We were eight holocaust survivors and eight young people
doing their alternative army service. The two groups were strangers to each
other. We had to get to know each other, by talking with each other. Half way
through the season, the drama counselor announced that we will give four
performances at the local community center. The counselor had written the
script according to what we had learned one from the other during our weekly
sessions. In the end the performance was in pairs or mixed groups showing the
inter-generation relationship. My part was about sharing my computer skill and dancing
with my partner and my stroller. The performance was enjoyed by the audience as
well as by the actors.
Last week I was lucky to be part of a spontaneous birthday
celebration of the grandfather with a family who usually invite me for the Shabbat
meal. The grandchildren dressed up and mimicked their grandfather's behavior towards
them on his birthday. There was a lot of humor, laughter. Plain enjoyment was had by all.
This week, the extended family gathered at Chavat Eyal, the
animal farm in Kibbutz Ramat Rachel for the fourth birthday of one of my many
great-grandchildren. My granddaughter had roped in aunts and uncles as well as
the child's grandparents (my daughter and son in law) in order to perform for
the children the story from a children's book about the arrival of a new edition
to the family. They were all dressed up as animals and came to inspect that
funny new creature, until the birthday child dressed up as a lion explained to
them that that was his new brother. It was a gorgeous and funny performance. There
was more laughter than acting.
It is always a treat for me to be with the ever growing extended
four generation family that I am blessed with.
My son Danny makes sure to take me wherever I would like to
be. He just packs my stroller into his jeep and heaves me in. Without him I
would miss out on a lot of fun.
