I apologize
Back on March 30th, I was one of the many incredulous citizens that condemned a judge's decision to let a suspected fraud artist leave the country to visit a sick relative, after a co-conspirator had also won such a favour and didn't bother to return. My last words in that post were: I guess you'll be seeing part 3 of this continuing saga come mid-May.
So, it's mid-May, and today's paper features a story about the return to Canada of the fraud suspect.
I apologize!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Four Chabad Rabbis
The four "black hats"
My home town doesn't have many Jews. We used to have many more, but those that wanted to practice their faith moved to bigger centres of Jewish population. Despite our dwindling numbers, we still have three functioning synagogues. The synagogue I attend has a Chabad rabbi. When he walks to the synagogue for sabbath prayers, he wears his traditional black topcoat and black hat. I'm sure he attracts a lot of attention.
This past weekend, our rabbi hosted some of his family members, and of course, they also attended synagogue for the sabbath. On Saturday morning during prayers, the rabbi mentioned that when he and his family members were walking home after Friday night services, they were stopped by two passerby's who wanted to photograph them.
I hadn't really thought much about this, but I imagine it has been many years (if indeed it has ever happened before) that four Chabad rabbis have walked together on the streets of this town. For posterity, I asked that they furnish a picture of the "family" of rabbis.
Our rabbi is third from the left. The other rabbis are his brothers and father.
My home town doesn't have many Jews. We used to have many more, but those that wanted to practice their faith moved to bigger centres of Jewish population. Despite our dwindling numbers, we still have three functioning synagogues. The synagogue I attend has a Chabad rabbi. When he walks to the synagogue for sabbath prayers, he wears his traditional black topcoat and black hat. I'm sure he attracts a lot of attention.
This past weekend, our rabbi hosted some of his family members, and of course, they also attended synagogue for the sabbath. On Saturday morning during prayers, the rabbi mentioned that when he and his family members were walking home after Friday night services, they were stopped by two passerby's who wanted to photograph them.
I hadn't really thought much about this, but I imagine it has been many years (if indeed it has ever happened before) that four Chabad rabbis have walked together on the streets of this town. For posterity, I asked that they furnish a picture of the "family" of rabbis.
Our rabbi is third from the left. The other rabbis are his brothers and father.
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Happy Birthday, Dad
Happy Birthday, Dad
Dad last celebrated his birthday on this day in 2004. Had he not died two months later of an infection contracted in the hospital where he was undergoing a minor, routine procedure, I have no doubt he would be celebrating his 92nd birthday today.
I miss you, big guy!
Despite thinking about him on every birthday (and times in between), this one is more emotional than most. Back in January, 2003, my father left a "Happy Birthday" message on my sister's answering machine. She never erased that message. Recently, she taped that message and had it transferred to a CD. This past weekend, I visited her in Toronto, and she presented me with a copy of that CD for my own birthday.
I confess that I wasn't as "moved" as she was by hearing the CD. It was warm and cute, but not terribly nostalgic... until today. Hearing his voice, picturing his mischievous smile and the sparkle in his eye as he recorded that message... and realizing that it could be me, singing the same song to him for his birthday... it was all too much. I just finished my little cry, and thought I'd share.
Dad last celebrated his birthday on this day in 2004. Had he not died two months later of an infection contracted in the hospital where he was undergoing a minor, routine procedure, I have no doubt he would be celebrating his 92nd birthday today.
I miss you, big guy!
Despite thinking about him on every birthday (and times in between), this one is more emotional than most. Back in January, 2003, my father left a "Happy Birthday" message on my sister's answering machine. She never erased that message. Recently, she taped that message and had it transferred to a CD. This past weekend, I visited her in Toronto, and she presented me with a copy of that CD for my own birthday.
I've since added some photos to it to make a video presentation.
I confess that I wasn't as "moved" as she was by hearing the CD. It was warm and cute, but not terribly nostalgic... until today. Hearing his voice, picturing his mischievous smile and the sparkle in his eye as he recorded that message... and realizing that it could be me, singing the same song to him for his birthday... it was all too much. I just finished my little cry, and thought I'd share.