Rachel and synagogue

Rachel continues to exhibit a deep feeling for Judaism that I can't understand where it came from. Yes, w.e light the Shabbat candles and say the prayers every week, and yes we play CDs with Jewish songs on them but that's about it. Somehow the act of going to synagogue is very meaningful to her even though we mostly go during the summer, when it's held outside, and for holidays (and not even always that).

While I was gone, Rachel told Drew that she wanted to go to synagogue. Somewhat surprised he agreed. But when he picked her up from school that day, she'd changed her mind. She wasn't wearing a fancy dress, she said, and so she didn't feel that she could go because she didn't want the rabbi to see her not wearing a nice dress.

(Keep in mind that our synagogue, while the biggest one in Portland and, for the most part, people dress nicely, still has its share of worshipers who wear jeans. Many kids, to my supreme irritation, wear shorts -- granted, mostly boys -- and the rabbi's 13-year-old daughters, when they're there, also wear jeans or denim skirts. The rabbi and his wife, who also serves as the cantor, always dress formally).

On Thursday, the day after I got back from Africa, I asked Rachel if she wanted to go to synagogue with me this week. She said yes, so on Friday we went. She ended up falling asleep in my lap, which was fine -- she looked so cute when she woke up, gave me a big smile and said, "Thanks, Mommy!" -- and one of the congregants, an older man named Bill who remembers Rachel when she was a baby and is about to become a grandfather himself, remarked that Rachel is so sweet and smart and added, "I'd love to have her (as a grandchild)." I told him he could be her honorary grandfather and he seemed pleased.

On the way home I thanked Rachel for accompanying me to services, and she remarked that she'd like to go every week. Even I don't go every week, of course, so I told her I'd take her once a month. And I note that every time I bring her, I always lug books, markers, crayons and paper with me just in case she gets restless. I've never had to bring them out because Rachel never seems to get bored. Remarkable.