My third Shabbat here.

Saturday, May 9, 2009
Rest at last

Today I'm not going to do anything demanding, except to catch up on my blog and to plan the remaining days here in Berlin. I have to confront my urge to go and to do. After spending all that money and energy getting here, can I afford to spend an entire day resting and blogging?? Having done so, and having caught up gives me a more comfortable feeling, even though I haven't actually rested.

Services this morning as usual. People now greet me practically as a regular. A fellow in the row behind me asked me if I know anything about the Berlin Jewish film festival that is supposed to be starting about now. I suggested that he look on the internet, as that is where I found out about it. In the course of conversation, mainly between aliyot, I learned that he is from Paris, and that he knows David Blumenthal. In fact, they spend many summers together in Switzerland. Small world.

While composing my blog in the breakfast area of the hotel, I chatted with the man who was watching the desk this afternoon. I asked him about the palace at Potsdam; he recommended that I also be sure to see the locale where the Potsdam Agreement (or Treaty) was signed after the War by Stalin, Churchill, and Truman. My father spoke about this on occasion.

The man said that it was a great loss to the world of art when the British bombed the city of Potsdam only 3 weeks before the surrender. The war was effectively won, and Potsdam had no strategic value. In addition some 4000 were killed in the bombing. One more sad story in a litany.

In the meantime he was leafing through a stack of papers and confirmed what he had told me in a small booklet. “Here is a booklet I wrote for visitors to Berlin; take this one in English.” “You wrote this?” I asked. He and his English-speaking wife wrote the booklet in German and English for tours that he gives. Apparently he has sold hundreds of thousands of these booklets. Reading through it, I'd say it's quite good. “it's my gift to you,” he said. If I think of it, maybe I'll have him autograph it.

So I have planned out my next three days, and determined when I must get on the airport bus on Wednesday. I'm planning Potsdam for Sunday, even though there is likely to be a bunch of tourists, but the palace is closed on Monday.

About the time I finished writing blogs, I got a call from Martin suggesting that we get together with Sascho and Regina on Sunday for lunch. I had already planned my schedule, and several things would not work out due to closing days if I changed the plan. I asked if we could meet instead for dinner at night. Martin is always very accommodating, and we will meet Sunday at 6:00; he'll call me if that doesn't work out with Sascho.

Tonight it's back to shul and seudat shlishi. They have a lively seudat. Everyone sings loudly and bangs on the table. It's an uplifting experience. There were several young (30 – 45) people there, including my acquaintance, David, from last night.

After havdalah, I suggested to a few people that we go drink beer together. Altogether 5 of us went to a nice location not far from the shul and not far from my pension -- a very nice garden cafe where we each drank 2 beers and I insisted on paying. Beer has a bifurcated effect on my language skills: I speak much more fluently and easily, but I forget words more readily. On balance, though, I think I do better with a beer or two.

Tonight's society was exactly the kind of experience that I had hoped to engender since I got here. Unfortunately, it takes about 2 ½ weeks to establish the relationships that allow such a get-together.

It's 1:00 AM, and tomorrow I hope to get on the train at about 8:30 or 9:00 to go to Potsdam. Good night.