Returning After a Long Absence

Well this past Shabbos was my first one in North Miami Beach since my accident. Although it has been almost two years, I found that there were many people who remembered me. This was a big surprise to me; in that I sort of felt that I did not have so many very close friends when I was there. But without a doubt I did have friends; people who have kept me in mind -- and who have actively thought about my well being.



I stayed with my friend Tzipporah; who has been through about as much as I have in the past two years. She divorced her husband, who was the impetus of them becoming frum. Both of them were also Jews of color. Her two daughters are very young and seemed to really enjoy my being there. Her youngest, a adorable, darker-skinned 3 year old came up to me when I was putting on my stockings. She patted my foot and beamed, "You are brown like me". My guess is that in the social environment she is in (they go to the Lubavitch school), it is not so often she gets close to other brown-skinned people.



In shul there was a Bar Mitzvah. It happened to be the eldest son of a Persian family that I used to live across the street from. They were thrilled to see me. It was great to hear the unique trop of the bar mitzvah bochur during kriah ha'Torah. It was also nice to see a bit of diversity around the shul. I saw (and heard) quite a few Israelis. I was also introduced to another young black woman who was seeking conversion. I could tell she was pretty desperate for some names and key contacts. I felt bad in that all of my information is a bit dated, but I invited her to email me after Shabbos and I would see what I could do. Before Shabbos, I was also suppossed to meet up with another woman who is interested in conversion. Unfortunately, she was sick. So maybe next time, IY"H.



I had lunch with Rabbi R.; who had a full table. He and his wife have always been the type to invite many people for Shabbos. Although I was sort of "lost in the crowd"; it was so nice to see this family in action again. They are so welcoming and great towards their neighbors. I feel so blessed to have gotten to know them.



I spent the rest of Shabbos with the S. family. They geniunely have missed me and it truly felt as if I had never left. Except that there is a new baby. The sisters who are around my age have great relationships with their parents, and it is sweet to see. The 32 year-old had a possible shidduch visiting and we have our fingers crossed.

Overall, I feel as if I sorely miss the community. The sheer number of frum people, the local Jewish amenities, the uniqueness of the community. However right now is not the right time for me to live in North Miami Beach. Maybe somewhere in the near future; maybe somewhere in the far future; or maybe never. However NMB will always be my "home"; the place where I first joined the frum community. The place that helped to mold me into who I am today.