The Giza Club

June 2002

Hi

Here is the Big Story about Mac's Bar Mitzvah in Israel.

As you know, the main reason for having the event in Israel is because all of Mac's immediate family reside there and most are unable to travel long distances. Therefore, we were overjoyed that every one of the Israeli relatives was there: David and his wife, Sivvane. Ruby and her partner Aliyahu, Janna and Agam with her partner Nachum. Sivanne's daughter, Elinor with her husband Beni and kids Uri and Avinoam. Rotem, who had a swim race that day, could not come. In addition, Beni's parents Elisa and Eli were there, my high school girlfriend and more friends of the family.

And what about Great Grandma Estelle? Up until Wednesday before the Bar Mitzvah she wasn't sure she had the strength to make the Aliyah to Jerusalem. Ruby had contacted Grandma's favorite Taxi service and hired a van to take everyone together to the event. Everything was set to go and still Estelle was saying maybe. She got a good night's sleep on Wednesday and then, on Thursday morning she said YES. She put on her nice clothes and had a good breakfast. At 8:00 the taxi came to get Ruby and Aliyahu with Janna, Agam and Nachum and they all went to pick up Grandma and drove together for an hour and a half to Jerusalem.

The Bar Mitzvah was great. We had the area at the south west corner of the Wall all to ourselves. It is the area in the City of David, under Robinson's arch, which is where it is believed the money changers used to exchange the coins for pilgrims who wished to donate their 1/2 shekel to the Temple to make a sacrifice.

Rabbi Bendel, President of the Conservative Synagogue Movement in Israel, and a close friend of my Dad's, led our morning prayers. It was cool enough in the early morning. But as the service progressed some of us regressed to the shade of the archways, grateful that we were here and not on the main Wall Plaza where there is not an inch of shade in sight.

Mac looked so grown up. He wore a Kipah that belonged to his Great Grandpa, and namesake Mac, R.I.P, white with gold and silver lame' embroidery; a silk Talit, the classic kind, white with blue stripes on the ends only from Saba David and his Teflin came from Janna.

Mac did a really good job and made us all proud. His voice was strong and clear. He had worked hard for many months practicing his trope. He made us all very proud of him. I wish you all could have been there!

Nachum took about 100 pictures. I'll pick out a few to send first, which will follow as jpgs in a separate email.

We love you all!

Debbie
(Via e-mail.)