Post by talldrake on Apr 3, 2021 19:13:06 GMT -5
Isaac's standard weekly routine on the Shabbat.
The sun set once more on a Friday. For gentiles it was the end of another week.
Not long after, Isaac rose from his sleep within one of the great homes of the family giovanni. Unlike his other nights, this one was not filled with work furthering the interests of the family,.
He made his way over to the side table. Summoning up his courage, he lit taper and from it lit two long candles. By custom a woman should perform this function, but in this small matter as in so many others he had to make do as best he could given the circumstances. A trival point, but symbolic of the nature of vampires. Making do to survive.
He placed the first candle into one side of a double candlestick. The representation of Zachor (to remember the Sabbath). The other he placed into the other side, the representation of Shamor (to observe the Sabbath).
Next he turned to a cup he had prepared the night before. When he had lived, he had drunk sweet wine from this Kiddush cup. Now he drank blood from it.
He raised it to his lips. This cup, set apart from all others, representing all the joy of celebration. He drank from the cup slowly and mindfully, not stressing the need to feed but carefully savouring the experience.
After the 'wine' he spoke the traditional prayer.
"Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz".
(Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.)
Other jews would now be eating the special challah bread. But condemned by the curse that was denied him.
Parents would be speaking a prayer of blessing upon their sons and daughters. He had sometimes wondered what if any direct blood relations he had, but instead he spoke a general prayer of blessing upon all the sons and daughters of the Jews of Venice.
Work was forbidden, but studying was not. Isaac began of course with study of the Torah. While quite familar with it after some many years, he continued to probe it's depths for mysteries and insight, for reflections on the ten spheres of the tree of life. Later in the night he moved onto lesser occult texts.
He did his best to drink on three separate occasions during this night, in lieu of the meals. When he did he sang out the special hebrew songs of the sabbath meals.
After his study, he made sure to spend time attending the synagogue, wandering the Jewish quarter to give friendly greeting to fellow jews. He regarded this as fulfilling the requirement to socialise with his people on this night.
After, he made sure to find an hour or two to socialise with fellow giovanni, including those who still drew breath. They may not share his beliefs, but they were his family, and spending time with family was part of the sabbath.
Finally he retired as the sun nearly rose. Another day celebrating the simple pleasures of life. He had once mused that the Toreador at least also understand the value of creating a happy life, but what they fail to grasp is the ability to take joy in the small simple things.
Another six days of work now lay ahead.
The sun set once more on a Friday. For gentiles it was the end of another week.
Not long after, Isaac rose from his sleep within one of the great homes of the family giovanni. Unlike his other nights, this one was not filled with work furthering the interests of the family,.
He made his way over to the side table. Summoning up his courage, he lit taper and from it lit two long candles. By custom a woman should perform this function, but in this small matter as in so many others he had to make do as best he could given the circumstances. A trival point, but symbolic of the nature of vampires. Making do to survive.
He placed the first candle into one side of a double candlestick. The representation of Zachor (to remember the Sabbath). The other he placed into the other side, the representation of Shamor (to observe the Sabbath).
Next he turned to a cup he had prepared the night before. When he had lived, he had drunk sweet wine from this Kiddush cup. Now he drank blood from it.
He raised it to his lips. This cup, set apart from all others, representing all the joy of celebration. He drank from the cup slowly and mindfully, not stressing the need to feed but carefully savouring the experience.
After the 'wine' he spoke the traditional prayer.
"Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz".
(Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.)
Other jews would now be eating the special challah bread. But condemned by the curse that was denied him.
Parents would be speaking a prayer of blessing upon their sons and daughters. He had sometimes wondered what if any direct blood relations he had, but instead he spoke a general prayer of blessing upon all the sons and daughters of the Jews of Venice.
Work was forbidden, but studying was not. Isaac began of course with study of the Torah. While quite familar with it after some many years, he continued to probe it's depths for mysteries and insight, for reflections on the ten spheres of the tree of life. Later in the night he moved onto lesser occult texts.
He did his best to drink on three separate occasions during this night, in lieu of the meals. When he did he sang out the special hebrew songs of the sabbath meals.
After his study, he made sure to spend time attending the synagogue, wandering the Jewish quarter to give friendly greeting to fellow jews. He regarded this as fulfilling the requirement to socialise with his people on this night.
After, he made sure to find an hour or two to socialise with fellow giovanni, including those who still drew breath. They may not share his beliefs, but they were his family, and spending time with family was part of the sabbath.
Finally he retired as the sun nearly rose. Another day celebrating the simple pleasures of life. He had once mused that the Toreador at least also understand the value of creating a happy life, but what they fail to grasp is the ability to take joy in the small simple things.
Another six days of work now lay ahead.