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up a bit straighter in their chairs. Then the garden needed birds. They pulled in a lively boy who had simply charmed everyone the whole weekend with his enthusiastic chirping and flapping of his arm. He was the perfect bird and people applauded wildly for him and he beamed. Two more kids were the trees, their counselors helping them hold their stiff, inflexible arms over their heads to look tall and tree-like. The naturalness of it all The regularness of it all . Nobody had pity on their faces. You only saw love. The staff wasn't scared to be real with the children, to touch them. Then everyone who wanted to had the chance to come into the middle of the circle and speak. The children were precious, some being wheeled into the middle or being led in, hobbling, with their walkers, making speeches thanking the people who organized the weekend, their hosts and the whole "Friends" organization. Some were unintelligible and the counselors would lean in, close to their mouths to hear them and tell the audience what was being said. The throats of all of us listening and watching were choked with tears.

As the Sabbath ebbed away the children of the neighborhood started trickling in, joining everyone in slow, sweet songs celebrating the love of the Sabbath day. The mood was charged as the Final Service of the Sabbath was chanted and people started saying their good-byes. Ahuva tried going over to the people of Karnei Shomron to thank them for their part in making this weekend possible but people stopped her, insisting that it was they who should be thanking her for the opportunity she gave them to be part off such an experience. They blessed her for allowing the community to share this weekend with "Friends" and begged her to promise to do it again next year.

When I grow up I want to be just like my kids.

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