We went to the first of the two weddings last night and it was absolutely magnificent. It’s been a while since we’ve been emotionally moved by a wedding ceremony like we were last night. It was a very unusual wedding, in that the young couple chose a totally secular service, without a Rabbi. This service has no legal standing in Israel, so in order to get registered as married people in the Home Office, they had to do what many secular Israelis do: travel to Cyprus and get an official civil marriage held there. Last night was really the wedding party, along with their own unique, authentic ceremony which they came up with on their own. It was moving, emotional and very happy.
Then this morning, I could hardly drag myself out of bed (not that I had anything to drink, it was just the late bedtime). I had a wonderful refreshing surprise with my morning coffee though - the first rain of the year! Pouring rain, in fact, for about ten minutes, that made the air smell so good.
I couldn’t help but work out outdoors this afternoon, just to soak in more autumn smells and sights. Small puddles at places, strewn with gem-like colorful bougunvillia flowers; Dry leaves and twigs dancing in small circles along the paths; wonderful long white sea squill flowers. Everything serene and so perfect for this last Shabbat of this Jewish Year.
I will be posting pictures too! Don’t mind the poetic streak there, I still know the media 
I plan on a picture post that will sum up the month, in a few days.
on Sep 26th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
i know……it’s soooooo fantaastic to have some rain after such intense heat all summer…….
on Sep 27th, 2008 at 11:44 am
went to some great weddings lately and all i can say is that checks are out and presents in..
if my hosts cant afford my meal dont invite me.. happy to give presents without attending too.. not so happy to fund someone else’s sub average food..
liruns last blog post..haYoreh..
on Sep 27th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Funny, I was reading a column in Ha’aretz a week or two ago, about this very topic. They were saying how they got to the point where they come to the wedding, check out the menu and location, and only then decide on the check. I think it’s sad, how commercial the whole wedding thing has become.
on Sep 28th, 2008 at 10:59 am
you think that’s bad!……in arab weddings they keep a list of everyones names and how much money they gave you……then when you go to a wedding from their family you check to see how much they gave you before you decide how much you will give them!!!!!!!!!
melissa qubtis last blog post..living in the bible………..
on Sep 28th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I have to disagree with lirun, I think money is the best option. In our case, my financee and I have everything we need - we dont need another set of dinner plates or juice extractor - just deposit the cash in our bank accounts, we’ll make sure to get the right present for us.
on Sep 28th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
The thing with gifting money is that you calculate the amount by how much you think you cost them. For example, as a couple with two kids, we pay almost double than what we would have paid as just two people. If the wedding takes place in a very fancy place, you’re supposed to increase payment accordingly. Of course, you don’t always know just how much it cost them, and some couples make a “profit” from the wedding, while others, who spent too much on the catering or the DJ, can end up with a financial loss.
Personally, I think this whole thing is too weird. The bottom line is that we’re invited to a party where we’ll be forced to pay for a fancy dinner that we usually wouldn’t buy for ourselves. The winners are the caterers and all the rest of the service providers for weddings, as they get a lot of people dining over at their place with little advertising, plus it’s all pre-paid :p