Last night I spent 3 hours in NY doing some preparations for Yom Kippur & Sukkot and stopping to pray in 770, the Chabad Headquarters and at the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Resting place, the Ohel, in Queens.
The streets were packed with thousands of people, as guests from all over the world ran around preparing to celebrate the upcoming Holidays. Music filled the air, people were carrying newly purchased Lulav & Etrogs or the occasional Sukkah Kit, and it all went along with the smell of fresh Challah and Rugelach that was wafting through the streets. Alongside this, numerous encounters were happening on the street as people were seeing friends for the first time in a year or sometimes years, and conversations were happening in a mix of many languages that were being spoken on the street, including Russia, Hebrew, French, Spanish, English and so many others too.
Of course, part of the experience was choosing Lulav & Etrog Sets for Sukkot, and making sure we found the Etrog with the least blemishes on it.
After a hectic few hours racing around doing all the errands and absorbing the pre holiday atmosphere, we headed over to Queens, to the Rebbe's resting place. There the atmosphere was different, and although it was late at night, hundreds of people from all over the tri state area of all different backgrounds, had come pray and prepare for Yom Kippur. Every few minutes a few more cars or vans showed up with more people, while others left.
More than a few tears were being shed by some, some just stood in silence reflecting and some were deeply engrossed in their books of Psalms, pouring out their hearts to the One Above, in anticipation of a New Year ahead, and no doubt praying for their loved one, or for success in navigating their own personal journeys, bumps and challenges.
We got back at 3am, but not before stopping on the Highway in CT next to a burning car that ended up exploding, and spending a few minutes with the shocked father and his two little children, and two lovely men from Morocco who also stopped to help out these unfortunate travelers in the middle of the night.
One of them had just landed from Morocco and was describing the recent earthquake which he had experienced, and we did our best to share greetings in Arabic and Hebrew with each other, as the smoke filled the air and cars and trucks were racing by.
It was an unfortunate moment for this family, but thank G-d they were okay and in the process it brought together a few random strangers, for a moment of light in a dark and smoke filled night.
We are about to enter into the first Shabbat of the year, which is also known as Shabbat Shuva, a Shabbat of Return. It represents a space in time when we can seek to return to our essence and innermost core, and the values that are so deeply engrained in who we are, as we embark on a journey of another year full of potential.
Wishing everyone a very special and meaningful Shabbat Shuva and a Shabbat Shalom & a Good Shabbos and best wishes for success in making the most of these final days before Yom Kippur.
Yisroel