Jewish Life - Des Moines, Iowa

Iowa Dems & GOP Keep Jews Away From Caucus?

The Iowa Democratic Party and the Iowa Republican Party today announced they will hold the 2010 Iowa Caucus on a Saturday afternoon rather than during a weeknight.  Their goal, according to the Des Moines Register, is to boost caucus attendance during an "off election year".

Nice going...  Saturday is the Sabbath for observant Jews so looks like that is one segment of the Iowa population that won't be going.  Keeping the Jews out...maybe that was the "caucus reform" they have been talking about for a couple of years? 

Meanwhile, new political editor Kathie Obradovich gushes, "That's a really good idea and it will serve as a great test before the next presidential-year caucuses in 2012."

It's great to be...inclusive.

Maybe because most Orthodox or Observant Jews tend to lean "right" it was a ploy put into motion by the Iowa Democrats?  Who knows...but clearly somebody missed the Memo...  We've only been celebrating the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week for.....what.....a couple of years anyway...  Yikes!

See you in shul...

 

How Far Can We Stray?

The young woman walked up to the store clerk with a plastic bag held tightly in her hand.  "You're Jewish right?", she asked the teenage man wearing a kippah.  "Sure", he said.  In the two years he had been working at the store he was familiar with how people would approach him with their "Jewish Questions". There were not that many observant men in town...and because he worked in a very public place, a day didn't go by without some type of question about Jews, Israel, the Bible, Kosher...it was, by now, a pretty long list.

"I thought so.  I remember my grandfather wearing a little hat like that."  The young man smiled.  "My grandfather, who lived in another town, died last week and while we were cleaning out his house we found these little boxes.  My mother said they were Jewish.  She said he would wear them on special days or something." 

She opened up the crumpled plastic bag and took out an old tefillin bag.  Stunned, the young man accepted the velvet pouch and looked inside and saw the tangled, worn old straps.  "Are they important?", asked the young lady. "Yes", he said.  "Very important."  His eyes lifted to the woman.  "Forgive me for asking but, are you Jewish?"  She shot him a puzzled look.  "Well yeah, but not that kind of Jewish.  We don't do much religious stuff.  My dad is Lutheran and my Mom says she's Jewish.  I guess I live the best of both worlds." 

He started to smile but quickly looked down at the tefillin.  She said, "Will you take care of these?  If they are that important you should have them.  I'm sure glad I saw you here and that I had these in the trunk.  Thanks!"  And, out the door she went. 

How very sad.  Only one generation separated this young women from her Jewish roots and thanks to so many people failing to get involved, for failing to teach, for failing to show the beauty of the Torah and Mitzvot...we find tefillin in a Wal-Mart sack. 

Soon, in just a few hours, we will be marking Tisha B' Av the saddest day of the Jewish Calendar.  We will cry and sit on low stools moaning about the loss of the Holy Temple.  Perhaps, while we're at it, we should cry for this young lady and for ourselves. 

Oh G-d how far can we stray before you turn your back on us completely?

See you in shul...

 

 

 

The Iowa Cubs, Orthodox Jews and A Good Time!

It was a perfect night, thank G-d, as several of us headed to Principal Park in Des Moines to take in the Iowa Cubs baseball game.  It was the second annual "Grand Jewish Ball(game)" and it was a wonderful time.  Last year we started this adventure, sponsored by the Beth El Jacob Men's Guild, to simply get together and show our friends, students from Scranton Yeshiva, a good time.  By the way, you can click on the photo to enlarge.  How cool is that?

Unlike last year, when we davened Mincha at the park (and several of us come to better understand why we seperate men and women during prayer...oy!) this year we davened Mincha at the shul and then went to the game.  What a great time, getting to know each other better, talking and watching a great game in a wonderful park.  There isn't a bad seat in the place!

And, the peanuts were Kosher!  Not sure about the Cracker Jacks.

We then headed back to shul after the game so we could daven Marriv.  That of course was a long drive of 15 minutes.  Yep, the shul is only 15 minutes away from downtown Des Moines. 

All around it was an excellent time and if you didn't make the trip with us...we're sorry!  Perhaps next time?  The Men's Guilds is planning an antique car show next month...maybe you can come by?  It will be at the shul.

Oh, one more detail...the Iowa Cubs WON!  We beat Omaha 4 - 1 and we were able to enjoy some great baseball...

So, join us sometime? 

And, see you in Shul!!

Selling Des Moines...

Following services this past Shabbat I sat across the Kiddish table from a woman who had grown up in Des Moines, moved away at a young age and came back from New York to visit her 87 year old father.  She is frum and living in New York.  She looked at me and said, "So, what is there to see and do in Des Moines?"  She asked the question like she had never been here.  And, in truth, she's been gone for over 35 years and in that time Des Moines has changed from a sleepy little town to a city that is full of promise and opportunity.

And that is the "sell".

Last month Rabbi Aaron, Janice and four of their children were in New York City at the Orthodox Union - Emerging Communities and Job Fair.  (Also present were congregations from Dallas, Houston and Detroit....we thought it was "emerging communities"?)

And clearly, by looking at the other Jewish Communities involved Des Moines was a real long shot...  It's not that "bigger" is always "better" it is about fighting the unknown of Iowa and Des Moines. 

To many of the over 600 people who attended the event, seeking a new beginning and a way out of the congestion and mind-bending "largeness" of New York City, Des Moines was a virtual unknown.  "Oh, Iowa?  Just where is that?"  It's something we heard time and time again.  It's pretty easy to figure out where Houston is, "...someplace south, right?"  But clearly, Iowa...and for sure Des Moines...remains a mystery to a vast majority of the Orthodox Jews we encountered.

But we're changing that.  If you are one of the many people who read this blog on a regular basis you've come to realize there is "Life West of the Hudson" and that Des Moines is not only a great place to raise a family but it's also loaded with positives like jobs, culture, affordable housing, time and a warmth you'll never find in the larger urban settings.

"Wait!  Did he say, 'time'?" 

Yes...here people don't lose two hours out of their day on a commute.  If you work only five days a week, commuters in major cities lose at least ten hours.  Forty hours a month 480 hours each year.  Just going to work and coming home.  Think of what you and your family could be doing with an additional...month.

But, it's hard to see from long distance so here is our invite.  Contact us...let us help you better understand our quality of life.  Let us help you understand how each member of our shul really counts.  Let us explain the economics of living well within your means and still being able to walk to shul. 

I'm easy to contact, MichaelBenDovid@BethElJacob.org.  Let's visit?

Now, I've got to print out directions to a couple of fantastic "things to do" for my transplanted new friend.  Living History Farms?  The Iowa Cubs?  The Iowa Historical Building?  The Iowa State Capital?  The Iowa Art Center?  Decisions...decisions...  I hope they have enough...time.

See you in shul!