Ima (mother) Goose settles in


If you have stopped by Adath Israel during April, you may have met Ima Goose, who found a warm and welcoming congregation to call home as she waited for her eggs to hatch. See pictures of the goslings at the end of this interview with "Ima Avazah"... (Mother Goose)

 

An Interview with Ima Avazah, newest associate member of Adath Israel.
 
In late March and throughout April, many noticed a new addition to the beauty surrounding our synagogue—a Canadian avazah (goose)! As we were not using our planters to create new life from seeds, a beautiful mother goose decided that the soft dirt would be ideal for creating some life of her own. While she was still nesting outside, our own synagogue administrator, Rob Festenstein, sat down on the nearby bench for a fact-finding interview with our newest community member:
 
RF: Hello, Ima Avazah. I’m Rob Festenstein, Synagogue Administrator.
Ima Avazah: Stay on the bench. You seem nice, but I am protecting more than my own feathers. And have you met my husband? Oy! He will bite your hand off if you try to get too close. We like all of you a great deal, but it’s important to let us hatch our children alone.
RF: I understand, and I’ll keep my distance.
Ima Avazah: Thank you.
RF: Would you mind telling me why you picked this location to nest?
Ima Avazah: Well, even though my husband, Abba Avaz, had a great deal of trouble with learning trope, I know from experience how important it is to raise my children with a strong Jewish education. For that reason, I’d thought about nesting closer to the school, but that lovely statue from the Mandell family looked a little bit uncomfortable.
RF: How much longer will it be before your chicks arrive?
Ima Avazah: It should be about two more weeks, G-d willing.
RF: And how has your stay been?
Ima Avazah: I can’t complain. You have very nice people here. The principal of the religious school, Sharon Wasserberg, always greets me—she calls me Gert or Gertie Goose, which isn’t quite accurate in goose language, but I don’t think my real goose name translates well. As long as people keep saying nice things to me, I’ll answer to all the names. I’m remembering a lot of my Hebrew, too.
RF: I’m sure Mr. Weiner will be pleased. I haven’t seen your husband around lately. Where has he been?
Ima Avazah: Well, he’s been standing out near the driveway, watching the traffic patterns on Ridge Rd. Once the goslings—that’s avazot kitana to you—arrive, we’ll need to get them over to the pond so they can learn to swim. I know what you’re thinking, but it’s important that no one help us get the goslings to water. The journey is part of what helps them become geese. That nice Rabbi Wise says the journey is often the most important part of growing up. You’re blessed to have him guiding you to your pond.
RF: That’s not exactly how it works, but I get your point. Thank you for your time, Ima Avazah.
Ima Avazah: L'hitraót!