The other day, I needed to go to the market and get some food for the office. Giant Food (a local market chain) is a block away, and I will often walk over there during the day.
This morning, as I walked down the aisle towards the kosher food, a bocher (a Yeshiva student) was studying the individual items. I wished him "Boker Tov" (good morning) and continued on.
Moments later, he is talking to me in Hebrew and I have no idea what he's saying, but it is more then simply a hello back. I quietly respond that I don't speak Hebrew, and after I few minutes, I come to understand that he's looking for a special bread -- he keeps talking about mezonot, which refers to cookies, crackers, and doughnuts, but he also insists that what he wants is none of those things.
Now I don't speak Hebrew, but Rabbi does.
A few minutes later, Rabbi has spoken with him, and I gather he is looking for bread that is Pas Yisroel and Yishon, which (alas) is not to be found at Giant. I feel badly for the young man, but at least he now knows.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The Greatest American Davener, Part 1 of an occasional series
In Judaism, we are taught that on Rosh Hashanah, Hashem "writes" our fates for the coming year in the Book of Judgement (who will live, who will die, who will be prosperous, and so on), that on Yom Kippur it is "sealed", and at the end of Sukkot (Hoshana Rabbah) the decree is handed down by the Heavenly Court.
Well, Hashem was DEFINITELY speaking to me on Rosh Hashanah. I took off my glasses during Shema, to cover my eyes, and when I put them back on, the left temple broke off. During Yom Kippur, I was inspecting the right temple, and it broke off! (I can't wait to see what happens during Sukkot).
So while Hashem was definitely sending me a message, I've no idea what it is (other then GET NEW GLASSES!) and I've don't have the translation manual!
Well, Hashem was DEFINITELY speaking to me on Rosh Hashanah. I took off my glasses during Shema, to cover my eyes, and when I put them back on, the left temple broke off. During Yom Kippur, I was inspecting the right temple, and it broke off! (I can't wait to see what happens during Sukkot).
So while Hashem was definitely sending me a message, I've no idea what it is (other then GET NEW GLASSES!) and I've don't have the translation manual!
Continuous process improvement. Next year in the Residence Inn!
It was very nice being three flights away from services this year, but still, there are some things I would do differently:
- During Rosh Hashanah, services were only at the Westpark on Erev Rosh Hashanah and the first morning. The remainder of the yontif and on Shabbat, we were back at the shul
Next year -- Staying at the Westpark was nice, but the Residence Inn would be a better choice, being closer to the shul and the homes where dinners were held. The rooms at the Residence Inn also have kitchens (and more to the point refrigerators!) for storing food. - On the day of Kol Nidre, Rabbi called -- he's forgotten to buy orange juice! [Note to all, insert your best OJ puns here, as he had just robbed a memorabilia dealer in Las Vegas.]
- No problem buying Orange Juice, just remember that Minute Maid does NOT have an acceptable hecshur!
- Bring a large wheeled cooler next year, capable of holding 24 Half Gallon cartons. You can dump ice into the coolers so the OJ stays cold during the day
Hear me! Yom Kippur 5768
The memory of Yom Kippur is fading, although the promises I've made to myself having lived through another year remain fresh in my mind -- remember to say Modeh Anee each morning when I awaken, to wash first thing (next up -- putting a basin by the bed along with a Negel Wasser...)
There was a D'var Torah that one of the young men at the shul delivered on the Shabbat preceeding Yom Kippur that sticks in my mind.
Every day, when Jews daven Sacharit (the morning minyan prayer), we start with the Akedah -- the story of the Binding of Isaac by Abraham. Typically, we view this as a test of man's faith in Hashem. Hashem wishes to judge if Abraham is worthy to be the patriach of the Jewish people. Isaac is not a problem, and we even read later in the service that Isaac allows this to happen willingly -- Sarah has raised Isaac well, imbuing him with complete trust in Hashem. Abraham, however, is different.
