Being that the Muqata is pro-aliyah, and being that for some reason he hasn't removed my publishing privileges, and being that I won't miss a chance to give a shout out to the Detroit Tigers, here goes.
Tonight I was able to watch the game even though it took place in Detroit on Shmini Atzeres, as most of my old Detroit community was getting ready for a second day of Yom Tov.
Back in August 2000, I was working in an ad agency, being swamped with Christmas season work. It didn't take long for me to change my feelings toward Christmas from "Oh, what pretty blinking lights" to if I see another word about Christmas I think I'm going to scream.
I suffered through three years in a row where Christmas began in August and ran through the second week of January, and decided that if I was going to be overexposed to holidays, it was going to be my holidays.
So we talked about Aliyah. It took some time, but eventually Veev decided she too was ready to make the move.
We planned it for a year.
Found a community. Filled out paperwork. Said a lot of prayers.
And then we moved.
This week we had a most incredible Succot, where we were surrounded by the holiday the entire week. Even before the holiday started, you couldn't run away from the holiday if you tried.
Etrogim for sale at work. Right across the way from a Succah stand. Then there were the Succah stands at every mall and shopping area. And decoration kiosks that sprang up everywhere.
We went to a national park to hike, and found a succah in the parking lot.
There was a succah at work, and at the restaurants we went to over the course of the week. And work had shorter days during the Chol HaMoed schedule.
And of course, one day instead of two.
Which brought us to tonight. Tonight I watched the Tigers beat the A's and earn their first trip to the World Series since I was 11. 22 years in a row of watching baseball, and finally, they earn a trip to the world series in the middle of a two day yom tov. But not for me. Because I got sick of Christmas back in 2000. And it led me to move here.
Too bad I have to go to work tomorrow (sunday) morning.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael
I feel the opposite way about Christmas- But exactly the same about today being the first day of "Acharey HaChagim"
ReplyDeleteGreat post! And congrats to the Tigers. :)
ReplyDeleteYou've been brain washed to think that Sunday is a day off, the real "day of rest". Here, you get the real day off: FRIDAY. I think it's a great trade off. No more worrying about working with your bosses to ensure that you get all you work done but still get home in time for Shabbat. No more struggling and balancing in order to make it home in time. No, you're in Jew Land now. You just get a day off in order to calmly and in a relazed manner get ready for the holy Shabbath. They can have Sunday. You still get to watch Sunday football since... IT'S PRIME TIME HERE. You're not missing a beat, brother!
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Air---I started to read this post and didn't get the title. It took me till you said "but eventually Veev decided..." and I was like, "HUH?" hee hee I had to go back up to the top to read it again. :)
ReplyDeleteWe too have really enjoyed the immersion of the chaggim into our lives (or is it that our lives are now immersed into the chaggim? hmmm...). anyway, great post!
Hey AirTime: First off -- feel free to blog here whenever you wish :) I don't think we have a clear editorial policy at the Muqata for remvoing guest contributors, so enjoy!
ReplyDeleteAnd nice post, even if I'm totally not a Tiger's fan...or fan of any baseball team...though Rusty Staub wasn't bad :) I remember going to a Yankees vs. Tigers game as a kid, and a paper airplane landed next to me thrown from the nosebleed seats. It read: "Tigers are Losers...except for Rusty."
Do I send this to the guy on ESPN.com who said, "I don't know anyone outside Detroit or St. Louis who is excited about the World Series?" Yasher Koach!
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