By calling this little stroll a yatra I am making a mild joke to myself, because in India a yatra can be a grueling expedition such as a hike to the top of Mount Kailas in the Himalayas.

Food was prepared with a far defter hand; I had matzo ball soup and boiled beef with horseradish, which sounds terrible but was excellent; Eliza ordered cholent, a thick bean stew, topped with a slice of meat loaf — our Jewish-mom-like server basically forced her.

The Israelites misworshipped the true God; the Syrians worshipped a false.

In other words, space is very empty, and particles are very spread out.