"As I was walking through the parking lot", the rabbi began his sermon one shabbos, "I couldn't help but notice how few late model cars there were. Then I realized, the majority of you people here, have committed the ultimate sacrifice in setting your priorities straight, by giving your children a Jewish education, by sending them to Jewish day schools". "Laugh, Laugh" went the the congregation. Guess what, I was one of those who the rabbi so glowingly referred to as "committing this ultimate sacrifice". Actually, I would pray that after shabbos, this 'sacraficial' car of mine would actually start.
That had to be about $180,000 ago, whoops, I mean quite a number of years ago. Quite honestly, I felt kind of proud at the time. After all, here I am, the product of secular Zionist parents, along with my wife (you should hear her story), securing for our children all the benefits of a Jewish education, not just any old Jewish education, but an orthodox one. Not Hebrew school 2-3 times a week. NO! Five solid days of learning Hebrew, Jewish history and of course, Torah.
Then Friday night, shabbos, shul, kiddush, wash, eat, d'var torah (never one of my favorites), bentch, go to sleep, get up early, back to shul, kiddush, wash, lunch, (oh no, not another d'var torah), bentch, nap, back to shul to learn, shul again, havdala, ... all of that, for the kids, but of course. And that is in just one 24/25 hour period. Don't get me started on the rest of the week. But for the kids, anything.
Toss in Jewish camps, NCSY events, air fares to Israel, weddings not in Atlanta where the brides were from, NO!, of course not. That would upset somebody else's parents. Here comes the bus and Jill and I were beginning to be thrown under it. A sheiltel would be pulled and as a result, nothing would ever really be the same again. It's just that Jill and I didn't know it yet.
Maybe it was just the pressure of a wedding not taking place in our home town. After all, doesn't every parent like to feel like guests at their kids weddings. Of course they do. Anything for the kids! Would they do it to us because of a lack of respect for..... NO!, not our Torahdik little ones, they wouldn't do that.......
To be continued......
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