What keeps them going?
It's as though they are just hovering above the ground.
It was after the holidays, we were elated and uplifted from all the celebrations, but also somewhat exhausted from all the singing and dancing of Sukkot and Simchat Torah. We flew to Brooklyn to partake in our niece Shternie and her fiance Dovid's wedding celebration in the Chassidic community of Crown Heights. A girl from
Melbourne Australia to a boy from Toronto, both not locals. In a community where there are three wedding celebrations almost every evening.
That whole community had just celebrated nine days of dancing. Seven days of "Simchat Beit Hashoeiva" dancing in the streets, in the rain, for seven nights of Sukkot, and then two days of Simchat Torah. The people were probably going to be exhausted. Or so we thought.
Boy were we wrong.
The energy in the room at this wedding celebration was just electric! The joy. The Happiness. The non-stop dancing and celebration was just so uplifting. These kids and adults were no way exhausted, they were dancing and celebrating as if it was the only wedding of the
year. . . There was true joy in the air. Everyone was so happy to see this new family being built together.
Watching the young Chassidic boys dancing with the groom, and the girls with the bride, you wonder if they understand the great excitement, miracle and blessing when husband and wife are married to create a new dynamic family? Do they understand how precious this moment is? Do they understand the blessings this couple needs
to be able to make it together in life with all its challenges? Probably not. They probably haven't thought much about it. They know one thing: This is important and it's another opportunity to celebrate Jewish life!
Exhausted? No way! Joy builds on Joy! They are all energized from all the dancing.
You watch and you realize, that this is the energy that keeps these youngsters going. This happiness in life is what motivates them to take on the challenges in life. It's what motivates a young boy
to walk two hours each way in the rain on Simchat Torah to help other Jews celebrate. What motivates a young girl to stand for hours to offer other Jews the opportunity to shake a Lulav in front of the Brooklyn Museum.
It's what motivates a young couple to rush into the hurricane path, rather than away from it. No. They don't have anything more than us to be joyful for. Their lives are far from perfect. But they have the true Jewish, Chassidic joyous attitude that they keep bringing
to the fore, the Simcha that breaks all boundaries, the energy that is the future of Judaism!
Watching them dance you get swept into the circle and realize you too have much to be happy about, and a lot more to still accomplish by being joyful!
Ayayayay!
That's the message we try to instill in our students in the Hochberg Kid's Club: Judaism is exciting, fun, engaging. Judaism is the future!
We welcome our new teachers Emilio and Soraya Shah who will be assisting with Kitah Aleph!
The kids are thrilled to be learning Hebrew, Mitzvot, History, Stories, prayers, songs and Israeli self-defense Krav Maga!
The Women's Circle came together Wednesday for a wonderful event which included, a delicious dinner prepared by Martha Schlenger; a talk about the safeguards Judaism has placed to prevent #MeToo atrocities and protect women (and men), by Devorah Leah; a talk by Judy Moore on modern Jewish woman leader; and practiced Exercising
Your Options with Carolyn Sue Albin, GCFP. A great evening of community and friendship!
And next Friday Night we have a special Chinese Shabbat dinner with guest speakers Drs. Barry Schrager and Audrey Golding Answering the Call; how volunteering for Kartina victims affected our lives.
Friday, Oct. 18, 6:00pm. RSVP www.ShabbatinSantaFe.com
We wish a hearty Happy Birthday to Trudy Blitz, Mother of Beverly Berger, Grandmother of Erica Gomez, and Great-grandmother of Lili and Maya Gomez, upon entering her 100th year! Biz hundred un tzvantzig!
Special thanks to Bob Whittet for all your assistance during the holidays including building the Sukkah, security coordination, donating lots of l'chaim and much more!
So, here's the upcoming schedule:
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Today 6:15pm - Services and dinner
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Tomorrow, 9:30am - Kabbalah of the Flood, services and lunch
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Monday, 6:00pm - Lech Lecha, the Journey of Abraham Torah study
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Tuesday, 9:30am - Capital Punishment in the Talmud
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Wednesday, 10:00am - Women's Torah, Radically Jewish Business Ethic
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Wednesday, 3:30 - Hochberg Jewish Kids Club
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Friday, 6:00pm - Chinese Shabbat dinner with guest speaker
Shabbat
Shalom!
L'chaim!
Rabbi Berel and Devorah Levertov
