2010/09/19 Dublin
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Sister

Never

Today was the Day of Atonement.
It was the first Day of Atonement since World War II that my mother didn’t fast.
My sister wanted her to fast, but I told my mother: “If you are going to listen to my sister, if you are going to fast you will never see me again.”


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11 comments Last_comment
Did you fast yourself?
said Mieke Dutoit 19/09/2010 00:35 • x
Atonement
When I was a little girl, summerholidays were spent on the beach in Knokke. Each day we gathered there with a rather large party. Day after day we rented chairs with the same lady for at least one month. Like all little girls I had my little shop where I sold paper flowers for shells. One day another party settled in the chairs next to us. They were openly Jewish. After a week not one word had been exchanged between the two parties, I had sensed though feelings of hostility. Amongst them , there was this young little, dreamy boy -about my age- with curls on his ears making sandcastles. I fancied him very much. I thought it was the time for atonement, time for peace. I slowly progressed him with some of my paper flowers - on a stick- as an offering, when suddenly one of the woman started to shout "watch out for the girl". I still don't know what went wrong. did they fear I wanted to sting him with the sticks, but in a reaction the boy started to cry, all the women of his party started to shout, the women of my party started to shout. Ugly words were being said. Allusions to the war were being made. A big fuss. I was deeply saddened, in tears, because my offering was completely refused. The next day, their party had disappeared from our part of the beach.
said Mieke Dutoit 19/09/2010 02:23 • x
tradition...kinda
Since I've turned it into a tradition to drop by and wish you a good day of atonement I'll do it now- a retrospective one. Hope u had a good one. I've tried to atone for my own sins but I'm afraid one day is not enough. Wish you a good year.
said Ilanit . 19/09/2010 10:11 (Updated 10:12) • x
Oh , this is to much sadness on a sundaymorning.
said josiane pollet 19/09/2010 10:16 • x
picture
What does the picture mean?
said h an 19/09/2010 11:59 • x
H An
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shofar
said Arnon Grunberg 19/09/2010 12:20 • x
I am curious too if you did fast.

The last 3 years I did. This year I didn't. Religion is just not my cup of tea.Your sister (in this post) reminds me of my boyfriends sister.
said hille l 19/09/2010 13:19 • x
@Mieke
Chased away by flowers.
Nice story.
said Bernard f 19/09/2010 15:18 • x
@ Bernard
I guess it ended all well twenty years later with a Jewish lover who cherished me genuinely, something I really needed.
said Mieke Dutoit 19/09/2010 17:26 (Updated 17:30) • x
Better to move slowly at such an age.
said Milan van Opmeer 19/09/2010 18:57 • x
Maybe sacrificing a sacrifice counts, too?
said Teresa I 19/09/2010 20:33 • x
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