Back from Kuwait

May 5, the 17th day of the counting of the Omer, that is two weeks and three days.

Back from Kuwait and leading seders for the troops. A very unusual experience except that it wasn't really that unusual at all. We had a nice table set, we had wine. Kedem sweet stuff but wine nonetheless. We had one child and a hunt for the afikomen. We had Jews and non-Jews and lots of energy to set up and lots of singing to wrap up. Just like your seder. Of course, we were thousands of miles from home in the middle of a conservative Islamic country wearing uniforms. Most of the people there were in the middle of a full year deployment so they were away from family and friends which meant that we were the family for the night.

What does TBJ mean to people? It's home. That is, it ought to be a home and I hope to help make TBJ feel like home for more people. Some people treat TBJ and synagogues in general as a place where you get this service or that need met. But a real synagogue is a home, a family. That's what we have for many and and that's what we will try to make for all.

In the meantime, back at Camp Arifjan, home was in the desert, the congregation was a collection of people making an enjoyable evening far away from where they rather be. But it was, for a moment, home. It was fun. It was meaningful. Just like your seder at home.