Second of two parts.
Re: “What Could Go Wrong in Temecula?”
Shabbat, as every unmarried Jew on earth realizes, is a time for family. There we were last President’s Day weekend in Temecula, kibitzing on the living room floor with Rabbi Yonasan Abrams’s playful young family of three daughters, all younger than 5.
However as a fast-tiring 10 o’clock struck, and with a two-mile hike back to our hotel facing us, it was time to climb off the floor and say good night to all of the Abramses.
We would see them at 9 a.m. at the Chabad of Temecula synagogue for Shabbat services.
What could go wrong? Walking swiftly across the commercial landscapes of downtown Temecula, we did not quite walk in tandem. Hurrying to catch up, I mis-stepped at a steep curb. In a flash I was parallel to the ground, headed for an unforgiving wall.
After the wall and I unforgettably met, I remember sitting up, trying to stanch the blood streaming from above my right eye. 9-1-1 sirens sounded. I was explaining to the kindly first responders how the stubborn wall and I had met.
Five hours in the E.R. quickly answered the question of how Shabbat day would be spent.
Resting.
My heavily bandaged and bloodied head, hair standing at attention, was wrapped in a way that I could have walked out of a 1950s cowboys-and-Indians movie.
Once again an Abrams family Shabbat guest had not fulfilled his promise to participate in morning services.
A Huge Surprise – and Reward
When Shabbat ended at 6:15 Saturday evening, Rabbi Abrams telephoned our hotel to learn what had happened. After the desk clerk told him I resembled a war refugee, from the losing side, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Abrams hurriedly rounded up appropriate end-of-Shabbat food – and their family — and they headed out for our hotel.
Stunned by their elaborate generosity, we spent a magnificent traditional evening, punctuated happily by playtime for the young girls.
A newly born friendship with Rabbi Abrams and his family was sealed, and that brings us to the purpose of this happy recollection.
As an Orthodox rabbi representing Chabad in a community of scattered Jews for whom Shabbat is more a memory than a practice, the struggle is real life for young Rabbi Abrams.
Periodically, he sounds out creative fundraising missives. Here is huis latest:
Why Chabad is the Bernie Sanders of Judaism in Temecula:
- We believe in the youth to make a revolution and put important things, like (Jewish) education, onto the front burner.
- “We’ve heard enough about the d**n emails” and won’t judge you. We despise labels like “reform,” “conservative” and “orthodox.” We accept everyone for who they are. No one is too far gone for us.
- We’re not supported by Wall Street. Our average donation size is $77. Most of our support comes from regular, caring people like you. Many of them are signed up for modest, monthly contributions in our Chai Club. Jewishtemecula.com/donate
- Regardless of the winning odds, we stand unfazed, and we will continue marching to the convention. Thank G-d, we’re actually doing quite well, but know that Natanya and I are in Temecula to stay and we won’t give up on you.
JewishTemecula.com/plannedgiving