Shabbat is out now so it is time again for the daily blog update!
Last night we walked home from Chabad House (1.9km in 24 mins) after a beautiful shule service and a huge meal with Rabbi Butman, his wife Mashie and his two cute children; Zalman and Mushka. It was something very different from what we have been experiencing in Cambodia. We only just managed to get to their home before Shabbat, as the bus got lost (the streets seem to numbered in an ad hoc fashion) and the rain poured down. As quickly as they could, the boys put on teffilin before all of the girls said the bracha over the candles. It was really nice to have everyone participating and Rabbi Butman and his family were very impressed with our knowledge and willingness to get involved. Chabad Phnom Penh is in the building that used to house the U.S. embassy so it was a particulrly impressive building - especially by Cambodia standards!!
After a well-earned sleep-in and a cake at breakfast to celebrate Steven's birthday, we were off to Chabad again for Shabat morning services and lunch, with the expected hot and humid walk through the city streets. Our students shared a new shabat experience but they were able to take part in all aspects of the day as Shabbat is a shared experience world-wide. The boys were called up to the torah and the girls had an opportunity to kiss the torah as it came around the shule. Braham even led the musaf service!
The Rabbi and his wife were very hospitable and both commented on the beautiful behaviour of our students and the joyous singing voices of our girls. The hot walk home did not really turn out as expected. By about 2pm, while were were still enjoying lunch, the skies opened up and a torrential downpour flooded the streets. Fortunately, by the time we left, the rain had eased and we only had to jump puddles and negotiate one flooded street on our walk back to the hotel. The rest of the day was spent relaxing in the hotel before our last magnificent Cambodian dinner courtesy of our chef Ken.
After dinner, we had tine for our final journal entry and an overall reflection session before we all needed to go and pack up our rooms. the girls are spending the evening socialising while the boys are watching the soccer with great interest! Our last day in Cambodia tomorrow, and our day is still jam packed with things to see and do.
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Dear team,
ReplyDeleteWe know that you are currently asleep on a Flight bound for Melbourne. We just wanted to tell you that we that we really enjoyed reading your daily diary. It was very interesting. One day we want to go to the market to buy things. What was the name of the street that got Flooded? It seemed to rain a lot.
From 1 Bet at FKI
The name of the street was NORODOM BOULEVARD in Phnom Penh. It goes along the front of the Royal Palace.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for following our blog. We loved keeping in touch with you.
see you in Melbourne
Adina, Braham and the Cambodia Team