Free at last!

Because there have been several false alarms and things were looking grim yesterday, I didn't believe the children when I awoke to hear their cries of "Ghaddi janu" ("The strike has gone") as a truck roared by on the road. Throughout the strike, certain vehicles were occasionally permitted to be on the roads, so without a steady stream of traffic, I didn't think that the strike could really have ended. I tried not to hope that it was true until I walked down the road and saw for myself that a couple of small shops were open and the roadblocks made of stones were dismantled.

The strike was actually very similar to Chanukah: I only got enough bottled water to sustain me for 3 days, but, miraculously, it lasted for 10 days -- and on the 10th day, the shops opened for one day and I was able to buy a few more bottles that got me through until today. Consequently, I did not have to try my luck with boiled well water, deliciously flavored with chlorine drops. Hallelujah!

From now on, Jews around the world will remember and commemorate the miracle that occured during the Tharu strike of 2009 by celebrating a new eight day holiday from March 2-9, which will be called "Mitzvah Baht". Each day, everyone will do some type of volunteer service (i.e., a "Mitzvah" or good deed). Then, at sundown, friends and families will gather together for festive meals. After the traditional candle lighting, wine, and challah, each person will drink one liter of MOUNT EVEREST pure drinking water: ozonized for safe drinking, and eat a ginormous plate of baht ("cooked rice"). Along with the baht, a different vegetable will be served each night:

1st Night: Potato kugel
2ndNight: Boiled potatoes with spicy yellow sauce
3rd Night: Potato latkes
4th Night: Potatoes fried in mustard oil
5th Night: Boiled potatoes with cabbage
6th Night: Potato blintzes
7th Night: Potatoes fried in mustard oil with one pound of salt
8th Night: Potato knishes

In addition, roti (round, thinly sliced pieces of fried dough) will be served a few times during the holiday. Sorry, but no chicken, turkey, brisket, gefilte fish, or dessert will be included in Mitzvah Baht holiday meals, which, ideally should be prepared and served by well-mannered children. At the conclusion of each meal, all children will begin chanting "Auntie, one picture! One picture!" (Translation: Please take 10 photos of me alone and 5 photos of me with my friends or siblings). If you are not Jewish, you will definitely want to find a Jewish friend with whom to celebrate this wonderful holiday.

Happy Mitzvah Baht to all!