Saudade - "word of the year" in 2020

No wonder that "Saudade" (missing someone) was chosen as the "Word of the Year 2020" in Portugal. Every year, since 2009, Editora Porto promotes this contest.

More than "Covid-19" and "Pandemia", the word "Saudade" was the winner of the online vote with 26.8% of the 40,000 reader votes.

As I always say, "Saudades is already my last name" - Ilana Saudades Kreimer Benedykt. Because when I'm here, I miss it and when I'm there, I miss everything and everyone who stayed here. As a good Cancerian, I always miss the Past, that little nostalgia for childhood and adolescence, the School where I studied all my life, the Youth Movement I attended, the Student Theater Group I was part of and the Jewish Dance Group where I spent so many years of life. I miss People, those who life geographically took them away from me and those who are no longer among us in this Spiritual Plan - I miss my Father, my Grandfather and my Grandmother. But, without a doubt, this Pandemic has made Saudade a Constant in my life. I miss myself, of what we were before, of Receiving Tourists in Israel, of Conducting Training for Directors, of Promoting Meetings between People from all over the world, of different Religions, Cultures and Ethnic groups. I miss the routine, tours within Israel and trips to other countries. Saudade of Meetings in "Beit Café", the typical Israeli cafes where we decide, create and develop most of the Projects and share Ideas with our Clients and Friends.

I miss agglomeration, full table, full house. I miss the Jewish Parties, the noise that I always help to intensify. I miss Children's Schools, Performances, Parents' Meetings and Community Involvement and Volunteering Days.

From my vast experience on the subject, I can say that Saudade fills you, which is based on the Good Memories, the People who join us in our Walk, the Aromas and Flavors of the Good Experiences of Life. But this - this is the kind that Hurts. It's Saudade to Embrace, Feel, Kiss; it is the Family's Longing - that of Birth and that of Choice; the Conversations with Strangers at the Supermarket, the Meetings of Friends and the Love Well Lived.

I grew up hearing and repeating that "Saudade", as a noun, only exists in Portuguese. But already as a young person, I learned Hebrew and discovered that it also exists: Gaagua (געגוע), Masculine and Singular Noun - as Unique and Singular as our Saudade.

So, Dear Friends, 2020 was the Year of Longing, Shnat HaGaagua, שנת הגעגוע - and I fill my Heart with hope that 2021 will be the International Year of Reencounter - with ourselves, with our Beloveds, with Life, in your Fullness.

Source: Ilana Blog