From Hatikva to the Rebbe
What a day!! I feel that today wasnt just physically long, but spiritually I went through many boundaries today. This morning started off at the Misrad Hapnim were I made Aliyah. So I am now officially Israeli. The day ended at the Siyum HaShas, with a crowd of a few thousand people, probably none of which were Israeli (except Sim-and me). I was actually daydreaming a bit (during the yiddishy parts) about the Rabbi asking whoever went to the army to raise their hand. I was pretty sure my hand would be the only one up. While most of the time I didnt really get what they were talking about, cuz the English wasnt so impressive. I had a few highlights.
1) The Rabbi who got up to speak and I recognized him from my Gedolim cards. He doesnt have a beard cuz the Nazis put his chin in acid or something like that. I think I had 2 of his cards. Shauli, you definitely remember, the cowboy looking guy.
2) The Rabbi that started yelling about the evils of the internet.
3) When the singing started after the hadran and the crowd rushed the stage. The ushers (Beis boys) tried to keep them off but were very unsuccesful.
4) I was very impressed with the volume and emotion during Kaddish. I think that was the highlight from a religious standpoint, just to see all these Jews standing together responding to Kaddish. the speeches didnt do it so much for me, they were hard to understand. i understand english and hebrew and even a bit of hebrish but the half yiddish half english muttered in an undertone not quite into the microphone doesnt so it for me.
5)I liked the Pittsburgher Rebbe, for a few reasons. I like that hes called Pittsburgher. Enough with calling Rabbis after cities in Europe from a hundred years ago. I also liked how he said "The yidden in mitrazyim didnt change their names. riven was still riven. riven apperently is pitteburghy for reuven. and Krishme, which at first I thought had to do with christians, is Kriat Shma. But I especially liked how he admitted that he didnt finish Shas this time around, but he wants to next time. That inspires me to want to give it a shot.
6) You can always tell which Rabbis are Chassidish or not. The Chassidish ones have the two Chassidishe guys that look like Rabbis but are really bodyguards standing there scanning the crowd while the Rebbe speaks.
All in all, Sim and I had a great time. So I would like to publicly thank sim for the ticket, and also for the KFC dinner beforehand. Although we had to wait more than a half hour for our food, it was very good. Shany also says thank you for the wings.
The Aliyah part wasnt so interenting. The lady just filled out the papers signed them and told me where to get my ID. no smiles, no mazal tov, just straight up beaureacracy. and I had to go pay 20 shek to take the pictures to give them. But over all I feel good making Aliya.
1) The Rabbi who got up to speak and I recognized him from my Gedolim cards. He doesnt have a beard cuz the Nazis put his chin in acid or something like that. I think I had 2 of his cards. Shauli, you definitely remember, the cowboy looking guy.
2) The Rabbi that started yelling about the evils of the internet.
3) When the singing started after the hadran and the crowd rushed the stage. The ushers (Beis boys) tried to keep them off but were very unsuccesful.
4) I was very impressed with the volume and emotion during Kaddish. I think that was the highlight from a religious standpoint, just to see all these Jews standing together responding to Kaddish. the speeches didnt do it so much for me, they were hard to understand. i understand english and hebrew and even a bit of hebrish but the half yiddish half english muttered in an undertone not quite into the microphone doesnt so it for me.
5)I liked the Pittsburgher Rebbe, for a few reasons. I like that hes called Pittsburgher. Enough with calling Rabbis after cities in Europe from a hundred years ago. I also liked how he said "The yidden in mitrazyim didnt change their names. riven was still riven. riven apperently is pitteburghy for reuven. and Krishme, which at first I thought had to do with christians, is Kriat Shma. But I especially liked how he admitted that he didnt finish Shas this time around, but he wants to next time. That inspires me to want to give it a shot.
6) You can always tell which Rabbis are Chassidish or not. The Chassidish ones have the two Chassidishe guys that look like Rabbis but are really bodyguards standing there scanning the crowd while the Rebbe speaks.
All in all, Sim and I had a great time. So I would like to publicly thank sim for the ticket, and also for the KFC dinner beforehand. Although we had to wait more than a half hour for our food, it was very good. Shany also says thank you for the wings.
The Aliyah part wasnt so interenting. The lady just filled out the papers signed them and told me where to get my ID. no smiles, no mazal tov, just straight up beaureacracy. and I had to go pay 20 shek to take the pictures to give them. But over all I feel good making Aliya.
posted by stillruleall at 11:55 PM
2 Comments:
first of all i started laughing as soon as you mentioned the cowboy rabbi, even before you mentioned me( i know im going to hell) i saw his pic the other day, i took it when i saw him israel, and i told nat that he was teh cowboy rabbi.
in all my years in pittsburgh, i never heard of teh pittsburgher rebbi, i have heard of the clevender tho...i heard you were so inspired you started teh daf..good luck with taht
you know, i also started the daf... so far i missed the first day.
also, did you know the siyum was actually broadcast over the internet? hypocrites... such a pritzusdik medium, no good can possibly come of it.
and david, you commented on my blog that going to the army was bitul torah! oh, maybe that's just golani...
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