September 1991
Shlomo's point of view
It was strange to keep missing class. When I was there, it was hard to keep up. History of Magic was no big deal. Nobody pays attention anyway. I always sat with a book and read while Binns talked about who knows what. Herbology was fun and easy to make up. Potions wasn't too hard either. Flitwick only lectured so far, so there wasn't much to make up for Charms. Transfiguration was hard whether I was there or not, and as Astronomy was in the middle of the night, even when I am there physically, I'm not really there.
Since there was still no Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, Professor Flitwick had an optional study group in the common room every night. He didn't let the first years do any of the spells that he taught the older students. He demonstrated spells to everyone, explained dueling techniques to all of us, but when it came time to actually try the spells, he always specified the year that could do the spell. For some reason, we first years were left out.
I was eager to go home again for Succos. The sukkah didn't look bad even if my father built it and my brother made half of the decorations. I had fun with new sharpies that Tatti bought and made a few signs. I also used sharpies for my homework. Writing with a quill is hard and messy and a sharpie doesn't look that different.
Tatti kept complaining that he wished we were back in New York. Mommy told him that whenever we're home for succos, Tatti complains that he doesn't like the communal sukkah. Tatti said that it's worth it not to have to do all this work.
It was hard to floo back to school with my sukkah, lulav, and esrog.
"What's that?" Professor Flitwick asked when I came out of his fireplace.
"Things for the holiday," I said.
"I remember when your cousin Jonathan used those," Flitwick reminisced. "He was so secretive when it came to his religion."
"I'm not secretive," I insisted, determined not to be like Jonathan. "This is what I'm going to eat in the next few days, and I'm going to shake these two objects when I pray every morning."
"What's the symbolism of these things?" Professor Flitwick wanted to know.
"This is a sukkah," I explained. "When the Jews were in the desert, they lived in little huts like this, so every year, we live in one for the week of Succos."
"But you're not sleeping in it?" Flitwick made sure.
"I don't know how safe it is to sleep outside here," I confirmed. "In New York, people didn't sleep in their sukkahs because we had communal sukkahs, and also they didn't think it was safe. I don't need any animals from the forest thinking that I'm food."
"What about those two things that you shake?" Flitwick wanted to know.
"These are a lulav and esrog," I said. "I'm actually not sure why we use them, but I'm sure they represent lots of things; I just don't know what."
When I walked into the common room with all my gear, I got lots of strange looks.
"Shlomo," Michael called out. "Is there a reason you're carrying a tree and a tent?"
"Sure," I said. "They don't fit in the box with the lemon."
I held out my esrog to show what else I had.
"What exactly are you going to do with those?" Terry wanted to know.
"Guide them with my life," I responded. "They cost more than everything you brought to Hogwarts combined."
"Wouldn't it be safer at home?" Michael asked.
"My parents don't let me stay home the whole week," I told him. "I can't use them at home if I'm here."
"How do you use it?" Terry asked.
I opened the sukkah in the common room.
"I will be taking this outside and eating in it for the rest of the week," I told my shocked house mates.
"Whatever for?" Padma asked.
"This way, nobody could bother me," I lied.
"Just joking." I added when I saw the looks on their faces. "For religious reasons, I need to eat in this for the week."
"And what's with the tree and lemon?" Michael asked.
"I know I don't know how should I know," I said to the tune normally used for ana Hashem hoshia na.
"What?!" a few people said at once.
"Just kidding," I said. "I used them for praying, but those aren't the words that I say. The Hebrew words do have the same consonants as I know, I don't know, how should I know, but the vowels and meanings are completely different."
"So what does it mean?" Terry asked.
"Please G-d save us," I responded.
"So you hold a tree and lemon and ask G-d to save you?" Michael asked.
"They symbolize different things," I said. "I'm not going into the whole explanation now."
The next morning, I had an audience when I davened. I took my siddur, lulav, and esrog outside along with the sukkah. I opened the sukkah outside, put down the lulav and esrog, and davened. When I got to hallel, I took out the lulav and esrog. I said the bracha aloud before shaking in all directions.
"He's insane," I heard Michael whisper.
"Totally barmy," added Terry.
"Off his rocker," Kevin chimed in.
"There must be a reason for what he's doing," Stephen commented.
"Sure," Michael said, "but we could still tease him about it."
I held the lulav and esrog for hallel, and made sure to say ana hashem hoshia na aloud.
"He did it!" Terry exclaimed. "I know, I don't know, how should I know!"
"Okay, show's over," I said, putting the lulav and esrog away. "I just have to daven mussaf, and then I could eat."
"You're done with the tree and lemon?" Michael asked.
"Until tomorrow morning," I told them. "And it will be the same thing, so there's no reason to watch again."
"That's good," Kevin said. "We have Astronomy tonight, so I don't want to get up so early tomorrow."
I forgot about that. I always have trouble getting up early for davening on Thursday mornings. The other days, the common room is still empty when I daven, but on Thursday, by the time I'm halfway through, everyone is coming and going. Now I need more time for mussaf. I wondered how I would manage.
Somehow, I did manage. I even had time to choke down my waffles after. It didn't take so long since my mother is still refusing to send me ketchup. I was looking forward to going home again for the last days. As I was leaving the common room with my stuff, I noticed everyone looking again.
"Bye tree," Michael called. "Bye lemon, bye tent."
"I guess I don't deserve my own good-bye," I commented.
"Bye Shlomo," Michael and Terry called together.
"Bye Anthony," Stephen called out.
"Bye Michael and Terry," I said back. "If I would know who Anthony is, I'm sure he would say good-bye too."
"Isn't he Anthony?" I heard someone whisper as I left. I figured that my dorm mates could have the honor of explaining my Hebrew and English name and which one I prefer.