Nice to meet you Robert. I am sorry that I couldn't stay to meet Karen, but I had a long drive home.

In terms of your encounter last night - I had a similar experience in a doctor's waiting room. This time, though, the lady took out a scarf from her huge purse, and proceeded to open a book of Tehillim (Psalms) and recite. I love this country!

It was really nice meeting you last night. Your moment at the washing station is why I love this country so much. Israelis, even the most secular, are connected. They have to be just because they walk G-d's given land.

Enjoy the rest of your stay.

Good story! I'm getting hungry just thinking about that chicken, wondering how it was prepared and all. And I would have had the same initial reaction as you, incidentally, upon seeing that crazy hair and those nails. Please keep writing stories like that!

" ... Mom answers “Amen, amen, v'amen.” ... "

when my father was terminally ill with lung cancer, he was in Shaarei Tzedek, and i stayed there over Shabbos

Shaarei Tzedek has an elaborate generous hospitality program for Shabbos, but it was 8 flights down from where i was, and i didn't want to leave.

in the next bed, there was an elderly Sefardi man on a respirator, and his wife and daughter were staying with him,

his daughter was looked pretty much like the woman in your description, but with jeans and flip-flops

she understood, that like them, i was going to stay by the bedside

volunteers came and brought us all Shabbos meals,
and she approached and asked shyly if i could make Kiddush for her and her mother

i brought over the wine to her father's bedside,
and they abruptly stood up in reverent attention, and remained standing until after Kiddush,
and both answered, “Amen, amen, v'amen.”

even the Arab women visiting their relative on the same ward, were touched with awe ...

Only in Israel. What a great story. (Glad you didn't have to eat wood chips!)

It's the Sefardic thing more than the Israeli thing. Even though a lot of our brethren from "edot hamizrach" aren't observant, they didn't have any intellectuals in the old country redefining Judaism (and denigrating traditional Judaism), so many of them they still look up to those who embody the Torah ideal.

Just one question - I'm sorry, Robert - what's a "smash cut?"

Sweet story.

I kind of agree with alterbentzion, though I should add that on a percentage basis, there are more observant jews amongst the edot ha mizrach than amongst Ashkenazic Jewry and in general our level of Jewish literacy is higher as well. As we become more integrated with the Jewish population at large, this will likely change - but to date I have never had a Sephardic kid on a Birthright trip ask me "Dude? Who is this Hashem guy every keeps talking about?"

Robert, I'm sure your Emmy was a great and deserved honor; but in my book, you earned a great deal more by writing that evocative and poignant story. There is a pronounced tendency in Israel to denigrate the Jews who come from the Levant, based on their simplicity and dress. But, as you say, they often have a deep emotional spirituality from which we can learn a great deal.

ROBERT:

i love mahane yehuda. one of these days i'll put up the post about it that i've been planning for 2 years.

what's a smash cut?

regarding the religious reverence and traditional observances (i.e., masorati with a lower-case m) of the edot ha-mizrah: my impression is that this only describes the older generations. many (most?) of the younger generation today who are not outright dati are pretty much just as hiloni as their ashkenazi peers.

Yes, the war between Sima and Sami which is just across the same side of the street is notorious (and they may even have been one management at one time). I and my kids prefer Sima. The amount of varied salads, usually 10, that are placed down is amazing. If you go back, try the garlic spread. Last time I was there, on Jabotinsky's yahrtzeit in July, I ordered a steak and it came, completely covering the large plate and I innocently asked "but doesn't it come with salad and chips?" and my daughter kicked me under the table, "abba, that'll all be on the next plate."

Regards to Karen. And a gutten shabbes.

From Wikipedia:
A smash cut is technique in film and other moving visual media where one scene abruptly cuts to another without transition, usually meant to startle the audience.

The last time I was at Sima's must have been over ten year's ago-- and I've never forgotten it! Your posts just keep getting better and better...
Enjoy your trip!

You're killing me. (I mean, in the way that leaves one feelnig more alive.)

I like the way the different blogger characters interact. It's kinda like when people from one sitcom visit another.

i am a new reader, and loving every word. what an awesome post.

Our experience is different from Lion of Zion's--our 'adopted family' (they 'adopted' us) is of Moroccan origin, and while the parents are very devout and observant, their son is 'masorti', yet more familiar with the Torah than many of my dati leumi friends; very much in awe of H"S; what we would call in the Old Country "G-d-fearing"; very respectful of all older people; slides shekalim to the needy when he thinks no one is looking; not at all chiloni and thinks that is an Ashkenazi affliction in any event. He is very traditional, very Jewish, very good-hearted--and in his thirties. I decided to put away my preconceptions about Yiddishkeit and observance here in light of two events: a bus ride wherein a girl rather skimpily dressed interrupted her Tehillim so she could offer me her seat vs. the observant black-hatted individual of male persuasion who tried to trample me then knock me out of the way to get on the bus first.

Thank you for hastening the Geula, as only ahavat Yisrael can. Each kind word that a Jew has for another Jew, each light shone on our brother's exceptional character traits, rather than on his failings, can only please our mutual Tatte b'Shomayim.