Here’s to Snow and Pancakes!
We woke up this morning to a Jerusalem covered in snow.
Because it is so rare, snow in Israel becomes sort of an impromptu holiday. Nothing- literally nothing is open. The country is shut down in the name of going out to play. The mayor of Jerusalem hosts a snowman building competition. I heard a lady wish her friend “Chag Hasheleg Sameach!” which means, “Happy Snow Holiday!”
In honor of the Snow Holiday, Chana and I went to our friends Udi and Shira for a pancake breakfast.
I want to put that into perspective: Jerusalem. Snow. Pancakes. Three true windows into spiritual realms, together at once. Talk about a holy trinity.
In the deepest way, Jerusalem manifests the holiness of Place. Snow most deeply manifests the holiness of Weather. And pancakes most deeply manifest the holiness of Frying. If this isn’t redemption, I don’t know what is.
Some experiences are of an ecstasy so powerful, that they can only be understood in metaphors.
The honest truth is that having pancakes in a snowy Jerusalem was not of an ecstasy so powerful as to only be understood in metaphors…but we had a great time. After eating, we tumbled down to Gan Sacher, the biggest park in the city, and ran, slipped, sled, fell, got wet and happily froze along with the rest of the city.
From time to time, I look at our cat, Seamus, and get jealous. He just sits at home, curled up all day, sleeping, watching, bumming, without a single worry in the world. I’ve yet to actually switch him with me, placing him in my chair at the computer and curling up in his place on our bed, but the thought has occurred to me at least once.
But eating snowy Jerusalem pancakes (I coined that term in an epiphany of literary genius) is one of those things that reminds me how much fun it is to be a human. As humans, we get to enjoy untouched Divine perfection- snow- in the place with the most potential for touched Divine perfection- Jerusalem- while eating pancakes, which no doubt represent what human beings are capable of, when they put their minds and hearts and souls together towards a purpose.
Snowy Jerusalem Pancakes. What a day! What a world!
Happy Snow Holiday!
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January 31st, 2008 at 5:01 am
Hi Yannai,
Susan set me up with this and I enjoyed reading the last 2 posts (is that what you call them). You write so appreciatively of the small things that pass most of us by most of the time. We seem to be so busy with what the media bring to our attention that we forget to pay attention to and enjoy what is right before us. Thank you.
Wendy
January 31st, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Hi Wendy!
Thanks for the comment and the feedback.
I find small, everyday things to be the most exciting and most of the time, much more consequential than all the big stuff about which the media writes.
Great to hear from you!
Yannai