So many exciting things that have happened to us here in Surrey, but we haven't yet have the time to write them up properly. Here is a small glimpse into our recent roving experiences:

This past Sunday, we hosted a kosher display table at a Wal-Mart in North Surrey. We set up a large display at the entrance of the store, packed it with all varieties of kosher food, and put up a poster that said, "Got Kosher?"

Throughout the day we met hundreds of curious people who had never heard of kosher before. Most importantly, we met many Jewish people who were delighted to meet other Jewish people and learn more about kosher. Some of them even bought mezuzahs from us! We met a bunch of Israelis who staffed some kiosks in the adjacent mall. They invited us over to their kiosks and we helped them put on tefillin.

All in all, it was a great display of Jewish pride and helped show many people how doable it is to keep kosher.

A light moment after services.

We spent our days visiting many Jewish people all over Surrey, Langley, White Rock, and Abbotsford. During our treks we have had some interesting experiences, like meeting a Sephardic Jew who lives on a huge estate in the mountains of Abbotsford. He was so excited to see fellow Jews. He showed us some amazing paintings he has painted, including one of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory.

Another Jew we met had not had much Jewish contact in over 40 years. He was shocked that we made the long trek out to meet him and expressed his regret at not having raised his kids in a Jewish lifestyle. We spent over an hour shmoozing and encouraging him to grow Jewishly. We suggested that he learn more at Chabad.org. He told us that he is going to make the trip out to the closest Chabad congregation in Surrey, BC, for Rosh Hashanah, so that his children will experience an authentic Jewish celebration.

There were many more exciting adventures—too numerous to recount at the present moment—but viewing the attached pictures will give you a glimpse into some of the encounters we have had.

Shalom from Surrey,

Roving Rabbis Yosef Schtroks and Yaakov Kotlarsky

One of the Israelis in the mall putting on tefillin.

P.S. Those of you who remember Yankel from our last post will be happy to know that we visited him with a bunch of local Jewish kids in tow. They helped him install a mezuzah on his door and really made his day.

After a long, tiring day of searching for Jewish people on the White Rock coast, we met a Jewish man named Stu, who was delighted to meet us!

He had been raised as a Catholic. Only a few months before his mother's death did she reveal to him that he was really a Jewish man and that she had kept it a secret from him because she was scared of anti-Semitism. Interested in his heritage, Stu ended up getting involved with a "messianic synagogue" in Vancouver. We spoke to him at length about not depriving himself of his genuine heritage.

He was very inspired by the shofar, which we blew right on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. We told him about the message of the shofar and how vital it is to heed its call to return to G‑d.

After donning tefillin and reciting the Shema for the first time in his life, Stu decided that he was going to put up a mezuzah on his door. He invited us to drop by his place tomorrow with a mezuzah and help him install it.

Regards from Surrey,

Roving Rabbis Yosef Schtroks and Yaakov Kotlarsky

Giving a Torah class in Surrey.

We had planned to get a head start on our first day, but things came up.

We had attempted to pick up our car the night before, but it was not ready. Once we got the car, we had some trouble getting it to run properly. Things kept on coming up, and by the time we got on the road, it was already late afternoon. But we were determined to accomplish at least something. Yaakov suggested that we head to the local shopping mall to see if we could at least meet one Jewish person.

Upon entering, we were quite disappointed to see that the mall was very close to closing and only the department stores were still open. So we headed over to one called Zellers to try our luck.

Right in front of the door we noticed a man riding in an electric scooter. It was clear that he had some health problems. We struck up a conversation. When we asked him if he was Jewish, we heard a gentle, "Yes of course!" It turns out that his name is Yankel Goldstein—you can't get much more Jewish than that.

Yankel hadn't had much connection to Jewish people for quite a few years. The fact that he was homebound most of the time increased his feeling of isolation. He spoke to us in great detail about his recent bout with cancer and the passing of his adopted mother, who had raised him from very soon after he was born. He had requested of the congregation where she had been a member to find someone to say Kaddish for her, but nothing had come of it.

We promised we would contact the closest Chabad center and try to find someone to arrange transportation for him so that he would have the opportunity to say Kaddish for his mother at least once.

After schmoozing some more, we observed how incredible it was that we walked in just that moment when he was coming out of the store, because we had entirely different plans for the day. He responded that he had not even planned on leaving his house today, but for some reason he felt an urge to take care of a little shopping. He had not planned on coming to this store, but only decided to come to this store because he suddenly remembered that the item that he needed was cheaper at Zellers.

We told him that this is no accident. We were taught that if G‑d caused us to meet each other it is surely in order to do a mitzvah.

We offered him the opportunity to put on tefillin. He responded that he had not done since the day of his bar mitzvah but would be happy to do it again. So right then and there, smack in middle of the shopping mall, he put on tefillin, proudly displaying his Jewish identity.

Suddenly his eyes closed and he sat emotionally for a few moments. He then opened his eyes and told us that today was his birth mother's yahrtzeit!

None of us had planned on meeting that day, but someone on high had other plans.

Regards from Surrey,

Rabbis Yosef Schtroks and Yaakov Kotlarsky