We looked at the daily schedule of shipboard events. We (Lorraine, my wife; Cara, my daughter; and Rachel and Eli, my grandchildren) were on a seven-day cruise to Mexico aboard the Oosterdam on Holland American Ship Lines. At 5 p.m., a Shabbat Service was scheduled on Deck 3. We decided to attend.

The room was already prepared. A row of Siddurim (prayer books) - yamulkas - two bottles of Manischewitz wine - two candlesticks with candles - trays of gefilte fish - and two long braided challahs with poppy seeds.

Two women were already sitting in the room when we arrived. They announced immediately that they were not Jewish. They were curious about Hebrew customs and prayers and they asked us if they could join in the service.

We asked them to stay and we waited for more participants. An elderly man and his wife came through the door. He was wearing a colorful Kippa and our group was now nine. He stated he was born in Kiev, lived in Berlin and escaped to Shanghai, China during World War II.

The strange minion (quorum of 10) was completed by a vivacious, red-headed Russian woman. She was an original refusenik from Odessa, now living in Los Angeles.

Cara and I led the service as we welcomed in the Sabbath. We made a blessing over the wine and bread. Everyone was given a reading from the siddur. It was not perfect, but it was filled with sincerity and warmth. The children joined in the singing and reading from the siddur.

The two non-Jewish women said, "We loved the melodies. We are so happy and touched to have participated in such a meaningful prayer service."

We sang Adon Alom and Eyn Kelohainu, ate the gefilte fish and challah and washed it down with sweet wine. We wished each other a "Gut Shabbos" and our unusual minion headed in different directions.

Each of us felt he/she enjoyed the sense of community and was a better person after our Shabbat service on the Oosterdam sailing in international waters, returning to home port, San Diego.

Postscript to those concerned readers:

Ted D. spent two days in a hospital in Puerto Vallarta. He was diagnosed with an Ischemic Stroke. No clot but constricting of blood vessels due to old age. No paralysis, but a definite slowdown of his life's activities will follow. He is walking and talking very well.