Rabbits, Kiddush Cups, Findings

Every Shabbat dinner we set out the kiddish cups at each place. Each kiddush cup has a story to tell. The oldest kiddush cup is silver with elat stone around the top circled with a Yeminite filigree pattern. Seymour brought this back from Israel probably in 1959. This was his first trip to Israel. He traveled with Murray Epstein, met up with Jay Liveson, and dated a girl named Dani, and had a friend somewhere in Bersheeva, that he sent me to visit and who I never found One of Seymour's favorite movies, now on video, was Where are You Daniel Waks? about a reunion of high school friends. Always the romantic , Seymour thought I would find this guy and get them both in touch with each other. After a fruitless search of the housing projects in Beer Sheva I realized that this was not going to happen. In stead I came home to connect with Seymour and get married a few months later.

There is a glass kiddush cup that Alissa brought home from one of her trips to Israel, it graces our Seder table at Passover. A set of 6 small silver cups was added after a find in an antique store. Some how I have my brother Rob's kiddush cup from his Bar Mitzvah, probably sent by Dad after my mother died. Silver baby cups were enlisted in Kiddush cup service.

Each Friday, as I bring out the kiddush cups I try to remember its story. One year I bought kiddush cups for Judah and Benji and had their names engraved upon it. Identical cups, so there would no jealousy. Benjamin Gideoni and Judah Daniel in hebrew. As I place the cups at the table, I rub them with a soft cloth to bring out the shine. I close my eyes as Benjamin recites the kiddush and see Judah standing there with his voice lowered, his Israeli accent, and his face as he chanted the blessings. Benji is the melodic one in this family, would try to keep the rest of us on tune, pitch and beat. The best I can say is we tried.

Judah loved to take walks in the Gardens at the City of Hope. He enjoyed the cavorting of the squirrels and loved to watch the rabbits forage for food. One day soon after Judah passed, a rabbit graced our front porch. It has always been a symbol of Judah for me. Today, after daily minyan, I saw the rabbit grazing under the bushes on the front lawn. I just cried. I feel Judah's spirit all around.

In fact, in getting prepared for a trip to Israel next week, I found a book in our library called the Holy Land, a page folded in half stuck out. It was a note from Judah

Happy Birthsday Mom,
This is a just to give you a little incentive to come visit during the year. It seemed the most informative of the what's available today. Enjoy it.
Love Judah,

your son wiszth the Israelian accent
So very Judah

P.S. The blogger has an anonymous button, but it also has a place to put your name. Its comforting to know who has written. If you just want to put your initials that would be wonderful too.
M