Tonight was one of the best nights I've had in Argentina. I am super exhausted so I'll try and elaborate more later, but basically seder was wonderful. I've never felt so at home so fast within Argentina. I don't know if its because of the familiar customs, food, or what but it was just wonderful to see a family relating to one another in the way I have been accustomed to for so long. I'm not sure how to put into words the gestures, or conversations, or Jewish-mother-isms but it was incredible to see how they all seemed to transcend language. The cultural practices are all the same, and it was so nice to be a part of a Jewish family again.

What really amazed me is how a friend of my old boss at the AJC put me in contact with this family and they opened up their house without any hesitations, one day before their seder. I could have been anyone, a crazy person from the street, but they opened their doors and welcomed me into their family as if I'd been there for ages. Not to mention the fact that they were wonderful. Leah, one of the sisters in the family, works at the Israeli Embassy here in BsAs. Miriam, the woman who arranged it for me, works for a cultural organizaiton of jews who help young Argentinians about to have their bar/bat mitzvahs get to Israel for the first time.

Another cool aspect of the seder for me was that they were not super religious, but rather self-described traditionalists and humanists who seek to apply the teachings and practices they love about judiasm to their everyday life (ie opening their doors to anyone who may need a place to go on pesach). They don't really go to temple except on high holy days, nor do they keep shabat but they like to remember the nostalgic traditions of judiasm and enjoy being with the family for big holidays even if they're not done in the most orthodox manner. It reminded me a lot of my family, which was nice. Another aspect I really enjoyed was that the seder could really be applied to everyday life and to what's going on in the world today, as opposed to just when the Jews left Egypt. We had a bunch of philosophical discussions about globalization, modern "plagues" and vices, in addition to the ususal "Is Miami as violent as they show in the Fast and the Furious?" By the end of the night I was washing dishes and taking a cab home with the grandparents. Amazing.

At the very least, Miriam and I are going to meet up again for coffee in the city and chat.

All in all a good night. I'm exhausted. Leaving tomorrow morning at 8am to head to the casa de campo with my host family. Hasta luego!