Closure

I wrote about him before, but I'll write again.

Back when I was in Stavropol, I got a message from an 'Eduard Croitoru'. He wrote (in Russian) that he is from Moldova, his father is Jewish but mother isn't. He wants to become a Jew. An orthodox Jew. He continued by saying that he's writing to me because I'm the only Rabbi on odnoklassniki (Russian version of facebook, where I got the message). He finished by saying that he had just mvoed to Montreal, and didn't know what to do (he had no idea I was from Montreal).

we started a correspondence and I got him connected with Rabbi Sirota of the Russian Jewish Community Center of Montreal. I met him once during a visit from Stavropol and he told me he was studying with some Rabbis in order to convert.

This past Shabbos I went to the Russian Shul, and bumped into him there. I didn't get to speak to him until after Davening. After chatting a bit, I asked him how much longer until he joins our nation.

"I was circumcised this past Monday, Rabbi." was his ecstatic reply. "I am a Jew!"

A day at Tremblant

Last week the Hershcovich family all got into our cars and drove 2 hours north to Mount Tremblant. My sister Malky captured this great photo of my sister Esty, and i had to post it.

While in Tremblant, we watched some singer perform in French, groups of jugglers, musicians and stiltwalkers, and we went mountain sliding. It was a very fun day.

Workless week

At the end of last week, I walked into the office one morning to find the electricity off and my boss missing. As I tried to work with the lights off (reorganzing the stamps...) the guy from the office next door dropped in to tell me that the building had new owners and they were throwing all of the tenants out.

So now we had to move the office. I called my boss, and he confirmed the news. He would spend the next week setting up an office in his home (the third floor of a triplex).

For a full day I packed up the office, and then spent the next few days waiting for him to finish his office. Every day he'd tell me to come tomorrow or there was work for half an hour... I wound up at home more than at work. It was very frustrating.

Finally yesterday he rented a van and i spent 3 gruelling hours moving stuff. He even took advantage of the extra help and had me move two massive bookcases (which barely fit down the stairs) into storage. He couldn't do much work since he has a bad back, so I was pretty much alone. I schlepped like crazy.

Today there's no work, since he now needs to organize the stuff in his home. He told me to come Monday morning for a full day of work.

I hope things will be ready by then.

We bought a van

And our camera died hy"d. It just clunked out in middle of shooting a video of Miriam davening.

We paid the full price for our van outright, and are quite happy with it. It's a 2004 Pontiac Montana.

Stavropol personalities - Gennady Khasminsky

The past few Shabbosim I've been davening Friday nights at home, or quietly on the side in Shul.

And every week I get nostalgic and remember Gennady Khasminsky, who I wish I had been able to spend more time with.

It's the Lecha Dodi tune (to ki hinei kachomer from Yom Kippur davening) that brings up the memories, and I'll try to explain who he is.

I saw Gennady at several community events (like Chanukah and Purim), and was told that he is one of the great prides of the Jewish community. I never got to speak to him more than a cursory 'hello', until a few weeks before Pesach when Natasha Kuligina, head of the Sakhnut called me and asked if I would sponsor some boxes of Matza to give to the poor and disabled Jews of Stavropol.

I discussed it with Chayale and we decided to donate a bunch of boxes. I called to confirm and Natasha said, 'great! I'll see you tomorrow at 10!"

Next day she arrived, but instead of taking the boxes and leaving, she asked if she can 'borrow my driver' (this was back when I had a driver). I agreed, and when the driver showed up, Natasha told me that I had to go with her so the Jews see that I'm there for them.

So I joined her in her rounds (I may have posted this back when it happened). One of the stops was at Gennady Khasminsky, and unlike most of the people we delivered Matza to, he was overjoyed and extremely grateful for the gift. He was also very excited to finally meet me.

He lived in a tiny apartment on the bottom floor of a dilapidated building on a side street. It was very difficult to find the entrance, since the street addresses aren't written anywhere. He had several cats, and books were scattered all over his apartment.

His wife was seated on the couch, and that was the only time I met her. I think she has serious health problems, which is a shame since she was such a sweet woman.

