Rohr Chabad at F&M

You can send a HamantashanGram! - https://mailchi.mp/jewishenr/you-can-send-a-hamentashengram

The Secret Service barred my path. You can’t go up there! What do you mean? I have a permit to host a BBQ in the pavilion.... Let me see the permit. They come back. Ok, you can walk up there, but you can’t drive up the driveway. The year was 2008. We were hosting the welcome back bbq for F&M students in Buchanan Park. I had dozens of burgers, hotdogs, grills, charcoal, soda cans, water bottles, chips, watermelon in my car. We were planning this event for weeks, and we were expecting a solid turnout. Presidential Candidate Barak Obama decided at the very last minute to campaign in Lancaster. We had the permit to the pavilion for months already, so they got the permit for the rest of the park. It was probably the only time in history that a presidential candidate’s campaign needed to work around a Chabad BBQ. The hike to the top of the hill from Race Avenue is not too bad. Takes about 5 minutes each way. Maybe a bit less on the way back down. But I had a lot of stuff, and I didn’t know how I would get it all up the hill without access to the driveway. I couldn’t make multiple trips - it would take too long. We probably should have canceled. But we didn’t. I went to Lowes and bought a brand spanking new gardening wagon. Bright Yellow. Loaded it up with supplies - and dragged it from my house to the Pavilion. Even with the wagon, it took an hour to make two trips. More often than not, the things that are worth doing are hard and seem impossible. You need to look for a (sometimes bright yellow) solution to help you get the job done. It still won’t be easy. Rarely are important things that are worth doing easy. I still use this wagon. When Shira comes home with a van load of groceries, it takes one trip to bring 30 bags from the curb to the door. What’s your wagon in your life? I’ll tell you a secret - right now; you’re my wagon. Because we started this semester with an impossible task. And you helped make it happen. We invested in Tents. We invested in Safety Glass. We invested in Clorox wipes, cleaning protocols, additional staff. We invested in a large deck to safely serve and learn with students outside. It wasn’t easy. It was really tough. Financially, physically, logistically. But it certainly was important and worth doing. And you, through your support and your friendship, make it all possible. Thank you for doing what you do. We couldn’t do it without you. (The picture of the wagon was taken today. The other pictures are other years' welcome BBQ) It's not too late to contribute in 2020, checks come in every day or you can give online at www.jewishenrichment.com/donate

Spinning In Control - A near miss on I83 https://mailchi.mp/606c44597450/spinning-in-control

We are sprinting towards the end of the year; Checks are coming in and online donations are moving the bar up at www.giveoil.com. Thank you to the 43 people who have helped so far (online and offline). Well, we’re in Lancaster - Maybe I should say we’re buggying toward the end of 2020....Continue reading

You and I plant seeds. We usually can’t see how far our actions go. I’ve been reminded by students of things I’ve said 15 years ago.... Things I barely remember saying, but have had an impact on the way they live their life. One student told me once that she doesn’t work on Saturday. Because of the song we sang when she was here. Ain’t gonna work on Saturday! And sometimes we get lucky. We find out much sooner. A grateful student sent me this My sister passed away right before this semester began. No one teaches you how to experience grief ... Your class helped me so much. I have been sharing the knowledge that you have taught us with my close family and friends I know its Giving Tuesday, and the start of the Philanthropic Season in the United States. I also know that there is a Pandemic. If you have, and could, I humbly ask you to consider the work we do to be worthy of your support. It’s been a tough year. For the Greens. For Chabad. For you. And for so many. Let’s turn to the upcoming Chanukah for light and inspiration. And let’s turn to each other for support. If you can, please give at www.giveoil.com Thank you for everything. You don’t realize the far impact of what you do.