There is something about New York City that is unlike any other place I have ever been too!
It has a pulse and and a beat that just gets into your blood and puts a spring in your step.
I visit New York at least once a year in February (brrr) when over two thousand Chabad women ambassadors from around the world come to Crown Heights, Brooklyn for their annual convention. After registering and receiving our special photo ID badges and handbags, we can partake in lectures and workshops led by the finest teachers and mentors that Chabad has to offer.
What to choose is always the dilemma. Do I want to brush up on my textual skills, learn some new recipes and entertainment techniques from a visiting chef , or perhaps I want to hear what a well known educator has to say about “Those Glorious Years, Delving into the Mind of your Teenager”? Hmm, I do have teenagers and I certainly do want to know whats going on in their minds, but this year I end up choosing something educational and go to some great workshops on “The Role of Women in Judaism.”
The workshops and study sessions are great, but the best part of the convention is the camaraderie among the women. It becomes a special bonding time for mothers, daughters, sisters, sisters-in-laws, cousins and of course machatanim (that uniquely Yiddish title to describe anybody that is somehow connected to your family through marriage), not to mention old friends. It was absolutely invigorating, catching up talking about our children and our work, our husbands (just kidding, husband talk is off limits this weekend) gaining strength and support from each other through laughter and more often then not tears.
There is always a very special moment during the convention when you are asked to turn to the woman next to you and to bentch (bless) her and to be blessed in return. It is such a powerful, heartfelt moment as blessings for health, nachas (enjoyment) from the children, and success in all endeavors, echo throughout the room.
My dear sister Toby and I stayed together at our family apartment and had a wonderful time together with my older children, Levi (the yeshiva students get some time off to spend with their mothers) and Sarale, who had a high school program of her own, and all their friends. Spending time with the younger (but somehow growing up) set, was a real kick. It seemed like yesterday that we were in their shoes, running around with friends until the wee hours.
The highlight of the weekend was when we went to pray in the Rebbe’s room. It was here where Rabbi Mencham Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory, spent much of his days and nights, learning, writing and corresponding with the thousands who asked for his advice from around the world. This small room has an almost tangible, holy energy in it.
The room was opened for visits on Saturday night. Somehow my sister and I joined a group of French students waiting in line and ended up taking over and establishing order as hundreds of girls poured into the small room to recite Psalms. (That’s what happens when when you’re in the oldest five of a large family, naturellement!)
A special thanks to my dear sister-in-law, Sarah Farkash, and her husband Velvel for hosting all of us for Shabbat dinner. It is always a blast to see all the Farkash’s, especially Estee from Sydney Australia.
I want to thank my dear husband Mordechai for holding down the fort while I received so much inspiration and recharged my worn batteries for another year, and especially for encouraging me to stay an extra day.
I love New York, I really do! Yet as we took off for home last Tuesday (narrowly missing that huge blizzard), I was so excited to return home to see my family, my community and to throw myself into another year of teaching, entertaining and organizing programs.
Home is where the heart is!
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