Abraham grew up in the world of idols and (more the point) the world of sacrifice. As offensive as we find it today, that included human sacrifice. For Abraham, sacrificing Isaac was easy, which brings us to the point of the young man's D'var Torah, that insomuch as Hashem was testing Abraham...
...Abraham was testing Hashem.
It's an interesting thought. Abraham has already banished Hagar and (more importantly) Ishmael, which could not have been easy for him. We know that Sarah was right to do this, to remove other influences from Isaac's life, and that is reflected in Isaac's trust of Abraham now, as he has absolute faith in Hashem. Now Abraham is putting Hashem to the test, by binding Isaac and rendering him immobile and defenseles, and raising a knife to sacrifice his son.
There was a D'var Torah that one of the young men at the shul delivered on the Shabbat preceeding Yom Kippur that sticks in my mind.
Every day, when Jews daven Sacharit (the morning minyan prayer), we start with the Akedah -- the story of the Binding of Isaac by Abraham. Typically, we view this as a test of man's faith in Hashem. Hashem wishes to judge if Abraham is worthy to be the patriach of the Jewish people. Isaac is not a problem, and we even read later in the service that Isaac allows this to happen willingly -- Sarah has raised Isaac well, imbuing him with complete trust in Hashem. Abraham, however, is different.
Abraham grew up in the world of idols and (more the point) the world of sacrifice. As offensive as we find it today, that included human sacrifice. For Abraham, sacrificing Isaac was easy, which brings us to the point of the young man's D'var Torah, that insomuch as Hashem was testing Abraham...
...Abraham was testing Hashem.
It's an interesting thought. Abraham has already banished Hagar and (more importantly) Ishmael, which could not have been easy for him. We know that Sarah was right to do this, to remove other influences from Isaac's life, and that is reflected in Isaac's trust of Abraham now, as he has absolute faith in Hashem. Now Abraham is putting Hashem to the test, by binding Isaac and rendering him immobile and defenseles, and raising a knife to sacrifice his son.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
In with the new -- welcome to Rosh Hashanah 5768
It is the midst of High Holy Day season as it were. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur have passed. Sukkot begins tomorrow night with Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret immediately following.
I davened with Chabad in Tyson's Corner for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rabbi (Levi) Deitsch had arranged to use one of the large function rooms at the Westpark Hotel, as has been done in years past. The Westpark is certainly not at the same level as say, the Sheraton or Marriott down the street, nor these business hotels like Courtyard or Garden Inn, but the rooms are clean, and the hotel is very accomodating of our needs, allowing us to bring in kosher food, which would be problematic elsewhere.
While davening at a hotel is not, well, the most "spiritual" environment, I must give them credit for something rare at High Holiday services -- it's COMFORTABLE!!! I'm not crammed in to my seat. The air conditioning is working. People are generally quiet (although the man sitting behind me was having to deal with his teenage son). Still, I could focus on davening better then at many other places I've been this time of year.
The Rabbi's youngest brother has joined us for Rosh Hashanah. He's only a few years older then my own son. Even more amazing though, is despite being part of this respected Chabad family from Crown Heights, he's a Red Sox fan!
After Mincha and Maariv on that first night of Rosh Hashanah, there is dinner at Rabbi's home. I got separated from the group walking back in the lobby. I waited there a few minutes, not realizing they had left. I hesitated before ultimately deciding that if nothing else, I can use the exercise. I cut across Tyson's Corner, across Routes 7 and then 123. I was as surprised as anyone when I came onto Old Courthouse Road was (approaching me no less!) the Rabbi, his brother, his cousin (a young woman from Australia), and the chazzan!
I have to admit that I was quite impressed with the Rabbi's cousin. She wore heels the entire yontif. It hurt ME to watch her walk in them!
