Old pub at the center. Yesterday, June 1st, dawned bright and sunny here in Elstree, Hertfordshire, England. In itself, that doesn't make headlines in spring. But the day had been booked for a religious parade and celebration for one of the wealthiest group of Jewish people in the land who live close by.
At 11 AM under the sunshade in my back garden, I listened to the lilting music coming from the other side of a high wooden fence. Over the loudspeaker, a male voice reminded me of Neil Diamond, the wonderful singer from the 70s & 80s. A female voice interwove the melody backed by guitar and other instruments I couldn't identify, evoking memories of the musical Fiddler on the Roof.
In the afternoon, I sat inside my front room while more and more people passed by on the footpath and spilled onto the road, which, although busy, only allows two red double-decker busses to squeeze by either way and no space for parking.
By three o'clock whole families strode up the steep hill to the Shtiebel next door. Men in black suits with hats or skull-caps, boys sporting caps pinned to their hair, girls wearing fine dresses with ribbons in their hair, accompanied by their mothers. As the crowd swelled, boys walked among them proudly bearing lit torches. Fathers carried their babies or pushed them uphill.
At 11 AM under the sunshade in my back garden, I listened to the lilting music coming from the other side of a high wooden fence. Over the loudspeaker, a male voice reminded me of Neil Diamond, the wonderful singer from the 70s & 80s. A female voice interwove the melody backed by guitar and other instruments I couldn't identify, evoking memories of the musical Fiddler on the Roof.
In the afternoon, I sat inside my front room while more and more people passed by on the footpath and spilled onto the road, which, although busy, only allows two red double-decker busses to squeeze by either way and no space for parking.
By three o'clock whole families strode up the steep hill to the Shtiebel next door. Men in black suits with hats or skull-caps, boys sporting caps pinned to their hair, girls wearing fine dresses with ribbons in their hair, accompanied by their mothers. As the crowd swelled, boys walked among them proudly bearing lit torches. Fathers carried their babies or pushed them uphill.
Newly converted Elstree Shtiebel Along the road, pole bearers supported a canopy under which chanting men followed the rabbi who held the Sefer Torah to its new home at the Elstree Shtiebel (Synagog), slowing the traffic one way although cars whizzed by downhill on the other side of the road under the trees. I couldn't help but join in with the cheerfulness of the happy smiling faces. But then, movement caught my eye. I'd nearly missed four white horses pulling an open cart with singing men, hands out and heads lifted to the sky.
All the neighbors received printed invitations one month ago to attend the celebration in memory of Reb Yitzchok Dovid Tajtelbaum, the owner's father who died in the holocaust. My husband wore his dark green suit so he could put in an appearance at the buffet at 4.30, although he didn't see any of our friends. I guess he stood out among the black-clad men because the host thanked him for coming.
Although I didn't accompany him because of my disability, I told my husband afterward how proud I was of him.
All the neighbors received printed invitations one month ago to attend the celebration in memory of Reb Yitzchok Dovid Tajtelbaum, the owner's father who died in the holocaust. My husband wore his dark green suit so he could put in an appearance at the buffet at 4.30, although he didn't see any of our friends. I guess he stood out among the black-clad men because the host thanked him for coming.
Although I didn't accompany him because of my disability, I told my husband afterward how proud I was of him.
Interior And the reason: Because of his tolerance. On two occasions in his past, he'd been duped by Jewish men. Before I met him in the 70s, he'd been persuaded to invest a considerable sum of money in a business with two brothers. As soon as the money hit the bank, it was sucked up to pay company debts whereupon the business folded and my husband lost his status as a millionaire. (A fool and his money are quickly parted.) Last year, the owner of the converted pub, now Shtiebel, insulted him after he'd done a job. My husband chose to ignore the slights against him and turn the other cheek.
If only the rest of the world could achieve the same tolerance. A climate of hate has been blamed for the attack on Brussels Jewish museum that killed three people last week.
We are all people of the Earth and should have the freedom to worship our Creator as we choose—as long as we don't harm others.
This brings to mind the Pilgrims, who disagreed with the religious teachings of the Church of England. So much so, they sailed from Portsmouth and arrived in Holland, but after 12 years of poor conditions, they set sail for America.
Now, England tolerates all religions. I love the diversity in society.
If only the rest of the world could achieve the same tolerance. A climate of hate has been blamed for the attack on Brussels Jewish museum that killed three people last week.
We are all people of the Earth and should have the freedom to worship our Creator as we choose—as long as we don't harm others.
This brings to mind the Pilgrims, who disagreed with the religious teachings of the Church of England. So much so, they sailed from Portsmouth and arrived in Holland, but after 12 years of poor conditions, they set sail for America.
Now, England tolerates all religions. I love the diversity in society.
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