Rosh Hashana

Eliana was very excited to go to children's services today, and she did very well. (Last year, she just wanted to run up and down the aisles, and we spent the whole time trying to keep her contained in her seat (or Daddy's seat), and Kes just wanted to nurse.) This year, Kes enjoyed the songs and chanting and cuddled Mommy and her hair. Elly sat quietly, and tried to sing what she could pick up. She said, "Hey, that's the rabbi from Shabbat!" She asked Scott for a book of songs so she could sing along, and then sat quietly looking at it, whenever the rabbi was speaking, or prayers were being chanted. Some teenagers do a skit every year under the tutelage of Sharon C. (not our close friend, but another one), and all children are invited up close to the bimah to watch. Eliana took Kessa by the hand and led her up to where the other children were. They sat quietly together and watched the skit with rapt attention! After the skit is the shofar service and when Elly saw the shofars come out, she got up, took Kes by the hand, and with a worried look, started leading her back toward us, looking around for us. Scott picked her up, and I held Kes, but they ended up loving it. Elly had a look of wonder on her face with a slight smile.

When we got out of services, I asked whether she wanted to stay and play with the other children or go home to see Grandma, and she voted for Grandma. As we got into the car, she said, "But Mommy, I want a shofar." I told her that we could get out and she could try blowing one, but she said, "No Mommy, I mean I want to have a shofar that I can take to our home." I told her she could have a shofar when she was 13. She said, "Hmmm, how about when I'm five." I said I'd think about it. On the way home, I asked if she liked the services and she said "Yes. My favorite was the shofar."

When we got home, she reported the whole series of events to my mom: "And then I told Mommy I wanted a shofar and Mommy said when I'm thirteen but I said when I'm five but Mommy said maybe." Later, Scott's parents called and she got on the phone and said (but separately): "Shanah Tovah, Bubbe! Happy new year! I heard the shofar."

She was just so big this year. It's amazing how much they change and you don't notice, til something marked in time such as this points it out. This year's holiday was such a different experience than only a year ago.