Droozy
loved being there watching her mother in her crisp clean apron stir the soup
which was cooked in a large silver colored pot. The house had been scrubbed
thoroughly and smelled so clean! Mama always prided herself that “you could
eat off the floor without getting germs.” The
special dishes graced the table. It was set with a bright white cloth, beautiful
silver candle sticks which had been handed down from Droozy’s grandparents,
and highly polished silver soup spoons, forks and knives. The white candles
looked sedate in their place as if waiting to usher in the Sabbath with its
calming beauty. There were two of those fresh Challah breads on a special
holiday plate, covered with an embroidered cloth. A cup of wine was next to the
plate over which a blessing was made thanking G’d for bringing forth grapes
from the earth which produced the wine. The whole family would partake by
drinking one sip of the sweet juice. There
was a special place for Papa at the head of the table where he would preside
over the Kiddush, a blessing for all the goodness that had been bestowed on the
family. Mama would begin by cupping her hands over her eyes and reciting a
prayer while standing by the brightly lit candles. The sisters would watch their
mother with warm feelings of love as they chimed in singing “Lecho Dodee”, a
Sabbath hymn ushering in the weekly Friday eve celebration. Papa would join in
and would for one evening be able to put aside all of the cares of a stressful
week. Mama was always the last to sit down at the meal since she served her husband and children the delectable meal which they all enjoyed so much. Sabbath was a peaceful time,
a time in which the senses were alerted to the smells and feelings of a
meaningful family evening – an evening which linked the generations one to the
other and was a reminder of the long ago, the present and the future. |
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