First Kiss

Do you remember your first Kiss?

My son who is approaching 14 months this Shabbat, learned to "Kiss" for the first time. Of course we smother him with kisses, but we are trying to teach him to kiss us. "Hillel, come give Mommy Kiss". So far not too much luck.

Until last night! I was holding Hillel by the doorway as we watched Mom drive off to run a couple of errands. As my wife pulled away, Hillel reached out and touched our Mezuzah then kissed his fingers with a loud smack. Obviously he has seen us do this on a number of occasions.

What a beautiful "first kiss".

Hear O Israel: G-d is our G-d; G-d is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). Words we recite every morning and evening. They contain the primal statement of what it means to be a Jew: to infuse our entire day and everything we do and possess with G-d's oneness.

It is regarding these words that G-d has commanded us, "And you shall inscribe them on the doorposts of you home, and on your gates". Hence the Mezuzah: a parchment scroll inscribed with the verses of the Shema and affixed to the right doorpost of every room in a Jewish home.

In addition to its role as a declaration and reminder of our faith, the mezuzah is also a symbol of G-d's watchful care over the home and its dwellers. The name of G-d, Sha-dai, which appears on the reverse side of the parchment is an acronym for the Hebrew words which mean "Guardian of the doorways of Israel." The placing of a mezuzah on the doors of a home or office protects the inhabitant--whether they are inside or out

Reconnecting on Yom Kippur

It wasn't kapparos
It wasn't the pre Yom Kippur dip in the Mikvah
It wasn't the meaningful fast
It wasn't the chazan's beautiful cantelations.
It wasn't my Rabbi's moving d'var torah.
It wasn't the soul searching Tshuvah filled davening.
It wasn't seeing every chair at my shul filled with people.
It wasn't Kol Nidre
It wasn't the tearful reading of the 10 martyrs.
It wasn't the avodah service.
It wasn't Neilah
It wasn't admiring the sanity of the Torahs dressed in white.

For me this year, Yom Kippur was all about being able to gently convince my Jewish neighbor, that being in shul, and experience Judaism again with a fresh traditional look was the right thing to do on what would have been a "typical Monday in October". It all started when we casually found out She was Jewish, and that her youngest daughter had a desire to "Learn". Not needing to say more, we invite her and her family over for Shabbos dinner before Yom Kippur.

On Yom Kippur, seeing her walk though our shul's doors before we got started with mincha (with her three children) was very moving. After services, hearing how proud she was that her son got an Aliyah, was more then I could have ever hoped for. Baruch Hashem may she and her family return for a Shabbat service.

Sometimes I wonder, if my self imposed exile in Galut is worth it. It's hard for me. Being Shomer Shabbas/Mitzvot and living in an area on Pennsylvania that I'm often mistaken for Amish guy. How much easier and beautiful would it be to live in a Frum Community.

But today, as I put up my sukkah, I contemplate how many Jewish friends I can invite to dine in my sukkah and Shake my Lulav/Esrog. Jewish souls who never experienced a sukkah before. Who have never held, yet alone seen a Lulav/esrog.

If I can get one soul to reconnect... then my self imposed exile is all worth it.

Are you Jewish? Mind if we sound the Shofar for you?

Rosh Hashanah started with a whirlwind and ended on as spiritually of a high note then I could have ever wished for.

The "plan" was that we would stay in a hotel 2 miles from Shul. My wife would to go the hotel first with my two sons. Get them clean and in Shabbos clothes, then meet me at Shul. I would then go right to shul from work and leave one car at shul, the other at the hotel. Well that was the plan.

"Men Plan, Hashem Laughs"

Two hours before Rosh Hashanah I get a frantic call from my wife that her car died in the middle of the road. Thanks to AAA we get the car towed to the nearest garage, I race to pick up my wife and kids, then race to the hotel to check in, and make it to shul all before Candle lighting time. Well it looks like my wife's car was not to be written in the book of life for the coming year. At least not until we got the $400 bill today.

