Outdoor Shabbat

One of the nice traditions that our former synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel, had was to hold Shabbat services outdoors in the summer -- twice in July and twice in August. The services were on a grassy plaza below the front doors, and the rabbi would play the guitar, we'd bring a blanket and a picnic dinner and have the service and then eat (and usually get ice cream or cupcakes afterward). I'd been sorely missing that since we moved to D.C. at the end of 2013 (can it really be almost two years since we left Oregon?)

Our new synagogue, Rodef Shalom, is much bigger and more impersonal (although they do try hard to be friendly and welcoming), and this year they came up with the idea of holding outdoor Shabbat in "Bunny's Playground," a woodsy area near the building. I immediately signed Rachel and I up. The evening included dinner, a bouncy house and various games and started at 5:30, meaning that she and I could go but Drew couldn't make it except for the service.

I picked Rachel up from school a little early, but unfortunately not in enough time to go to the swim park and the service since she wanted to finish an art project at extended day at school. She got over her disappointment quickly, though, especially when I told her there'd be GAMES at synagogue. And indeed there were! She went straight to the bouncy house and the bouncy slide and through a tent that had been outfitted with water sprays so that everyone who went through it got a mist of cold water (I even went through, because it was a very hot day). Best thing there: ADULT BEVERAGES! There was a daiquiri and a margarita machine, and I ordered multiple margaritas (they came in small cups) and so by the time dinner was served, I had a pleasant buzz on.

Dinner was steak and chicken fajitas, and, amazingly, Rachel had a tortilla and some steak. Before the service could start, though, the skies opened up and it POURED. Poor Drew got wet walking from the train to his car, so he stopped home and changed before arriving at the service, which was held inside. It was a pretty raucous service -- one of the rabbis punched a beach ball into the audience during the closing song, and we took turns knocking it around (Rachel got to take it home for some reason, and it is sitting next to me in the office as I type this) -- and there were fudgsicles and ice cream sandwiches for dessert! What a fantastic time. I didn't even mind the rain.