Californication

I have been helping out in the the religious education class for Kindergarten through second graders at a Unitarian Universalist church I drop into on occasion. I felt particularly giving and inspired one Sunday and agreed to help out once a month. Well, I thought it would only be for a few months but, lo and behold its almost been a year. Normally I sort of dread going because it interferes with my scheduled Sunday morning loafing but, I drag myself in anyway. 

This Sunday we (and by "we" I mean the head teacher. I only assist by keeping the peace and making sure no one gets glitter glue in their hair.) taught the kids about the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. Its not easy teaching a bunch of squirming and bored kids about a holiday that has nothing to do with them getting toys or candy. But this Sunday particularly rough. We had a group of 4 boys and only one girl. What is it about boys? They can't just sit still.  

So the head teacher had several children's books about Jewish holidays and some brought for explaining the traditions. She tried her best to explain to this rowdy bunch that Shavuot commemorates the time when God  handed down the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mt. Sinai and led them out of Egypt to Palestine. He promised the the land would be "flowing with milk and honey" (which, I guess was good if you like that sort of thing). Symbolic? Sure. Captivating? Not so much. 

Everyone perked up when the props came out, especially when we heard modern day Jews celebrate with cheesecake or other dairy products. Instead of the traditional cheese blintzes or authentic New York cheesecake, our fearless lead teacher brought in a not quite thawed cheesecake from Trader Joe's. OK. And to top it off....Redi-Whip. Hey! Its real dairy. It says so right on the can. She also brought honey (in bear form, of course) and honey flavored pretzels for the lactose intolerant of the group, milk instead of juice, and flavored mineral water (again.....lactose intolerance). It was just like any other celebration in the old neighborhood. 

The kids were happy. I was eating cheesecake for breakfast and no one had a melt down when their Playdoh tablets only had room for 4 out of 10 Commandments. All in all it was a successful class. Looking at the spread on the table I couldn't help but laugh. I definitely know I've found my promised land here in California. It is a land flowing with soy milk and 100% organic, fair trade, raw honey. Even better, I didn't have to cross the desert to get here.