5 February 2017 (Continued)

Friday was a very busy day.  We started with physical therapy, a six block walk towards Columbus Circle at 59th Street (Trump Hotel and Tower is located here) - 60th Street and Broadway.  After returning with a quick stop at our apartment, we spent the day at the FHC preparing microfilms from the past month that were due to return to Salt Lake City.  It was really slow and our entire shift was spent in doing the microfilms.

Just as we were ready to go home, the Frenchman that Diane has been working with who has now transferred his PAF files to RootsMagic came into the Center.  She is the only one who knows Roots Magic and what they have been working together, so she worked with him all afternoon.  He doesn't speak English, and so it was a very stressful and tiring afternoon.  While she was working with him, I continued what she had started in taking photos of the microfilm drawers so we can start to send back microfilm to make room for a remodel to use that small room for microfilm readers and computer and scanner.  We have been taking the equipment from that room on carts to an adjoining room used as the nursery on Sundays as the microfilm reading room.... in on Tuesdays and back on Saturdays.

As we had been invited by Susan and Mark Dransfield, Public Relations Missionaries who work with the interfaith and United Nations here in New York to BJ Synagog on 88th Street, we took off our name badges and met in the lobby of our apartment building to go together.

Elder Mumford, Sister Mumford, Elder Dransfield, Elder Adams, Sister Adams at entrance of BJ Synagog

BJ Jewish Synagog Interior - Torah is behind the Central Doors

Golden and Elder Martinez (behind me) getting ready for the Shabbat Service

Shabbat was in Hebrew with the Cantor singing. The message that action was required (take a stand). "We will Always Stand for Peace." It is really apparent everywhere we go in New York City that there is a feeling of confusion and anger as to how we our current President of the United States could have been elected. We even see a feeling of fear. In the program, the cantor acknowledged welcome to "Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in conjunction with American Jewish Committee (AJC), New York, New York.  The Altmann's who have become close friends of the Dransfields are with the AJC and invited us to their home for a reception of sorts after the service.

On entering the home, the men were given the little cap to cover the head, just as we had worn at the Shabbat service.

The Altmann's allowed us to learn how Shabbat is celebrated.  It is customary for the woman of the house to light candles which welcomes the Shabbat Queen into their homes.  The smoke of the candles are wafted toward the woman moving her hands over the flames as if to bring the light toward her three times.  She then covered her eyes as she recited the blessing. This symbolizes drawing in and embracing the holiness and spirit of Shabbat, the day of rest, into their home and lives.

Shalom Aleichem (Welcoming Shabbat) is sung.  Then the Kiddush (blessing of the wine - or grape juice) is said.  The blessing -- Kiddush or the sanctification -- sets the tone for the Shabbat meal and defines what makes the holiday special... declaration that God rested on the seventh day, sanctified it and designated it as a day of rest, telling us that this is not an ordinary day and not simply a meal; rather, it is a celebration and affirmation of this day.

In the last step, the man of the house symbolically washes his hands symbolizing religious purification and preparation to eat at a table which is tonight most holy.  Then the Ha-Motzi (blessing over the bread) and eating two challot (bread) in order to recall the double portion of manna that God gave to the Israelites during their time in the Wilderness (Exodus 16:22).  Once this is said it is time to eat.

Having blessed the wine- (grape juice for us) Mr. Altmann does the symbolic washing.  Note the candles at the back of the table.  Golden and Diane at the forefront with the grape juice in hand.

There was much food--pastries, cookies, breads, cheese, crackers, etc. and we had a very enjoyable time.  The Altmann's were amazing guests. Their apartment is certainly not the normal New York City apartment.  Theirs is actually 4 apartments (two on each floor) and quite spacious.  Apparently there are bedrooms on the floor below where we celebrated Shabbat.

This is just a sampling of the breads, crackers, cheese etc. including the braided challah (bread)

Diane in the foreground, with Sr. Mumford behind her on the right; others in the group are with the American Jewish Committee (AJC) New York City, New York