Skip to main content

Followup - Erev Yom Kippur

We had a very nice shabbat. Our three guests, Elka, Sarah and Ariela were very nice. They participated in shabbat preparations and helped out the whole time they were with us. We even got them to play Killer Bunnies. They were real troopers, because while this game usually lasts about 45 minutes, our game lasted close to three hours. Kudos to their determination. Ariela almost won the game, holding 16 of the 20 carrots at the end, but Joey was the lucky recipient of the fated magic carrot and hence the winner.

On Erev Yom Kippur, we prepare to receive judgement for the coming year. I had a very visceral experience with one of the more odious sins, Spreading a Bad Name. This malady is specifically when people spread true stories about a person that cause that person hurt or loss. I inadvertently told someone about a conversation that I had, and that led directly to this sin. I'm disappointed that this happened and will try to work harder in the coming year. One person suggested to me that when you hear such a story, you should say: That is inappropriate and I would prefer not to hear about it. I'll take that message to heart.

The afternoon before Yom Kippur, there is a tradition to eat a festive meal before the fast. We have a standing invitation with some of our friends for this meal, because it is my third son's birthday. He was born the morning before Yom Kippur at a birth clinic in Pittsburgh, PA. We arrived home with the baby by mid-afternoon and had a nice meal before the fast. Now, 18 years later, our baby is grown and in 12th grade. We are proud to be able to continue celebrating with him.

The upcoming fast is going to be a bit strange. Our past years experience with Kidney Disease (transplant and laproscomy) have led to the situation where my son Asaf and I are unable to fast. Asaf needs takes anti-rejection drugs and must have a full meal. Since he cannot miss a day, he is going to be eating on Yom Kippur, complete with Wine and Blessings. Very few people get this kind of legal treatment. I cannot become dehydrated, so I'm going to be drinking. I'll try for a water fast. The traditional trick of "eating" less than an olive every twenty minutes is not going to be enough, since I need to have at least 3 liters of water a day. So I'll be sitting with Asaf and drinking while he eats. This should be interesting.

Our meal today is traditional. Low on spices and acids, high on carbs and proteins. Just the thing for a pre-fast meal. One of our guests is a vegetarian, so we'll try and provide enough for the omnivores and the veggie.

Erev Yom Kippur
Lunch - 11
Two Whole Roast split chickens
Grilled London Broil
Pasta (plain)
Zucchini garlic sauce (for the pasta)
(plus some leftovers from Shabbat)
Grasshopper pie ( a birthday favorite)




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A change of pace (Kidney Failure)

I have been trying to keep this blog focused on hospitality and food.  God though has other plans for his creations and I find now that I will have to expand the scope to cover new topics.  I'll try to continue blogging about my menus and our guests, but expect more posts that have little or nothing to do with food. In February of this year, My second oldest son, Asaf was diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure. Simply put, both his kidneys are damaged and scarred from some infection or defect that happened years ago.  They will likely cease to function sometime within the next six months. The good news is that there is no immediate danger to his life.  Kidney Dialysis is a viable option and can maintain his health for up to ten or more years if necessary.  Unfortunately, the process is not easy and there are potential side effects. Given Asaf's generally excellent health and age, Kidney Dialysis is considered only a stop-gap measure and not a long term solution. The best solutio...
13 comments
Read more

Post Wedding!

What a feeling!  Married off my son and gained a daughter.   The wedding was very special.  As befits our family, it went off according to schedule, even finishing 15 minutes early.  Yet, no-one felt that it was too short or that something was missing.  The dancing was perfect and the shtick funny and smooth.  All in all, a good evening was had by all. The young couple are like cats that have just eaten the bird.  They walk around with a big grin.  No worries.  What a wonderful time to be young, in love and married!  May they have many such years together in happiness and health. The weekend after the wedding it is traditional for the families to have meals together.  The mother's of the couple have arranged to serve meals at the local synagogue.  Of course, both families are making parts of the meals.  Like the marriage, this weekend is a partnership. My father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law and two brother's...
3 comments
Read more

Family, Friends and Guests

Another week, and this Shabbat is going to be busy.  We have four guests from NCSY who are in Israel for a summer program.  They will be eating dinner with us, but eating lunch with the rest of their group.  My sister and her family are coming over from Alon Shvut.  Her husband works with groups from the states during the summers and is almost never home for summer Shabbatot.  To top it off, we have a few friends who are temporarily alone. Their wife or husband is away for Shabbat.  They will add some flavor to tomorrow's lunch. Menus are pretty simple this week.  All stuff I've made before.  I'm in a bit of a rut, partially because the vegetables this year are less plentiful than last year.  Its a shmita year and even though we hold heter mechira, there is just less good produce.  Partially, its because I need some ideas.  I havn't read a new cookbook in while.  I'll try and review some old ones this weekend.  I've talked to professional chef's who go throu...
1 comment
Read more