation to arrive to their destination – the Land of Israel. And this is where the next drama developed about thirteen hundred years later. At about 4 B.C., the Jewish carpenter Joseph’s son was born, who was named Yeshua or Joshua, which in Hebrew means “God is salvation”. He was a preacher whose message was that the end of the known world, which was the Roman occupation of his homeland Palestine, was coming to an end. The Jews had to repent and change the way they live to be saved in the world to come. After he was arrested for his provocative unorthodox teachings by the Jewish authorities, he was forwarded to the Romans and was crucified, as it was a common practice of killing of rebels in those days. Years later, his teachings continued to excite people and he was given the Greek name Jesus with the added Christ, which in Greek means “the anointed one”. Thus, Jesus Christ became the founder of Christianity with many followers and gospels, who told his stories. It was not an easy journey and thousands of Christians were killed on their way to create one of the major world religions in our times. 

And now we are brought to 2020, the unfortunate time of the Corona virus pandemic. Many people have been affected, and have died or are going to. After it is over, I do not think there is going to be a major event to commemorate COVID-19, but in a short time, it managed to accomplish what no other historic major events or wars ever did, it united people all over the world to confront and to cooperate protecting ourselves and saving lives. Will this bring peace, salvation or the Messiah? Time will tell. In the meantime, let’s express our gratitude for being alive and many other blessings.

Happy Holidays! Stay Safe!

P.S. Spring is the time of new beginnings, joy and beauty, which you can see in the four images of flowers, which grow in my neighborhood.

Enjoy and Share with a Friend!

  

How To Celebrate Passover

This year the event that was initiated over 3,300 years ago, will be celebrated on the evening of April 8^th. I am writing about Passover, the celebration of the liberation of Israelites from slavery and their exodus from Egypt. The holiday lasts for eight days during which observant Jews eat matzah (unleavened bread). For the first two nights the families gather at the festive table and read from the Passover Haggadah (story), while guests follow the prescribed order (Seder) in eating and drinking. This is the most popular holiday for Jewish families to get together (it has been around for many years before Thanksgiving family gatherings).

As these are very unusual circumstances, I decided to check another source. I reached out to Rabbi Gershon Winkler. His “Walking Stick Foundation” spreads ancient Jewish Wisdom that are applicable to modern times. His latest writing is called “Antidotal Dotings from Gershon”. I hope you will read the whole story; meanwhile, I would like to share with you some of the ancient wisdom.

“Though a plague can last even as long as seven years, no one dies before their appointed time” (2^nd century B.C.E., Rabbi Shimon Shetah

And there is one more. This one comes from the prophet who lived in the 8^th century B.C.E.

The ancient rabbis taught “When there is an epidemic in the village, keep your feet within your home, as it written “Come my people, enter within your chambers and shut your doors around you, hide but for a brief moment, until the rage has passed.” – Isaiah 26:20

Those quotes remind me of what “the wisest man who ever lived”, King Solomon wrote in 935 B.C.E. “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again, there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). 

As far as our gathering goes, we decided to postpone it until May when the quarantine will hopefully end, and we will be able to drive down to Southern California to see our daughters.

P.S. Since Passover is a spring holiday, it is a great opportunity to see Spring blooms around us, as you can see in these four images.

Enjoy and Share with Friends!

  

Is There A Cure For Loneliness?

The title of this story came from an AARP publication. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) was founded in 1958, and as of a year ago had over 40 million members. The organization publishes The Magazine (and a newspaper). There are always interviews with well-known people, like 82 years young actor Anthony Hopkins, which appeared in the December/January publication. The interview ended with, “My life is an extraordinary series of mistakes. But if I hadn’t made decisions that seemed bad at that time, who knows where I would be? I guess we are guided by some inner force”.

The magazine also has many interesting articles, such as, “Is There a Medical Cure for Loneliness?” What got my interest on this subject is the corona virus pandemic. The article starts with the sentence, “We know that older Americans are at greater risk for social isolation, which can lead to physical illness, depression and even dementia.” No wonder the majority of those who died from COVID-19 belonged to this group. Turns out that “scientists now say there are medical causes and remedies for the painful condition that affects more of us each year.” 

There is an expression; “The surgery was successful, but the patient died.” I question if people can be socially isolated for a long period of time (and not only those of advanced age) – this goes against the nature of what human beings are. In the March 19, 2020 SF Chronicle, there was an article titled, “Remain at home amid outbreak or enjoy a walk among others?” On that day, since Max did not go to his dog-sitter, we went for a walk around Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park. There were quite a few people of different ages, walking or jogging while maintaining a reasonable distance.

On Friday, while driving with Max through the Park, we saw a lot of people congregate in front of the Conservatory of Flowers, parents with children riding bicycles and young people jogging. After all, it was a warm spring evening.

P.S. The images are from my encounters with those in Golden Gate Park whom, to paraphrase Anthony Hopkins, preferred to make mistakes but keep enjoying their lives. Among them of course was Max, who has no idea of what is going on and just enjoys the walk with his “parents”. Since this story is longer than usual, I decided to add one bonus, totally five images. I hope you’ll like all of them.

P.P.S. My daughter Tamar, who edits my writings, made the following comments (below) which I would like to share with you as well. If you choose to get some fresh air and get exposed to the Sun, follow her recommendations.

Enjoy and Share with A Friend.

  

Mucho Trabajo Poco Dinero

We live in a neighborhood of San Francisco called Monterey Heights. It was built in 1928-29 and has about four hundred, mostly large homes. From time to time, some of them go on the market. Since the original buildings are old, they need to be updated, which sometimes involves stripping it down to the studs. Lately, when I’ve walked in the neighborhood with our dog Max, I saw quite a few remodeling projects going on. Passing by, I was not surprised to hear that the construction workers were speaking in Spanish, the language that I’ve tried to learn over the years; particularly before traveling to Spanish speaking countries like Mexico and recently to Spain. But I never progressed very far, probably because in every country we visited, people spoke in English. Nevertheless, I remembered a few phrases. While walking by one of the construction projects, I greeted the foreman, ”Buenos dias, mucho trabajo.” To which he responded, “Mucho trabajo, paco dinero.” A lot of work, but little pay.” But then he added in English, “Thanks God, there is work.” According to linkedin.com, there are 2000+ Spanish jobs in San Francisco. About 10% of the Spanish speakers, close to 90,000 people reside in San Francisco. It is one of 112 languages spoken in the Bay Area.

P.S. I do not know where the four people I encountered came from, but all of them spoke Spanish and English.

Enjoy and Share with Friends!