Yontif, Part 4 and (for now) final

[debka_notion]

Yontif part 4, aka Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, was much, much nicer than anticipated. (Now I can anticipate a case of Oh-My-Goodness-Shabbos-Again instead.) I'd been getting rather fed up with JTS for long davenings (although Hoshanah Rabbah was quite nice, and the following baby naming was lovely and heartfelt, and conducted by the parents themselves, and involved a seriously adorable baby), so I was at JTS only for a few of the shorter services. Otherwise, I was at another relatively local Conservative shul, which was quite nice- I should get there more often and get to know the place a little better, a few times to very nice personal effect, and this morning at the minyan affectionately (I think) referred to by jakal88 as the congregation of the rabbi's closet. The last was both delightfully homey and comfortable (no one gave me funny looks for coming up with various short patterns of dance steps and using them, because I was bored with walking and mayim steps, and people talk to me at kiddush etc) and frustrating (serious, serious lack of a minyan for a long time. I arrived almost 30 minutes late, and they hadn't started yet.).

Meals were also much nicer than expected. I had some classmates over for dinner the first night, and fed them mostly leftovers, because I was lazy- but we still had a really good time (or at least I did, and they seemed to). Then I had lunch at the home of some folks who've invited me a few times, but always when I had other plans. It was an odd crowd, but quite pleasant over all- and I met some nice folks who also bop between Conservative and Orthodox shuls, and are even *gasp* over 40 and still find that acceptable behavior. On the other hand, someone there mistook me, briefly, for being married to another guy at the meal- one whom I tend to perceive as coming across like he's in high school still. Luckily, I mentioned jakal88 enough that her perception was broken pretty quickly- i.e. I only heard about it after the fact, rather than as a question or continued presumption. Simchat Torah meals were with variations on the usual crowd, and I at least enjoyed their company, and the food, etc, etc.

Now than yontif is over, I can start thinking about scheduling that mad-lib and word-game party- but it won't be for a while, while I recover from all the meals, get caught up on homework, etc. (Also, there's still Shabbos in a couple of days...)

Comments

[jonahrank.livejournal.com]

Interestingly enough, Simchat Torah services at JTS were relatively short davenings compared to many of the other local options opted by the CJ crowd of the UWS.