Shabbat Dinner with Special Friends

Friday night we were invited to have Shabbat dinner at the home of Judy and Stewart Telman, a wonderful Jewish couple who volunteer at the Jerusalem Center Sunday nights. Judy set a beautiful, formal table for 12 and does this every 3 months to thank the service couples for their efforts at the Jerusalem Center. When Judy and Stewart began attending concerts, they were so impressed that the concerts were offered for free that they felt the need to give back. Therefore, come rain or shine for the past 15 years, they come every Sunday night to greet people who come to the concerts. They have been married 62 years and Judy keeps a kosher kitchen because her father was a Jewish rabbi and that is her way of honoring him. The meal was wonderful and we spent a most delightful evening. It is custom to light candles in Jewish homes 18 minutes before sunset on Friday night. After a very busy week, this ushers in the Sabbath and brings not only illumination into our lives, a day of rest, tranquility, and peace, but allows us to give pause and be grateful for our bounteous blessings. What a wonderful, beautiful custom to observe at the end of each week! Blessing over the candles: Blessed are you, Lord, our God, king of the universe who has sanctified us with His commands and commanded us to light the lights of the Shabbat. Amen.

The table was set with a white cloth, napkins, and her best china. Judy blessed the wine and grape juice with a Jewish prayer: Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Blessed art thou, Lord our God, King of the Universe who has honored us through Thy commandments and taken delight in us. In love and favor, Thou hast given us the Holy Sabbath as a heritage, a reminder of Thy work of creation, recalling our liberation from Egypt. Thou hast chosen us from among the people and dist sanctify us by given us Thy Holy Sabbath as a joyous heritage. Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, who hallowest the Sabbath. After we toasted one another, she brought out the Jewish braided bread (baruch) which was blessed and passed to each of us. This was the beginning of the dinner in which many wonderful dishes were served.

Among the couples that we were us were Dave and Christine Heiner, the Dr. over the students at the center. Jeff and Joyce Smith were with us but Jeff decided he wouldn't drive the van so Dave obliged.

Judy served the most wonderful entrees. Dessert was lemon pie and a selection of different cookies. I can't imagine the time it took her to prepare this dinner, despite she wasn't feeling well. Everyone tried to get her to postpone the dinner to a later date but she was insistent. For a woman in her 80's, she is computer savy and prepared a welcome sign for us and a going home sign for Brent and Marybeth.

We enjoyed the beautiful art work in their home, the Capidemonte statue, and Judy's handiwork she had stitched. It was a wonderful way to end a very busy week. There is a saying that I love: FRIENDS ARE GOD'S WAY OF TAKING REALLY GOOD CARE OF US.