The Rebbitzin had prepared a wondeful meal for us. Challah and Honey led the way of course, followed by salads, gefilte fish, hummus, chicken, beef, and dessert. Any of a number of L'Chaims were given and as is the tradition at Rabbi's table, we all discussed highlights of our week.
The first day was quiet. Services were again at the hotel, and several old friends of mine, from when I lived in Washington before 1999, were present. The highlight was dinner.
Chabad of Tyson's has among its core members a group of young men, professionals in the area. They work for any of a number of "Beltway Bandits" [companies like SAIC, MITRE, and Northrop Grumman, that specialize in building systems for the US Federal Government] or the Big 4 [Ernest and Young, KPMG, PWC, and Deloitte]. One of these young men, Alex, hosted dinner that second night.
It was comforting in some way to be there. The oldest one there (aside from myself) was 25 -- young enough to be my own son (setting aside that my oldest son is a decade younger then that). There were some two dozen young men and women. Some were observant, but most were not, yet here they all were together, connecting in their own way to our common religion.
Alex had managed to put together a fine meal for everyone, but he was not the most practiced host. It was amusing to hear him repeated ask "Did you respond to the e-Vite", to watch him fuss over getting the food out, and ensure everyone's needs were attended to. Still, it was chaotic, and I took advantage of the situation and tried to bring some order to the world (and get people's minds off Alex trying to get the food out!)
I stood up, and banged on the wall for attention. I've been where these people are now, I've learned how to get the attention of an audience and hold it, at least for a short while. I used that to begin an exercise that Rabbi uses at his Shabbat table. I take a moment to introduce myself. I state the obvious, that I suspect I'm of their parent's generation, and to try and put them at ease, I have everyone call out their names at once, then a second time louder, just to make sure we all heard one another. I go on.
"Each Shabbat", I begin, "Rabbi goes around the table and asks each guest 'What inspired you this week'" I start with one young woman at one end of the table -- "Miss, what is something that inspired you". She tells a story about a puppy she and her boyfriend have, and how the dog managed to destroy a cache of cigars the boyfriend had sequestered when he started an effort to quite smoking but a few days before. Around the table we go. Several of the people at dinner area teachers and the speak of their students. One young man talks about his own parents. Another young woman talks about her decision to become more observant, and that her boyfriend at first left, feeling uncomfortable about this, but in time reconsiders and decides he wants to make this work for her. One story after another.
Finally, there is but one story -- my own. After all, I can't ask these people to talk without willing to share my own thoughts. I tell them of my own children, how they study at an orthodox school, something that would have been unthinkable in my own childhood; how my oldest son, a sophmore at mesivta, (an Orthodox Jewish High School, often connected to a Yeshiva) was studying for semicha. I told them that as a parent, there was nothing that made me prouder to see my own children build upon the foundation that I had laid for them, that my parents had laid for me, and so on, and specifically to use that to recapture our culture, that our forebears gave up when they came to the United States. As the meal began, I wished that they should all find their besherits, be that person someone in the room with them tonight (as one couple attending was recently engaged to one another) or elsewhere, that they bring Jewish children into the world, and raise them to be strong vibrant members of Eretz Yisrael.
I davened with Chabad in Tyson's Corner for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rabbi (Levi) Deitsch had arranged to use one of the large function rooms at the Westpark Hotel, as has been done in years past. The Westpark is certainly not at the same level as say, the Sheraton or Marriott down the street, nor these business hotels like Courtyard or Garden Inn, but the rooms are clean, and the hotel is very accomodating of our needs, allowing us to bring in kosher food, which would be problematic elsewhere.
While davening at a hotel is not, well, the most "spiritual" environment, I must give them credit for something rare at High Holiday services -- it's COMFORTABLE!!! I'm not crammed in to my seat. The air conditioning is working. People are generally quiet (although the man sitting behind me was having to deal with his teenage son). Still, I could focus on davening better then at many other places I've been this time of year.
