The first graders were "leading" Friday night services last night and then there was going to be a potluck complete with ice cream sundaes for the first grade class. David was uninterested in services, terrified of standing before the entire congregation, excited about sundaes, and amazed Daddy was coming too.

John and I decided we really were only going to get David there if John came. I happen to like sharing other people's religious services and I like an evening devoted to finding calm and being grateful, but the amount of Hebrew, even at our Reform service, makes services onerous for someone not raised in the tradition, and I just want to give my honey props for his good attitude.

David didn't have a good attitude. He didn't have a bad attitude. At the last minute, as I panicked about keeping David non disruptive for an hour long service, I remembered the rabbi has said no electronics but reading or other quiet activities were welcome. Her point was just coming let the service seep into your skin. So, I suggested David bring his knitting. He decided to also bring his math book, and he did math problems and a little knitting the entire time. John nudged him when it was time to stand. David didn't focus on a word that was being said, but he wouldn't have otherwise.

I had warned him ahead of time that he had to pay attention to the Sh'ma. At which point he said, the Sh'ma, what's that? I don't buy it. He's been saying the Sh'ma for three years now. (For my non-Jewish readers, the Sh'ma is a two sentence Hebrew prayer--Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One--the meaning doesn't seem particularly significant to me, but it is THE prayer.) And sure enough, the first graders were called to the bima (stage) to lead the Sh'ma. David went. Even though he's terrified of being in front of large groups and looked like a deer in headlights, he sang.

We ate dinner beforehand and had been planning to head straight for the ice cream sundaes, but the evening moved a bit slower than that. We did some schmoozing and managed to get our ice cream and get home just a half an hour late.

Rose by the way had a wonderful time. She knows all the prayers, all the songs, and it is lovely to sit with her.