Green counteracts red
There's a lot of red in this week's double parsha: the leprosy, the scars, the sacrifices to cure the leprosy, and...lots of other red things. Many people have commented recently that a Bloody Mary drink would be very fitting this week! And, while I appreciate the enthusiasm for my blog, that is not the direction that I wanted to go this week.
This past week, there was another dark day of Yom Hashoah when we took time to remember those who perished in the Holocaust. This coming Monday is Yom Hazikaron, when we remember the Israeli soldiers who sacrificed so much for the State of Israel. And, right after Yom Hazikaron, there is Yom Ha'atzmaut, the day that we celebrate Israel becoming a country!! I remember during my third year of university, when I studied at Hebrew University, asking my Israeli cousins about this. I said that I thought it was strange that these two days were side by side and I didn't get how you could go from a state of seriousness, mourning and sadness to happiness and joy. How do you counteract the red? They answered my question with another question: how can we celebrate our achievements without first acknowledging the sacrifices and obstacles that we had to overcome to get there? It is so true. Before celebrating the great achievements of present times, we must remember the past and how we got there.
This Yom Ha'atzmaut, some of us will get a chance to read the special haftarah for the day. Isaiah beautifully contrasts images of the fire that devours the sinners of Zion (33:14) to the purity of the rivers and streams of the golden Jerusalem (33:20-21).
I wish for all of us to find a way to remember the past and then transition to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut smoothly and in song. If you need a little help with the transition, perhaps a refreshing cocktail drink will help!
If you are fortunate enough to be in Israel, you can use this recipe:
1 part arak
1 1/2 part Eshkoliot juice drink
mix those together and add 3 sprigs of nana leaves to the pitcher. Leave the mixture in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Then serve with a lime wedge and enjoy!
If you live outside of Israel, you can use this adapted mojito recipe:
2 part rum
5 slices of lime
1 part lemonade
mix those together and add 3 sprigs of mint leaves to the pitcher. Leave the mixture in the fridge for at least hours. Then, serve with a lime wedge and enjoy!
This blog is also about green things in honoUr of my brother David who just received his Green Card! Mazal Tov, David!
No comments:
Post a Comment