Huda’s turning 3 and Lag B’omer - 4 May 

How old is your little girl?

You'd be forgiven for mistaking our sweet little Huda for a girl in the playground. With his dimpled cheeks and gorgeous blonde curls, it's not always easy to pick him as Rodal Boy #4... But all that changes next week when we will join together as a community to celebrate his coming-of-age, called an Opsherin (or Opshernish. Or in Hebrew - Chalaka) Whatever you call it, it involves an inaugural hair cutting of those blonde ringlets (yes there will be tears from his mama) and his donning of kippah and tzitzit for the first time. Not only does the transformation make him identifiable as a big boy, he'll be proudly, and visibly, a Jewish Boy.

This third birthday isn't just a kids birthday party. It's a milestone in Huda's life - where he steps out of babyhood and into his childhood - with his new skills of communication and understanding to engage with the world around him. And it's a milestone for his parents - a moment of gratitude that they made it through those early years where their little guy was fully, intensely, dependant on them; and a celebration of this next step: where his curiosity and perceptive nature is satiated with education. So as he steps into this new realm of learning and doing, we bring joy and fanfare to surround our son to remind him that life is something to celebrate! Torah and Mitzvot are something to joyously lean into. And Jewish community is the extended family that will be here to upflist you all the years of your life.

So join us on Monday as we lift up our Huda in joy and celebration and welcome him into the 'Big Kids' Club!

As if that isn't enough of a reason to celebrate, Monday night is also Lag B'Omer. The 33rd day of the counting of the Omer (between Passover and Shavuot) is a mystically significant, Kabbalistically rich day of happiness that is celebrated with outdoor events, bonfires and festivities (and smores. If that's your thing). It's always a beautiful evening of music around the bonfire, community and friendship.

Definitely a highlight in the Jewish calendar, and this year it'll be a big one! We can't wait to see you there (and enjoy a sneak peek of the new place while you're at it!)

Rabbi Yossi and Malki