Shabbos
Had an interesting Shabbat- dinner at the Chabad house, which was less than 15 people, which was quite pleasant, if totally unusual in that environment (but possibly repeatable: usually I avoid Chabad because it's too jam-packed and that makes me crazy, but here there was space, and quite reasonable ambient noise, and apparently they plan on repeating the invitation: it's surprising they wouldn't really want the summers more to themselves, but I guess one gets used to company.) I came home and crashed after asking about a Shabbat/weekday distinction in their bentchers that I've seen nowhere else: ro'einu vs. r'einu and a short walk and crashed.
I got myself to shul this morning just in time, although there were only 3 other people there at the time and was promptly invited to lead P'sukei D'zimra which I did accept, with my usual predilection for that part of the service. The rabbi was much less talkative since there weren't guests besides the three of us from my building: I think there were maybe 14 people total by the end. So it was a much nicer service than last time. Steve did some layning, and the gentleman who usually layns and leads Musaf said we were welcome to pick up as much of that as we'd like: he does it mostly because no one else generally will. He seemed like quite a remarkable gentleman: he started reading torah on a regular basis at 60, heck, he moved here 38 years ago (and the man must be 80 at the youngest) and speaks English quite well. And he's a holocaust survivor, as is his wife. Some people are really very impressive in their personal strength. I enjoyed talking with him and the other folks at the kiddush/lunch. Interestingly, the gentleman who was gabbaying had spent a good chunk of time coming to daven with us at Brandeis- but he seems to be quite happy with this congregation now, which was nice to see. And it seems that if I get up just a little bit earlier, I might be able to hit morning minyan on occasion and still get to work on time. Maybe I'll pick a day or two a week and start going: I wouldn't have to get up much earlier.
And then there was a little lunch and we came home and I napped. And read, and ate, and after Shabbos, Steve, Steve and I took a bit of a walk around campus.
I got myself to shul this morning just in time, although there were only 3 other people there at the time and was promptly invited to lead P'sukei D'zimra which I did accept, with my usual predilection for that part of the service. The rabbi was much less talkative since there weren't guests besides the three of us from my building: I think there were maybe 14 people total by the end. So it was a much nicer service than last time. Steve did some layning, and the gentleman who usually layns and leads Musaf said we were welcome to pick up as much of that as we'd like: he does it mostly because no one else generally will. He seemed like quite a remarkable gentleman: he started reading torah on a regular basis at 60, heck, he moved here 38 years ago (and the man must be 80 at the youngest) and speaks English quite well. And he's a holocaust survivor, as is his wife. Some people are really very impressive in their personal strength. I enjoyed talking with him and the other folks at the kiddush/lunch. Interestingly, the gentleman who was gabbaying had spent a good chunk of time coming to daven with us at Brandeis- but he seems to be quite happy with this congregation now, which was nice to see. And it seems that if I get up just a little bit earlier, I might be able to hit morning minyan on occasion and still get to work on time. Maybe I'll pick a day or two a week and start going: I wouldn't have to get up much earlier.
And then there was a little lunch and we came home and I napped. And read, and ate, and after Shabbos, Steve, Steve and I took a bit of a walk around campus.