At Home Across the Globe

By Richard S. Moline
Chief Outreach Officer, USCJ

My first visit to Israel was when I was 17. On a free night (we were able to have free nights back then), I was able to visit an older cousin I had never met. I remember him picking me up at the bus stop near his home in Ramat Gan and greeting me as if I was his son. Hugs and kisses were plentiful. I was at once thrilled by the experience and shocked that this stranger was greeting me as if I’d known him my entire life.

Back at his home I was fed like I hadn’t ever eaten before. As each food came out, I was told that my great-grandfather used to make this or that this was served at some cousin’s house whenever the family got together in their Eastern European shtetl. This man and his wife were giving my our collective family history with each course. And while I admit I didn’t really love all of the food (I cannot stand herring), that’s not what filled me. It was the warmth and love and genuine connection made with total strangers.

A few years ago, Joni and I were going to Israel and we had a scheduled 12 hour layover in Brussels. The timing was right – we had enough time to spend a good part of the day touring the city and would allow ourselves plenty of time to get back to the airport for our flight to Tel Aviv.

Now the question was what to do – what to see? On a lark, I contacted a Masorti (Conservative) rabbi who had been ordained in Israel, but was now living in Brussels, to ask for suggestions. Before long, I received an email from Jacqueline, who offered to be our host and tour guide for the day. While her English was great, she emailed in French (apologizing that it was easier for her), so I asked my brother-in-law, number of years in France as a child, to translate (my high school French can get me to the Eiffel Tower, but not much more).

Jacqueline was a member of the board of her Brussels synagogue and said she simply enjoyed meeting people. She picked us up at the airport, insisted on taking us to her home to give us a chance to shower and change and then took us around town, showing us all of the city’s highlights, including some off the beaten path. We even got a chance to eat at the only kosher restaurant in town and to visit the liberal synagogue where Jacqueline and her family were members. Simply put, it was a great day

A few years ago we spent a few days in London. Since we were going to be there over Shabbat, we specifically chose a hotel close to a Masorti synagogue. The service, of course, was quite familiar in many ways. In place of the prayer for the United States, there was a prayer for the welfare of the government in Great Britain, including the mention of Queen Elizabeth and other members of the royal family. It was a fantastic experience. After services on Shabbat morning, when people discovered we were visiting from Chicago, we were introduced to many different synagogue members, we were invited for lunch and also received many offers of assistance should we need anything.

Just a few weeks ago, a friend who was involved in organizing a national conference which was meeting in Chicago (where I live), called and asked if we would be willing to host somebody from out of town for Shabbat meals. Of course, we were happy to do so and were looking forward to meeting our guest, Harvey. Turns out that Harvey is a member of my brother’s synagogue (my brother is the rabbi) and that we had much in common beyond that. We now have a new friend – and not the Facebook kind.

It’s not brain surgery to see what these vignettes have in common. There are many parts of the world which have active and vibrant Jewish communities – and while our culture and practices may differ, our connection as a people trumps it all. Our connection to Jews outside of North America is often limited to Israeli Jews. Jews in Europe or South America or elsewhere generally are not on our radar. Yet there are active, vibrant communities and communities of caring Jews in many different parts of the world – and not only Chabad!

Many of you will be traveling over the summer months and may find yourselves in disparate parts of the world. As you travel and see the world’s wonders, find the Jewish community. Make contact with those who share our collective history. You can get information on Masorti communities by visiting www.masortiworld.org. Make some new friends. And not the Facebook kind.

[Posted 7/3/11]