Turning 45 and What to Do?

Turning 45 and What to Do?

Birthdays are strange days. While we may look the same when we look in the mirror from just the day before, the truth is we are older - and hopefully wiser – every passing day. 

On December 27^th, I will turn 45. When I was younger, 45 was old, a prequel to old age. But today 45 is still considered young. You know what they say, “45 is the new 32.”

It is amazing to think that today when one turns 45, your best years are ahead of you. More than just gratitude, this idea inspires me to dream.

In Hebrew every letter has a numerical equivalent in a system called gematria. The number 45 has the numerical value of the Hebrew word “mah” that means “what”. As I reach this chronological milestone, I wonder what can I do to help the world? 

With this in mind, I am excited to introduce “The Mah Initiative”, what we can do to make tomorrow better than today.

I have chosen to focus on Lone Soldiers in Israel. In the Israel Defense Force (IDF), a lone soldier is defined as a serviceman or woman without parents or family in Israel. There are roughly 4,000 lone soldiers in Israel, mostly from North America and Russia. I find their commitment to Israel and the Jewish people to be deeply inspiring.

When Israeli soldiers get leave every few weeks, they go home. By contrast, lone soldiers frequently have no one to go home to and, in some cases, have no home at all. I have heard heartbreaking stories from these young soldiers who sleep in city parks because they had no place to go on leave, including Shabbat.

What can we do about this?

United Synagogue’s Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center set up a program three years ago to provide meals and housing for lone soldiers who need a place to stay on weekends. The Fuchsberg Center has designated a room for lone soldiers in memory of Michael Levin z”l, a lone soldier from Philly who died in service of Israel.

It costs $10,000 a year to run this program. Our initial gift from Marc Savenor, my brother, ran out, so the time has come to raise funds for this vital cause.

It is my goals to raise $10,000 to cover next year. To this cause, Julie and I are donating $360.  Any help you can offer will be much appreciated.

I invite you to support lone soldiers through a financial gift:

·         $2000 sponsors a holiday meal for 100 soldiers at Fuchsberg

·         $360 houses four lone soldiers for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $180 houses two lone soldiers for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $90 houses one soldier for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $45 covers meals for a soldier

·         And $18 shows you care about these brave men and women who protect Israel.

Please send your gift to: United Synagogue – Lone Soldier Initiative, 820 Second Ave, 10^th Fl., New York, NY 10017, Attn: Rabbi Charlie Savenor

Your donation is not going toward bricks and mortar, rather every penny goes to room and board for these modern day heroes of Israel.

If you ever wondered what you can do to support  Israel, I invite you to participate in “The Mah Initiative”.

Thanks in Advance,

Charlie Savenor

Lessons from a Cold Day in Chicago, Thanks to USY

In 1982, my parents gave me a wonderful birthday present.  They sent me to the United Synagogue Youth (USY) International Convention in Chicago.  Little did I know that this was more than a trip, but the beginning of a deeper engagement with Judaism.

Every December my older brothers, Arnie and Marc, returned from these week long excursions in Los Angeles, Toronto, DC, and Florida tired, yet so happy. They also had great "swag" and new t-shirts from other USY regions - CHUSY, METNY, Far West - and lists of phone numbers and addresses of new friends from all over the country. As soon as they got home, the phone never stopped ringing. After hearing about their experiences for so many years, I couldn’t wait to go myself!

The Chicago convention was held at the McCormick Inn. Over 800 USYers and staff people attended the convention. Eight hundred sounds like a lot, but, at that time, it was the smallest convention in the 45 year history of USY.

As I entered the opening ceremony, I was overwhelmed by what I saw.  In front of my own eyes, there were a sea of Jewish teenagers singing Hebrew songs, dancing, and cheering out of enthusiasm for their regions and their religion.  There was electricity in the room.

At the conclusion of this opening ceremony, we “davened" (prayed)  Minhah, the afternoon service. I had never participated in a minyan that large before. Equally impressive was the fact that the service, and all services at the convention for that matter, was led by someone my age, another teen.

Another highlight of that week took place during sightseeing. At the Museum of Science and Industry, of all places, I had a significant experience, one that helped shape my Jewish identity. While impressed with the architectural beauty of Chicago, I specifically remember being cold, really cold.

Waiting for the buses to pick us up, several hundred of us stood in the entrance lobby singing.  We sang Jewish songs, like Henay Ma Tov, Lo Yisa Goi, Eitz Hayim Hee, David Melech Yisrael, and Oseh Shalom.  It was wonderful.  I had never felt so proud to be a Jew, especially in public.

Yet all of a sudden I felt something on my head.  Placing my hand there, I felt my kippah.  My kippah!?!  I did know what to do.  I had never worn my kippah outside before. In the synagogue was one thing, but in public!?!  I had started wearing my kippah at home, but never, ever outside.  In essence, I exemplified Moses Mendelsohn’s opinion of how a Jew should behave in the modern world.  He said that “he should be a Jew in the home and a man on the street.”

I had forgotten to take off my yarmulke when we left the hotel.  What was I to do?  A part of me wanted to take it off immediately. As I looked up I saw that many of the other teens also wore their kippot. With a little courage and a burgeoning sense of conviction, I decided to leave my kippah on.

From this brief moment in my life I derived two major realizations.  First, there is strength in community. It is easier to practice Judaism with others than alone.  Second, if I felt proud of being Jewish at home, then why not away from home as well.  Isn’t this one of the major points of the Ve’Ahavta prayer? 

I decided that wearing my kippah at all times is a sign of my relationship to God as well as my pride in my tradition, and that I never want to let this feeling to subside. My head has never been uncovered since.

Whenever I hear about the dismal predictions about our Jewish future, all I do is remember this special moment in my life. I can still hear the songs, still feel the passion and ruach and still experience the unfiltered Jewish pride that animated our group that day.

I learned all this on a cold day in Chicago. Thanks to USY!