It was a very moving davening experience. Our Chazan came in from Crown Heights by way of Israel, and though only 21, he did an amazing job. Eating with the our Rabbi's family for all of Yom Tov, I got to know the Chazan well. I also had the opportunity to study a little one on one Shulcan Aruch with him in regards to the Laws of Shofar blowing as compiled by the Alter Rebbe. (Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi)

But the absolute highlight of Rosh Hashanah for me was after Tashlich. The Rabbi, Chazan, fellow congregant and I walked 4-5 miles to the nearest shopping mall. Of course we had Shofars & Kippot in hand. Our mission? To blow Shofar for every Jew who was unable to go to Synagogue to hear the Shofar blown. We split up into two group (I went with the Rabbi). As many of the Mall's Kiosks are operated by Israelis it was an easy time finding folks to help them fulfill the commandment of hearing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. One women we moved to tears. When we approached her Kiosk, she was on the phone. We heard her say in Hebrew. "I gotta go, 2 Rabbis are standing in front of me, call you back in 10 minutes". We replied we only need two minutes of your time, and opened the machzor to the page containing the blessings for the Shofar for her to read. After reciting the blessing, my Rabbi gave her nine moving blasts of the Shofar. It moved her to tears. Don't know if they were Homesick tears or tears of re-connecting with her Jewish roots, but it was powerful none the less.

All in all we blew Shofar for 19 people who would otherwise not heard the shofar this year. I guess now I really know what it's like to proudly be a Lubavitcher!

Living on the fringes of Galut does have it's advantages sometimes. Where else can you help reignite that little Jewish spark (Pintele Yid) that every Jewish Neshama (Soul) possess? Everyone was appreciative of our efforts. Not one person refused our request of "Can I Blow the Shofar for you to hear". Everyone thanked us profusely. It was certainly the most spiritually charged Rosh Hashanah I have experienced.

May everyone reading be inscribed in the book of life for a happy and healthy 5767!

L'Shana Tova

Being frum and living on the Fringes of Galut always presents itself with many issues to work through. Food choices are limited; Lack of Eruv, not to mention a lack of “Community”, always tests an individual’s faith & determination.

I would say one of the most challenging aspects of living on the Fringe, is not being within walking distance of a Minyan. This is especially concerning during the Holidays.

While most of my davening is done at home and finding hospitality for Shabbos is always an option, The Holidays presents itself with a challenge in regards to preparation.

Between Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Azeret & Simchat Torah, I am looking to arrange accommodations for 7 days!

Fortunately I can rely on my pre-frum days when I used to follow the Grateful Dead from city to city. (The sin of my past life that now has me stuck out here in Galut) There were always rooms to book, extra tickets to find as well as “Crash” space to discover.

Ok, replace all that with Hotel rooms, Yom-Tov meals and Hospitality. Naturally, just like my Grateful Dead days, I’ve left some of the details to the last minute. I’m set for Rosh Hashanah. My family and I will be staying a mile down the street at a hotel. We will be having all our meals with the Rabbi and his family. Normally I stay with my Rabbi for Shabbos hospitality however during the holidays he tends to have more visitors coming down from the Holy City of Crown Heights.

Fortunately we have some time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to work at the details for Yom Kippur.

More to come…. May the holy merits of charity stand for you this Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur!

Galut

Wikipedia defines Galut as:

"The Jewish diaspora (Hebrew: Tefutzah, "scattered", or Galut גלות, "exile") is the dispersion of the Jewish people throughout Babylonia and the Roman Empire. It later spread throughout the world by either migration or conversion. The diaspora is commonly accepted to have begun with the 8th-6th century BCE conquests of the ancient Jewish kingdoms and expulsions of enslaved Jewish population. A number of Middle Eastern Jewish communities were established then as a result of tolerant policies and remained notable centers of Torah life and Judaism for centuries to come. The defeat of the Great Jewish Revolt in the year 70 and of Bar Kokhba's revolt in 135 against the Roman Empire notably contributed to the numbers and geography of the diaspora, as many Jews were scattered after losing their state Judea or were sold to slavery throughout the empire.

The term is also used - in a more spiritual sense - for Jews whose ancestors converted to the religion outside of Israel, even if those people strictly speaking could not be said to be exiles."

So, this Blog is dedicated to journaling my trials and tribulations in Galut. Trying to live a frum life in a very secular region of South East Pennsylvania.

The question is.... Am I spreading Judaism to my non-frum brothers? Igniting a spark of curiosity? Or Just making myself crazy in this self imposed exile. You decide!