Purim gives us the opportunity to josh and poke fun. As soon as it is over we return to real life and the facts at hand.
From the time that we began writing this column we shared with our readers many of the challenges of moving from Montreal, where we had lived for 42 years, to Bergenfield, where our life took a total 90-degree, topsy-turvy change. For anyone who thinks moving is an easy thing to do after being known members of a vibrant community for so long, our message to them is you are very wrong.
Now more ensconced in this community, we wish for everyone to know that things are definitely more comfortable and easier. For those who reached out to us over the years we are grateful
We are equally indebted to our Israeli friends who invented WAZE. We are using it less often to find our way around, although the streets of Teaneck are still complicated when walking to someone’s home on Shabbat. Many thanks to Vera and Nechama for inserting the street map of the surrounding communities in the last issue of The Link. We will be one of the first to keep it nearby.
Yes, everyone—this is our home. We hope to meet and greet many more of you over the years. We are comforted by the chesed that exists here. Meeting people such as Jessica Katz, whose life embodies good with her work for Yad Leah; Arlene Eis, who never forgets to send a reminder of when one’s Bikur Cholim appointment is scheduled for; and the Grossbaums, whose energy and dedication to Friendship Circle is a model for all of us, has shed a light on the good fortune we have in being here. The Project Renewal evening several months ago was a beacon for the entire world to learn from. To see many standing on line to be swabbed, including our own children, was heartwarming. What is equally impressive is the number of people in the community who have donated kidneys quietly without anyone else’s knowledge. We had the privilege of meeting someone erev Purim (in Filler Up—how appropriate) who had given her kidney; she was together with her recipient and their procedure had taken place only 6 days prior. We do not have to look farther than that for nissim that we are surrounded by each day.
We are extraordinarily impressed with the camaraderie of the rabbonim. Having been in “the business” for many years, we know this is not always present. The friendship and respect shown by the local rabbis to each other and the combination of learning and chesed programs that are communally shared are deeply impressive.
There is no question in our minds that by having the opportunity to write in The Link each week we have been given an introduction into the homes of many. It is indeed a good feeling when we walk into Costco and have people come over and tell us that they read our column, or the special time that Nina visited Holy Name on her “bikur cholim” day and was told by a patient that she reads her column and sends it to her son in Israel. (Her complaint was that he was not tolerant and she wanted him to read articles by two much more accepting people.)
In every respect we see big changes in ourselves here. The phone still does not ring often but we attribute that to the fact that texting has taken over the world. Shmoozing—what’s that? Who has time, the younger generation might say, but what we find most amazing is that our contemporaries are also texting. So much for a good old conversation. There are still lonely moments, but they are getting fewer and fewer. Anyone who has a free Saturday night or Sunday afternoon is more than welcome to call us to spend the time together. We are open to all suggestions. We are great at listening with or without coffee, ice cream, pizza (as long as it is whole wheat) or just plain company!
By Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick
