Anyone who knows my dad or Scott's mom, knows that Judaism runs deep in their veins. From the die-hard Temple goer Sabba to the Cantor Nana, the girls have a love of their faith ingrained in them since before birth. Jenna must have gotten this gene in full force.
A while back, months maybe more now, Jenna asked to celebrate Shabbat at our house. (She had done so with Emmy and Sabba and it stuck-BIG TIME!) Now every Friday night we have our rituals, Jenna and honestly Maya know them all. We use the same tablecloth, eat nearly the same meal, and take part in the same ceremony each Friday night.
Recently, Jenna learned to say all of the Shabbat blessings-independently! This past Friday night, we invited Nana, Howard and Uncle Gary to join us. In atypical form, Jenna was not shy in front of an audience. She stood in her chair, Kippah adorned, and told us all as we started with the "prune juice/wine" she would say the blessings. And she did. She even chanted them-a little bit. She went from the Kiddush to the blessing for the candles and finally the Hamotzi. All said with near perfection and the mouths dropped. She and Maya requested to contribute to their Tzedakah boxes, tasted their "wine" and sampled the Challah.
We all enjoyed a tasty dinner and entertaining conversations. The meal was completed with "special treats" made by the girls-Torah and Star of David sugar cookies. Jenna managed to get in her weekly phone call with Emmy and Sabba to wish them Shabbat Shalom despite them being on Cape Cod.
Scott and I know as parents what elation we feel to see our children maturing into beautiful young girls and learning so much and impressing us each day, however, we beam with pride when they can show others just how amazingly incredible they are and that those people appreciate it and are proud just like us! :)
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