O Come Ye, O Come Ye
And just like that, our family is forced to move from grief to joy. One day after burying my uncle, z”l, the children and I were en route to Bethlehem. No, not that Bethlehem. Bethlehem, PA. (FTR, had I actually meant the Palestinian city, I would have referred to it by its Biblical name of בֵּית לֶחֶם — Beit Lekhem — rather than by the Anglicized version.)
Founded as a Moravian mission on Christmas eve in 1741, Bethlehem, PA was an industrial center during the Industrial Revolution. And it will serve as the site for the seudat mitzvah for my brother, Ace, and his kallah on the first day of the upcoming new week — i.e. this Sunday. (The chuppah, made forty-three years ago by my grandmother, z”l for the wedding of our parents, will be raised at their shul in Allentown.)
The fellas are out carousing. Poppyseed wanted to know what they were doing. Much to the consternation of those within earshot, I responded, “not much. Just going out to drink, play cards, and see naked girls.”
Ma-ma! Be serious!
It really does sound ridiculous, doesn’t it?
Frume Sarah is Shabbos-observant -- in a Reform way, that is. Please note that from Friday afternoons until one hour after sundown on Saturday evenings, Frume Sarah will be unavailable, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
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Thank you for your understanding...and gut Shabbos!!! 
Frume Sarah's World 
Mazel tov to Ace, the bride, and the rest of the folks in your world. If you get as far east as Easton, wave to that college on the hill for me.
I sent your regards 😉
Just finished Memoirs of a Sex Slave. Don’t get me started.
Have a wonderful time! And big mazel tov to Ace. xo.
Yeah…I must admit I don’t get it.
The בעלת הבלוג, Frume Sarah, wrote:
(FTR, had I actually meant the Palestinian city, I would have referred to it by its Biblical name of בֵּית לֶחֶם — Beit Lekhem — rather than by the Anglicized version.)
Well, if you’re going to refer to the city as Beit Lechem, I would hope that you wouldn’t refer to it as “Palestinian” – a label that is a lie, in and of itself; and IMHO, a more egregious violation than calling the city itself “Bethlehem”.
Israeli hasbara: changing minds and winning hearts, one incorrect label at a time. :o)
More importantly – !!!מזל טוב
I don’t know if I would have told my six year old daughter about the naked girls part – (it might confuse her with the concept of modesty that we have taught her until now) – but I admire your straightforward parenting style. Children are more capable of understanding the real world than many other adults give them credit for.
So here’s the thing — I don’t like it when the International Community decides that Jerusalem isn’t the capital of Israel. When the lines were most recently redrawn, בֵּית לֶחֶם — Beit Lekhem is in fact under the control of the Palestinian Authority. Whether or not one agrees with that. May not like it…but it is the reality.
I suppose that there are times when I might be wise to censor…but I felt fairly confident that whatever Poppyseed’s reaction was, it could be a teachable moment.
Thanks for the sentiments of mazal!!!
I can neither confirm nor deny the part about the so-called “naked girls.”
–Best Man
Actually, JockBro, you can. You just won’t.
True that!
It always amazes how life can swing between two extremes like grief and joy so quickly. May you have more laughter than tears….
Amen.