On August 26-27, Rabbi Zev Reichman of Englewood led a successful kiruv Shabbaton in historic Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, which has not seen a Torah minyan from the time of its establishment in 1671. Adding to the historic nature of the event was the fact that many Jews abandoned their businesses on Shabbat to attend an Orthodox minyan for the first time. Two Jews dropped their spatulas from their Winter Street grill to hear Parshat Eikev, the haftarah and the blessing over the new month of Elul. They were joined by an active Israeli fighter pilot, a convert from Catholicism, a beauty product entrepreneur and a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor, who retired to the island many years ago. Each minyan was followed by a lavish kiddush with delicacies including including kosher wine, glatt kosher hot schnitzel and cholent, which were shipped in from Boston’s Ora Catering. The kiruv event was sponsored by Hadarta.org and Arianna Skin Care of New York.

By JLNJ Staff