Circumcisions

"What a DICK!" I shouted at the driver in front of me, as if he could hear me, who was backing up and not seeing a car (us) behind him. My friend honked just in time. We were driving to the Crown Plaza Hotel for a co-worker's son's brit (circumcision ceremony). Some ceremonies are simple affairs, as it was when my son was born. I had it at my house. But this chick's got bucks. Her dad owns the company that builds all the roads in and around Jerusalem. It wasn't always this way. He immigrated from Iran years ago and as a kid sold matches on the street, much like young Arab kids do these days.

Before the ceremony, everyone milled around outside the ballroom eating h'ors doeurves. My boss noticed me just sticking to the veggies.

"Is that all your eating? Are you just eating grass?"

I wanted to tell him - you don't EAT grass - but need my job - still.

After about an hour the ceremony started. My friend told me that at the time the circumcision is done, that is when you can pray for whatever you want. I stood pretty close to the "event" and when the baby started crying, I prayed for everything, for health, for an end to financial struggle, for my kids to turn out ok, for them to marry decent human beings, for peace in this country, for this and for that. I think God got dizzy from all my requests. I certainly felt out of breath. I was so overwhelmed by everything I felt tears running down my cheeks.

My friends looked at me.

"I always cry at weddings and circumcisions" I explained.

I sat next to my ex-pat British friend. We are about the same age.

"Look at all the preggers here" I said to her.

"At least they're contributing to the country. Unfortunately, I never was able to contribute anything to our country."

"Oh, but look at the mess I made of the State of Israel with my kids! That's some contribution there, don't you think?" I said - thinking of all the money the State has to spend on rehabilitating my ex-Criminal daughter and many others like her.

Meanwhile the grandfather was wrapped up in his prayer shawl dishing out blessings to any guest that needed blessings. It was touching to watch, and I'm sorry I didn't bring along my camera to capture it.

I looked at the beautiful, young mother of the newborn son and remarked how beautiful her eye makeup was.

"I used to be able to put on eye makeup like that, but somehow it just doesn't quite make it."

My English pal answered - "That's because you can't see what you're doing any more."

Yup. What a drag it is getting old..