I've always spent at least one of the High Holidays at home with my family, attending services with our community, Kehila Chadasha, and when I wasn't at home, there was a warm and welcoming Jewish community for me (Thanks, Hillel!). I had known for awhile that this year was going to be different: I was likely to be abroad and far from anything familiar.
I decided to go to Finland before I began my trip in France and figured that if I couldn't be home or with other Jews, I should at least try to be with one of my best friends! So I planned my trip to Finland to include Rosh Hashannah, telling Leevi that we'd have to eat apples and honey to celebrate. I figured that apples and honey was the least-prosthelytizing and least-aggressive ritual that we could do together. Leevi was already hosting me for about a week and I didn't want to be too demanding, but Rosh Hashannah is important to me.
As Leevi and I figured out our plans, I realized that we would be spending Erev Rosh Hashanah with his friend Mikko, who I had never met. I was apprehensive because while I didn't want to give up on the little bit of Rosh Hashanah that I had, I really really didn't want to impose, especially because I find people who try to impose their religion on me (hello people handing out pamphlets in the street) quite unpleasant.
Leevi assured me that Mikko was really open and "into this kind of stuff" and after a long day of touring around Helsinki, Leevi and I met up with Mikko at a coffeeshop. We began discussing our evening plans. "What are we doing?" Mikko asked. "Uhh... we have to go buy apples and honey?" I ventured, continuing to explain that I wanted to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.
I know that I am the first Jew that Leevi has ever met (even though he's ALMOST named Levi! ahahaha) and I'm pretty sure that I'm Mikko's first Jew too. They immediately put me at ease, posing questions and offering me the opportunity to explain what Rosh Hashanah is, the symbolism of apples and honey and round bread, and what I personally love about Rosh Hashanah and Judaism.
Mikko knew that there was a Jewish community in Helsinki, and asked why I didn't chose to celebrate in a temple with them. Having done my homework, I knew that the community of Jews in Helsinki was Orthodox, and I didn't think it would be the best fit, I explained.
We set off to gather our materials and once back at Mikko's apartment, we began to get the table ready. I sliced apples, Leevi poured wine, and Mikko assembled the table (and brought his taxidermied crocodile, Tauno). Just as we turned out the lights, we noticed fireworks out the window! Mikko and Leevi proclaimed that it was in celebration of the Jewish New Year, but we soon learned that it was just Circus Finlandia.
They respectfully listened as I chanted the prayers for the candles and wine, and even learned the prayer for bread, which we then said all together. After the rituals, we enjoyed the apples and honey and I taught them to say "L'Shana Tovah Tikateivu". We finished our Rosh Hashanah dinner with smiles all around.
Fireworks from the window
Leevi, Mikko and I, with wine, honey, round bread, and apples :)
With Tauno!
So, kiitos, todah rabba, תדה רבה, thank you, to Leevi and Mikko for a Rosh Hashanah that I'll never forget!!
xoxo
Samantha
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