Looking Forward
1 January 2008 - 24 טבת 5768 by Huw
In one month (about 1 Feb) I will be departing Asheville, after 4.5 years, and moving to Buffalo, NY, in order to be closer to Brodie (closer, that is, by 17 hours drive time).
Your prayers are welcomed. Any help is, as well. I’m staying with a friend-of-a-friend in the short term, and looking for work (hopefully in the drug rehab field, but I’m open to other options).
I’ve bought a car. OMG. My last day of work is the 21st.
Religiously, I’m thinking:
http://www.trinitybuffalo.org/
http://www.jrf.org/templesinai/
http://bethelbuffalo.uscjhost.net/
I think this looks pretty cool:
http://premiergourmet.com/catalog/
Train tickets are about $112 return to New York City.
And I’ll be about 1 hour’s drive from Brodie.
Plus, it does, indeed, snow there :-)
Shuffle off to Buffa… Shuffle off to Buffa… Shuffle off to Buffalo.
Have you checked the Jewish Federation site for resources? http://www.jfedbflo.com/
Or the JCC of Buffalo?
http://www.jccbuffalo.org/
Either way good luck with your move. I\’m not sure what I think of those two synagogues. Is there are reason you picked those two? I\’m not so sure about reconstructionist and the Reform one doesn\’t look bad (though their website is poo poo :) ) By the way, you might want to call the Chabad out there and ask if they have a drug rehab facility. There are tons of Chabad rehab out here. Or, perhaps the Jewish Federation can help with work stuff.
Again, good luck and happy new year.
As my hubby pointed out…I typed “reform” which should have been “conservative”.
:)
And then, of course, there was the throw-away comment you made here.
Peter: I didn’t promise I’d spend a year not exploring :-)
Tamara: Thanks for those other two links!
Why those two? Well I like Reconstructionism and I like Conservatism. I know nothing about these two particular communities, however. (Although, yes, the Conservatives need a new webmaster… and so do the Reconstructionists!!!)
Chabad has rehab? Would they care that I’m a Feygele Goy? For that matter, would the Federation?
The gay thing should be nobody’s business but your own. And your business with whom you share. The Jewish part, who knows. But I figured if they have it out there, they may be able to suggest where there is a need.
And as far as gay and CHabad, let me just tell you that based on my experiences the last three years with Yankel’s rabbi, who is also a friend of Avi and mine, gay is not the major issue. What I mean is, the Chabad that we live closest to is run by a kind rabbi and his wife. They are total black hatters but living in a hipster area that can be likened to a place like Greenwich Village meets East Village. It’s young, it’s hipster, it’s gay. And the rabbi knows this.
There are many members and large contributors to that Chabad that are openly gay. No, the men are not making out on their side of the mechitzah, but the rabbi surely knows who is and who isn’t gay amongst the regulars. And I can say from first hand knowledge that there are at least three active gay couples…ahem, active as in regulars at shul ;)
As a matter of fact, something that has always impressed me is that one of the gay regulars was in the film “Trembling Before G-d”. Another gay member did a movie screening of the documentary when it came out and the Chabad rabbi and his wife attended.
No, they are not supportive of gays. But they support Jews and a person is Jewish before they are gay.
That was longer than planned :) Happy new year!
OK. Thanks for the advice. As I said on the phone this weekend to Avi: I love that movie!
I shall send a letter to Chabad Buffalo asking for advice. (*they* do not need a web designer!) Hmmm. There are 2 or three Chabads in Buffalo! I guess the “main one” would the right place to go.
Thanks again!