It was an unexpected pleasure to receive a call from Betty*, asking to light Shabbos candles with us. Of course, we agreed. Betty shared that her mother was an Israeli Jew, who’d passed when she was a little girl. She’d been raised by her non-Jewish father in an isolated corner of Pennsylvania, without a single Jew around for miles. A recent Birthright trip had inspired her to call us.
Betty returned for the following Shabbosim, and soon became an extended member of our family. We encouraged her to join Rabbi Manis Friedman’s Snorkel and Study summer program, and she even attended seminary in Israel. When Betty, now Bracha, walked to her chuppah, she asked us to be her escorts, leading her towards her future husband and home as we’d led her down the path of Yiddishkeit years before. She and her husband have since moved to a Jewish community, and volunteered to host a Tanya shiur given by the local shliach.
Emily* barely acknowledged her Jewishness, although I saw her whenever I bought bread at the bakery in which she worked. Her father wasn’t Jewish, and her upbringing had never led her to a greater appreciation of her heritage. Somehow, she was convinced to join us for the Rosh Hashanah meal.
“I don’t like organized religion,” she declared, as she entered. “That’s okay,” I assured her. “We’re not very organized.” Emily chuckled, and, the ice broken, even managed to enjoy herself. One thing led to another, and soon, Emily was hooked. She furthered her education and commitment in a baalas teshuva seminary in Israel, and soon afterwards, married Avi*, who’d learned about Judaism through his shluchim in Cornell. She now teaches in a Chabad school in New York, and loves hosting college students for Shabbos.
“Hello, Rabbi. My name is Greg Kinsley*. Can I come to your office to put on tefillin?” I’d put on tefillin with plenty of people, but I always had to chase after them. It was a welcome surprise to get a request! Mr. Kinsley was a professor, and, despite his non-Jewish sounding name, was, indeed, Jewish. Over time, he became one of our “regulars.” When we started holding Shabbos morning minyanim, they were sparsely attended, but Greg always showed up. He gave himself the title of “AGIT,” Assistant Gabbai in Training. He came early each week to learn Chassidus with me, his eyes lighting up as we discussed novel ideas and concepts. Unfortunately, Mr. Kinsley passed away last year. He remained a good friend to the end.
