OK. It’s time... It’s been a fun ride, but my family and I really need to move to a frum community.
Life in the fringes of Galut is hard. Yes, it is possible to be frum and live in the fringes of Galut. Yes I’ve been doing it for close to 7 years now, but it’s not about me. I need my kids to grow up in a Jewish Community.
As a middle aged male, standing out in a crowd is no big deal. Getting yelled at and gestured from passing cars, stinks, but I can “live” with it. Being isolated from kosher restaurants is hard but on the plus side I need to eat better. Not being able to walk to shul and have to schnoor hospitability isn’t ideal but works.
Yeah, It kind of works for me, but for my two young sons, they really need a community where being Jewish is part of the norm. Where their friends keep shabbos and they don’t have to feel left out because they can’t eat with their friends or go out with their friends.
This trying to fit a frum life in a goyisha community ain’t working.
So… Here’s the declaration:
After 14 years at my current employer, I need to find a new job
I need to then find a Community
I need to find a House
I need to find an affordable Jewish Day School for my kids
I need to see if I can get this to happen by this time next year.
That’s the family goal, that’s the family plan!
Last Sunday I spent the day on a “Recon” mission in the Baltimore area. I spent the day scoping out shuls, communities, stores and restaurants. This Sunday I will take the family down with me to do more of the same. We are keeping out option open to a North Jersey, Chicago, Boston, DC or LA type a move as well.
I guess the more conservative approach (Which is more my style) is to get a Job first, then move. Finding a community/house first then finding a job I guess works too, but a tad more risky. Each has their pluses and minuses. Either way… The Gloves are off. We are going for it!
