A Coney Island Shabbat
August 25, 2008
Shabbat
(3 comments)
By JanetheWriter
If Shabbat is all about taking a divinely commanded breather from the work-a-day routine to celebrate God's rest following creation, then surely this past Shabbat was nearly as good as it gets for me and a few of my friends.
We had longstanding plans for a visit to Coney Island (a first for all of us) and so, at the appointed hour, we assembled on a specific corner in midtown's Herald Square, descended into the subway and boarded a train bound for the southernmost tip of Brooklyn. At the end of the line, we emerged from the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station to late summer sunshine, perfect boardwalk-strolling temperatures, a gentle breeze and the salty sea air--a magnificent day that only God could create.
Hungry from our journey, our first stop was the original Nathan's for hot dogs and fries. So smothered in sautéed onions and sauerkraut that they were barely visible in the buns, our dogs were grilled to perfection, and worthy of a photo. Indeed, before we ate, we snapped pictures of our fare--a motzi and a Shehecheyanu all rolled up into one digital image of gratitude for both the mouth-watering food and the opportunity to enjoy it together in this famous place.
Our hunger satisfied, we continued with a leisurely jaunt through the Astroland Amusement Park, where only one of us was brave enough to ride the Cyclone, but all of us were more than willing to watch other visitors take on such attractions as the Break Dancer, the Tea Cups and the gravity-defying, stomach-churning Top Spin.
A stroll on the boardwalk led us to the pier, where, enveloped on all sides by churning green water, salty sea spray, brilliant sunshine and a refreshing breeze, we--individually and collectively--basked in the beauty of the day, savoring our surroundings and the many blessings in our lives.
As we headed back to the subway, a kosher hot dog vending machine caught our eye. Because it was Shabbat, though, the machine's electronic display pad indicated that it was "Temporarily out of service." Its service status mattered not at all to us, however; we continued to joyously celebrate Shabbat and, in our own way, to make it holy.
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I think that stories like this indicate the continued resistance to efforts at greater observance and respect for the mesorah within Reform Judaism. It also smacks of a smugness that explains to me why Jewish unity remains such a distant dream. The author here indicates her pride at violating the Shabbat and Kashrut all at once. I can understand driving to services, but taking the subway to go to an amusement park? Shabbat is intended to be a time of spiritual rejuvenation and a time to reconnect with family, friends, oneself, klal yisroel, and most importantly, Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu. I am from Brooklyn and still live here- how is going to Astroland even within the spirit of Shabbat, let alone the requirements of halacha? Shabbat should be a time for tefillah, talmud torah, rest, and leisurely activities that do not entail a lengthy trip or commercial transactions. What about kiddush? What about keeping the Shabbat in the way our ancestors have for millennia? What about eating kosher food on the Shabbat, at least?
I can understand that these individuals may not come from backgrounds where Shabbat, Kashrut and mitzvos were integral, but I urge every Jew that they too can keep shabbos. You don't have to be Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or anything- torah is the heritage of the entire kehillas yaakov. Ashreinu Ma Tov Chelkeinu- How great is our lot and our inheritance as the bnei yisroel! I say to the author of this article- you too can keep shabbos! Start little by little, adding on additional observances as the weeks go on, and eventually, you will be shomer shabbos. Have kiddush lunch on Saturday afternoons. Avoid going to stores and restaurants. Don't carry cash. Pray Minchah and enjoy a seudah shelishit. Consult with your local rabbi. There are also many books on the Lamed Tet melachos and the other observances of Shabbos Ha Kodesh. Be the change.