We had a good Rosh Hashana, on balance. Friday night, after services, we went for dinner to the home of Abby (of While She Naps) and The Real Charlie. Charlie posted the wonderful menu they made for us. He says they've made the brisket together about a dozen times - we've probably enjoyed it with them most of those dozen times, and we never get tired of it - it is the best brisket ever. My mother has some theories about what the secret ingredient might be, but I will not offer them here, in case they are correct. The beautiful homemade challah was also a delightful treat.
On Saturday, we attended our morning services and then returned home with my dear friend L. to prepare lunch. I hadn't seen L. in too many months - our lives have seemed too turbulent for more than just email exchange now and then - so it was excellent to see her. Then we spent some time with David's family.
The religious component of the holiday, though, was not as fulfilling as the friends and family. We attended the same service I've attended nearly every year since before I knew David - the Worship & Study service at Harvard Hillel. We used to find it a moving and satisfying service, but it has long since lost its lustre. The people we admired - the two excellent cantors and the previous group of lay leaders - have moved on, as people will with time, and we don't relate as well to the new guard. Actually, I'm being a little kind and euphemistic. To tell the truth, we think the rabbi is an idiot. We left this year's services so frustrated and grouchy - in every way the opposite of the way we want to feel after Rosh Hashana services - that we are thinking of going somewhere else for Yom Kippur - we don't want to wait until next year.
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