http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword.asp?kid=13002 Newest articles written by Mordechai Lightstone Copyright 2005, Chabad.org - Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center, all rights reserved. http://www.chabad.org/media/images/50/CtRx507451.gif 130 52 http://www.chabad.org Thu, 5 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST Thu, 5 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=745862 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=745862 On an overcast morning one Fourth of July, sullen clouds hinting to the imminent fall of rain, I came to a Forensic Psychiatric Ward in Northern Connecticut. Thu, 5 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=710534 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=710534 Americans are loud. We're brash and busy, and we like our Judaism that way as well. Russians also have their bravado . . . but when it comes to religion, there is a certain simplicity, a certain wholeness of the heart and soul, which we Americans lack. There has been much made in the press about Chabad's success in the Former Soviet Union. Whatever the cause may be, in part it is not just due to Chabad's own efforts but also due to the perception of the locals on how Judaism ought to be. No matter their walk of life, or level of personal observance, many of the locals wish to see Judaism in its pure state – unadulterated by politics and agendas. They want Torahs and Tefillin, Schnapps and Herring, Hebrew and Yiddish. Since I am an American, and thus gifted with that proud sense of pomp and bombast which our manifest destiny has blessed us with (and it's a good thing, don't doubt me), I immediately noticed the Americans who came into the S. Petersburg Synagogue. I noticed the Israelis a Tue, 5 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=707665 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=707665 When people enter the S. Petersburg Synagogue, if they're not being herded by the cruise tour-guide, they often approach me on their own. This approach is no ordinary 'Hello, how are you?' or 'Could you please help me?' No. This look is most similar to one an explorer would wear when approaching some newly discovered tribe in the uncharted jungles of the Amazon or Papua, New Guinea. A typical conversation goes something like this: Tourist: Pointing to himself (though in truth I should say herself – due to an unforeseen quirk of chivalry, women are often the first to enter, while the menfolk hold the door open)"Shalom." Me:"Hi. How are you doing today?" Tourist: "We -Americans. Amerikansky. Americans . . . Yes. We no speak Russian – No. English – Yes. Russian – No." -I almost expect someone to raise his hand one day and say 'We come in peace.' Me:"Yes, I see. I'm from Los Angeles . . . Where are you from?" Tourist: "No. We are not from Los Angeles. Los Angeles in California. We – Florid Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=706782 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=706782 The other day, a group of Farsi-speaking Jews came to the synagogue. Living in Los Angeles, I am rather familiar with Persian Jews and their various customs. In fact, I used to spend time visiting Persian merchants in LA's fashion district on a weekly basis, laying Tefillin with them. Thus fortified, I called the group over for little inspiration and spirituality. Soon Shmuli and I had them all putting on Tefillin . . . Nothing out of the ordinary in the day's work of a Roving Rabbi. Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I noticed a familiar face – one of my close friends from Downtown LA! Playing it cool, as it were, I waved to him, as if it was one of our weekly meetings in LA. He did a double take, his eyes almost popping out, and teared up with emotion. One can not describe the joy and surprise of traveling half way around the world, only to see the face of a longtime acquaintance! That evening, Chief Rabbi Pewzner recommended that we stroll around the city and visit the hotels, in Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=698783 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=698783 I'm actually rather disappointed in you. As I've been keeping up with you, I've come to expect certain standards from you... Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=705358 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=705358 I'm back in Russia, for the first time. An odd statement, I'm sure, but I can think of none better to describe what it's like to be here. Most people, and you know who you are, seem to think I've been to Russia before. When I was growing up in Los Angeles, local Russian immigrants used to think I was Russian. An elderly lady from Odessa once asked me if I was practicing my English...which was surprising, as I didn't know a word of Russian at the time. But I digress. People seem so convinced that I lived in Russia, because for a considerable amount of time, I lived around Russia – in Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine, all places associated with Russia (the latter two having large Russian speaking populations)...After that year in Eastern Europe, I left with a kasket (Russian style peaked cap) from Poland and a smattering of Russian from Lithuania, but having never stepped foot in Russia proper. I was thus more then intrigued when I was offered the chance to help out with the influx of summe Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=691563 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=691563 The other night one of my dearest friends was married. He had looked past his personal inhibitions, I had remained imprisoned by mine. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=641398 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=641398 We had come to a slight clearing in the buildings. We could all see it ahead of us, cast in lights, calling to us... Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=637440 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=637440 Misha is still sullen, taciturn and lost in thought. A life spent as an officer in the Soviet army has left him numb to ritual. Yet something drew him to this place... Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=580913 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=580913 Three Jews bumping into each other in an international European airport; there had to be some inner meaning behind it all. "Do you want to put on tefillin?" I asked. "No," he answered. He had a story, though... Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:00:00 EST