This past Saturday night, lots of local Tzfatim came to warm the home of Elana Schachter, one of our newest residents in the Artists' Colony neighborhood. I know Elana back from when I was living in Nachlaot in Jerusalem. I lent her one of my favorite sci-fi anthologies as a housewarming gift, and she returned the favor by lending me a collection of Jewish fantasy and occult stories. Rebecca and Avraham brought along Ashira, who derived great glee from feeding crackers to Elana's smooth-haired collie, Bright. Ashira thought it especially funny whenever Bright would lick my nose. Lots of familiar faces were around, as well as a few new characters to meet. The climax of the party was when Moshe Tov, Eliyahu, and Dovid sung a rousing (if slightly off-key) round of "Elana, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Kabbalists", sung to the tune of Willie Nelson's "Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys", to which Elana could only reply, "Too late. Way too late." The evening wound down with the remaining attendees flipping through photographs of various quilts that Elana has made.

So, welcome to town, Elana. I only wish you the greatest success. We're all happy to have you here.