“Sha-sha-shavua tov! Sha-sha-shavua tov!”. I listen to the sounds and see the happy jumping of smiling faces still in shabbat clothes.
I watch this magnificent post-shabbaton scene on my phone. sha sha shavua tov The incredible video doesn’t even do the scene justice, the shabbaton experience was too great to simply capture on a camera. It brings me joy to look as my Hungarian friends sing the songs they were taught soon before the video was taken. They were so brave, joining into a song they (at first) did not know. Being able to embrace all the songs we taught them even without knowing the words, definitely deserves praise. They truly allowed the shabbaton to be greater, filled with more learning, more teaching, and more energy.
Having been home for about 5 days, I cherish the pictures and videos even more, making my memories more vivid, bringing me more joy. But, even though the trip was so amazing, I worry. Were we good enough? Did we teach enough? Did we inspire enough? Did we learn enough?
I imagine all the Hungarian kids having a shabbaton right now without us, even though I know that it is not the case. But if it were to happen, what songs would they sing? I hope some of the ones we sang together. Did they remember most of them? I know it wouldn’t be the same. It would for sure be different, but different can be good. I know them well enough now, their strength, energy, determination and passion to know they could never fail to make an experience a success. So, yes, I think we were good enough, we taught enough, we inspired enough, we learned enough, mostly because our Hungarian friends were as amazing as they were.