The Rabbi's youngest brother has joined us for Rosh Hashanah. He's only a few years older then my own son. Even more amazing though, is despite being part of this respected Chabad family from Crown Heights, he's a Red Sox fan!
After Mincha and Maariv on that first night of Rosh Hashanah, there is dinner at Rabbi's home. I got separated from the group walking back in the lobby. I waited there a few minutes, not realizing they had left. I hesitated before ultimately deciding that if nothing else, I can use the exercise. I cut across Tyson's Corner, across Routes 7 and then 123. I was as surprised as anyone when I came onto Old Courthouse Road was (approaching me no less!) the Rabbi, his brother, his cousin (a young woman from Australia), and the chazzan!
I have to admit that I was quite impressed with the Rabbi's cousin. She wore heels the entire yontif. It hurt ME to watch her walk in them!
The Rebbitzin had prepared a wondeful meal for us. Challah and Honey led the way of course, followed by salads, gefilte fish, hummus, chicken, beef, and dessert. Any of a number of L'Chaims were given and as is the tradition at Rabbi's table, we all discussed highlights of our week.
The first day was quiet. Services were again at the hotel, and several old friends of mine, from when I lived in Washington before 1999, were present. The highlight was dinner.
Chabad of Tyson's has among its core members a group of young men, professionals in the area. They work for any of a number of "Beltway Bandits" [companies like SAIC, MITRE, and Northrop Grumman, that specialize in building systems for the US Federal Government] or the Big 4 [Ernest and Young, KPMG, PWC, and Deloitte]. One of these young men, Alex, hosted dinner that second night.
It was comforting in some way to be there. The oldest one there (aside from myself) was 25 -- young enough to be my own son (setting aside that my oldest son is a decade younger then that). There were some two dozen young men and women. Some were observant, but most were not, yet here they all were together, connecting in their own way to our common religion.
Alex had managed to put together a fine meal for everyone, but he was not the most practiced host. It was amusing to hear him repeated ask "Did you respond to the e-Vite", to watch him fuss over getting the food out, and ensure everyone's needs were attended to. Still, it was chaotic, and I took advantage of the situation and tried to bring some order to the world (and get people's minds off Alex trying to get the food out!)
I stood up, and banged on the wall for attention. I've been where these people are now, I've learned how to get the attention of an audience and hold it, at least for a short while. I used that to begin an exercise that Rabbi uses at his Shabbat table. I take a moment to introduce myself. I state the obvious, that I suspect I'm of their parent's generation, and to try and put them at ease, I have everyone call out their names at once, then a second time louder, just to make sure we all heard one another. I go on.
"Each Shabbat", I begin, "Rabbi goes around the table and asks each guest 'What inspired you this week'" I start with one young woman at one end of the table -- "Miss, what is something that inspired you". She tells a story about a puppy she and her boyfriend have, and how the dog managed to destroy a cache of cigars the boyfriend had sequestered when he started an effort to quite smoking but a few days before. Around the table we go. Several of the people at dinner area teachers and the speak of their students. One young man talks about his own parents. Another young woman talks about her decision to become more observant, and that her boyfriend at first left, feeling uncomfortable about this, but in time reconsiders and decides he wants to make this work for her. One story after another.
Finally, there is but one story -- my own. After all, I can't ask these people to talk without willing to share my own thoughts. I tell them of my own children, how they study at an orthodox school, something that would have been unthinkable in my own childhood; how my oldest son, a sophmore at mesivta, (an Orthodox Jewish High School, often connected to a Yeshiva) was studying for semicha. I told them that as a parent, there was nothing that made me prouder to see my own children build upon the foundation that I had laid for them, that my parents had laid for me, and so on, and specifically to use that to recapture our culture, that our forebears gave up when they came to the United States. As the meal began, I wished that they should all find their besherits, be that person someone in the room with them tonight (as one couple attending was recently engaged to one another) or elsewhere, that they bring Jewish children into the world, and raise them to be strong vibrant members of Eretz Yisrael.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)