One of the first things he did, was get one of his books (he has authored three) and write a personal note for me. He gave me the book and then took out an album to show me.

He was a very popular actor in the Stavropol theatre. He also was a very proficient writer of plays, and had a regular program on the radio for the entire South Russia. He was very proud of these facts, and also of his Jewishness.

He had many questions about Yiddishkeit, and I answered them all to the best of my ability.

After that our relationship blossomed. I called him several times, and met him at more events. He once told me that I must change my surname from 'Khershcovich' (in Russian) to 'Gershkovich'. The reason, he explained, is that 'Kher' is a bad word. I told him I had no choice since I go with what was written on my visa.

When I started my Friday night Minyan he was one of the first participants, and he came weekly. At first he had a tough time with the tunes, but soon he started catching on. His favorite tune was the Lecha Dodi. He sang with a deep voice, very melodious, and I always think of his smile as he'd sing 'Likras Ka-a-ala'.

He was... rather IS a colorful guy and I miss him.

Unfortunately Chayale gave away all our Russian books to the community before she left, and his autographed and personalized copy to me was among them. I doubt I'll see it again.

By the way, that's him in the photo at the top.

Update: we are being robbed in Russia

The coolest hockey logo I have ever seen. Look again, it looks like a skate. Even has laces.



When Chayale packed up our apartment in Stavropol, she decided to leave the major appliances there, which we had bought brand new (and spent quite a bit of money on).

This includes the fridge, washing machine, and dryer - all top quality.

The plugs wouldnt work in America, and we figured we'd have an easier time selling them at a discounted price then getting them into Canada.

We just sold the fridge - for half of what we bought it... but our former landlord in Russia is pretending she knows nothing about it.

Maybe we should sue her...

Good Shabbos from Morristown

We're here. We're safe. And my buddy Vince is engaged!!!

The original plan was to come in to see him. But that didn't work out, so we'll be at his wedding in Florida instead. If anyone is in Motown for Shabbos, stop by and say hi (hint hint TRS. Would be good to finally meet).

Happy birthday to me

Yesterday was my birthday, and it was amazing.

First, the night before I had my first exercise in over a month. I played ice hockey in the last game of the MJHL (Montreal Jewish Hockey League). I was the worst player on the ice by far (some of these guys played Semi-pro), but had a blast.

We won 15-7, and I had a goal, 2 assists, and 3 blocked shots. My bones still ache.

Yesterday I went to work as usual, and was picked up by Chayale and brought to the park where lots and lots of friends came for a nice barbeque.

After eating and chatting we even had a small game of roller hockey. We lost 2-1 but I had an assist and played well.

I was also officially accepted into Concordia as a mature student. I will be taking courses this fall in linguistics, creative writing, and administration. I'll see which one suits me the most and take it from there. I also applied to beginners french for the winter. If I'm going to live in Montreal, I'm going to need it.

This season I'll be joining the MJHL hockey league full time iyh. It's 420 bucks for like 30 games and starts after Succos. I was told by some of the guys that after 3 months of play, you will improve physically and gamewise and be able to keep up with the others in the game.

My next post will be from Morristown iyh, where we are going for Shabbos. We'll be arriving there tonight.

And this is why they didn't let us have a Shul

See here

And if we can have a Shul, the Muslims will 'supposedly' claim that they ought to get a mosque of their own!

I feel bad

I had an opportunity this past Sunday to do a wonderfulk thing, and I let it slip through my fingers.

Chaim Danzinger, shliach of Rostov, was in Toronto to celebrate the Upshernish of his son and invited us. We didn't organize it in time, and spent a Sunday wishing we could be there.

Then things got messy (without details), and we had no time to call them to at least wish them Mazel Tov.

Chaim, I know you read this. I'm truly sorry and wish we could have been there...

On the bright side of things, today I was accepted into Concordia College for the upcoming year. Now I have to wait and see if the government will pay for the tuition and grant me a loan...

A picture from Esty

Apparently it's Chaim Shimshon... an old picture from his first photoshoot.