Yom Huledet Sameach! : A Happy Birthday with Two Ednas

Photos: Aleph Plus class; Linda, Edna, and Vivien; Linda, Edna B. and Hedva

I celebrated my 61st birthday in Israel with two Ednas and my friends in Aleph Plus. I'll write more about my adventures with Edna Barromi-Perlman in another post. Meanwhile here is a photo taken at lunch with her mother in an old-fashioned restaurant near the headquarters of the Hashomer Hatzair Kibbutz Movement (an important left-leaning zionist socialist organization) after Edna gave a fascinating presentation to the movement's archivists about the implications of choosing how to preserve and interpret childhood images in kibbutz photographs. Using images from one specific kibbutz, she focused on how children's lives were captured in historical photographs and how one particular archivist from this kibbutz has been documenting information that was left out of the historical record, especially regarding parents' ties to children, the role of women and inclusion of family members who moved off the kibbutz.

The second Edna, my ulpan teacher, prepared a very beautiful, heartfelt blessing for my birthday and taught us all the words to use to congratulate someone or to celebrate a special event. I brought two cakes--one chocolate and one halva--from a fantastic bakery in Jaffa. The class sang "Yom Huledet Sameach" (Happy Birthday) and we took some photos. Edna said I bring joy to the class because I am always smiling!  That is because I love Edna and Kita (class) Aleph Plus.  Here's a rough translation of the blessing, which you can see on the board in the group photo:

Dear Linda, Happy Birthday! We congratulate you on your birthday and wish you much happiness, good fortune, good health, success and joy. We hope to see you return to Israel. Yours in friendship, The students and teacher of Aleph Plus class, Gordon Ulpan, Tel Aviv.

After class Lew and I capped the celebration by sharing mussels in a curry-coconut broth at Goo Cha on Dizengoff. He bought me a beautiful small red hand made vase from the Eretz Yisrael museum gift shop. With phone calls from Mom, Judy, and Rachel and ecards from Gregory, Judy and Adele, the day could not have been better. Thanks to all for making my birthday so special!