| A Jewish Journey Via Cycling
Marj and I have had a long and circuitous journey to our Jewishness. Although my parents were immigrants in Toronto and Marj’s the children of immigrants in Brooklyn, there were striking similarities. Our mothers grew up in Orthodox families and our fathers did not want to darken the doors of a shul. Marj’s family was assimilated and secular, while mine was Orthodox. We both married outside the faith and each raised two children. We both searched for our Jewish affiliations and our Jewish spirituality late in life and, independently, decided, if we remarried, it would have to be to a Jew. Marj lived in the Boston area where she attended various temples until she could find the 'right fit'. In Fresno, California, where I moved after many years in New Hampshire, I joined a shul, a Reform Temple. Cycling and running were my passions and my spiritual supports. My daughter and her family were living in Michigan in 1999. The combination of a family visit and a cycling tour of the Michigan Lower Peninsula seemed to fit my needs. Another tour participant was Marj who was living in Brookline and was a dedicated cyclist. A two year bicoastal relationship developed via the internet and frequent jet trips. I was mostly retired and could easily relocate and move to Brookline. On a cycling trip to Dublin, we visited the Jewish Museum, stood under the hoopa and the world did not end. In April of 2002 we finally married under a hoopa, stepped on the traditional glass, and our Jewish journey truly commenced.
-----Henry Wolstat/Marj Radin
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will feature a new column from a member of the congregation, giving a perspective on the Jewish community as it pertains to their everyday life. If you are interested in contributing a column, please contact jonckatz at aol.com. |  |
