We just returned from an amazing road trip with the family – final destination, New York! Purpose was tovisit the Ohel in honor of our daughter Chaya Mushka’s bas mitzvah and for Rabbi Chaim’s nephew, Rabbi Chanoch Rosenfeld’s wedding. While we were at it, we got to celebrate Rivky’s birthday in NY, with a special visit to the ohel as well!
Heading north we stopped on Sunday at Milk & Honey in Dallas for a meat lunch (go figure?) and Tulsa for jumping off the walls – literally (instead of the car). We were excited when a restroom stop chanced on the Sam Houston Statue standing 60 feet tall!
We did an overnight stay somewhere in route to St. Louis with a special Monday visit to City Museum that is a one of kind amazing place for kids (and kids at heart) to climb in suspended three story high tunnels and more to explore. We ended the day with dinner at a cute family owned deli called Kohn’s.
Overnighted off the road somewhere on the way to Chanie’s brother on Tuesday, Rabbi Shimon & Mushkie Galperin, Shluchim in Solon, Ohio. There we saw…. Snow – including a full-blown snowball fight!!! That put us just in time for midnight on January 1, 2014 at Rabbi Chaim’s sister, Chassi & Hirsh
Melech Rivkin’s home in Morristown, NJ. Chanie’s brother Mendel is learning in Rabbinical College in Morristown – so he joined us too! There we watched fireworks from her porch while eating steaks and other good stuff. Perfect timing and geographical placement for a visit on Wednesday morning to Chanie’s sister, Nechama Dina & Sholom Ber Hendel in Monsey, NY where we got to make homemade SPELT pizza from scratch! Finally arrived Wednesday evening at Chanie’s parents for dinner.
Yes, that's crazy Rabbi Chaim & Mendel
First day in NY warrants an immediate visit to the Rebbe’s ohel in honor of Chaya Mushka’s bas mitzvah. It was very special to go together as a family at this auspicious time.
The rest of the weekend was spent fighting the snow and slush, visiting the grandmothers and doing the thing Chabad Texans do in NY, like eating ice cream in 7 degree polar frost weather. Chanie’s sister Raizy came down to visit from Albany and we got to visit another sister Mushky & Rabbi Yossi Bendet as well. It was also great to trudge through the snow exploring 770 and Crown Heights together with Allison Roberman who has moved back to NY.
We celebrated Rabbi Chaim’s nephew, Chanoch Rosenfeld’s wedding on Monday night. It was great for
the whole family and cousins to spend some joyous time together dancing and celebrating. We packed the van on Tuesday in time for the first Sheva Brachos and hit the road that night immediately after the party to beat the horrendous NYC morning traffic overnighting somewhere in Pennsylvania. To our luck the famous landmark Natural Bridge is a privately owned enterprise and closed for owner transfer just a few day prior to our arrival :(.
We pretty much rushed home to be able to get back in time for the last minute preparations for the big Shabbaton this weekend with Rabbi Leib Schapiro. But, of course we had to stop when Mendel sighted an army tank, jeep, bomber, chopper and more at a Veteran’s memorial in Tuscaloosa and for lunch at Casablanca in New Orleans.
Here we are, at home in our own beds, but, only for one night. We look forward to seeing y’all at the
Shabbaton this weekend, where we expect close to 300 people. Shabbos dinner needs a reservation; the rest is open to all.
To my luck, the internet is offline at Chabad of Uptown, so I had to jump over to 24 hr Starbucks to send this emai. But, you only know that if you read till the end. :)
RAMBAM: Tonight completes the annual study cycle of the Rambam. You can do it this year and study all of Torah’s subjects in one (or three) year(s)! www.chabaduptown.org/rambam
Shabbos Shira, Parshas Beshalach, Yud Shevat
Friday-Saturday, Jan 10-11, 10 Shevat
All Chabad of Uptown services for this Shabbos will be held at Chabad Lubavitch Center, 10900 Fondren Road.
Complete schedule and RSVP link for Shabbos dinner can be found at www.chabadhouston.com/shabbaton
Sunday, Jan. 12
Shacharis at 8:30 amThe Real BLT = Bagels, Lox & Tefillin at 9 am
Have a good Shabbos!
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie