California day 6

August 6

Today was the Sabbath and we wanted to spend it in a synagogue, as we have most of the previous Sabbaths of this round-the-world trip. Among the Conservative synagogues in Los Angeles I found on the Internet, the one that caught my attention was Temple Beth Am. I thought from its location that there might be a remote chance I might meet someone I knew from the first time I was in LA, 40 years ago, when I attended Brandeis Camp Institute in July 1971. This synagogue has a brand new cantor, named Magda Fishman. I saw on the Internet that Friday night services were standing room only for her premiere appearance in this new role, so I actually called on Thursday to see if we would be able to pray there this Shabbat morning. I was assured we would be welcome and there would be room for us.

We arrived early enough to be able to use the parking lot. The guard there pointed to a spot he wanted me to park in; then he told me I needed to leave my key in the ignition. I had a hard time bringing myself to comply with this. We've been so careful about safeguarding our own possessions that I hesitated long enough to offend the guard with my obvious hesitation. I apologized to him and did as he requested.

Razelle had gone in ahead of me and it took me a few moments to find her in the large sanctuary, it was already so full of worshippers. The rounded architecture of the sanctuary made it possible for us, in our seats at the extreme left, to hear people turning pages in their seats at the far right, yet a microphone was needed for all of us to hear the people at the podium. Services were conducted with lots of singing and even table thumping. This was a little over the top for Razelle and me at first, but the spirit was contagious and we caught it soon enough, ourselves.

During the Torah service I once again had the chance to rise and state my mother's and sister's names for the prayer for healing of the sick. I never miss the opportunity to do this wherever I am in the world, whenever possible.

Magda, the new cantor, gave her first speech ever to the congregation. I detected patterns of Hebrew in her English discourse and knew she must have come from Israel sometime in the past. She sang us a moving song composed and sung by Naomi Shemer from Israel. I recognized it and was very moved by how much Magda sounded like Naomi. Magda then asked the congregation who among us knew the song. A smattering of us raised our hands. Magda scanned the entire crowd of faces and saw my raised hand. Of all the congregants in the room, she fixed her eyes on me and asked, "I'm curious to know how it is you know this song." I answered clearly, "I am from Israel." She smiled and answered, "So am I. I'm from Israel, too." I was truly affected by this exchange with her. I had traveled more than halfway around the world to be here at that moment, just to be singled out in this sea of faces by this woman with such a moving voice. I sensed that I was meant to be in this synagogue at this moment.

After services Razelle had the opportunity to speak with Magda, but I missed it, somehow. We ate lunch in the social hall, but mindful of the time and our commitment to Franklin and Sharon, we had to leave without introducing ourselves to the rabbis and important congregation members. We went to our van and drove off the lot. Razelle had expressed a particular interest in seeing the La Brea Tar Pits. They were very nearby so I drove her over there. I stayed in the van in a no stopping zone while she went through the gates with her camera and took pictures; then someone offered to take her picture with her own camera. Razelle quipped, "You will be taking a picture of a fossil (herself), against a background of fossils (the mammoth sculptures), with a fossil (her film-loaded camera)." Her volunteer photographer found this amusing.

We drove to Glendale next through less privileged neighborhoods of LA than those we'd seen before. We reached the Glendale Center Theatre to find Franklin and Sharon. I dropped Razelle off and had to drive two more blocks to find a parking garage with high enough clearance to accommodate the 7'6'' high van. I was worried about mine being only one of three vehicles in the entire garage. The voice in the intercom at the entrance gate told me I could park there without worries; I just had to insert 3 dollars into a vending machine that dispensed tokens for the exit gate.

We took our seats in the "theatre in the round" to watch a production of the musical "1776." This was so incredibly well performed and so incredibly relevant to today's politics. But, moreover, seeing how the concept of US independence was formulated and ushered along through congress with the enthusiastic support of some delegates and against the strong reservations of other delegates gave us an appreciation of how the country we are about to visit so extensively over the next ten weeks came into being (and almost didn't).

We left with Franklin and Sharon to find a restaurant with the catchy name "Two Guys from Italy." Sharon and Razelle went in and Franklin drove me back to get my van out of its parking garage. I followed him back and parked it near the restaurant. By the time I entered the restaurant, Franklin had already told Razelle that I'd been involved in an accident. I hadn't, but considering the problems with the steering, Razelle could imagine that this was entirely possible and was very relieved to see me (and not amused that Franklin had done this to her).

I had a bowl of spaghetti with a wonderful meatless tomato sauce. Razelle had eggplant lasagna. We talked at length with Franklin about his recent important appointment as youth director with his synagogue. He is so fortunate to have such a job where he is appreciated and which he is so enthusiastic about doing.

I set my GPS for Sharon and Franklin's house in Riverside. Sharon gave me her house key and we drove there while they drove to Sharon's parents' house to pick up their daughter Maayan. They named their daughter Maayan because they liked the sound of that name after hearing us pronounce our daughter Maayan's name. We have this affinity with Franklin and Sharon over the names of our respective daughters.

I had hoped that driving to Riverside in the dark would be easy, but the steering required intense vigilance, especially after dark with so many headlights blinding me from behind, so many lanes across in my rear- and side-view mirrors. I found it tiring to drive this way and by the time we reached their address I was grateful that I was done driving for the night.

I was not able to stay awake once we were inside, but, again, Razelle insisted I help her with the email that I wasn't able to help her with the previous night. Sharon heard what Razelle wanted from me and offered to help Razelle instead. I was sent to bed and was glad I could lay my head on a pillow and close my eyes. Sleep overcame me quickly.