It was the recent holiday weekend, and my family (my wife and our youngest daughter) went to Montreal for the Easter Weekend to visit our other daughter who lives there at McGill University. This was a much looked forward to trip, and was a huge success for all.Max, dog wonder and I were here happily doing our merry little things, and living the very quiet lifestyle we’ve grown accustomed to while the “girls” shopped and ate and partied the weekend through.
On the colorful streets of Montreal they saw large groups of Hasidim, with great long, colorful coats and fur hats walking with tons of little children, complete with peyes (sideburns, sort of).
On the colorful streets of Montreal they saw large groups of Hasidim, with great long, colorful coats and fur hats walking with tons of little children, complete with peyes (sideburns, sort of).
From Wikipedia: Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew חסידות -Hasidus meaning "piety" (literally "lovingkindness"[1]), is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith. It was founded in 18th Century Eastern Europe by Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov as a reaction against overly legal Judaism. His example began the characteristic veneration of leadership in Hasidism as embodiments and intercessors of Divinity for the followers. Opposite to this, Hasidic teachings cherished the sincerity and concealed holiness of the unlettered common folk, and their equality with the scholarly elite. The emphasis on the Divine presence in everything gave new value to prayer and deeds of kindness, alongside Rabbinic supremacy of study, and replaced historical mystical and ethical asceticism and admonishment with optimism, encouragement and fervour. It sought to add to required standards of ritual observance, while relaxing others where inspiration predominated. Its communal gatherings celebrated soulful song and storytelling as forms of mystical devotion.
My daughter was surprised because she was too young to remember all her visits to Baltimore, watching the “parading” Hasidic families walking Park Heights Avenue. My wife did tell me that the folks in Montreal were much more colorful dressers. (In Montreal we spell it colourful.)
Seeing all this, my daughter figures this is an opportunity, having just come from one of Montreal’s famous bagel stores, to score a Challah. She decides they can find a Jewish grocery store to get the bread. If you translate Jewish to Kosher, this is simple. They see just what they want and go in.
My daughter was surprised because she was too young to remember all her visits to Baltimore, watching the “parading” Hasidic families walking Park Heights Avenue. My wife did tell me that the folks in Montreal were much more colorful dressers. (In Montreal we spell it colourful.)
Seeing all this, my daughter figures this is an opportunity, having just come from one of Montreal’s famous bagel stores, to score a Challah. She decides they can find a Jewish grocery store to get the bread. If you translate Jewish to Kosher, this is simple. They see just what they want and go in.
My dear family, schooled in the world of living two religions, celebrating every holiday possible except maybe Kwanzaa and Ramadan, go into a kosher grocery on Passover, looking for a Challah. Luckily for them, all “chometz” was covered over with plastic sheets, and before they asked the ultimate dumb question, they remembered it was Passover and happily went to the car.
It occurs to me that there is a deep reason why,in Judaism, one does not celebrate the resurrection, and Jesus is a prophet, but not a full-fledged Messiah. Owing to stipulations about kosher food, one can not be "washed in the blood of the Lamb."
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