Shalom My Gantseh Megillah Family and Friends,

I grew up in an area of Queens, New York, that was populated primarily by Italian, and Jewish, families.  At the end of the regular school day, my friends either headed off to Hebrew school, or Catechism.  Weekends saw both synagogues, and churches, full to the rafters.  This was in a time when no one had to search for their identity; your identity found you the day you were born.

In the early ‘50s, it was easy to immerse yourself in a community of like-minded people.  Every Saturday morning the same group of four friends would stop by my house, calling out “Michael…..time to go to shul,” and I would rush outside, in my Shabbat best, to join them in the six block walk to the Bellerose Jewish Centre.

We would enter the sanctuary, carrying our blue and gold tallis bags, while we quickly placed the yarmulkes, that were hiding in our pockets, atop our heads. Services would already be in progress, yet through the davening we would notice our adult neighbours shepping nakhes as we made our way to our regular seats. So happy were they to see the younger generation of Jews participating in honouring the Sabbath, that even our occasional sniggering, and clowning, was easily forgiven.

We knew almost every prayer, and song by heart, and exuberantly sang along with the cantor, and rabbi. When services were over, we would join the adults at the Kiddush. We would always try to sneak a cup of wine, or shnapps, but usually succeeded in only procuring a Dixie cup full of grape juice, and a piece sponge cake.

None of us were particularly observant, to be perfectly honest.  After school, we all went to Khayder until our Bar or Bat Mitzvah.  By 14 however, most of us had dropped our religious studies.

We did continue our ritual of Shabbat services for a few more years, and we were always happy to take off from school on holidays, but few of the families in our area were Orthodox, or observant.  As a matter of fact, with the exception of the High Holy Days, many of us kids represented our entire families on most Saturdays. That is not to say that there weren’t any adults in the entire neighbourhood, or families who were observant, but they were very much in the minority.

Here, at long last, is the point I am trying to make. I personally believe that non-observant Jews are no less Jewish than those who observe the religious sacraments.

I respect those of us who make the religious rituals of Judaism an important part of their daily lives. Whether you practice ultra-Orthodox, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or any other form of Judaism, I understand the comfort you find in your choice of observance.  The very fact that there are synagogues in existence that cater to the needs, and beliefs, of all Jews makes my point for me. To my way of thinking, being a Jew means living ones life as a compassionate, aware, honest, respectful, sensitive, productive, and loving human being.  Every “official” law of Judaism on the religious level boils down to just those bottom line aspects of our characters.

Our Judaism should always be a comfort to all of us. It is just as important for us to support synagogues, JCCs, as well as all cultural expressions of our faith. Our sense of shared belief, history, and culture is what binds us together as a people, and we find identity, and meaning, in a multitude of ways, including Yiddish theatre, and kosher deli.

I have devoted the past dozen years expressing pride in my Jewishness, and heritage, by creating an online family with the Gantseh Megillah.  It brings me great joy, and nakhes, to know that I offer a place, on the Internet, where Jews can meet, and get to know each other. As with the Kiddush after shul, this is a place where ideas are expressed, opinions given, and memories shared. I even hope someday to be able to hand out a bissel cyber-sponge cake. In short, an online family, that shares a similar belief system, and yet never judges how other members express their faith.

I realize I am always asking for donations to help keep the Megillah alive on the Web.  Long ago, I made a vow never to charge a subscription or membership fee for the Megillah.  I have kept that promise, and I intend to continue doing so.   There are only two of us maintaining this site, so Arnold, and I, always need help from those who can afford it. Our pockets only run so deep.  For those who cannot afford to donate financially, you can do your part by making your friends, family, and other interested parties, aware of the Megillah, and ask them to subscribe to our mailing list. New members are as important as cash contributions.

Arnold, and I, are blessed to have you as part of our growing family, and we are indeed touched by the continuous moral, and familial support you have shown us over the years.  We strive to always be worthy of your friendship, and trust.

Much love to all of you,
Michael