American Jewish Spirit – “From the Publisher”
Torah Partners Robin and Rochie meeting for the first time in Brooklyn.
Three years ago, my husband and I each took the plunge. We signed up with Partners in Torah (see story, page 33) to have a phone Torah-study partner once a week. After speaking with a “matchmaker” who asked me a series of questions about my interests, I was “matched up” with a woman named Rochie from Brooklyn. Rochie is one of well over 5,000 people around the country who currently volunteer their time one hour a week to study with someone who wants to learn more about Judaism.
Fast forward three years. I have learned about Shabbos, Purim, Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I had had absolutely no clue how to keep these holidays kosher let alone what their deep spiritual meanings were. Rochie guided me through the Jewish calendar and we became closer as we discussed our kids, carpools, making dinner and homework! We spent nearly a year learning the meaning of prayers – especially the Shemonah Esrei.
Recently, my husband and I decided to visit to New York to meet our Partners in Torah. We’d been to New York before (we’re from Arizona), but never to Jewish New York – you know, Brooklyn, Boro Park.
It was actually Rochie who inspired this private getaway with my husband. She told me of the trips she takes alone with her husband and how important it was for the marriage. Thanks, Rochie!
Rochie knew what I looked like because I had sent cards with family photos over the years – but I had no idea what she looked like. We were destined to meet at the bustling Chinese-American restaurant, Coney on Essex. At 7pm, we met and it was totally amazing. Here we were, sitting across from one another at a restaurant in Brooklyn. I really could not believe it. We had studied by phone for more than 3 years – across more than 3000 miles – Phoenix to Brooklyn!
Rochie has taught me so much and whenever I get overwhelmed at how much more I need to learn, she always gently reminds me not to get too frustrated – Torah is like a huge hose and I can’t just “drink” it in all at once, she says.
Monday night we met my husband’s Partner in Torah in Boro Park. It was a thrill to enter a different Jewish neighborhood. Boro Park is certainly a taste for the eyes. It felt like we were in the heart of Jerusalem. The ladies are impeccably dressed, with the men in customary long black coats. For my husband, meeting his Torah Partner was extremely special. All the late nights on the phone learning Hebrew and eventually learning passages of the Gemara from R’Greenberg had set up a “reunion” that was truly inspirational.
On Tuesday, as we ate our last New York meal before heading to the airport, I asked my husband, whose eyes had been full of wonder and delight during this highly charged spiritual trip, “so do you want to move to NY?” His reply was slow in coming. He paused and then said, “No, I like living in Arizona… but I sure do want access to all the holiness and everything Jewish NY has to offer – so let’s come back more often!”
I invite you to read more about the inspiring stories Partners in Torah is spreading throughout the country in our feature on page 33. So no matter where you live in the world – as long as you have access to a phone – Torah is close.
Please call me anytime to share your thoughts about American Jewish Spirit. Robin Davina Meyerson Founding Publisher American Jewish Spirit Magazine 602-469-1606
a letter from Summer 2006 | www.ajspirit.com
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