The week that was

March 19, 2010 - 4:37 PM by

Sometimes you can be lucky enough to have a week consisting of individual events that add up to something monumental – and if you’re even luckier, you may just realize it.

When you’re in the midst of it though, it can seem like running from from one event or task to another. But when you lay it out in print and read it through, you can then be struck by the thought that, yeah, this week was a keeper.

Sde Boker IDF ceremony.

And if you’re fortunate enough to be able to sit back a few decades from now with enough faculties to recall what you did with your life, this is the kind of week that you can look back and smile at, and realize just how fortunate you were.

Let’s start on Saturday night, when my buddy Alan organized a ‘Songs of Freedom and Liberation’ night at our Conservative shul, in the spirit of the hootenanies of the ’60s. Among the highlights for me were getting to sing Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom” backed by Harvey Brooks on electric bass guitar. Harvey’s a rock & roll hall of famer who recently made aliya from the US, and as I told the crowd, he may have played with Hendrix, Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills, but he had never played with anyone of the caliber of the folks gathered on our stage.

The other highlight was getting to play with my son Koby, who lit up the finale of the evening – Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” with an explosive guitar solo. I was proud beyond words.

That pride carried over into Monday night, when Koby’s own band performed at a battle of the bands in Jerusalem to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation which helps cancer-stricken children realize their dreams. With American Idol-style judges including gifted rock pianist Shlomi Shaban, Koby’s band was awarded 3rd place, and the parental pride rose even higher.

On Wednesday, it was a three hours to and from Sde Boker in the Negev for the swearing in ceremony of my daughter’s army unit upon completion of their basic training. Against a stunning desert backdrop, she and her comrades were awarded their rifles and their own Tanach in a moving ceremony that was followed by a rendition of ‘Hatikva.’

Third graders do Pessah.

There was another version of ‘Hatikva’ sung on Friday morning, at the pre-Pessah show put on by my son’s third grade class. Chronicling the Exodus from Egypt in a modern TV news approach, the show was dedicated to captive soldier Gilad Schalit, who’s about to spend his third Seder in Hamas captivity.

Singing ‘Hatikva’ the second time was just as emotional as at the army ceremony. Even though I’ve lived here for a quarter century, it’s only recently that the anthem has struck resonance with me, and during both renditions this week, I silently said thanks that I was raising my children in Israel.

In between all those activities, I actually found time to work a little – including sitting down for an hour interview with Natan Sharansky, the chairman of the Jewish Agency and the celebrated former Prisoner of Zion. And I even got some quality New York Times crossword puzzle time in with my beloved wife, and even, even to to do a little Pessah cleaning.

Just another week in Israel? Or my ‘best’ week? Either way, I’m lucky I can step back for a second and appreciate it.

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