Back to Real Life!

Whew, what a month!

Packed with guests, delicious meals (too delicious) and inspiration!

Now where to?

The house is being put back together, party-ware put away, shelves straightened out, and the children put to bed on time for the first time in weeks.

From a very young age I spent this holiday month by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. I didn’t quite realize it then, but those where very special times and I was very lucky to be a part of  it. As guests poured  in from all over the world, the neighborhood took on a special sparkle and glow. All would be dressed in their finest attire as they stood online to receive lekach (honey cake) from the Rebbe, with wishes for a “Sweet New Year.” The Rebbe stood for hours and saw so many people but when it was your turn you felt as if you were the first and only person to come by.

770 Eastern Parkway (the Rebbe’s synagogue) was transformed into a sea of white on Yom Kippur, and the holiness in the hushed room where thousands prayed together filled you to the very depths of your being.

After the High Holidays preparations for Sukkot went into full swing, sounds of nails being pounded into wood reverberated through the streets (this was before  the Pop Up Sukkah). Tables of Arba Minim (four species) lined the main avenue perfuming the air with a unique scent, as all went about carefully choosing the nicest that they could afford. We ate most Sukkot meals by my grand-parents, carefully carrying out trays of food from the kitchen through the dining room -living room to the balcony where the Sukkah stood, treading carefully in our high heels on the plastic runners that ran through the rooms to protect the floors from the dirt (hmm I wonder where you can get those runners). Sometimes it was bitterly cold, raining or both, yet the nigunim (holiday songs) from neighboring Sukkot, mingling with the singing from our own table, gave me a cozy,warm feeling of contentment .

Simchat Torah meant long lines to find a good spot to watch Hakafot (celebration with the Torah) and the dancing and singing went on into the wee hours of the morning.

It was very hard to go back to real life after Tishrei (Jewish month) with the Rebbe.

While I feel sad that my children won’t have those experiences,  the Rebbe, a teacher to us in all areas of life, established Chabad Houses all over the world to offer the same type of opportunities!

Spirituality, joy, reverence and awe are just some of the feelings that I have felt while celebrating the holidays here at ETC and it comforts me to know that my children look forward to it year after year.

So now back to reality, homework, lunches, carpools, and chores; and here again we have an insight from the Rebbe, who would say that during this month you are to pack up all these precious experiences in pecklach (backpacks) to be taken out and treasured throughout the year.

May we only have a good one and meet at happy occasions!

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