Every time the High Holidays roll around, one of the memories that keeps popping up is that of the time, when living in Glasgow, we had two last-minute, surprise Israeli visitors for Yom Kippur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shul <\/em>had recruited some students from Yeshivah University to help with the services and events. These young men took a break after Rosh Hashanah and went on a tour of the north of Scotland. On the way back to Glasgow, they picked up two hitchhikers who turned out to be two Israelis…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neither had anywhere to stay and the yeshivah students asked us to help out. So, we hosted them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both were chiloni <\/em>\u2014 secular. Very secular. They had no clue they had arrived on the night of Yom Kippur. I told them I was going to shul and they were coming with. (Looking back, that was not the best way I could have dealt with the situation.) Both were happy to come, but one of them asked how he would get to the airport the next morning \u2014 Yom Kippur \u2014 and I confess that shocked me and tried my diplomatic reserves. How could any Jew, no matter how secular, travel on Yom Kippur? Again, looking back, my perspective now is different, but at the time I was shocked. I told our departing guest, he was free to make arrangements using our phone but I wouldn’t be helping him on the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, both came to shul for Kol Nidre. The next morning, one departed, and the other came with me to shul and joined in the fast. I got the impression this was the first time he (let’s call him Moshe) had fasted on Yom Kippur. It was probably the first time Moshe had fasted. The part that really took my breath away was when Moshe said he couldn’t understand what the prayers were about and couldn’t follow the service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moshe was very personable and was an easy guest. He stayed for a few more days and we took him on a couple of local tours and even went bike riding with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If I had paid attention, I would have realized this experience was divinely manifested to prepare me for the chiloni<\/em>-religious divide in Israeli society. Growing up in Glasgow, in a (relatively) small community, everyone mixed with everyone, regardless of where they were on the religious spectrum. I remember one out-of-town guest to one of my nephew’s Shalom Zachar<\/a> expressing amazement at the mixed crowd who were there to join in the celebration. To us locals, it was the norm. It turns out, there are advantages in living in a smaller Jewish community!<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, as we head towards the end of 5786 and the start of 5787, I’ll turn over these memories in my head, relive the past, remember the present, and hope for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To those who celebrate it, I wish you all a Happy New Year and well over the fast.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Every time the High Holidays roll around, one of the memories that keeps popping up is that of the time, when living in Glasgow, we had two last-minute, surprise Israeli visitors for Yom Kippur. The shul had recruited some students … Continue reading