Weekend Hospitality

I just received my new laptop.  Its been two weeks since my old laptop was stolen.  The mourning lasted about 10 days.  Now with my new laptop, I can start again! This weekend is going to be busy.  We have a young couple (no kids) eating with us this evening.   It should be a nice quiet dinner (as quiet as it gets here). The Kav L'chayim organization is doing a weekend in our community and we are hosting two pairs. Each pair is a patient and his or her helper.    They are having a group dinner tonight.  Tomorrow lunch, we will host our two pairs plus an additional two helpers.    As happens often in our community, one of our good friends is traveling this weekend.  We will be hosting her family of 5 for lunch! Shabbat Parshat Vayichi Dinner - 9 Chicken soup with vegetables Spaghetti and Meatballs Stir fried chicken and vegetables Cabbage and Caraway Lunch - 18 Chulent Cajun Jambalaya Pargiot with Garam Masala and Bharat dry rub Spicy Stir Fried Cabbage (Garlic, Red Pepper, Ginger...

Here we go. Its a three day Rosh Hashana and that means guests, company and food! Of course, it also means prayers, repenting and atonement. I find that Rosh HaShana is the time to review the past year and prepare for the coming year. We make our choices on Yom Kippur with a 25 hour day of fasting to drive home the implications of our choices. On this Rosh HaShana, we are hosting two young ladies (don't know who or from where, check the next post for details). Alas, I have been told that they are only eating one meal with us. Our community is hosting at least 10 post-high-school students this holiday. We will have the opportunity to be both hosts and guests over the next 6 major meals (lunch and dinner only). We have a pretty set invite list for Rosh HaShana. Local families that we have been friendly with for more than 10 years will eat with us and visa versa. This sometimes makes for very large meals, but that's what makes it fun! We have been invited our for two me...