Adam's Mishpucha

This is Adam's family. Front and center is his grandmother's sister Katka. She lives just outside of Tel Aviv. On the left is her partner, Natan. He did pilates while we were eating dinner.

Natan, Katka, me, Adam, and Katka's daughter Irit on the far right.

This is the meal Katka prepared: chicken shnitzel, mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach. It was identical in look, taste, and texture to countless meals prepared by Adam's grandmother Betka back in California.

The experience of having dinner with Adam's Israeli family was so incredible. First off, we felt like we were seeing the "real" Israel. Sitting in a modest dining room in Giv'at Sh'muel (a suburb of Tel Aviv) eating and drinking authentic food (not tourist food) and being with wonderful people who happened to be related by blood to Adam was just so amazing.

Watching Adam's eyes light up as we spoke about his family's past and present, I realized how important the "mishpacha" is to both of us. It's something we value tremendously.

Finally, speaking in Hebrew and acting as a semi-translator was thrilling and frustrating. It made me ever so grateful for my lessons with the world's best tutor, Ruth Rosenwald. It also made me realize my Hebrew really isn't as good as it could be. I need a lot of practice this year! Hebrew is an extremely difficult language, but it's beautiful and rich and lovely. It was awesome to attempt communicating with everyone at the dinner table.

More adventures will follow! Lots of love,

Jaclyn