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Brick by Brick
Have you ever wondered what was the most unique synagogue you have ever been to?
Throughout my years, I’ve had the privilege of visiting many shuls, each one with its own unique charm and significance. Whenever I find myself in a new city, there’s a special joy in exploring the local shul. It might sound odd, but I get a certain excitement when I discover and pray in synagogues that are in unusual locations or have a special historic meaning. The more unexpected or distant the location, the deeper the experience. From Dubai to Arkansas, and countless places in between, these moments of prayer and discovery have been among the highlights of my travels (shout out to Chabad!).
I'd like to share a unique shul experience from my recent trip to visit family in NY. Before I get into the details, let me preface by saying that my experience growing up in Rockland County, NY, was very different from what it is now. As a child, I remember several houses on my block belonging to non-Jewish families. However, over the past decade, the community has grown to be the largest Jewish county in the USA.
This growth has brought an influx of kosher restaurants, Jewish conveniences, schools, shuls, and more. You can even walk into the local 7-Eleven near my family’s home and order a glatt kosher hotdog. The Exxon gas station sells cholent, potato kugel, herring, and many other kosher delights before Shabbat. The local CVS carries a full line of kosher products along with Jewish magazine publications at the checkout. It goes without saying that there are dozens of shuls in every direction you turn.
A friend of mine insisted that I must check out the "Baal Shem Tov Shul." I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I went in with an open mind (an open mind is crucial for traveling!). The Baal Shem Tov, literally "Master of the Good Name," was a great rabbi and a key Jewish figure in 18th-century Eastern Europe and the founder of the Hasidic movement. He was known for infusing his students' Torah study with joy and spirit. During a dark time in Jewish history, he brought light and holiness that continues to shine today.
This shul turned out to be unique, almost like no other! It's a stunning replica of the Baal Shem Tov’s original shul in Medzhybizh, Ukraine, nestled in a quiet area that lends a sense of calm and serenity. As I approached, the pathway was lit with fire torches, giving it a medieval feel, reminiscent of the old country. Though I’ve never been to Ukraine, this felt like the closest experience. To top it off, the building includes 22 bricks retrieved from the rubble of synagogues destroyed during the Holocaust, as well as fragments from the Mila 18 bunker in the Warsaw Ghetto. It was a lot to take in.
That morning happened to be Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, the month leading into the three weeks building up to Tisha B'Av, which is the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. During these three weeks (which started this past Tuesday), we try to get ourselves into the mindset to properly mourn the destruction of the Temple. It is customary to refrain from weddings, parties and live music.
As I prayed the special Rosh Chodesh prayer called yaaleh v’yavo, I put extra intent into the part where we pray for Hashem to remember the Messiah and Jerusalem. After the services, I learned that upon the completion of this building in 2022, there was a special brick-laying ceremony with Holocaust survivors that took place on Tisha B’Av -- which is also, eerily, the day the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto began in 1942.
As I exited the shul, I literally kissed those bricks and felt in my heart that we have a lot of work to do as a Jewish nation -- but I felt confident that we can!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Josh
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