Oseh Shalom

Not much happening today. Met some nice people and learned a lot about living in Costa Rica. Found out there is a Reform Synagogue here in San Jose and made arrangements to go to service tonight. This involved sending information to the representative including copies of our passports and information about where we go to shul and name of our rabbi.

At the appointed hour we got a cab and headed over to the shul. Now you need to know there are no street addresses here, only directions. I had the information about the corner and what the building looked like. The gal who wrote to me included a paragraph in Spanish to show to whomever was driving us over. I showed my phone to the cab driver and he said he knew the place and got us there.

Outside were two security guards. We climbed up steps to the heavy steel door where a guy with a clipboard had our names on a sheet. He also had the copies of our passports and checked our pictures. We felt really safe once we got inside. Several people introduced themselves and the rabbi came over to greet us. He asked me to join the women lighting a tray of votive candles and then asked me if I would light the Shabbat candles. I was so honored. The service that followed was amazing and the most enjoyable service we have been to - maybe ever!

There was wonderful music with the rabbi leading the singing with a terrific voice and loads of ruach. A keyboard player accompanied and kept up the tempo. We sang familiar songs in Hebrew (Yedi Nefesh) and chanted the prayers. The congregation is reform and they have a prayer book that is trilingual, Hebrew, Spanish and English. Many of the congregants are formerly from the US and Canada. We had so much fun and found the service so meaningful. The rabbi gave his sermon in Spanish and a guy came around with English translations that were given to those of us that needed them.

There was a small group visiting from San Jose, California. It was four students who were recently confirmed with two chaperones. We enjoyed talking with them and they all spoke a bit of Spanish. I have never been part of such a friendly group of people. We all hugged and held hands as we sang Shalom Aleichem. We sang Debbie Friedman's Misheberach and were able to say the names of those who need special prayers for healing. The entire congregation wished us a Shabbat Shalom with hugs and kisses, even from the teenage boys. A very special evening.

In the small world category, we met a man who grew up in Nashville. His rabbi was Ken Kanter who is now our rabbi at Oseh Shalom several months each year. Afterwards a couple drove us to a nearby place to get a light dinner and then we took an Uber back to the hotel.