It was not long ago that our son-in-law, Moshe, told us of his dream—his wish—to begin a newspaper in Teaneck. He even told Nina that she would be one of his assistants in the process as soon as we would make our move from Montreal to Bergenfield. Truthfully, we were doubtful that this pipedream of his would come true. We knew that he loved the “newspaper business,” as he had been the editor of the Commentator at YU, but wondered if he would be able to actualize his desire.
With this issue of the Link, we are able to celebrate its first anniversary. Quite amazing when one looks back and wonders where the time went. For the two of us we have a similar reaction when people ask us how long ago we moved here and we realize that what seems like several weeks is almost one and-a-half years. Many family events now revolve around which week the Link will be delivered to door steps. Even while we consider our many family visits to Montreal, Nina worries about getting her Community Calendar in order, her chesed opportunities accurate, etc. There is a sense of obligation and pride.
Admittedly, with the soon to be weekly delivery of the Link, we will come upon new challenges and heightened admiration for the determination that has seen this project to its fruition. We have seen countless friends and acquaintances who have expressed their desire to move to new communities, change professions, explore other living options, wallow in the despair of not being able to try something new. Watching Moshe reminded us of when, after one year of the rabbinate in Brantford, Ontario, we made a critical decision to move back to Boston and reinvent the Glick Kosher Butcher Store in Malden, MA after the passing of Mordechai’s father.
Our uncles, partners in the business, were terrified when their brother Hymie suddenly passed away after returning to his home following Shacharit on a Sunday morning. All the years of hard work and now they were scared and tired. We left the rabbinate, moved to Brookline, and decided to “remake” the store into a modern self-service butcher store. When we look back now, we say to ourselves, “Were we totally-off-the wall crazy?” A humungous loan was taken from a Boston bank and we spent hours deciding about what type of tiles should be on the floor and what shape the sign should be. The only thing that we didn’t think about was the fact that we had no business acumen at all. In fact, on the day the store opened, Mordechai neglected to have change in the cash register. We didn’t anticipate that we were ready for changes in the food industry, but the ladies who came into the store regularly asked for personal service from each of the Glick brothers, and did not want to go to a showcase to choose cellophane-wrapped packages of chopped meat.
After one year of watching our borrowed money get lost forever, we B”H were called by the Young Israel of Val Royal in Montreal to consider leading their congregation. Some of their teenagers had met us at an NCSY Shabbaton and suggested this young rabbinic couple to the lay leaders of the shul. In Boston, we lost our shirts, but maintained our self-esteem and did follow our dream, thinking we would make our fortune in business. Had we not done that we always would have wondered what could have or should have been.
We encourage everyone young and old to follow their dreams. It is never too late and we are so proud of Moshe and Dena for going after theirs. The Link fills an important void in the community, and the initiative that was taken by them is one that makes parents proud.
By Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick
