Wednesday, August 29, 2012

BlogElul: Memory

I've created a really cute activity after school this year called "Tea Time with Ms. Kossar." Last year, I was always asked if I had food for the kids to eat after school and I never did. This year, I am providing snacks and tea after school! It's a nice half an hour of helping the kids wind down after a long day of classes.

To ensure that there is enough hot water for anyone who wants, I use one of the big coffee urns. It is quiet loud as it initially heats up the water. The first few times I turned it on, I immediately was comforted by the low rumbling of the water being heated. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but the sound was so familiar! I thought about this for a while, and realized what it was! I went to just about every Shabbat service my synagogue offered consistently from about third grade until I graduated from high school. At the beginning of the service, the family that was hosting oneg would always turn on the coffee on at the start of services, making the same sound I was hearing at the start of my current tea time activity!

That familiar sound every Friday night in some ways signaled for me the start of Shabbat, and the signal for me to take a deep breath and relax!

It's funny how memory can trigger powerful, yet seemingly meaningless memories!

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