Vacationing with the amcha

February 16, 2010 - 10:00 AM by

Part of the crowd, in matching t-shirts, on a hike in the region

Went to the Dead Sea this weekend en famille — yes, with all the siblings and nieces and nephews — for my mother’s birthday, a significant one. We spent two days at the Fattal Golden Tulip, and as it had been some time since I’d spent the weekend at an Israeli hotel, was vastly amused by the variety of activities that make up Shabbat when you’re spending it with fellow Israelis.

First, there was just the sheer mix of people, or amcha, loosely translated as ‘your fellow citizens.’ There was the gamut of religious and secular types, lots of Russian Israelis — who I feel are very skilled at doing the rounds of the whole Dead Sea dipping-sauna-steam room-Jacuzzi thing — many Druze families and, of course, German tourists (they get significant discounts from the German government to spend time at the mineral-rich Dead Sea and take care of their psoriasis).

In that situation, Shabbat takes on a slightly different cast, as you can’t help but be affected by what’s going on around you. My feeling is you need to just go with it, while attempting to create your own atmosphere.

So, we enjoyed doing our own Shabbat services as a family, but poked our heads into the ‘Ritch Ratch’ lounge, where two singers performed Shabbat medleys, a la kindergarden favorites, on Friday night after dinner. And then there was the optional Shabbat lunch by the pool, where, accompanied by INCREDIBLY LOUD music, one could be served a menu of cholent, kishka and ptitim. For those of us who are more accustomed to eating our cholent in a Shabbat-like setting at home after shul, it’s an ironic turn of events.

I’m sure our fellow hotel guests were also amused by us, a group of 22 ‘Anglos’, wearing matching turquoise tee-shirts that said “Dorothy’s 80th birthday weekend” (and on the back, “I’m not 80, I’m 29 with 51 years of experience.”)

But we all got along fine, because, hey, who’s not happy to be hanging out by the pool and being fed at regular intervals? Happy birthday, Mom.

Tags: , , , , , , , • Category: coexistence, Food, General, History and Culture, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life, Travel 

Comments

2 Comments on Vacationing with the amcha

  1. Brian Temecula on Wed, Feb 17th 2010 7:15 PM

    2. I’m glad you had a good time. The Dead Sea sounds very interesting. I had never heard that people soak in it for psoriasis relief. Perhaps the Dead Sea will be on my list of places to go when I finally get to go to Israel.

  2. Jessica on Sun, Feb 21st 2010 12:12 PM

    3. Thanks. Yes, it has to do with the minerals in the Dead Sea waters and air, which are great for helping all kinds of skin ailments. Feels good, too.

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